Why go through the extra effort for something that has mediocre ridership anyway? Hell, I've had Metro-North conductors using NJT seat checks on the football train when I ride. As long as the equipment runs from point A to point B who cares if it's branded NJT or Metro North? (For the record Comet V's get used as cab cars, although not generally the WOH MNR ones.) Amtrak is not going to spare one of their motors for something that doesn't concern them in the slightest, they have their own service to worry about, so don't even waste time suggesting that.
What's more wasteful: Deadheading a lite ALP-46 to New Haven just to couple up with stuff in New Haven and then going through the aggravation of coupling and decoupling or using an already assembled train set from NJT? You could put "THIS IS THE FOOTBALL TRAIN" in neon letters on the side and people would STILL get on the wrong train. Why do you think Amtrak conductors can be heard in Stamford telling people "This is not Metro-North, Amtrak tickets ONLY" (And in one case "If you get on with the wrong ticket it's over $60 from Stamford to Penn Station...make sure you're on the right train!") Oblivion!
From what I understand, the football trains are merely "extended" NEC trains which don't use the same equipment pool as the WOH stuff, so your chances of pulling a solid Comet V consist is pretty slim (and would require more unnecessary shuffling for what? The sake of appearances?)
Change at Bridgeport for service to Derby-Shelton, Ansonia, Seymour, Beacon Falls, Naugatuck and Waterbury
