North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco fondly remembers his younger days, when he played football for Memorial High School and competed against North Bergen High School during its first football season of 1963.
“It was a really good game,” said Sacco, who was a tight end and linebacker on the team. “I’m proud to say I played in the first game between Memorial and North Bergen. We won the game 7-6. It was the last time I rooted against a North Bergen team.”
Sacco has always believed that the game of football is almost equivalent to the game of life, that he learned much of his discipline and self-respect from playing football. It’s one of the reasons why Sacco has been a staunch supporter of local youth football, especially in the township that he governs.
“I think any sport is worthwhile for children,” Sacco said. “As long as it’s keeping them off the streets and from getting into trouble. I believe being involved in some sort of activity outside of school is essential for the children. And I believe our football program has always been a program that we can proud of in North Bergen. I think the more we offer, the better off we are.”
With that in mind, Sacco stood proudly in attendance last Saturday night, when the township’s recreation program hosted the first-annual Mayor’s Bowl football games, played between the youth football teams of North Bergen against those from neighboring West New York.
The tripleheader of games, featuring teams of boys from ages 10 through 14, were played at Bruins Stadium in North Hudson Braddock Park before a fine crowd of approximately 1,500 fans.
To Sacco’s delight, the three North Bergen teams, the Giants (ages 10-11), the Eagles (age 12) and the Red Raiders (ages 13-14), all defeated their opponents from West New York, making it a North Bergen clean sweep. Sacco was on hand to give trophies to the winning teams and was obviously beaming from ear to ear.
“I’m very happy with the results, but it’s not the most important part of the games,” Sacco said. “For me, the most important part is the sportsmanship and the camaraderie. I was happy to see that more than anything. And the young children got a chance to play at Bruins Stadium, which might have been a little overwhelming for them at first, playing in front of those people in a big stadium under the lights. But they handled themselves well. It really was an enjoyable night, a really nice evening.”
Sacco said he doesn’t know how the idea to have the Mayor’s Bowl games began, but that the plans are already in place to have West New York host the games next year.
“I know that there was supposed to be a Mayor’s Bowl last year, but for some reason, it never happened,” Sacco said. “I’m glad that it did this year and I can assume that myself and Mayor [Albio] Sires will do whatever is necessary to have it done again next year.”
Sacco said that the results of the event might change the philosophy of local football leagues that have weight restrictions. North Bergen currently plays in the Hudson County Youth Football League, which does not give youngsters weighing more than 145 pounds a chance to play.
“West New York plays in a league without weight limits and we were able to hold our own and no one got hurt,” Sacco said. “Unfortunately, we have some players who are heavier than the limit and they don’t get a chance to play. This shows that we can get more children to play. I think North Bergen and the league will benefit from allowing those children to play. It’s not fair. It’s been my feeling for a long time and every year I have to be convinced that we’re doing the right thing.”
Added Sacco, “Every child should have the same values and the same right. You can still be competitive and have more children participating. I wish the league would do something, because right now, it’s a disservice to the bigger children. I know this is going to anger some people, but I don’t agree with it.”
Sacco said that he particularly enjoyed the evening because he got a chance to see his son, Nick, participate as a coach. The mayor’s son was the starting center on the 1997 North Bergen High School team that enjoyed an 11-0 undefeated season and captured the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV state championship.
“He’s still in college, but he comes and helps out in the league,” Sacco said. “I think that it was great to see Nick work with the children.”
And after a slight controversy over the delay of the township’s Pee-Wee football program, it appears as if the youth football is as strong as ever. Just ask the mayor.