HARTFORD — They’ve brought their message to the state Capitol building, and they didn’t go quietly into winter.
Players from at least 40 high school football teams around the state came to the Capitol on Wednesday evening, rallying to try to save a CIAC season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was very empowering to see a whole bunch of different towns come together for a cause,” Danbury captain Nick Smith said. “We have our opponents here, rivals on the field, but we’re all friends now, all fighting for the season we want to have.”
Gov. Ned Lamont tweeted Wednesday night he is calling for a meeting between the Department of Public Health and CIAC to be held on Friday regarding ways to safely hold school sports.
“We have an obligation to all of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators to keep them safe, and I expect that goal to be the focus of the discussion,” Lamont tweeted.
After the state Department of Public Health declined to recommend playing 11-on-11, contact football, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference announced on Friday that it would not hold football competition this fall. The governing body for high school sports in the state had earlier, during a summer in which it admitted its fall plan would be fluid, said that it would not play in the spring any sport that wasn’t held in the fall. Teams are still permitted to condition.
As the news came down Friday morning, Haddam-Killingworth senior Daniel LaRosa was sitting in a personal finance class. Teammate Kevin Cavrell texted him that they needed to start a petition.
“We expected maybe 500, 1,000 signatures if we were lucky,” LaRosa said. “It blows up: We got 33,000.”
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Greenwich High football players pose for a group picture after the rally at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Greenwich High football moms Liz Tommasino amd Mitzi Ceci, left, attend a rally on the grounds of the state Capitol in Hartford on Wednesday. High school football coaches, players and parents from across the state came to Hartford to protest cancellation of the upcoming season due to the coronavirus, including Greenwich High football moms
Greenwich High School cheerleaders strike a pose after a rally on the grounds of the dtate Capitol in Hartford on Wednesday. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
New Fairfield’s Mike Peterson speaks during a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford in September. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
St. Joseph High football player Brady Hutchison shows off his playoff rings during a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
Over a thousand high football coaches, players and their families attend a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. They came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
Branford High football players pose for a group pic after a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
A youth holds a sign that reads, "King Ned Let Us Play" during a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
Hall High School football player Divine Edwards, of West Hartford, attends a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
Amity High football player Cameron Luciano speaks during a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus on Wednesday.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the state Capitol in Hartford last week to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
Amity High football player Cameron Luciano speaks during a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford on Wednesday. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
Greenwich High football player James Rinello attends a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
Members of the Greenwich High School football team pose for photos after a rally held on the grounds of the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. High school football coaches and players from across the state came to Hartford to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state went to the Hartford State Capitol building ni September to protest not being able to play due to the coronavirus.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus on Sept. 9.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state at the state Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus this week.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
High school football coaches, players and their families from across the state came to the Hartford State Capitol building to protest not being able to play in the upcoming season due to the coronavirus in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020.
They helped organize Wednesday’s rally, which packed hundreds of players onto the steps of the Capitol, most appearing to be wearing masks. An estimated 1,200 people attended in all.
“By Sunday night, it was huge. We had 30 schools in on it. It was everywhere,” LaRosa said. “We probably haven’t slept in two days.”
More than 40 teams were represented, all around the state, Greenwich to Killingly, New London to Quinebaug Valley.
“Today was an exciting chance to show what everyone around the state of Connecticut wants to happen, a football season in the fall,” Smith said.
“It really shows how we can come together and make our voices heard, and what we want to happen in the fall.”
There were smaller gatherings over the weekend in West Hartford and New Canaan, all the while planning for Wednesday.
Even a little way into the crowd on Wednesday, it wasn’t easy to hear the speakers. Chants of “let us play” radiated effectively, though.
“Everything said was just reinforcement of what we all hold deep in our hearts,” Smith said.
One heckler was escorted away by police.
The afternoon ended with a march around the building, and then the crowd dispersed. Some returned to the steps for photos, and at least one returned to the lectern to give his speech for his family.
People held up signs of all sorts: “Flag on the Call: Let Them Play Ball,” “Don’t Bench Our Season,” “11 Players, 1 Heart.” Another referred to the low death rate of COVID-19 among people under 20. DPH’s objection is more related to community spread.
Players argue, though, that the state’s COVID-19 metrics are excellent at the start.
“Basically today we want to get our season back. We want to play, the fall, the spring, whenever we can play, we want to get out there,” East Haven senior Trey Garea said. “It’s our senior season. COVID, we’ve got some of the lowest rates in the country.
“I think we deserve it. We’re following the guidelines. The CIAC’s got a great plan set forth for us.”
House Republicans joined the Senate Republicans, House Democrats and House Republicans in the conversation, sending a letter to DPH and the CIAC urging them to work toward a fall or spring football season. The representatives on Tuesday urged Gov. Ned Lamont to join that discussion, and Senate Republicans asked DPH to clarify its guidelines.
Wednesday, groups began arriving around 3:30 p.m. for the 5 p.m. rally, many decked out in team jerseys.
“This isn’t a bunch of football coaches that just want to get the game on. This is all about the kids. I think that’s been a unique perspective,” Rockville coach Erick Knickerbocker said.
“There’ll be friendships made through all this, which is just crazy, through these crazy times.”
Knickerbocker said his team was excited to try to get something done, but the back-and-forth has taken a toll over the past couple of months.
“The uncertainty is really starting to get to them. The kids who work, the kids who can play other sports: What do they do? How long can you continue to go down this road?” Knickerbocker said. “I think they just need answers. If it’s really going to be a cancellation, just come out and say it. Seven-on-seven is really a cancellation.”
