May 18, 2007
Hi Ate Us
You may have noticed - things have been a bit slow around here. With ACC basketball and football both deep in their offseason, I just haven't been able to work up the energy to put out too many posts. Been busy at work too. Sure, there have been a number of things that I'd like to write about - something comes up nearly every day - but I just haven't found the time or motivation to do my thoughts justice.
So, I'm taking a little break. Some time to recharge the batteries.
I'll still be around, checking and posting in the message board, but I don't think I'll be posting too many (or any) articles until football gets going.
If you have something you'd like to talk about, feel free to start a thread. I'll notice and I'll comment. Hey, I'll even spot you a few topics! What do you think about the ACC's recent release of the school payouts? Does that justify expansion? And compare and contrast that to the debate over adding two more games to the basketball schedule. And what's up with Gus Gilchrist reneging on Virginia Tech supposedly because of the shootings there? Does anyone believe that excuse?
Comments
Dave: Wanted to reply to your lacrosse post in the message board, but was unable to, so I'll reply here.
You're either showing your true ACC colors again, or showing how much you've gotten away from following lacrosse ... or both!!
"Duke had never really been good at lacrosse until the last few years"??? I've lived down here since '90 and they've been a top 10 team most of those years. They still haven't cracked that "elite" status, but they've been knocking on the final four door for quite a while.
"the devestation of the rape case" didn't hurt them much this year because they had so many upperclassman. I think they'll feel it starting next year, for a couple years until they can recover from the down recruiting year.
"Cornell (where the hell did they come from this year?)" What??? Remove those ACC blinders young man!! Cornell's program has been extremely strong for the past 10+ years, and let's face it, lax is still very much a game where a single stud on the offensive end can make a huge difference. Seibald's a legit Tawaarton Trophy finalist!
In all honesty, I felt the Dook/Cornell semi was essentially the NC game this year. They were far and above the best two teams throughout the season. I did feel Dook was playing better ball going in, so was a little surprised to see Cornell mount that comeback. Aweful defense off that final face-off ... they let dook walk the ball right across the restraining line with no pressure whatsoever ... you just can't do that with guys like Danowski and Greer on the field.
I think Dook was feeling a bit vulnerable going into the championship game, but Hopkins won that final at the face-off x in the first half! They completely took the Dookies out of their game.
Not sure if you saw Hopkins play other than that Delaware game, but to say that "they just don't have much offense" suggests you did not. Rabil and Peyser are incredible breaking down a defense on their own, let alone in the offensive set.
What you saw in the Delaware game was a gameplan to shut down a much bigger and faster offensive team (in Delaware), and a much more patient approach on offensive ... Delaware's defense had gotten them to the semi's ... I don't think it's realistic to have expected Hopkins to post 15 on 'em.
Believe it or not, I was actually pullin for the Dookies going into that final ... after they got by Cornell. Really didn't wanna' see Hop tie 'Cuse at winning their 9th NC. But the further the game went on, and the more I had to listen to the stories about "all that Dook had to overcome", the more I wanted to see Hop finish it. I really do think the better team lost that game though.
Two of three EXCELLENT games in the final four! Until next year ...
You're either showing your true ACC colors again, or showing how much you've gotten away from following lacrosse ... or both!!
"Duke had never really been good at lacrosse until the last few years"??? I've lived down here since '90 and they've been a top 10 team most of those years. They still haven't cracked that "elite" status, but they've been knocking on the final four door for quite a while.
"the devestation of the rape case" didn't hurt them much this year because they had so many upperclassman. I think they'll feel it starting next year, for a couple years until they can recover from the down recruiting year.
"Cornell (where the hell did they come from this year?)" What??? Remove those ACC blinders young man!! Cornell's program has been extremely strong for the past 10+ years, and let's face it, lax is still very much a game where a single stud on the offensive end can make a huge difference. Seibald's a legit Tawaarton Trophy finalist!
In all honesty, I felt the Dook/Cornell semi was essentially the NC game this year. They were far and above the best two teams throughout the season. I did feel Dook was playing better ball going in, so was a little surprised to see Cornell mount that comeback. Aweful defense off that final face-off ... they let dook walk the ball right across the restraining line with no pressure whatsoever ... you just can't do that with guys like Danowski and Greer on the field.
I think Dook was feeling a bit vulnerable going into the championship game, but Hopkins won that final at the face-off x in the first half! They completely took the Dookies out of their game.
Not sure if you saw Hopkins play other than that Delaware game, but to say that "they just don't have much offense" suggests you did not. Rabil and Peyser are incredible breaking down a defense on their own, let alone in the offensive set.
What you saw in the Delaware game was a gameplan to shut down a much bigger and faster offensive team (in Delaware), and a much more patient approach on offensive ... Delaware's defense had gotten them to the semi's ... I don't think it's realistic to have expected Hopkins to post 15 on 'em.
Believe it or not, I was actually pullin for the Dookies going into that final ... after they got by Cornell. Really didn't wanna' see Hop tie 'Cuse at winning their 9th NC. But the further the game went on, and the more I had to listen to the stories about "all that Dook had to overcome", the more I wanted to see Hop finish it. I really do think the better team lost that game though.
Two of three EXCELLENT games in the final four! Until next year ...
You're absolutely right that I didn't see much (any?) lax this year until the Final Four. I followed the season somewhat through game reports, but I freely admit to being uninformed.
What happened to the Cuse this year?
What happened to the Cuse this year?
Cuse ... tough call. I think if I had to point to any one thing, it would be that they were extremely inconsistent offensively. Both as a unit, and individuals. Some will suggest that the Defense was weak, but I actually don't think they were as bad as they have been ... and still won. D has never been SU's strength.
I'd really like to understand more of what's going on behind the scenes. Since Mikey (Powell) left, they seem to have struggled for an on-field leader, and I'm not sure what's up with the coaching staff. That's not to say I think they're doing a BAD job, but when a team with as much talent as they had finishes with a sub .500 record, you gotta' question it.
I'd really like to understand more of what's going on behind the scenes. Since Mikey (Powell) left, they seem to have struggled for an on-field leader, and I'm not sure what's up with the coaching staff. That's not to say I think they're doing a BAD job, but when a team with as much talent as they had finishes with a sub .500 record, you gotta' question it.
Yeah, I was thinking that it was likely a talent thing or maybe turnover in the coaching staff. Syracuse has always been loaded, so it's weird to see them struggle. But then, Virginia had that season in '05 where they collapsed. They were very good in '04, great in '06, but bad in '05. It happens sometimes.
BTW, I finally watched all of the final last night (I only saw parts live). Duke lost that game in the first quarter and a half. Hopkins took the first nine(!!!) faceoffs and Duke just seemed flat. Also, I don't know what was up with Danowski, but he just didn't seem as aggressive and that took both him and Greer out of the game. I'm gonna have to assume that it was just good defense.
Still, they were right there and had the momentum late. That final bad pass by the keeper was the killer. You just can't make a bad pass there. Hopkins turned it right around for a point blank goal that ended up as the game-winner.
BTW, what's up with pads getting smaller and smaller? The gloves and arm pads leave a hell of a lot of exposed arms these days. I don't understand that. You'd think with better technology they'd be able to cover MORE and still be light and flexible, not less. Man, back in the day, my shoulderpads, arm pads and gloves covered my whole arms and I still got bruises. I can't imagine playing attack with 3-4 inch sections of my arm uncovered. Guys would just tee off on that skin!
BTW, I finally watched all of the final last night (I only saw parts live). Duke lost that game in the first quarter and a half. Hopkins took the first nine(!!!) faceoffs and Duke just seemed flat. Also, I don't know what was up with Danowski, but he just didn't seem as aggressive and that took both him and Greer out of the game. I'm gonna have to assume that it was just good defense.
Still, they were right there and had the momentum late. That final bad pass by the keeper was the killer. You just can't make a bad pass there. Hopkins turned it right around for a point blank goal that ended up as the game-winner.
BTW, what's up with pads getting smaller and smaller? The gloves and arm pads leave a hell of a lot of exposed arms these days. I don't understand that. You'd think with better technology they'd be able to cover MORE and still be light and flexible, not less. Man, back in the day, my shoulderpads, arm pads and gloves covered my whole arms and I still got bruises. I can't imagine playing attack with 3-4 inch sections of my arm uncovered. Guys would just tee off on that skin!
Funny you mention the pads and gloves. I was just looking at some pics of my high-school team (they're playing West Genesee in the sectional finals ... WG's #1 in the state ... again!) and I noticed how small their gloves were. I've tried a pair on at Dick's ... it feels like you're wearing a pair of leather work gloves when you grab the stick. And it seems like a lot of these guys don't even wear elbow pads at all anymore.
Think about what a D1 game looked like 15 years ago though, and compare it to today (not counting championship weekend ... completely different officiating). I've pointed out for years that the game has become MUCH less physical. It seems like at least half the ground balls anymore result in possession from a push or a hold call. Don't know the last time I've seen someone get layed out going for a ground ball, and NOT see it called as some sort of a foul.
Even stick checking isn't there. What's the point though ... it's near impossible to get the ball out of these pinched sticks. I'm a bit fan of the upcoming rules changes on that ... It's just way too easy to maintain possession with today's equipment.
Think about what a D1 game looked like 15 years ago though, and compare it to today (not counting championship weekend ... completely different officiating). I've pointed out for years that the game has become MUCH less physical. It seems like at least half the ground balls anymore result in possession from a push or a hold call. Don't know the last time I've seen someone get layed out going for a ground ball, and NOT see it called as some sort of a foul.
Even stick checking isn't there. What's the point though ... it's near impossible to get the ball out of these pinched sticks. I'm a bit fan of the upcoming rules changes on that ... It's just way too easy to maintain possession with today's equipment.
I saw where UVA's Lacrosse team won the best sportsmanship award this year. Then, I saw something in a link from the ACCBasketblog about a UVA player going to the Princeton campus and beating the holy snot out of another student there. A Princeton lacrosse player also joined in the beating, but both were arrested and charged with aggrevated assault. The Princeton player was dismissed from school for beating this one person previously. So, with the UVA award just given yet a graduating senior being arrested for aggrevated assault, could this give Lacrosse an even greater black eye? I mean, it seems you can't even find a good guy in this mess. UVA's coach has been LOUD about the unfairness of the NCAA granting the extra year back to Duke while everyone in the world is just looking to say how sorry they are for being unfair to Duke specifically and Lacrosse in general and then... UVA ...gets the award for being the Good Guys and then... bam. Knock out.
I don't know anything about that beating, but if true, there's no excuse.
As for the extra year, I actually agree coach Starsia. While it really sucks what happened to Duke lax last year, it wasn't the fault of the NCAA or any other program. That Duke team did play a large hunk of their season, so it's not even the same as a redshirt injury. Given the NCAA's history of stinginess with extra years it really was a surprising decision.
Practically speaking though, I'm not sure if it will really help Duke much. Most of the guys who lost their final year, or even penultimate year, have already moved on. The decision came too late for them. For the other guys, they can take the year but what impact will it have on Duke recruiting? It might be hard to recruit if you don't have any empty spots.
Posted by Dave at May 18, 2007 04:24 PM
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As for the extra year, I actually agree coach Starsia. While it really sucks what happened to Duke lax last year, it wasn't the fault of the NCAA or any other program. That Duke team did play a large hunk of their season, so it's not even the same as a redshirt injury. Given the NCAA's history of stinginess with extra years it really was a surprising decision.
Practically speaking though, I'm not sure if it will really help Duke much. Most of the guys who lost their final year, or even penultimate year, have already moved on. The decision came too late for them. For the other guys, they can take the year but what impact will it have on Duke recruiting? It might be hard to recruit if you don't have any empty spots.
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