Football Thoughts (Sports and Football)

It was a busy weekend for the WGCH broadcast team. We started by visiting Danbury High School on Friday night for Greenwich and Danbury. The Cardinals found themselves in an early battle with their longtime rivals, the Hatters. Joe Poletsky hit Steve Strazza with a beautiful touchdown pass, but that was immediately forgotten when Jeff Jordan ran the ensuing kickoff back for 81 yards and a touchdown. So the teams went to the half tied at seven in what I would call a surprise. The Cards, though sloppy, righted the ship in the third quarter and pulled away, winning 28-14. WGCH Newscenter anchor Tony Savino joined us in the booth for the third quarter.

Saturday was crazy day. Game one had Ricky, Zach and I at Port Chester High School as the Rams hosted the Nyack Indians. It almost looked like Nyack, a far-superior team, allowed the Rams to keep things close in the first half. The Rams held the Indians close, as it was 7-3 until late in the second quarter. A costly interception and a touchdown later, it was 14-3 Nyack. The game had changed. The Indians ran wild from there, and won 35-9. For the Rams, there were good things. They played hard, and scored their first points of the year. I hope they continue to build, as they once had a very proud football program there. Current Greenwich head coach Rich Albonizio is part of the Rams storied past.

The final game of the weekend took us to Brunswick’s’ Cosby Field, as the Bruins hosted rival Hopkins. The buzz was that this would be the best game of the weekend, but like all the others, it had little drama. The Bruins rolled behind the phenomenal Kevin Decker, who threw three touchdown passes in a 31-6 rout. The Hilltoppers never had a chance. The best part, for me, was an appearance by my friend and old broadcast partner Mark Rosen. Mark joined us for the sencond half.

I’ve been asked to join Tim Parry’s FCIAC Football Blog Media Poll – known as the FCIAC Football Five. First of all, after years of calling games, I’m honored to be part of such a thing. We so often toil in obscurity, and there is an inherent tension that exists between scribes and “voices.” I like the writers I come in contact with, but many writers resent us because all we do is swoop in, plug in some equipment, and call the game. We don’t have the ink on our hands. It’s a valid point, but if you listen to enough of my broadcasts, you will hear me often praising the work of the many fine writers in the area (Kevin Devaney Jr., Jesse Quinlan, Sean Patrick Bowley, and Tim, among many others). If they write it, and I use it, I mention them – plain and simple. I’d welcome them and many others in the booth as a guest anytime. Still, I can remember a hectic night at Greenwich’s Dorothy Hamill Rink for the Greenwich-Brunswick hockey Town Crown. I neglected to get the votes of a few writers for the MVP award (it was insane that night, but I guess that’s no excuse). We honestly goofed and gave the MVP to a kid who was misidentified as a goal-scorer. It was one of the darkest events of my broadcasting career, and I was humiliated by the whole thing. The Greenwich Time called us out the next day. They didn’t call me out by name, but they did mention WGCH. The fact that I’m relaying this story four years later indicates that it still bothers me. I also thought it made the Time look very shallow, truth be told. Have the courage to pull me aside and talk about it. Don’t just throw it in your paper in a “look at me, I’m a big shot sports editor” move. Believe it or not, I don’t hold a grudge. I just NEVER forget.

OK, let’s get onto my Super Six (I have to vote for six teams and Tim takes the top five). I thought long and hard about things, and thought it would be too easy to put Greenwich at number one, since I’m their so-called “voice.” I’d be viewed as a shill. I even said so during last night’s Wick-Hopkins tilt. I was all set to go with Central, who has been rolling over people. But as the dark of day hit (and what a god-awful day today is, weather-wise), I saw things differently. So…

1) Greenwich. There, I said it. Sometimes you need to take a few lumps to wake up. Danbury gave the Cards a solid punch, and Big Red responded. Jim Dunster and Jon Myers ran for over 100 yards each, and Nick Edwards will help that backfield, despite the absence of TJ Cameron. I’m concerned about the penalties, and the pass defense opened my eyes, but right now, I’m not sure who beats them in the FCIAC.
2) Bridgeport Central. They’ve beaten up on two OK teams (Trumbull and Norwalk), and demolished Bassick 56-0, making a cause célèbre of head coach Dave Cadelina, who was the first to challenge the CIAC’s “Jack Cochran” rule, with was supposed to control scoring and blowout games. (CIAC is Connecticut’s high school sports governing body – they can also be described as “clueless”, but I digress) Central’s 31-24 win over Norwalk convinced me that they’re not quite ready to be number one. Yet.
3) Staples. I can’t, in my right mind, put the perennial powerhouse any lower. Yes, they’re a different team than last year, and their schedule has been less than challenging, but they’re still a top-three team to me. I wish I could find a way to be at Kennedy Stadium for their October 14th tilt against Central. That’s when the big boys will start to beat each other up for a chance to play in the FCIAC Championship. (NOTE - I goofed. Staples and Central play at Staples on 10/14. Thanks to the anonymous poster who corrected me. --Rob 10/2)
4) Ridgefield. Something about a win against New Canaan catches my attention, and their 31-28 road win (their first in 24 years at NC) was special. I’ve read two accounts of Tigers’ QB Matt White’s game. In one, he passed for 262 yards. In another, he threw for 338. Either way, he threw for three scores and ran for a fourth. Wow – I’m impressed.
5) Trinity Catholic. Yes, I’m on the Crusaders’ bandwagon. After a team has been down for so long, it’s great to see them back. Despite a tough loss against Darien (who probably can make a big stink about not being ranked higher), the Crusaders whipped Westhill 46-20.
6) Darien. I could have taken New Canaan, but I need to see their response to the Ridgefield loss. They play Wilton next – a decent matchup. The Blue Wave’s schedule (despite Trinity) hasn’t impressed me yet.

There you have it. One last thing – one of the failures of the FCIAC Championship game is that it’s played on the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving. The problem? The risk is games that would have an impact on the championship participants might be played on Thanksgiving Day. Obviously, it’s too late at that point. Who plays on Turkey Day? Greenwich and Staples, that’s who. Possibly the two best teams (not according to me, right now) and they don’t get a chance to duke it out properly. Oh well – we can’t have everything.

Tune your radio’s, folks (or go to wgch.com)! Ricky, Nick and I will be at Cosby Field Friday night for Poly Prep and Brunswick. The pregame show starts at 6:50. Then we have Greenwich and Harding on Saturday from Bridgeport. Pregame show 1:20. ‘Nuff said.