|
|
"Things went well," Chard said. "Our numbers are up. There’s excitement with a new coach."
Echoed Seaver, "it’s a whole new era of football. We’re going to be a better team. We believe we can compete."
That’s the attitude that Jude Kelly, the man with the whistle, is really seeking here.
Maybe this will prove to be Kelly’s biggest challenge following several successful scholastic runs at Southington and East Catholic, but his track record suggests good times are on the horizon for a program that has put up three winning seasons since 1992.
Right now, Kelly isn’t worried about wins or losses. It’s more about getting players from three schools -- St. Paul, Goodwin Tech and Lewis Mills -- to realize that days leading up to August count more than just what happened over the last 10 days.
"It’s going to take time and we’ve taken steps in that direction," Kelly said. "That’s how football and sports work. It’s an education process, a communication process, a growth process, a commitment process.
"Everyone here got better each day," Kelly said. "The players were willing to learn and right now, that’s the only way we can go.
"The school has had some success, a good year once in a while. The goal and direction will be to establish a program here where hopefully you can reload every year and fit players into a system.
"To do that, players have to buy into and believe in what you are trying to do. I think we have the foundation in place for that."
Close to 40 players were doing their best to make an impression in a spirited quasi-scrimmage of Blue versus White while Kelly and his extensive coaching staff either made mental notes or instructed a young linebacker, a running back or a lineman regarding assignments that go with playing that position.
"We had 10 straight days of football and what impressed me the most was the attitude and willingness of the players," Kelly said. "It was important not to get frustrated because we’re starting something here and willing to build it.
"We have three schools that represent 14 different towns. Not everyone knows each other so to become a team, that’s something that these two weeks certainly helped everyone get to know one another."
Parents, boosters and alumni were watching the Falcons. There were several from Harwinton and Burlington where Lewis Mills High School is located and will be part of the co-op with St. Paul and Goodwin Tech.
"It’s exciting," said Lewis Mills athletic director Jay Pelchar.. "There’s 20 to 25 from our school who want to play football and now have a chance. For these kids, it’s great to have an opportunity to do that.
"There’s been talk in the past about starting a football program (at Lewis Mills) but there’s a ton of work to get a program off the ground. Heck, we don’t have a youth (football) league or field in the community. Doing this (with St. Paul and Goodwin Tech) is really the only way to do it."
Lewis Mills has just a one-year deal under the aegis of the three-school co-op. It will be subject to review and any extension will be determined on numbers in the program.
"That’s how this sort of worked," Pelchar said.
Numbers had dwindled at St. Paul - below 30 - which opened the door for the administration to seek another school that might be interested in a hooking up.
For the last few years, that’s been a life preserver for the Falcons. The agreement with Goodwin Tech of New Britain has worked over the last four years -- maybe not for wins -- to keep the game going.
