While you’re all caught up voting on Election Day for politicians, turn your attention to your hometown and vote for Steven Casali, who is in the running for the Week 9 Timex “Heart of a Giant” as part of a campaign sponsored by the New York Giants and USA Football.
Casali, a senior running back and linebacker at Sachem High School East in Farmingville, N.Y., is both a giant and has heart. He has been the key cog in Sachem East’s resurgence from the depths of Suffolk County’s Division I to a playoff contender.
As Sachem East’s all-time leading rusher and tackler, Casali is a throw-back, playing both sides of the ball with class and skill. He will be a Hansen Award finalist as one of the top players in Suffolk County and is a shoe-in for All-Division, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State and All-Metro honors by season’s end.
On the “Heart of a Giant” campaign page, Casali wrote about his training and preparation and why he has the “heart of a giant”:
On training and preparation: “In first grade, my fatigued dad sauntered in from work that started at midnight until I got home from school. He sat down on the couch and he closed his bloodshot eyes. Before I knew it, he stood up and said, “I’ll see you later son, I’m going back to work.” This is how I found my work ethic at an early age. My dad showed me that the way you work determines your success. Every day this summer I worked out from 7-11, two hours of speed training and two hours of weights. At 4 p.m. I worked out again. Around 9 p.m. most nights I would run. My coach actually stopped me from working out twice a day because he didn’t want me to hurt myself.”
On why he has the Heart of a Giant: “Commitment is a hard trait to have, but when you love the game, it makes it that much easier. I don’t put in the extra hours for myself. It’s to show my teammates that I’m giving everything I have for the man next to me. Sometimes it’s rough getting out of bed, but I get up and work because I don’t want to let my teammates down. At the end of my football career, I won’t have anything to be ashamed of because I gave everything to be the best person that I can be.”
The Timex “Heart of a Giant” program recognizes players from the tri-state area who continuously display commitment, determination, will and character as a part of their respective high school football team, according to the campaign website.
The program features a total of 60 nominees selected from coach recommendations and self nominations. Starting Week 8 of the NFL season, 10 weekly award winners will be announced during Weeks 8 through 13 of the regular season. According to USA Football, weekly award winners will be required to campaign to their teammates, classmates, friends and family to vote for them to become one of six finalists. Voting will close Friday, December 14 and the six finalists will be announced.
After evaluations of the finalists have been completed, USA Football and Timex will select a grand prize winner that best exemplifies what it means to have the Heart of a Giant. In addition to being honored as the hardest working athlete in the tri-state area, the grand prize winner of the Timex Heart of a Giant program will receive a $5,000 equipment donation for his or her high school and recognition on the field during the Giants’ Week 17 home game against Philadelphia.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR STEVEN CASALI! (Click nominees on destination page)
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro