The Guilford High School football team took a stand at the state Capitol building in Hartford on Sept. 9, when dozens of teams from across the state attended a rally in an effort to save the 2020 football season. The bottom line is that Guilford wants to play and, if it can’t take the field this fall, the team is hoping that the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) will explore options to compete during the spring.

“It meant a lot to be there,” said Aedan McDermott, Guilford’s senior captain quarterback. “The leaders from each team worked really hard setting the whole rally up. It took about 30 guys to organize the whole thing. Having the majority of the Guilford team show up proved how badly we want to have a season this year.”

On Sept. 3, the CIAC announced that football will not be played in its traditional 11-on-11 contact format this year, essentially canceling the season, based on adherence to the state’s Department of Health (DPH) guidelines due to COVID-19. The CIAC had previously stated that any sport that isn’t played in the fall will not played during the spring of 2021.

Guilford Head Coach Anthony Salvati attended the rally with his athletes in Hartford. Salvati, who spoke at the rally like McDermott, said it was important that his players displayed unity with their presence at the event.

“We got word from the CIAC that they were canceling 11-on-11 football. I think we are sending a message to the whole state by attending this rally,” said Salvati. “We understand the risks of playing, but we don’t understand the drastic measures that are currently being taken. We are not getting enough information to warrant this reaction from the CIAC.”

Coach Salvati pointed to the fact that several other states in the country are still playing football this fall. This includes states where the respective COVID infection numbers are much higher than the state of Connecticut. If football in the fall is not an option, Salvati wants the CIAC to reconsider spring.

“If you’re that nervous about the virus, then at least afford us the opportunity to play in the spring,” Salvati said. “We are sensitive to the fact that the COVID metrics are an issue. If you’re going to cancel now, it’s only fair to have a modified season in the spring.”

Since releasing its initial plan to potentially play the 2020 fall sports season, the CIAC has revised that plan several times and also put a brief pause on all fall sports activities, leaving many coaches and players frustrated. Above all, Coach Salvati, whose team is continuing to hold workouts, wants his seniors to have some semblance of a season.

“We are trying to do things the right way,” said Salvati. “I don’t want to make light of the situation, but we still have more questions than answers at this point.”

McDermott felt like the rally was a step in the right direction. He attended the rally with all the seniors on the team, including captains Ian Derda and Niko Tartagni, as well as fellow seniors Tristan Anderson, Evan Chapman, Jimmy Krupp, Joe Mirrione, Alex Mohrman, and Drew St. Denis.

McDermott believes that every team in attendance accomplished what it set out to do—start a conversation between Governor Ned Lamont, the CIAC, and the state’s DPH. The CIAC and the DPH did meet on Sept. 11, but there were no imminent changes that stemmed from the meeting.

“I feel that we accomplished almost step one of our goal, which was to put the message out there to Governor Lamont, the CIAC, and DPH. Our message should be clear by now that we want to play 11-versus-11 football,” McDermott said. “With a little over a 1,000 people that showed up, there was a strong message displayed. It proved that football is essential in the state of Connecticut.”

One alternative for the possibility of playing football this fall is to hold games in a 7-on-7 format, thereby eliminating the offensive and defensive lines on both sides of the ball. However, McDermott doesn’t believe that 7-on-7 is a feasible option.

“As a team, we feel that the suggested option of having a 7-versus-7 season would not be viable as the linemen would not get to participate,” said McDermott. “We will not go into the battle leaving the men in the trenches out to dry. It’s not something we are willing to sacrifice. I will not leave my brothers behind.”

While things may look bleak, Salvati and McDermott still believe that there will be some form of a tackle football season, whether it be during the fall or in the spring.

“I do expect there to be some sort of a season,” McDermott said. “There may not be fans, but I do believe games will be held, as we have a large number of prominent people helping us push forward through the process. I believe the leaders of Connecticut will come together and develop a plan that best suits the coaches’ and players’ safety, allowing us to have a season.”