A new Roslyn football season is on its way and all the players and coaches await its beginning with strong anticipation. The 1999 squad finished with a one and seven record, but the coaching staff still insists that the season was a success and that the Roslyn football program is on the right track. In 1999 we started out and finished with 27 players, up from 19 the prior season. Two seasons ago we were last in Conference III scoring, last year we were sixth out of the 14 conference teams. Our quarterback was named honorable mention all-county. We had two receivers in the top five in receptions and yards in our conference. After reaching a point of our season at 0 and 7, when just about everyone else would have quit, we go on to win our last game convincingly by a score of 35-7. Believe it or not, three of our players from the '99 squad have been recruited to play college football. Ian Wallach: Franklin and Marshall, Michael Gannon and Bentley Mays: St. Johns. A success? Sure it was a success. Yes, we wanted to win more games but that didn't happen. Now it's out there throughout our conference, "Roslyn football players refuse to quit." Now it is up to the new group of players to add to the improvement of Roslyn football.

This year's varsity will be captained by seniors Marc Dreyfus and Joe Bonavoglia. Jarod Dease (Jr.) and Jesse Rubenstein (Jr.) will battle for the quarterback spot with the possibility of Ronnie Combs (Fr.) stepping in. The halfback position will be a tough one to decide with Mike Kessler (Sr.), James Lowder (Jr.), Michael Librett (Jr.), Sabu Hayes (Jr.) and Tony Famiglietti (Sr.) vying for playing time. Nick Thulke (Sr., eight rec., 156 yds., one TD in '99) and Steven Doddato (Jr.) will be hard pressed at the wide receiver positions by Brian Baum (So.), LaSean Price (Jr.), Adam Drexler (Jr.) and Cory Raphael (Sr). The strength of any team, the offensive line will be manned by Vito Lipolis (Sr.), Neil Pines (Sr.), Marc Miller (Jr.), Jared Kleinman (Jr.), Pat Romanello (Jr.), Danny Bahadarian (Sr.), Bill Molina (Sr.) and Arsalan Mulana (Sr.). Brett Sklaw (Sr.) and Chris Thulke (Sr.) will be happy additions to the squad after a two year absence.

The Bulldogs will run a 5-3 defense this year with big things expected from four year lettermen Vito Lipolis, Joe Bonavoglia and Nick Thulke leading the way.

Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert once stated: "Football is a great game, you play it to win at all levels. There is no room for sentimentality. Either you play or you don't play. I was determined to play. I knew all along, deep down inside, that I could do it, that I was good enough though nobody else much seemed to agree with me. My determination more than made up for any lack of speed, height, weight or whatever else I wasn't supposed to have."

We will steal a part of Jack Lambert's quote and use it as this year's motto, "Our determination and pride will more than make up for any shortcomings we may have."

2000 Season Schedule

9/16, Great Neck North, Away.

9/23, Seaford, Away.

9/28, Westbury, Home.

10/7, Lynbrook, Away.

10/14, Sewanhaka, Home.

10/21, Mineola, Home.

10/28, West Hempstead, Away.

11/4, Plainedge, Home.

The Roslyn Middle School football team is looking for some new recruits to add to their winning ways when they open their season this fall. After almost a 30 year absence of football at the middle school, football returned last season and the players and coaching staff responded with an incredible four win and two loss record. Big things will be expected from quarterback Bryan Sonnick, runningback Robbie Kessler and a host of other returning eighth graders.

Middle school football rules are modified. Unlike varsity contests, there are no kickoffs and there are no blitzing defenders on the middle school level. This ensures no high impact collisions. There are usually five 10 minute periods in a junior high contest with the eighth grade playing the first, third and fifth periods and the seventh graders playing the second and fourth. Every student-athlete that puts in a full week of practice will play in that week's game. One student states, "It was the greatest feeling in the world being part of last year's team and finishing with a winning record in our first year. Nothing compares to scoring a touchdown or putting up a succesful goalline stand, knowing that all the work we did in practice was paying off."

If you are interested in playing middle school football, you can contact phys. Ed. Teachers Mr. Marlow or Ms. Romanello during the first week of school. Come join the fun and be part of the winning tradition.

---This article was prepared by Coach Bushi of the RHS varsity football squad.