Harding coach Eddie Santiago reaches out to shake hands with members of his team during a 2015 game. Santiago, who has expressed desire to boost his team’s scheduling, will have his team playing in the SCC in 2017. (Photo Sean Patrick Bowley)
Bassick senior end Tony Razor Jr. during a game in 2015. Though he won’t be there, Bassick will be joining the SCC in 2017. (Photo via Hudl)
With the pending reorganization of the CSC into a “tech only” league, two of its newest public school members Bassick and Harding were about to be thrown to the curb. But now it appears as though the SCC has swooped in to give the Bridgeport schools a new home.
SCC commissioner Al Carbone confirmed the deal Wednesday and announced the move in a press release. The move was approved unanimously by the leagues athletic directors and principals earlier this month, according to the release.
“We are very pleased to welcome Harding and Bassick to the SCC,” Carbone said in a statement. “Football scheduling is getting harder and harder; and any time you can add competitive programs to your league, the better it is for everyone involved.”
“Everyone can look at their (football) schedule and walk away happy,” Chris Johnson, Bridgeport’s citywide director of athletics, said. “We will be able to compete week in and week out. It was an absolute no-brainer for us.”
While the divisional set up has yet to be determined, Harding will likely join SCC Division II (aka “tier II”) and Bassick will like join SCC Division III (aka “tier III”), giving the SCC 22 football-playing schools, according to the press release. The league format and schedules are typically determined after the season.
“This is just a great fit for both sides,” Carbone said. “Doing a one-year football schedule creates challenges with home and away games. A two-year schedule, with the addition of both Harding and Bassick, is a great step in the direction of where we want to go to have a long-term solid football schedule.”
[aesop_image imgwidth=”720″ img=”http://www.gametimect.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Harding-Bassick-to-SCC.png” credit=”Sean Patrick Bowley” align=”center” lightbox=”on” caption=”Bassick and Harding will be come the 21st and 22nd members of the SCC football conference beginning in 2017. (click to expand)” captionposition=”center”]
The expansion is the second in as many years for the SCC. The league added Creed (formerly Hyde Leadership) and its co-op team with Career and Whitney Tech in football last year.
It was not immediately clear in which league Harding and Bassick would place their other sports next year. Carbone said there were no official discussions held regarding the other sports.
Harding and Bassick were members of the FCIAC from 1993-2014 and had little success outside of basketball, until moving all sports to the Constitution State Conference beginning in 2015.
Harding’s football program went 10-0 last year and reached the playoffs for the first time in school history. The No. 2-seeded Presidents lost to No. 7 Notre Dame-West Haven (out of the SCC), 34-0, in the Class L quarterfinals.
The Presidents are 5-1 midway through the 2016 season, making them 15-2 since moving to the CSC.
Bassick’s football program, meanwhile, suffered through the longest football losing streak in state history from 2001-2007 as members of the FCIAC. Since moving to the CSC, the Lions have gone 4-11 (including a forfeit loss).
Bridgeport Central, Bridgeport’s third public school, remains in the FCIAC.
–Joe Morelli contributed to this report
Are we going to see more shuffling between the tiers now?
The you mean the DIVSIONS? Maybe. Maybe not.
Was told over the weekend that Hand is dropping to tier 2, Suddenly Tier 2 with Hand, Wilbur Cross, Hillhouse, Foran and Harding becomes a tougher track.
You mean Division II
Cannot believe that Hand would voluntarily drop to SCC Division 2. There’s got to be more to this story than meets the eye.
I wonder why it is football only.
I’m hoping for a real city hoops rivalry between the New Haven and Bridgeport schools.
Here’s hoping they join in all sports.
A real hoops rivalry between the Bridgeport and New Haven schools would be a lot of fun.
Don’t like it all. Sorry, but these schools couldn’t run out of the FCIAC quicker. You think they are going to compete in the SCC?
In SCC Subsection 2 Harding can compete.
The SCC’s Echelon 1 schedule is just downright Negan-level cruelty.
But in Sector 2 Harding would probably go 3-1 losing to Hillhouse and beating Foran, Hamden, Amity. Wilbur Cross is probably a tossup. Harding would probably lose both games against Group 1 and would probably win two games against Category 3. That leaves them 5-4 in conference and a likely win against Central on Thanksgiving.
SCC is no FCIAC, both teams will be competitive.
Absolutely not. Bassick would get maybe 1 win against Lyman hall. Harding wouldn’t win a game in he Division 2. The scc and fciac are practically even with the top of the league going to the scc this year. These teams will go back get getting butt whoopings just like they have been for years
You’re crazy to think Harding won’t win a game. Their Junior class is very good and the program has come a long way in the past couple years. Mark my words, they are going to want to move Harding up to teir 1.
Disagree, Harding isn’t making states any more but should be a 500 team in division 2 . Wanted to try tier again, but I thought I might get banned
Reason Even Harding is even competing is because they’re in the Tech Conference. With the only other match up is Capital Prep it’s a 2 team league really and I doubt seeing them go to the SCC they would even win a game next season after coming out of the weakest conference in the state.
Let’s be realistic and keep in mind that harding is 14-116 in the last 12 years in the FCIAC. The tech league absolutely benefits them. They will get 4 maybe 5 wins, Bassick won’t win a game in my opinion, as bad as Lyman Hall is, let’s remember that they do play in the SCC and not the CSC.
SCC is no FCIAC when it comes to football. FCIAC is king when it comes to football.
Cyclical.
Ridiculous—maybe O’Brien Tech can join the following year–they offer NOTHING competitively to the league–Lucky if they get 1 win each–Who’s wonderful idea was this–LOL-LOL-what a joke
Great move Mr. Carbone
What about the Tech league ? Harding was one of the better teams, Bassack was able to compete. That league will take away state playoff spots from deserving teams. They should just have a tech division and play their own championship !!!
District Model!
Amazing how quick an article about two teams changing leagues degenerated into an article about the relative merits of they league they left, the league they’re joining, and the league they used to play in. Bottom line: Harding was up and down in FCIAC, Bassick mostly down, Tech league didn’t provide enough competition for either in football, or other sports. In the SCC division 2 or 3, they will probably be competitive. As for hoops, I’ve got to believe they don’t want to commit to a full schedule of games in a league that big. Both teams have very competitive basketball programs and will have no problem scheduling games that will prepare them for post season playoffs.
Harding I understand, but what do you mean it didn’t provide enough competition for Bassick? They went 2-8 last year and currently are 2-3 (which is improved)…. I just can not see Bassick winning a game in this league, Harding playing division 2? HAHAHAHAHA… have fun with some Division 1 games then having to play hillhouse, cross, an improved hamden, and possibly Hand??? Neither will be competitive for the time being, if Harding was in D3 then maybe, but certainly not in D2….!?!
When was Harding ever up in the FCIAC?
They went 5-6 in their last season in the conference which was their best in over 20 years.
SPB don’t you think it’s absurd that Hand drops to tier 2 after one bad season? I don’t know what their future looks like but they are an SCC powerhouse. They were 7-3 last year
What’s a tier?
kinda sucks Hand is a great program been that way for years a football power and at the first sign of decline they drop???
took my Govs who Hand beat up on what 12 years to get outta div 1
I’ve followed this blog for 5 years and not one comment that these two schools represent a resident population of 123k+ (2nd in CT to B’Port and ahead of #3 Hartford) with a student population of 20k+ (http://www.nhps.net/nhpsdemographics). This represents 10 high schools, with only 3 fielding varsity football squads, the aforementioned + C/C/W. You can go to any magnet HS in NH and then play ball for your districted HS. This is dubious math based on the enrolled male student population of each school, but does not factor in the magnet students that attend Metro Business Academy, Sound, Career et al (MBA for the record is where HH’s best players are presently enrolled) thus allowing for lower classification (M) instead of classification based on authentic demographics. HH and Cross would both be LL or even LLL schools if the accretive population of NH public schools were the benchmark. Where is the ‘outrage’ that is regularly directed at the Catholic schools or even the Preps? Thank you for reminding us that small, suburban schools have owned NH publics for over a decade and bringing this demographic scam to light. While I appreciate Matt Glasz’s stats (and overall objectivity), lets see the real calculus as these #’s are simply not an accurate representation of the football eligible populations at these respective schools.
Cross has been LL so the magnet students don’t make a difference
but to say owned NH city schools there are plenty of other factors that you haven’t mentioned that hinder the advancement of city public schools vs suburban teams
Irrespective of the variables that you are alluding to and I am not minimizing the legitimacy of those factors, nor is it my intent to debate them in this forum, but if classifications are based on student populations, it is statistically impossible for Cross and HH not be in the largest classification possible based on the pooled population of NH. There are 20k students in NH HS’s so if we reason that approx 1/2 are male, that makes 10k football eligible students spread across 3 schools/programs (based on their respective districting). This is an enigma that needs to be addressed. The same goes for any other school that falls into this category.
I really REALLY hope that Hand is not going to drop to Division 2….
You must be in Tier II. Worried?
Sean, don’t you think it’s ridiculous that Hand is moving down to tier 2? I don’t know what their future holds but they are an SCC powerhouse. I mean they were 7-3 last year. Didn’t they take Prep, And Xavier into OT this year? I know it’s a down year but come on they are a tier 1 team.
What’s a tier?
I posted twice wasn’t sure if it went through my bad lol.
I don’t know. Seems awful quick. But I don’t get half the things the SCC is doing, staring with their silly names.
District model, plz
SPB, all jokes aside I am curious to hear your opinion on (if it were to happen) Hand dropping down to division 2. They are one of the most successful programs in state history, have been competitive with the best of them this year, do you think it is fair and/or realistic?
The SCC just added Harding and Bassick. Anything’s realistic.
Lol very true my friend
“Football scheduling is getting harder and harder; and any time you can add competitive programs to your league, the better it is for everyone involved.”
Did Carbone say this with a straight face?
Classic LOL!
HERE COMES TIER 4 IN THE ALMIGHTY SCC—–JUST 2 MORE WEAK SISTER WINS FOR SOMEONE——–BAKETBALL WITH EXCEPTION OF HILLHOUSE AND CROSS WILL BE A JOKE
What’s a tier?
GREAT MOVE BY CARBONE——THOSE HARDING-HILLHOUSE MATCHUPS SHOULD BE GREAT FOR FANS—–BRING YOUR FLAK JACKETS—–WHAT A JOKE
ha. that’s an old ‘guide’ line of mine. I’d forgotten about it. Well done.
Flak jacket reference as in gun fire?
You used that line in print?
Specifically as in anti-aircraft fire. Once upon a time, yes.
I’m actually on board with the SCC adding Harding and Bassick. However, I am disappointed in how the conference will be structured. The previous 2-division format was never a good fit for the SCC because of the range in school sizes.
The current three “Tier” format would have been a step in the right direction if not for the irregular alignment of 8, 5, 7 team “tiers” that rewards under performing programs and placed two of the largest schools in the state in “Tier 2” with schools that half their size.
Now, with the addition of two Class L schools, the SCC is even more ideally suited to be divided equally by enrollment with 7 Class LL schools, 7 Class L schools and 8 Class M/S schools.
Here are the SCC Divisions based on 5 year average enrollment figures:
DIVISION I
Hamden (927.0)
Fairfield Prep (898.0)
Xavier (843.8)
Amity (818.8)
Cheshire (803.6)
West Haven (775.8)
Shelton (773.0)
DIVISION II
Wilbur Cross (671.0)
Hand (617.2)
Notre Dame, West Haven (611.2)
Harding (607.4)
North Haven (599.8)
Bassick (585.6)
Guilford (549.4)
DIVISION III
Branford (523.4)
Hillhouse (507.4)
Lyman Hall (483.4)
Foran (479.0)
Law (463.6)
East Haven (462.2)
Sheehan (431.6)
Creed/Career/Whitney Tech (106.0)
This format, which is similar to how the CCC is set up, provides the most equity by placing like sized schools against one another. I imagine two to three crossover games, determined by past performance, would be necessary to fill out the schedule (if an out of conference game can’t be scheduled). Since the SCC is still much smaller than the CCC this format would provide marquee match-ups with the top teams still playing one another each year.
Sadly, it does not appear that the SCC will be structured this way.
How Does House keep that enrollment down so low??
This would also “allow” the SCC the best chance to advance the highest amount of League teams into the Post Season.This would also give the remainder of the state of their own medicine.
I’d rather see 8 teams per every conference in the state. The SCC is too big.
Every team could have 3 idle weeks and fill 2 of those dates with non-league games the way we used to many years ago. That way the SCC teams could get a taste of the SWC or FCIAC or NVL or CSC.
We should also go back to league titles. Missing this is a travesty and injustice to the kids.
And I’ll give you my opinion of the current CSC how it relates to the teams leaving. There are 4 respectably talented teams in that league, depending on the year ; ATI, Bullard Havens, Harding, and Capital Prep (who won states 2 yrs ago.) Harding produced at least 2 FBS players, as did Capital Prep. The balance of the league might play on their own new conference, and if their top team makes a play-off as an # 8 or #7 seed, good for them. Rewarding a team for playing well in their conference is a good thing. And like Capital 2 yrs ago, you never know. (I consider them to be like a 16 seed in the NCAAA hoops tourney .)
Harding will start 4-6, 5-5, 6-4 and maybe draw more Bridgeport kids into the team/league. The better competition will make them better. Maybe they will fill Kennedy one day. They will compete and shock a couple of teams. They have 3 talented runners who will be back and several good defenders, and as good a team speed as anyone I have seen. They may only lack in experience against tougher teams.
Bassick has some outstanding athletes, but only 3 coaches and minimal parental support right now. If they get a staff like Shelton, New Canaan, Masuk, Harding or Brookfield – look out. Right now, they might be staring at a 1-9, 2-8, 3-7 scenario. (Remember I said this about Bassick. They have some very good players, I wish them well.)
So dallas you consider the staffs at Harding and masuk amount the best in the state. That’s funny.
No – maybe not . Think about it. Bassick has 3 coaches. If they even had a staff of above average guys of a winning program, maybe not the staff of the 1950’s Packers (Lombardi, Landry, Sherman, etc.), they would shock some teams.
I purposely selected those teams as an example for a reason. There may be a range of skill there, but they are successful year in and out. Those are facts.
You may feel differently about those coaches, but the point is Bassick has good athletes – they just need to tighten up their program. (Don’t read too much into it, my commentary won’t get any coach in the CT Coaches Hall of Fame.)
Thanks for asking so I could clarify.
Wow, I just re-read what I wrote . I never said they were the best in the state. You added that idea. Not mine, just an analogy.
Come on , read closer. You assumed. They have good staffs though – seen them both up close.