Cheshire Football Honored At Walter Camp Foundation Breakfast Of Champions
January 25, 2010 by Greg Lederer
There was a trade-off when the Cheshire High School football program returned to the 3rd Annual Walter Camp Football Foundation Breakfast of Champions on Jan. 16. While they didn’t take home individual hardware like last year, the Rams had a more rewarding experience being recognized as a team.
Cheshire (LL), along with joined Notre Dame (L), New Canaan (MM), Berlin (M), St. Joseph’s (SS), and Hyde Leadership (S), was honored for their 2009 Class Championships at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven. The Rams defeated previously unbeaten Staples 28-21 in the title game and were ranked second to Notre Dame-West Haven, the only team to defeat them by a score of 40-36. Notre Dame received the Kelly Award that is bestowed upon the state number one annually.
“It’s awesome. It’s a great feeling to see all the hard work of our players and coaches be recognized,” explained Cheshire Head Coach Mark Ecke. “To get to a state championship again and win it is awesome. It’s something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
“It felt amazing to be honored as a state champion,” added senior quarterback Greg Palmer. “It brought closure to it.”
For the second straight year, the Rams received nomination for individual honors. Ecke joined Tom Marcucci (Notre Dame) and Chuck Drury (Pomperaug) for Coach of the Year finalists, with Marcucci taking the award. In his 18 years with the Cheshire staff, Ecke has contributed to all seven state titles.
“Anytime you are up for individual honors, it’s a great thing,” said Ecke, who has won four state championships as head coach for the last 15 years. “But I would trade a state championship for Coach of the Year any day.”
Palmer felt blessed to be considered for the Player of the Year alongside Ben Crick (Pomperaug; 2010 recipient) and Tyler Murphy (Wethersfield). Billy Ragone, a three-year starter at CHS and 2009 graduate, received the award last January.
“It was incredible,” stated Palmer. “Tyler and Ben Crick are incredible players. To be honored is great.”
“To have the honor of speaking about one of your kids for Player of the Year,” added Ecke, of his favorite part of the event. “The coaches voted Greg as one of the top players in the state. It is testament to our kid individually, but also to the program overall.”
Along with receiving Class LL MVP/All-Class LL/All-Southern Connecticut Conference Division I-East, Palmer was named quarterback of the First Walter Camp All-Connecticut High School Team. Cheshire resident Rob Bowman, a defensive tackle for Notre Dame, was also among 25 players to receive their certificates on Saturday.
“It feels kind of cool. Maybe someone will look up the first team someday and see my name,” Palmer said.
Ecke felt that Palmer had the right mentality to follow Ragone at quarterback. He waited for his opportunity to start last fall and took full advantage of it. Despite directing a more run-oriented version of the spread offense, Palmer produced similar statistics to last year’s team. Palmer rushed for 1,344 yards and 24 touchdowns, supplying 1,066 passing yards and six touchdowns.
“Definitely not. You never have those expectations,” said Palmer, of envisioning individual accolades. “At the end, you reflect on what kind of season it was.”
One of his personal highlights came during a 49-31 victory in Shelton. Palmer tied a CHS record with five rushing touchdowns, scampering for a career-high 180 yards.
He accepted added responsibilities in the playoffs after Paul Tuscano, a senior captain with Dan Sweeney and Craig Thorne, was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Palmer was inserted at free safety for the first time at Glastonbury and responded with two interceptions. Cheshire collectively forced four turnovers in a 20-6 semifinal victory.
“Greg isn’t the kind of kid that lets things bother him,” explained Ecke, referencing Palmer’s position as senior captain of the boys’ golf team. “Just like a good golfer, he doesn’t let one shot distract him. He was very focused and the results speak for themselves.”
The semifinal game represented redemption. Cheshire reached the state playoffs for the first time in 13 years and advanced to the 2008 Class LL Final, but Glastonbury derailed their title hopes with a 28-14 victory. The Rams graduated 22 players, including Ragone and four offensive linemen. When pollsters from around the state didn’t like their chances for a return to the top, they bonded together.
Overtime was necessary for Cheshire to seize their first state title since 1997. The Rams led Staples 21-7, but the Wreckers scored twice in the fourth quarter. Junior running back Mike Skibicki ran for a two-yard touchdown to put Cheshire back ahead and then their defense did the rest. Seniors Luke Scinto and Brian Havlicek combined to strip the ball from Staples, allowing Scinto to make the game-winning recovery. The victory wrapped up a decorated career for 23 seniors.
“It is one of the great memories I will share for the rest of my life,” said Sweeney. “We still talk about it and can’t believe what we have accomplished. It’s a memory that we can always talk about.”
Sweeney, a leader at running back and linebacker (107 tackles, interception), was recently nominated for the Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year. He compiled 945 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while catching 24 passes (two scores) and 160 yards last fall. Sweeney rushed for a career-high 155 yards on Thanksgiving, receiving Overall and Offensive MVPs. Cheshire defeated Southington, 24-11.
“It will be tough to not play on Thanksgiving Day next season. Cheshire football is a family and we want the guys to play well,” added Sweeney, who joined Palmer, Tuscano, and Scinto as All-Class LL/All-SCC D-I East selections.
The coaching staff, along with a number of CHS players, listened intently to various speakers at the Walter Camp ceremony. Hall of Famer John Elway brought a legendary resume, while David Fulcher talked about his career in the NFL and college football. Fulcher also spoke about his wife’s perseverance from disease.
NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky, a former player at Shelton High School and the University of Connecticut, sponsored the event through the Dan Orlovsky Foundation. James Madison University Arthur Moats (2009 Buck Buchanan Award Winner) reiterated the theme of being a solid student and person away from the football field.
In one of the most poignant speeches, former Joseph Foran baseball/football star John Tartaglia told a tragic story from August 2004. A bacterial infection forced doctors to amputate both his legs and part of his left bicep in high school. While told he wouldn’t walk again, Tartaglia overcame through the help of prosthetics. He attended Fairfield University and became the first amputee to finish the New York City Marathon in 15 hours and 59 minutes.
“Mr. Tartaglia was an amazing story. He had both of his legs amputated and then what he has accomplished is amazing,” reflected Sweeney. “Mr. Fulcher’s wife has a disease, but the disease doesn’t have her.”
Former Trumbull football and baseball head coach Jerry McDougall also received the Lifetime Achievement Award.