If social media, other public discourse and a few emails are used as evidence, there is glee pulsating throughout the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Big, bad Norwich Free Academy loses 49-0 in the state football finals? BWAH HAH HAH HAH.

Ledyard, which allegedly recruits more than the military, loses 37-7 in the state football finals? BWAH HAH HAH HAH.

Pathetic, really.

Because the purveyors of said glee have no idea whatsoever the joke is on them, too.

The ECC is a bad football conference.

And when its teams fail at the state level, the entire league looks like the JV. If that. Hard to fathom this nugget: The Constitution State Conference (mostly technical schools) and Pequot Football Conference (a Class S palooza), two of the most derided leagues in the state, have more state champions over the last six years than the ECC.

And people within this league chuckle at failure?

About as hilarious as a roof collapse.

Don't they realize they all bear some responsibility for such abject failure?

ECC coaches and athletic directors have become better versed in judging the shortcomings of their colleagues than realizing their own houses are in shambles. Oh, how they all love to sneer at the other guy's nonleague schedule, when their own isn't exactly filled with opponents who can block and chew gum at the same time.

Besides, the nonleague stuff is ghastly overrated. NFA could have played the Giants out of league and wouldn't have belonged on the field with Southington. Ledyard could have played Alabama three months ago in week one instead of RHAM. That would have somehow meant the execution inside the St. Joe's 20 would have been better?

The ECC can't function at the state level because the competition within the conference isn't good enough. One quality nonleague game might help. But if the league schedule is a bunch of bowsers, there's no chance ECC teams are prepared for the finals.

This is among the biggest advantages for the SCC and FCIAC. Their schools are challenged consistently through conference games. St. Joe's had Class L finalists Darien and New Canaan (among other quality teams) on the regular season schedule. Ledyard did not. Neither did NFA. And that blame gets shared. Most programs in the ECC aren't good enough.

Why do we suppose ECC basketball has produced at least one boys' or girls' state champion for the last six years? Quality competition within the league. NFA, New London, Bacon Academy, Montville, Ledyard, East Lyme, Stonington, Plainfield and Waterford girls have all been varying levels of decent. Same with the boys: Ledyard, New London, Waterford, Woodstock, Bacon, NFA. There are challenges dotted throughout the schedule.

Why is ECC baseball so good? Numerous programs provide consistent competition.

Not so much in football.

And yet rather than focusing on ways to improve - in that rising tide lifts all boats sort of way - the league is 15 coaches, 15 cabs and 50 ways to avoid playing anyone good.

How's that working so far?

The SCC and FCIAC are insufferable. But their espirit de corps is noteworthy. Their leagues are awash in festering rivalries, sure. But they're all rooting for each other at the end. They know success make everyone else look better.

Note: The SCC and FCIAC each have commissioners who help foster a sense of community. A village green. The ECC motto: "None for all and all for none."

ECC officials need to awaken quickly. Finger-pointing, bickering and ducking competition has the ECC behind the tech school league and the Pequot.

Coaches need to start working together. Talk X's and O's. Go to clinics. Create some competition throughout the league for conditioning, weightlifting and passing leagues. It might generate more interest.

Competition never made anything worse.

Or just keep doing what you've been doing.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius