Final thoughts

Well, maybe these Blue Devils are like the Colts after all.
Ok, not quite, but a very nice effort in the second half. I figured the game was over after the fake (which CCSU is now 4-for-4 on in Coach Mac's tenure), but it was a solid finish by the starters.
The reserves have tons of work to do, obviously, but they're very young and will get valuable experience from games likes this. Still, it would be nice if Central didn't let these teams get close, but a win is a win.
I'd never disrespect the work the players and coaches put in every week by calling next week meaningless, but the main concern against Stony Brook will be making sure the Devils don't suffer any injuries.

One aside. I should have written this by now, but I haven't yet, so let me make up for it now. I've been impressed with the way the Blue Devils have presented themselves this season. Guys like Jo Jo Freeman, Ryan Holmes and Ernie Greywacz have answered every question, even the tough ones, with class, respect, and intelligence.

They've been a pleasure to work with this season, win or lose. They're never rushing to get away, no question is too stupid (or can be asked too many times), and no weird circumstance (a broken tape and a sudden case of the stutters come to mind for me) has caused them any outward annoyance.
They're truly a group you guys should be proud to root for.

Halftime hits

Well, good and bad for the Blue Devils so far. They're moving the ball and forcing turnovers, but those turnovers are masking the fact that the Pioneers did a decent job moving the ball in the first half.
We all called the fake field goal up here in the booth, but it was a great bit of execution by Central. Keep this going for one more half, get the job done and get ready for next week's tuneup for the big one in two weeks.

P.S.

Quinnipiac just tied their match with SFNY, so Central needs only to win on Sunday (2 p.m. at home) to make the NEC tournament.

Friday fun

Gameday's done and ready for you guys to read in the morning before you head to the game. They're expecting a big crowd.... they've moved bleachers (I believe from the old softball field) over to behind the end zone by the road, so there's some more room.
Speaking of fans, your Blue Devils need you this weekend. First off, the football team has a gut-check Saturday, and can use a full house. There will be a time, especially early, when the team will need the crowd behind it as it looks to save its season.

Another team that needs some love is the men's soccer team. Senior day is Sunday, and the Blue Devils are playing for their playoff lives. After they were jobbed of two points in a NEC conference room against FDU then suffered a pair of tough losses, the Blue Devils needed to win their last five games just to have a chance at the playoffs.
Well, they've won four, and have one to go on Sunday. They win and get a Quinnipiac loss or tie in its next two games (the Bobcats were winning at last check before I wrote this), and they're in. This is a team that had every excuse to lay down, and instead is playing for a shot at the playoffs. They deserve all kinds of respect for what they've done, no matter what happens.

Hoops thoughts

O.k., you guys kept hounding me, so I figured I'd finally chime in on hoops. I've started my work for the preview, in fact it's almost ready to be written. We'll have tons of good stuff in the paper, so make sure you pick that up. I'll let you know when it's going to run.

Some early observations from talking to coach Dickenman and seeing the team practice. First off, Tristan Blackwood is a machine. Gosh that kid is the real deal. Nicest kid you're ever going to meet, too. He'll likely be at the point. I have a feeling he'll be an Iverson-type point, though. If possible, his shot looks even better this year.

Dannie will be back, and I think he'll be more confident this year. He'll never be a big scorer, but he'll be a very good defender and able to help out for good stretches at a time.

I talked to Joe the other day, and he seems much more comfortable. I think he's ready to take on more responsibility.

The newcomers are intriguing. Coach is right, Ken Horton looks like a young Donyell. Now, obviously he has leaps and bounds to go to even be close to that level as a player, but in terms of the way he carries himself, it's a scary resemblance.

There's a few guys banged up right now, but I like their potential. There are some big bodies, and certainly more depth than last year. I'm not saying there's the same quality yet, but the quantity is better. If some of them pan out (and a couple show some serious offensive potential) this team has a chance to be better than we think.
There are a couple of potential rebounders, a couple of people to play point, and some potential scorers. If any of the new guys can contribute right away, CCSU will be in good shape.

The key will be defense. The Blue Devils need to find five guys to stop the other team at key times. If that happens, this year could be far from lost.

We'll have plenty more before the season, just wanted to give you a quick progress report. The main thing to take from this blurb is that Coach may have some options, especially by the time NEC play rolls around.

Thoughts on the weekend

Some quick hits. Since I didn't finish my football thoughts yesterday, let me start there. Just an awful defensive performance. Sinisi was a tough runner, and Monmouth's offense was confusing, but that shouldn't stop you from tackling.
Not to be left out, the offense also needs some abuse. Putting up 36 points is nice, but six turnovers isn't. The worst part is most of them weren't really forced.
As for the offense, here's my weekly plea to you the fans. Remember, coaches spend the entire week breaking down film of both the opposition and their team, both from games and practice. Things are discussed, gone over, worked on, then gone over again.
Plays are called for reasons, and not becauuse a coach likes or dislikes a certain player. If the CCSU staff had evidence that the passing game would be more effective if it were used more, it would use five wideouts on every play. The Blue Devils are a run-first team because that style best fits the strengths of this particular team. As boring as you might all find it, winning ugly is better than losing just to try and be exciting.
You'll see some passing to mix things up, but it won't be what you guys seem to be calling for. Nor, in my opinion, should it be. Monmouth couldn't run Central's offense and Central wouldn't have the same success running Monmouth's. You can't just say, oh, that looks good, let's do that.
As for the one comment I read this week about practice... I can assure you that both offense and defense are practiced. The Devils didn't forget to work on it last week.
The women's soccer team has turned it on at just the right time, and very well could host the NEC tournament in two weeks in New Britain. The men also deserve to be commended. What a run it's on when it was needed most. Now they have two home games with the season on the line. It wasn't long ago that such a scenario seemed impossible.
Volleyball keeps rolling, things could be VERY busy around here in two weeks.
I'm also doing all my prep work for basketball right now, lots to come soon.

A quick aside from a Nation member

I usually leave the non CCSU sports talk to Ryan (check out his blog on the Herald's main site, the kid is smart and funny and talented) but I had to chime in after something I just saw.
First off, if you've met me, you know I'm a big Sox fan. I won't waste time bragging, but I saw a moment during the party that defines why we love sports so much.
Tim Wakefield, who told the Sox to give his spot on the roster to Jon Lester because Wakefield's shoulder would only allow him to pitch once and the Sox might need help later on in the series, was being interviewed on NESN.
As he was talking, Mike Timlin came over, and on live television, interrupted to talk about what a class act Wakefield was and how much he meant to the other players both personally and professionally. Then, two men who are both in their 40s and set for life financially, shared tears and a hug.
That's what this is all about. This was the kind of moment that makes us care so much.
Yes, all of these guys have tons of money, or will someday soon. But for as jaded as we get about tickets and salaries and the competition between fans and writers and bloggers, it all comes down to moments. At the end of the day, we go through all we do in order to experience them.
In that moment, two men who spent the last eight months together more than they were with their families while fighting for the same goal embraced when they achieved that milestone. Neither cared about money. They weren't filming a commercial.
All that mattered was the moment.