Berlin coach calls on former players to spark team

Friday, December 7, 2012 10:16 PM EST

By Chris McLaughlin
Staff Writer

By putting on a Redcoats jersey, the player not only puts on a shirt with a name and number on the back, but the history of the entire program as well.

The history of the Berlin Redcoats runs deep and has championship pedigree as well. Each year the team writes the next chapter, but the 2012 team has a chance to be elevated to the top of Berlin?s storied past.

This year?s Redcoats will be appearing in the program?s seventh title game since 1976, and to help his team gear up for it, head coach John Capodice enlisted the help from several players from past teams that made it to the finals to come and talk to his squad during practice this week.

?They talked about everything from their experiences to the tradition and pride that comes with playing Berlin football,? Capodice said.

This type of experience can be invaluable to the players going forward, as the student-athletes will undoubtedly have nerves heading into such a big game played in the premier football stadium in Connecticut.

The Redcoats are a very experienced team comprised mainly of juniors and seniors who have been to the playoffs each year they?ve played varsity ball. But a title game will be new for them, as the seniors were freshmen when Berlin last played in the Class M championship game.

Hearing from players who have been there before, even from some who have won, can help the Redcoats put things in perspective and help them channel their nervous energy. Plus, hearing from players who have won a championship talking about Berlin pride and the storied history is sure to fire up the entire roster.

It takes a lot to just make the playoffs, and so much more to make the finals, and though there are those who have achieved what this years squad has, the 2012 Redcoats are special in their own way. They have handled almost every challenge thrown their way, and responded well in the face of defeat, overcoming adversity countless times en route to today?s Class M championship game.

?One hundred and forty six teams started the season and right now only eight remain. What this team has done to get this far has been special,? Capodice said. ?This program has played in seven title games since the CIAC started in 1976, and we won our first title in 2009. This is a major opportunity for our players and they?re very excited about it.?

At 2:05 p.m. today, the Redcoats will have a chance to do what only one other team has been able to do in program history. The Academics are no slouches, however, and Berlin will almost certainly be challenged in ways they haven?t faced this season.

Everything the Redcoats have worked for will be on the line today, which is why Capodice enlisted the help of former players to come talk to the team this week. Hearing from players who have won and lost title games won?t show up in the box scores, but it will certainly have an impact on the players both on and off the field.

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Source: http://bristolpress.com/articles/2012/12/07/sports/doc50c2b1369a49d406778736.txt

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