Over the past three years, participation numbers in high school football have been on a steady decline. Besides the pressure of classes and extracurriculars, students have to deal with the harsh reality of concussions.

“This sport is not meant for human bodies. It’s barbaric, but people like it so not much we can do,” said Dapo Balogun of Newark, New Jersey.

According to a National Federation of High School Associations’ athletic participation survey concussions are the number one reason why participation numbers have dropped. Parents are concerned about the growing research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and head trauma injuries that can leave damaging effects on the body.

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that is caused by a violent force to the head or neck area. Concussions usually affect motor and memory skills, but the effects of the brain injury are temporary. Not diagnosing a concussion can lead to other serious brain effects in the long term and can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE.

According to the  National Federation of State High School Associations, 1,057,407 participated in 11 man football in 2016. In 2017, the number dropped to 1,036,842, a two percent decline from the previous. In 2016, 14,099 high schools sponsored 11 man football in 2017 the number dropped to 14,059, a 20 school decrease from the previous year. The numbers have declined steadily over the years.

“The number one reason for these numbers declining is the rising talks of brain injuries and concussions,” said Bob Carrich, Senior Athletic Director at Bergen Catholic High School. “These findings on brain injuries are making parents more concerned about the realities of playing contact football.”

Bergen Catholic is one of the elite high school football programs in New Jersey. Although they don’t cut players, participation numbers at the high school declined slightly. Carrich also offered low enrollment at the high school as another reason for participation numbers decreasing in the sport.

The NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association), set out new rules in February to limit the amount of time there is for full padded contact practices. In 2018, high schools were allowed 90 minutes of player-on-player contact sessions a week. Moving forward into 2019, high schools will only be allowed 15 minutes of player-on-player contact for the week. These rules were set in place to limit the number of concussions and head injuries sustained during practice, that can affect athletes during the games.

Kenneth Isadare is a junior league football coach from Orange, New Jersey  has noticed the concern with parents regarding concussions and head injuries. His coaching staff has made it imperative to put regulations on player-to-player contact situations at practice. They’ve no longer allowed live tackling sessions and only let their kids practice in full equipment, one day out of the week.

“Trying to keep these kids safe starts with us, ” said Isadare. “We notice the participation numbers going down, but we can fix that by putting these kids in the safest of scenarios as possible.”

Although several preventive measures have been put in place to limit the number of concussions, some parents feel that the violent nature of the sport will still have parents hesitant in allowing their kids to play high school football.

“It’s an overall dangerous game,” said Ernestina Cancam of Bloomfield, New Jersey. “Even if they put restrictions on the game, the players will still experience the after-effects of brain injuries when they are done playing.”

When the New Jersey high school football season resumes in August, players will be under the strictest contact rules in the country. The emphasis on limiting head and neck injuries and player safety has been a major topic of discussion for high school athletic committees. Kevin Carty Jr, who was the president of the New Jersey Football Coaches Association’s executive board believes the regulations should boost up participation rates statewide.

“We want to keep our kids safe and we want people to know this is happening. By making it a mandate statewide, it can ease the fears of a lot of parents,” he said.

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As thousands of high school seniors signed their letter of intent on National Signing Day, Irvington High School stands out. While the public school is on the rise as a football powerhouse and is in one of the most competitive conferences in the state of New Jersey, their community has suffered from violence, crime and poverty.  The success of the program has been a much needed bright spot.

“We’re trying to change the narrative of what this city has been and the troubles that we’ve had in the past,” said Ashley Pierre, head football coach of the Irvington Blue Knights.

According to City-Data, Irvington’s crime rate was more than four times the national average, with 1,000 crimes occurring per 100,000 people for seven years straight. Though the crime rate did begin to decline in 2010, the rates are still high.

“Outsiders always talk bad about Irvington. They don’t realize people come from negative situations and that’s part of life,” said Savion Herring, Irvington’s offensive tackle and University of Cincinnati signee.

Coach Ashley Pierre, an Irvington native, played football at the University of Rhode Island and was an all-conference linebacker in 2007. When he was hired in 2015, he took over a team that was 3-7 overall and at the bottom of the Super Essex County conference. In his first season as head coach, he went 8-2 and had a top 50 finish in the state.

Irvington head coach Ashley “Rowdy” Pierre has been at the school since 2016. Since then he’s has a 24-9 record and has sent more than 12 athletes to division one schools. Photo by Chinedu Onyemaobi

“When I first took over this program, I tried to surround myself with men who cared and loved these kids,” said Pierre. “So we brought back some coaches from this city who have accomplished what we’re aiming at and that’s a championship.”

In a town where 25 percent of households live below the poverty line, the struggles at home can affect student-athletes both in the classroom and on the field. To combat these issues, Pierre has implemented a mandatory one hour study hall, weight lifting sessions, and  nutrition courses for his players. He also has a “Real World Wednesday”, where he brings guest speakers to mentor his players about the realities of life after football.

“What Rowdy [Coach Pierre] has done for our football program is truly special. There’s a different level of focus in our football players and it transcends beyond the classroom,” said Dr. John Taylor, Irvington’s Athletic Director.

Darren Fields, Irvington’s 6′2″ defensive back, will be playing at University at Albany State University of New next year and has played in Irvington township since his Pop Warner years. The start of the 2018 football season did not start off on the right foot, as Fields was sidelined with a fibula injury and missed the first eight games. Getting to this point in his life was not easy as he was faced with adversity early on his life.

“From the way I was raised, to be honest, I’m not supposed to be in the situation I am right now,” said Fields. “All I can do is be a great example to my brother and sister and show them the right path so they can be successful.”

Irvington High School had 12 student-athletes sign to division one schools in 2017. Most notable was  Lancine Turay, who is at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and is the brother of Indianapolis Colts linebacker Kemoko Turay. This year, Irvington has six student-athletes signing to division one schools. Coach Pierre believes this is just the beginning of Irvington’s success.

“Next year we should have around 10 guys sign. This is just the start of something special” said Pierre. “We’re going to be around for a long time. Just stay tuned.”

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At 41 years old, New England Patriots quarterback and future Hall of Famer  Tom Brady is on the verge of winning his sixth Super Bowl, which will give him the most championships as a single player in NFL history.

It also makes him the oldest quarterback ever to start in a Super Bowl – a record he set last year. 

After being selected with the 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Brady’s tenure with New England has been nothing short of greatness. He’s broken every passing record in the franchise’s history and is the NFL’s all time winningest quarterback.

Brady could add one more Super Bowl win to his extensive resume in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, even though some people believe his age will be a factor in the game.

“Father time doesn’t tick on God, cause that’s what Brady is, God,” said Jesus Riviera of Coney Island. “I know he’s up there in age, but he’s playing at such a high level right now, I don’t know when he’ll start to decline.”

According to the NFL Players Labor Association, the average NFL career lasts just 3.3 years. Brady is in his 18th season and his numbers haven’t declined since he’s turned 33, which is usually when  quarterbacks  begin to decline.

Sunday’s Super Bowl will have the widest margin of age difference between starting quarterbacks in NFL history. There’s a 17-year difference between the two – Rams quarterback Jared Goff was seven years old when Brady won his first championship in 2001.

“I’m not concerned about Brady or Belichick on Sunday,”  said Matt Cruz of Bronx. “He’s been here nine times. If that’s not greatness, I don’t know what is.”

Brady’s ninth Super Bowl appearance marks the most all time by a single player in a career. NFL legends such as Dan Marino, Michael Vick and Philip Rivers have zero appearances and they are all future Hall of Famers.

But Rams defensive back Nickell Brody-Coleman  believes Brady’s age will catch up to him during the Super Bowl.

“Yes. Yes. Age has definitely taken a toll.” Brody Coleman told Reuters. “For him to still be doing it, that’s a great compliment for him. But I think that he’s definitely not the same quarterback he was. Movement. Speed. Velocity. Arm strength.”

This is the second time in Brady’s career that he’ll be facing the Rams in a championship setting. The first time in 2001, the Rams had the NFL’s  third ranked defense and held opponents to just under 85 rushing yards per game. These Los Angeles Rams aren’t as dominant on defense, even though they are led by the NFL’s sack leader Aaron Donald who has 21.5 on the year.

There is some concern for Patriots fans about Brady’s age in this year’s game, mostly centering around Brady being hit by the Rams’ aggressive pass rush.

“He really doesn’t get touched, but in this game , when you’re going against (Ndamukong) Suh, Donald and (Dante) Fowler, I hope he’s ready for the pain,” said Shemell Wright of Rosedale, Queens. “If those guys hit him, it might be done up for Brady man.”

In an ESPN interview  with Jeff Darlington, Brady confirmed he’ll be back.

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After starting the season 1-7, and losing to their divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles, fans of the New York Giants are becoming uneasy about the current state of their favorite team.   

“They don’t have a winning mindset” said Daniel Medina of Mexico City. “They shouldn’t be afraid of going against any team.”

Losing seven out of the first eight games of the season ends all playoff hopes for the franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2011. Even with the star power of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and first round draft pick, running back Saquon Barkley, the Giants still can’t find ways to win in crucial games.

“It’s just annoying to watch how we can’t finish games, especially divisional games that matter most,” Medina added.

The Giants looked strong heading into the second half with a 19-11 lead. Their offense, which has struggled this season could not manage to score a touchdown and failed to convert on meaningful third downs in the second half to keep drives alive. Many of the offensive struggles has been pointed to quarterback Eli Manning, who is in his 14th season and won two Superbowls with the Giants.

“He’s trash, he’s old and he’s not winning us games” said Angel Cruz of the Lower East Side. “We should let him (Eli) go and let Saquon and Odell be the face of the team.”

Angel Cruz of the Lower East Side and his son are loyal New York Giants fans. They hope their team can find a way and finish the season strong. Photo by Chinedu Onyemaobi

According to Pro Football Reference, the New York Giants are ranked 22nd out of 32 teams in points per game, 20th in total yards per game, 29th in rushing yards per game and 12th in passing yards per game.

Playing to their strength, Manning threw the ball 37 times and targeted receiver Odell Beckham Jr nine times. Beckham Jr, who is the active leader in yards per reception, caught five of the nine targets for 85 yards, but failed to reach the end zone, something he hasn’t done much this season. The Philadelphia Eagles were missing six starters, three from their secondary, but managed to put Manning and the offense in precarious situations.

“Knowing they were struggling with injuries in the secondary, personally I would’ve loved to attack them. But that wasn’t in our game plan,” said Odell Beckham Jr to ESPN after Sunday’s game.

Blame is being pointed toward their offense, but defensively the Giants are ranked 25th in scoring defense and have the 4th worst 3rd down defense in the NFL. With teams such as the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears coming up on the schedule, who are ranked in the top ten offensively, some fans are worried about the holes on defense.  

“Defensively they need to get better, their pass rush is bad, and they don’t tackle” Cruz said. “If arm tackling is the new way to tackle, they better get it straightened out. ”

The Giants have five  games left in the regular season, with two more divisional games against the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. With a 3-8 record, the playoffs seem very unlikely.  Since the start of the 2017 season, the Giants have a 6-21 record, the second lowest total win percentage of teams in the NFL.

Although many bash Manning for his underachievement, some fans still feel Eli has some magic left in the tank.

“I’m with Eli all the way,” said Jesus DeLacruz of Highbridge, Bronx. “I think it’s the coaches fault for not managing the play calling well enough.”

The Giants can look forward to the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, where  a large  pool of talented quarterbacks will be up for grabs. Front office executives and draft experts believe the Giants should look towards University of Oregon’s Justin Herbert or University of Missouri’s Drew Locke.

“Next year we should go all out for a quarterback, draft him and stash him,” said DeLacruz. “ It’s time to look forward to the future.”  

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Life has never been the same for Mark Weng and David Martinez, local business owners whose shoe store was near the World Trade Center.

Seventeen years after the terrorist attack, they are still haunted. Martinez had to battle anxiety, and Weng refuses to go anywhere close to Ground Zero, the replay of the plane hitting the towers still vivid in his memory.

Weng is forever grateful he was not one of the victims of the terrorist attack.

“One day can change your life forever,” he said.

Weng and Martinez owned and worked at Footmart on Fulton Street. They saw hundreds of customers, the majority worked at the Twin Towers. Those people became their friends.

“People came through here every day looking for shoes, all sorts of people, and you begin to familiarize yourself with some,” said Weng.

Their memories of 9/11 are still vivid.

It was just after 9:15 a.m. when Martinez of Flushing, Queens, was on his way to work. His train came to a halt right before the Fulton Street stop. Confused passengers on the train waited to hear why they were being delayed.

“Everyone was lost at what was going on,” Martinez said.

Finally, after 15 minutes, the train jolted and worked its way up towards the Fulton Street Station. Unaware of the events taking place above him, Martinez came out and headed toward work as if it was a normal day. But there was something wrong. Approaching the store, he noticed the gate was closed, he also noticed something else.

“I looked up and saw a giant fireball coming from the side of one of the buildings,” he said “I didn’t understand the magnitude of the situation, it all looked like an accident.”

What he failed to realize was he was staring at the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

As people filled the streets ravaged with fear, Martinez had to make sure Weng and his other workers were not coming anywhere toward Ground Zero.

But Weng’s train was on the Williamsburg Bridge. He watched the attack through the train’s windows.

“I also thought it was an accident,” he said. “But when I saw the second plane hit, I knew something was wrong”.

Weng continued to make his commute into Manhattan heading west on Centre Street, as the dark reality of the event came full circle.

“I looked up at the tower and saw people jumping, at first I didn’t want to believe it was real,” he said.

Meanwhile Martinez was looking for a pay phone to call Weng and the others. He spotted one on the corner of Nassau and Fulton street and headed towards it. Moving frantically, he dropped his quarter, stopped, and noticed the quarter bouncing up and down. He turned his head, and saw one of the towers falling as a huge mushroom cloud of debris and smoke whipped its way toward him. He ran with others fleeing the debris filled cloud.

“It was like a nuclear bomb had went off or the equivalent to hundred of planes flying over you at once,” he said.

Finding a nearby subway station, he ran into it and waited for a sign to let him know things were okay. After 30 minutes, he made his way up out of the subway and arrived to a street of floating papers, dust and the smell of burning cars.

Four weeks later the men were allowed to go back to the store and recover items.

“I came back to the store and it was filled with white ash,” Weng said. “The pants I had on were black, by the time I left they were gray.”

Fortunately the store wasn’t severely damaged and the business eventually reopened. Weng is forever grateful for surviving the attacks.

“I can’t believe it’s been 17 years since,” he said. “I pray nothing like that happens again.”

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