ND-Pomperaug random thoughts

Random thoughts as we are halfway through our final weekend:

* I couldn't get over the stark differences between the last time Notre Dame was in the final (2001) and today's game.

In 2001, it was 70 degrees and a lot of people were wearing shorts at SCSU
In 2009, it was barely above freezing, a wet snow fell, and everyone was cold.

In 2001, John Decaprio used bruising runner Mike Penta and a dominating offensive line to bully favored Fitch.
In 2009, Tom Marcucci used an opportunistic defense, a few long passes, and even a fake punt to stop underdog Pomperaug.

But the 2001 team could only reach No. 2 in the rankings, and - unbelievably for a team that thought they might be on the outside of the playoffs going into the Thanksgiving games - with a Cheshire win, ND should finish as the No. 1 team in the polls this season. And right now, they are the best team in state (by the way, Bridgeport Central deserves to be up there somewhere, too)

* I think (and we'll see when the CTSN broadcast comes on in a couple of weeks) that the officials goofed on the pass interference call that kept ND's drive alive on a fourth down early in the fourth quarter with ND 21-14. But to say that's the reason why ND won is not fair to the Knights. These things happen, even in big games.

* Found out earlier in the week I've been spelling Conor Keniry's name wrong for two years. Oops. Luckily, after the state championship game he didn't care. Remember, he's going to Wake Forest to play baseball, so today was his final football game (at least with pads and such) ever. Fitting that the team leader got the final interception. Hard to underestimate how important leadership like that is in a team.

* Pomperaug is a very good team, much better than Conard, and can see eye-to-eye with anyone in the state this season. Today, ND was just a little better.

* Would appear ND had a very good group of kids this season, leadership, discipline, etc., and it paid off in the end.

Since ND's last title (2001), number of different teams to win a state title by conference:

SCC (7) : Hillhouse, Hand, Branford, Xavier, Shelton, West Haven, Notre Dame (can be 8 with a Cheshire win tomorrow)
FCIAC (5): New Canaan, Greenwich, Staples, Ridgefield, St. Joseph
NVL (4): Ansonia, Seymour, Holy Cross, Woodland
SWC (3): Brookfield, Masuk, Bunnell (can be 4 with a Bethel win tomorrow)
CCC (3): Glastonbury, Bloomfield, New Britain (can be 4 with a Berlin win tomorrow)
ECC (3): New London, Ledyard, East Lyme
Pequot (2): Cromwell, Hyde (good job by Hyde today by the way, maybe coming to the SCC next season?)

More tomorrow.