Howdy,

Hey — it's snowing outside.

Middletown and Xavier, after spending 15 Thanksgiving Days together, announced their breakup Thursday, as reported by Gentleman Jim Bransfield of the Middletown Press.

Xavier owned the series. It had a 12-3 edge and won 12 of the last 13 games.

Middletown athletic director Michael Pitruzzello and Tony Jaskot, his Xavier counterpart, told Bransfield that the series didn't end because of the results. That's a little hard to believe when one team has beaten the other so many times, and then said series is discontinued, but, hey, que sera sera and all that jazz.

No one at Polecat HQ ever had the pleasure of attending any of the games, but we're nonetheless saddened to hear that the series went kaput because town rivalries are awesome.

We'd pitch a fit if, say, West Haven and Notre Dame of West Haven went splitsville.

Bransfield noted that Middletown v. Xavier was one of the state's top drawing cards. This year's game drew an estimated 6,000 to Andrus Field at Wesleyan. Football doesn't need to lose that kind of rivarly.

The most interesting item in Bransfield's story — Jaskot wants the Falcons to schedule a team from out-of-state. Jaskot has called St. John's of Shrewsbury, Mass. to see if it would like to hook 'em up.

Jaskot added that he'd like to play another Xaverian Brothers school, and that his "dream" is to arrange a two-year agreement to play Mount St. Joseph of Baltimore.

All that written, we'll miss seeing you on the Thanksgrabbing Day schedule, Middletown and Xavier.

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Arguably the biggest coaching vacancy was filled Thursday when Masuk hired David Brennan as its new el supremo, as reported by Sean Bowley of Hearst Inc.

Brennan had been a Ridgefield assistant coach the last nine seasons and has 26 years experience. He's in his eight year with the Monroe Public Schools and is a special education teacher this year.

There was one other hiring this week — Lewis Mills assistant Jose Santana was promoted to head coach, as reported by Pete Paguaga of the Torrington Register Citizen.

■ ■ ■ ■

It's nigh impossible for a story to go unreported nowadays. A 24-7 media, the Innernets, and the antisocial media poke their nose into everyone's business.

Twas amazing, then, to learn this week that East Haven coach Greg Volpe submitted his letter of resignation. A MONTH AGO.

Joe Joe Mor-el-lio of JRC Amalgamated reported the story Monday. A source also told him that Volpe emailed parents about his resignation around the time he tendered resignation, which would make it more amazing that it took so long for word to reach the press.

Volpe coached the Yellowjackets for five seasons.

East Haven is one of SIXTEEN coaching vacancies. The others are Abbott Tech, Avon, Branford, Bridgeport Central, Bunnell, Ellington/Somers, Fairfield Ludlowe, Fitch, Old Saybrook/Westbrook, Rockville, St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, Stamford, Torrington, Wilby, and Woodstock Academy.

Enjoy the snow. Remember to bend from the knees.

Vaya con dios….