By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC sports shoutout is sent along to a truly good sport, Pete Trama of Putnam.  The nonagenarian is an amazing guy.  A former veteran of the Merchant Marines and Navy during World War II, Trama remains active with his family and as a volunteer with Post #13 American Legion of Putnam.

It doesn’t seem possible but as the paper went to press the local high school football season is already in progress.  To some the season couldn’t come fast enough but to others they’re wondering “where did the time go?”  Before we know it the Thanksgiving Day games will be upon us and that means ‘Old Man Winter’ won’t be far behind.

Those words aren’t meant to be harbingers of pessimism, but it was sure nice to enjoy the warmth of summer and time on the golf links.

The local elevens, Killingly, Plainfield, Quinebaug Valley and Woodstock Academy, have put in their preseason training and it’s time to get down to brass tacks.  The CIAC has done its due diligence and released its playoff divisions.  Killingly, Quinebaug Valley and Woodstock are competing in Class M, while Plainfield is in Class S.  For the Pride of Quinebaug Valley the move drops them to a level where they appear to be better suited, as they were in Class L last season.

Killingly under head coach Chad Neal last season, made it to the Class M semifinals before being eliminated.  They were the area’s most successful team, finishing the season at 10-2.  The Redmen are confident that despite some key losses they can have another successful year.  Going back to the State playoffs is the goal they hope to achieve.

Killingly had its opening game of the season on September 9 against Bacon Academy.  The Redmen will also face Stonington, New London, Griswold, Montville, Windham, Plainfield, East Lyme, Fitch and Quinebaug Valley.  Killingly is a member of the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Woodstock Academy, following a number of losing seasons appears ready to do football business.  The Centaurs have reached into the college coaching ranks and brought on Daryl Daleen, a former Central Connecticut State University assistant in an effort to rejuvenate the interest in the program.  In one of his first moves, Daleen hired Greg Alexander, a former University of Hawaii quarterback, as one of his assistants. 

Woodstock played Quinebaug Valley in the first week of the season in Putnam under the lights.  The remainder of the Centaurs schedule includes games against Pittsfield, MA, CREC Co-op, Woonsocket, RI, Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech, Wolcott Tech/Gilbert/Northwest Regional, Griswold, Windham, and Thames River.  Woodstock Academy is a member of the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Plainfield football remains in the hands of its very capable head coach Pat Smith.  The Panthers opened the season against Stonington and continue with Montville, Windham, Central Falls, R.I., Bacon Academy, Killingly, CREC Co-op, Waterford and Griswold.  Plainfield plays in the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

The Quinebaug Valley Pride, composed of three schools Putnam, Tourtellotte and Ellis Tech, is under the coaching tutelage of Shane Szydlo, a first-year mentor.  The Pride had its first game against Woodstock Academy.  The remainder of the schedule includes Prince Tech, Capital Achievement, Bullard Havens, Thames River, Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech, Cheney Tech, Wilcox Tech and Killingly.  The Pride is a member of the Constitution State Conference.

Quinnatisset CC Notebook…

Although there is still a good six weeks of golf weather remaining, Quinnatisset Country Club is holding its Annual Meeting at the course on Sunday, October 2 at 4 p.m.  Atty. Mark Brouillard continues as the Board President with Rich Rust serving as his vice president.  Jay Johnson is the longtime treasurer and Joanne Crowley is the Board secretary.

The Board committees are led by the following individuals: Joe Bachand, Greens; Ed Czernicki, Beautification; George Tsanjoures, Planning; Paul Roy, Tournament; Kevin Makie, House; and Dave Fitzgerald, Insurance.  Charles King and Dan Navarro are at-large members.

The first-year Grounds Superintendent Erik Frederick has the course in tip-top condition.  His work can be attested to by the Club Champion Kevin Marcoux, Senior Champion Navarro and Women’s Champion Anne Kelly.

Mike Pizzetti and his staff, including teaching pro Rick Haldas have done a tremendous job this summer keeping members happy and assuring that all club and outside events have gone off without a hitch.

The American Way…

Colin Kaepernick, back-up quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, has created quite a stir by sitting rather than standing for the National Anthem.  His claim is that he wants people to understand that there remains much work to be done in our country with racial equality.

Although no one would dispute that, isn’t there a better, more positive way to bring that fact to light?  It seems from this perspective that his approach is a negative one.

Someone who has had a much bigger impact in a positive manner on the issue of racism is Florida State University football player Travis Rudolph.  His story has brought human kindness to light.  When the FSU team was visiting a local school, Rudolph, a man of color, witnessed a young white student, Bo Paske, sitting by himself at lunch.  Rudolph, without any prompting, immediately went and sat with young Paske, who by the way is autistic, and reached out and became his friend.  Now at school everyone wants to sit with Paske, who has become a very popular student.

The story continues, Rudolph invited Paske and his mother to the FSU first game of the season where the team presented the young man with an FSU jersey with his name on the back.  The icing on the cake was a touchdown reception made by Paske’s hero Rudolph.  Photos of Paske, an autistic little white kid, hugging his hero Travis Rudolph, a man of color is the true American Way.  

This sincere and honest story seems to be a more positive way of bringing light to racial equality than sitting down for the National Anthem.

By the way, on Father’s Day this past June my brother, Moe Coderre, a U.S. Air Force veteran, sang the National Anthem at Fenway Park in Boston.  Everyone was standing, including his proud American brother, RPC, with a tear and pride on that day and every day, when we can say, “I’m proud to be an American.”

Greyhound Nation…

On Saturday, September 3, my wife Donna and I traveled to Worcester for the Assumption College football game against Kutztown State University of Pennsylvania.  The Hounds under head coach Bob Chesney walked away with a satisfying 45-21 victory.

Chesney, who is in his fourth season at Assumption, has brought Assumption football to life.  His players play hard and play by the rules.  Following the Chesney way, Assumption posted an 11-2 record and won the Northeast-10 Championship last season.  The team went all the way to the National semifinals before falling in a two-point loss.

Off to a good start this season, Assumption football is well worth the trip to the beautiful campus in Worcester.  Try it some Saturday.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”  Thomas Jefferson

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

..