Hordes of Wayne Valley fans, football parents,
coaches and former players descended on Wayne Valley last night to show support
for winning football coach Brian O'Connor. As first reported Friday,
O’Connor still has not had his coaching contract renewed for 2014. This
has led to wide spread speculation that he will not be retained as the team’s
head coach.
New York Jets tight end Chris Pantale, who played at Valley for O'Connor from 2005 to 2007, spoke in O'Connor defense (pictured above speaking next to O'Connor). Pantale starred for Boston College between playing for Wayne Valley and the Jets.
"Valley won four conference titles in a row and and competed for a title every year while I played for Coach O'Connor," Pantale said. "But it wasn't just about winning. He taught us all to carry ourselves integrity and class at all times. He made us understand that we represented the school at all times. I've played for several well-respected, well-known coaches since I graduated from Wayne Valley. Coach O'Connor is among the best."
Steve Bais, who played for O'Connor's first two Valley teams in 2002 and 2003, also spoke. "The team was in bad shape off the field right before he got here. There were a lot of problems. He cleaned it up in a hurry by making sure we worked hard on the field and that we were first class citizens off the field. We didn't win a lot that first year, but we started winning the second year. That established the foundation for the four conference championships that came a few years later."
Additional former O'Connor players in attendance included Remo Fioranelli, Pat McHugh, Michael Landberg, Joe Fusco, Pat LaNeve, Andew DiFillippis, and Farzan Taschyoddi.
New York Jets tight end Chris Pantale, who played at Valley for O'Connor from 2005 to 2007, spoke in O'Connor defense (pictured above speaking next to O'Connor). Pantale starred for Boston College between playing for Wayne Valley and the Jets.
"Valley won four conference titles in a row and and competed for a title every year while I played for Coach O'Connor," Pantale said. "But it wasn't just about winning. He taught us all to carry ourselves integrity and class at all times. He made us understand that we represented the school at all times. I've played for several well-respected, well-known coaches since I graduated from Wayne Valley. Coach O'Connor is among the best."
Steve Bais, who played for O'Connor's first two Valley teams in 2002 and 2003, also spoke. "The team was in bad shape off the field right before he got here. There were a lot of problems. He cleaned it up in a hurry by making sure we worked hard on the field and that we were first class citizens off the field. We didn't win a lot that first year, but we started winning the second year. That established the foundation for the four conference championships that came a few years later."
Additional former O'Connor players in attendance included Remo Fioranelli, Pat McHugh, Michael Landberg, Joe Fusco, Pat LaNeve, Andew DiFillippis, and Farzan Taschyoddi.
Pantale, Mike Landberg, and Pat LaNeve chat with O'Connor shortly after the meeting.(Photo courtesy of Brian Hester)
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