Record-Journal
11-27-2007, 12:28 AM
SOUTHINGTON -- As members of the Southington High School football team take the field today for a CIAC Class LL semifinal at Shelton, they will carry a winning tradition more than 70 years in the making.
The team posted a 9-1 record during the regular season, losing only to rival Cheshire in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game, and their success over the last three years has garnered support from throughout the community as they seek a third straight appearance in the state championship game.
“The town has been very supportive of us, from the fans to the school administration,” said Southington coach Bill Mella.
The success of professional baseball players like pitchers Rob Dibble and Carl Pavano have brought a lot of positive attention to the town’s baseball programs during the past two decades, but football has always been a source of pride in Southington said town councilor and lifelong resident Art Secondo.
When it comes to football traditions, the numbers speak for themselves. Since 1938, the town’s high school teams have had just three losing seasons and in the last 40 years have finished with a record below .500 only once.
Secondo said the program continues to produce both college and NFL-caliber players.
Several NFL players, including Jack Zilly, and end for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles from 1947-52, offensive lineman Tom Cichowski of the 1967-68 Denver Broncos and running back Vincent Clements, who played for the New York Giants in 1972-73, all began their careers in Southington.
“Southington has always had a strong football program and tradition of fielding powerful teams,” said Andrew Meade, quarterback for the undefeated 1954 team.
“The record of the football team is part of the local buzz every year and people are always talking about how well Southington does.”
Former high school athletic director Robert Lehr said while serving the schools from 1990 through June 2007, the program always had a lot of support, but it has become more organized and sophisticated in recent years.
Programs like the Gridiron Club, the high school’s football booster club, have provided both financial and emotional support while the Southington Knights and Southington Valley Midget Football Leagues have been an important feeder program, providing fundamental skills and developing players before they get to the high school, Lehr said.
The enthusiasm at the midget level has only grown in recent years with the success at the high school, said Southington Knights vice-president Eric Daigle.
Several high school players have remain involved in the Southington midget programs and were instrumental in encouraging and motivating the junior midget team, which advanced to regional semifinal play before losing Friday to Central Falls, R.I., 20-19.
“These students not only represent their team, they represent the town and they have provided a great example of teamwork, sportsmanship and what it means to be a scholar-athlete,” Daigle said.
“What these kids are doing at the high school has motivated younger children to become involved.”
Participation has been down in football programs across the country, said Southington Valley president Ronald Newman, but in Southington the numbers have soared thanks to the high school success and summer youth and coaching camps organized by Mella.
The leagues host more than 650 children ages 6 to 14 and provide hope for those who want to play for the high school some day, Newman said.
While Daigle and Newman give some credit for their league’s success to a partnership with the high school, Mella said the leagues have been a successful feeder program that has helped carry on the winning tradition at the high school.
“The involvement and support of youth leagues and the community are paramount to having a successful program and Southington has had that over the years,” Mella said.
“This is a community and a program that I am proud to be associated with.”
The team posted a 9-1 record during the regular season, losing only to rival Cheshire in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game, and their success over the last three years has garnered support from throughout the community as they seek a third straight appearance in the state championship game.
“The town has been very supportive of us, from the fans to the school administration,” said Southington coach Bill Mella.
The success of professional baseball players like pitchers Rob Dibble and Carl Pavano have brought a lot of positive attention to the town’s baseball programs during the past two decades, but football has always been a source of pride in Southington said town councilor and lifelong resident Art Secondo.
When it comes to football traditions, the numbers speak for themselves. Since 1938, the town’s high school teams have had just three losing seasons and in the last 40 years have finished with a record below .500 only once.
Secondo said the program continues to produce both college and NFL-caliber players.
Several NFL players, including Jack Zilly, and end for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles from 1947-52, offensive lineman Tom Cichowski of the 1967-68 Denver Broncos and running back Vincent Clements, who played for the New York Giants in 1972-73, all began their careers in Southington.
“Southington has always had a strong football program and tradition of fielding powerful teams,” said Andrew Meade, quarterback for the undefeated 1954 team.
“The record of the football team is part of the local buzz every year and people are always talking about how well Southington does.”
Former high school athletic director Robert Lehr said while serving the schools from 1990 through June 2007, the program always had a lot of support, but it has become more organized and sophisticated in recent years.
Programs like the Gridiron Club, the high school’s football booster club, have provided both financial and emotional support while the Southington Knights and Southington Valley Midget Football Leagues have been an important feeder program, providing fundamental skills and developing players before they get to the high school, Lehr said.
The enthusiasm at the midget level has only grown in recent years with the success at the high school, said Southington Knights vice-president Eric Daigle.
Several high school players have remain involved in the Southington midget programs and were instrumental in encouraging and motivating the junior midget team, which advanced to regional semifinal play before losing Friday to Central Falls, R.I., 20-19.
“These students not only represent their team, they represent the town and they have provided a great example of teamwork, sportsmanship and what it means to be a scholar-athlete,” Daigle said.
“What these kids are doing at the high school has motivated younger children to become involved.”
Participation has been down in football programs across the country, said Southington Valley president Ronald Newman, but in Southington the numbers have soared thanks to the high school success and summer youth and coaching camps organized by Mella.
The leagues host more than 650 children ages 6 to 14 and provide hope for those who want to play for the high school some day, Newman said.
While Daigle and Newman give some credit for their league’s success to a partnership with the high school, Mella said the leagues have been a successful feeder program that has helped carry on the winning tradition at the high school.
“The involvement and support of youth leagues and the community are paramount to having a successful program and Southington has had that over the years,” Mella said.
“This is a community and a program that I am proud to be associated with.”