Speed and Conditioning – Coach Shawn O'Connor

The Rebels have always sought to be the best program in the city, bar none. One item that distinguishes us from the rest of the pack is our Speed and Conditioning Program, initiated by Coach O’Connor. Her drills, workouts and nutrition advise has helped players on all levels of our program. She even gave advise to parents who were looking to train or simply drop some weight. Over the next week, there will be a new column posted on our site - O’Connor’s Corner – where the Coach will provide advise on drills, nutrition, and conditioning. Football training is year round. If you are not working out to improve your skills, there is someone who is taking the time to be better, and they will take your spot in a few months. GUARENTEED.                

Coach Lou Moves to Pee Wee Division

Coach Lou Roman, who came aboard the with the Rebels in 2008 – will now lead the Rebel Defense on the Pee Wee level in 2009. 

“This is by far not a demotion, but giving an opportunity to someone who stepped up and filled a role last season” said Executive Director Ray Baxter. “Lou Roman has shown deep passion and dedication to the Pee Wees last season, when they needed help on defense, he stepped right in.”

Roman assisted the Pee Wees and Coach Blake last season in their playoff run. The Pee Wees were literally one play away from the Gridiron Elite Championship game, as a tough defensive stand forced overtime. The opposing team, the Brooklyn Renegades, gave the Rebels all they had, and on fourth down in the first overtime period, the Renegades scored and won the game.

We wish Coach Lou luck in his new endeavor. 

 

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Coach Ray Speaks…

I felt it was time to address members of the Super Prep (formerly Jr. Pro) division directly, since many of the comments made on this part of the site were negative in nature. It should not be so…

I have to admit, I usually have a gauge on the team when we come out of summer break and get into the fall practice sessions, just before we open up for games. I was not comfortable with last year’s team, and told many that we were not as good as people pegged us to be. Not because of talent, as we were loaded with weapons on both sides of the ball. My previous teams had one item this team did not, and that was character. As a team, last season’s Jr. Pro division lacked character, lacked grace, and at times, lacked heart. But, I do not blame the players for this. Many people, in this organization, said to me that the team should be folded, that I should not give these kids a chance to play, that the kids did not care about the program. No, I blame myself for doing something i’ve never done before. I honestly did not put my stamp on this team early, and allowed internal problems to manifest themselves (inmates thinking they were running the asylum). As a coach who runs a team, and an ED that runs a program, I should never have allowed this to happen. But I realize that I had a heart, and wanted to give certain players a chance to “express themselves”. Maybe I also gave a platform to players that did not deserve it (20/20 hindsight). I also did something that in my 20 plus years of coaching i’ve never done, sent a team home before even getting on the bus because they were not prepared. I believe it taught many on the team about responsibility, accountability, and being a man of your word. At least I hope so. For those of you that played in the Gladiator game, when we brought the team back toward the end of the season, I honestly salute you, because you played your hearts out, and gave all you had to win that day. We came up short, but I think you proved to yourselves and others that not all on the 2008 edition of the Rebel Jr Pro were out only for themselves. As for the Cardinal game, with our team at full strength, they would have never had a chance, and their coaches know it. That’s why they used the “street tactics” they did. They will never have the opportunity or the priviledge to play us again, as we will never be on the same field with a program that has become “thuggish”. They were better, with more class, in 2007. I hope Coach Jay gets it right in 2009, and gets rid of the cancers he employed.

As for us, time to move on. We are signing games as an independent program now, we will no longer represent the ECFL. I am in discussions with high schools in the Maryland, Washington DC, and Deleware areas and should have a schedule ready by March. It will be expensive to play with us in 2009, as we expect to travel for 5 or 6 games. However, there will be was to fundraise to help with costs. As far as the field is concerned, I am coming back rested, stronger, and with more determination. The Rebels will be the best program in the city, bar none. When you put on that Rebel uniform, you better come to work. You better be in shape. No more excuses, no more talking. It’s time to get it done. CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND REBELS – BELIEVE THAT!!!      

Here are my goals for this team in 2009

We score 300 points during the regular season (we scored 255 in 2007, so why not)

We hold teams to less than 10 points per game

We get back to fast break football

We become more aggressive on defense

We score at least 40 points defensively 

We get to the Gridiron Elite Bowl and win the damn thing!!

We shut out the EAST COAST KNIGHTS

We travel to all our destinations safely

And finally, we have a great time in 2009 

Nuff said – if you are willing to put it all on the line – without any nonsense – see you at practice in April.                      

Rebels Welcome New Jr. Pee Wee HC

In another unprecedented move by the Gridiron Elite and the Bronx Rebels, Rebel Football joins the ranks of many youth programs in the city and now has a Junior Pee Wee Head Coach. What makes this signing so interesting, is that the HC teaches at Evander Childs HS. Damn, Coach Ray did it again….

Coach Richard Ortiz, who was an assistant coach with the Evander Tigers last season has come aboard as the Rebels very first Jr. Pee Wee Head Coach. Coach Ortiz is very excited to take on this awesome responsibility. The JPW’s will play in the Gridiron Elite Youth Football League, and will begin practice with the rest of the program in April. 

We will interview Coach O and get an idea of what he has in store for the “Little Rebs” in a feature to be placed on this site by next week. Stay tuned!!

I told you this was gonna get interesting………      

Rebel Coaches Meeting

There will be a Rebel General Coaches meeting this Saturday, February 7th @ the Yankee Tavern. The address and exact location is below. The Meeting will begin promptly @ 4pm. The players/ parents meeting will be announced shortly.