Stratford - And on the day the Eastern Connecticut Conference coulda been a contender ...The ECC's representatives in the state high school football finals got their assets handed to them.

The ECC's representatives in the state high school football finals got their assets handed to them.(Sigh.)

(Sigh.)You do realize what this means, do you not?

You do realize what this means, do you not?We'll have to sit quietly in our best, "Thank you, sir, may we have another?" while the yahoos from the other end of the state tell us that our football, by comparison, is the JV. Worse, they may have a point.

We'll have to sit quietly in our best, "Thank you, sir, may we have another?" while the yahoos from the other end of the state tell us that our football, by comparison, is the JV. Worse, they may have a point.More on that later.

More on that later.First, Montville and East Lyme should know that they just had very memorable, worthwhile seasons. They were both 10-2. They both got a chance to go home again, in the state semifinals, and left their fields for the final time with victories. They had inspiring senior classes whose legacies don't include mere victories, but the blueprint of offseason diligence that ensures playoff berths keep coming.

First, Montville and East Lyme should know that they just had very memorable, worthwhile seasons. They were both 10-2. They both got a chance to go home again, in the state semifinals, and left their fields for the final time with victories. They had inspiring senior classes whose legacies don't include mere victories, but the blueprint of offseason diligence that ensures playoff berths keep coming.Now on to the more odious portion of the program.

Now on to the more odious portion of the program.Saturday marked the final day of the decade for ECC schools in the state high school football playoffs. The ECC finished a combined 4-15 in state title games, including East Lyme's 28-0 loss to New Canaan and Montville's 14-3 loss to St. Joseph of Trumbull.

Saturday marked the final day of the decade for ECC schools in the state high school football playoffs. The ECC finished a combined 4-15 in state title games, including East Lyme's 28-0 loss to New Canaan and Montville's 14-3 loss to St. Joseph of Trumbull.Four wins, 15 losses, in 10 years. The winners: Fitch (2000), East Lyme (2003), Ledyard (2007), New London (2008).

Four wins, 15 losses, in 10 years. The winners: Fitch (2000), East Lyme (2003), Ledyard (2007), New London (2008).But of the 15 losses, nine games featured ECC schools scoring seven or fewer points. There were four shutouts. There were eight losses of at least 20 points.

But of the 15 losses, nine games featured ECC schools scoring seven or fewer points. There were four shutouts. There were eight losses of at least 20 points.That's terrible.

That's terrible.And not exactly numbers we can use to defend ourselves from the goobers who swear high school sports were invented somewhere around greater New Haven and points south.

And not exactly numbers we can use to defend ourselves from the goobers who swear high school sports were invented somewhere around greater New Haven and points south.Perhaps the 4-15 record was inevitable, given that perennial ECC contenders must face a number of league members that are overmatched because of low enrollment figures and bad coaching. It's created soft schedules and an unwitting unpreparedness for championship games against schools from outposts where league play is more competitive (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Southern Connecticut Conference).

Perhaps the 4-15 record was inevitable, given that perennial ECC contenders must face a number of league members that are overmatched because of low enrollment figures and bad coaching. It's created soft schedules and an unwitting unpreparedness for championship games against schools from outposts where league play is more competitive (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, Southern Connecticut Conference).Happily, the new state playoff format could help ECC schools, if they're willing to capitalize.

Happily, the new state playoff format could help ECC schools, if they're willing to capitalize.Next season, eight more schools will qualify for the playoffs, increasing the number from 24 to 32. That means many, many more two- and three-loss teams will qualify. It also means that coaches, especially in the ECC, can schedule more competitive nonconference games.

Next season, eight more schools will qualify for the playoffs, increasing the number from 24 to 32. That means many, many more two- and three-loss teams will qualify. It also means that coaches, especially in the ECC, can schedule more competitive nonconference games.Competitive nonconference games expose warts that can be managed by the time championship Saturday arrives.

Competitive nonconference games expose warts that can be managed by the time championship Saturday arrives.But will they schedule better games?

But will they schedule better games?Many ECC coaches, fearing that quality nonleague opponents could produce losses and imperil potential playoff berths, love to find every bowser the state can offer. This Tech, that Tech, Hartford Sports Sciences, blah, blah, blah. Padding the win column helps schools make the playoffs. But it's also a death wish by the time the finals arrive. Can this Tech, that Tech and a few ECC dogs really prepare you for Ansonia or New Canaan?

Many ECC coaches, fearing that quality nonleague opponents could produce losses and imperil potential playoff berths, love to find every bowser the state can offer. This Tech, that Tech, Hartford Sports Sciences, blah, blah, blah. Padding the win column helps schools make the playoffs. But it's also a death wish by the time the finals arrive. Can this Tech, that Tech and a few ECC dogs really prepare you for Ansonia or New Canaan?There are schools in the FCIAC and the SCC that will look for nonleague games next season. ECC schools need to volunteer. The 4-15 record in the finals is evidence enough that the ECC doesn't toughen up its best teams with much consistency.

There are schools in the FCIAC and the SCC that will look for nonleague games next season. ECC schools need to volunteer. The 4-15 record in the finals is evidence enough that the ECC doesn't toughen up its best teams with much consistency.ECC coaches might hate reading this. They might hate having to forgo Something Tech for a real game next year. But they really have no choice if they want to prepare their players for the finals.

ECC coaches might hate reading this. They might hate having to forgo Something Tech for a real game next year. But they really have no choice if they want to prepare their players for the finals.Nobody sees a more thorough cross section of state high school football than our own Ned Griffen, who has landed his own gig at Channel 3 ("What Ned Said"). Ned has said for years that the FCIAC and SCC are the best leagues in Connecticut because of more consistent competition.

Nobody sees a more thorough cross section of state high school football than our own Ned Griffen, who has landed his own gig at Channel 3 ("What Ned Said"). Ned has said for years that the FCIAC and SCC are the best leagues in Connecticut because of more consistent competition.That's not going to happen in the ECC.

That's not going to happen in the ECC.So the coaches should try Plan B.

So the coaches should try Plan B.And with the more friendly path to the playoffs next season, there's really no alternative.

And with the more friendly path to the playoffs next season, there's really no alternative.Unless they want 2010-19 to produce another 15 losses.

Unless they want 2010-19 to produce another 15 losses.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.