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Just a couple things from today’s CIAC state luncheon, which occurred at a secret meeting place somewhere in the state of Connecticut. I’d tell more people where this was held, but it was getting kinda crowded at CIAC headquarters today at noon and I…
D’oh.
Anyway, here are the props and gripes from the conference which, I’ll admit had my head spinning afterward.
Outside of a brash pick made out of pure arrogance instead of reality, I’m (really, really, really) happy to say I did pretty darn well for picking these semifinal game.
Let’s take a look-see:
Seeing that the NH register likes to horde its poll from prying eyes until they the poll’s ink is dried on their hallowed pages, I have given myself a mission: From now on, I’m going to publish their poll as early as possible on Tuesday mornings in our website. Even if it means waiting at 4 a.m.
More on that later. Until then, here’s the NHR poll which is status quo.
…From newspapers far beyond my reach covering our regional games:
Bullard-Havens hopes to continue revival against Tolland: Writer Matt Bucker lets his readers in on the Bullard-Havens experience.
Just sitting here brooding about our awful playoff system, how our multi-class system awards mediocrity in some instances and punishes excellence in others.
Then, my buddy came up with the best idea in the world. One I’m suddenly so crazy about, I typed this up on Sunday night rather than working on my semifinal previews.
It’s so simple, it’s gotta work…
Bloggers note: This running diary was not completed on Thanksgiving Day because the blogger was exhausted. Read and understand.
Added Sunday:Two more videos, Stratford pregame and McKoy’s catch to the 3-yard line.
SEAN PATRICK BOWLEY’S 2007 THANKSGIVING DAY DIARY
The alarm goes off, it’s 6:25..
“Just… a few… minutes… longer zzzzzz.”
The few minutes turn into a half hour. It’s now 7. I’m already going to be late for “The Coach George DeMaio‘s annual Thanksgiving Morning breakfast.
And now someone else already has a leg-up on me in the shower sweepstakes. Ugh.
Welcome to the Thanksgiving Day running diary. Your insiders view into a high school sports writer’s holiday.
Welcome to my nightmare, which won’t end for another 13 hours.
7:06–Shower time. Can I get in, out and drive 20 minutes to West Haven before 7:30?
7:14–Of course.
Just a quick note of thanks to all the kind emails I’ve received the last few days. Be it from coaches, players fans and parents, from as far away as New Fairfield and as close as Bassick, I was really taken aback.
We’ve never received so many at one time before. You know who you are. Thank you in every different way for all the kind thoughts and words. This is a fun job, no question. But hearing your kind thoughts makes the daily grind worthwhile.
I’m going to try to get back to everyone personally, but I’ve been so busy these last few weeks and if my head gets too stuffed with stuff, I’ll forget things. So, in case I don’t email you back, Thank you!
Now, to the games.
I got wind of this just last week from a friend of a friend of a former colleague who was listening to some of chatty organizers talk during one of the league title games last week.
Not that it was a massive story or anything, but in some PR genius’ sense of bravado they decided to wait until Thanksgiving to make the announcement. I’ll have to admit, it was brilliant idea.
Anyway, Connecticut Public Television, the group that brings you all of those thrilling UConn Women’s basketball vs. Little Sisters of the Blind on Tuesday nights, will indeed broadcast all of the CIAC state championships–two live, four tape delayed to Sunday, and then rebroadcast twice during the week.
Hip hip, hooray.
Bunnell has repeated as SWC champions. Jon Jackson intercepted three passes, caught one of the craziest touchdowns you’ll ever see, a 76-yard pass that bounced off Masuk’s Bob Ambrose’s head and into Jackson’s waiting arms, he also scored on a 4-yard touchdown run.
Bunnell’s defense held Masuk to 0 rushing yards after allowing 39 on the opening drive. Ray Palmer plays well to rally the Panthers, completing 15 of 30 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, but he throws four interceptions. Just a crazy, crazy game.
Edit: By the way, that Mark Harrison 99-yard touchdown catch was one of the most ridiculous catches you’ve ever seen. Ridiculous. He caught the thing with his fingertips in stride at the 40 and just turned on the jets. Illegal shift wiped it out, but it was a thing of beauty.
Also: And yet another big day from you-know-who and the Chargers who symbolically throw that No. 2 ranking in my face by turning the second half of their NVL championship game into a junior varsity showdown as the Ansonia fans burn me in effigy at Municipal Stadium. (That’s a joke… I wasn’t there. But I hope they weren’t doing that. Guys? ….guys?)
Though crowd. Tough crowd. Boy, I tell ya.
Anyway, keep those rotten tomatoes coming. See you soon.
SP
So I’ve got the web working here in the parking lot at Pomperaug and, thankfully, since I’m so close to Waterbury I thought I’d check in with my boys at WATR like I did last year Bob Sagendorf, Steve Gesseck and a surprise coach-in-the-box guest, Steve Croce, the offensive coordinator at Holy Cross.
I tuned in at 6:04. And heard 5 Ansonia plays, including a 39-yard touchdown run by Alex Thomas with 7 in change left in the first quarter.
I’ll do a little running commentary as much as I can before heading down to Arum field, including giving scores of the SWC game at halftime.
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