Solomon spoke to O'Brien Tech football coach Ken Roberts on Tuesday. O'Brien Tech was supposed to begin its inaugural varsity football season this fall. However, state budget cuts have likely eliminated all sports at Tech schools.

Read the column here.

Here is a list of the state's top returning players for 2011. Listed in alphabetical order. Only players from CIAC sponsored schools are included.

Aaron Berardino, Windsor, WR, Jr.
Boeing Brown, Brookfield, QB, Jr.
Tarik Bruce, Westhill, QB, Sr.
Bryan Castelot, Bunnell, QB, Jr.
Don Cherry, Trumbull, RB/LB, Sr.
Jawad Chisholm, Bunnell, WR, Sr.
Elliott Chudwick, Ansonia, QB, Sr.
Casey Cochran, Masuk, QB, Sr.
Dave Coggins, Sacred Heart, WR, Jr.
Harold Cooper, Hillhouse, RB, So.
Joe Demichele, Hand, OL/DL, Sr.
Joe Desandre, Lyman Hall, RB/DB, Sr.
Kelly Dobbins, Putnam, WR, Sr.
Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn, Valley Regional, QB, Sr.
Shawn Flynn, Masuk, SS, Sr.
Luke Grabowski, Seymour, QB, Sr.
Ray Kreiger, Derby, QB, Sr.
Brendon Lytton, Torrington, RB, Sr.
Sean Marinan, Xavier, OL/DL, Sr.
Colin Markus, Masuk, RB, Sr.
Mike Mastroianni, Xavier, RB, Sr.
Kevin McDonough, New Canaan, LB, Sr.
Kyle McKinnon, New London, RB, Sr.
Matt Milano, New Canaan, QB, Sr.
Brian Murphy, Sheehan, WR, Sr.
Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, RB/DB, So.
Ervin Philips, West Haven, RB, So.
Chris Reckmeyer, Conard, DE, Sr.
Adrian Sahinovic, New Fairfield, P, Sr.
Jovan Santos, Xavier, DE, Sr.
Jake Scinto, Cheshire, WR/DB, Sr.
Jonathan Synder, Newington, QB, Sr.
Jacob Tomczak, Derby, WR, Sr.
Nick Vitale, Hand, WR, Sr.
Brandon Williams, Bassick, DE, Sr.
Taylor Wrice, Bristol Eastern, RB, Sr.
Mark Zurlis, North Haven, LB, Sr.