With the start of the season just around the corner and a road game at the Lyndonville Tigers on June 20, the Jamestown Chiefs of the Northeastern Football Alliance are ready to get their inaugural season underway.
Approximately 44 players have made the final cut and are continuing to work hard with the ultimate goal of...?
Well, that depends. Everyone has their own goals.
''I just want us to get better as a team everyday,'' said Henry Leeper, a wide receiver and quarterback from Jamestown, who played collegiately at Hobart. ''I'm looking to get back in shape and win a few games.''
Other players, such as offensive lineman Brian Best, feel the Chiefs have something to prove to the city of Jamestown.
''I just want us to do the best we can,'' said Best, a Falconer Central School graduate. ''A lot of people in Jamestown are doubting us. We put our heart and soul into this and I think we can do a lot better than everyone is expected.''
Heart.
It's a word even the head coach of the Chiefs nibbled at when describing the strengths of his first-year semi-professional football team.
''I like the heart of this team,'' Brendan Carter said. ''These are the same players fans rooted for in high school. They have brought that same heart and soul they had in high school to the Chiefs this year.''
The Chiefs have come a long way since the concept began, but the project still hasn't come full circle.
''We started with eight guys on a field at Bergman Park in September,'' Chiefs president and general manager Joe Scapelitte said. ''We didn't have a team name, colors, uniforms or a league. Now we have this.''
As he spoke, the Chiefs were practicing at the firemen's training grounds on Harrison Street. In addition to the 44-man roster, the Chief have uniforms, a home field in Strider Field, a league in the NFA and they even have an official team bus.
The Chiefs are, however, a non-profit organization and have defrayed their organizational costs through fundraisers conducted by the team and through funds raised by local businesses.
Current team sponsors include Allied Fire Protection, Zap On-Site Computing and Fountain Bowl. More sponsors are also being sought by Scapelitte and the organization.
The players on the field, meanwhile, just want to play football. That's what they signed up for and that's what they're working towards.
''It's nice to get together with everyone, work on a few things every week and start a family here on the field,'' Leeper added.
The Chiefs will no doubt have their work cut out for them in their first season. They start with a tough test right off the bat with Lyndonville.
''They were 8-2 last year,'' Carter said of his week one opponent. ''They had the second-best offense in the league and the second-best defense.''
According to Carter, every other squads in the 12-team league has been established for at least four years.
Of those teams, last year's national champions, the Albany Metro Mallers, were ranked No. 1 in the country. Also on this prestigious list of previous No. 1's is Monroe County, the champion from two seasons ago. The Chiefs will face Monroe County IN their home opener at Strider Field on July 26.
''Right now we are working on getting the color guard and the Marine Corps to come out to our first home game,'' Chiefs public relations, sales and marketing director Rich Jensen said. ''They would love to come out and kick off the first game for us.''
The Chiefs have come a long way since September, but now it's time for some football.
Tickets for Chiefs home games can be purchased at Zap, the Jamestown Cycle Shop, three locations of U.S. News, Bridgeview in Bemus Point, Lite House Auto and Randolph True Value. The cost of tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for children. Season tickets are also available.
Visit the Chiefs Web site at www.jamestownchiefs.com for more information.
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Roster, schedule, Page C-2
