A devoted New York Jets fan, who attends games in memory of her late father, has publicly criticised the NFL franchise after they barred her from competing in a high-stakes $100,000 field goal challenge.
The Dream That Was Snatched Away
Ashley Castanio-Gervasi, a 33-year-old maths teacher and season ticketholder, had successfully qualified for the final round of the Jets' 'Kick for Cash' competition. The event was scheduled to take place on the field during Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. However, her chance to win what she called "life-changing money" was revoked because of her current role as head coach of a girls' soccer team at Long Beach High School on Long Island.
Castanio-Gervasi's passion for the Jets was inherited from her father, Frank, who died from oesophageal cancer in 2011. "He bleeds green, and that’s why we do," she said, estimating her family has spent close to $1 million supporting the team over the years. She holds $3,000 season tickets with her husband and travels to away games.
Rulebook Overrules a Fan's Hopes
The competition's rules explicitly ban recent players and coaches from Olympic, college, and high school soccer, rugby, or football teams. While Castanio-Gervasi's past as a goalkeeper for Stony Brook University (2010-2014) did not pose an issue, her present coaching job did. According to reports from the New York Post, she was only questioned about this role during a call with Jets officials last week to discuss the final, which led to her disqualification.
Her journey to the final began in September when she made a kick during a tailgate outside MetLife Stadium before the Jets-Bills game. Two Jets staffers reportedly "chased her down" and invited her to participate. She then nailed a qualifying kick at the Jets vs. Panthers game weeks later, becoming the only woman to reach the final in front of 75 supporters.
Disappointment and Protest
"The whole thing is extremely upsetting," Castanio-Gervasi told the Post. "Me and my whole family are let down." She had planned to use the prize money to buy her first home and donate to the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation.
In a statement, the Jets said: "In accordance with competition rules and regulations, one individual who successfully made the qualifying kick will not be able to advance to the final stage of the challenge. We understand the disappointment associated with this and have made an effort to provide an alternative benefit to show our appreciation."
That alternative benefit was reportedly a custom jersey and a $100 Visa gift card, an offer Castanio-Gervasi has rejected. In protest, she will miss her first home game in a decade. More than a dozen friends and family, including her mother, who bought tickets specifically to see her kick, have now sold them. She believes her father would have "absolutely" given up his season tickets over the snub.
The Jets have offered to cover the costs of her family's tickets and stated the franchise will make a donation to the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation.
