September 8, 2025 • 24 mins
On this episode of the CIAC Glory Days Podcast, host Jada Mirabelle is joined by Killingly Football, the reigning CIAC Class SS State Champions! Head Coach Chad Neal and standout players Quinn Sumner and Ryan Webster share their championship journey, team culture, and their goals for the season. Don’t miss this inside look at one of CIAC’s football powerhouse programs!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to CIAC's Glory Days podcast.
I'm your host, jada Maribel,and today I'm joined by
Killingly Football, the reigningclass SSCIAC state champions.
I'm joined by Quinn Sumner,ryan Webster and head coach Chad
Neal.
Thank you for joining me today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning.
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of course.
So, coach, we're going to startoff with your coaching strategy
.
You've been leading the teamnow for nearly 20 years.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
So tell me what are the core values that you
implement and what did you focuson last season to bring them to
that championship win?
Yeah, so our main value isabout caring.
I think that's, you know,encompasses a lot, but I feel
like you know if you care abouteach other, you know and it
starts with the players andcoaches you care about
everything you do within aschool and community.
That's important.
I always it's cliche we alwayssay family.
(00:52):
So what does family mean toeverybody?
It could mean somethingdifferent for everybody, but for
us it's having each other'sbacks, understanding where we
all come from, understanding ourdifferences.
Every player may have somethinggoing on in their lives and I
think if you care about oneanother and you're going into a
(01:13):
game, you're going to have eachother's back.
More than that, I think, really, that value of caring is
important in our program.
That's so important.
What an asset to have whenyou're out there on the field
with that family bond and thatbrotherhood is important in our
program.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, that's so important.
What an asset to have whenyou're out there on the field
with that family bond and thatbrotherhood yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And our own families are involved.
I know my family's involved,but our players' families are
involved, whether it's teamdinners or long bus rides home
and preparing food.
But again, it's high schoolathletics and you want to give
the kids the best four yearspossible and we want to teach
them.
Also.
It's not just about football,it's about in the school, the
(01:53):
staff, the teachers, thecustodians, the lunch ladies.
They all play a part in oursuccess and, again, the
community and giving back to ourcommunity.
So there's a lot that goes intowhat caring is.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, that's a great perspective to have.
It always seems that you have avery strong community following
around Killingly football.
At the championship and eventhrough the regular season games
, it always seems like peopleshow up and really support the
team.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
They really do.
You pull into our parking loton a Friday night, they're
already there getting ready.
You see it on the road games.
It's pretty special andobviously I think one of the
coolest things is when theseguys walk up the hill, win or
lose at the end of a game.
The fans are waiting for them,kind of in a gauntlet, welcoming
them and congratulating them oror just being there for them.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, that must be awesome to feel that support,
win or lose.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
All right.
So, heading into last season,did you guys have a feeling that
you had that championshipwinning potential, or did the
confidence build throughout theseason?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Definitely built, I think, like we knew we were
going to be good.
Like we knew like we hadAnthony was a big leader last
year for us and he kind of ledus to state championship.
But through the year wedefinitely just started gaining
confidence and got better andbetter and better and, like
Coach Neal said, that caringaspect and we all just became
tight.
The previous season, theoffseason, the preseason, before
that, we had a very young year.
(03:12):
We were a lot of sophomores, alot of sophomore juniors, and
coming back we just startedbuilding and building and
building.
We got better and better as itwent on.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
You guys have had a good run since 2017.
I mean, you've had what?
Six state championshipappearances.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, we have, and it's a tribute to these guys.
You know it's a player's game,you know, and they hold each
other accountable.
They work hard, not just duringthe season but in the offseason
, and you know you can't dowithout players that really buy
in.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It comes down to that discipline.
So that championship matchupagainst Sheehan, that was an
intense game.
I'm sure it was stressful toplay in and coach, but it was
fun to watch on the outside.
But it was just back and forththe entire time and at the end
of the third quarter you were upby just one point 34 to 33.
So what was that switch?
What was that mentality toultimately take the lead and win
48 to 33?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, staying ahead, obviously, but you know it
really is going to come down towho could make one stop in the
game and then maybe who has theball last to get that last score
.
And you know it was a back andforth and forth and you know
we're fortunately we, we causedthat turnover um going in around
(04:28):
the eight yard line and we gotthe ball back and we drove to
midfield and we had a fourth andfourth and one and we broke it
and that's, that's at that pointwhere we knew we were, we were
going to seal the deal and, um,it really just came down to that
, that that game could have been, um, anybody's ball game just
go play-by-play, Yepplay-by-play it does.
It comes down to one stop.
(04:49):
Can you make a stop?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
What were you saying to one another to keep that
focus and that energy?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Well, Gwen.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I feel like we were trying to stay together and not
really panic with the situation,having such a close game and
kind of from like together andlike not really panic with the
situation.
Having it was like such a closegame and kind of from like an
offensive perspective, more ofjust trying to take care of the
ball and kind of just like no,like uh, dumb penalties or like
turnovers, so that we could justkind of keep driving down the
field and like run some clock alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, I think one of the keys is how we practice um
putting these guys in situationsof being uncomfortable, uh
pressure, so when it does cometo the game game time they can
expect you know, it'll be easierfor them to be uncomfortable
and be comfortable beinguncomfortable.
I guess you could say and um,you know these guys have been in
(05:40):
situations throughout theseason that put them there.
We were down two touchdowns tonew london um late in the game
and came back there.
We were down two touchdowns toNew London late in the game and
came back and won.
We were down the Sheehanactually in week three and came
back and won that game.
So they've been in situationslike that before and I think
that experience was important.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, that definitely helps you, give you an edge in
those moments.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Do?
You guys have intense practicesthroughout the season?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I would say, yeah, we have more intense days than
others, depending on the day,but yeah, we definitely.
He throws in a lot of differentstuff every day so we get a
little bit of a taste ofsomething different.
And just preparing for everygame every week, Everybody's got
different plays, differentthings so we're preparing for
something different every week.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, everybody's got different plays, different
things, so you're preparing forsomething different every week.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
It helps keep you well-rounded as a player.
I was reading about the barnlast night, oh the barn.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
yeah, Does that help give you a little bit of an
extra advantage?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, definitely.
It's like you're training aweapon almost for you to use.
So you know how much you everput in in the offseason is
really what you get out of itduring the season.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So it just helps you a lot for sure If you could see
these guys come in as freshmenand where they are now.
I think that you look at thebottom.
I mean Quinn.
Now you know he's been to somecamps and people ask him he's
the defensive end, what position?
And stuff like that, and he's aquarterback.
But you know that is the secretto success.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, it really helps .
Set you apart.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
So what other traditions or culture within
Killingly football do you thinkcontributes most to the success
of the program?
Speaker 4 (07:13):
We have like team dinners every Thursday and I
think that helps, like just sothat every player and like coach
know that like we're all therefor each other and that we're
like a family basically, andjust so that like everyone has
each other's back, basically.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, that team chemistry is very important.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I would say these guys too, as we talk about
the caring aspect is they eachshare kind of their stories,
their whys to learn about oneanother.
And that's the coaches also.
Where it's okay to bevulnerable sometimes, and I
think that's something that'simportant, especially in
adolescence, is you know it'sokay Every day is not going to
(07:53):
be great, right, like everypractice is not going to be
great.
There's a lot going on in ourplayers' lives.
So you know it's okay tounderstand that we're going to
be there for each other, thateverybody's going through
something different.
And when you don't knoweverybody's background, so when
you know our players come in andthey're able to share their
(08:16):
lives and you get to understandeach other differently and you
become a tighter builds thatculture of a caring again and,
um, yeah, I think that'simportant and I know, with these
guys, you know the culture ofthe program.
Everybody talks about cultureand that's you know, your good
team culture and that helpsbuild that culture.
I really, really believe thatyou know we have different
traditions.
Practice is different each day.
They know that.
They know Saturday morningsafter Friday night, they've got
(08:38):
to be there at 730.
They're going to run, they'regoing to lift, we're going to
have film, but we're going tohave fun, we're going to laugh,
we're going to bust chops.
So all those things you know,combined into one, is important
in a football program, in anyteam for that matter.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, that's so powerful to know that, no matter
what you guys have each otheron the team, you have each
other's backs.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I think that's key because you know and you just
talked about, when you get to asituation you have a one-point
lead in the fourth quarter, youknow you've got to count on each
other.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yes, yeah, you know you got to count on each other.
Yes, yeah, and you have to havethat team chemistry to know
everyone's going to be who youcan count on for what, and you
got to trust one another.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You know, these guys got to trust me, I got to trust
them and, um, you have thattrust.
It's, it's pretty special yeah,absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
how do you and the team try to handle setbacks?
I know last season wasundefeated season, but even in
games and moments where you knowyou have to work through that
together, how do you handlethose?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Honestly, just keeping your head high.
Make sure, like the leadershipcouncil we have and we all kind
of work together, keep the otherguys high, keep the sideline
the energy, high Energy justtransfers over from the sideline
to the field.
So when everybody else has goodenergy it just transfers over
like a trend effect, dominoeffect.
Everybody has good energy andthat's what kind of lifts the
(09:52):
team back up, like from sheehangoing into half, come back out
of the half.
That was definitely one ofthose moments where it was like
the energy, we got the energy upand we just kept pushing
through it yeah, the positivething can keep the momentum
going.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
So what are some of the takeaways that you have all
gotten from high school footballand high school sports that
have helped shape who you areoff the field as well?
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I think it kind of makes you like realize that you
can't always like do, like whatyou want to do, but sometimes
it's what you have to do andlike you have like
responsibilities in the realworld.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, that discipline and that's such an important
life skill.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, you have something bigger than yourself.
You have the team to look at,like you always represent a team
when you wear the shirt.
You're representing somethingbigger than yourself.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It's the name on the front, and on the back right.
So how do each of you preparementally and physically for a
game?
How do you get into the winningmindset?
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Mentally, definitely.
We have a pregame routine,definitely the school day we
start off.
You know, bring our jerseys,everybody shows up on time.
You're wearing your jerseys andthen after school gets out, you
do whatever.
You come back, we do ourpregame music, we do all that.
We have a specific pregameroutine that we go through.
I think that just all builds upto the moment when you walk
(11:02):
down that hill and then thetunnel and the smoke, and by
then you're all ant up and readyto go.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You've got the energy going.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
What's the pregame routine?
Routine, if you don't mindsharing.
So he comes out with a pregamelike schedule and we just go
through, like the offensedefense special teams, all that
type of thing.
So but playing music in the inthe locker room before games and
taping up and it's all goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, it's quite the quite the music too.
Like coach has to go in thereand turn it down once in a while
.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
What are you guys playing in there?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
It's his music usually.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
It used to be our Anthony's music and all that,
but it'll change.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
You're on aux now, so that's a big job.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
One thing I do like about these guys is there's a
lot of 80s hairband music.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
That's what gets you amped up.
It's not bad can't complainabout that.
No, so in the off season, asindividual athletes, what does
training look like for you tokeep conditioned for the
upcoming season?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
uh, it's four days a week in that barn, like the
story has been told many times.
But, um, yeah, in the barn it'sa squat, bench, deadlift type
of thing and it's just buildingyour strength, gaining weight.
Our coach kaffrey is very good,uh, keeping us getting weight
and, um, you know, his rule ofthumb is one or two pounds a
week.
Really, no matter what size youare, if you're unless you're
(12:20):
like a lineman, you're a littlebigger you can still deal with
that.
But, um, yeah, the barndefinitely helps, helps you gain
weight game, gain you, uh,strength and power that's
awesome advantage to have youhave a similar routine, do you?
Speaker 4 (12:32):
just yeah, I go bond usually four days a week and
then I go to like a QB velocityit's a quarterback trainer and I
like bringing some my receiversdown in the field and throw.
Sometimes that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, really honing on those skills.
So, coach, how do you think thenew CIAC rule allowing for
teams to practice two days aweek for two hours per session
helps to benefit your team?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, it's a good question.
So for us, this summer is alittle bit different.
Last year these guys werecoming still pretty young and
experienced, so they got a lotof reps in the summer.
This year we have a lot comingback and we really looked at it.
Okay, what can we do?
As a coach, you're alwayslooking a year ahead of the
(13:12):
future.
So we have a lot of guys thatwere new last year.
But we're behind these guyswith everybody coming back.
So we we really turned our focuson to those players who may not
have the experience, um, thatsome of these guys have and, uh,
really focused on them and Ithink it was very beneficial to
have that time with them, um.
The other thing, obviously, isbeing able to, you know, use one
of those nights in passingleague.
(13:33):
So we were able to coach theseguys, the skilled players, in
passing league one night a week.
So, you know, I think it isgreat for all sports, for us,
because now we're able to havethat interaction with them and
not to say, don't want anybodyelse, but they're being taught
(13:54):
the right things that we wantthem to be taught.
In the same breath.
We're certified to coach.
We've been through the training.
You're looking at that aspectalso, the mental and health
well-being of them.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It really helps you get that head start ahead of the
season.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
It does, it does.
It's a good kickoff to it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
So, as you had mentioned, you had a very
junior-dominated team last year.
It's very young.
Do you have any changes to theO-line or D-line this year,
heading into the season?
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I don't think we have many huge changes.
I think definitely, like, likeyou said, we're going to be
trying to implement the more thelittle guys, more younger guys,
more, try and leave less of agap.
As a senior class, I thinkwe're going to work collectively
to kind of get those guys inand teach them your position so
there's just less of a gap nextyear for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So how are you two going to help lead the team this
season?
Is there anything you're goingto change from last season or
anything you want to improveupon as leaders?
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I would say kind of something like the same, like
core values, but also kind ofjust like More like leading like
the younger guys and the kindof show them the path to be
successful in high school, likefootball, but then also kind of
knowing that as Like I would say, all of our seniors this year
are gonna lead together, so it'seasier on like instead of just
(15:12):
one of like a couple of ushaving to lead, I would say a
majority of us would be leading,so it's gonna be pretty easier
yeah, kind of like a lead byexample type thing, yeah, and
that goes such a long way itdoes, and these guys do a great
job, not just on the footballfield but um in the classroom,
in the school, but in thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
We are very involved in our community year-round,
whether it's volunteering atevents, in downtown food drives,
you name it.
These guys youth football,doing chains for that.
So it's very important thatthey're out there, because the
town does a lot for us.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, that's so important to show what Killinley
football represents off thefield as well.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
It is, it is and again it goes back to that
culture and those values andcaring.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Absolutely so.
Who do you think your toughestmatchup this season is going to
be?
I know we you open with a bigone with Bishop Hendrickson.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Bishop Hendrickson right now.
Then after Bishop Hendrickson,week two would be East Lyme, and
then, after East Lyme, it'sgoing to be week three.
Week by week, week by week, andI know we don't want to get too
far ahead of ourselves withthat.
So that's kind of been IMOsince I've been there.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, that's a smart way to think about it.
Do you have any games circledthat you're most looking forward
to or any big rivalries in theschedule?
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Personally definitely Bishop Henshin, because I know
it's a good game.
They're going to give us a runfor our money and I like games
like that, where it's tough andit's going to be tough to
prepare but we're going to beready.
But personally, I actually camefrom Grizzled, so I think
Grizzled's going to be a goodgame for me and a couple other
of my friends.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, that helps raise the bar when you're
playing those tough schools inthe BNC.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Get you ready.
Do you have any?
You're excited?
Uh, I agree with bishophendrickson.
And then I usually like ourthanksgiving day game because
especially at uh our school,because the hill, hill and like
all around, like the whole thingkind of gives that like bowl
kind of experience, it's prettynice.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, that must be packed on that day it is yeah,
imagine, yeah plus it's amorning game, so that's you
don't usually play those morninggames, so especially if it's a
nice day, it's it's pretty coolyeah, that's.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's awesome.
That's a great memory to haveeven thanksgiving games years
later.
So if you had to choose onemotto or mantra heading into the
next season, what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think we're gonna stick with the same thing as run
people over.
I think it's what it's alwaysbeen.
I think it's gonna.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We're gonna stick to that was that last season's, or
has that always been the mottoof the team?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I think it's been since 2017 or so Yep 2017.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
We can't change it.
Yeah, whatever works.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So, as the current reigning Class WS champions, if
you had to share a piece ofadvice to fellow athletes and
coaches, what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:45):
You kind of got to live the game.
You got to like it a lot.
It's kind of almost got to beyour life.
You got to do it every day anddo it over and over and over
again and you got to like it.
You got to like what you do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, that's very true.
You have to make everything youdo to be great at something.
Have fun.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
One question you asked earlier setbacks.
One of my favorite shows inlast year I think I watched was
that Ted Lasso and the goldfish.
You know 11 seconds.
There's a lot of plays infootball, a lot of things in
practice.
It's going to pass, lookforward to it.
But again, have fun.
I mean you only have four years.
Have fun doing it.
Make it challenging, make it,with some discipline, dependable
(18:31):
, teach those skills.
But again, you know, have fundoing it.
You know we're together all thetime, so you're going to be
around these guys more thanyou're around their families.
Have fun doing it.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, it's a great time to develop, but that's
really what it comes down to isto make sure you're having fun
and enjoying it.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Clint, do you have any advice for athletes?
I would just say show up andlike show up every day and
you're going to face someadversity, but as long as you
keep like working hard and likegetting after it, things will
most likely work out yeah justgive it 100% and always put in
the work.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's a good answer.
All right, so now we're goingto head into some rapid
questions.
These are a surprise.
They're fun, so whatever comesto your mind first is the answer
Be careful.
It's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
All right, Quinn favorite quarterback of all time
.
He's a Jets fan.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
This is tough.
Oh, that is tough, uh-oh.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I'll go with Justin Fields for now.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Okay, ryan, best football movie, waterboy.
That's unique, coach.
One word to describe the teamTogether Good one.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Quinn pregame hype song.
I don't even know.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
I was going to say I should have asked him.
I didn't know.
He was on Hawks.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I'm going to go with Finito.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
I don't even know what that is.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
That is Finito, no clue.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
All right, Ryan, turf or grass.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
That's tough.
That's really good grass.
I'd rather play in grass Really.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Yeah, coach, favorite team tradition Coming up the
hill after a game.
Quinn any pregame superstitions.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I tie my cleats a couple times to make sure
they're tight, because I getworried that they're going to
get like untied yeah you've gotto make sure they're secure,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
If not, his mom will make sure.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
All right, ryan, if you could be in the O-line or
D-line of any NFL team, whichteam would it be?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Ooh, D-line of a Cowboy, so I could play with
Micah Parsons.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
All right, that's good Coach football role model.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Whew, good question.
I'd probably say my high schoolcoach, joe Humphrey.
He instilled a lot of values inme and his positivity that
would probably be it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Yeah, it must have been a huge impact.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Yeah, it really shaped me into what I wanted to
do.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
do wow, quinn favorite football memory um, I
also probably last year, when Istayed championship with all
like my best friends yeah, Ican't beat that yeah ryan.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
One song, you know all the words to finito uh
probably everlong by foofighters okay, that's a good one
.
Yeah, coach, what's your maingoal for this season?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
to be one and out of this week, each week.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Um, that would be the goal I like that, just take a
week by week by week all right.
So lastly, on the podcast, wealways like to wrap up by asking
what do you think the purposeof high school sports is?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
we always like to wrap up by asking what do you
think the purpose of high schoolsports is?
Um, definitely sounds kind ofcliche, but become a better man,
become better, you know,husband or whatever.
Um definitely helps you in life.
Football especially I think cgoskills is a long season and uh,
it's mentally and physicallytough.
It's.
It's one of the physically oneof the most tough sports.
Wrestling probably has it alittle bit.
(22:08):
Definitely it's physically andmentally tough on you through
this whole season.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
That's an awesome answer though.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Prepares you for a job, being an employee or
whatever.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Is you ready for?
Speaker 2 (22:18):
life.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Yeah, you want to go, Quinn, I'll go.
All right, I would say, I teachyou life lessons that you kind
of take beyond high school andcollege and like kind of bring
like with you for your wholelife, definitely.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
So there's nothing better.
So, as a coach, you see themcome in as freshmen, see how
they grow when they leave you.
But for me, I feel when you seea player years down the road
and see how successful they areand they come back and some of
those values that they have, isgreat.
And again, our job is toprepare them they said it to be
(22:56):
successful and teach them thoseskills that are going to allow
them to someday have a great job, to be, as Ryan said, a great
dad, a great husband, a greatson, all of a sudden go a great
mom or whatever, because we dohave females on our team too in
the past.
So I think there's more to itthan just the wins and losses.
If they can come out of thefour years and we want them to
(23:18):
have the best four years oftheir life.
We were just riding up here andRyan said I can't believe how
fast the season's coming.
I said you think it's fast now?
Wait until Thanksgiving isgoing to be here before you know
it's going to fly by.
So make the best moment, excuseme.
Make the time, each moment, thebest for the next four years,
or each game, week by week, dayby day.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
And that must be so rewarding to see years later
when the Valley's really stuckwith them.
It is, you see, how theydeveloped.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
It really is, and you see them get married and you go
to their weddings and playerslike that and you hope you play
just a little bit of a part inthat.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Mm-hmm.
Oh, absolutely, that's whatit's all about.
It's a big part of sports.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, thank you so much for joining me on the
podcast today.
You guys did awesome.
Of course, I wish you the bestof luck.
This what's up Us too.
Welcome to CIAC's Glory Days podcast.
I'm your host, jada Maribel,and today I'm joined by
Killingly Football, the reigningclass SSCIAC state champions.
I'm joined by Quinn Sumner,ryan Webster and head coach Chad
Neal.
Thank you for joining me today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning.
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of course.
So, coach, we're going to startoff with your coaching strategy
.
You've been leading the teamnow for nearly 20 years.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
So tell me what are the core values that you
implement and what did you focuson last season to bring them to
that championship win?
Yeah, so our main value isabout caring.
I think that's, you know,encompasses a lot, but I feel
like you know if you care abouteach other, you know and it
starts with the players andcoaches you care about
everything you do within aschool and community.
That's important.
I always it's cliche we alwayssay family.
(00:52):
So what does family mean toeverybody?
It could mean somethingdifferent for everybody, but for
us it's having each other'sbacks, understanding where we
all come from, understanding ourdifferences.
Every player may have somethinggoing on in their lives and I
think if you care about oneanother and you're going into a
(01:13):
game, you're going to have eachother's back.
More than that, I think, really, that value of caring is
important in our program.
That's so important.
What an asset to have whenyou're out there on the field
with that family bond and thatbrotherhood is important in our
program.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, that's so important.
What an asset to have whenyou're out there on the field
with that family bond and thatbrotherhood yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And our own families are involved.
I know my family's involved,but our players' families are
involved, whether it's teamdinners or long bus rides home
and preparing food.
But again, it's high schoolathletics and you want to give
the kids the best four yearspossible and we want to teach
them.
Also.
It's not just about football,it's about in the school, the
(01:53):
staff, the teachers, thecustodians, the lunch ladies.
They all play a part in oursuccess and, again, the
community and giving back to ourcommunity.
So there's a lot that goes intowhat caring is.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, that's a great perspective to have.
It always seems that you have avery strong community following
around Killingly football.
At the championship and eventhrough the regular season games
, it always seems like peopleshow up and really support the
team.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
They really do.
You pull into our parking loton a Friday night, they're
already there getting ready.
You see it on the road games.
It's pretty special andobviously I think one of the
coolest things is when theseguys walk up the hill, win or
lose at the end of a game.
The fans are waiting for them,kind of in a gauntlet, welcoming
them and congratulating them oror just being there for them.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, that must be awesome to feel that support,
win or lose.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
All right.
So, heading into last season,did you guys have a feeling that
you had that championshipwinning potential, or did the
confidence build throughout theseason?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Definitely built, I think, like we knew we were
going to be good.
Like we knew like we hadAnthony was a big leader last
year for us and he kind of ledus to state championship.
But through the year wedefinitely just started gaining
confidence and got better andbetter and better and, like
Coach Neal said, that caringaspect and we all just became
tight.
The previous season, theoffseason, the preseason, before
that, we had a very young year.
(03:12):
We were a lot of sophomores, alot of sophomore juniors, and
coming back we just startedbuilding and building and
building.
We got better and better as itwent on.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
You guys have had a good run since 2017.
I mean, you've had what?
Six state championshipappearances.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, we have, and it's a tribute to these guys.
You know it's a player's game,you know, and they hold each
other accountable.
They work hard, not just duringthe season but in the offseason
, and you know you can't dowithout players that really buy
in.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It comes down to that discipline.
So that championship matchupagainst Sheehan, that was an
intense game.
I'm sure it was stressful toplay in and coach, but it was
fun to watch on the outside.
But it was just back and forththe entire time and at the end
of the third quarter you were upby just one point 34 to 33.
So what was that switch?
What was that mentality toultimately take the lead and win
48 to 33?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, staying ahead, obviously, but you know it
really is going to come down towho could make one stop in the
game and then maybe who has theball last to get that last score
.
And you know it was a back andforth and forth and you know
we're fortunately we, we causedthat turnover um going in around
(04:28):
the eight yard line and we gotthe ball back and we drove to
midfield and we had a fourth andfourth and one and we broke it
and that's, that's at that pointwhere we knew we were, we were
going to seal the deal and, um,it really just came down to that
, that that game could have been, um, anybody's ball game just
go play-by-play, Yepplay-by-play it does.
It comes down to one stop.
(04:49):
Can you make a stop?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
What were you saying to one another to keep that
focus and that energy?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Well, Gwen.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I feel like we were trying to stay together and not
really panic with the situation,having such a close game and
kind of from like together andlike not really panic with the
situation.
Having it was like such a closegame and kind of from like an
offensive perspective, more ofjust trying to take care of the
ball and kind of just like no,like uh, dumb penalties or like
turnovers, so that we could justkind of keep driving down the
field and like run some clock alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, I think one of the keys is how we practice um
putting these guys in situationsof being uncomfortable, uh
pressure, so when it does cometo the game game time they can
expect you know, it'll be easierfor them to be uncomfortable
and be comfortable beinguncomfortable.
I guess you could say and um,you know these guys have been in
(05:40):
situations throughout theseason that put them there.
We were down two touchdowns tonew london um late in the game
and came back there.
We were down two touchdowns toNew London late in the game and
came back and won.
We were down the Sheehanactually in week three and came
back and won that game.
So they've been in situationslike that before and I think
that experience was important.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, that definitely helps you, give you an edge in
those moments.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Do?
You guys have intense practicesthroughout the season?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I would say, yeah, we have more intense days than
others, depending on the day,but yeah, we definitely.
He throws in a lot of differentstuff every day so we get a
little bit of a taste ofsomething different.
And just preparing for everygame every week, Everybody's got
different plays, differentthings so we're preparing for
something different every week.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, everybody's got different plays, different
things, so you're preparing forsomething different every week.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
It helps keep you well-rounded as a player.
I was reading about the barnlast night, oh the barn.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
yeah, Does that help give you a little bit of an
extra advantage?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, definitely.
It's like you're training aweapon almost for you to use.
So you know how much you everput in in the offseason is
really what you get out of itduring the season.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So it just helps you a lot for sure If you could see
these guys come in as freshmenand where they are now.
I think that you look at thebottom.
I mean Quinn.
Now you know he's been to somecamps and people ask him he's
the defensive end, what position?
And stuff like that, and he's aquarterback.
But you know that is the secretto success.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, it really helps .
Set you apart.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
So what other traditions or culture within
Killingly football do you thinkcontributes most to the success
of the program?
Speaker 4 (07:13):
We have like team dinners every Thursday and I
think that helps, like just sothat every player and like coach
know that like we're all therefor each other and that we're
like a family basically, andjust so that like everyone has
each other's back, basically.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, that team chemistry is very important.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I would say these guys too, as we talk about
the caring aspect is they eachshare kind of their stories,
their whys to learn about oneanother.
And that's the coaches also.
Where it's okay to bevulnerable sometimes, and I
think that's something that'simportant, especially in
adolescence, is you know it'sokay Every day is not going to
(07:53):
be great, right, like everypractice is not going to be
great.
There's a lot going on in ourplayers' lives.
So you know it's okay tounderstand that we're going to
be there for each other, thateverybody's going through
something different.
And when you don't knoweverybody's background, so when
you know our players come in andthey're able to share their
(08:16):
lives and you get to understandeach other differently and you
become a tighter builds thatculture of a caring again and,
um, yeah, I think that'simportant and I know, with these
guys, you know the culture ofthe program.
Everybody talks about cultureand that's you know, your good
team culture and that helpsbuild that culture.
I really, really believe thatyou know we have different
traditions.
Practice is different each day.
They know that.
They know Saturday morningsafter Friday night, they've got
(08:38):
to be there at 730.
They're going to run, they'regoing to lift, we're going to
have film, but we're going tohave fun, we're going to laugh,
we're going to bust chops.
So all those things you know,combined into one, is important
in a football program, in anyteam for that matter.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, that's so powerful to know that, no matter
what you guys have each otheron the team, you have each
other's backs.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I think that's key because you know and you just
talked about, when you get to asituation you have a one-point
lead in the fourth quarter, youknow you've got to count on each
other.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yes, yeah, you know you got to count on each other.
Yes, yeah, and you have to havethat team chemistry to know
everyone's going to be who youcan count on for what, and you
got to trust one another.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You know, these guys got to trust me, I got to trust
them and, um, you have thattrust.
It's, it's pretty special yeah,absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
how do you and the team try to handle setbacks?
I know last season wasundefeated season, but even in
games and moments where you knowyou have to work through that
together, how do you handlethose?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Honestly, just keeping your head high.
Make sure, like the leadershipcouncil we have and we all kind
of work together, keep the otherguys high, keep the sideline
the energy, high Energy justtransfers over from the sideline
to the field.
So when everybody else has goodenergy it just transfers over
like a trend effect, dominoeffect.
Everybody has good energy andthat's what kind of lifts the
(09:52):
team back up, like from sheehangoing into half, come back out
of the half.
That was definitely one ofthose moments where it was like
the energy, we got the energy upand we just kept pushing
through it yeah, the positivething can keep the momentum
going.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
So what are some of the takeaways that you have all
gotten from high school footballand high school sports that
have helped shape who you areoff the field as well?
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I think it kind of makes you like realize that you
can't always like do, like whatyou want to do, but sometimes
it's what you have to do andlike you have like
responsibilities in the realworld.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, that discipline and that's such an important
life skill.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, you have something bigger than yourself.
You have the team to look at,like you always represent a team
when you wear the shirt.
You're representing somethingbigger than yourself.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It's the name on the front, and on the back right.
So how do each of you preparementally and physically for a
game?
How do you get into the winningmindset?
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Mentally, definitely.
We have a pregame routine,definitely the school day we
start off.
You know, bring our jerseys,everybody shows up on time.
You're wearing your jerseys andthen after school gets out, you
do whatever.
You come back, we do ourpregame music, we do all that.
We have a specific pregameroutine that we go through.
I think that just all builds upto the moment when you walk
(11:02):
down that hill and then thetunnel and the smoke, and by
then you're all ant up and readyto go.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You've got the energy going.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
What's the pregame routine?
Routine, if you don't mindsharing.
So he comes out with a pregamelike schedule and we just go
through, like the offensedefense special teams, all that
type of thing.
So but playing music in the inthe locker room before games and
taping up and it's all goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, it's quite the quite the music too.
Like coach has to go in thereand turn it down once in a while
.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
What are you guys playing in there?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
It's his music usually.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
It used to be our Anthony's music and all that,
but it'll change.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
You're on aux now, so that's a big job.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
One thing I do like about these guys is there's a
lot of 80s hairband music.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
That's what gets you amped up.
It's not bad can't complainabout that.
No, so in the off season, asindividual athletes, what does
training look like for you tokeep conditioned for the
upcoming season?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
uh, it's four days a week in that barn, like the
story has been told many times.
But, um, yeah, in the barn it'sa squat, bench, deadlift type
of thing and it's just buildingyour strength, gaining weight.
Our coach kaffrey is very good,uh, keeping us getting weight
and, um, you know, his rule ofthumb is one or two pounds a
week.
Really, no matter what size youare, if you're unless you're
(12:20):
like a lineman, you're a littlebigger you can still deal with
that.
But, um, yeah, the barndefinitely helps, helps you gain
weight game, gain you, uh,strength and power that's
awesome advantage to have youhave a similar routine, do you?
Speaker 4 (12:32):
just yeah, I go bond usually four days a week and
then I go to like a QB velocityit's a quarterback trainer and I
like bringing some my receiversdown in the field and throw.
Sometimes that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Yeah, really honing on those skills.
So, coach, how do you think thenew CIAC rule allowing for
teams to practice two days aweek for two hours per session
helps to benefit your team?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, it's a good question.
So for us, this summer is alittle bit different.
Last year these guys werecoming still pretty young and
experienced, so they got a lotof reps in the summer.
This year we have a lot comingback and we really looked at it.
Okay, what can we do?
As a coach, you're alwayslooking a year ahead of the
(13:12):
future.
So we have a lot of guys thatwere new last year.
But we're behind these guyswith everybody coming back.
So we we really turned our focuson to those players who may not
have the experience, um, thatsome of these guys have and, uh,
really focused on them and Ithink it was very beneficial to
have that time with them, um.
The other thing, obviously, isbeing able to, you know, use one
of those nights in passingleague.
(13:33):
So we were able to coach theseguys, the skilled players, in
passing league one night a week.
So, you know, I think it isgreat for all sports, for us,
because now we're able to havethat interaction with them and
not to say, don't want anybodyelse, but they're being taught
(13:54):
the right things that we wantthem to be taught.
In the same breath.
We're certified to coach.
We've been through the training.
You're looking at that aspectalso, the mental and health
well-being of them.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It really helps you get that head start ahead of the
season.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
It does, it does.
It's a good kickoff to it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
So, as you had mentioned, you had a very
junior-dominated team last year.
It's very young.
Do you have any changes to theO-line or D-line this year,
heading into the season?
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I don't think we have many huge changes.
I think definitely, like, likeyou said, we're going to be
trying to implement the more thelittle guys, more younger guys,
more, try and leave less of agap.
As a senior class, I thinkwe're going to work collectively
to kind of get those guys inand teach them your position so
there's just less of a gap nextyear for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
So how are you two going to help lead the team this
season?
Is there anything you're goingto change from last season or
anything you want to improveupon as leaders?
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I would say kind of something like the same, like
core values, but also kind ofjust like More like leading like
the younger guys and the kindof show them the path to be
successful in high school, likefootball, but then also kind of
knowing that as Like I would say, all of our seniors this year
are gonna lead together, so it'seasier on like instead of just
(15:12):
one of like a couple of ushaving to lead, I would say a
majority of us would be leading,so it's gonna be pretty easier
yeah, kind of like a lead byexample type thing, yeah, and
that goes such a long way itdoes, and these guys do a great
job, not just on the footballfield but um in the classroom,
in the school, but in thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
We are very involved in our community year-round,
whether it's volunteering atevents, in downtown food drives,
you name it.
These guys youth football,doing chains for that.
So it's very important thatthey're out there, because the
town does a lot for us.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, that's so important to show what Killinley
football represents off thefield as well.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
It is, it is and again it goes back to that
culture and those values andcaring.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Absolutely so.
Who do you think your toughestmatchup this season is going to
be?
I know we you open with a bigone with Bishop Hendrickson.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Bishop Hendrickson right now.
Then after Bishop Hendrickson,week two would be East Lyme, and
then, after East Lyme, it'sgoing to be week three.
Week by week, week by week, andI know we don't want to get too
far ahead of ourselves withthat.
So that's kind of been IMOsince I've been there.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah, that's a smart way to think about it.
Do you have any games circledthat you're most looking forward
to or any big rivalries in theschedule?
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Personally definitely Bishop Henshin, because I know
it's a good game.
They're going to give us a runfor our money and I like games
like that, where it's tough andit's going to be tough to
prepare but we're going to beready.
But personally, I actually camefrom Grizzled, so I think
Grizzled's going to be a goodgame for me and a couple other
of my friends.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, that helps raise the bar when you're
playing those tough schools inthe BNC.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Get you ready.
Do you have any?
You're excited?
Uh, I agree with bishophendrickson.
And then I usually like ourthanksgiving day game because
especially at uh our school,because the hill, hill and like
all around, like the whole thingkind of gives that like bowl
kind of experience, it's prettynice.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, that must be packed on that day it is yeah,
imagine, yeah plus it's amorning game, so that's you
don't usually play those morninggames, so especially if it's a
nice day, it's it's pretty coolyeah, that's.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's awesome.
That's a great memory to haveeven thanksgiving games years
later.
So if you had to choose onemotto or mantra heading into the
next season, what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I think we're gonna stick with the same thing as run
people over.
I think it's what it's alwaysbeen.
I think it's gonna.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We're gonna stick to that was that last season's, or
has that always been the mottoof the team?
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I think it's been since 2017 or so Yep 2017.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
We can't change it.
Yeah, whatever works.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So, as the current reigning Class WS champions, if
you had to share a piece ofadvice to fellow athletes and
coaches, what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:45):
You kind of got to live the game.
You got to like it a lot.
It's kind of almost got to beyour life.
You got to do it every day anddo it over and over and over
again and you got to like it.
You got to like what you do.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, that's very true.
You have to make everything youdo to be great at something.
Have fun.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
One question you asked earlier setbacks.
One of my favorite shows inlast year I think I watched was
that Ted Lasso and the goldfish.
You know 11 seconds.
There's a lot of plays infootball, a lot of things in
practice.
It's going to pass, lookforward to it.
But again, have fun.
I mean you only have four years.
Have fun doing it.
Make it challenging, make it,with some discipline, dependable
(18:31):
, teach those skills.
But again, you know, have fundoing it.
You know we're together all thetime, so you're going to be
around these guys more thanyou're around their families.
Have fun doing it.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, it's a great time to develop, but that's
really what it comes down to isto make sure you're having fun
and enjoying it.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Clint, do you have any advice for athletes?
I would just say show up andlike show up every day and
you're going to face someadversity, but as long as you
keep like working hard and likegetting after it, things will
most likely work out yeah justgive it 100% and always put in
the work.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's a good answer.
All right, so now we're goingto head into some rapid
questions.
These are a surprise.
They're fun, so whatever comesto your mind first is the answer
Be careful.
It's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
All right, Quinn favorite quarterback of all time
.
He's a Jets fan.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
This is tough.
Oh, that is tough, uh-oh.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I'll go with Justin Fields for now.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Okay, ryan, best football movie, waterboy.
That's unique, coach.
One word to describe the teamTogether Good one.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Quinn pregame hype song.
I don't even know.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
I was going to say I should have asked him.
I didn't know.
He was on Hawks.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I'm going to go with Finito.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
I don't even know what that is.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
That is Finito, no clue.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
All right, Ryan, turf or grass.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
That's tough.
That's really good grass.
I'd rather play in grass Really.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Yeah, coach, favorite team tradition Coming up the
hill after a game.
Quinn any pregame superstitions.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I tie my cleats a couple times to make sure
they're tight, because I getworried that they're going to
get like untied yeah you've gotto make sure they're secure,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
If not, his mom will make sure.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
All right, ryan, if you could be in the O-line or
D-line of any NFL team, whichteam would it be?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Ooh, D-line of a Cowboy, so I could play with
Micah Parsons.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
All right, that's good Coach football role model.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Whew, good question.
I'd probably say my high schoolcoach, joe Humphrey.
He instilled a lot of values inme and his positivity that
would probably be it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Yeah, it must have been a huge impact.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Yeah, it really shaped me into what I wanted to
do.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
do wow, quinn favorite football memory um, I
also probably last year, when Istayed championship with all
like my best friends yeah, Ican't beat that yeah ryan.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
One song, you know all the words to finito uh
probably everlong by foofighters okay, that's a good one
.
Yeah, coach, what's your maingoal for this season?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
to be one and out of this week, each week.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Um, that would be the goal I like that, just take a
week by week by week all right.
So lastly, on the podcast, wealways like to wrap up by asking
what do you think the purposeof high school sports is?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
we always like to wrap up by asking what do you
think the purpose of high schoolsports is?
Um, definitely sounds kind ofcliche, but become a better man,
become better, you know,husband or whatever.
Um definitely helps you in life.
Football especially I think cgoskills is a long season and uh,
it's mentally and physicallytough.
It's.
It's one of the physically oneof the most tough sports.
Wrestling probably has it alittle bit.
(22:08):
Definitely it's physically andmentally tough on you through
this whole season.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
That's an awesome answer though.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Prepares you for a job, being an employee or
whatever.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Is you ready for?
Speaker 2 (22:18):
life.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Yeah, you want to go, Quinn, I'll go.
All right, I would say, I teachyou life lessons that you kind
of take beyond high school andcollege and like kind of bring
like with you for your wholelife, definitely.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
So there's nothing better.
So, as a coach, you see themcome in as freshmen, see how
they grow when they leave you.
But for me, I feel when you seea player years down the road
and see how successful they areand they come back and some of
those values that they have, isgreat.
And again, our job is toprepare them they said it to be
(22:56):
successful and teach them thoseskills that are going to allow
them to someday have a great job, to be, as Ryan said, a great
dad, a great husband, a greatson, all of a sudden go a great
mom or whatever, because we dohave females on our team too in
the past.
So I think there's more to itthan just the wins and losses.
If they can come out of thefour years and we want them to
(23:18):
have the best four years oftheir life.
We were just riding up here andRyan said I can't believe how
fast the season's coming.
I said you think it's fast now?
Wait until Thanksgiving isgoing to be here before you know
it's going to fly by.
So make the best moment, excuseme.
Make the time, each moment, thebest for the next four years,
or each game, week by week, dayby day.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
And that must be so rewarding to see years later
when the Valley's really stuckwith them.
It is, you see, how theydeveloped.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
It really is, and you see them get married and you go
to their weddings and playerslike that and you hope you play
just a little bit of a part inthat.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Mm-hmm.
Oh, absolutely, that's whatit's all about.
It's a big part of sports.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, thank you so much for joining me on the
podcast today.
You guys did awesome.
Of course, I wish you the bestof luck.
This what's up Us too.
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