And the Postponements Begin...

Be sure to check here to see which games have been moved to tomorrow. So far, the Pomperaug-Masuk game has been moved to 7 p.m. Saturday, and I'm sure other schools will follow suit...

Masuk-Pomperaug Talk Featured on Live From the FC

Okay, I will admit it. I've done a bad job keeping up with the SWC Buzz since coming back from vacation. Boo-hiss on me.

Hopefully I will make up for it on Saturday, when I dedicate part of the Internet radio show "Live From the FC" to coverage of this week's big Pomperaug-Masuk game.

I won't mention any names, but the guest I have coming on knows a little bit about both teams, and is a very entertaining, tell-it-like-it-is guy.

Matter of fact, I may have this mystery guest stay on for a while for his take on the SWC. Up to him, of course.

Weekly Reading For SWC Fans

Not much out there (I'm not much of a fan of the SWC's weeklies), but here we go:

• (Redding Pilot) Falcons fly over Chiefs
• (Weston Forum) Rebels strike early and often

Yup... that's it!

The Superbug Is Here, Let's Be Cautious

Now I've kidded in the past about the people in Westport and their concerns that this new generation of artificial turf is dangerous because of chemicals released into the air. But now that the Superbug (the MRSA virus) has arrived in Fairfield County, I'm a little freaked out at the possibilities. Especially if these artificial turf fields are not being properly maintained.

Now I'm not an expert in infectious diseases. I actually hope to get one on Live From the FC this Saturday morning. But I have studied up on the artificial turf. Bodily fluids do not drain as quickly in artificial turf as it does grass playing fields. And if our schools are not keeping up with regular sanitation schedules (or doing it ASAP), the MRSA virus could potentially hang out there for a while. I'm not talking weeks, but if you have phys ed classes and then a block of practices, it could be an issue.

Meanwhile, players, though it's cool to go all season without washing your gear or changing your practice clothing, you want to do it. Parents, encourage your sons to bring the equipment home. or coaches, enforce this.

Here's all I really know about MRSA, and we all know you can't fully trust Wikipedia. Apparently, maggots can help rid patients of MRSA, too, but I wouldn't go that far.

Last thing we need is for some of these regional outbreaks to intensify.

An Open Letter to All: Thank You!

On behalf of "Bill Gonillo's Team of the Week," I want to thank everyone who came out to walk, sponsored us, or had the late Bill Gonillo in their thoughts Sunday, as we participated in the American Diabetes Association's walk yesterday in Fairfield.

Together, with the help of some very generous donors and team members who pounded the pavement, we raised more than $5,000 for the ADA in Bill's honor. Not all the amounts have been entered on the team's Web site, but thousands more came in on the morning of the walk.

(EDIT: Wendy Younge of the ADA just e-mailed to inform me that $5,646 came in from Bill Gonillo's team of the Week yesterday!)

As teammate and News 12 personality Paul Piorek and New Haven Register sportswriter Jim Fuller both said yesterday, "Once [I] said it was for Bill,, it was easy to collect."

Bill's parents and several members of his family came out for the walk, too, and were very thankful for what the team had done. And as I let his parents know, setting up a team to honor Bill is nothing no one else wouldn't have done. In fact, a second team that walked and raised funds in his honor brought in at least $1,500.

Even though the walk is over, it's not too late to help make a difference. You can still make a post-race donation in Bill's honor through our team, "Bill Gonillo's Team of the Week."

There are so many people to thank. From the FCIAC football teams and local businessmen who opened their purse strings, to the media and teams who plugged the cause on their Web sites and blogs, to the people we met along the way who had their Bill Gonillo stories and memories to share, you are all heroes.

Thank you all again for your time and support.

Sincerely,

Tim Parry

Clip of the Week: Lone Entry Is an Awesome One

The good news is we have an awesome entry for the Clip of the Week contest!

The bad news is, it's the ONLY entry!

And I'm sure YouTube user janetrobbensmith is the only person attending FCIAC or SWC games with a video camera, or even a camera phone!

Coaches, you got clips from the games you're scouting? Send them over (we'll keep you anonymous!). Have them of your own player? Great! Let him win the t-shirt!

I'll tell ya what. I'll do a better job plugging the contest, and hopefully those submissions will come in.

Maybe no one thought they could top this one though: Danny Barisha's 97-yard catch-and-run for a Westhill touchdown:

Bunnell,, Stratford Still in Top 10

The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches football poll

First-place votes in parentheses, record, points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis and last week’s ranking:

1. Ansonia (10) 5-0 384 1
2. Greenwich (2) 5-0 358 2
3. Shelton 5-0 316 3
4. Southington (1) 5-0 308 4
5. Staples-Westport 4-0 274 5
6. Bunnell-Stratford 5-0 250 6
7. New London 5-0 221 7
8. Hand-Madison 5-0 179 9
9. Stratford 5-0 154 8
10. Berlin 5-0 129 T10

Dropped out: Conard-West Hartford (T10).

Also receiving votes: Bridgeport Central (4-1), 101; Masuk-Monroe (4-1), 85; Weaver-Hartford (4-0), 84; Newington (5-0), 82; Bristol Eastern (5-0), 67; Windsor (5-0), 60; New Canaan (4-1), 53; Seymour (5-0), 36; Pomperaug-Southbury (5-0), 32; Norwich Free Academy (5-0), 27; Middletown (5-0), 21; Woodland-Beacon Falls (4-1), 18; Notre Dame-West Haven (4-1), 16; Windham (4-1), 14; New Britain (4-1), 11; Cromwell (5-0), 9; Holy Cross-Waterbury (4-1), 8; Conard-West Hartford (4-1), 7.

The following coaches voted: Chris Anderson, Woodland-Beacon Falls; Jim Buonocore, Fitch; Dave Cadelina, Bridgeport Central; John DeCaprio, Notre Dame-West Haven; Chuck Drury, Pomperaug-Southbury; Steve Filippone, Hand-Madison; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Bill Mella, Southington; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.

Clip of the Week Contest: Don't Forget to Enter

So, what are you doing tonight while watching the Red Sox-Indians or Giants-Falcons? (Or Two And a Half Men?)

Maybe, just maybe, you should be looking to enter a video clip into the Clip of the Week contest!

You have until midnight tonight, and I'm sure you want to do it. Just refer to the rules and get us that clip! You may just win a Clip of the Week t-shirt, courtesy of Digital Sports Video, FCIAC Football Blog, and SWC Buzz.