The spring sports are winding down, there’s spring football going on (though, looking at my recent work, you wouldn’t know it here on the football blog), we are T-minus 10 weeks from the start of practices for teams they aren’t practicing now, T-minus 11 weeks for the teams that are and T-minus 14 weeks to the start of the 2012 High School Football Season.
For those of you not entrenched in high school football season already and have been scouring the internet for schedule announcements and leaks, the rest of us slackers can now finally get a look at who’s playing who this year.
The CIAC officially released its 2012 schedules today. We present them here in pop-out window form so you don’t leave the site and forget to comment on your precious local team.
But the most important piece of information has been left out: The actual 2012 playoff classes. We won’t get those until a little while longer.
And, no, this year there won’t be any sneaky revelations — like Ansonia dropping from M to S
Hint: It probably is going back to Class S … UNLESS the Ansonia school district decides to cut all sports from its operating budget. And, by the look of things, it’s well on its way. Middle school and freshman sports are on the block, teachers are being laid off…. It’s a mess.
Anyway, the CIAC this time has taken care to note that these composites are listed for 2011. So don’t read too much into which bracket your team resides, please. We’ll sort that out later.
Anyhoo, here are your precious schedule links.
Quick Notes: We are well aware Xavier is playing Hand this year, SCC fans. …The SWC has rescheduled league-wide. So, for the Masuk people out there, Pomperaug, Bunnell, Brookfield are on the schedule (thank God). …The FCIAC schedule is the same as last year with home-road games reversed (so New Canaan’s schedule remains awful). …Staples’ composite schedule shows eight games, it’s playing Warde in Week 8. …Many FCIAC biggies like Staples and Greenwich, still are looking for a 10th game (and we know how tricky that can be). …Here are the FCIAC Large schools that lucked out and found a 10th game: Stamford (NFA), Trumbull (Branford!?!), Danbury (Hamden).
Add: A few SCC non-conference games: Law plays Plainfield, North Haven takes on New London (yipes), and Sheehan plays Whitney Tech. The other open-date teams play each other (Wlibur Cross-East Haven; Foran-Guilford).
That’s what jumped out at us for now. We’ll come back and examine later. Until then, chime in with your thoughts below.
Dates and times are subject to change from now until August.
Composite schedules***: Class LL | Class L | Class M | Class S
Master Schedule (including scrimmages)
School-by-school schedule links
Week-by-Week schedules:
WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9 | WEEK 10 | WEEK 11
*** NOT ORGANIZED IN 2012 CLASSES.
Best game in Week 1? Has to be Greenwich v Ridgfield at Tiger Hollow … starts the FCIAC race off with a bang.
Oh well,another year Ansonia don’t play anybody….I can hear all the crap now.snoooooze
Since Lou Marinelli is all powerful (as evidenced by the recent photo of his chair chair at the CIAC)… is there any doubt that he wants his schedule lined with the worst teams in the FCIAC?
Hey, Lou. Play Staples and Greenwich. Every year. In the regular season.
You can request that… if the Bport schools need to play each other, and the same goes for the Stamford schools… why doesn’t NC play Darien, Staples, and Greenwich – their 3 natural rivals?
And people want to know why Ansonia bloggers are the way they are. Did they make their schedule? Going for #18 and in all those years they haven’t beaten anyone, right? Keep the ignorance coming and blindly make assumptions regarding how they can’t beat this team or they’ll get blown out by that team. I’m sure it well turn your stomach when you start hearing how good this years team is. Regardless of who’s on their schedule or what you say, Ansonia’s one of the states best and a team to watch at least once this year.
Now go kick the dog.
does staples really only play 8 games or is that a typo?
@the ruler – read my notes!
@ #2 and #4
First of all, both of you are Ansonia fans – you’re on the same side.
Second, no one here made any comment about Ansonia. Are you really so paranoid that you have to preemptively defend the Chargers?
my mistake i see it now, i have heard the schedule changes next year correct? this is same as last year only home & aways change.any pre reports out of spring football,or way too soon?
Your right, there’s no way you could take that as a dig.
Did anyone check out the Greenwich scrimmage schedule … Don Bosco and Iona Prep back-to-back … Wow! Brilliant if everyone stays healthy – they will destroy Ridgefield.
JB you are grossly underestimating Ridgefield, they return a ton especially at the skill positions, and their QB is a much better passer than O’Neil, and that isn’t so much a knock on Liam as it is a compliment of Connor Rowe, he was on Jack Cochran’s elite passing league team this offseason and performed very well against stiff competition, if the Tigers can be solid upfront the only team that I would put over them in the FCIAC hierarchy in 2012 is Staples, who I consider not only the favorite for the league, but Class LL also
perspective, the only reason Rowe was on that team is because he has the self proclaimed “QB Guru” Travis Meyer(one of Jacks few friends in this world)as his QB coach. He is more of an athlete then a pure passer. I will say that he is a good high school QB but thats it. Boyle is the real deal!! He is not a “system” QB like a certain Uconn recruit was this year.
On another note how is the recruiting on Boeing Brown going? Did he receive any offers yet? NOPE, although I hear Towson may come in with one soon, for some reason Coach Ambrose and Blackwell like him?
HA – wait do some of you actually think that coaches get to pick their schedules? Blame the schedule makers, not the coaches. AKA the commissioners, like John Kuzco that pays somebody to make the schedule.
Greenwich’s defense was stingy last year – was great against the pass – staples and new london destroyed them in the run game however. This game I think is going to be a war – remember last year Greenwich beat them with a 3rd string QB… Anything can happen, especially in week 1.
staples,darien & ridgefield return alot of players. Ncannan & greenwich return tradition obviously. i gotta think central could be a wildcard card again,they lost alot of players with the academic rule last season. Staples Darien gonna be a good game this year.
@ Pat
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you.
1, Marinelli is one of the most influential people in CT HS FB (deservedly so). Example: He spoke up at a CIAC meeting, and it was reported that he swayed sentiment to keep the 50 point rule in place. If he would say “The games people want to see, and the epic games that build character and create lifelong memories, win or lose, are the best match-ups… I want to play my 3 biggest rivals every year” you don’t think that would have major influence? Of course it would.
2, It’s kind of hard to prove who actually makes the football schedule… and you and I only have opinions, not facts. Maybe we can interview Kuzco and will a Pulizer prize? However, one small piece of evidence from SPB’s column about the FCIAC vs SCC challenge… you’ll note that COACHES are there working out the lineup. If the commish is as powerful as you think, then he wouldn’t need to invite anyone.
@12…Starting early on the Boeing bashing no? That kid is the real deal..and will land a big school offer before the season, no doubt. Nice young man, doesn’t bother anyone. No need to bash kids here, nothiong good comes from it. I have heard he is working very hard, and look for the Bobcats to be in the thick of States Class M once again.
@ FAUX first of all – coaches are not creating the match ups for the SCC and FCIAC challenge, it’s based upon either the last 5 years of success or 3 years of success, the commissioners of both leagues are responsible for setting that up. I’m sure there is a panel of coaches to represent the league – however, they don’t get to “choose” their opponents – I’m sure if there was a mutual agreement between schools than there could be considerations.
Secondly – as influential as coaches are – there is no way they get to choose their schedule – NFC East plays the NFC East – FCIAC West plays the FCIAC West schedule with cross over games of other FCIAC leagues, but please, although the system may seemed flawed, there is still a system in place.
If a team has a bye – than the coaches can go out and try to schedule a game of their choosing if it matches up well with the other school in scheduling weeks…
Ridgefields schedule is a joke…Besides Greenwich,there is no Staples,NC or St.Joe’s…..They should go 8-2 without breaking a sweat.
FCIAC schedules are given out each year and are basically two-year “rotational”. Greenwich realizes they have an easier than normal two-year schedule and have choosen tough scrimmage opponents to get prepared for Ridgefield. But the New London tilt was, in hindsight, probably a mistake and the loss is what cost Greenwich a spot in the state playoffs. If you recall, Greenwich played that game with a third string QB that threw something like 5 picks. Thus the tough opponent choices can backfire on you, but you have to respect Greenwich for their willingness to create a challenge and not whine about the scheduling. By the way, how did O’Niel get injured last year? It was in the Masuk scrimmage when things got chippy. Sean covered the event on film including the spearing penalty towards the end of the scrimmage (http://bcove.me/lc3mt0li). Great camera work!
Whopper16, He isnt the real deal!!! He maybe a great kid I really dont know,but we are talking just talent wise. I so him play vs Pomperaug in week one last year and he was completely lost. Every pass was into double and triple coverage when he had the check downs wide open. A good QB is a patient player who takes what the defense gives him. When your best games are against the Immaculates, NDFF’s, and Stratfords of the world, and you do nothing against the better teams(and i use that term lightly in the SWC) it sends up a huge red flag. The kid has gone to EVERY camp,combine and 7 on 7 activity under the sun and still has nothing. I will say that he and his Dad have done an extremely good job marketing him to all the colleges in the nation. He is on every media site you can think of, BUT FILM DOES NOT LIE.
WOW – Look at the reward Xavier and Daniel Hand get for finishing at the top of the SCC last year! Try to avoid injuries and even with a loss or two they could make the playoff like ND-WH had been able to with such a tough week in week out schedule. They play each other this year and both play ND-WH, West Haven, North Haven, Hillhouse and Shelton. Hand also gets Cheshire while X gets an improving F-Prep.
I would match tese two schedules against any in the state!
Not sure Xavier and Hand are such “locks” in the 2012 season. Both lost like 15 starters – understand they are power programs, but each had a special group of kids last year. Agreed that both have very tough schedules and will be tested by more than just the game against each other. Wouldn’t shock me if Hand missed the playoffs this year given that schedule.
@ Pat
You seem to argue that no one can influence the FCIAC schedule.
We know that is not true: Both the Bridgeport schools and the Stamford schools asked to play their rivals every year, and guess what? The league granted their request.
If NC (or other team), made a scheduling request to play certain teams every year, the league would similarly approve it.
Could NC make the request? Absolutely.
Should NC make a request? Subjective (opinion).
Would NC make make the request? Doubtful.
So what do you think – as a fan – wouldn’t you like to see NC play Greenwich and Staples every year?
CTFB12..
Granted he did not have a gret game against Pomp, or a very good junior year for that matter, definitely missed Kelly. But he has shown flashes of a big-time QB…has D1 size and strength. With Cochran gone, he assumes the mantle of best QB in SWC and will prove it to everyone this year…
@ Pat
Not to beat a dead horse discussion but I noticed a tweet by Dave Rudin at 6:44PM June 18:
“At the FCIAC picnic: the football coaches voted today to approve an opening day game with SCC schools for 2013 and 2014.”
Can you explain why the coaches are given a vote if the league commissioner sets the schedule? It’s just like I said: the coaches in the FCIAC make the schedule.
I guess we have to take merrit in the Greenwich scrimmages now,I thought nobody took those seriously???snooooooze
@FauxRealism – When the Bridgeport schools entered the FCIAC in the 90′s, a deal was made then that they would play each other every year. The league has to honor that unless they decide to officially bag it. I guess city of Bridgeport really wouldn’t have a say in it. They could pull out of the FCIAC because of it, but that would only hurt themselves. Actually, it would probably help the FCIAC with all the scheduling issues! There are still a few natural rivalries which is why they won’t get rid of the Turkey Day games and move the FCIAC finals back to that day. There are a few games that draw thousands of people so its tough to mess with that.
Perhaps, and just perhaps… The commissioner decided upon himself to reach out to his coaches within the league and ask if they wanted to officially follow through with the idea. It’s like Roger Goodell meeting with the NFL owners, or the coaches. Before something gets passed, it needs approval. Do we know if they got to “choose” who they played? Do you think that the coaches got to pick if they were in the FCIAC West, or Central, or East? Do they get to choose when they will play each team? Do they get to choose their school colors?
Does the president pass bills or laws without it first going through congress, house of reps, senate, etc..
Do the coaches have a say? Yes, they get to accept whether or not they would like to participate in this mega decision for the leagues. It passed. Did they factor in as to what team they may have a good possibility of playing… I’m sure. Did some teams even say no they don’t want to play that team, and another coach say, “we’ll play them instead” yes, absolutely, I’m sure a coach or two voiced their concerns.
You prove a good point, coaches do have the right to some extent. However, they do not get to make their own schedules. Perhaps there was a game of chess to move different pieces around so everyone got what they want… But I doubt Staples wanted Xavier, I doubt NC wanted Hand, i doubt many of things…
I am wrong, coaches clearly have more say, I learned from this experience. But I stand true and firm to my original comments about scheduling within the league. These are out of conference games, it’s a different animal and a special circumstance. FCIAC is split into three divisions that the coaches did not create – and therefore they do not get to choose their schedule every year. Could you imagine a world where coaches get to pick their games, could you imagine the type of controversy that would start? Could you imagine what kind of schedules some of these teams would have if coaches did in fact get to plan out their 10 game schedule? Do you really believe, and this is an honest question, do you believe that coaches get to pick every single one of their games?
Are their influences, sure. I’m not that naive. A request could probably be sent in. I’m sure that is a possibility, I just don’t know. I do believe that they don’t choose their own schedules, sure, they can request, but beyond that… I just don’t know anymore.
Hey Whopper16, I have a question for you. If Boeing Brown is as good as he is trying to be advertised as, why then is he playing WR in the passing league while the shorter kid is playing QB? The shorter kid has better mechanics,reads coverage better,more accurate and doesnt have a mettlesome family member that is telling everyone who will listen that he has multiple offers when in fact he has NONE!
You have to chuckle reading all the tweets about how he went here and there and how great it was,blah blah blah. He would be an average QB at the div2 level. In a serious question now, If you know Ryan Osiecki (of seymour) do you think Brown is a better QB then him? because Ryan couldnt make it at Louisville and he is 100x’s the player that Brown is. Wake up and get real, stop filling the kids head with unreasonable schools, geez CCSU hasnt even offered him
Look for Xavier to possibly repeat. The team has a lot of speed,an excellent QB and a big O and D Line. They are well coached and their kids have already been a part of back-to-back state titles and a 26 game winning streak.
Look for the hilltoppers to have a strong season this year!
T