Through March 5th take advantage of an UA discount!

There is never an offseason just a different phase of preparation. Communication remains high on the Quaker Football family list of priorities. I have started these newsletters, emailed parents and players and sent numerous HUDL messages to all levels on many topics. As we help the guys grow into men who value ROAD and what it stands for please encourage your son's to check and work on their communication skills with us! It takes a village. We appreciate the team work.

Thank you to the QABC for donating four new iPads to the Football Program! We utilize HUDL on game days and it's important to coaching and making adjustments on the fly. Last season the HUDL app wouldn't run consistently and crashed often during games. Our current technology is nearly ten years old and it was originally a hand me down donation at that time. A huge thank you to the Booster Club and President Allyson Kirk for the support of OP football/athletics!

***Please consider joining and volunteering by using this link: https://www.quakerboosters.com/***

I would love it if our parents followed through on membership so we can support those who support us!

Last season Section VI reinstated an earlier start date for football. Historically, preCOVID, football had three weeks of work before the regular season week #1 game. This earlier date allowed us an extra week of preparation and a return of "Scrimmage Saturday" to conclude week #2 of camp (FRESH & JV Had Maroon & White Scrimmage & VAR participated in a four team scrimmage last season). Week #3 was then used to prepare for the opening week of the season. Section VI has voted to continue this trend. This is great news and a move forward in NYS giving our guys OPportunities to learn and grow in fall football! ***Above in green is the OFFICIAL START DATE OF #ROAD25 for FRESH, JV & VAR ONLY.

***MOD7 and MOD8 will be shared as soon as the date is shared by the section.

The purpose in sharing is two fold. We are excited to have a concrete date in our minds and this can help folks prepare vacations and family trips.

IPP is a continued focus for the program: Interest, Participation and Player development! #IPP drives all decisions I make for the football program. Football is a unique sport. You've heard me say in the past there aren't travel tackle leagues, tackle AAU teams or tackle tournament teams. The guys get eight scheduled games. That's it! Player development is shared between families and the staff. Families can support all three phases of STA, participate in summer work and look into trainers to name a few. It is something the program commits to as well. We will be running spring OTAS once the weather breaks on our turf field. These are all deposits into OP Football and into #ROAD25! They will be run by our football staff and be technical and fundamentally based. Google Form sign ups and Community Ed links will be shared in HUDL in mid-March. It will also be posted on our website.

I am proud to share that STA, our trusted training partner, has been training a prospect group from all over the country in preparation for 2025 NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis! We are proud of STA and owner Ben Woods. It's incredible to be trained by some of the best for $6 a session!

Anyone can register at any time through this link: https://forms.gle/NS49uvYXLn2uKoGm9

For some, the possibility of playing NCAA Football is a goal! The Quakers have a Prospect List for those who may be interested. Here are the details:

🏈Contact Coach Cieslik with your interest. Email: mcieslik@opschools.org or cell at 716-982-8177

🏈Set up a meeting with player, parent(s) and Coach Cieslik. Please plan for a one hour meeting. We can meet at a coffee place, MS or HS at anytime that works for all.

🏈The goal is to educate the player and parent(s) on the process of becoming an NCAA prospect and options for the future!

🏈These meetings are recommended to begin as early as a player's FRESH year.

Contact Coach Cieslik for additional information!

We are proud to announce the commitment by ⭐CARTER SWITEK⭐ to attend Ithaca University after graduation to play collegiate football! Your Quaker Football family is proud of you Swi! Carter was a two year CAPTAIN, three year VARSITY TWO WAY STARTER, received a list of recognitions for his play such as ALL LEAGUE, multiple CONNOLLY CUP Nominations, MOE GAVIN AWARD winner, just to name a few! Carter took care of his responsibilities in the classroom, in his training and on the field regularly playing all three phases! We are sure Swi will honor his past and attack his future in the Liberty League next fall. Congrats #11! What a legacy Carter has left behind in maroon and white for others to follow! #HTPATF

Below is a site that tracks WNY football commitments. There is talent in WNY! This is a great resource and a resource for any parents and players on the Quakers Prospect List!

16 guys responded back to my HUDL message invite to participate in a winter 7on7 OPportunity Sunday, March 2nd at the Bills Fieldhouse. It was great to see a mix of guys from FRESH, JV and VAR compete and be adaptable. It was truly putting the cart before the horse as we coached on the fly but it's great to see the guys in this manner. OP, Iroquois, Williamsville South and West Seneca West all participated! #OPNE

Frontier invited us to the Bills Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 6th from 9-11am for some 7on7 work. As with all of our offseason work all current 9th, 10th and 11th graders are invited! Here is the google form link:

https://forms.gle/N8FZvFNQobTM4kfY9

Another talented young man from the Class of 2025 has committed to play collegiate football after graduation! TRAVON THOMAS burst on the scene during his junior season and did everything he could to help the Quakers in his career in maroon and white! Travon's football IQ and WE>ME attitude will long describe his varsity career. Travon was another multi-sport student athlete who excelled in track as well. He accomplished many football accolades such as CONNOLLY CUP NOMINATIONS and WEEKLY POG recognitions and took care of his classroom responsibilities giving him options in his future! TT10 was committed to STA and rarely if ever missed. These efforts put him in line to earn the OPportunity to play for ⭐Baldwin Wallace University⭐ in Ohio after graduation! Travon has made the Quaker Football family proud and we can't wait to see him in the future! That smile and personality will fit well in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Our staff will have some traveling to do next year as we try to see our guys honor their past and attack their future in new colors! Congrats #10 you've left Quaker Football better than you found it! #OPNE

Congratulations to Coach Nate Feldman! Coach Feldman walked the same halls as all of you did before he graduated in 2016. Coach Feldman joined the Quakers staff last season after listening to his friend Coach Paolini talk about coaching the maroon and white in their friendship. We are grateful for Coach, as he is an unpaid volunteer who dedicates his time to the community and to OP Football. Additionally he completed all district required certifications on his own to be able to give back and meet district requirements. Servant leadership!

We'd also like to congratulate Coach on being named to the Buffalo News Thirty Under Thirty as a business owner! After graduating from Business School after high school graduation Coach grew Feldman's Lawn and Landscape into a successful business. Hard work wins every time and Coach is proof!

Check out Coach's business website here: https://www.feldmanslawnandlandscape.com/

#HTPATF

In last month's newsletter we shared that WE WANT YOU! We want to keep all current 8th graders in Quaker maroon and white for their FRESH year and beyond. If I hear anything I will certainly reach out but please shoot me an email to meet and talk if this is even a thought in you or your child's mind! WE WANT YOU! I will convince you that you are in an elite school district and athletic program! Give me the chance-

FRESH football is the start of real football with zero rule limits. Special teams, various personnel packages and personalized planning offer more OPportunities for play and for participation!

Servant leadership, community involvement and relationships! OPLLF, under partly new leadership, reached out for volunteers to assist in their upcoming clinics. A google form and info was shared with all five levels on 2/9/23! Future dates and times are in the link. Here is the google form link once again: https://forms.gle/ACRpjgu7F7vFVJek9

Let's unite under the common love of football and the desire to give back! I will sign for senior and community hours or for whatever is needed. The picture below is from the first clinic on 2/23 including Max Mancabelli, Shave Avino, John Meka Jr., Brody Keats, Jon Pugliese, Jayden Hassett & Mason Dommer! #OPNE

Last year the Quakers Staff worked the July Kensington Lions All Star Game in July! Despite the last second FG loss it was a great experience. They are running a combine this year and inviting some colleges to be in attendance to observe and talk with athletes. All info is on the pic and registration/payment can be made on this link: https://kensingtonlions.org/

*NOTE MARCH 9th DEADLINE

Don't forget to follow us on X @OPQuakersFB!

January 2025 Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/3wt49

February 2025 Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/89mv1