Here’s the final Media Poll from my spies in New Haven and and The Day of New London’s Coaches Poll, studiously and unselfishly released by Ned Griffen.
Nothing shocking. Ansonia is No. 1 in both polls. As the media’s champion, Ansonia becomes the first school in history to earn four No. 1 rankings.
Both polls are also exactly the way I voted 1 through 7.
Here’s the NHR final poll (added Tuesday: points/1st votes/last/others)
FINAL MEDIA POLL 2007
Team-rec-1st place……………………pts……last
1. Ansonia 13-0 (18)…………………..596…….1
2. Greenwich 11-1 (2)…………………560…….2
3. Bunnell 13-0………………………….520……5
4. Seymour 11-1……………………….442…….9
5. New Canaan 10-2…………………..419…..NR
6. Hand 11-1……………………………359……..3
7. Shelton 10-2…………………………349…….7
8. Ledyard 11-1………………………..287……NR
9. New London 11-1…………………..272…….4
10. Staples 8-2…………………………232…….8
Dropped out: Bristol Eastern (6), Southington (10).
Others receiving votes: Masuk (10-3), 222; Southington (9-2), 207; Central (8-2), 132; Berlin (10-2), 131; Bristol Eastern (10-1), 112; Tolland (9-3), 68; Woodland (8-4), 34; Conard (9-2), 32; Newington (9-1), 25; Cromwell (10-1) and Law (9-1), 22; Cheshire (6-4), 19; Pomperaug (8-2), St. Joseph (7-3) and Weaver (9-2), 8; Northwest Catholic (8-3) and Stratford (8-2), 7.
The following voted: Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, Hersam-Acorn; Sean Patrick Bowley, Connecticut Post; Bryant Carpenter, Meriden-Record Journal; George DeMaio, WELI; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Matt Doran, Norwalk Hour; Noah Finz, WTNH-8; Jim Fuller, New Haven Register; Brian Girasoli, Norwich Bulletin; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Hal Levy, Shore Line Newspapers; Ken Lipshez, The Herald of New Britain; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Paul Nichols, Middletown Press; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Erin Quinlan, Manchester Journal-Inquirer; Paul Rosano, Hartford Courant; Dave Ruden, Stamford Advocate.
A few things on this one: I knew Ansonia was gaining two first-place votes, but the question was it going to lose any? The answer was no as the Chargers finished with 18 of the possible 20 from the voters.
I’m also curious what led some voters to rate New London, which beat Ledyard 41-8, behind the Colonels.
Good for Staples sneaking in there. They did, after all, go 1-2 against state championship teams.
And here’s the full Day poll.
The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches football poll
Team-rec-1st place……………………pts……last
1. Ansonia 13-0 (9) ……………………….380…….1
2. Greenwich 11-1 (2)…………………….364…….2
3. Bunnell 13-0 (2) ………………………..346…….4
4. Seymour 11-1…………………………..276…..10
5. New Canaan 10-2………………………272…..NR
6. Hand 11-1………………………………..236…….3
7. Shelton 10-2…………………………….224…….7
8. Ledyard 10-1…………………………….213…..NR
9. Masuk 10-3………………………………170…..NR
10. New London 11-1…………………….140…….5
Dropped out: Bristol Eastern (6), Staples (8) and Southington (9).
Also receiving votes: Central (8-2), 138; Southington (9-2), 125; Bristol Eastern (10-1), 106; Staples (8-2), 96; Berlin (10-2), 68; Conard (9-2), 45; Cromwell (10-1), 42; Tolland (9-3), 28; Woodland (8-4), 24; Weaver (9-2), 14; Northwest Catholic (8-3), 8.
The following coaches voted: Chris Anderson, Woodland; Jim Buonocore, Fitch; Dave Cadelina, Central; John DeCaprio, Notre Dame-West Haven; Chuck Drury, Pomperaug; Steve Filippone, Hand; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Bill Mella, Southington; John Murphy, Masuk; Marce Petroccio, Staples; Bob Zito, Maloney.
Only thing mildly surprising is Bunnell’s two first-place votes and Masuk eking its way into the proceedings. Ledyard still over New London. Staples gets bumped.
And the crowd goes wild.
Who’s No. 1 in hoops? anyone?
SPB
No suprise here.
I’m sure if Bunnell had the clout like Greenwich does, Bunnell would be #2.
Both Greenwich & Bunnell ran the board on Conn. teams.
I read where Greenwich beat Staples 37-0 & Bunnell beat Staples 28-14.
Greenwich should beat Staples they are the best team the FCIAC has to offer.Bunnell on the other hand is from the SWC, which many call a weak conference.Staples should beat Bunnell with that line of thought that most of you stated here.
If it’s any other team other than Greenwich, Bunnell gets #2.
ansonia no.1——————no kidding
Maybe Murph and Marce voted for Bunnell?????That would make sense
I have no idea how Ledyard could be ranked ahead of New London – that makes no sense at all.
I really think New London is getting disrespected and made to seem like pretenders after what happened in the Ansonia game, but I feel this is wrong.
They are a very good team that got beat into submission. The wheels fell off and Ansonia would not let them recover. And that nutcase Cochran is going to file all of this away for next year and try to change some minds. The ECC better watch out.
He probably started recruiting on Sunday morning after the game.
who are the colonials? ledyard is the colonels in case you forgot
PBL – As much as I agree with your other post about how great it would be to have a conference vs. conference challenge, your line of reasoning about Bunnell being No. 2 over Greenwich still doesn’t hold water. Putting the “undefeated vs. one out of state loss” issue aside, you’re saying that Greenwich SHOULD beat Staples (which went 1-2 against state champs) as the best team in the conference while Bunnell from the “weak” SWC shouldn’t beat them. How does that possibly factor in as to who deserves to be No. 2? Greenwich blew out Staples in a shutout, while Bunnell beat the Wreckers by 2 TDs. I think 99 percent of folks would think that Greenwich posted the more impressive win against Staples.
As far as “if it’s any other team other than Greenwich, Bunnell gets No. 2,” well that may be part of it. Greenwich plays in the FCIACs, the LL, went to Florida, which is one of the top 2 football states, hung tough with an undefeated team that is two wins away from a Florida state championship (it was 24-12 until Naples added one last score, and no other team had come closer than like 25 points against them), and beat a good Shelton squad in the state final by two scores. It has a great “body of work,” slightly more impressive than Bunnell’s body of work, which of course, isn’t really all Bunnell’s fault.
Bottom line: how would the top 3 schools do against each other? I think that’s a better question.
pbl-were actually including bunnell into the equation? is this the same team that gave up 35 points to joel barlow? what is joel barlow a clothing store?
AS I SIGN OFF FOR THIS YEAR—-DIGEST THIS-IF THE CIAC DIDNT RUN A WATERED DOWN PLAYOFF SYSTEM-AND WENT STRICTLY BY POLL VOTES-U WOULDNT EVEN KNOW TEAMS LIKE MASUK-TOLLAND-STRATFORD-BERLIN-LEDYARD EVEN EXISTED—16 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 4 OVERALL STATE TITLES-NONE OF YOU BLOGGGERS WILL LIVE TO SEE YOUR TEAMS GET TO THAT POINT-HAIL ANSONIA
Ray,
Your comments got increasingly angry and deranged as they continued through the year.
Be happy that Ansonia has won 16 titles. But what does that have to do with the teams you just mentioned? They haven’t won that many, we know. Leave them alone.
Please folks, as you read his off the wall ramblings, try to remember that he does not speak for the majority of Ansonia fans.
It holds water, Bunnell put up 62 on Barlow, & had to be a very good masuk team 3 times to go undefeated.
Beating a team like Masuk 3 times in one year says a lot more than a 37-0 Greenwich/Staples game.
Here is a perfect example of why your 37-0 Greenwich win over Staples is meaningless.
Lass year Holy Cross loss to Ansonia the #1 team in the state.
Greenwich got shut 20-0 out by Staples on Thanksgiving.
Greenwich still got a #2 over Holy Cross.
So go fly a kit the wind today is perfect for it.
It is a nice windy day today, you know in 2007, not 2006. No one else went undefeated in the state last year, and Greenwich was considered the best one loss team despite the loss, as it won the LL. Who cares about last year? People thought Greenwich would beat Holy Cross head to head. Anyone disagree?
Try finding a 2007 example. You won’t. Coaches and writers agree that Greenwich is the 2nd most impressive team in the state, and there’s nothing wrong with Bunnell being the 3rd most.
I can’t believe we’re debating about “who’s number 2?” It is kind of a funny debate. Does the Number 2 team get a front page article on the New Haven Register sports page as well?
I’ll say it again: An offense like Ansonia’s in which one RB, notwithstanding that Alex Thomas is supremely gifted–but an offense that leans on one RB to carry the ball forty-plus times per game does not survive an FCIAC schedule. Physically the RB simply couldn’t endure that degree of one-dimensional wear-and-tear.
With the ‘the common opponent arguement with Staples’ being treated as the most signicant factor in determining the rankings of Greenwich and Bunnell…what is the explanation for last year when Bunnell beat the same Staples team which shut down Greenwich 20-0, yet Greenwich still significantly outranked Bunnell? Food for thought
when do the allstate players results come out? greenwich is #3 in my book
Ansonia deserves to be #1. They do not have a weekness and they make big plays. They proved that when the run was being stopped by NL they went to the pass with success. Special teams, defense thay did it all. Greewwich is good and beat Shelton with four big plays but having seen both teams play Shelton I have to go with ansonia.
I did give an example.Bunnell had to beat a good Masuk team 3 times in one season.
Anyways, I was just making a valid point on how Greenwich has more clout when it comes to other teams.
People still want to put Greenwich infront of Ansonia.
To anonymous:
Here is your explanation.
Bunnell lost to Stratford 40-8 on the night before Thanksgiving.Holy Cross beat down Stratford.
Still if anyone knows about the Bunnell/Stratford rivalry you can toss the seasons records right out the door.
To anonymous – as far as 2006, maybe it’s because Bunnell’s 40-8 loss to Stratford on the same day Greenwich lost didn’t really impress anybody. Other than Ansonia, every team lost at least once in-state last year. At that point, it’s a matter of figuring out among the state champions/one loss teams of who would beat whom. And I’m not saying the staples result this year is the most significant factor (along with schedule, performance in other games, players on the team), but it is certainly a factor. If Greenwich edged staples by a point, and Bunnell came back with a 37-0 shutout, that certainly would be to Bunnell’s advantage in the rankings.
Like I said earlier, this whole discussion is pretty ludicrous. We’ve all more or less conceded that Ansonia deserves/is probably the No. 1 team in the state, so we’ve been debating who’s number 2 like that’s a big honor. I wonder what the discussion would have been if Greenwich DIDN’T play Naples (to take that one loss discussion out) OR if it had somehow beaten Naples (to see if that would be enough to sway voted around the state to say Greenwich was No. 1).
Interesting hypothetical points John. If Greenwich hadn’t played Naples I believe that the polls would have (or more correctly should have) been much closer on #1. The debates would have been a lot more spirited as well. I think that Greenwich would have probably eeked one out on a small strength of schedule advantage.
If Greenwich had beaten Naples I do not see how any rational individual (even the most NVL-myopic fans)could not vote them number one.
At any rate they took the chance and it cost them in the polls. I give them much credit for the effort. We really need to get more interconference games out there.
Number #2 is a big deal.If it wasn’t there would not be a Top 10.
So why are the coaches & writers wasting their time even voting on 2-10.
Are you that thick headed?????
What you need is some common sense.
Back & forth back & forth….
We already established Greenwich/Naples games does not count towards ranks in Connecticut.
It only counts in points towards State Playoffs.
All 3 top teams can lay claim to #1.All 3 teams went undefeated in this State.
Only way to slove it would be a playoff which will never happen.
Confrenece vs Confrenece would be the way to slove some issues.Playoffs would be best.
Like what was stated before to many Classes in such a small state.
I’m sure John E. would agree with me once again.
I hope!
Can’t say no to Ansonia (was it 26 staright)
Saw them play though, Thomas and Kuraczea not as good as advertised.
Greenwich’s “clout”? There is none; at least within Connecticut’s borders. Over the last 36 years, the Greenwich program has averaged just over 9 wins a season. During Coach Albonizio’s eleven years, the average is just under eleven wins. Still, since 1970, Greenwich has never finished a season ranked number one. Moreover, Trumbull, in the mid-eighties, is the only FCIAC school so honored. All the great Greenwich, Trumbull, New Canaan and Staples teams have only produced one number-one since 1970.
Look, we know the benefits that come from growing up in the wealthiest town in the country. Any Greenwich resident that whines about rankings should be shot. Greenwich’s so-called “clout” might get them a game in Florida or invited to play Bergen Catholic in Giants Stadium, next season (Word is that the CIAC will not give its approval. Clout?). But there is no pre-disposition to favor Greenwich in Connecticut.
i am tired of hearing about ansonia being no. 1 what teams did they beat? they had a fairly easy schedule.. let the final teams play at end of year and lets see who really is the best.
here’s how we can determine #1.. come march, have ansonia and greenwich play a “charity game”. with officials of course. that would give each coach about 3 months to prepare for the game. Imagine the headlines thomas vs meyers. i’d pay a good buck to watch that game. you settle who’s number 1 and who’s the best player in the state.