This will be lengthy…my apologies.
News: Heading into our last week of July before the mandated one week off for Moratorium the players and coaches sure have been busy. We started in June with eight non-padded practices and one trip to Bend to participate in a 7-7 tournament against four teams.
We finished June with one week of padded practices for the state All-Star game (Les Schwab Bowl). We were very proud that we had seven players and two coaches selected to participate in this illustrious event. This is the most Grant High School players chosen to participate in the game’s history. Deckard Hale (LB) was chosen as Captain for the second consecutive time and was also selected as a “Player of the Game”. This was Deckard’s third consecutive time being selected to play. All of our players played very well. (Dontae Stidum (second time selected) - Orion Scarpine - Conor Segel - Elijah Green - Nick Normington - RJ Jeter). It was great to see and hear from Grant High School and Les Schwab Bowl alum - Marcus Harris (Tennessee Titans) during the week.
Since that busy start to our upcoming season in June…July has been a whirlwind of activities. In July we have had 12 days of workouts (starting at McDaniel High School at 7:30 a.m ... .and then finishing with non-padded practices at Grant High School at 11 a.m.)...with 4 more to go this week of July (total of 16). Besides the speed-strength workouts and practices….we have also participated in six evenings of 7-7 events against twelve teams…with two upcoming days this week vs. West Linn - Clackamas and Beaverton. As well as the 7-7 work we had seven lineman and three coaches participate in the Metro Area Lineman Challenge in Hillsboro with Jack Hayes placing 4th in his division.
Moratorium Week (Players and Coaches - no workouts): 7-24 - 8-2
August: In August we have several events and continued workouts and practices on the schedule as well as the start to our season:
Workouts-Practices continue starting at McDaniel HS at 7:30 a.m. August 3rd-6th and finishing at Grant HS at 11 a.m.
Youth Football Camp for rising 3rd grade through 8th grade. Monday - Wednesday (August 3-5th). 5:30-7 p.m. You can register on the youth page on the FOGF website or walk up to register. Cost is $35.00
Workouts continue at McDaniel the week of Monday August 10th - Thursday August 13th. However…it will be just speed-strength work. Players will be finished at approximately 9:15 a.m.
Training Camp starts the evening of Monday August 10th in the Bowl at 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Olympic Team Competition begins) through Friday August 14th.
ALL PLAYERS must be registered on “Arbitar” - with Grant HS Athletic Department by Monday August 17th to start official OSAA practices. Complete registration info can be found here.
Equipment issues will be as soon as we are allowed back into the High School building. We have not been given a date for that yet.
Official start to the OSAA season begins on Monday August 17th. Practices for the week in the Bowl from 4-6:30 p.m. Practices this week will go M-F.
Scrimmage - Team and Individual pictures will be held at Grant HS on Saturday August 22nd at 10 a.m. We should be finished by approximately 1:30 p.m.
Practices the week of August 24-27th (4-6:15 p.m.).
Friday August 25th - Varsity and JV Jamboree at Sunset HS - TBD.
Financial: Our district is allotting us a total of five paid positions due to PPS budget issues. This district stipend covers a little of the coaches time in-season. Football coaches, unlike other sports, do not get paid in the off-season or for any time in training or 7-7 etc. in the summer. All of our coaches are at all of our workouts and practices. So this stipend shortfall increases the urgency for fundraising. I am confident that our board under the direction and leadership of President Stephanie Antipov are working extremely hard in soliciting businesses for commercial advertising, commercials, etc. If you know of any business that would like to participate please let one of our board members or myself know so they can follow up. All donations are tax-deductible.
With that…the board has given permission for us to do a team fundraiser. We are looking into alternative forms of advertising and apps in the future…but because of our short window we will be doing the SNAP fundraiser. This fundraiser really stretches families with multiple players and student-athletes who participate in more than one sport. We are sympathetic to that issue…especially being a parent of high level athletes myself. Sometimes a family must choose between sports…or one child gets to do a Snap fundraiser for one sport and the other child does one for a different sport. However….football is the most expensive sport to participate in. Helmets are $450-600+....shoulder pads…etc. It is what it is. The district has made it clear that there is little to no funds available for equipment, uniforms etc. until monetary issues get rectified. Buying new helmets…decals…replacement items…footballs, paying for our essential and required HUDL (film) account, etc. is a little daunting. I am nervous about funds. (I am not even talking about fun things for kids…team meals…banquet…etc).
The good news is…we have gotten two donations in the last week or so. 🙂
Thank you: Enough of the stress of money. I would like to acknowledge some huge thank you’s!
Geno Zaharie - Geno (board member) has built our new practice command center. It is state of the art…industrial quality sound system (donated)…a practice timer on one side and a Big Screen TV on the other to view practice drone film on the field…all the bells and whistles…it makes practicing very efficient and is so appreciated!!!
Geno also updates the FOGF website and calendar…produces commercials for our Live-Stream broadcasts…helps produce Live Stream with fellow board member Kurt Borchadt…among numerous other activities and projects. All to help our young student-athletes excel and be recognized.
Scott Caseras and Rayleen Anderson - Both have been putting in the hours getting our Youth Program up to speed and running efficiently. Their hard work and dedication to Grant Football does not go unnoticed and is very appreciated!
Megan Schlicker-Annen - Does all the work behind the scenes at school and helps as needed with the Grant Youth Board.
I know this letter was lengthy…thank you for your time and attention. If there are things I can help with…please email me: jbeck@pps.net.
See everyone either at the Jamboree or at our first official game of the season at Lincoln High School on Friday September 4th at 7 p.m.
John Beck