Ervin Philips

Ervin Philips assured most people he would wait until he made his official visits before deciding on his college.

But on Sunday, a day after attending the Syracuse-Penn State game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Philips announce he'd already made his decision.

He's going to Syracuse.

Philips, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound back and one of Connecticut's best players, informed the masses of his decision at approximately 1 p.m. on Twitter.

I Am Proud To Announce That I Am Officially Commited To Syracuse University #CuseNation #OrangeMen I'm With The Orange !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🏈🍊🍊🙏
— Erv Philips (@Ambition1_) September 1, 2013

Philips, who is about to enter his fourth year as a starter, also had an offer from Temple and was receiving interest from several other schools. He had made unofficial visits to Syracuse and Temple. He had an official visit to Utah scheduled for Sept. 14.

After watching the Orange struggle offensively in its 23-17 loss to Penn State, averaging under 2 yards per carry in 36 attempts, Philips believed he'd fit in nicely.

"I think they could use some help on offense," he told our own Joe Morelli. "And I think I can definitely help them out."

He led the Westies in rushing last year with 1,054 yards and 22 touchdowns. West Haven was 8-2 and reached the Class LL quarterfinals where it lost to Staples.

The Westies have reached the playoffs twice over the last three seasons with Phillips in the lineup.

He's been a New Haven Register All-State back, a Levi Jackson team selection and a CHSCA all-stater.

He listed his 40-yard dash speed at 4.54 last year.

Philips is the third Connecticut back to commit to an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program this year. NFA's Marcus Outlow is committed to Boston College. Ansonia back Arkeel Newsome committed to UConn.

Here's his junior year highlight tape:

West Haven's Ervin Phillips during
last year's Ansonia scrimmage.

We're knee-deep in scrimmage season, boys and girls. A few go tonight and then a motherload tomorrow as the final week of preseason begins.

Tonight, 6 p.m. at Jarvis Stadium in Ansonia, your favorite preseason scrimmage (and mine) will kick off (or maybe they'll just start) in front of a larger-than-normal crowd of curious onlookers.

Ansonia-West Haven.

Ah, sweet, sweet Chargers-Westies.

There was a time, not too long ago, that this glorified practice was once the centerpiece of the "Who's No. 1?" argument.

The 2000-era, Kenny Tinney-led Ansonia teams staked their claim to the New Haven Register Poll's top spot by pointing out their team beat the Tommy DeMorro/Desmond Lymon/Rob Jackson West Haven championship teams. Yea, their schedule was 'soft' compared to the Westies' SCC slate, the argument went. But those Chargers could (and would) beat anyone. This scrimmage proved it.

Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome at
last year's  West Haven scrimmage.

Of course, that was quickly countered with It's just a scrimmage! There were coaches on the field, the format wasn't a live game... how in the good Lord's name was this proof of anything other than the lineman got their schemes right in August?

Ah, Chargers-Westies.

Those were the days [Plays the theme to 'All In The Family']

But happy days could be here again.

With Ansonia already early favorite to receive the No. 1 spot in the polls to start the season, and West Haven looking similarly, if not equally strong, will this relatively insignificant clash of CT titans get significant replay come December when we're tallying our final votes?

Of course, there will be a lot of attention paid to how three-time defending LL champion Xavier, or two-time defending Class L champion Hand fares this season, not to mention the usual suspects in the FCIAC, the CCC and ECC and so-on.

Incidentally, West Haven plays both Hand and Xavier all this year. Oh, and they kick off with Greenwich. So if Erv Phillips and the Westies somehow navigate that bloody gauntlet and finish with their first unbeaten season since 2002, you'd think it would be a slam-dunk decision on No. 1 right?

Ah, well, that's where this scrimmage is gonna start getting attention.

Let's say the Westies somehow, miraculously survive... or maybe even lose just one game, en route to a Class LL championship.

Meanwhile, Ansonia smokes through the NVL, Masuk in its SWC-NVL crossover, and then rolls to a third-straight 14-0, Class S championship season.

We'll all be reaching for that Ansonia-West Haven game tape, won't we?

You're damn right we will.

So, Chargers and Westies, while you're minding your stances, your blocking schemes and the play calls while listening to your coaches standing just five yards away in the backfield, make sure to play your best.

Not that it'll really mean anything right? ...right? 

Ah, the good ol' days. They're here again.

As much as things in Connecticut football have changed this past year, nothing really does, does it?

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In addition to Ansonia-Westies, a full slate of dual scrimmages, tri-scrimmages and full-blown jamborees get underway around the state Saturday.

Then, next week come the final dress rehearsals.

Before you know it, Week 1 will be here.

Can't wait, boys and girls.

Here's the master schedule from CIACSports.com.