Sparta Sparta Little League Football coaches Bob Cameron and Joe Earl recently celebrated their 200th career win at a November playoff game. The volunteers coach the Sparta White Midget football team. Coach Cameron and Coach Earl have been coaching little league football for 26 seasons, begining in 1981. They began their coaching career at the pony level and progressed to the supers, peewees, and eventually the midgets where they have been since 1992. In the 26 years of coaching, they have an impressive overall record of 200-24-4. In the time that they have been coaching little league football, they have won 17 division titles with 11 of those during their years at the midget level. This is the oldest playing level in little league and the athletes are typically in 8th grade. They have had 16 undefeated seasons as well. However, Coach Earl said, “ Every team is special. No one team stands out. Every team has special kids.” He referenced the current White Midget team who ended the season on 11-18-06 with a heartbreaking loss after 9 wins. He said that this team is no less special than any undefeated team. The biggest thrill during these past 26 years, according to Coach Earl, is the “unbelievable and amazing feat” of coaching during 1991 and 2001 when they had a run of 96 wins and 1 loss. They lost the one game after game 63 when Coach Earl suffered a brain aneurysm the same night. The team came back and won the next 33 games in a row over several seasons. Remarkably, the coaches have never coached one of their own children in football. Their commitment to the football program is based on a love of coaching and a commitment to the community. Coach Cameron has also coached for at least 25 years in the Sparta Little League Baseball program and also coached wrestling for a number of years. The coaches are following in the footsteps of their fathers, both of whom were instrumental in the development of the Sparta football program. Both coaches are graduates of Sparta High School in 1979 where they played football under the direction of Ron Earl, the then head coach of Sparta High School and the father of Joe Earl. Ron Earl coached for 30 years at Sparta High School as an assistant for 19 years and as head coach for 11 years until his retirement in 1988. Bob Cameron, Sr. coached little league football himself for many years in Sparta and also coached both men at various times in their youth. Both coaches reflect on the fact that they have had many talented assistant coaches over the years. Most notably are Coach Mike Piniaha who has now been with them since 1993, and Barry Wyatt who coached with them for many years as well. Mike Piniaha’s father was also very involved in Sparta football having been one of the original founders of the league. He also coached for many years at the Little League level. Barry Wyatt was honored with the naming of the announcer booth at Sparta’s Ungerman field for his years of service Coach Earl said that coaching helps them to stay connected to the past. This is the tradition they were raised with and they enjoy helping to provide the same experience for new generations of boys. He feels that watching their team now is not any different than watching a team from the 1950s and 60s from when their fathers coached. He said that their philosophies are the same. That is, to teach the fundamentals and basic football. He aspires to be the same type of coach that he had growing up through the little league and high school programs in Sparta. The “#1 rule” according to Coach Earl, “is to have fun.” He explained that both coaches would “rather be a friend and just talk to the guys” rather than be heavy handed with a high-pressure atmosphere. The basic thing to remember when coaching is for players to know how to “do the little things better.” He went on to say that it is the little things that help to win games. Several former players are now coaches for the Sparta Little League program and also for Pope John Regional High School in Sparta. Nick Dilworth, GJ Cresscione and Lou Mascola are all coaches for the Pope John Football program. Chris Smith, Mark Mastandrea, and Dennis Daggett are among the former players that now coach Sparta Little League Football. The only former player to reach the NFL level is Greg Baty who was formerly with the Miami Dolphins. Both coaches are thrilled to hear from former players and take special interest in attending college games such as UMass and Fordham University where some of their former players now play college football. Coach Earl said that occasionally a 35-year-old man would approach them and tell them that playing little league football under their direction was the best time. Having that experience, according to Coach Earl, makes it all worthwhile. A Sparta football parent, Bob McCrimlisk, said, “These guys have possibly meant more to the development of youth sports in Sparta than any other person in the area. It is incredible what they were able to accomplish.” With the 50 year anniversary of the Sparta Little League program on tap for 2007, it is a time to reflect and appreciate the dedicated individuals that helped to make this the oldest league in New Jersey and undoubtedly, one of the more successful in light of the accomplishments of Coach Cameron and Coach Earl.