This was a joyous, joyous day for us here at the Connecticut Post when, en route to the SWC championship game, we received official word from the CIAC via email.
One more week, three four state championships
It’s no longer a rallying cry.
Our three-year campaign (Add: well, it was more of a scream-fest on this space) to get football coaches and high school administrators to listen, consider and approve our idea for a fair and balanced expanded playoff system came to a glorious conclusion when the CIAC board of control Thursday unanimously approved the (strikingly similar, but tweaked) proposal put forth by Hand coach Steve Filippone and the good men on the CIAC football committee.
Yes, we here at the Post originally called for three divisions (in 2008 and in the original post of 2007). But we conceded that point — there are, after all, vast differences of enrollment between Class LL and L — in favor of pushing this bad boy through.
This wasn’t supposed to happen so soon. There were supposed to be committees, meetings, a lot of wrangling by the winter sports…
But, lo and behold, none of that happened. This thing went through faster than Homeland Security.
Instead of three (as we’ve been screaming for these last three seasons), we’ll get four state champions. The season will END after Thanksgiving (whoo hoo!) and we’ll get a quarterfinal round on Tuesday, a semifinal round Saturday and then a week of build-up before the grand finale… quite possibly at Rentschler Field. (They’re working on that bit).
Lot’s of congratulations are in order for Coach Filippone, who researched, refined and then brought this modest proposal before the house (Ray Curren [@currenscc] said on Twitter “Any truth to the rumor Steve Filippone is being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize…?”), his boys on the football committee and, OF COURSE, the CIAC’s Board of Control.
Frankly, we didn’t think you had this in you, CIAC. Mea culpa on that, kids.
It’s time to celebrate! Everybody meet me at the FCIAC championship game tonight and I’ll pass out, um, tootsie rolls… or something.
Sorry, but I feel like I just watched the birth of my first child. Very exciting.
Just incredible stuff, CIAC. Good job.
Wow.
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I come from a football family; we were all waterboys, players, cheerleaders, team parents, coaches. We all played for AHS. I love football. Joe Paterno is one of my heroes. He wins most, he loses some, and he builds men & stresses getting an education to be one of the most important things a person can accomplish. I am a fan of CT High School football. Please, PLEASE let us NOT forget the first & foremost thing High Schools should do is EDUCATE their students, not feed a hobby watching and following a game.
Comment by Robert — November 20th, 2009 @ 11:58 am
It still doesn’t take in account the strength of schedule. It will not eliminate the weaker teams it will just add more.
Comment by coach — November 20th, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
Good point, coach. Baby steps.
Robert: No one’s more cognizant of that than me.
Anyone else?
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Robert, by AHS do you mean Amish High School??? Leave the right wing conservative crap for National Public Radio. This site does nothing but promote the achievements of high school athletes. By your standards, there would be 50 people at each game on Friday nights, all parents or family with a vested interest in the players on the field. Anyone who had no connection to the players should be banished and sent to church or the library. Have I about pegged your vision?
Comment by Spurrier's Visor — November 20th, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
The only way to come close to solving strength of schedule issues would be to do away with the current conferences and only play teams within your own CIAC class. I don’t think anyone’s really ready to do that.
The differences between the conferences and how they schedule makes following the season (and reading these comments) that much more fun.
Expanding the field for each division ensures the top 6-7 teams will always get in. No matter where the cutoff lays there will always be a battle for the last spot or two…thus…always a need for John D’s analysis….
I like the new format and I’ll be looking for a tootsie-roll tonight.
Congrats SPB…on a job well done…
Comment by Dr. Von Nostran — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
Ew, Rick, no.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
Von. I had nothing to do with it except scream on this space. Give all your props to Steve Filippone of Hand.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Ct football needs change. Can we get the season to start earlier? Can we end the 50 point rule?
Comment by MasukRules — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Dr. Von I like the new format and am always for another week of HS Football. I still believe their is a need for 5 divisions, for a multitude of reasons, but alas, we will not see more divisions for another 5 years, as the agreement was made. Let us watch and enjoy the great games that will ensue over the next few weeks!
Comment by John D — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
This is perfect, kids. Perfect.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
SPB
Does that mean you’re opposed to calling the new “LL” Championship game the “Sean Patrick Bowl”?
Comment by Dr. Von Nostran — November 20th, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
LOL
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
the bowley invitational
Comment by ray brown — November 20th, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
Dr. Von, just curious are you a real Doc?
Comment by John D — November 20th, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
A great day, it made too much sense to not happen. I think we can live with the points system, and 4 classes is probably the right number. Now on to more important stuff – SPB – any thoughts on where you’re gonna be with the bag of tootsie rolls? Pre-game or at half?
Comment by FauxRealism — November 20th, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
“From the clinic…”
What clinic is that?
“That’s correct”
No. Not a doctor. And my dream of becoming a Banker was crushed.
Comment by Dr. Von Nostran — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
Dr. Von are you a Seinfeld fan??
Comment by John D — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
You know Dr. Von, I always wanted to be an Architect…
Comment by John D — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
Hey SPB is the FCIAC game on live feed again tonight on sporting new ct.com
Comment by hsff fan — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
No, it’s on WSTC/WNLK. Link is on the FCIAC live blog post.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:50 pm