Evidence that Adelphi needs a Football Team

A study and article done by Ashley Paterno printed in the latest edition of the Delphian indicates that a large portion of the Adelphi community would love to be home to a football team. It certainly isn't due to a lack of interest on Long Island for football as high school football has a legion of followers and a rich history that has produced many great NFL players. To magnify the importance of football on Long Island and the need for Adelphi to make room for a football team, here are lists of some Long Island high school greats that have played their football on Long Island.

Winningnest Coaches in Long Island HS Football History

1) HOWIE VOGTS WINS- 361 SCHOOL- BETHPAGE- ACTIVE (NASSAU COUNTY)

2) DON SYNDER WINS- 237 SCHOOL- FARMINGDALE- RETIRED 1992 (NASSAU COUNTY)

3) TOM CASSESE WINS- 209 SCHOOL- COMSEWOGUE- RETIRED 2007 (SUFFOLK COUNTY)

4)(tied) FRED SMITH WINS- 202 SCHOOL- FRIENDS + COLD SPRING HARBOR & LOCUST VALLEY-RETIRED 1998

4)(tied) TOM FLATLEY WINS- 202- SCHOOL- GARDEN CITY- ACTIVE (since Coach Flatley is still active he will pass Fred Smith on the list)

5) FRED FUSARO- WINS- 192- SCHOOL- SACHEM H.S.- RETIRED 2002



5 Best Plyers from Suffolk County

1) Jason Gwaltney - RB- North Babylon 01-04
Gwaltney rushed for 2,377 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior. He rushed for 5,112 yards, 90 TDs and scored 546 points during his first three years. 467 yards rushing on 43 attempts against East Islip in 2003.


2) Miguel Maysonet RB- Riverhead 04-08
5971 yards rushing ranks 8th all time on New York State list of leading rushers for high school football players. Currently plays a local Division I Hofstra.
Source: http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/records-scoring.shtml

3) Derek Kenney QB- Stony Brook H.S.- 1995-1997
4760 career yards passing
Source: http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/records-passing.shtml

4) Bryan Tornee WR- Commack- 1999-00
2006 career yards receiving. 1269 yards receiving on 65 receptions in 2000. Plays college football at Stonybrook University.
Source: http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/records-receiving.shtml

5) Boomer Esiason QB- East Islip- graduated 1979
Source: http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=EsiasBoo01




Best Players from Nassau County

1) Jim Brown-RB- Manhasset HS
At mostly white Manhasset High School, Brown earned 13 letters playing football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and running track. As a senior, he averaged 14.9 yards a carry in football and 38 points a game in basketball. While in high school, Brown and several other athletes created a gang called "The Gaylords," and Brown was elected president. He said the gang got involved in fistfights but nothing too dangerous, and nobody ever did jail time.
Source: http://www.sportsplacement.com/brownbio.htm

2) Matt Snell- QB- Carle Place HS- ???
Went on after Carle Place to play QB for the NY Jets.

3) Amos Zereoue - RB- Mepham HS- 1992-1994
5360 career rushing yards while at Mepham high school. Went on to play in the NFL with the Pittsburg Steelers.
Source: http://www.roadtosyracuse.com/reference/records-receiving.shtml


4) D'Brickashaw Ferguson - T- Freeport HS- graduated 2002
Was a standout two-way lineman for head coach Russ Cellan at Freeport High School as a three-year starter, who earned SuperPrep and PrepStar All-America honors… Rated by SuperPrep as the top offensive lineman in New York and the state’s second-ranked player.
http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/player/1071-d-brickashaw-ferguson

Other players of note:

1) John Mackey RB/TE Hempstead- 1959
2) Ray Barbuti HB/LB - Lawerence- 1924
3) Rob Reifsynder - Baldwin- 1955
4) Bill Sandie- FB/MLB- Mepham- 1953
5) Bernie Wyatt- RB/LB- 1935

REFERENCE: http://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/football/long-island-s-best-football-players-from-early-days-1.1569847


The purpose of this post is to make those out there aware of the sheer impact high school football has on the culture of Long Island. It's a shame that Adelphi can't call any of these athletes their own as they go on to prusue a career after their playing days on Long Island are over. It would be nice for Adelphi to be home to a football team with players that can represent the school rather than being a univeristy that is notoriously linked with former alum Flava Flav.