WAY TO GO!

The big Green Machine, the J. and J. juggernaut, the Lassiter Express. Call it what you want, the Green Dragon football team is breathing fire. Coach Scott Benoit and his staff have installed a new offensive scheme and the Dragons’ offense is clicking on all cylinders.

The offense is led by junior quarterback Jason Lassiter and sophomore running back Jordan Teague. They also have a plethora of outstanding receivers. The defense has not been that explosive, but it does what it has to, to win.

The dragons are 5-0 and have beaten five of the best programs in the state -- Cheshire, Hand, West Haven, Shelton and Amity. They now play Branford, Xavier, Fairfield Prep, Lyman Hall, Wilbur Cross and Notre Dame of West Haven.

I wrote the first part last week before I became ill. Since I wrote that the Green Dragons topped Branford 31-0 with both the offense and defense clicking in.

This week Hamden plays Xavier at Middletown’s Field tonight at 7 PM. Xavier is 5-1.


DUGOUTS.

Once again, it is rumored that an agreement has been reached between several town departments at a private contractor to build roofs on the baseball and softball field dugouts. I'll believe it when I see it.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Liz Gamm (HHS ’06), a recent graduate of Hamden High and a basketball ballplayer, is presently attending the University of New Haven and is majoring in tourism and business.

BIG BROWN RETIRES.

Big Brown, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and one of the most exciting horses in the last few years has been retired due to a leg injury. I always wondered how those skinny legs of a "racehorse" kept them up.


COINCIDENCE?

It may be just coincidence but have you noticed that ever since the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team dropped the word “Devil” from their name, they have been winning?

COACH NAMED
Tiffany DeRosa (HHS' 04) was named assistant girls basketball coach at Hamden high. John Ceneri, current head coach coached DeRosa at Hamden.

DeRosa has coach for Hamden regional basketball as well as several AAU teams DeRosa played at Western New England, in her senior year. She was named the Common wealth, Coastal Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year.

CARR FUNDRAISER.

The "Friends of Paul Carr" will sponsor a fundraiser October 26 at Café Bottega on Chapel Street in New Haven. Carr is a former American Legion baseball coach and coached in both Hamden Fathers baseball and basketball Associations. He has been stricken with Lou Gherig’s disease for more than three years. Tickets are $100, including a silent auction. For tickets, e-mail PaulCarrFundraiser@life.com.

ONLY IN HAMDEN

The last Hamden High football game and the next home game were rescheduled for the afternoon. When questioned by a local newspaper, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez said it was done for cost savings and something about being pro-active. I am sure that the assistant superintendent was either misquoted, or his statement was taken out of context. Cost savings on what? Pro-active for what reason?

As anyway as everybody in the community knows, there was an incident in the parking lot at the end of the game. So game team times were moved up. Once again we gave in to the crazies. The football team is dedicated kids who should not be punished for the actions of others.

Friends and relatives and even classmates are prevented from going to the games because of the early start. The team is denied games on local radio It gives our town and our school a terrible reputation. We built a brand-new, lighted field a few years ago, so we can play on Friday nights. We must find a way as a community to play on Friday nights