If anyone can grab me an extra hat and trading cards, I would be very appreciated and pay for shipping.
Damn.... I'm going to make some of those two-a-days again, but they're making it harder on my commute from Jersey. First practice is at 8:45, no problem being there by that time. But the second one doesn't start until 5:30, which means Jersey guys have to hang out all afternoon waiting around for the second practice, then drive the 1 1/2 hours home. Week One has 4 Two-a-Days. Week Two has 2 Two-a-Days. Week Three only has 1 and Week Four has none. Maybe I'll mix it up with a couple of 2 PM single practices this year.
It varies depending on what day of the week it is and also the time of day. It's also kind of hard to figure how many people are there. I'm going to take a shot and say the most I've seen is about 2,000-2,500. That would be with the bleachers pretty full and people spilled out along the fence standing up. But at the 8:45 weekday morning practices, for example, you might only have 600-700 people. There's plenty of room on the bleachers, even at the 50-yard line. You're in the sun all day and facing the sun, so load up on the 45 sunblock if you're going in the morning.
I have only been to a few Summer Camp practices but the times I have been there the stands were always full. Not sure of a number, but alot of people show up.
Section you do know that you're only 15 minutes from the beach, right? After the first practice, head to Jones Beach, relax for a bit- Hooters is also just a few doors down the road on Hempstead Turnpike. Crybaby- in a few years you'll have the last thing Long Islanders could hold onto- and can probably make the commute on the Jersey side from point to point in less than an hour. Just consider this to be a sacrifice for the time being.
Good point KOZ, but didnt they re-schedule the opening of the new training camp until 2008 or did I read something wrong. Either way my trip will be 50 minutes from Point Pleasent and only 15 minutes from my job in Parsippany. So I can wait. No biggie here.
When the practice moves to Jersey (probably 2008) I'll be about 30-40 minutes away. So yeah, I look at this as a temporary inconvenience. But I've said this before, I do like the Hofstra experience. I really enjoyed going last year even though it's a very long day if you stay for both practices. There's something about the small college campus environment there... kind of neat. We'll probably lose all that with the Jersey thing... I envision it being more like a corporate facitlity without the open space, the ability to watch the players going into The Netherlands, and a lot more pain-in-the-ass security. For now, I'm not whining. I'll enjoy the two summer TC's and then look forward to a shorter commute in '08. P/S: Thanks for the tip about Jones Beach... didn't know it was that close. It really gets boring hanging around after lunch waiting for the second practice.
I haven't been to TC since 1979. It's just too far for me. I keep writing the FO telling them to get the team on a bus to do practice drills in my backyard, but they never get back to me.
Hey glad I could be of assistance- the Meadowbrook Parkway, which you take or cross on your way to Hofstra, runs N to S, terminating at Ocean Parkway. Ocean Parkway is the southern most parkway on LI, and runs (E-W)from Nassau (Jones) to Suffolk County (Robert Moses State Park). All told, there are numerous town and county beaches along the way- some require residency, others like Jones and Rober Moses, do not. If you wish, you could also head to Long Beach (Ocean Parkway has an exit for Loop Parkway which runs to Long Beach)- there, you'll find another boardwalk (just like Jones), and also a great deal of bars and restaurants, but it tends to be a bit of a scene, especially on weekends. Also, if you are looking for a pretty wild experience and a way to kill a few hours, and are an aviation buff like myself, check out the Cradle of Aviation Museum @ Mitchell Field- you could pretty much walk there from Hofstra. There, you'll find not only a wicked IMAX experience, but also some great exhibits, including F-14, E2c, a Blue Angels aircraft, plus a great amount of hands-on stuff. If you're bringing kids with you, the Long Island Childrens Museum, and Fireman's Museum, is right next door to the Cradle. Here's the link: IMO the Cradle can't be missed. This particular area of LI is rich in aviation history, Hofstra and Nassau CC, were built on the former Mitchell Field airfield property. Plus, on a hot summer day, there's nothing better than hiding inside in AC for a few hours. http://www.cradleofaviation.org/index.html
I've been a Jets fan since the beginning. I rooted for the Jets in SB III, watched it with my dad in his living room just prior to departing for Vietnam in January of '69. So I go back aways with the Jets. One of my friends, Bob Scrabus, actually played for the original NY Titans. But in all those years since then that I rooted for the Jets (got my season tix in 1985), I never once made it to TC. Last year was my first TC, believe it or not. Was always too busy running my own business and raising a family. Last year I decided to attend my first TC and enjoyed the hell out of it, so I'll make the commute for the next two summers and not complain. It's a fun day and never a dull moment when they're on the field.
I'm right down the street from Hofstra, but where exactly in Hofstra do you go? I assume it's around the football stadium? What entrance do you use for parking? Thanks.
No sir it's actually not. Going W on Hempstead TPKE, you'll actually be turning right, (not sure if it's before or after the tunnel, but it's a major entrance for Hofstra). Nothing goes on at the stadium, sans one night practice a year. All other activity is to the right, they eat, sleep, lift and practice there.
Look for the Jets banners along the fence. The entrance is at one of several traffic lights along the Hofstra property... if you turn in at the wrong one, you'll be driving by The Netherlands dorm and cafeteria. Turn around, go back out and take the turn at the next light... you'll see plenty of cars pulling in. Continue straight along here and you'll see the practice field on your right... keep going straight and you come to the parking area. The big Modell's tent is on your right also.... lots of Jets stuff to buy in there. Want a good deli sandwich for lunch? Forget about the fast food joints... go out to the light again and make a left. Go down several blocks and you've got the Colisseum Deli on your right. I met Wayne Chrebet in there last year, ordering his lunch right behind me.
From the Jets' website: The 2006 Jets' Training Camp title sponsor is North Fork Bank. Other presenting sponsors include: Dunkin' Donuts, Delta, The New York Post, SportsNet NY, Sprint and Toyota. For more information on the Training Camp schedule, VIP sweepstakes and more, visit www.NewYorkJets.com. Do you get the impression they would find a sponsor for the toilet paper in the facilities if they could find one? "This wipe brought to you by King Kullen."
Thanks Koz and 227. I did know that Ewbank Hall was on the north campus, but silly me, I thought they'd play football in the football stadium. Do they work near the Athletic Center? (where I used to see them play basketball before they built the Arena)
They're on the two large, outdoor, grass fields, not at the stadium. One field has aluminum bleachers running along it and the other field butts up to the end zone and extends further. You won't be able to miss it... cars will be pulling in and a security guard vehicle is there to direct you toward the back where the parking is.
I'm kind of dissapointed they didn't schedule any night practices like they did last year. I was able to get to one when I was in NY last year and it was a lot of fun watching the practice under the stars. Maybe they still will, I think they scheduled them late last year too.
