By: Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Two Super Bowl winning NFL quarterbacks will do battle as coaches this summer when Phil Simms and Joe Theismann take to the sidelines for the New Jersey vs. Northeast All-Star Classic.
Formerly the Governor’s Bowl and the New York-New Jersey All-Star Classic, the New Jersey vs Northeast All-Star Classic will pit the Garden State's best high school seniors against some of the top talent from Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, D.C., Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern Massachusetts.
In a teleconference held Tuesday morning, both Simms and Theismann were excited and enthusiastic about getting a chance to instruct some of the top talent in the Northeast.
Simms, a Kentucky native who has lived in New Jersey for nearly 30 years, will get a chance to lead the Garden State squad. Simms’ two sons, Chris and Matt, had standout careers at Ramapo High School and Don Bosco Prep, respectively.
On Tuesday, Simms said he thought the event was an opportunity to give high school football some positive exposure.
“I always try to promote high school football whenever I can,” Simms said. “I think [the game] is another way to bring attention to it.”
Theismann, a native of South River, N.J., who now resides in Virginia, will lead the Northeast squad. He said that the game will greatly benefit the players involved before they head to college in the fall.
“You become a much better player after you’ve had the opportunity to be around special players,” Theismann said. “Once these young men play in this game, there will be friendships formed that last long after this game.”
Both agreed that the game is also a way to give thanks to high school coaches. It will be these coaches from around the Northeast who will serve as assistants for Simms and Theismann.
“The amount of respect we have for these coaches is boundless and endless,” Theismann said.
The NJ vs. Northeast All-Star Classic will be played June 7 at 3 p.m. at Rutgers Stadium. It will be televised live with FOX-NY on WWOR-TV My9 in the New York metropolitan area.
