WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The Watertown Giants Pop Warner football team took a special trip to the New York Giants training camp on July 27th to meet the players and receive a five thousand dollar equipment grant…one of only 5 teams out of New York selected by USA Football and the Giants for that award.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Watertown Giants Commissioner Jeff Bence. “Last year we received a 500 dollar one and that one helped us tremendously so you can imagine what the 5,000 dollar one did. Not only was it a money grant, they ended up inviting us down to participate in some of their activities.“
Bence said selection process involved a number of stages….with the New York Giants and USA Football reaching out to him in April to followed by a Zoom interview soon after.
The Watertown Giants were then selected for the award after checking a number of boxes both organizations were looking for.
“It wasn’t just like a thrown in the hat selected, it’s because of what we’re doing with our organization, how we’re growing, how our numbers are constantly rising,” said Bence. “We’re 100 percent at all our coaches being certified through USA Football, which is our governing body for all of Pop Warner.“
While receiving the check was a prestigious honor, the chance for the players and coaches to meet the NFL stars they idolize and try to emulate on the field was the icing on the cake for the Watertown Giants.
“It was a lifetime dream for many of these kids,” said Bence. “To see the guys that they are watching every Sunday on TV… like Russell Wilson was a huge one. To be talking to him and have him sign autographs and their jerseys, it was a pretty big deal. It was a blast. The players got all the kids fired up and they enjoyed every minute of it.”
But that’s not where this experience ended.
Last night at halftime of the Giants-Jets preseason game at MetLife Stadium, the Watertown Giants played an exhibition game against the Mo’Better Jaguars from New York City
Each team got 5 plays in front of the fans in attendance and also had a chance to spend time on the sidelines before the game and during the first half.
A thrill of a lifetime for a group of young football players here in Watertown.
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