Final tally

Sorry for the delay, had to finish my story. Well, other than the fact that they got out of it healthy and they didn't get totally destroyed, there's not too much to say about this one. Central played a better team and gave that team every chance to pull away. You can't do that and expect to be in the game.
I truly think things would have been different without the fumbles early, but I'm not sure it would have been enough for a win. Still, it's a good chance for the kids who get to play at the highest level.
Now the focus turns to the NEC. The real season starts two weeks from tonight.

First half thoughts

Well, there are only two. What a shame, and good job anyway.

Since the hideous start, it's 14-7 WMU. The problem is it was already 17-0. In Gameday I wrote that Central needed to avoid a bad start or risk being blown out, but if they played their game, the Blue Devils could certainly compete with WMU.

Unlike last week, I was right this time. Central has shown they can play with these guys, but it's likely too late. I would have loved to have seen what happened with a better start. The next 30 minutes are about pride now. You can hang around or you can get embarrassed. That would be my speech right now if I were coach Mac.

Some clarification

So I was reading a CCSU message board, and apparently I'm big enough now that people are curious about what I said on the blog the other day.
First off, thanks so much to all of you who not only have read this thing, but have taken an interest. Like I always say, I'm doing this for you guys. I don't get paid extra, so the only reason to keep it going is if you guys find it worthy.
Second, I feel badly if I've teased you guys about that story I've mentioned a couple times. My intention was to keep you informed, not mess with you. It is coming, my guess is this coming week. I'm waiting for an interview and one other thing. But I was saying it's coming to give you a heads up, not to be a jerk about it.
Like I said last week, I'm learning this whole blogging thing.
So to prove my good faith, let me tell you what the story is not. I saw the list of options in one post on the CCSUFans board. And again, I hope this comes across as helpful, not as a game or torture.
While this story is going to answer some questions I get asked all the time, it's not anything that's going to be picked up nationally. CCSU isn't joining the Big East (though it should, everyone else has). Bobby Knight isn't going to replace coach Dickenman (nor would I make that trade, personally).
It is something I know those who read this blog will be interested in, which is why I brought it up in the first place, but I wanted to make sure I didn't get you too worked up.

What to Watch For

Big notebook in the paper (and on the Herald website) Thursday.
Also, check out the Foudy story online for the full version. For space reasons, not everything I write gets into the paper, but it all goes online where we have unlimited room.

Also, that big story I teased is coming soon. Have an interview or two to do, but got the commitments to do them, so I've gone from hoping to have the story to I'm definitely going to have it. So it's coming soon. Hopefully I can answer some of the questions you've been asking me.

Women's soccer is home Friday and Sunday, with Sunday's game against Yale a big deal. I'd really encourage you to come out and see what is among the most successful programs at CCSU.

This is shaping up to be a big Fall. Volleyball looks good, women's soccer is doing its yearly improvement as the season goes on. Men's soccer has some good talent and size, while the football team has a chance to do something special on Saturday night and through the NEC season. I'm going to be a busy boy.

Quick Update

The notebook will be pushed back a day because I'm covering a pretty cool event at Central tonight instead. We'll have the notebook before the game (good stuff on Jo Jo, I swear) and of course a full preview on Saturday morning. Plus I'll blog some thoughts on the game before it takes place.
I can't do worse in my prediction than I did last week, right?

Quick hitters

O.K., so I'm home watching Raw, the Sox collapse and the Yanks (I'm not much of an NFL guy), so I thought I'd put up a couple tidbits.

Got this link sent to me from one of the people who makes me look smart, good pics from the game Saturday.

http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?ATCLID=1243313&SPSID=88585&SPID=10551&DB_OEM_ID=17600&PALBID=13284

Not surprised to see Jo Jo honored. It was well-deserved. More coming about him I believe in Wed.'s paper, if not Thursday. I'll let ya know when it's in.

Very good sign to see the NEC volleyball honors not only continuing to go to Blue Devils, but to young players. Bodes well not only for this year, but the future. Lauren Snyder and Amanda Bayer don't look like freshmen at all.

P.S.

I meant to make this the end of the previous post:

I'll be off most Mondays and Wednesdays, so I won't be posting much (if at all) on those days unless something big comes up. But don't worry, if anything ever breaks, we'll have it, even if I'm supposed to be off. I'm crazy like that.

Thanks as always for coming by this site. Hope you're enjoying it. Let me know what else you'd like me to add, and send me some more questions to fire away at (or to someone.) The response so far has been great, and I think you're going to like some things we're working on.

I'll tease you with this one little tidbit:
I've been working hard to get a specific answer (and a big story in the paper) on one of the questions I get asked the most by Blue Devil fans. I can't tell you when I'll have it (because I don't know, not because I'm hiding something), but I hope it's soon.
If so, it'll be in the paper, but I'll make sure you guys know where and when to look.

Enjoy this weather.

Random stuff

More coming for this week (check the notebook, likely in Wednesday's paper, there's good stuff this week), just wanted to check in so you guys didn't think I forgot about you.
Nice job by the women's soccer team Sunday. They're going to be, as always, tough to beat the longer they're together. By November, no one will want to play them.
Mick D'Arcy and Charlie Hickey remind me of each other in that way. Both have a knack of getting their teams playing their best come NEC Tournament time.
By the way, at the risk of sounding like an advertisement for the school, more of you really should come check out the soccer programs. For those who often complain about weak schedules in other sports, the women's soccer team will and does play everyone willing to give it a game. I write "nationally-ranked opponent" in reference to them more than anyone else.
Coach Green, back to full-health, has worked hard to get a buzz going around his men's program. He's working hard to get a student section, similar to what hoops teams do, set up and has brought in some sponsors. Hopefully the crowds won't wait until basketball season (or until the new fields are built) to come to New Britain.