Traditions of Sayville Football

The traditions of Sayville Football are brought front and center, thanks to two Sayville residents -- Drew and Kelly Thorry, owners of five x five productions.

Traditions, a new series airing this fall on SNY SportsNet NY, will feature Sayville as the season opener on October 16 at noon. “We are featuring eight schools -- three in New York, two in Connecticut and three in New Jersey in season one,” Kelly said. “The show is about tradition in high school football -- character and community are at the core of the show. It offers a little something for everyone -- sports fans at large, parents, players, younger children, alumni, the community that rallies around the team, the older generations who have had a hand in starting these traditions, and more.”

Kelly says her husband Drew is at the heart of the show. Drew has more sports-related work experience than most. He has worked for the NY Giants, NBA Entertainment, Major League Baseball, CBS, ABC College Sports, ESPN, MSG and was an editor with SNY the first day SNY went on the air.

Kelly is a Sayville alum with an MBA in marketing from Hofstra. The two created five x five productions in 2008 and they call it a “small company with great big ideas.”

The idea for the show started when Drew’s high school football team celebrated their 20th anniversary of the New Jersey state title. “Going back into the old locker room revealed a new hallway full of old history that was put in place by a fellow '90-'91 state champ teammate and now current coach of the Wallington Panthers (NJ),” Kelly said. “With their program's history written on the wall so to speak, as it all came together, it was quite a story. Sometimes you think your individual stories are so specific to yourself or a certain time. You may feel so lucky to have been a part of it personally, but what great stories to pass on to others.”

For the Thorry’s, Sayville Football was a natural fit. “As our children entered the Sayville Youth Football program, we attended the summer football camp that Coach Hoss and the football players run. You get a good feeling for the program and the team and somehow Drew found his way down to the History Room with Coach Hoss,” Kelly said.

“There he found yet another treasure chest full of stories and again, it reiterated the fact that these stories were meant to be told,” she added. “These stories are positive, involve kids doing great things. They involve community, demonstrate character, relish history, honor predecessors and the bottom line is that these sports programs take great pride in what they do and how they do it. Coach Hoss, his coaching staff and the athletes allowed us to shoot and create our sizzle reel featuring Sayville’s program. We can’t say enough about Coach Hoss and the teams’ generosity in terms of time, access and unwaivering support.”

Check out some clips from Sayville at www.traditionstv.com and don’t forget to catch the season premiere on Oct. 16 at noon.