The Massena Silver & Black
Raiders were started in theory in 2006 by Christopher Morin at the end of the
2006 EFL season with the St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers.
The
Trailblazers brought back Semi-Pro football in 2002 with Mike Britton's dream of
having a team from the north country in the Empire Football League. In actuality
in 2001 Christopher Morin thought about a football team in northern
NY after seeing a Watertown Red and Black sports clip on the news.
Chris thought about trying out for the Red and Black but
didn't want to take that hour and a half drive to Watertown. So the thought
of a team up north was just a thought, until he saw what he was looking for in
the Massena Observer just a few days later an ad for a semi-pro team
forming in St. Lawrence County. In 2002 Chris played for the St. Lawrence Valley
Trailblazers who went to their very first game with just 23 dedicated, play for
the LOVE of the game, individuals and 1 dedicated, everything for the game, head
coach Mike Britton. Trailblazers lost that game 0-21 to the Orange County
Bulldogs from Monroe NY just 45 minutes out of NY city.
After the 5th
year 2006 with the Trailblazers, Chris Morin had an idea to start his own
team in Massena since the Trailblazers were based in Potsdam just 20 minutes
south. Having alot to do with sports in the Massena community Chris figured
there was enough talent in the north country to fuel both these teams.
Chris waited and watched the Trailblazers for the 2007 season and
figured it was time, he called the New York Amatuer Football
League (NYAFL) in late fall to find out what was needed to put a team in
their league, since the EFL had a 50 mile radius for teams and Canadian teams
which has caused some problems of getting across the border with a full
roster on game day. Which both together was a big factor in choosing the
NYAFL.
After being accepted into the NYAFL now the NFA, the Trailblazers
were acceptd at the same time. A special rule was put in just as a favor to head
coach Mike Britton. Any player that played for the Trailblazers in 2007 could
not play for the Silver & Black. This rule was put in to help the
Trailblazers keep a team. The actual rule is just suppose to be for existing
NYAFL teams. Any new teams that go into a league are not suppose to have rosters
but MIke Britton got his way to try and stop guys from playing, it was
either play for him or not play for 2 years because the ban was put in for 2
years. He was trying to force guys to play for him or not play at all. The
Silver & Black was gonna stick up for these players so they
decided to withdraw from the NFA so players could play where they wish.
They did this for the players and communities. This level of play is for the
love of the game. No player gets paid so after their contracts are up
after their last game with that team they become free agents. To have a team
jump leagues to go into the same league as a new team to try and keep his team
together by force is uncalled for. The Silver & Black are for ALL. We are
here to build a tradition and our own history.
As a die
hard Oakland Raiders fan Chris thought of first calling it the Upstate Silver
& Black, but soon settled on the Massena Silver & Black Raiders in early
Jan. of 2008. It just seemed to click. Once people heard of a possible team
in the Massena area Morin started recieving calls from interested players and
coaches. It wasn't until Morin was interviewed by the Watertown Times that
everything took off, than Mel Busler from wwnytv7 called and aired
the Massena Silver & Black Raiders were organizing in the
area. Within the first week of media attention Morin had compiled a list of
some 60 individuals that were interested in playing, coaching or helping out the
team.
And now the story continues................ COME JOIN THE ATTACK!!!