New York: Seven high school football programs victims of budget issues

That’s the day that school budgets are voted upon by residents of nearly all the districts across the state. And based on what’s been happening this month, good news that day may be harder to come across than first downs on third-and-25 snaps on the field.

Already, seven varsity teams have in essence been punted. Yonkers has proposed shutting down all sports at its five high schools to help close a substantial gap in the city and school operating budgets, Corning-Painted Post proposes to merge sports for its two high schools into one and Brocton’s board opted to preserve for now all sports except for varsity football, which was sidelined last season by low player turnout, in a vote last week.

School boards in Hannibal and Troy both initially proposed no-sports budgets and then backed off, and dozens of other boards could play that card as they race to meet an April 23 deadline for approving the budgets that voters will act on May 18.

A recent survey by the state School Boards Association and the Council of School Superintendents projected that up to 20,000 teaching, administrative and service positions in schools could be eliminated via layoffs and attrition over the next year.

The rest of the Brocton story is a situation being played out in many communities this month. Even with some substantial cuts, including 18 jobs, the budget currently under consideration would raise taxes by between 14 and 14.5 percent. If voters shoot that down next month, the whole sports budget of just under $100,000 could be up for renewed debate as the board looks for ways to make a second proposal over the summer more palatable to residents.

With the national unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent, college and health-care costs rising sharply and 401(k) and investment funds for most still nowhere close to pre-recession levels, the expectation is that voters will take out their frustration on school budgets as a warm-up for November, when all of the state’s major elected offices as well as Congress and New York’s two U.S. Senate seats are up for grabs.

Robbin Williams' appointment as Albany's football coach did not happen as expected last week due to questions about his resume raised by The Times Union, and he was scheduled to meet with the school board early this week.

The board was taking a closer look at Williams’ background, another potential blow for a team coming off back-to-back winless seasons. A copy of the resume obtained by the newspaper appears to misstate his experience as a player.

Three of the six NFL teams Williams claims to have gone to training camp with say they do not have a record of him ever being under contract or being invited to a training or free-agent camp. When questioned by the paper, Williams said he had tryouts lasting one or two days with six teams but that he never signed with any of them.

Williams also indicated he was a member of the 1988 Washington Redskins as a replacement player, but the players strike actually took place the previous season. In addition, his contention that he played arena football for the Albany Firebirds at times from 1992 to 1994 appeared unsubstantiated based upon investigating by the paper.

Information regarding Williams' employment at the Albany County Correctional Facility, his education and college and scholastic coaching background appears to be accurate, the paper reported. Albany will be taking the field this fall with its fourth coach in four years.

* There's no way a softball team can win when the other team scores four runs and only one player in your lineup produces a hit, right? Think again. Somers beat Pleasantville 5-4 in eight innings under those circumstances on Saturday as LSU recruit Tammy Wray posted all four of Somers' hits and drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth. Wray had scored the tying run on a fielder's choice in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

* Thirty-fifth-year baseball coach Jim Palano of Bishop Timon-St. Jude (Buffalo) picked up victory No. 500 with a 6-3 win over Strong Vincent in Erie, Pa. Sophomore Billy O'Neill went the distance for the Tigers (3-3), striking out five.

* David Pojman scored two goals, including the 100th of his varsity career during a 16-2 lacrosse win for Croton-Harmon vs. Peekskill. The senior also recorded four assists.

* In a boys lacrosse game between two of upstate's better squads, defending NYSPHSAA Class B champ Canandaigua Academy downed Corning East 11-9 as Gannon Osborn scored three goals and Deven Alves and Adam Knapton each had two goals and three assists.

* Ossining and Sleepy Hollow maxed out the scoreboard in girls lacrosse. Molly Malone (seven), Caitlin Malone (six) and Caitlin Costello (five) combined for 18 goals in Ossining's 25-15 victory. Costello added five assists, and Sleepy Hollow's Jennifer Angevine finished with seven goals.

St. Anthony’s is hosting "Lead the Way Lacrosse Day of Heroes" on Saturday in Huntington. The boys lacrosse tripleheader features the Friars vs. New Canaan (Conn.) at noon, Chaminade vs. Yorktown at 2 p.m. and Manhasset vs. Darien (Conn.) at 4 p.m.

The Lead The Way Fund was established to raise funds in support of families of U.S. Army Rangers who have died, have been disabled or who are currently serving in harm’s way around the world. The initiative began in honor of Sgt. James J. Regan, a 1998 Chaminade graduate who was killed in Iraq.

Saturday’s honorees are Regan, Lance Cpl. James Argentine (St. Anthony’s, 2005), Lt. Ronald Winchester (Chaminade, 1997) and Lt. Michael L. LiCalzi (Chaminade, 2000). The day begins with a mass at 8:30 a.m. at St. Anthony’s, and gates for the games open at 10:30 a.m. Admission for the tripleheader is $15 for adults and $8 for students and youths.