Woodbridge Football Website Changing!
by WoodbridgeFootball.com / MyCentralJersey.com / NJ.com on 06/01/17
By: WoodbridgeFootball.com
Thursday, June 1, 2017, 1645
With the exception of two season, WoodbridgeFootball.com
has been active since 2003 in one form or another. Each and every year the website morphed into a
better experience for visitors through its content enhancements. It has seen fourteen years, 144 games, over ten
thousand photos and videos, thousands of man-hours devoted to keeping the site
fresh, hundreds of news reports from multiple sources, and 165,000 plus
visitors. It is a one of a kind website,
and according to Greg Tufaro of MyCentralJersey.com, it’s an “…outstanding web
site”. No other local high school
football program has anything to compare.
Doing the right thing for the players and staff, families and fans, and providing a positive image for Woodbridge High School and its football program was always the goal of the website. There isn’t a doubt that goal was accomplished.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the strong desire to continue, or the close connection with the Woodbridge Football program anymore. “A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected”. It isn’t fun to devote the time and effort when anticipated support is not present.
Also, the 5QC (Fifth Quarter Club) President has advised me they are unable to fund the website this year. Although finding and securing support for sponsorships on my own is a possibility, it shouldn’t be my responsibility entirely.
I find it very disappointing that more than 80% of the parents of players are not members of the 5QC. If you aren’t familiar with the 5QC, it’s a parent based organization that provides support to the players and cheerleaders of the football program. They have supported the website, prepared Pre-Game Spaghetti Dinners for players, purchase and distribute Senior Jerseys and Varsity Jackets, and have provided an Awards Dinner and Trophies for both players and cheerleaders. The 5QC deserves your support!
With all that said, this year, the website will be limited to the posting of the varsity schedule, scores and news reports when available.
Regardless of the change that will take place, the following people deserve a sincere “thank you” for their dedication to the website over the years. HC Brian Russo, AD Joe Ward, Dr. Nick Sardone and George Ryan, Maureen and Gary Comito, and Bonnie Smith.
Coach Russo was instrumental in supporting the idea of a website from the start. He began his tenure with the program in 2003, the same year the website opened. Coincidence? No! He had a vision for the program and the building began.
Without the background data supplied by Dr. Nicholas Sardone, a 1963 WHS graduate and WHS Football Historian, there would be no history to learn from. Along with George Ryan, a 1971 WHS graduate, they have written a book documenting the Woodbridge HS Football Program.
The 5QC’s Maureen and Gary Comito ran the best organization bar none! They convinced me to re-active the site after a two year hiatus in 2013. Their ducks were always in a row, they were always supportive of the website, and they were always ready to go the extra mile. Maureen and her staff were also fund raising wizards, leaving a surplus of just under $12,000 for their successors.
AD Joe Ward allowed access to the team and field for the purpose of gathering relevant info, and taking Game Day and Team photos. Without that support, the photos that were shared would never be available.
Last, but definitely not least is Bonnie Smith. She was a one man Communication Center between the website and the 5QC, and always receptive to Cooperating and taking on another task for the good of the program. In a pinch, she also provided photos of games and events when scheduling issues arose. If she didn’t write “Thank You” in her emails a hundred times, it would be a shocker. Appreciation and Respect were always vibes she sent out and gratefully received. No one has come close to the support that she provided the program and the website.
Best of luck for a successful season!
Charles McDevitt - WoodbridgeFootball.com
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