UTS Gridiron

New Division 1 Head Coach, Martin Head, would like to make some exciting announcements for the upcoming 2004 season:

Division 1 Schedule
Season 2004 is just around the corner – and I am excited about the team of coaches, the players that have been in touch with me, and the plans for this year!

Coaching Staff
We have over 60 years of playing and coaching experience in that group – and a good deal of that is championship, as well as representative football experience. As a player this should be very exciting – you will be led by some of the best coaches that our country has to offer.

Head Coach – Crusty
Offensive Coordinator – Andrew Douglas
Defensive Coordinator – Ese Enari
Offensive Line – Paul Manera
Offensive Backs – TBA
Defensive Line – Ese & John Kritikos
Defensive LB’s – Wayne Richardson
Defensive DB’s – Anthony Maxwell
Fitness – Joe Huynh

Players & Recruiting
We have over 35 players that have expressed interest in season 2004 already! This is going to be a competitive year, but also a fun year. It is a milestone year for UTS Gridiron, and you will hear more from that from your Executive Team at a later date. Please join me in welcoming the new coaches, and I look forward to seeing you all on 5th June down at Wentworth Park.

Yours in Pigskin,
Martin Head (Crusty)
Head Coach

On Thursday 13th May, UTS Gridiron played part in the Club Super Trivia Challenge, at the University Broadway Glasshouse Bar. Ten rounds were played out between 12 other UTS clubs. The UTS Gridiron boys (Matt Steel, Lewis Astridge, John Kritikos, Nigel Law, Gordon Chan, Matt Hunter and Simon Irrgang) got together and lead the trivia all the way from the 2nd-7th rounds. But UTS lost some places after the “on-going” answers were handed in, where you had to name all the Olympic & Winter Olympic venues in their respective years. Still - Gridiron finished 6th in the end. The trivia MVP undoubtedly going to John Kritikos, who stunned everyone (particularly a tipsy Matt Steel) with his general knowledge.

On Thursday 13 May, 7:00pm UTS Gridiron will be part of a Club Super Trivia Challenge, at the University Broadway Glasshouse Bar. Questions will be of a general nature and costs $2 per person or $16 table of eight. Register yourself or your team by the close of business Tuesday 4 May. Contact Matt Steel to register a team or be added to one. Email president or Mobile: 0418 600 326.

Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd of May at Jamison Park, Racecourse Road Penrith, NSW. Costs $20 Per Session OR $50 for all three sessions. Accommodation Not Included but is available at the Holiday Inn, Penrith Panthers (Phone) 02 4720 5555. For more details please phone Paul Manera: 0408 641 345 or Email: pmanera.

If you have any material you feel is appropriate for the new upcoming UTS Gridiron website, please contact the webmaster. The type of material might include pictures, documentation, reports, rosters or any other form of UTS Gridiron archives. We also call for any UTS members whom have been asked to forward their material, to please do so as soon as possible, as we can’t make the next step without it.

We are currently working on a new website for UTS Gridiron.com. It will be a huge revamp from the current site, with a new layout, photos, stats and lots more! Without giving away too much, we hope to get the site launched within the next few weeks. Please check back regularly for updates.

Present Australia is arranging a trip for American High School Athletes to play gridiron in Australia, and are looking for approximately 12 young Aussie players to be apart of this game. There is also an opportunity for coaches to be involved.

The 22 visiting American players are from a variety of states and have no prior game experience with each other or the American coaching staff. The week leading up to the game will be used for practice sessions so this exhibition game can take place. A coaches clinic will be run by the visitors for people with an AGCA accreditation for one weeknight.

The game will be played on Sunday July 4th at Homebush Athletics Track at 12pm. Practice times will depend on the availability of interested players and coaches.

If you’re interested or want to find out more, please e-mail Peter Upham.

Monday, 23rd February 2004 at Hurstville Golf Course (Lorraine Street, Peakhurst)
Dress: Collared Shirt, Dress Pants / Shorts
Time: All players arrived at 6:45am, first group starts at 7:00am
Cost: $50.00 (includes your 18-hole round, BBQ Lunch, BYO drinks, clubs are available for hire - $13.00)
Prizes: Closest to pin on 2 of the Par 3 holes, trophies for the winning team

Results From the UTS Gridiron Golf Day: UTS Gridiron Golf Day played at Hurstville Golf Course

Longest Drive: Brad O’Connor
Closest to the Pin: Matt Steel / Brad O’Connor

Winners:
Brad O’Connor (scr)77
Michael Walker (36)61

Congratulations to Martin Head (”Crusty”), who has been appointed Head Coach for the 2004 Division 1 season. We wish outgoing head coach Paul Manera the very best with his new opportunities in 2004 - and hope that he will stay involved with our Club and Program.

March / April off-season gym sessions are being planned - sprint and weights training. Expressions of interest to Gordon Chan.