TORRINGTON >> During his four-years as a Torrington Red Raiders football player, this past season was one of the hardest for senior Ernie Tracy III.
The Red Raiders were only returning a couple of starters from the 2012 team and with only a handful of seniors on the team. They also had a new head coach Gaitan Rodriguez, a 1997 graduate of Torrington.
Torrington stumbled out of the gate starting the season with a 0-7 record before they won the last three out of its last four games to finish the season with a 3-8 record, including a convincing 24-6 win over Watertown on Thanksgiving to win the ‘Battle of the Helmet’ trophy.
Tracy was one of the two captains leading the Red Raiders and even though as a team they struggled, Tracy always showed up ready to play and his statistics showed as he had six sacks on defense and 20 pancakes playing on the offensive line.
“When there were tough spots during the year, he always came to play,” said Torrington’s assistant coach Andrew Theriault.
It was his leadership, his dedication to the team, his willingness to help the younger players grow to help the future of the Red Raiders program that made Tracy the perfect choice as this season’s ’29 Football Club Trophy recipient.
“He truly represents what this award is all about,” said ’29 Club President Mike Ciesco and 2001 winner of the trophy.
In front of 30 or so recipients Tracy accepted the trophy, from Theriault who won the award in 2000 and was his positions coach this season.
Another winner of the award, his head coach, Rodriguez who won it in 1996, wasn’t able to be in attendance due to an illness sent his regards to his captain.
“Ernie was tremendous on the field, he had the kind of presence on the field that gained respect from other teams. “He played with passion and heart,” he said. “He will surely be missed. He earned and deserves the ’29 club award.”
Tracy didn’t just shine of the field for the Red Raiders. He is a member of the junior Air Force ROTC and on Sundays he would volunteer as the play-by-play announcer for the Torrington Warriors youth football program.
He was also recognized for his efforts on the field, being named to the NVL’s All-Copper team as a junior in 2012 and a senior in 2012, and was named to the Litchfield County All-Area football team, but this award is one that really represents what he meant to the Red Raiders program.
“It’s great to be the next representative on this club,” Tracy said. “This one takes the cake no doubt.”
The ’29 Club gives out the award every season to a senior on the Red Raiders football team. It started in 1939 as a tribute to the 1929 undefeated Red Raiders team. Tracy is the 74th winner of the award.
