The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Oxford’s ‘Coach Tut’ epitomizes brotherhood of football
OXFORD — Ryan Tuttle made a friendly wager with fellow Oxford assistant coach Tyler Torres before the NFL opener. If Ryan’s beloved Giants beat the Broncos, Torres would serve him chicken parmesan.
“Ryan loves chicken parm,” head coach Joe Stochmal said.
“Also, there is Peyton Manning and chicken parm,” said Tuttle, referring to the Nationwide commercial where the former Broncos quarterback famously sings, “Chicken parm you taste so good,” to the insurance company’s jingle.
Torres’ Broncos won. “So I had to say nice things to him for a week,” Tuttle said.
As we sat in his office Friday, Stochmal allows himself a good laugh. He knows there was a time when something like this never would have happened. He knows there was a time when Ryan sat alone in the high school cafeteria. A time when he would get up and run out of class. And now, a decade later? “Ryan is what Oxford football represents,” Stochmal said. “He is a young man who has overcome some obstacles in his life and has transformed into someone who people look up to and respect.”
“Oxford is my home,” Ryan said. “I will always be a Wolverine.”
This hasn’t been an easy start to the 2021 season for the Wolverines. After two opening losses, COVID-19 postponed their game this weekend against Derby. Much of the team had to remain away from practice and, barring some late schedule juggling, there is a bye next week.
Yet it only takes the mention of Tuttle’s name to bring a smile to senior co-captain Joe Biondo’s face. You want to know about the power of sports? You want to know about the brotherhood of football? Ask one of the Oxford boys about Ryan.