New York Jets Help Cardoza High School Start Football Team in Bayside

New York Jets Help Cardoza High School Start Football Team in Bayside

 

   By Dan Miller

 

(L-R) PENCIL President, Michael Haberman, Matt Higgins, NY Jets Executive Vice President of Business Operations, a Cardoza High School graduate and member of the PENCIL Board of Directors, Jets staff member,  Rob Turner(#75) Jets offensive lineman, Cardoza principal Gerald Martori, Santiago Taveras, NYC Schools Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (#89) T. Parker PSAL. Donald Douglas , Executive Director PSAL and Cardoza football coaches gather to make the announcement and to present Cardoza Principal Gerald with a check for $12,500. Photos by Dan Miller/DMD IMAGES

The New York Jets teamed up with the NYC Department of Education and PENCIL to create a football team at Cardoza High School in Bayside.

  On Tuesday September 22 Jets wide receiver, Jerricho Cotchery #89 and offensive lineman Rob Turner #75 joined Santiago Taveras, NYC Schools Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Matt Higgins, NY Jets Executive Vice President of Business Operations, a Cardoza High School graduate and member of the PENCIL Board of Directors and PENCIL partner and PENCIL President, Michael Haberman to make the announcement and to present Cardoza Principal Gerald Martori with a check for $12,500.

 Matt Higgins, Jets Executive VP was very familiar with his surroundings since he attended and graduated from Cardoza. He never played sports there but appreciates the value of sports on the education of high school students. Having a former Cardoza student in a high position with the New York Jets is not a back thing for the school.

Cardoza High School Football Team members at announcement of Jets support

Mr. Higgins also announced the establishment of a $5,000 college scholarship and that the Jets will continue to provide $100,000 a year to PSAL sports in New York City. The scholarship will go to a PSAL student athlete for both outstanding performances on as well as off the field.

  This announcement received much gratitude from New York City Chancellor Joel Klein who has been a big supporter of team sports in our city schools. On hand to thank the Jets was the Deputy Chancellor, Santiago Taveras and PSAL Executive Director Donald Douglas,

 Deputy Chancellor Santiago Taveras said, “Thanks to the New York Jets our students are able to compete for a new college scholarship. The Jets have been strong partners and have helped increase student’s physical activity opportunities through our C.H.A.M.P.S and PSAL programs as we work to raise student achievement in and outside of the classroom.”

  Following the speeches and the check presentation the players on the new Cardoza football team were treated to a special coaching session with Jets wide receiver, Jerricho Cotchery #89 and offensive lineman Rob Turner #75 who joined Cardoza coaches and players for some down to earth football talk. Rob Turner took the linemen while Jerricho Cotchery took the backs and receivers under his wing and spoke about different strategies that he uses when playing football. Both players also spoke to the high school players about proper exercise and diets. Jerricho Cotchery spoke about his training program. The  high school football players were very surprised to learn that he spends hours working out before he even gets on the field. Conditioning is an extremely important part of preparing to play any sport, especially such an active sport as football.

 

Benjamin N. Cardoza High School Principal Gerald Martori with Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery

Cotchery was seen with Cardoza the head football coach as the backs and receivers practiced going out for passes and running pass patterns

 The Cardoza linemen learned from Jets offensive lineman Rob Turner that they must focus on where they want to block an opposing player. He was seen pointing to points on his jersey as an example of what he meant.