Fishing: Warm weather leads to big catches on Opening Day

Warm temperatures and level waters led to a plentiful afternoon of trout fishing on Opening Day Saturday.

"Most of the fish that I heard that were caught were good-sized fish," said Robert LaTulipe Jr., owner of Trip's Bait and Tackle in Torrington. "I know there was a 10-pound trout brought in here and a seven and 5 1/2 -pounder."

Numbers were reportedly good throughout the state on a partly cloudy day that had temperatures reaching the 70s. Popular spots, such as the Salmon River State Forest, were consistent.

"Everybody had a good day," said Ralph Graziola, owner of Ralph's Bait Shop in Ashford. "The weather was great."

At the 62nd Annual Riverton Fishing Derby, Steve Scanlon saw some surprising results.

"More fish were checked in this year than have been in a long time," Scanlon said. "Probably at least twice, if not three times as much as last year."

This year's winner was Pat MacNamara of Meriden, who caught a last-minute 25-inch rainbow trout that weighed 9 pounds, 14 ounces.

"A kid had the lead until about the last 45 minutes," Scanlon said.

MacNamara will take home the traditional derby prize, a rocking chair from Still River Antiques.

Baseball: Rock Cats held to 3 hits in loss

NEW BRITAIN — With a 2-6 start, first-year Rock Cats manager Tom Nieto knows adjustments need to be made. He was happy to see some of those changes on Thursday night, despite a 2-0 loss to New Hampshire in the home opener before 6,014 at New Britain Stadium.

"We try to keep them out of their own way and let their talent take over," Nieto said after his team managed only three hits and struck out 10 times. "We're working on it."

New Britain made its biggest threat in the bottom of the eighth.

Catcher Allan de San Miguel hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a two-out wild pitch. But Fisher Cats reliever Zach Dials struck out Juan Portes, who was ahead 3-and-0 before taking three straight fastballs.

"That's a little surprising for him," Nieto said.

In the first eight games, Rock Cats hitters are 10-for-66 (.152) with runners in scoring position.

The Rock Cats were held in check through the first seven innings by starter Luis Perez (1-1, 1.50 ERA). The 24-year-old lefthander allowed two hits and struck out six.

"That lefty they had gave us some trouble," Nieto said. "Our guys are going to have to make some adjustments next time we see him."

New Britain lefthander Ryan Mullins (0-2, 3.86) had his moments, pitching five innings and striking out seven. But a few balls up in the zone led to him surrendering seven hits, including three doubles, and two runs.

"I felt pretty good," Mullins said. "They started jumping on me early. I was up a little bit."

Brad Emaus scored on Brian Dopirak's sacrifice fly in the first, and East Lyme's Todd Donovan picked up an RBI with a fifth-inning double to right-center.

"[Mullins] did a great job," Nieto said. "I was really pleased."

Relievers Frank Mata and Jose Lugo helped keep New Britain in the game. Mata pitched 2 2/3 innings, and struck out four. New Britain pitchers struck out 12.

"Our bullpen did great," Nieto said. "We pitched well."

The Rock Cats went down easily in the ninth against rookie closer Leon Boyd. The 6-foot-6 Canadian righthander struck out the last two batters he faced for his second save.

It was the fourth straight loss in a home opener for New Britain. The teams play today at 12:05 p.m.

Boys Swimming: Hug Repeats As S Champion

By NICK CARBONI The Hartford Courant

March 18, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — - A few years ago, Northwest Catholic-West Hartford senior John Hug's future in the pool wasn't looking quite as promising as he had envisioned it.

"I kind of hit a plateau," he said Tuesday after leading Northwest Catholic (272) to a sixth-place finish at the Class S championships. "I wasn't improving a lot."

Sacred Heart-Waterbury won the meet with 541.5 points.

The early struggles must have been a tough pill to swallow for Hug, a Simsbury native whose father Chris Hug (1981) and cousin Kevin Hug (2008) were Division I swimmers at Brown. So after his sophomore year, in which he didn't qualify for the State Open, Hug was on a mission.

"I upped my practice time by about 25 percent," he said.

The added effort helped Hug to slice through the water as a junior. He won the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle in last year's Class S meet, and took fourth in the 500 at the Open. He defended those Class S titles Tuesday, edging Lewis Mills' Luke Zalewski (1:45.79) in the 200 with a time of 1:45.35, and winning the 500 in 4:41.09, 16 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

"Last year was a vast improvement with his time," third-year coach Danahy Bonner said. "He's definitely the top swimmer that I've coached at Northwest."

Next year, Hug will follow family tradition.

"I'm also going to Brown," he said. "It kind of felt like home."

Championship Touch

After coaching Sacred Heart to its first team title since he was a swimmer in 1981 and '83, and the year after he graduated ('84), Ray Snyder joined his team in a celebratory jump in the pool.
"It feels great," he said before getting a dripping hand on the tournament plaque.

Green Light

Watertown's Brendan Murphy gave a little bit of credit to a special day after winning the 50 freestyle (21.19), and setting a Class S record in the 100 freestyle (46.84). "I'm pretty Irish," he said. "So I take it to heart."

Class M

Daniel Sweeney set three Class M records, and sophomore teammate Christian Higgins broke a 13-year-old state record, as New Canaan (615) won its second-straight Class M championship, and eighth class title overall (1981-82, 2002, 2004-06, 2008-09).

Sweeney set the Class M record in the 50 freestyle (20.82), and immediately returned to the pool to set the 100 butterfly record (49.82). The previous record was 50.86, set last year by Branford's Eric Sokolosky.

"I can't even believe it," Sweeney said.

He also anchored New Canaan's 200 freestyle relay team (Todd Ferreira, Sasan Tehrani, Jay Margherio), which won in a Class M record 1:25.59.

Higgins set a state record in defending his Class M title in the 100 breaststroke (56.08). Cheshire's Jared Proto had set the record of 56.81 in 1996.

The top local team was Wethersfield (316), which was fourth.

"It's been a while since we've placed this high," said coach Lee Schwartzman. "Our goal at the beginning of the year was to finish fifth. It's just icing on the cake."

High School basketball: Fraternal Assist

By NICK CARBONI The Hartford Courant
March 10, 2009

We'll bring you a slice of the CIAC tournaments, which end with championships March 20-21. If you have a unique story about your team, e-mail sports@courant.com.

AVON — With its own tournament game to play today against Bulkeley, the Avon boys basketball team had no problem cheering on its girls counterpart Monday, in a 47-37 Falcons victory over Windsor in a second-round Class L tournament game.

The boys had a hand in it, serving as the girls' practice opponent all season.

"They wanted to get a couple of guy players together so they'd get used to the competition," guard Scott Mancini said.

Other players include Zak Blawie, Joe Ives, Jack O'Brien, and Tyler and Mike D'Onofrio.

The tactic has helped the 2008 Class M champions to a 22-0 record.

"We're glad to help," O'Brien said.

The sessions have been constructive, the boys simulating the next opponent.

"They like the challenge of the boys," said Frank Waters, the girls coach.

And the girls have no doubt it has made them better.

"I definitely see it," point guard Lauren Primovic said.

Added Sam Riccio: "They're really fun to play against. They put their egos aside."

The bond between the teams has grown.

"We're all friends with them," Riccio said. "It's something we'll definitely remember."

CIAC Girls Class L Tournament: Avon 47, Windsor 37 Photos

Little League: Key differences in Locks' time.

August 10, 2008

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

On a summer day in 1965, Russell Mattesen was reminded just what Little League baseball was all about.

In a tie game at the East Regional tournament in Staten Island, N.Y., with a trip to the Little League World Series at stake, Windsor Locks right fielder Ted Holmes ran into the dugout after his team had not done well in the field.

"The first thing he said was, 'Are we going to have hot dogs and soda after the game?' " said Mattesen, the team's assistant coach.

In many ways, the enormity of the situation may have been lost on the 16 players from Windsor Locks, which became the third state team to win a Little League World Series when it defeated Stoney Creek (Ontario), 3-1. In today's world, it would be tough to find any player in the field of 16 teams at the Little League World Series who doesn't know how high the stakes are.

When the tournament begins on Friday in Williamsport, Pa., all 32 games will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC - not to mention last week's regional tournament coverage on NESN and MSG. Promos will be cut, highlight reels will be packaged, and 12-year-olds, including those from Shelton, the newly crowned New England champion, will become national media figures.

"It seems like it's almost glorified too much," Mattesen said. In 1965, the only televised game was the final, which was called by Jim McKay and Jackie Robinson on ABC.

"Now it seems like a two-week Hollywood show," said Mike Roche, the 1965 team's ace pitcher.

The differences don't end there. There were also no aluminum bats, no substitution rules and no second chances. The entire Little League postseason was a single-elimination tournament, though there were consolation games.

"You played to win," said 1965 center fielder Fran Aniello Jr., whose father served as president of the town's Little League in 1965.

Despite their reservations about the atmosphere surrounding today's Series, the surviving members of the 1965 team are sure to tune in for at least some of the coverage because they know one thing hasn't changed.

"To me the kids are all the same," said Dale Misiek, the first baseman. "If they let them be kids, it's enjoyable to watch."

The 1965 team featured a thumping lineup, led by the 5-foot-10 Misiek, and dominant pitching from Roche and William Boardman, who combined for an 0.53 ERA that summer.

Manager Robert O'Connor, whose son Michael was the team's left fielder, was assisted by Mattesen, whose son was too young to play Little League. They arrived in Williamsport confident, unaffected by any of the pressures that come with winning a world championship.

"It was just hanging out with kids your age," Misiek said. "It was fun."

The players knew about Williamsport, but were unaware of the actual structure of the national tournament. After Windsor Locks defeated Stamford in the state final, the coaches were told to get the team on a plane to Lodi, N.J., for the regional qualifier. It wasn't until the team won that game that it was told that the East Regional was in Staten Island, N.Y.

"I think there was less stress," Mattesen said. "We didn't know what was ahead of us."

The kids lived inside their own little bubble and never lost their innocence. "We just played baseball and wondered when we'd get fed," Aniello said.

Mattesen and O'Connor kept the team prepared, seemingly having an answer for everything. At practice before the regional final, they realized they needed to go over how to properly appeal that a runner had not tagged up, something the team botched in New Jersey. The next day, Windsor Locks wiped a run off the board for Danvers (Mass.), using a successful appeal to complete a triple play, and won, 4-3.

"They did an outstanding job in getting us prepared and keeping our focus," said Phil Devlin, an outfielder on the team. "Everybody had trust in the judgment of Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Mattesen."

After a whirlwind of travel and baseball, the team found itself in Williamsport with a chance to follow Stamford in 1951 and Norwalk in 1952 as World Series champions from Connecticut.

Windsor Locks stayed in tight quarters with the other seven teams, allowing for unique cultural experiences, especially when it came to the team from Tokyo.

"They used to call me Mount Fuji," said Misiek, who hit .419 with six homers and 20 RBI in the postseason.

Despite the language barriers, the teams bonded. The Japanese players were known for waking up the earliest, dominating the pingpong table, bowing to umpires and constantly rubbing Devlin's head.

"They had never seen a human being with blond hair," Devlin said.

With no pool play in 1965, Windsor Locks defeated Maracaibo (Venezuela) 5-3 and Waco (Texas) 1-0 to earn a spot in the final. When Roche, who struck out 79 batters in 42 innings that summer, took the mound, there were a record 21,000 spectators at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. That was nearly twice the population of Windsor Locks in 1965.

"That was quite a surprise," he said.

Roche struck out 14, and Misiek hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run fourth inning against Ontario, giving the kids from Windsor Locks the World Series title. The players barely had time to realize what they'd done. They were whisked home, where a party with Gov. John Dempsey at Bradley Airport and a parade through town awaited them. They soon met Mickey Mantle and played catch with the Mets.

"It was surreal," Holmes said. "[Understanding what we did] came later."

Forty-three years later, the team has had time to take it all in.

"All little kids have dreams about doing what we did," Devlin said. "It makes you realize that dreams can come true."

High school baseball: A phenom with the right(-handed) stuff

April 4, 2007

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

GROTON -- Nothing fazes Matt Harvey as he goes through his precise, fluid delivery on the baseball field at Fitch High School.

Not the rapid clicks from the photographer's camera behind the catcher. Not the scout with the dark sunglasses lurking next to the equipment shed. Not even his association with agent Scott Boras and the potential of earning millions of dollars just weeks after his high school graduation.

Baseball America's Prospects Plus ranked Harvey the No. 1 high school player in the country. Harvey, 18, has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of North Carolina next year, but he is expected to be selected high in Major League Baseball's June draft and sign a professional contract.

Current projections have him going in the first half of round one, which would mean a signing bonus in the millions. He would become only the eighth player with state ties to go in the first round since the draft began in 1965.

Still, the attention doesn't seem to intimidate Harvey.

"I like having pressure on the baseball field,'' said Harvey, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound righthander from Mystic.

Halfway through this bullpen session on a cold, cloudy afternoon in late March, Harvey's coach comes over to check on him. The man with the silver hair and mustache in the red Fitch baseball jacket is in his 29th season as coach of the Falcons. He is also Matt Harvey's father, Ed Harvey.

Ed, whose teams have won three state titles, has a team to run. His practices flow along like clockwork. Every player rotates between several stations. Each station exists for a reason.

No one understands this better than Matt, who helped Ed win a state championship in 2005. Matt's work ethic matches his father's routines. His dedication to his eventual goal of pitching in the major leagues was part of what helped him add 35 pounds of muscle since his sophomore season. Before warming up, Matt spends a few minutes on his back doing leg stretches. He then stands up and uses a pitcher's band to strengthen his arm. Everything is done with exactness and care.

Ed says that Matt is hands-down the most talented and hardest-working player he has coached in 34 years at Fitch as an assistant and head coach. That includes Paul Menhart, a major league pitcher for three seasons, and countless collegians and minor leaguers.

Ed, also Matt's physical education teacher at Fitch, enjoys the uniqueness of his situation.

"When you think about it, not many guys can teach their sons, live with their sons and have them play baseball for you,'' he said with a smile. "And then for him to be one of the best you've ever had is pretty cool.''

Matt speaks with a matter-of-fact tone, much like his father. He articulates softly and deliberately, collecting his thoughts before talking. And the son has a tremendous respect for his father's baseball knowledge. The elder Harvey was a standout for both the UConn football and baseball teams, including its College World Series team in 1972.

"I like coming up here and doing what he knows he wants to be done,'' Matt said.

Growing up, Matt loved to hang around Ed's teams. Still, he wasn't just a bat boy.

At 10, he was jumping into Ed's batting practice rotations at third base. One day, he fielded a grounder and threw the runner out by half a baseline. There was hooting and hollering all around. Often, Matt would have Ed throw him pitches after practice and keep a catcher around in gear for some late-afternoon tosses from the mound.

Matt stood out at every level, but Ed maintained his distance. Not wanting to meddle, he coached Matt at home, letting his Little League and Babe Ruth coaches do the rest. And that 12-to-6 curveball that has garnered so much attention lately? Matt had to wait patiently until he was 13 before his father showed him how to throw the bender that Ed says,

"When he's on, I haven't seen anyone hit it.''

A true student of the game, Matt would watch pitchers on television, paying close attention to the science of getting batters out.

These days, scouts are drooling over his breaking ball and fastball, which has been clocked in the mid-90s mph since he was barely 16. Last season he was 5-0 with 80 strikeouts and a 0.81 ERA.

More important, scouts love his graceful delivery, performed with machine-like consistency.

"Easy gas,'' Ed calls it. Despite his pro potential, North Carolina didn't hesitate to offer Matt a scholarship.

"We didn't take the chance [of signing top prospects] in my first few years here,'' said coach Mike Fox, in his ninth year at North Carolina. "He's the total package. [Pitchers like Matt] don't come along very often.''

David Piela, a 1984 Fitch graduate and bullpen catcher for the Double-A Norwich Navigators, began catching Matt this winter and acknowledged his potential.

"I love the way he approaches his work,'' Piela said. "I think you notice it in the way he carries himself. He doesn't carry himself like a high school pitcher.''

In most cases, first-round draft picks out of high school end up signing pro contracts rather than going to college. Both Matt and Ed say that if the situation is right, Matt will do the same.

"A lot of it is money and that's always a factor,'' Matt said. "If the opportunity comes, I'd love to start now and have the chance to be 21 years old and pitching in a big-league ballpark.''

Now, the little kid who used to get dropped off at his father's practices after school gets advice from Boras, one of the most successful agents in sports. Matt met with Boras last summer in California for 4 1/2 hours and discussed a potential professional relationship if he does sign a contract in June.

The association is much like Boras' pre-draft affiliation with past top prospects, such as current Angels pitcher Jered Weaver, in 2004. As long as Boras does not handle Matt's expenses during visits, the connection does not violate his NCAA eligibility.

Once a player is drafted, teams have a year to sign him, unless the player enters, or returns, to a four-year college full time.

The connection with Boras, whose client list includes Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Barry Zito and Johnny Damon, has its obvious implications. Boras has a reputation as a tough negotiator and has been known to advise prospects to use a potential college career as leverage to generate a more lucrative contract. It has led some teams to stay away from drafting Boras-affiliated players.

Weaver is a more comparable prospect to Matt. In 2005, Boras helped Weaver, then at Long Beach State, to get a $4 million signing bonus after his first-round selection by the Angels nearly a year earlier as the 12th pick in 2004. Matt said that he would sign with Boras if he goes pro this summer.

But for now, Matt's goals are simple -- win Ed his fourth state championship. After that? Make

an impact in the major leagues.

"I want to get there,'' he said. ``And I want to stay for a long time.''

College football: Minuteman's Hour

Oct. 25, 2007

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

AMHERST, Mass. -- When a group of UMass football players was asked whether the victory over unranked Villanova in four overtimes on Oct. 13 was exciting or relieving, tailback Matt Lawrence was the first to answer.

"Exciting,'' said the fifth-year senior from Bloomfield as a wide grin stretched across his face.

The year has been just that for Lawrence, who transferred to UMass from UConn in 2005 after two seasons, only to meet more frustration at UMass. But this season, he has 797 yards and eight touchdowns for the Minutemen (6-1), ranked fourth in Division I-AA.

And on a perfectly crisp fall day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Lawrence was having a ball,

scoring two touchdowns in overtime to finally put away the Wildcats, 32-24 . Playing before 16,174, the Bloomfield kid seemed to finally be getting the collegiate glory he had waited so long for.

But it wasn't all fun and games at the start. After a standout career at Bloomfield High, where Lawrence won state championships in football and basketball, he went to Storrs with one thing in mind.

"I came in and wanted to start,'' Lawrence said. "When you come from Bloomfield, you have that type of attitude about football and about how you handle business. I came out and said, 'This is what I have to do, and I will be great.'''

Lawrence was a redshirt candidate in his freshman year before running back Terry Caulley sustained a season-ending knee injury at Virginia Tech on Sept. 27, 2003. Caulley had gained 607 yards and scored seven touchdowns before the injury. That left Lawrence and fellow freshman Cornell Brockington at running back. Brockington went on to gain 643 yards on 131 carries and score 10 touchdowns in 10 games. Lawrence had 150 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries in six games.

Caulley was still not ready to return in 2004 and Lawrence started the first two games, against Murray State and Duke. But Brockington started the final 10 and earned the Big East rushing crown (1,218 yards). In 10 games, Lawrence carried just 28 times.

Lawrence was frustrated.

"I wanted time for people to see who I was,'' he said.

Lawrence decided to leave UConn and chose UMass, which meant he would not have to sit out a season because he was going from I-A to I-AA.

"UMass seemed to be a good fit,'' Lawrence said. "They were a running school, and I just liked the whole outfit.''

Lawrence had once dreamed of playing at Ohio State, but now he was sacrificing the big stadiums, big crowds and television exposure.

"[Division I-A] was all that it was cracked up to be, but, shoot, it's not worth sitting on the bench and looking at 85,000 people without my helmet on,'' Lawrence said. "Football is football. I'll go out there and play in front of nobody.''

The move to UMass was somewhat curious, though. The Minutemen already had a standout tailback in Steve Baylark, also a junior, who led the Atlantic 10 in rushing in 2004. Lawrence expected to at least spell Baylark and use his blocking and return skills to get on the field as much as possible in the 2005 season.

But against Richmond on Sept. 1 -- on his first play from scrimmage -- Lawrence went down with a bone bruise and high ankle sprain on his right leg. After one carry, for 9 yards, he was redshirted.

"You only get to see him for one play,'' UMass coach Don Brown said, "and it makes you sick to your stomach.''

The advantage was that Lawrence was a year behind Baylark in eligibility when he came back.

"[The injury] was a blessing in disguise,'' Lawrence said.

Lawrence watched Baylark compile a third 1,000-yard season in 2005. It was obvious who would start at tailback the next season. So in 2006, as a junior, Lawrence happily adapted to being the team's fullback, blocking for Baylark and carrying only 34 times for 174 yards.

"He's a great teammate,'' Brown said. "He didn't even blink.''

Lawrence (6 feet 1, 210 pounds) helped spring Baylark to a fourth-straight 1,000-yard season.

The Minutemen finished as national runner-up, losing the I-AA title game 28-17 to Appalachian State. Lawrence scored the first touchdown.

After playing sidekick in 2006, and with all the injuries and disappointment behind him, Lawrence was primed and ready this season.

"You've got to wait your turn,'' Lawrence said. "Fifth year, and now I get to play tailback.''

The dedication paid off. In the first game, Lawrence ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Holy Cross. He had 122 yards against Colgate, 176 and three touchdowns against Maine, 106 against Villanova and 111 Saturday against Northeastern. He is fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (A-10 football was absorbed by the CAA this season) in rushing yards per game (113.9).

In addition to racking up yards, Lawrence has been collecting friends at UMass.

"He always has a smile on his face,'' Brown said. "He has the ability to uplift his teammates at practice. Anyone that's around him, you feel like you're infected with his personality.''

Finally, Lawrence is having the time of his life.

"It's a lot of fun,'' Lawrence said. "The most fun I could ever ask for.''

College basketball: Penders scores another turnaround

Jan. 15, 2008

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

They called him "Turnaround Tom" because of his reputation for building college basketball programs. Ten NCAA Tournament appearances with three schools will do that.

So it's no surprise, despite controversial endings at Texas and George Washington, that some school would reach out to Connecticut native Tom Penders.

Houston did in 2004, and now the Cougars are 11-3, showing signs they can get back into the national picture. Houston hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1992 and hasn't made it past the first round since its Final Four appearance in 1984. Penders has turned things by running his usual push-the-floor offense with a pressing defense to go 68-42 since taking over.

He has reached out to get players wherever he can. This season, seven transfers from junior college or other Division I programs are part of the puzzle. One of those is senior and leading scorer Robert McKiver, a New Haven native and former Hillhouse standout who comes to Houston by way of Providence College and San Jacinto Junior College in Texas.

Before Houston, Penders had been out of the game for three years, getting himself back into shape and working in TV after a second consecutive departure from a Division I school in April 2001.

He resigned three seasons into a six-year deal at George Washington when several players admitted to using assistant coach Tom Penders Jr.'s phone card to rack up $1,400 in calls.

Another incident involved transfer forward Attila Cosby, who was charged with nine misdemeanors in January 2001. Cosby showed Penders the court papers that February, but Penders failed to inform athletic director Jack Kvancz about the situation.

GW paid Penders for the full six seasons because of a contract clause. Penders had led the

Colonials to the NCAA Tournament in his first season (1998-99) but to 15-15 and 14-18 records the following two seasons.

He maintains he left primarily for health reasons. Still, it was the second time he left a high-profile school amid controversy. After 10 years in which he turned around the once-tepid Texas program, taking it to eight NCAA Tournaments, he resigned in April 1998. Penders left as Texas' all-time winningest coach, with 208 victories. The Longhorns won only 14 games and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in Penders' last season.

In March 1998, Penders placed freshman Luke Axtell on academic probation after the season. While Penders was on vacation in the Caribbean, Axtell's grades were faxed by assistant coach Eddie Oran to KVET, a radio station that covered Longhorns athletics. Oran later said he was prompted to do so by Penders. Also lingering was a report that four players complained to Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds about Penders' coaching style.

"All that was a smoke screen," Penders said. "At the time my AD and I weren't getting along. The whole thing about the grades was contrived. Since I've come out, that stuff about the player rebellion, three of the four players that complained said they were put up to it."

Texas bought out the final four years on his contract. A defamation suit filed by Oran against

Penders was later settled, and the university paid Penders $7,500 in legal bills and admitted he was part of no wrongdoing.

"They have to pay you unless you did something wrong," Penders said. "Texas tried to get out of

it but, sorry, there was nothing."

Back home the Penders family watched with concern.

"It was very stressful," said his brother, Jim Penders Jr., who has won four state titles as East Catholic's baseball coach since 1969. "No matter what you would say to try and refute things...There's a lot of jealousy when people have success."

The controversy and attention was a long way from where Penders began, in Stratford, where his father, Jim, was baseball coach at the high school in 1931-68, winning four state titles.

"In my hometown he was the most respected and revered figure," Tom Penders said. Tom was the middle son, between Jim and Bill. A sister, Kathy, completed Jim Sr. and Lillian Penders' family.

"Between Tom and I there is a big difference," Jim Jr. said laughing. "I'm quieter."

"When you have a dad that's so high profile, it keeps you out of trouble," Tom said. "And I was probably the most likely to get into trouble."

The boys were also quick observers of their father's coaching style.

"He would never give up on a kid unless a kid gave up on himself," Tom said. "He was a fundamentalist and a teacher and a very good psychologist with his players."

Tom played baseball and basketball at UConn and got his first college basketball head coaching job at Tufts in Medford, Mass., where he won 54 games in 1971-74, when he went to Columbia.

Then it was on to Fordham in 1978-86 and Rhode Island (1987-88). With the Rams, Penders reached the Sweet 16 in 1988, and that got him to Texas.

"When they hired me it was, 'Please get this thing turned around,' " he said. "They were the laughing stock of the [Southwest Conference]."

Penders delivered, but frustration with the athletic department began to develop. Penders said his basketball budget wasn't big enough and his assistants weren't paid enough for the level at which the program competed.

There were health issues, too. Before the 1997-98 season, Penders underwent heart surgery to have a pacemaker and defibrillator inserted. After leaving George Washington, he took three years off from coaching, concentrating on his health while making appearances on ESPN and Westwood One radio as an analyst.

But it wouldn't be long before the big-time came calling again. Houston AD Dave Maggard knew about Penders' coaching style.

"I'd seen his teams play," Maggard said. "I think we needed to have some exciting basketball."

And Maggard was also aware of Penders' rocky past. He spoke with everyone from Texas alums to the Texas assistant attorney general about the controversial coach.

"I knew about all that and looked into it," Maggard said. "I didn't feel that there was any liability in our hiring him."

This season Houston is toeing the brackets as a tournament bubble team - the Cougars beat Kentucky in December - and Penders is back in the spotlight. They all know him in Stratford, too, but the light shines differently there.

"When I go home, I'm just Jim Penders' middle son," Penders said. "And I like that."

High School football: High-ranking Colonel leaves coaching

March 20, 2008

By NICK CARBONI

The Hartford Courant

Bill Mignault called a team meeting in the Ledyard High School cafeteria on Wednesday. He wanted his players to know first.

Mignault told them he was retiring after 42 seasons as Colonels football coach, the only coach the program has had.

Mignault, 78, leaves after a championship season with 321 victories, the most in state history, 303 of them at Ledyard. His overall record was 321-130-5.

"I've been debating it," Mignault said Wednesday night. "I just think the timing is right. I'm not getting any younger, although I still feel good."

Under Mignault, Ledyard reached CIAC championship games eight times, winning in 1986, 1991, 1993 and 2007. In Ledyard's most recent championship, a 21-14 Class M victory over Berlin on Dec. 1, Mignault's grandson Marc, the Colonels' quarterback, caught the winning touchdown on a trick play with 9:19 remaining.

Mignault's 456th game would be his last.

"It was nice to win the last game," he said. "Every coach likes to win the last game."

Mignault was an old-school coach who stressed fundamentals, but as an opposing coach noted, Ledyard usually had a trick play ready.

"You could expect the unexpected," said Mike Emery, who faced Ledyard for 20 years as the coach at Montville and Fitch-Groton high schools.

Emery said he faced Mignault in the preseason jamboree and last game of most seasons.

"His teams were like night and day from the beginning to the end," Emery said. "He was so good fundamentally. It was fun coaching against him. It was a chess match that went on for years."

No replacement has been named for Mignault, who began teaching at Ledyard when the school opened in 1963. The varsity football program began in 1966. Mignault coached his sons Brian and Bill Jr., and grandsons B.K., Patrick and Marc. Brian and Bill Jr. became Ledyard assistants.

"Not many coaches get a chance to coach their own sons and have their sons come back as coaches," Mignault said, "and have a chance to coach their own grandsons."

When Mignault surpassed Trumbull's Jerry McDougall to take the lead in state coaching victories with 266 in 2001, B.K. connected on a touchdown pass with Patrick against Sport Sciences Academy of Hartford.

Mignault also credited his success to Pat Mignault, his wife of 55 years.

"She's given me direction and guidance," Mignault said.

Mignault was born in Dayville in 1929 and attended Killingly High School and UConn, where he played baseball and football. After serving in the Air Force, he was an assistant at Norwich Free Academy and the head coach at Waterford before taking over at Ledyard. He taught physical education at Ledyard until 1992. He also served as athletic director.

"We've had a lot of success over the years," Mignault said. "It's not just a result of me. It's great assistant coaches plus some wonderful kids to work with."

Hockey: Wolfpack Lose In Avery's Debut

By NICK CARBONI The Hartford Courant
February 15, 2009

Hockey bad boy Sean Avery returned to two of his passions Saturday night — skating and talking.In his first game in two months, Avery was quick to mix it up, but the Wolf Pack lost to the Manitoba Moose 4-1 at the XL Center. Avery even provided a bit of postgame entertainment.

Avery, a notorious agitator, found himself in the center of two scuffles in his highly anticipated debut, which drew 5,899 fans, 2,055 above the Wolf Pack's average attendance. Jason Krog, Guillaume Desbiens, Dusty Collins and Alexandre Bolduc scored for Manitoba. Dale Weise scored for Hartford.

Avery entered 1:43 into the first period, and was soon involved in a fracas behind the Manitoba net when cornered near the boards. Hartford's P.A. Parenteau and Jared Nightingale were quick to jump in and help, but things escalated with Avery.

"A couple of guys said something," said Avery, who played just under 20 minutes and had three shots on goal. "Nothing that I could probably repeat."With 2:26 remaining in the second period,

Avery joined a melee that broke out at the end boards. He wound up trading shoves with several Manitoba players. He then got into a long yapping match with Bolduc well after the whistle, and came away with a grin plastered across his face.

"I had a few comments," Avery admitted. "But nothing that was too drastic or something the old Sean would say."

Avery, 28, was suspended by the NHL in December for making an offensive statement regarding his ex-girlfriends dating other players. After completing league-ordered counseling, the Dallas Stars put him on waivers Feb. 7 and assigned him to the Wolf Pack on Monday. His likely destination is with the New York Rangers, who are looking for a spark down the stretch. Avery played for the Rangers for 1 1/2 seasons before signing with the Stars in July.

"I felt good," he said. "I was just happy that I was out there. It's fun to be around the guys again."

Although he slid around questions regarding his past comments in a brief, but cordial postgame press conference, Avery did offer one quip as he stood up to leave.

After being asked what hurt the most about his ordeal, Avery replied: "When a girlfriend dumps me."Smiling, he then added: "No, I feel good."

Related linksSean Avery And The Wolf Pack Photos

High School Basketball: E.O. Smith Faces Tall Order

By NICK CARBONI The Hartford Courant
March 7, 2009

The CIAC girls and boys basketball tournaments end with championships March 20-21. Along the way, we'll bring you slices of each. If you feel there is a unique story about your team, e-mail us at sports@courant.com.

STORRS — E.O. Smith coach Ron Pires offered a quick joke in regard to how his team will solve its next opponent."We're going to pray," he deadpanned, before quickly confirming that he was, in fact, teasing.It was all about getting serious in Storrs on Friday night, even on the heels of a 67-33 victory over Conard in a CIAC Class L play-in game. The Panthers now go on the road to play No. 1 Trinity Catholic-Stamford in a first-round game Tuesday.

The Crusaders (22-1) are five-time state champs, have produced a number of Division I players, including UConn's Craig Austrie, and currently display one of the state's best in 6-foot-7 senior Tevin Baskin.

It will certainly be difficult for E.O. Smith (12-11). But junior center Tyler Olander (24 points, 10 rebounds) says he's ready.

"We know that they're good," said Olander, who is 6-7. "We know they have Tevin Baskin. They'll try to push it. We'll have to control the boards."

Said guard Min Lin (six points, five assists): "We have to play our game."

Pires was optimistic about the Panthers' chances in Stamford, saying he's got a different team than the one that lost by a point in last year's semifinals.

"We've played teams that are comparable," Pires said. "It's not like we're going to be afraid of Trinity."