In his first full season in charge of the Shelton baseball program, Scott Gura admitted he was pleasantly surprised that his team advanced to the state semifinals, ahead of the schedule even he had set for the Gaels.
But with the state finals in Shelton's grasp last season against West Haven (and therefore Shelton's first appearance in the finals since 1990), it slipped away it a 3-2 loss. And getting that close means that the Gaels have had a taste.
"Last year, we set the bar pretty high," Gura said. "We wanted to make Shelton baseball a program that would be near the top of the SCC every year, but that's easier said than done. But last year was a great first step, but we want to be more consistent from year to year."
Gura, of course, took over in the middle of the 2008 season after the untimely death of long-time coach Ed Marocco, but has been around the program basically since he was a player two decades ago. Shelton has always had competitive teams, and has always been a threat, but hasn't quite been able to put it together consistenly. The Gaels won the 2000 SCC title, but have not won a game in that competition since, and have spent the last decade or so trying to be a thorn in Amity's side, which - at times - they've done quite well.
But Gura looks at his program, and sees the potential for maybe being the hunted instead of the hunter. He's got Bryant-bound Dan St. George, who will pitch and play some shortstop. The Gaels have leadoff hitter Eric Christiansen, an all-division selection last year. And they have plenty of other players, like catcher Ryan Daiss and Jimmy Pjura, that Gura thinks have big futures with Shelton.
He also knows that Shelton (with plenty of recent success, including a trip to the Little League World Series) has one of the best youth programs in the area, one that he hopes will mean long-term success.
"We're extremely deep in both pitching and hitting, although some of that is untested at this level," Gura said. "The guys are excited, we know we have a tough schedule in a very tough league so nothing will be easy. Our sophomore class is very good, our freshmen seem like they're good. It seems like things are looking good here for the future."
THROW 'EM IN A HAT: Unfortunately for Gura and the rest of the league, there are a lot of coaches that seem very positive about their team this season. In case you'd forgotten, the SCC final was an all-Milford affair last season with Jonathan Law beating Foran, and both teams return enough players to make them a factor this season. Foran, particularly, returns pitcher Brian Ward and many others from that cast including Brian O'Keefe. Also, Foran is the only Class M school in the SCC this season, which means high hopes for the Lions.
Law will have a tougher time replacing its championship parts (remember, Law has actually won titles two years in a row after their unexpected Class L title in 2008), but should have Brett Michael Doran - who hit six home runs last year - back to lead the offense.
Guilford, which didn't make the tournament last year, and Hand - with new coach Chris Borrelli at the helm and Nick Merullo behind the plate - both figure to be able to make some noise this season as well, making for a brutal Hammonasset Division.
Of course, the Housatonic Division is no joke, either. Amity lost an uncharacteristic nine games last season, but figures to reload behind pitcher Lou Concato (next to unhittable last summer in Legion ball) and junior Mark Esposito. We've already mentioned Shelton, but Cheshire - who like Shelton lost to West Haven by one run in the state tournament (quarterfinals) - is a sleeper - and Sheehan is always a factor in the end (the Titans went to the Class L semifinals last year, losing to Berlin).
In case you wondered if the remaining divisions (Quinnipiac and Oronoque) could keep up, consider that both boast defending state champions.
In the Oronoque, Branford was only 12-8 in the regular season, but fought through some adversity to win another state title. The Hornets feature a few players with some good bloodlines, like Tyler Olt, that should be able to carry them in a relatively weak division.
Finally, in the Quinnipiac, West Haven rode the right arm of Tom Lawrence to its first state title since 1988 last season, and will help the supporting cast drew enough experience out of that to drive them forward. The Blue Devils have enough coming back and enough tradition to stay competitive, but they will be pushed by cross-town rival Notre Dame - with Wake Forest-bound Conor Kinary, who already has a state title this year on the football field. The Green Knights (SCC champions in 2008) don't return much pitching experience, but their lineup is as good as anyone's in the league. Xavier is also looking to rebound from a mediocre 2009, and return pitcher Shaun Coughlin as well as plenty of other players with varsity experience.
The Power Rankings follow below, but - especially at this time of the season - they are a hypothesis at best, a wild guess at worst. And that should make for some serious entertainment in the months to come in the best baseball league in the state, the SCC.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
GAME OF THE WEEK
Amity at Branford, Friday, 3:45 - There are a few other programs that can put themselves in the discussion, but these are probably the best two consistent successes in the SCC over the last decade. Both have mutiple state titles and always seem to be in the mix. Some of the Spartans' ridiculous streaks (like seven straight SCC finals) went by the boards last year, and they're looking to get back to the top, while the Hornets think they have the goods to have a memorable season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4
Number of SCC teams in the semifinals of the Class LL and Class L tournaments last season, and yes, even if you didn't major in math, that's half of the field. The interesting thing, though, of the four teams: West Haven, Shelton, Branford, and Sheehan; none of them even made the SCC semifinals. West Haven, Shelton, and Branford were beaten in the quarterfinals and Sheehan didn't even qualify for the tournament.
POWER RANKINGS
1) Foran (19-6; Last Season 2) – Just tough to see how you're going to score runs off these guys this season.
2) Amity (15-9; LS 4) – That 2009 record means the Spartans will have a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.
3) Branford (17-9; LS 7) – Defending state champion with a lot of their team returning? Could be very dangerous.
4) Shelton (17-8; LS 6) – Gaels finding out that its tough to be a consistent winner in this league from year to year.
5) Cheshire (17-7; LS 8) – Wasn't too long ago, they were right at the bottom here, but tradition has returned.
6) Notre Dame (14-9; LS 5) – If Knights can figure out the pitching, they could move up this list pretty quickly.
7) Xavier (10-12; LS 12) – Falcons really underachieved last season, but it did give them a favorable 2010 schedule.
8) Jonathan Law (20-5; LS 1) – Lawmen were most consistent SCC team in 2009, only one not to lose in division.
9) Guilford (6-14; LS 16) – We'll give the Indians a pass on 2009, reports have them much improved outfit in 2010.
10) Hand (11-12; LS 14) – Borrelli brings new blood to Tigers, who - like ND - if they get pitching could be a big factor.
11) West Haven (21-5; LS 3) – Always tough to follow up run for the ages, but won't fall as far as some people think.
12) Sheehan (15-9; LS 9) – Won't be as easy to get results in the division as it has been in past seasons.
13) North Haven (12-10; LS 10) – Some reasons for optimism (like a field), but also a lot of question marks early.
14) Fairfield Prep (10-11; LS 11) – Much improved last year, may be able to surprise some people this season.
15) East Haven (8-13; LS 17) – Yellowjackets also have a lot of pitching returning, could jump up with some luck.
16) Hamden (5-15; LS 15) – Managed to win a couple at the end last season, but no easy ones in the Quinnipiac.
17) Lyman Hall (5-15; LS 18) – Beat West Haven last season, but didn't manage to win a game in the Housatonic.
18) Career (14-9; LS 13) – Went 7-3 in Oronoque last year and will have to do damage in division again to go places.
19) Wilbur Cross (2-16; LS 20) – Governors were young last season, we'll see that can carry over to 2010 and beyond.
20) Hillhouse (2-17; LS 21) – Well, they moved up to No. 20 when Derby left the league, so that's a good start.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Kermit and my thoughts
A lot of people have been asking for my thoughts on the Kermit Carolina-Xavier situation, and I've been reluctant because of my place as a coach and the fact that it's been covered to death by others. But it really seems like a lot of people are missing the important things of what happened as it relates to high school athletics, and - most importantly - the education of young people. My dad was self-admittedly never the best coach, but he did teach me one important thing, "The officials never decide the game. There is always something you or your team could have done better, so don't make stupid excuses."
So, here are my quick thoughts:
1) You can't publicly criticize officials without retribution
Really, you can't at any level. Professional coaches get fined. College coaches get fined and suspended. High school coaches get .... nothing. I have seen some pretty poor officials in my day, and a couple of times where I thought I was on the end of a "home job". Never would it occur to me to mention it in the media.
To the Athletic Director, yes. But you don't make private grumblings public. Maybe Carolina thought he had no choice? Still no excuse.
And for going on the rant he did, he needed to be punished. A game suspension, or a two-game suspension would have been plenty and at least sent a message that this kind of stuff won't be tolerated (Fired? No. Despite what some bloggers and commenters would make you believe, Carolina - albeit somewhat excessively outspoken - cares deeply about his kids and has a tougher job than most people on the outside will ever know.)
Not punishing him gives the green light to everyone else and their brother to chime in and make the situation worse. First, it was Xavier coach Mike Kohs, who lamented the "lack of class and sportsmanship" that Carolina showed. Then it was umpteen different media reports (like this one). Then it was Board VI's Ed Lynch with a response on WFSB. If Carolina has been given a suspension (or something), then the story would have died a natural death and that would have been the end of it.
2) It is irrelevant whether Carolina is right or wrong in this case
In fact, if you've read me long enough, you probably know I think he's closer to right than wrong on most of what he said.
But he needed to handle his problems in the proper way. I know he doesn't care what people think of him or his program, which is in some ways admirable, but you can't question the integrity of authority (and that's what the officials are in this case) publicly in a high school event. It sends the wrong message to the kids (and adults). Kermit wants to stand up for what he believes in, which is again admirable, but severely misguided in this case. He comes off at best as a poor sport and at worst as an instigator. That won't help solve whatever problems there are, it will just make them worse. Especially given the fact that he won the game in question.
Ironically, the best case of a coach handling things the correct way that I've ever seen came in Week 2 of the 2007 football season in a game between Hillhouse and Xavier in Middletown. Under new coach Tom Dyer, the Acs nearly completed a monumental comeback, but were hurt by a couple of penalties and poor timekeeping (at least twice, the clock failed to stop after first downs and was never detected by the officials).
After the final buzzer, Dyer yelled at the officials and started to run after them as they left the field. But after about three or four steps, he caught himself and stopped, realizing that: a) it was pointless; and b) he was setting a poor example for his players.
By the time I got to him, he was still hot, but kept his emotions in check and never mentioned the officials, "This doesn't define us as a football team," he said. "The kids dug deep in the second half and showed a lot of guts. If we play like that, we'll be fine."
It was extremely classy, and I have the utmost respect for Dyer because of it.
3) The SCC needs its own officiating board (well, duh)
I've been saying this for years, people. It would make it easier to legislate everything, and to me, the only downside would be travel, but the refs can get over it.
In my opinion, especially in football, I think the New Haven board is the best officials the state has to offer. I don't think there are any inherent biases against visiting teams in Middletown (although studies have shown that there are subconscious biases against visiting teams at every level in nearly every sport everywhere, so always keep that in mind).
4) You can't force an apology
Education 101 tells you that you shouldn't force people to apologize. Obviously, if Carolina were to apologize now, he wouldn't mean it. It would mean nothing, except to get him more upset. We're not trying to change his opinion, we're just trying to get him to express it in a more prudent manner. That doesn't mean he's right, but he is entitled to his opinion (but he's not entitled to be immune if he makes public comments, this has nothing to do with the Freedom of Speech. We can use this as a Constitutional lesson, too. Someone call Fox News).
5) Finally, and most importantly, the world needs referees
Everyone realizes that we can't have competitive games without officials, right? And while officials should be evaluated and told if they make mistakes - as with anything else - badgering refs and questioning their ethics does nothing but make people find other ways to use their free time (yes, officials are paid, but no one gets rich from it).
So the vicious cycle continues: referees who have potential quit and are replaced by still more inexperienced refs. And the older ones are forced to stay on longer because there is no one to replace them. So the level of officiating drops.
Eventually, we may get to the point where there aren't enough officials to work all the games.
And then we have no games.
So, here are my quick thoughts:
1) You can't publicly criticize officials without retribution
Really, you can't at any level. Professional coaches get fined. College coaches get fined and suspended. High school coaches get .... nothing. I have seen some pretty poor officials in my day, and a couple of times where I thought I was on the end of a "home job". Never would it occur to me to mention it in the media.
To the Athletic Director, yes. But you don't make private grumblings public. Maybe Carolina thought he had no choice? Still no excuse.
And for going on the rant he did, he needed to be punished. A game suspension, or a two-game suspension would have been plenty and at least sent a message that this kind of stuff won't be tolerated (Fired? No. Despite what some bloggers and commenters would make you believe, Carolina - albeit somewhat excessively outspoken - cares deeply about his kids and has a tougher job than most people on the outside will ever know.)
Not punishing him gives the green light to everyone else and their brother to chime in and make the situation worse. First, it was Xavier coach Mike Kohs, who lamented the "lack of class and sportsmanship" that Carolina showed. Then it was umpteen different media reports (like this one). Then it was Board VI's Ed Lynch with a response on WFSB. If Carolina has been given a suspension (or something), then the story would have died a natural death and that would have been the end of it.
2) It is irrelevant whether Carolina is right or wrong in this case
In fact, if you've read me long enough, you probably know I think he's closer to right than wrong on most of what he said.
But he needed to handle his problems in the proper way. I know he doesn't care what people think of him or his program, which is in some ways admirable, but you can't question the integrity of authority (and that's what the officials are in this case) publicly in a high school event. It sends the wrong message to the kids (and adults). Kermit wants to stand up for what he believes in, which is again admirable, but severely misguided in this case. He comes off at best as a poor sport and at worst as an instigator. That won't help solve whatever problems there are, it will just make them worse. Especially given the fact that he won the game in question.
Ironically, the best case of a coach handling things the correct way that I've ever seen came in Week 2 of the 2007 football season in a game between Hillhouse and Xavier in Middletown. Under new coach Tom Dyer, the Acs nearly completed a monumental comeback, but were hurt by a couple of penalties and poor timekeeping (at least twice, the clock failed to stop after first downs and was never detected by the officials).
After the final buzzer, Dyer yelled at the officials and started to run after them as they left the field. But after about three or four steps, he caught himself and stopped, realizing that: a) it was pointless; and b) he was setting a poor example for his players.
By the time I got to him, he was still hot, but kept his emotions in check and never mentioned the officials, "This doesn't define us as a football team," he said. "The kids dug deep in the second half and showed a lot of guts. If we play like that, we'll be fine."
It was extremely classy, and I have the utmost respect for Dyer because of it.
3) The SCC needs its own officiating board (well, duh)
I've been saying this for years, people. It would make it easier to legislate everything, and to me, the only downside would be travel, but the refs can get over it.
In my opinion, especially in football, I think the New Haven board is the best officials the state has to offer. I don't think there are any inherent biases against visiting teams in Middletown (although studies have shown that there are subconscious biases against visiting teams at every level in nearly every sport everywhere, so always keep that in mind).
4) You can't force an apology
Education 101 tells you that you shouldn't force people to apologize. Obviously, if Carolina were to apologize now, he wouldn't mean it. It would mean nothing, except to get him more upset. We're not trying to change his opinion, we're just trying to get him to express it in a more prudent manner. That doesn't mean he's right, but he is entitled to his opinion (but he's not entitled to be immune if he makes public comments, this has nothing to do with the Freedom of Speech. We can use this as a Constitutional lesson, too. Someone call Fox News).
5) Finally, and most importantly, the world needs referees
Everyone realizes that we can't have competitive games without officials, right? And while officials should be evaluated and told if they make mistakes - as with anything else - badgering refs and questioning their ethics does nothing but make people find other ways to use their free time (yes, officials are paid, but no one gets rich from it).
So the vicious cycle continues: referees who have potential quit and are replaced by still more inexperienced refs. And the older ones are forced to stay on longer because there is no one to replace them. So the level of officiating drops.
Eventually, we may get to the point where there aren't enough officials to work all the games.
And then we have no games.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
More money for the CIAC
CHERSHIRE, CT & CAMERON PARK, CA, Sept. 8 - The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and MaxPreps.com, the nation's largest and most comprehensive provider of high school sports content and information, have agreed to a three-year partnership. The contract commences with the 2009-10 school year.
The designation of MaxPreps.com as the CIAC's "The Official Statistician and Media Partner" was established to give Connecticut schools a single platform on which to report scores and game statistics, while providing them with prominent regional and national recognition through a variety of MaxPreps.com content mediums.
MaxPreps.com’s nationwide blend of editorial, photo and video content provide hard-earned recognition for the countless hours that both student-athletes and coaches dedicate to their high school athletic endeavors.
“The CIAC is extremely excited about our new partnership with MaxPreps.com, the online leader in high school sports,” said Michael Savage, Executive Director of CAS-CIAC. “Within Connecticut there are so many extremely talented high school teams and well over 100,000 high school athletes. The exposure that MaxPreps.com brings will provide maximum recognition of our high school athletic programs and student athletes throughout the state.”
MaxPreps.com, a Cameron Park Calif.-based company that was purchased by the CBS Corporation in 2007, will provide every CIAC member school with its own free and easy-to-use schedule and statistical program for football, volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, baseball and fast pitch softball.
The MaxPreps.com data system will automatically generate league and conference standings in Connecticut, while compiling state statistical leaderboards in a wide variety of categories. Connecticut leaders, in turn, will populate on MaxPreps.com’s national leaderboards.
MaxPreps.com also specializes in the digital export of its data content, partnering with hundreds of newspapers and TV/radio stations across the country.
The CIAC has made it a requirement that all teams participating in state tournament play have their stats entered with MaxPreps.com.
"Most importantly," Mr. Savage continued, "MaxPreps.com provides our coaches with the tools to make their job easier and more productive."
MaxPreps.com’s National Association Director is former New York Jets quarterback Al Woodall.
"The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference is one of the most innovative and proactive state associations that MaxPreps.com has dealt with. We appreciate their energy and their forward thinking when it comes to the promotion of all the tremendous high school athletic events being held in their state," Woodall said.
About MaxPreps.com
MaxPreps.com is the leading online high school sports destination, offering the most comprehensive high school sports coverage, with the latest news, analysis, rankings and streaming content. MaxPreps.com aspires to cover every high school team, game and player by partnering with nearly 25,000 varsity coaches throughout the country.
Founded in August 2002, MaxPreps.com is headquartered in Cameron Park, California. CBS Corporation acquired MaxPreps.com in April, 2007.
MaxPreps.com is a unit of CBS Interactive, a leading online content network for information and entertainment. With more than 200 million people visiting its properties each month, CBS Interactive is the 8th largest Web property globally and the 5th largest Web property in the U.S. in terms of unique video viewers. Its portfolio of leading brands, which include CNET, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, TV.com, BNET, CBS RADIO and Last.fm, span popular categories like technology, entertainment, sports, news and business.
For more information about MaxPreps.com and for the latest high school sports news, scores and expert analysis, please visit maxpreps.com.
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Sunday, December 6, 2009
SCC football - back on top
There were a lot of people involved with the Notre Dame and Cheshire football programs who had a good weekend, but it's probably safe to say no one had a better one than the Bowman family. Ring a bell? Steve Bowman, Phil Bowman? (There was also Mike, Joe, Pete, and John in that immediate family) Both Steve and Phil played big parts in Cheshire state titles in the mid 90s.
But cousin Rob decided to break from tradition and attend Notre Dame in 2006. He had gone to St. Bridget in Cheshire and decided he want to continue in Catholic school, even though his dad and six uncles all played football for Cheshire High.
Well, three years later, on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Shelton, a now 6-foot-5, 275 pound Bowman was able to raise a state championship trophy for the Green and Gold when ND stopped Pomperaug, 28-21.
A day later, Bowman and his letterman jacket were on the Ken Strong Stadium turf celebrating again even though his green and gold didn't match red, as the Bowman tradition continued. Rob's cousin Shaun is a sophomore for Cheshire, and when they prevailed by the same 28-21 score (it was in overtime, though) over previously unbeaten Staples, the Bowman family had a new twist in a long line of football success: two championships in the same weekend.
Even better, Ed Bowman - now in his 80s - was there to see both of his grandsons win titles. When asked about the nasty weather Saturday, Ed said, "I go to every game, doesn't matter what the weather is."
He added: "I've been to too many games to count, and not just football, softball, too, and other sports. This was a really good weekend."
It was a really good weekend for the SCC as well, which broke a three-year run of not winning a state title. Since 2001, Notre Dame and Cheshire became the seventh and eighth conference teams to win a state championship (Hillhouse, Branford, Hand, West Haven, Xavier, and Shelton are the others) - three more than any other conference. How did they get there? Let's find out, running diary style, of course:
Saturday
1:15 p.m. - On a raw and just nasty December afternoon at Finn Stadium, I arrive to a cramped press box. The state finals brings people who don't usually deal with high school sports and Register columnist Dave Solomon can't understand why there is no seat for him and is telling Shelton AD John Niski so, even though the CSTN crew (led by pals Don Boyle and Steve Kirck) take up half the downstairs with PA announcer Steve Arena (filling in for the injured Nick Aprea, and whose youngest daughter plays for my club soccer team) and the WAVZ crew (with legendary George Demaio and his son Matt) have most of the upstairs. One of the great things about covering high school sports is being so close to the action, and today it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and stand on the ND sidelines. Actually, wouldn't want it any other way, notes and extremities be damned.
1:25 - Feel bad for Niski, not sure Shelton was the CIAC's first, second, or fifth choice, but at least they stepped up to the plate. Shame on SCSU for not hosting games. I call Sean Patrick Bowley of the Post over in West Haven, and he's got his feet up in their well-heated press box and people delivering him food (presumably caviar). The seats are filling fairly fast, though, despite the weather.
1:40 - Snow flurries in the air already. Great.
2:08 - Notre Dame is not exactly owning the line of scrimmage, but puts together a pretty good drive, until it stalls. There will be a little defense in this game, at least.
2:15 - It looks like the ND defense will hold, but on 4th-and-long (can't read the frozen, wet page) Andrew Clements finds Wade McNamara for a 25-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later, Kevin Maxen is in from 2 yards out and it's 7-0 Pomperaug after a quarter.
2:23 - Not going well for the Knights. Sean Goldrich is pummeled by Nick Fiore, and the Panthers appear to be going in again until ...
2:25 - The play of the game, really. Out of the single wing from the ND 7, Pomperaug tries to fool the Knights with a pass, but it backfires in a big way. Clements underthrows it out in the flat, and when Tirrell Young-Williams grabs it, there is nothing but green turf in front of him. Young-Williams is a speedster anyway, but it's a game-changing 93-yard "pick six" and ND has tied the game at 7-7.
2:27 - Clements is a big kid and is also on the kick return team. Unfortunately for him, he has to line up right in front of the ND student section, who brings out its hockey best, "It's all your fault, it's all your fault". The kick comes right to an angry Clements, who doesn't bother to try to break any tackles, but runs through a few would-be tacklers before going down on the 38.
2:28 - Clements can feel better now, because Ben Crick - anonymous up to now - just ran 62 yards on the first play for a touchdown. 14-7 Pomperaug midway through the second quarter.
2:32 - Here are the offensive fireworks. Off play-action, Goldrich's pass is underthrown, but Young-Williams has so much of a cushion, it doesn't matter, and he speeds away for a 71-yard touchdown reception and a 14-14 tie.
2:35 - I'm tired from going up and down on the sidelines, and Young-Williams tries to catch a break as he sits alone on the ND bench. But his break might be short-lived, as Crick returns the ensuing kickoff all the way down the Notre Dame 18. Where did those defenses go?
2:40 - But just as I say it, the ND defense makes a big stand, combined with penalties and the Panthers are forced to punt on 4th-and-30 at the 38. Ouch.
2:44 - The Panthers defense contines to control the line of scrimmage and forces a punt with 2 minutes left in the half, but - inexplicably - they don't try to field it and it rolls all the way to their own 30-yard line. Things continue to spiral downward for Pomperaug when they try a screen pass, but Clements overthrows his intended target and Thomas Perry makes a diving interception to set his team up.
2:51 - Six plays later, Goldrich sneaks in from a yard out and ND has its first lead, 21-14 at the half, despite being outgained. But turnovers are killers, and Pomperaug had two real killers.
3:01 - To the press box for some warmth. Somehow Solomon is still there, must have won his argument. Kirck asks, "How are we winning this game?" and I remind him that you had a 93 yard interception return for a touchdown. That can cure plenty of ills. I'd like to call him a worry wart, but about a month ago he sent me a 21-part plan that could see ND finish as the No. 1 team in the state. The plan is six quarters from coming to fruition.
3:22 - But still a half to play, and anything can happen. The third quarter features the defense, especially Pomperaug's as the large ND line appears to have finally met its match.
3:38 - ND has 4th-and-7 from midfield, but punter Phillip Bentley takes off, and he's got acres of space in front of him, a 28-yard run and a first down. Tom Marcucci called a fake punt? I'm stunned. And it was a perfect call.
3:40 - But Goldrich fumbles a snap, and Pomperaug recovers for ND's first turnover of the day. Oh, well.
3:45 - Pete Eyler, who has been the equipment manager for Notre Dame forever, is having a tough day, with the cold and wet and trying to keep balls and himself dry. He's borrowed a jacket from assistant cheerleading coach Stephanie Redding - who also moonlights as New Haven's Assistant Police Chief - and is ordered to get a dry ball for a 4th-and-8 at the Pomperaug 25 to open the fourth quarter. Eyler might be the unsung hero for ND, they'd be lost without him, he does about 62 jobs, and yes that included driving the bus on occasion.
3:47 - The new ball doesn't help Goldrich much, and we've got controversy. Goldrich's pass is woefully underthrown and Crick picks it off and runs it back to the 25-yard line. But there was a flag on the field, pass interference on Pomperaug. I thought it was for an illegal block after the interception, but my opinion is it was so underthrown that it threw off everyone: players, officials, everyone. Will be interesting to see the film later, but it's a break for ND.
3:52 - And they take advantage, four plays later David Rose is in from a yard out and the Knights lead 28-14. They can taste their first title in eight years.
3:55 - The snow is starting to stick to the turf, and I feel for some of the guys in short sleeves, but they are football players, I guess, and they're running around a lot more than me.
3:59 - Pomperaug marches right down the field, but at the ND 15, it's a fum-ble and third turnover of the game. A botched snap rolled around on the ground too long, and the Knights pounce. It's all over but the shouting...
4:05 - Or is it? The Panthers hold, and their offense is clicking on all cylinders now. Clements hits McNamara on a 10-yard pass and with 3:56 still to go, the lead is just 28-21.
4:07 - Pomperaug tries a tricky left-footed onside kick, but the ball goes out of bounds.
4:12 - The Panthers hold, they'll get one more shot at it.
4:14 - Interesting clock management from Pomperaug, who is quickly running out of time. Reminded of Herb Brooks in "Miracle" when the Soviets forget to pull the goalie. Pomperaug hasn't had too many close games, "He doesn't know what to do."
4:17 - With 10 seconds left, Conor Keniry picks off Clements to seal it. Fitting that it would be Keniry, the team's emotional leader.
4:19 - A surreal scene as the ND fans and players storm the field as the snow falls. Does it get any more perfect?
4:21 - Quotes, frozen ones, Marcucci: "You guys started on August 18th in 97-degree weather at Veterans Field, and here we are in December in the snow, and all that hard work paid it. You guys earned everything you got. Enjoy it."
4:26 - Finally catch up with Keniry and apologize for spelling his name wrong for two years. Keniry will go to Wake Forest to play baseball next year, so this was it for his football career. Not a bad way to go out: "I brought that up at halftime. I said, 'I don't know about you guys, but these are the last two quarters I'll ever play, so we're going out on top. This is something I dreamed about, and I can't believe it actually came true. What a great group we have. Everyone fought together, and here we are."
4:41 - In the final analysis, it just clicked for Notre Dame this season. Whatever "it" was, they had "it".
4:44 - Escape from Shelton complete, wasn't too icy and traffic could have been worse. Hopefully I'll be thawed out by the Cheshire game tomorrow.
SUNDAY
1:30 - A 38-degree day feels balmy at Ken Strong Stadium with the sun. Peek my head into the the nice, comfy press box which is actually overflowed with only the Class M game going on today. The Staples student radio crew has been banished to the stands. Solomon, of course, has a seat, though. (in his defense, he did write a nice column on ND: http://nhregister.com/articles/2009/12/06/sports/6-solomon.txt but, of course, he could probably read his notes, too).
1:45 - Cheshire is in white, which seems rare to me. Both kickers are booming balls in warm-ups. Wind is pretty stiff, but mild by West Haven standards.
1:56 - Members of the ND team take their place on the Cheshire side, the Knights stand to be ranked No. 1 if Cheshire wins. They look pretty intimidating over there, but cold.
2:10 - Staples puts together an impressive 15-play, 9-minute drive that included two fourth-down conversions and is finished by a Matt Kelly 3-yard run. 7-0 Staples and a statement of intent, for sure.
2:16 - Cheshire responds with a few first downs but the drive stalls at the Wreckers' 37. Kyle Pulek's rugby-style punt does pin Staples at the 7. We're flying through this game, but at some point, these teams have to throw a little, don't they?
2:22 - The turning point, just like with ND, it's a turnover. Keith Gelman, who has done a tremendous job since an injury to starter Brandon Pacilio is whacked from behind, the ball flies out, and Craig Thorne jumps on it and runs it back to the Staples 15.
2:26 - On 3rd-and-goal from the 8, time for a pass and Greg Palmer finds Brian Havlicek who falls into the end zone to tie the game with 5:06 to go in the half.
2:35 - Staples gets out to their own 44, but it's Thorne again with the sack.
2:38 - After a shanked punt, Palmer goes 37 yards to the Staples 18 and runs it in from 10 yards out two plays later and suddenly Cheshire has the lead, momentum, and everything else. 14-7 Cheshire with 51 seconds left in the half. Golf claps from the ND team in the Staples section.
2:42 - Staples does not take a knee. As Gelman raises his arm to throw, Staples coach Marce Petroccio yells, "Nooo" and it slows down like a bad movie. The pass is intercepted by Havlicek who runs it to the 6. On the next play, Palmer is in the end zone, and Cheshire will unbelievably take a 21-7 lead to the locker room (That pass was Gelman's only non-completion of the half, he was 7-for-8). Soviet style stand up cheering from the ND squad, who obviously doesn't want to make a scene, classy until the end.
2:51 - I guess Cheshire isn't going to the locker room, they stay out on the field. Little cold for that, but at least they're in the sun.
3:08 - Staples lets Cheshire stay in the cold, coming out just before the time is up. Guess they would have had a lot to talk about. Talk in the press box (where I'm getting warm) turns to the last time no one went undefeated in the state. If only the BCS had such problems. (turns out it was 2001, when Notre Dame beat undefeated Fitch, although New Britain got No. 1 that season).
3:35 - The third quarter belonged to the defenses, with no one putting together a big threat. As the quarter ends, Cheshire is winning the battle of punts and gets as far as the Staples 14.
3:37 - But Palmer is intercepted by Tyler Jacobs in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.
3:40 - Staples takes over at the 20, on second down, the ball appears to be resting on the 30, but the chains say they're an inch short. OK. On the next play, Ryan Burke is buried in the backfield by Evan Gaudio and the Wreckers have to punt.
3:48 - The Wreckers get the ball back on their own 32 with 7:55 left trailing 21-7 and decide it's time to throw. Good call.
3:55 - On 3rd-and-15 from the Cheshire 16, Brendan Rankowitz makes a catch along the sidelines and sneaks into the end zone. Could Cheshire rue a chance to finish Staples off? It's 21-14 with 4:44 left.
3:59 - Cheshire's offense appears to be done for the day. They've gone more than a quarter without a first down, and punt it right back....
4:05 - To the fired up Wreckers. Gelman looks like Drew Brees and blue shirts are open everywhere. Two passes to Rankowitz combine for 42 yards and eventually Gelman sneaks it in from 1 yard out and the game is tied at 21-21 with 1:44 left. What a comeback and Cheshire appears to be in trouble.
4:10 - The Rams go nowhere on three plays and are forced to punt with 38 seconds left. Cheshire gets a break, though, when Pulek's punt bounces over Kelly's head and goes to the Staples 25.
4:12 - With 28 seconds to go, the wind at their back, and an All-State kicker in Santiago Cuartas (he's even got his own exercise bike), does Staples take a shot? I think they should, but they do what me and fellow Syracuse alum Bowley of the Post would call Pasqualonied it, (named after former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni, who would always seem to be playing conservatively when they had a chance to finish teams off), fitting because both Petroccio and Cheshire coach Mark Ecke learned under Pasqualoni. Anyway, two tame runs later, and we're headed to overtime.
4:20 - It's a real reprieve for Cheshire and they take advantage. A pass to Dan Sweeney puts the ball to the 2, and Michael Skibicki - in his only carry of the game - scores to put Cheshire ahead.
4:23 - Kelly carries to the 6 on first down for Staples, gets to the 3 on second down - but Cheshire's Luke Scinto has the ball. Was it a fumble? It was, Cheshire wins, and red helmets fly everywhere as Cheshire is back on top for the first time since 1997.
4:25 - Scinto is giving interviews, but he's not giving up the ball, he might still be holding it as we speak. The WHHS staff is much more strict than the staff at Shelton, but the ND team makes it onto the field, as does the Bowman family, obviously.
4:26 - You have to feel bad for Kelly, who doesn't want to get up after the fumble. But Petroccio, a class act, pats his player on the head, and reminds him they wouldn't be here without him.
4:34 - Everyone poses for pictures, and Ecke - who was nearly run out of the job a few years back after a couple of losing seasons - is back on top. With his son on the roster, too: "It means a little more now. Last year, I talked about how great a ride it was making it to the finals, but this year we were more business-like. I think that helped our preparation for this game."
4:41 - As the sun sets both at West Haven High and on the 2009 football season, the SCC is back on top, winning both Class LL and Class L, and should claim the top two spots in the final state writers' poll when it is released. I happen to walk out the same time as Rob Bowman, like many of the players I've met this season, is as impressive off the field as he is on the field. I tell him it must feel good to be on top with Cheshire and his family.
"Absolutely."
But cousin Rob decided to break from tradition and attend Notre Dame in 2006. He had gone to St. Bridget in Cheshire and decided he want to continue in Catholic school, even though his dad and six uncles all played football for Cheshire High.
Well, three years later, on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Shelton, a now 6-foot-5, 275 pound Bowman was able to raise a state championship trophy for the Green and Gold when ND stopped Pomperaug, 28-21.
A day later, Bowman and his letterman jacket were on the Ken Strong Stadium turf celebrating again even though his green and gold didn't match red, as the Bowman tradition continued. Rob's cousin Shaun is a sophomore for Cheshire, and when they prevailed by the same 28-21 score (it was in overtime, though) over previously unbeaten Staples, the Bowman family had a new twist in a long line of football success: two championships in the same weekend.
Even better, Ed Bowman - now in his 80s - was there to see both of his grandsons win titles. When asked about the nasty weather Saturday, Ed said, "I go to every game, doesn't matter what the weather is."
He added: "I've been to too many games to count, and not just football, softball, too, and other sports. This was a really good weekend."
It was a really good weekend for the SCC as well, which broke a three-year run of not winning a state title. Since 2001, Notre Dame and Cheshire became the seventh and eighth conference teams to win a state championship (Hillhouse, Branford, Hand, West Haven, Xavier, and Shelton are the others) - three more than any other conference. How did they get there? Let's find out, running diary style, of course:
Saturday
1:15 p.m. - On a raw and just nasty December afternoon at Finn Stadium, I arrive to a cramped press box. The state finals brings people who don't usually deal with high school sports and Register columnist Dave Solomon can't understand why there is no seat for him and is telling Shelton AD John Niski so, even though the CSTN crew (led by pals Don Boyle and Steve Kirck) take up half the downstairs with PA announcer Steve Arena (filling in for the injured Nick Aprea, and whose youngest daughter plays for my club soccer team) and the WAVZ crew (with legendary George Demaio and his son Matt) have most of the upstairs. One of the great things about covering high school sports is being so close to the action, and today it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and stand on the ND sidelines. Actually, wouldn't want it any other way, notes and extremities be damned.
1:25 - Feel bad for Niski, not sure Shelton was the CIAC's first, second, or fifth choice, but at least they stepped up to the plate. Shame on SCSU for not hosting games. I call Sean Patrick Bowley of the Post over in West Haven, and he's got his feet up in their well-heated press box and people delivering him food (presumably caviar). The seats are filling fairly fast, though, despite the weather.
1:40 - Snow flurries in the air already. Great.
2:08 - Notre Dame is not exactly owning the line of scrimmage, but puts together a pretty good drive, until it stalls. There will be a little defense in this game, at least.
2:15 - It looks like the ND defense will hold, but on 4th-and-long (can't read the frozen, wet page) Andrew Clements finds Wade McNamara for a 25-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later, Kevin Maxen is in from 2 yards out and it's 7-0 Pomperaug after a quarter.
2:23 - Not going well for the Knights. Sean Goldrich is pummeled by Nick Fiore, and the Panthers appear to be going in again until ...
2:25 - The play of the game, really. Out of the single wing from the ND 7, Pomperaug tries to fool the Knights with a pass, but it backfires in a big way. Clements underthrows it out in the flat, and when Tirrell Young-Williams grabs it, there is nothing but green turf in front of him. Young-Williams is a speedster anyway, but it's a game-changing 93-yard "pick six" and ND has tied the game at 7-7.
2:27 - Clements is a big kid and is also on the kick return team. Unfortunately for him, he has to line up right in front of the ND student section, who brings out its hockey best, "It's all your fault, it's all your fault". The kick comes right to an angry Clements, who doesn't bother to try to break any tackles, but runs through a few would-be tacklers before going down on the 38.
2:28 - Clements can feel better now, because Ben Crick - anonymous up to now - just ran 62 yards on the first play for a touchdown. 14-7 Pomperaug midway through the second quarter.
2:32 - Here are the offensive fireworks. Off play-action, Goldrich's pass is underthrown, but Young-Williams has so much of a cushion, it doesn't matter, and he speeds away for a 71-yard touchdown reception and a 14-14 tie.
2:35 - I'm tired from going up and down on the sidelines, and Young-Williams tries to catch a break as he sits alone on the ND bench. But his break might be short-lived, as Crick returns the ensuing kickoff all the way down the Notre Dame 18. Where did those defenses go?
2:40 - But just as I say it, the ND defense makes a big stand, combined with penalties and the Panthers are forced to punt on 4th-and-30 at the 38. Ouch.
2:44 - The Panthers defense contines to control the line of scrimmage and forces a punt with 2 minutes left in the half, but - inexplicably - they don't try to field it and it rolls all the way to their own 30-yard line. Things continue to spiral downward for Pomperaug when they try a screen pass, but Clements overthrows his intended target and Thomas Perry makes a diving interception to set his team up.
2:51 - Six plays later, Goldrich sneaks in from a yard out and ND has its first lead, 21-14 at the half, despite being outgained. But turnovers are killers, and Pomperaug had two real killers.
3:01 - To the press box for some warmth. Somehow Solomon is still there, must have won his argument. Kirck asks, "How are we winning this game?" and I remind him that you had a 93 yard interception return for a touchdown. That can cure plenty of ills. I'd like to call him a worry wart, but about a month ago he sent me a 21-part plan that could see ND finish as the No. 1 team in the state. The plan is six quarters from coming to fruition.
3:22 - But still a half to play, and anything can happen. The third quarter features the defense, especially Pomperaug's as the large ND line appears to have finally met its match.
3:38 - ND has 4th-and-7 from midfield, but punter Phillip Bentley takes off, and he's got acres of space in front of him, a 28-yard run and a first down. Tom Marcucci called a fake punt? I'm stunned. And it was a perfect call.
3:40 - But Goldrich fumbles a snap, and Pomperaug recovers for ND's first turnover of the day. Oh, well.
3:45 - Pete Eyler, who has been the equipment manager for Notre Dame forever, is having a tough day, with the cold and wet and trying to keep balls and himself dry. He's borrowed a jacket from assistant cheerleading coach Stephanie Redding - who also moonlights as New Haven's Assistant Police Chief - and is ordered to get a dry ball for a 4th-and-8 at the Pomperaug 25 to open the fourth quarter. Eyler might be the unsung hero for ND, they'd be lost without him, he does about 62 jobs, and yes that included driving the bus on occasion.
3:47 - The new ball doesn't help Goldrich much, and we've got controversy. Goldrich's pass is woefully underthrown and Crick picks it off and runs it back to the 25-yard line. But there was a flag on the field, pass interference on Pomperaug. I thought it was for an illegal block after the interception, but my opinion is it was so underthrown that it threw off everyone: players, officials, everyone. Will be interesting to see the film later, but it's a break for ND.
3:52 - And they take advantage, four plays later David Rose is in from a yard out and the Knights lead 28-14. They can taste their first title in eight years.
3:55 - The snow is starting to stick to the turf, and I feel for some of the guys in short sleeves, but they are football players, I guess, and they're running around a lot more than me.
3:59 - Pomperaug marches right down the field, but at the ND 15, it's a fum-ble and third turnover of the game. A botched snap rolled around on the ground too long, and the Knights pounce. It's all over but the shouting...
4:05 - Or is it? The Panthers hold, and their offense is clicking on all cylinders now. Clements hits McNamara on a 10-yard pass and with 3:56 still to go, the lead is just 28-21.
4:07 - Pomperaug tries a tricky left-footed onside kick, but the ball goes out of bounds.
4:12 - The Panthers hold, they'll get one more shot at it.
4:14 - Interesting clock management from Pomperaug, who is quickly running out of time. Reminded of Herb Brooks in "Miracle" when the Soviets forget to pull the goalie. Pomperaug hasn't had too many close games, "He doesn't know what to do."
4:17 - With 10 seconds left, Conor Keniry picks off Clements to seal it. Fitting that it would be Keniry, the team's emotional leader.
4:19 - A surreal scene as the ND fans and players storm the field as the snow falls. Does it get any more perfect?
4:21 - Quotes, frozen ones, Marcucci: "You guys started on August 18th in 97-degree weather at Veterans Field, and here we are in December in the snow, and all that hard work paid it. You guys earned everything you got. Enjoy it."
4:26 - Finally catch up with Keniry and apologize for spelling his name wrong for two years. Keniry will go to Wake Forest to play baseball next year, so this was it for his football career. Not a bad way to go out: "I brought that up at halftime. I said, 'I don't know about you guys, but these are the last two quarters I'll ever play, so we're going out on top. This is something I dreamed about, and I can't believe it actually came true. What a great group we have. Everyone fought together, and here we are."
4:41 - In the final analysis, it just clicked for Notre Dame this season. Whatever "it" was, they had "it".
4:44 - Escape from Shelton complete, wasn't too icy and traffic could have been worse. Hopefully I'll be thawed out by the Cheshire game tomorrow.
SUNDAY
1:30 - A 38-degree day feels balmy at Ken Strong Stadium with the sun. Peek my head into the the nice, comfy press box which is actually overflowed with only the Class M game going on today. The Staples student radio crew has been banished to the stands. Solomon, of course, has a seat, though. (in his defense, he did write a nice column on ND: http://nhregister.com/articles/2009/12/06/sports/6-solomon.txt but, of course, he could probably read his notes, too).
1:45 - Cheshire is in white, which seems rare to me. Both kickers are booming balls in warm-ups. Wind is pretty stiff, but mild by West Haven standards.
1:56 - Members of the ND team take their place on the Cheshire side, the Knights stand to be ranked No. 1 if Cheshire wins. They look pretty intimidating over there, but cold.
2:10 - Staples puts together an impressive 15-play, 9-minute drive that included two fourth-down conversions and is finished by a Matt Kelly 3-yard run. 7-0 Staples and a statement of intent, for sure.
2:16 - Cheshire responds with a few first downs but the drive stalls at the Wreckers' 37. Kyle Pulek's rugby-style punt does pin Staples at the 7. We're flying through this game, but at some point, these teams have to throw a little, don't they?
2:22 - The turning point, just like with ND, it's a turnover. Keith Gelman, who has done a tremendous job since an injury to starter Brandon Pacilio is whacked from behind, the ball flies out, and Craig Thorne jumps on it and runs it back to the Staples 15.
2:26 - On 3rd-and-goal from the 8, time for a pass and Greg Palmer finds Brian Havlicek who falls into the end zone to tie the game with 5:06 to go in the half.
2:35 - Staples gets out to their own 44, but it's Thorne again with the sack.
2:38 - After a shanked punt, Palmer goes 37 yards to the Staples 18 and runs it in from 10 yards out two plays later and suddenly Cheshire has the lead, momentum, and everything else. 14-7 Cheshire with 51 seconds left in the half. Golf claps from the ND team in the Staples section.
2:42 - Staples does not take a knee. As Gelman raises his arm to throw, Staples coach Marce Petroccio yells, "Nooo" and it slows down like a bad movie. The pass is intercepted by Havlicek who runs it to the 6. On the next play, Palmer is in the end zone, and Cheshire will unbelievably take a 21-7 lead to the locker room (That pass was Gelman's only non-completion of the half, he was 7-for-8). Soviet style stand up cheering from the ND squad, who obviously doesn't want to make a scene, classy until the end.
2:51 - I guess Cheshire isn't going to the locker room, they stay out on the field. Little cold for that, but at least they're in the sun.
3:08 - Staples lets Cheshire stay in the cold, coming out just before the time is up. Guess they would have had a lot to talk about. Talk in the press box (where I'm getting warm) turns to the last time no one went undefeated in the state. If only the BCS had such problems. (turns out it was 2001, when Notre Dame beat undefeated Fitch, although New Britain got No. 1 that season).
3:35 - The third quarter belonged to the defenses, with no one putting together a big threat. As the quarter ends, Cheshire is winning the battle of punts and gets as far as the Staples 14.
3:37 - But Palmer is intercepted by Tyler Jacobs in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.
3:40 - Staples takes over at the 20, on second down, the ball appears to be resting on the 30, but the chains say they're an inch short. OK. On the next play, Ryan Burke is buried in the backfield by Evan Gaudio and the Wreckers have to punt.
3:48 - The Wreckers get the ball back on their own 32 with 7:55 left trailing 21-7 and decide it's time to throw. Good call.
3:55 - On 3rd-and-15 from the Cheshire 16, Brendan Rankowitz makes a catch along the sidelines and sneaks into the end zone. Could Cheshire rue a chance to finish Staples off? It's 21-14 with 4:44 left.
3:59 - Cheshire's offense appears to be done for the day. They've gone more than a quarter without a first down, and punt it right back....
4:05 - To the fired up Wreckers. Gelman looks like Drew Brees and blue shirts are open everywhere. Two passes to Rankowitz combine for 42 yards and eventually Gelman sneaks it in from 1 yard out and the game is tied at 21-21 with 1:44 left. What a comeback and Cheshire appears to be in trouble.
4:10 - The Rams go nowhere on three plays and are forced to punt with 38 seconds left. Cheshire gets a break, though, when Pulek's punt bounces over Kelly's head and goes to the Staples 25.
4:12 - With 28 seconds to go, the wind at their back, and an All-State kicker in Santiago Cuartas (he's even got his own exercise bike), does Staples take a shot? I think they should, but they do what me and fellow Syracuse alum Bowley of the Post would call Pasqualonied it, (named after former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni, who would always seem to be playing conservatively when they had a chance to finish teams off), fitting because both Petroccio and Cheshire coach Mark Ecke learned under Pasqualoni. Anyway, two tame runs later, and we're headed to overtime.
4:20 - It's a real reprieve for Cheshire and they take advantage. A pass to Dan Sweeney puts the ball to the 2, and Michael Skibicki - in his only carry of the game - scores to put Cheshire ahead.
4:23 - Kelly carries to the 6 on first down for Staples, gets to the 3 on second down - but Cheshire's Luke Scinto has the ball. Was it a fumble? It was, Cheshire wins, and red helmets fly everywhere as Cheshire is back on top for the first time since 1997.
4:25 - Scinto is giving interviews, but he's not giving up the ball, he might still be holding it as we speak. The WHHS staff is much more strict than the staff at Shelton, but the ND team makes it onto the field, as does the Bowman family, obviously.
4:26 - You have to feel bad for Kelly, who doesn't want to get up after the fumble. But Petroccio, a class act, pats his player on the head, and reminds him they wouldn't be here without him.
4:34 - Everyone poses for pictures, and Ecke - who was nearly run out of the job a few years back after a couple of losing seasons - is back on top. With his son on the roster, too: "It means a little more now. Last year, I talked about how great a ride it was making it to the finals, but this year we were more business-like. I think that helped our preparation for this game."
4:41 - As the sun sets both at West Haven High and on the 2009 football season, the SCC is back on top, winning both Class LL and Class L, and should claim the top two spots in the final state writers' poll when it is released. I happen to walk out the same time as Rob Bowman, like many of the players I've met this season, is as impressive off the field as he is on the field. I tell him it must feel good to be on top with Cheshire and his family.
"Absolutely."
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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.
* 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.
Message from the boss (postponements)
Good morning -
Happy Holidays... Thanks for your coverage of the SCC... can I ask a favor
- can you post the following message on your respective websites, blogs,
Twitter accounts, etc. I appreciate the help...
Also - the SCC Fall Sports All-Conference teams will be released later this
evening, to.
SCC Football All-Conference Photo Session Rescheduled
(12/5) - - Due to the CIAC postponing state championship football night
games, the Southern Connecticut Conference 2009 Football All-Conference
Photo Session, originally scheduled for tomorrow - Sunday, December 6 at
noon at West Haven HS, has been rescheduled to SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 - 12
noon - WEST HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL.
Any questions, please contact SCC Commissioner Al Carbone at (203)
671-4421.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Letter to NHHS baseball players
To: All Former North Haven High School Baseball Players
>
> The NHHS Baseball Team finally has a permanent home – a sodded, lighted, enclosed field – after a long seven-year wait. Unfortunately no money was allocated for fencing, dugouts, bullpens, etc. The lack of fencing creates a number of problems as the baseball and softball teams hit into each other.
> At this point in time, no school money is available for this project. My reluctant role is to fund raise as a fence is desperately needed. I am contacting members of all former teams requesting a small donation. My hope is that each team would sponsor one 10’ x 4’ section of portable fencing, costing approximately $160.00 each. We would need 56 sections of fence for the field. Whatever donation each team member could make to reach that cost would be sincerely appreciated. A sign or plaque would indicate the sponsorship of each section, noting the team year and accomplishments.
> Checks should be made out to:
>
> North Haven Athletics – Baseball Fence
>
> Please indicate your team year(s) on your check.
> Checks should be mailed to:
>
North Haven Athletic Department
> 221 Elm Street
> North Haven, CT 06473
>
> I hope you can attend a game in the spring and see our new field. A statue of a ball player has been erected at the field, dedicated to all former players and their team accomplishments.
>
> If you have any questions, or would just like to chat, my cell phone is 203-499-9268 and you can reach me by e-mail at bobdemayo@comcast.net. I would enjoy hearing from you. I hope all is well with you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Bob DeMayo
>
> The NHHS Baseball Team finally has a permanent home – a sodded, lighted, enclosed field – after a long seven-year wait. Unfortunately no money was allocated for fencing, dugouts, bullpens, etc. The lack of fencing creates a number of problems as the baseball and softball teams hit into each other.
> At this point in time, no school money is available for this project. My reluctant role is to fund raise as a fence is desperately needed. I am contacting members of all former teams requesting a small donation. My hope is that each team would sponsor one 10’ x 4’ section of portable fencing, costing approximately $160.00 each. We would need 56 sections of fence for the field. Whatever donation each team member could make to reach that cost would be sincerely appreciated. A sign or plaque would indicate the sponsorship of each section, noting the team year and accomplishments.
> Checks should be made out to:
>
> North Haven Athletics – Baseball Fence
>
> Please indicate your team year(s) on your check.
> Checks should be mailed to:
>
North Haven Athletic Department
> 221 Elm Street
> North Haven, CT 06473
>
> I hope you can attend a game in the spring and see our new field. A statue of a ball player has been erected at the field, dedicated to all former players and their team accomplishments.
>
> If you have any questions, or would just like to chat, my cell phone is 203-499-9268 and you can reach me by e-mail at bobdemayo@comcast.net. I would enjoy hearing from you. I hope all is well with you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Bob DeMayo
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