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This year is the 10th year anniversary of former Giants quarterbck Phil Simms coming aboard as the main force in keeping the N.J. North-South Clasic a very vibrant all-star game each summer. Retired Caldwell High School coach and former North-South Game Director Ken Trimmer had brought Simms aboard with the game in 2014. (Sideline Chatter photos)
UNION- The New Jersey North-South All-Star Classic has evolved, adjusted to the times, survived through a few challenging years and is has continued to thrive as the 46th edition will kick off 5 p.m., Sunday, June 9, at Kean University’s Alumni Field, while also marking the 10th contest with Phil Simms name and boundless energy attached to the long-standing contest Ken Trimmer, the former Caldwell High School coach plus the all-star game’s director from 2002-2018, hit a proverbial touchdown post pattern in 2014 when he was able to bring Simms on board with the North-South Classic. The retired Giants star quarterback and well-liked now former NFL on CBS TV studio analyst has been ever-present - and then some -in terms of diving headfirst into the very essence of promoting all the positive aspects of high school football that the North-South Classic represents, especially for those who enjoy Jersey's rich scholatic gridiron tradition. “For me this was an easy decision and is just tremendous to be a part of, plus the talent on hand for both teams is outstanding,” said Simms, who is ever-present for pre-game events and practices leading up to the actual playing of the North-South Classic on Kean’s state-of-the-art Alumni Field. “The North-South Classic has tremendous history and the list of players who have been in this game is really amazing. “Plus, thanks to our terrific Game Director George DiGrande and his team of coaches, plus an ageless contributor like Ken Trimmer, we’re in great shape moving forward!” The seamlessness of the Simms-Trimmer tandem that formed a decade ago helped reinvigorate the North-South Classic when it appeared to perhaps be a second-class citizen of sorts not that many years before that when the since ill-fated Governor’s Bowl and its successor, New Jersey vs. the Northeast, were spawned, thrived for a few years, and then petered out and dissolved for various off-the-field reasons. The Governor’s Bowl, in its ‘salad days,’ had a strong contingent of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly known as Division 1-A) players; and, the fact that it was played earlier in June, some two or three weeks before North-South, made the contest fit in better timewise with major FBS college reporting dates, which generally include having incoming freshmen being summoned to campus in mid-June, or perhaps earlier. Back in the day, the North-South Classic had its own share of FBS players. As an example, a school such as Montclair, produced major college players such as linebackers Quintus McDonald (Penn State, Indianapolis Colts) and Jeff Mills (Nebraska, Denver Broncos), fullback Nikki Kemp (Wisconsin) and defensive back Erwin Sampson (Duke), all of whom participated in the North-South Classic in the 1980s. However, moving into the late 1990s and early 2000’s, other Mounties such as wide receiver David Tyree (Syracuse, NFL’s Giants) and running back Rikki Cook (Rutgers) chose instead to play in the Governor’s Bowl in 1998 and 2002, respectively. And, when both the Governor’s Bowl and N.J. vs. the Northeast did dissolve, the North-South Classic continued to attract predominantly FCS (Division 1-AA), Division III, Division II and JUCO players. and that has actually been a plus as the game can also serve as a great showcase for the college recruit who perhaps has not yet made a firm commitment for the fall as new new summer is just getting underway. “I would like to think that you might one day still get a couple of pros out of this game,” said Simms. “I came from a school in Morehead State (Ky.) where there haven’t been too many guys who’ve made the NFL. “You just never know which players will eventually play at an elite level, and just because you don’t come out of a major college football program does not mean you can’t achieve the ultimate in this great game.” Simms is at all of the practices as well the night-before-dinner and -of course- on Game Day for the North-South All-Star Classic. For Trimmer, who coached for 50 years at Group 2 Caldwell where Division III college aspirations are more typical than an FBS or even the FCS level for most Chiefs, the North-South Classic remains a terrific gathering for one more high school football game in late June where graduating scholastic seniors can enjoy camaraderie among players and be coached-up while competing in one more high school football game before moving on to the dreams and possibilities beyond that might also include college football. “This game simply works, and it’s better than ever now that we have Phil on board,” said Trimmer. “When he joined our effort, he indicated that if he committed to this, that he would be all-in, and that’s exactly what he has been, ‘all-in’ “When I was Game Director Phil and I would speak at least once a week during most of the year and he continues to be a terrific voice for the promotion of the game. "Having Phil and the other former NFL players involved has really been a great plus all-around. “Our four MVP (North and South offensive and defensive most valuable player) awards were named after four of the most prominent former NFL players with New Jersey ties: Joe Theismann (South River), Dave Szott (Clifton), Jim Burt and Jim Jeffcoat (Matawan).” And now the Simms-led group of overseers for the game, headed by current game director George DiGrande, look forward to planning for the 2024 game back at the terrific Kean complex which includes the right-size stadium and first-rate smaller college facilities to fill all the needs of the game. “It’s really a win-win for all involved at Kean,” said Trimmer. “Rutgers and the Meadowlands (former sites for the game) were both just way too big and Kean is much better for all that’s involved plus the people at Kean, from the school president and the vice-president down to the food and housing staff members have been wonderful to us…absolutely wonderful. “And, also, I think that people are really very pleasantly surprised when they get here and see all the improvements, both across the entire campus and in terms of the athletic facilities in particular. “Having the game at this great campus, in this wonderful stadium, is a terrific selling point for potential students.” Another great part of the 2024 North-South Classic game day at Kean will be the first girls flag football all-star contest kicking off at 1 p.m. so fans can make it a full day of fun and football at Alumni Field. NFL Players from North-South Game: Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' (formerly Twitter) @Chattermeister
Ken Trimmer and Phil Simms have been two of the big boosters for the annual Simms N.J. North-South All-Star Classic and Simms stays heavily involed in promoting the game each year. He is seen with former all-star Valentino Ambrosio of Cranford who went on to have top college career as a placekicker for both Rutgers and -more recently -Tulane. In bottom photo Phil listens to Montclair and North's DBs coach Jermain Johnson. Copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - comments - contact the webmaster
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