|
Long
Valley Raiders Football
In 1970,
Kent Hall and Matt Slowinski got together and came up with the
idea of starting a football team. Pete Piccirillo put Kent and
Matt in touch with Ed Quinn, the West Morris Central H.S. Head
Coach. They met with Ed to discuss coaching techniques,
calisthenics and everything that they would need to know to
start a football team. An original team of 13 players was
created. They were unable to join the Morris County League
originally because they did not offer enough playing levels.
Consequently, they decided to create what they referred to as an
"outlaw team", which would play against any team willing to play
them. A Catholic high school from the Dover area donated some
of their used uniforms to the team, and their original colors
were blue and white.
Once word
spread about this "outlaw" football team, interest immediately
grew as players and dads began to go to the Long Valley Middle
School to observe the excitement. In 1971, Matt Slowinski and
Kent Hall were joined by Richard Cavagnaro and Richard
McLoughlin who all worked together to form the Long Valley
Raiders Football Association which grew from this "outlaw team"
and to join the Morris County Football League.
A name and
colors were needed for this new team. The consensus at the time
was that the blue and gray colors worn by the West Morris High
School football team were too drab. Matt Slowinski, being a
huge Vince Lombardi fan, suggested the colors green and gold
which were the much bolder colors of the Green Bay Packers for
which Vince played. One of Richard Cavagnaro's former high
school students was a first round draft pick for the Oakland
Raiders so he suggested the name, "Raiders". With a lot of hard
work, dedication and timeless efforts, the Long Valley Raiders
football team was formed and incorporated.
In the fall
of 1972 there were sixty-eight (68) players that made up three
squads of the newly formed Long Valley Raiders; the J.V. Team
which was coached by Matt Slowinski and Ed Quinn, the Pee Wee
Team which was coached by Rich McLoughlin, Rich Cavagnaro, Kent
Hall and Bill Sergent and the Bandits which was coached by Pete
Carroll, Joe Capozzi, Joe Meyers and Bill Degnan. The first
year did not include a varsity team as the kids old enough to
play at this level were considered too big by the Morris County
League's requirements. They borrowed $6,000.00 in credit from a
store in Denville to purchase equipment for the players. Each
family contributed $2.00 - $3.00 to participate and the
fundraising efforts began. The players knocked on the doors of
every home in the town as well as local stores and shopping
centers asking for donations, and the Raiders even held "turkey
shoots" which did not prove to be as successful as they would
have liked. The season ending banquet was held at the Long
Valley Middle School and was attended by just over 200 people.
In early
1973, flyers were sent home with students in the local schools
looking for more players and parent volunteers. With the
additional interest and support that resulted from these flyers,
the Long Valley Raiders program was able to grow tremendously
from the previous year. The Raiders now had 28 coaches with 116
players on four squads. Matt Slowinski was Head Coach for the
"new" Varsity Team with James Cline and Dennis Murray as the
Assistant Coaches. Richard McLoughlin was Head Coach of the J.V.
Team with Richard Cavagnaro, John Halama, Joseph Riccio and Pete
Carroll as the Assistant Coaches. Bill Sergent was the Head
Coach for the Pee Wee Team with Gordon Smith, Joseph Milelli,
Joseph Capozzi and Fred McFarlin as the Assistant Coaches.
Richard "Fuzzy" Gannon was the Head Coach for the Clinic
(Bandits) Team with Richard Bolmer, George DiMarzo, Bob Entwisel
and Bill Skinner as the Assistant Coaches. The Officers for the
Long Valley Raiders Football Association were: Kent Hall
(President), Richard McLoughlin (Vice President), Matt Slowinski
(Secretary) and Richard Cavagnaro (Treasurer).
In 1973,
the cost to be a Long Valley Raider Football player was $10.00!
The fundraising efforts grew too, with the addition of food
concessions (thanks to Kathy Halama's efforts), dances, 50-50
raffles and the support of local business sponsors in the Long
Valley Raiders Yearbook (produced by Tony Trytek).
1973 also
marked the addition of the Long Valley Raiders Cheerleaders.
With the talent, dedication, and quick sewing skills of Betty
Sergent, Janet Gannon Betty-Jo Wydner, Darlene Smith and Cathy
Frank the girls had uniforms to wear.
The Raiders
program has grown tremendously since its inception. The Raiders
currently have seven levels of players. The three competition
levels of Varsity, JV and PeeWee play on Sundays. The pad
levels field two teams each and the flag level fields six teams
on Saturdays. There are consistently over 300 kids per year in
the Raiders program. Currently there are 15 Head Coaches and
70+ Assistant Coaches participating in the program.
The Long
Valley Raiders Football Program began with a group of dedicated
people who loved the sport of football. Along with the Founding
Fathers, there are many people who had and still continue to
have key roles in continuing this successful tradition.
Joining football is a huge time commitment and without the
support of the parents, most of whom also volunteer in some way
throughout the season, the Raiders program would not be the huge
success that it is and has been throughout the years. It truly
is, and always has been, a team and family effort in every
way!
|
