2010 Holy Cross Football ~ Home of the Crusaders
*2009 Naugatuck Valley League Champions*
Road back to NVL Championship begins at Wilby
Holy Cross Football 2010 In continuing with our in-season study hall that runs from the first day of school until daylight savings time, we will be holding a study hall for our football players who are strictly weightlifting during the Winter Sports season. This is a mandatory study hall that must be attended and the football staff will be keeping tabs on the off-season academic progress in order to assure that academic eligibility does not become a problem with our student-athletes in the future. Requirements: Study Hall is mandatory to ALL football players who are not participating in a Winter Sport. There will be no exceptions for anyone on the team who has received two or more grades below 70 in any of their classes during any marking period. This will also keep the emphasis on academics in the off-season. During this time, appointments can also be set up for extra help with any of the teachers, make-up tests, etc. (NOTE: extra help, make-up test is the only reason a study hall can be missed and must be accompanied by a note from the supervising teacher).
The Crusaders will play their first 4 of 5 games on the road as they will host St. Paul in Week 2, and then are on the road against Ansonia, Torrington, and Woodland. The Crusaders will then play three straight at home against Crosby, Sacred Heart, and Kennedy before traveling to Naugatuck for the final away game and division game of the season. Holy Cross will host their 2nd home Thanksgiving Game this season against the Wolcott Eagles. The Crusaders knocked off the Eagles in 2008 during their first-ever home Thanksgiving Day Game 14-8, keeping the Eagles out of the Class SS State Playoffs.
The most significant change in the schedule will come playoff time. The CIAC has instituted a new playoff format beginning in 2010. The new format will cut down the divisions from six to four (LL, L, M, S) and allow four more teams into the playoffs instead of the usual four, making 32 teams playoff-eligible instead of 24 as it has been in recent years. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving (which was usually used as the Semi-Final date) will now be the Quarter-Final date with #8 @ #1, #7 @ #2, #6 @ #3, and #5 @ #4. The Semi-Final round will now be played on the Saturday that use to be Championship Saturday, which falls this year on December 4th, and the Championship Games will be a week later and fall on Saturday December 11th. The new format will allow for 4 more teams to make the playoffs in each Class, although the Classes will be cut down to four instead of six. There are many disputes and debates about the new format, but only time will tell what will happen and if the CIAC made a good decision. The Crusaders would like to make their own noise in this year's Playoff Picture, and it all begins on September 18th...
Mannetti has been given the recruiting duties in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. "Having an opportunity to coach football at the college level is something I have been actively pursuing, and to get that opportunity at Post University under Pete Ewald is exciting for both me and my family,” said Mannetti. “I firmly believe that we can continue to attract quality student-athletes to represent this University well both academically and athletically. Our Student-athletes will have the opportunity to play collegiate football at a high level against very prestigious programs. I know they, as well as I, will be ready for the challenge of competing at such a high level."
Leaving the Holy Cross Football Staff was not an easy decision, and Mannetti was sure to keep Head Football Coach Mike Giampteruzzi in the mix about everything going on. "Coach would come into my office everyday, call me on the weekend and ask me what was up?! and I would tell him status quo for the longest time because that's where I stood. I kept up my duties with the Off-Season program as if I wasn't leaving because that is what is expected" said Mannetti. "It's funny because I have been applying for a collegiate job for three-years now and I had only one true opportunity, and then this off-season I had two interviews right in a row. After speaking with my wife, the best family decision at this point was to stay local and take the OC job at Post."
The other interview was from Western New England College, as Coach Keith Emery was highly interested in Mannetti for the Offensive Line job. Mannetti said that the commute would be too much at this point with a young daughter at home and a son expected in May. "This was by no means an easy decision. I sat down with Mike Giampetruzzi numerous times and he said I should definitely pursue it and he, along with the entire Holy Cross community, has been extremely supportive. The one thing I will miss the most is the interaction with the kids during film sessions, practice and strength & conditioning sessions. They are the main reason you get up everyday to go to work, the kids that work hard for you both on and off the field." Mannetti will continue his position as Director of Operations at Holy Cross High School during the school day, and will then make the 2-mile trek to Post University every afternoon.
During Mannetti's tenure as Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Coordinator, he has helped guide seven different players to over 1,000-yards in a single season. The Crusaders appeared in two State Championship games, two NVL Championship Games, and three straight playoff appearances. His efforts as Offensive Line coach helped the Crusaders to the 2006 CIAC Class SS State Championship, a season in which the Offensive Line gave up only five sacks, and only nine from 2004-2006. The Crusaders also captured the NVL Championship this past season, Head Coach Mike Giampetruzzi's first season, with a 9-1 record, advancing to the CIAC Class SS Playoffs before being ousted by St. Joseph-Trumbull 56-7.
Holy Cross Head Coach Mike Giampetruzzi will take over the Offensive Line duties for the Crusaders, and he has promoted Wide-Receiver Coach Matt Smolley to Offensive Coordinator for the 2010 season. Smolley, who played under both Giampetruzzi and Mannetti, will fill in nicely after five years as the Wide Receiver Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Junior Varsity Team. Smolley has also called the bulk of the passing game over the past season for the Crusaders.
Off-Season Program
Time/Place: Study Hall will run three (3) days per week on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The Study Hall will take place from 1:35pm – 2:25pm in the Lecture Room. There will be an attendance book that will be kept and strictly enforced. When we return from Chrsitmas Break (Monday January 4th, 2010) we will begin weightlifting / conditioning four (4) days per week. We will lift Monday, Tuesday and Friday with a Study Hall prior to workouts at the usual time. Tuesday & Thursday will be used as conditioning/core training days (w/core lift) with emphasis on speed drills, footwork, timed wall squats, and box-drills. This schedule will run until the end of the Winter Sports Season and strength & conditioning will run through the Spring Sports Season.
Holy Cross Junior Receiver Matt Czapor will look to lead the Crusaders back to the NVL Championship and Class S Playoffs when they begin Pre-Season Camp on August 23rd. Czapor averaged 20 yards per catch last season with 3 touchdowns on 11 receptions. Holy Cross will open the season this year at Wilby on Saturday, September 18th, slated for a 1:30pm kickoff.
| New London Day Top 10 Poll ~ Week 13 | ||
Final State Coaches Poll
| ||
| 1 | ND-West Haven (10) | 11-1 |
| 2 | Cheshire (3) | 11-1 |
| 3 | Staples | 12-1 |
| 4 | New Canaan | 11-1 |
| 5 | Pomperaug | 12-1 |
| 6 | Bridgeport Central | 9-2 |
| 7 | St. Joseph-Trumbull | 10-2 |
| 8 | Xavier | 9-2 |
| 9 | Hyde-New Haven | 11-1 |
| 10 | Berlin | 10-2 |
Dropped out: New London (T4), Conard-West Hartford (7), and Simsbury (8)
Also Receiving Votes: Greenwich (7-3), 113 points; Glastonbury (9-2), 104; Simsbury (9-2), 102; New London (10-1), 84; Conard (10-1), 75; Montville (10-2), 51; East Lyme (10-2), 38; Masuk-Monroe (9-2), 30; Bethel (9-3), 26; Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (10-2), 25; Avon (10-1), 14; Holy Cross-Waterbury (9-2), 10; Bloomfield (9-2), 9; Ridgefield (9-1), 8.
| New Haven Register Top 10 ~ Week 13 | ||
Final State Media Poll
| ||
| 1 | ND-West Haven (19) | 11-1 |
| 2 | Cheshire (3) | 11-1 |
| 3 | Staples (2) | 12-1 |
| 4 | New Canaan | 11-1 |
| 5 | Pomperaug | 12-1 |
| 6 | Xavier | 9-2 |
| 7 | St. Joseph-Trumbull | 10-2 |
| 8 | Bridgeport Central | 9-2 |
| 9 | Hyde-New Haven | 11-1 |
| 10 | Berlin | 10-2 |
Dropped Out: New London (3), Glastonbury (6), Conard (8), and Simsbury (9)
Others Receiving Votes: Glastonbury (9-2), 244; New London (10-1), 179; Simsbury (9-2), 175; Conard (10-1), 165; Montville (10-2), 132; Greenwich (7-3), 103; Masuk (9-2), 63; Bethel (9-3) and East Lyme (10-2), 50; Ridgefield (9-1), 34; Avon (10-1), 30; Northwest Catholic (10-2), 20; Holy Cross-Waterbury (9-2) and St. Paul (8-3), 19; Shelton (7-3), 18; Bloomfield (9-2), 15; Hamden (7-3), 10; Ansonia (8-3) and Windsor (8-2), 8; Wolcott (8-2). 7.
| Previous Seasons: | |
| 1996 | 11-0 |
| 1997 | 7-4 |
| 1998 | 2-8 |
| 1999 | 9-1 |
| 2000 | 7-3 |
| 2001 | 4-6 |
| 2002 | 4-7 |
| 2003 | 5-6 |
| 2004 | 8-2 |
| 2005 | 9-1 |
| 2006 | 10-0 |
| 2007 | 7-3 |
| 2008 | 5-6 |
| 2009 | 9-1 |
Holy Cross Fight Song
(To the beat of Minnesota Rouser)
Go Crusaders, Go all the way
You can do it any old day
Show the others just how to play
For we are men and men of might
Fight, fight, fight, fight
Onward to victory!
*The Holy Cross Football Community would like to thank the efforts of Mr. Brian Beaulieu for all his work and dedication during the football season in providing the action photos you see on this website. Mr. Beaulieu is on the sidelines week in and week out dedicated in capturing the photos you see here. Thanks again for everything you do for the program and especially our players*