Waterford

This is the story of resolve. Of toughness. Of adherence to principles in the face of heathens.

This is the story of Will Sutman.

Will, 8, is a survivor.

Take, for instance, how he survived Super Bowl Sunday in his house. It was not easy being among the other Sutmans of Waterford. Especially when you are Will, the house's lone fan of the football Giants.

Note to Will: Big Blue is here for you, brother.

Will's dad, Heston, the curriculum director for Old Saybrook schools (and former Stonington High great), likes the Steelers. His mom, Liz, the two-time state championship softball coach at Waterford High, like the Patriots. Brother Walker, 12, likes the Jets. Brother Payton, 10, like the Colts. Brother Brady, 4, likes the Pats, as he would with such a name.

"Colette Emery named him," Liz Sutman said, alluding to her friend and neighbor who has more Facebook posts about the Patriots than the Kraft family.

Then there's Will, who is used to being the lone voice in the wilderness. It's worse in the summer. Poor kid loves the Yankees in a house full of Red Sox fans.

More on that later.

This is how dad described Super Sunday:

"It was not enjoyable," Heston Sutman said one day last week, with the whole family gathered around the island in the kitchen, laughing at the memory. "Will was in our bed twice because he wanted to watch the game by himself. Walker and Payton got sent to their rooms."

"I don't really like the Giants," Payton said.

"Don't forget you pushed me," Will said.

Liz Sutman reported this was before an unnamed perpetrator ripped the Giants blanket off Will's bed.

Will has some, although not much, help within the family. Liz's dad, and brother, Matt, are partial to Big Blue. Will's brothers say he likes the Giants just to be different. Will begs to differ.

"No. 1," he said, "I like the Giants because my best friend, Mason Concasia, does. No. 2, I started to like the Pats, but when I got to know football more, I started to like the Giants."

He's a smarty, that Will Sutman.

When the game ended, Will reported that he danced. The family calls it "The Will," which looks suspiciously like the B.J. Raji dance from the State Farm commercials.

Will Sutman is now the proud owner of Super Bowl championship T-shirt, which he wore to school proudly on Friday.

And to think it's really not so bad during football season. In the summer with the Yanks and Sox? Oy.

"(Neighbor) Jim Romano gives Will a lot of Yankee stuff," Liz Sutman said. "That's the only way he can get it. We won't buy it."

Liz wrinkled her nose at the thought, as if a skunk just walked through the kitchen.

How does Will cope?

"Ignore them," he said.

He's a smarty, that Will Sutman.

It wasn't long until Brady Sutman emerged from another part of the house wearing a Blue Jays jersey. This is allowed. Uncle Pete Walker is a former Jays pitcher and the current bullpen coach. Will is not allowed pinstriped clothing in Uncle Pete's house either.

Tough crowd.

"The weird part," Heston said, "is that Liz and I aren't over the top sports fans. (The kids) are worse than we are."

The Sutmans are used to winning. The boys' all-star teams in various sports are been successful. Liz's softball teams won two straight state titles and 55 straight games at one point. But you'd have to lean toward young Will as the happiest guy in the house. His football team just won it all and his baseball team saves chicken and beer for postgame, not the middle of the game.

The blanket has been restored to Will's bed, as has the stuffed animal named Eli. It's back to normal for a while for the Sutmans of Waterford until the spring when mom's softball season begins and the Yanks play the Red Sox. Stay strong, Will. You have legions behind you.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.