Berlin coach John Capodice won his appeal and will not be suspended for Saturday's game with Northwest Catholic.

Capodice was initially suspended for one game after violating the CIAC's score management policy, which states if a team wins by more than 50 points than the winning coach will be suspended for one game. Berlin defeated Farmington 57-0 last week.

Here is a statement released by the CIAC:

On Thursday, September 18, a CIAC committee reviewed the appeal of Berlin High School principal George Synnott of the suspension of his school's head football coach John Capodice for violation of the football score management policy. Capodice had been suspended for his team's next game because his team's margin of victory last Friday exceeded 50 points in its 57-0 win over Farmington.


Based on the information and testimony presented the committee voted (3-2) to remove the suspension. The information showed that the conditions under which the game was conducted and the strategies which were implemented did not constitute unsportsmanlike conduct in accordance with the criteria established by the CIAC football committee. Capodice's team made a reasonable effort to keep the score down by doing things such as removing starters from the game early as the margin increased, substituted skill players when it was evident the game was in hand, modified the game plays on offense and defense, and used a running clock when the game was in hand. The above facts were attested to by officials from both schools involved and the game officials who worked the contest.

While the committee believed that the intent of the 50 point rule was not violated and that there was no discernible evidence that there was any attempt on the part of Capodice to embarrass the opponent, there was unanimous agreement that a more concentrated effort should have been made by Capodice to make an effort earlier in the game to manage the game to keep the score within the margin of 50 points.


"Sportsmanship is essential at all athletic events," stated review committee and CIAC Board of Control Chair William H. Barney. "The review committee was convinced that Berlin High School's coach made the necessary legitimate efforts to manage the score of this game to the best of his ability. It is only in situations where such efforts are made and can be fully supported and justified that the review committee will consider removing suspensions due to violations of this regulation."