It looks like the saga of Turner Baty is coming to an end. Baty, the quarterback who helped lead New Canaan to the state championship, is moving back to Florida tomorrow morning. Baty just confirmed this in a text message.
New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said this morning he has not yet spoken to directly to Baty, but that Baty has told him he wanted to sit down and talk with him.
“If he’s going I feel bad for him because it’s a sad situation with him having to move around so much,” Marinelli said. “He’s a good kid and I wish him well.”
Baty moved from California to Florida to start the past football season, then transferred to New Canaan the week before the Rams’ opener.
The news is sure to open the floodgates of criticism of Baty and Marinelli, with the perception that the quarterback was a hired gun brought in to win games.
Based on Marinelli’s track record and my dealings with him, call me naive but I don’t think it’s true.
There is more to this very complex story, however. Baty was never warmly received by a number of New Canaan players, mostly seniors, who supported their friend Willie Ouellette, who lost his job to Baty. There was a lot of internal strife during the season, which Marinelli will admit was one of his toughest as coach.
The word is that the relationship between Baty and the other seniors has remained frosty since the season ended, and that many of the Rams have remained cruel toward the quarterback.
Marinelli did not deny this.
“There are some players who probably could have treated him a little better,” Marinelli said.
I’m not sure if Baty is going to want to comment, but I am supposed to talk to him after school today and will post any updates.
With all due respect Mr. Ruden, you are naive.
Comment by pdog — February 9th, 2010 @ 11:39 am
I expect to hear a lot of that. All I can tell you is there is so much more to this story that I can’t share because it was told to me off the record and I can’t get anyone to speak on the record. There are so many components. And as an update to the blog post, Baty and Marinelli just spoke.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 11:49 am
In my opinion it’s pretty cut and dry why the kid moved to NC. To Win games for the rams. Now the season is long over and he really has no friends there. From what I had heard from pretty reliable sources is that no one on the team wanted him to play and they said all the right things all year as to make the kid feel welcomed in the public’s eye. I think the program and Lou have had enough success where it won’t be a big deal but it does look bad from the school’s standpoint. I don’t think the team needed him to do what they did anyway. They should have lost to GHS with or without him and they would have beaten those other broken down teams without him. They would have lost to Central either way and win states without him as well because those two teams they beat in MM were products of weak schedules. the kid who deserves an apology and a medal in all this is willie oulette.
Comment by Brian — February 9th, 2010 @ 11:49 am
As a total outsider here is how I see this:
New stud comes in from Florida, kids in New Canaan don’t like it and are jealous that he could outplay the other kid. Naturally they don’t like it that an “outsider” has taken their spot even though the kid is good and helps them win.
The Coach is NOT to blame for this. He didn’t recruit the player.
In fact, not sure there is that much to this story any more than the facts up here in my first paragraph.
Moves back to Florida following his short stay in New Canaan……
David, YOU ARE NOT NAIVE…..This story is not about whether or not you are naive either……
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 9th, 2010 @ 12:14 pm
I will call you naive. It sounds like because you like Lou you are not willing to question his version of what led to Baty show up in New Canaan for the football season. Coach Marinelli is not some rube who had/has no idea what is going on. If you have info you cant share dont bring it up. It adds to the speculation when you say there is much more to story. It really is sad that there were players who gave Turner Baty a hard time. Nice way to treat a kid who is new to town. Makes them look like spoiled brats and dare I say effeminate. Baty was not just thrown in a starting QB day one. He beat out Oullette. Turner is an 17/18 year old kid and should not be blamed for moving into town. The adults who orchestrated the move should be critized. In a perfect world they would also answer a few of the questions out there but does not sound like anyone is willing to step up “on the record” and ask them.
Comment by Randy The Ram — February 9th, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
Thanks Full.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 12:42 pm
Randy: all I’ll say is that if you think my relationship with anyone would alter my opinion or writing you are both dead wrong and don’t know me. It’s the same as calling me unprofessional. I’ll take issue with that.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
I’ll take issue with Randy’s description of the NC football players who gave Baty a hard time as “effeminate.” Hard to see what masculinity or femininity has to do with this.
Comment by Dan — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
Dave: I appologize if I offended you. Enjoy your blog. Find the Baty saga fascinating and the information flow about it to be a bit frustrating.
Comment by Randy The Ram — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
Randy,
I have never even met the Coach , don’t know him but his track record speaks for itself. To turn this into a situation where you accuse a Coach or even adults of orchestrating a manuever just so a kid could play qb at a school for one season is pure stupidity and paranoia.
You must have too much time on your hands……
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:20 pm
Any idea where he is going to school? Committment day came and went, no news.
Comment by ramfan — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
Dave,
Thanks for bringing to light the story about Baty moving back to Florida. This is an embarrasing story all the way around—not only for the NCHS football program but also for the New Canaan community. The only ones to blame here are his parents. It doesn’t matter if some other parent lured him to town or not–his parents made the final decision. I’m sure they had their sons best interest in mind but they should have kept him at NCHS once they made the decision to send him here in the first place. I personally hate any kind of recruting in any high school because eventually you will have to lie to someone in order to get that person to attend your school. I don’t for a minute think that NCHS recruited Baty. They have had to much class and success to even think about tarnishing their program. His leaving for any reason does, however, leave a dark shadow over this proud program.
Keep up the good work Dave–I have always enjoyed your columns and look forward to many more.
Comment by gman — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
Having seen how he was treated by the basketball team, I believe that he was given the cold shoulder after football ended. HS kids are unvarnished in their feelings, not Turner’s fault, but he certainly wasn’t warmly welcomed. He is a NICE kid, nice to underclassmen too, how many Senior QB’s can you say THAT about???
Comment by Sports Mom — February 9th, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
Agreed Dan. I missed that one when posting it.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
HI all,
It is 2:30 right now and I appreciate you all taking the time to comment and doing so in a professional manner. I have reached out to Turner and have yet to hear back from him. If he decides to comment I will post a new blog item. If he does not I’ll post a comment here. For now, a few thoughts based on all your comments:
— Randy (and everyone): as a reporter you cultivate relationships with a wide variety of people to get information, including coaches. Lou and I have had a great relationship. But my job first and foremost is to the readers and doing my job properly. I would never cover for anyone I thought did something wrong.
— As I posted in a blog during football season, Turner moving is a lose-lose in that, fairly or not, it gives the impression that a hired gun was brought in to win games. Can I prove with 100 percent certainty that this did not happen? No. But if you have Lou’s resume and body of work, is it worth bringing in a player just for football season, having it be exposed and risk your reputation? I find it very hard to believe he would do that.
— I agree, as I wrote in a column, that Willie Ouellette was the hard-luck victim in that he lost a job he worked hard for and handled the entire situation with a level of class I’m not sure others in his situation would have demonstrated.
— The New Canaan seniors were put in an awkward position, supporting Ouellette, a teammate since 4th grade. However they were harsh on Baty, during and after the season. I confirmed one story: when it snowed for the first time, Baty, who had never played football in the snow before, texted some teammates about having a pick-up game. In reply he got a bunch of expletives.
And as I write this I just got off the phone with Turner. I’ll have a new post up momentarily.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
Dave…you are covering up and you have been part of the problem from the start of this…why don’t you tell us how you “broke the story” when the kid moved to town…don’t expect to see this posted either Dave.
Comment by whodat — February 9th, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
Not sure what I am covering up or how I have been part of the problem.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
Sorry Dan,I was being very tongue in cheek with effeminate comment nonetheless would not expect that behavior from high school football players. My questions might very well be stupid and paranoid but as of right now nobody in the mix has come forward to set the record straight. If everything is so above board why the secrecy and off the record comments?
Comment by Randy The Ram — February 9th, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
All I’ll say that there are a lot of family issues involved and the Batys want to protect their privacy, which is a reasonable request I would expect from anyone. Let’s keep this in perspective, we are talking about a 17-year-old high school quarterback. I’m not saying this isn’t newsworthy, and I know the level of interest in high school football, but this has also gotten blown out of proportion.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
A quick note to the many of you who like to hide between aliases: I control all posts and put up everything as long as it is done in an appropriate manner. If you use profanity it is not going up. I try to email those whose posts I don’t put up offering the chance to resend. Of course false email addresses get bounced back. So if you don’t see your post…
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 9th, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
Full Disclosure tells us that he is an “outsider” and then explains how the kid beat out Ouellette…really? That’s a curious assumption, what did Ouellette do to lose the job? Team was undefeated. He was one of the top rated passers in the FCIAC…he knew the entire playbook, not just a handful of plays. Did not berate his receivers if they did not catch his passes. Was a better athlete according to Marinelli. May have been a better choice at QB against Central (mobility) and would have gotten the same results (my opinion) for the other games. Then FD emphatically tells us that Marinelli did NOT recruit him…again, really? There’s a story there as well, but sadly it will never come to light in this forum.
Comment by NC RAMSFAN — February 9th, 2010 @ 8:24 pm
A note to NC Ramsfan,
I am going on the assumptions of what I read in the local sports section. That being said, I do not believe the Coach recruited this kid. Like Dave Ruden said, the kid is a HS QB and only 17 years old, let’s cut him slack. The people killing him and his family are just not right to do that and probably are jealous of all the exposure that this young man received.
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 10th, 2010 @ 10:30 am
To quote Bob Seger” I used her, she used me But neither one cared
We were gettin’ our share”. For any of you to say this kid wasn’t a hired gun is laughable. Bottom line is he moved to NC end of August and is out in early February. If that isnt a hired gun then I don’t know what is. Keep it real boys!
Comment by Keepin it real — February 10th, 2010 @ 10:57 am
This is absurd. I have had nothing against New Canaan in the past, and have always admired Coach Marinelli and the town’s athletic programs as a whole, but this is disgusting. The poor kid got used. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether it was Marinelli himself (who a lot of people throughout the state have lost loads of respect for), or some scum parents (I have a few family names I have heard involved in this), it is despicable what they did to bring him in and New Canaan should have some sort of punishment. This shines a bad light on a nice town, just showing their win at all costs attitude, and gives other people around the state chances to judge the people of a fine town like New Canaan and their school’s administration.
Comment by Really? — February 10th, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
All this ’smells’! It starts wth the youth program in FCFL and continues to the high school program with the FCIAC. NC comtinues to be the town that pushes the envelope at all costs to win. No way coach, AD, Board and parents that assisted did not know what was going on.
It’s par for the course in NC. So much about football teaching life lessons
Comment by Darien Man — February 10th, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
Dave,
I just read about this in the CT Post! Why is everybody getting so upset? The kid moved here because his mom got a job with ESPN.
His mom did all the paprwork to make sure he could play football in CT. His parents are divorce. I think their are alot of jealous people out there. It starts with the parents. You have a good player coming in to NC. He is better than the other QB, thats why he played more. Remember he is only 17 years old. Parents become jealous when you have a kid that comes from another area, and starts in there kids slot. Where ever the kid told his team, he has no control if he would live in NC for the rest of his life. His mom want’s to move to Calf.
What’s the “BIG” deal???? Do you honest think that a family would move, so there kid would have a chance to win a title??? The kid was not accepted from the begining. The NC players knew he was good. The players got together and made it tough for this kid. It all boils down to jealous people……..I see it every where….every town, city and state. Example: A freshman kid comes in (baseball) he starts JV, every game. Does not play freshman at all. Then he gets called up to varisty for the playoffs and states. Parents and players are jealous……they don’t realize that this kid is good,(and the coach knows it) that’s why he is where he is. I been around sports a very long time. No player, or parent, wants to see a kid come from another town, etc and take someone spot…that has been starting. It’s just like these parents think there kids are so good. What happens after high school??? You never here from them………Leave the kid alone, he is 17 years old…..wake up people……….you blast him enough. And by the way. Dave Ruden is not covering up for him…….He will tell the truth. I bet 95% of these post are from NC???????
Comment by Donald C — February 11th, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
Thanks Donald. I’m not covering anything up. I have no agenda. I’ve been staying out of this discussion to hold my tongue on one thing: There are a lot of people out there who keep telling you they know the real story. I have two words: caveat emptor (I’m not trying to be insulting to anyone but if you don’t know it means “let the buyer beware”). There are few stories I’ve covered in my career where so many people have said they know the true story and didn’t. I don’t know everything and I have spoken to a wide range of people on the matter. I think this is a newsworthy and interesting story, pretty fascinating for these parts. That is why I reported it. At the same time, it has also been blown completely out of proportion. Turner Baty is back in Florida and I wish him the best. The members of the New Canaan football team will be moving on and I wish them the best. This is one example where there needs to be some perspective in high school sports.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 11th, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
Dave…There is no question that you will do the right thing. I think it has got completely blow out of proportion. Back in my day, we never had anything like this. If we did, one case maybe, it never got like this. It really boils down to…Baty comes to NC, takes over the other QB spot…Then the ball starts to roll. I am 100% sure, that parents were so upset, it went right down to the kids. The players got together and that was it. Now that Baty is leaving, because he has to, everybody wants to destroy him and his family. I wish Baty the best, along with his family. Dave, you have been around a long time, and I know for a fact, you will tell what you know. Keep up the good work!!!
Comment by Donald C — February 11th, 2010 @ 11:39 pm
Thanks Donald. I appreciate it.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 11th, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
I second that from Donald C. Dave Ruden is a fine Professional who does an honest story every time out.
As for this story, I think it’s time for everyone to move on.
Some Great points made by Donald C in regards to this.
Full
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 13th, 2010 @ 10:07 am
Thanks guys. And I agree about the moving on part!
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 13th, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
Please Donald, you are so wrong on so many levels.
1.) The kids were upset the minute he was moved to town. He was promised a starting job BEFORE he got here. No way does he move here without a guarantee.
2.) He did NOT outplay the other QB, who was doing an amazing job. As was mentioned before, the Rams were undefeated, Oulette was playing great, offense was clicking & multi-dimensional.
3.) Overheard a very respected New Canaan assistant coach say that Baty planned on moving back to FL the moment the State game was over, but decided to stay for a month or so in hope that the story would die down. He did not HAVE to move anywhere.
5.) He used NC just as much as NC used him. And the only ones to lose out were 2 (REAL) NC kids, Oulette and Gronseth (who got bumped when Will move to WR).
Bottom line, the whole thing is shady and casts a sad cloud over what should have been a celebratory season for NC, especially the seniors who won 4 rings in 4 years.
And Full Disclosure, you’re full of it all right. You were one of the ones singing Baty’s praises before you saw him throw a pass. Because of what you read. Things that the Advocate and other papers reported. Because you bought into, and continue to buy into the HYPE. If Baty was a “stud” then what happened to all this D-1 attention? What about all these “offers” we read about? Did any of these reporters actually take the time to research anything? There were no offers. There are no offers. The only school with supposed interest was Stanford (Greg Baty’s alma mater…hmmm), and to the best of my knowledge they already have a QB.
Which is exactly what Lou Marinelli should have said to some folks back in September.
Comment by ram fan — February 14th, 2010 @ 5:20 pm
Dave,
Ram Fan is right…you want the story to die? You are an apologist for Marinelli…read the quotes online by the kids (not the most well written piece, but it sheds some light)…
http://www.newcanaannewsonline.com/football/article/Teammates-head-coach-AD-react-to-Baty-s-361156.php
This is not a witch hunt on Baty, but frankly why would the school have a QB come in from Arkansas in the summer who moved back there and another from Florida…that shows more than just some kid arbitrarily moving to town…they (Hanratty and his clan) were recruiting a QB Dave…you say Marinelli knew nothing about that?
I beg to differ.
Maybe he said, guys, I’ll put my best team on the field whoever is eligible and playing football, but he screwed Ouellette and that is a stone cold fact. And he has not represented NC well through all of this. I, for one, would welcome his resignation.
Comment by The Truth — February 16th, 2010 @ 12:20 pm
Like I said before, buyer beware!
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 16th, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
Glad that you posted that and included the link…thank you. And I undersatnd what you re saying, without the link to the Arkansas QB, the fact that it was a stated mission that a lot of people knew they felt they needed an upgrade at the QB position, fact that Baty did not have the starting position in Florida, the offer to start in NC was the carrot…
And just to follow-up on the context of the article and the “reasons for moving” out of New Canaan:
They did not realize New Canaan was an expensive town? Hanratty”s could have warned them.
The Mom must be multi talented to land two jobs in six months.
Being a kid he can make the decision to move with his dad vs his mom, but no option to stay with a “great fmaily friend” in NC???
Comment by The Truth — February 16th, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
Dave…it seems this will never go away…………
Comment by Donald C — February 16th, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
You are right Donald.
Comment by Dave Ruden — February 16th, 2010 @ 4:00 pm
Blog # 33 …read that article….wow shocked that the players would publicly rip their teammate etc…
I think there is definite jealousy towards this kid as he came from Florida and outplayed the existing kid etc. I do think that this is only a “natural” reaction too…so I can understand that …..
On that note, I am tired of writing blogs about this topic….enough is enough already.
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 18th, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
Dear Truth,
you are way off base-Why is it in any other sport if a kid moves into town and plays over a certain player no one says a thing. It’s because A QB in football is the premier position in all of sports.
Turner Baty was not handed the starting QB position. I went to each and every NCHS game and Willie O. started the first half of the season. He did a tremendous job-in truth, Baty was a better passer and NCHS runs the spread offense. If they would have played an option offense then Willie would have been in there. One thing I know for certain–Coach Lou is an innocent bystander in this situation. Jay Egan and Tony Pavia followed all the rules–it’s just unfortunate that the family decided to leave New Canaan-I think TRUTH you have an axe to grind with someone from NCHS.
Comment by gman — February 18th, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
Gman great points- Coach Lou is a saint! He has a kid from Arkansas and Florida move in within 6 months of each other who both happen to be QB’s? And Baty’s mom landed a gig at ESPN just for the HS football season? Keep it real boys!
Comment by Keepin it real — February 24th, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
CIAC rules on “recruiting” begin on page 50.
http://www.casciac.org/pdfs/ciachandbook_0910.pdf
(e) Requesting booster club members, students, parents or alumni from a school to
discuss the merits of the school’s athletic program with a prospective student-athlete or
member of his/her family by phone, in person or through letters or other written
communication.
Comment by Dr. Von Nostran — February 24th, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
Dr. Von Nostran,
So if someone thought that said player was recruited , they could have filed a grievance with the CIAC …Good luck proving that…..
Not sure where you are going with your blog. ….
Comment by Full Disclosure — February 25th, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
Full,
I was looking up something else read that section and found it interesting. I was surprised at the level of detail, and in some cases was is/is not allowed.
Everyone seems to have an opinion as to what happened with this topic and whether or not everything was done “by the book”. My post was simply to provide the book….
Actually…the Public v. Private school thread may have been a more appropriate place, but that hasn’t come up lately.
Comment by Dr. Von Nostran — February 25th, 2010 @ 2:09 pm