2022 Thanksgiving Football

Thanksgiving means Ludlowe vs Warde in football. 

This year, the game was held at Ludlowe. The Mustangs came in with a 5-4 record, while the Falcons came in with a record of 4-5. 

I once again, as I have all season, had scoreboard duties. For a game like this, there's so many people I know (I was told by Rob Adams the other day that I should run for First Selectman.) I was able to see a lot of people pre-game, halftime and postgame, but not as much as normal, or really as much as I might like. 

But I was working so I had a job to do...the scoreboard. 

I do more that that, because I'm too nice and I care too much. 

In terms of the game, the first half did not see much offense. 

Ludlowe got on the board with 8:46 to go in the first quarter. Jack Ransome punched it in from a yard out and Caleb McNeil's kick put the Falcons up 7-0. The Ransome run was set up by a few long run's from Aaron Field. 

The game would say 7-0 through the first half, Ludlowe had chances to extend the lead and Warde had chances of their own, but turnovers hurt both teams ability to score. 

With 8:25 left in the third, Michael Palladino took the direct snap and ran in around the left side from seven yards out to extend the Ludlowe lead to 14-0. 

Warde came right back down the field and answered. Charlie Gulbin connected with Will Rottkamp on the five-yard score to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 5:34 left in the third. 

We would head to the fourth quarter, with Ludlowe ahead 14-7. 

Warde would not go away. The Mustangs cut the deficit to one, 14-13 when Gulbin found TJ Sinis for the 10-yard touchdown. The Mustangs would go for two and convert as the Gulbin to Sinis connection worked again to give Warde a 15-14 lead with 9:27 to play. 

Ludlowe re-took the lead with 8:13 left. Field ran in from 25-yards out. The two-point try was no good but Ludlowe led 20-15. 

After an interception by Field on the defensive end, he iced the game with a 74-yard run with 4:41 remaining. Field ran in the two-point try to extend the Ludlowe lead to 28-15. 

Ludlowe would retain the Gallagher-Banyas Trophy. The Falcons have now won two in a row against the Mustangs, three in a row if you count the private league of 2020. If you don't count 2020, Warde leads the post-Fairfield High series 10-7. 

Field was named the Ludlowe game MVP, while Sinis took home the honor for the Mustangs. The MVP award is presented by the Fairfield Rotary Club. As part of the award, each recipient gets a $1,000 scholarship. 

Doing the clock all year was a different experience. Fun at times frustrating at others. Had fun with Phil Simpson, who was doing PA all year, in the booth. We worked well together, helping each other out, and just having conversations when we could also. I also had fun with some of the other people in the booth, like the Ludlowe players who were filming the game. Thank you guys for your help as spotters on plays. 

Finally, a shout out to Kyle Geriak for a tremendous job singing the National Anthem at a number of games, including teaming up with the band for today's Anthem. 

On to winter sports, especially basketball for me. 

JFK - 59 Years Later

When I was younger, I had a fascination with US President's and specifically, John F. Kennedy. 

I am not sure why, but I read books and did other research on him. I even remember doing a project on him for a class. 

Today, November 22, is the anniversary of JKF's assassination. I have watched many videos about day, November 22, 1963 and the events that happened in Dallas, Texas and around the country that day and the days that followed. 

The details can be found in many places across the internet and in books. Lee Harvey Oswald in the Texas School Book Depository Building. 

From the videos of the car and the motorcade prior to the assassination, to the famous picture of Jackie Kennedy leaning over JFK's body. 

Then you have the video of Walter Cronkite on CBS announcing President Kennedy's death. 

Later on, you have such pictures of Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as president while on Air Force One with Jackie standing beside him. 

Then, at JFK's funeral, you have the image of JFK Jr. saluting his father's casket. 

Such iconic images and videos. 

JKF was a controversial president, like so many. That can probably be said for every politician. Some people liked him, others did not. 

From the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missle Crisis, to his work with the Civil Rights movement, any many other things, JFK was involved in a lot, both good and bad, especially considering the fact that he did not serve a full term. 

Many politicians and influential people have a famous speech, or famous speeches, and specific lines in those speeches, some which become iconic. 

For me with JFK it will always be the part of his inaugural address on January 20, 1961 with his line of "My fellow Americans, ask not what the country can do for you, Ask what you can do for the country."  

November 22, 1963 goes along with those other days in our country where you know what it is. It goes along with December 7, 1941 and June 6, 1944 and more recently September 11, 2001. 

A bad day, but a day that changed this history of the country. 

A Day of Listening

Today was a day of doing a lot of listening. 

Listening to people talk. 

Listening to presentations. 

Two important talks that are totally different. 

Both have a sports aspect but not the main aspect. 

First, this afternoon, it was listening to John Trautwein speak at Ludlowe on the loss of his son to suicide and the importance of Life Teammates. If you want to learn more about John's story and his foundation, Will To Live Foundation, visit will-to-live.org. 

John also spoke at Warde this morning. He has come to both Fairfield schools a couple of times over the last few years. His talk impacts everyone differently, and has had a greater impact on the Warde community and the entire Fairfield community when then-Warde student Kevin Kuczo died by suicide on February 4, 2021. 

Kevin's father, Jim, who has a foundation of his own Kevin's Afterglow, spoke prior to John's presentation and introduced John. Both gentleman who have lost their sons have tried to help others not have to go through what they dealt with. Both of their missions are around the way people live their lives and how to make sure everyone is supported. 

It was very important and powerful. Mental heath and suicide has unfortunately become very prevalent the in recent years. John and Jim, among others, are working to break the stigma and help others. 

The speaker this evening at Warde, on a much different topic, was Wayne Mazzoni, to talk about college athletic recruiting. The event was a joint effort between both Warde and Ludlowe's athletic department's as well as both school's student services department's. 

Wayne is formerly an assistant baseball coach at Sacred Heart University and does many talks about recruiting. 

It was really informative and very down to earth. I hope all the student-athletes who were there got something out of it. There were athletes from both schools and multiple sports there. 

Wayne gave information for both the parents and students and was also interactive and answered many questions from those in attendance. 

The presentation was directed for the students and parents, but I felt as a high school coach and someone who works in athletics in the school, it was also good for me (and all coaches) to hear to help the student-athletes as they prepare for life after high school. 

I definitely learned and realized things.

You can learn more about Wayne and his services at WayneMazzoni.com

Overall, it was a day of listening and learning. 

Warde Football Saturday Afternoon

I've had multiple people tell me this Fall that I need to come to a Warde football game. 

Now, I don't actually NEED to come, but people say I should since I go to all of the Ludlowe games. My actual job doesn't require me to go to games, but I am a sports person. However, I can pick and choose what games I go to, especially for ones I am not working in some capacity (tickets, scoreboard, etc.) 

With Ludlowe's game moved from Friday to Thursday and Warde's game moved from Friday to Saturday this week, I was able to attend both. 

When I showed up to Warde, wearing a Warde Athletics t-shirt, people were surprised to see me. Even more surprised I think to see my in red. 

I also got yelled at/questioned by multiple Ludlowe people for my shirt. I work at both schools, people! Yes, I am at Ludlowe a lot more for games and I did go to Ludlowe, but I still will support Warde. 

I mean, why not go? It was a nice day out (it was a shorts day in November) and a good day for football. In addition, Warde was playing New Canaan, where Dan Farina, who's a good friend, as well as someone who works in the Athletic Dept. at Ludlowe, is the offensive coordinator. 

I stood with some Warde people for the first half, and then hung in the stands with some friends of Dan. 

As I often say, I'm not great at sitting in the stands watching a game. Then again, we were talking so it wasn't as odd. I also figure I was just there to watch the game, not work it, so by being in the stands, I could just watch. 

The game did not go in favor of the home team, as New Canaan came away with the 41-14 victory. 

New Canaan took a 7-0 lead after a quarter and a 27-7 lead at halftime. The Rams finished the half strong with a long field goal and a fumble returned for a touchdown in the last 10 seconds of the half. The Mustangs touchdown came on a QB keeper from the one-inch line by Charlie Gulbin. 

New Canaan tacked on two more scores in the third quarter, before Warde got a touchdown in the fourth, as Gulbin connected with Lucas Coleman from three yards out. 

Warde currently sits with a 5-4 record, heading into the Thanksgiving matchup with Ludlowe. A Mustang win will have them finish with a winning record. Ludlowe, who beat Central on Thursday, needs a win to finish with a .500 record. 

A Different Kind Of Football

I was asked to work a football game tonight. A different kind of football than what I am used to. Futbol. Soccer. 

Ole Football Club, CT, as is their name on their Instagram, played Santa Cruz out of Massachusetts in the UPSL New England Conference Final. 

The game was held at Warde High School and some of the coaches of Ole are Warde soccer coaches. They asked if someone could do the scoreboard, so I was asked if I wanted to do it. 

Sure, good opportunity for a number of reasons. 

Make some money and learn some things. Also, some responsibility. 

Before getting to the field, I honestly had no idea the age group of players. I was sort of thinking it was "men's league" team even though I knew it was associated with Ole. It turns out from seeing the game and looking at social media, it was college age athletes, or thereabout. 

I had to open up and close the press box. I also had to set up the scoreboard. I've done the scoreboard at Warde a couple of times before, but it was always set up for me beforehand. I had to set it up and get it all working, and then remind myself how to actually work it. A few minutes and I was good. 

I was also asked about announcing the starting lineups. Yeah, no chance. Sorry. Nobody would want that and there was no way I was going to be able to pronounce the names correctly. 

One thing with doing the scoreboard, for each half, I was told to stop the clock with two minutes left in the period and the rest of time time would be kept on the field. 

From what a couple of parents told me, it's so that the time can be exact and then they can add the stoppage time to each period where it's needed. This was weird for me, but it makes sense. It's just tough because nobody knows how much time is actually left in the period. I am sure if you understand soccer better than I do (not hard), you have a better understanding of this. 

It was a terrific game. 

It was nil-nil at halftime (look at me using soccer terms) before Ole scored in the second half to take the lead. Santa Cruz then scored with little time left to tie the game at one apiece. 

Santa Cruz came away with the victory in penalty kicks, after the game was tied at the end of 90 minutes of regulation and then two 15 minute overtime periods. 

Santa Cruz celebrates the victory

Look, I am not a huge soccer fan, but a love drama in sports and I can have an appreciation for great, hard fought sports action. That's what we watched tonight. Watching more high school soccer, I have come to understand it more, and that has helped me appreciate it more.  

Good game tonight. Good experience. 

Choose Your Words And Actions Wisely

I root for a lot of teams where I could be called a front-runner. 

Yankees, Packers, Duke basketball, Florida football, etc. 

The Brooklyn Nets are not one of them. Yes, I have liked them since they were in New Jersey. 

They have been a dysfunctional franchise for many years. 

For the most part, it has been because of their on-court performance, including a 12-70 season in 2009-2010, 

Now, it's becoming  off-court, organizational issues. 

A lot of it, going back to last season, stems around Kyrie Irving. 

First, it was Irving not being able to play most of the 2021-2022 season due the the fact that he wouldn't get the COVID vaccine. 

In the off-season, there were talks of both Irving and Kevin Durant wanted to be traded. Neither of that happened. 

This season got underway and the Nets got off to a slow start. 

In the past week, things have gone from bad to worse. 

First, late last week, Irving Tweeted about an anti-sematic movie. 

Not a good look. At all. 

As a professional athlete, or a public figure in any area, you have to be very careful about what put on social media or what you do in your everyday life. 

You never know who is watching. 

You are a role model for fans, especially young fans. 

Steve Nash parted ways with the team after a 2-5 start on Tuesday. Initially, it was said that Nash was fired. Later, it was said to be a "mutual agreement."  

On Wednesday, a joint statement was released, saying that Kyrie and the Nets will work with the Anti-Defamation League. 

Also on Wednesday, The news came out that there are talks that the Nets are hiring Ime Udoka, who is suspended by the Celtics for having an "improper relationship" with someone in Boston's organization. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke on the Irving news earlier today, saying he was "disappointed" that Kyrie hasn't apologized. 

Then, Kyrie had a chance to apologize today and he basically says that he did nothing wrong. 

It's absolutely pathetic.  

Tonight, the Nets have suspended him "for at least five games." 

I wonder if we see Irving play for the Nets ever again. I sort of doubt it. 

What will this mean for Durant and the rest of the team? Will the break everything down. Time will tell. 

Obviously, the words and actions are far more important than the on-court product. 

Can you get any more dysfunctional than that? Some teams have tried, but it's really tough. 

I'll continue to be a Nets fan. One players beliefs and actions do not represent those of the entire team and the organization as a whole. The team has taken needed action. We will see what else transpires. 

Statement from the Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/699px8XYpx

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 4, 2022