With the First Pick In The Gridiron Elite Draft….

The Commissioner steps up to the podium.  The staff is working at a feverish pace to get any last minute information that can be solicited out of the so called experts.  With the first pick the selection is then made.  A smile, proud walk and handshake follow.  This can’t possibly be semi-pro ball, unless it’s the Gridiron Elite.

Dave and Busters hosted the event last night and the evening was full of fun, food and football.  To the casual observer who was having a nigt out in Islandia it looked like a really serious fantasy football draft, except with real people.  “This was a really cool event to show our appreciation for the players” said Shawn Spencer of the Demon Knights.  Stay tuned as we give you a complete rundown of the teams and video from the Draft Party.

GRIDIRON ELITE FOOTBALL & YOUR PROGRAM

The Gridiron Elite is going into its 3rd year with a full head of steam and a lot of events on the calendar for programs for all age groups. So what exactly are you waiting for?  Besides all star events, a youth football league , and two tournaments, the folks at the Elite are taking applications for membership for ffiiate organizations.  Why would a program want to come under the elite umbrella?  Besides joining a group of progressive organizations that pool their talents and resources to produce better quality products and events.  To join go to     http://gridironelite.org/?page_id=758 and a staff member will contact you with information on how to come aboard.  You can bet that in 2010 the Gridiron Elite will keep it coming

Rebels Host Banquet To Celebrate 21 Years of Service

After two decades of developing talent of Bronx area youth, the Bronx Rebels definately have something to celebrate.  With the season at its conclusion and the proram gearing up for another championship run in 2010, the Rebels are hosting their end of the year banquet.  Besides recognition to the Champion Pee Wee team, the Rebels will be giving out season awards for MVP’s and also inductions into their hall of fame for distinguished alumni. 

THE 2010 REBEL FOOTBALL AWARDS BREAKFAST WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6TH – 10AM  AT MAESTRO’ S CATERING HALL – 1730 BRONXDALE AVENUE.

BANQUET TICKETS ARE $28.00 PER PLAYER, OR COACH.   HOWEVER,   IF A PLAYER  OR COACH IS PURCHASING TWO TICKETS OR MORE – TICKET PRICING WILL BE  $24.00 PER TICKET.

Ballot Box Closes For Classic All Star Game

Voting has officially ended for the Gridiron Elite All Star Classic.  Congrats to all that were choosen to represent their teams and leagues in the game.  The roster will be announced shortly along with other exciting updates on what promises to be an amazing event.  For the last month, the official all star website http://www.gridironelite.org/allstarclassic/ has been collecting votes from all over the Minor League football world.  In its first year in existance and using a system that is unheard of on this level, the game attracted some impressive numbers for just the voting process alone.  With 10,298 Votes the fans were surely heard. Great Job to everyone again and thanks you for making the Gridiron Elite All-Star Classic a success.

Youth League All Stars Start Practice

The Gridiron Elite has always taken new challenges and managed a number of “firsts” in youth football in our short two years of existence. This year, we embark on another original venture.

The Elite, is giving our All-Stars, the very best of the Gridiron Elite Youth Football League, the chance to play not just an All Star Game, but an All Star “Season”. The sheer purpose of these games are to have the best of the league recognized by high school and collegial scouts, and for member clubs, a chance to advertise their product and fundraise to establish themselves for the 2010 season. The competition will be unlike any that players has faced, as most of the teams are from outside of the New York area. They will travel as far as Maryland to play games, and host teams from Delaware and South Jersey.

The Pee Wee and Intermediate teams will be adjusted in scope to compete with teams in the Jr. East Coast Football League. Therefore, there are some 13 yr olds that will be moved to the Pee Wee Team, and some 16 yr olds that will be moved to the Intermediate team, as the age groupings are a bit different than what we normally play. Pee Wees will field a team of 11-13 yr olds, and the Intermediates will field a team of 14 to 17 yr olds – a true high school division. There will be some Pee Wees, due to their ability, that may be moved to Intermediate squad. This will be determined on an individual basis.

The games begin Saturday, February 20th and practices will take place on the weekends, both Saturday and Sunday. There will not be practices during the week, as the logistics of travel city wide with kids in school make weekday practices impossible. Practices will rotate between both the Bronx and Brooklyn on a weekly basis.  Additionally, there is a Facebook page created specifically for all star information and pictures, Gridiron Elite Youth Football All Stars.

Gridiron Spring Classic Accepting Applications

The time is now to join the movement, the Spring Classic is accepting applications for the 3rd year of the tournament.  We are ooking for quality oranizations that are well organized and progressive in their operations.  If interested fill out the following application and one of our staff members will get in touch with you as soon as possible.  Meeting dates and times will be available shortly.

Spring Classic 2010!!! Third Time Even More Charming.

 

The New York area football community collectively celebrates the second week of March a change of season.  Men across the area re starting to kiss their loved ones goodbye, take that last vacation with the family before heading back to the grind of practice schedules, mini-camps and  the dreaded OTA’s.  All in preparation for the classic that kicks of the official start to the 2010 season, the Gridiron Elite Spring Classic. 

In year one the Long Island Ravens took the crown with their stingy defense and physical play.  In year two the New York Spartans took their attack to the air in taking the trophy home.  In year three what will we see?  Well we can be assured that the Demon Knights (Gridiron Elite Winter Classic Champions) are ready for another tate of the hardware and the big game they have reached in year 1 and 2.  We also know that the Kings Bay Knights are always a favorite to make a lot of noise after an unbeaten regular season in last years classic. 

There are some new faces and some familiar ones as we will keep you up to date on details as they are released.  What you can be assured of is quality play, quality organizations, and quality coverage of quality games.  Gridiron Elite Films continues to give you a front seat at all three sites so when you get home you can check on what happened at the other two.

Gridiron Elite Board Appoints Leadership For Spartans

 

 

One of the goals of the Gridiron Elite was to give young men access to resources to become successful.  The New York Spartans were established as a program that could avoid common mistakes of young teams in the hopes that it would be as successful in the long run as their Gridiron Elite brothers.  Since the establishment of the program, the Spartans have been owned and operated by the Gridiron Elite board of directors.  The wealth of knowledge which included decades of eperience in Minor League Football allowed the Spartans to achieve such early success.  Today, the Gridiron Elite announced that they have promoted Head Coach David Patterson to the Executive Head of Operations.  Patterson was introduced to the Minor League Football community five years ago as a defensive assistant for the New York Bandits. 

 

When the Gridiron Elite concept was developed along with the Spartans, Patterson was named head coach for the inaugural 2008 campaign.  Since then he has worked closely with the Gridiron Elite board in running the Spartan program.       The front office of the Spartans will be filled out before the start of the Gridiron Elite Classic, with several people being interviewed to assume the role of General Manager. In every matter from this point forward David Patterson has complete control of the team and as owner of the New York Spartans. Ray Baxter will assume the temporary role of General Manager until a new person is named.  Gridiron Elite board director William Badson said “Dave has been working hard to get the Spartan program in a position to do a lot of good for the players and community.  Congratulations to hm as it is a well deserved appointment and I am sure he will continue to direct the Spartans in the right direction.”   

 With his hands full wth 2010 coming around the corner Patterson was able to spend a brief moment to speak with the Gridiron Elite staff.  “With the short time that I have been involved on this level I have seen many teams come and go.  For the young and especially the start up teams, I appreciate the guidance and resources that the Gridiron Elite provides that ensured that the Spartans would be successful.  We will continue to wave the banner of the elite.  Bill Badson has been and continues to be a great mentor and great friend of mine who really makes this game fun to be associated with.  Tito Perez who has taught me about the craft of coaching, and how the attention to detail seperates the coaching as a hobby from a profession.”   Although the Spartans will no longer be operated by the Gridiron Elite, they will continue in their partnership as an associate and charter member of the Gridiron Elite.  Their role will be similar to other Gridiron Elite teams like the New York Bandits, Empire State Demon Knights, Long Island Panthers and Nassau Punishers.