FCIAC Hangover: More From The Big Game

More observations from the FCIAC championship game (yes, I know it was four days ago...)

Kuczo Tribute: If you picked up a program at the game Friday night, you probably wondered who the handsome man on the cover was. It's John Kuczo, the long-time executive secretary of the FCIAC. And the inside cover is a truibute to Kuczo from his family, talking about the man who is the man behind the FCIAC scene. Bravo to the Kuczo family for honoring John in this special way.

Ice Time: The full page advertisement from the New Canaan High School ice hockey team, wishing the Rams good luck in the championship game, may have been a little cold. After all, Joe Vrtiak, an assistant coach for the Cardinals, is an assistant coach for the New Canaan hockey team. Bo Hickey, an assistant coach for the football Rams, is the long-time head coach of the skating Rams.

Mini Helmets: OK, if anyone has info on the mini helmet salesman who had a table inside the front gate of Boyle Stadium, please let me know. I never got a chance to get over there, even though I arrived an hour before kickoff. Anyway, I think the guy had a great product to sell. Sure, he had college and pro mini helmets on display, but it's not every day you can buy a Staples or New Canaan one (OK, Greenwich has the same helmet as the NFL Cardinals. Just scrape the NFL logo off and - voila!).

Crowd Control: If you were the working press, the Greenwich sideline was reasonable to navigate. The New Canaan sideline? Forget it. If your wife's cousin's neighbor's friend knew someone on the Rams' 1999 FCIAC championship team, you had the priviledge to stand on the field, with your entire family, instead of sitting in the stands. The problem? If you're a photographer - or more importantly, on the chain gang - and a play is coming toward the sideline, there's no escape from a collission. And the players can get hurt trying to avoid the crowd. And heaven help us if a spectator gets ran over by a player and injured.

Boyle Stadium: Is officially in the state's historic registry now, but is it the best site for the FCIAC's crown jewel?

History says yes - it's the annual venue, and take away the 2001 rivalry game (Greenwich-Danbury was the Thanksgiving rivalry, and therefore the champioship game) and 2004 (ban on night games in Stamford). But logistics like parking and the condition of the playing surface are arguments in itself to find alternate venues.

I'd say Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, but it has the same sort of old-time AstroTurf as Boyle Stadium.

One problem with these new stadiums popping up at all the schools: lots of seating on the home side, very little on the other. Anyone see plans for Wilton's new stadium? Seating on both sides (someone, please let me know)? If there is, then that, along with the current widening of Route 7, could make it a nice centralized location for The Game.

Without a Limp: While it wasn't a happy New Canaan sideline Friday night, there was one excellent sign of hope. Nico Gutierrez, who had season-ending reconstructive knee surgery in September, was walking without a limp. The same couldn't be said for the Greenwich sideline, where T.J. Cameron's leg was still in a cast.

Advanced Scouting: Coaches from Maloney were on hand to tape the game. They are currently Number 2 in Class MM, so there is a chance they will face the Rams some time next week. Also on hand, several starters from Fairfield Prep, which could be facing Greenwich this Tursday... if they can get by West Haven tomorrow.

tags: FCIAC football

So you won't buy a t-shirt... Buy a sticker instead!