That's right, it's NEC men's poll day!
I'll have the breakdown tommorrow.
JJ
By the way, still don't know if I should leave comments under other comments or make new posts, which do you guys like better?
Anyway, JJ, we agree on every point but 1. I have no objection with "upsetting the apple cart," but it's not going to change anything. The reason there's no new building has nothing to do with Central not knowing people want one or thinking it's pointless.
It's all about $$. And in this day and age, the state isn't helping, either. I go back to my plan from last year. CCSU should start promoting the building's history. The building is old. Darn right it's old. Talk about the great things that happened there. Heck, just in my 5 or so years there was an NEC title game, two of the best high school games I've ever seen, DA's shot and a 4-ot classic. And that's just off the top of my head.
They really should start plugging historic Detrick Gym.
Anyway, JJ, we agree on every point but 1. I have no objection with "upsetting the apple cart," but it's not going to change anything. The reason there's no new building has nothing to do with Central not knowing people want one or thinking it's pointless.
It's all about $$. And in this day and age, the state isn't helping, either. I go back to my plan from last year. CCSU should start promoting the building's history. The building is old. Darn right it's old. Talk about the great things that happened there. Heck, just in my 5 or so years there was an NEC title game, two of the best high school games I've ever seen, DA's shot and a 4-ot classic. And that's just off the top of my head.
They really should start plugging historic Detrick Gym.
New building and coach
Let's preface this by saying I don't think coach Dickenman is going anywhere.
That said, JJ I don't disagree that a new building would help, but I do disagree with the notion that it's coming. I have no reason to think it's coming at all. So the key will be finding a coach willing to keep this thing going and not for a stepping stone. A young guy with ties to the area or program would be ideal. We'll see.
Again, I have no reason to think there's any reason to worry about this in the short term, so no one panic. I just was answering a question.
That said, JJ I don't disagree that a new building would help, but I do disagree with the notion that it's coming. I have no reason to think it's coming at all. So the key will be finding a coach willing to keep this thing going and not for a stepping stone. A young guy with ties to the area or program would be ideal. We'll see.
Again, I have no reason to think there's any reason to worry about this in the short term, so no one panic. I just was answering a question.
News and notes
I will be doing that fields story soon, just a matter of timing, lots of other job-related things going on these days.
There was a notebook Thursday, and Gameday is in there for Saturday's paper.
Mac did hint that he might do something "different" at QB this week, so we'll have to see.
Finally, to answer JJ's question:
What the heck, I'll say it again. Even if I get yelled at, it'll get us off the QB discussion for a minute, which can't hurt.
No, I don't think CCSU needs a new gym to compete. Would it help? Yes. Would it be nice? Tremendously so. Does Howie Dickenman need it to win? No. Could Howie Dickenman coach five kids off the street, play home games in a barn and have the team reach its full potential by March? Yup. He's that good.
Now before you get all over me, do two things: 1) read above. I said a new building would help. 2) Remember the great center debate of last year. I didn't say having Shaq wouldn't help, just that it isn't necessary to win.
A new Stanley Arena with Dickenman Court would help, but where CCSU plays its home games won't decide the NEC title come March. Point guard play will.
There was a notebook Thursday, and Gameday is in there for Saturday's paper.
Mac did hint that he might do something "different" at QB this week, so we'll have to see.
Finally, to answer JJ's question:
What the heck, I'll say it again. Even if I get yelled at, it'll get us off the QB discussion for a minute, which can't hurt.
No, I don't think CCSU needs a new gym to compete. Would it help? Yes. Would it be nice? Tremendously so. Does Howie Dickenman need it to win? No. Could Howie Dickenman coach five kids off the street, play home games in a barn and have the team reach its full potential by March? Yup. He's that good.
Now before you get all over me, do two things: 1) read above. I said a new building would help. 2) Remember the great center debate of last year. I didn't say having Shaq wouldn't help, just that it isn't necessary to win.
A new Stanley Arena with Dickenman Court would help, but where CCSU plays its home games won't decide the NEC title come March. Point guard play will.
No HS finals at Detrick
According to our sister paper the New Haven Register, all the CIAC state finals will be held at Mohegan Sun this year. Both finals will be on the same weekend, Friday-Sunday.
The main reason is that last year's LL game drew 7,000 plus to Gampel, something Detrick Gym can't handle.
The main reason is that last year's LL game drew 7,000 plus to Gampel, something Detrick Gym can't handle.
What a day Sunday
I have to say that one of my favorite days of the year covering CCSU is women's soccer's Senior Day. The kids put so much into it and that program always seems to be so tight-knit, it's always fun.
This year, with Erin Herd coming back from an ACL issue to play on her Senior Day was particularly special. If you don't watch the soccer team, you still likely know Herd if you read this blog. She's one starting the "CCSSSSSSSS-U" chant at, well, everything.
Herd, Hannah Bromley and Berlin's Jill Kusek (sorry Jill, you will forever be a Redcoat to this old reporter, just ask "Southington's Sean Salvatore") are class kids and great athletes; everything college sports should be about. And I get to cover them and all the kids at Central who are like them.
Sometimes I love my job. As they'd say in soccer, "Well done," girls.
This year, with Erin Herd coming back from an ACL issue to play on her Senior Day was particularly special. If you don't watch the soccer team, you still likely know Herd if you read this blog. She's one starting the "CCSSSSSSSS-U" chant at, well, everything.
Herd, Hannah Bromley and Berlin's Jill Kusek (sorry Jill, you will forever be a Redcoat to this old reporter, just ask "Southington's Sean Salvatore") are class kids and great athletes; everything college sports should be about. And I get to cover them and all the kids at Central who are like them.
Sometimes I love my job. As they'd say in soccer, "Well done," girls.
Behind the curtain
Regarding the little AP blurbs for hoops: I write those for the home games and the occasional road game. You're better off reading the full version in the Herald.
(This shameless plug brought to you by Cherry Pepsi and the New York Jets.)
Btw, we're currently (tentatively) planning full coverage of opening night. Should be fun.
Bonus NBA picks (so I'll have them on record for Ryan come April):
EAST
(in order of finish)
Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Detroit, Orlando, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee. Outside looking in: Wizards, Atlanta.
WEST:
New Orleans, LA, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah, Golden State, Denver. Outside looking in: Dallas and a vastly-improved Minnesota.
Playoffs:
East first round winners: Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Orlando. 2nd Round: Boston, Cleveland. Conference Finals: Boston.
West first round winners: NO, LA, Houston, San Antonio. 2nd Round: San Antonio, Houston. Conference Finals: Houston.
Finals: Boston over Houston in 6.
Back to your regularly scheduled Central programming: NEC picks in this space soon, planning my previews for the day before the seasons start for each team.
(This shameless plug brought to you by Cherry Pepsi and the New York Jets.)
Btw, we're currently (tentatively) planning full coverage of opening night. Should be fun.
Bonus NBA picks (so I'll have them on record for Ryan come April):
EAST
(in order of finish)
Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Detroit, Orlando, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee. Outside looking in: Wizards, Atlanta.
WEST:
New Orleans, LA, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah, Golden State, Denver. Outside looking in: Dallas and a vastly-improved Minnesota.
Playoffs:
East first round winners: Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Orlando. 2nd Round: Boston, Cleveland. Conference Finals: Boston.
West first round winners: NO, LA, Houston, San Antonio. 2nd Round: San Antonio, Houston. Conference Finals: Houston.
Finals: Boston over Houston in 6.
Back to your regularly scheduled Central programming: NEC picks in this space soon, planning my previews for the day before the seasons start for each team.
I was just making a point
Hud,
I picked the most extreme example in order to make my point... of course you can't completely eliminate the pass every week. I was just trying to point out that there's more than one formula to winning.
I'm not against the spread, it's a perfectly good offense, and a lot of teams use it. My argument is only with the position that it is the be-all-end-all and that no other approach can work. That's the only reason I mentioned Navy, to show those who have been emailing me saying that CCSU MUST be pass-first that the Devils really don't.
It's like the basketball recruiting argument we had last year. I wasn't saying that getting a big center was a bad idea, just that you don't need the college version of Shaq to win the NEC.
But since you brought up Rich Rod... notice that since he got to Michigan they started losing, and the fans there hate him from what I've heard for changing the vaunted "Michigan Way."
Perhaps a better example: Charlie Weis' offense stopped being so brilliant when he left Brady and company.
Here's a suggestion for my friends on the board and throughout HeraldLand: Since we know (and if you don't know it, just trust me) that the Blue Devils have no intention of becoming a pass-first program, at least in the foreseeable future, come up with ways to make the run-first plan more successful.
I picked the most extreme example in order to make my point... of course you can't completely eliminate the pass every week. I was just trying to point out that there's more than one formula to winning.
I'm not against the spread, it's a perfectly good offense, and a lot of teams use it. My argument is only with the position that it is the be-all-end-all and that no other approach can work. That's the only reason I mentioned Navy, to show those who have been emailing me saying that CCSU MUST be pass-first that the Devils really don't.
It's like the basketball recruiting argument we had last year. I wasn't saying that getting a big center was a bad idea, just that you don't need the college version of Shaq to win the NEC.
But since you brought up Rich Rod... notice that since he got to Michigan they started losing, and the fans there hate him from what I've heard for changing the vaunted "Michigan Way."
Perhaps a better example: Charlie Weis' offense stopped being so brilliant when he left Brady and company.
Here's a suggestion for my friends on the board and throughout HeraldLand: Since we know (and if you don't know it, just trust me) that the Blue Devils have no intention of becoming a pass-first program, at least in the foreseeable future, come up with ways to make the run-first plan more successful.
It's about execution, not strategy
Your nugget of the day:
Navy beat SMU 34-7 on Saturday. It ran 77 plays on offense.
They were all runs.
That's 77 plays, 0 pass attempts, 34 points.
My point: You don't need fancy spread offenses with long bombs. You can win with well-called runs and execution by the offense.
(For the record, I'm not advocating Central go to the wishbone, just pointing out that there's more than one way to get something done.)
Navy beat SMU 34-7 on Saturday. It ran 77 plays on offense.
They were all runs.
That's 77 plays, 0 pass attempts, 34 points.
My point: You don't need fancy spread offenses with long bombs. You can win with well-called runs and execution by the offense.
(For the record, I'm not advocating Central go to the wishbone, just pointing out that there's more than one way to get something done.)
An update and a question
1) I'll have the lowdown on the fields next week, just have to set up a time to talk to CJ.
2) Since the season is coming, give me some suggestions on what kind of stuff you want to see for basketball coverage this year, either in the paper or on here.
2) Since the season is coming, give me some suggestions on what kind of stuff you want to see for basketball coverage this year, either in the paper or on here.
The menu for the weekend
Friday's paper: A couple notebook items... I have an interesting story from Coach D. I wanted to share, and some football stuff.
Saturday's paper: CCSU Gameday for the Monmouth game, women's soccer coverage. The Blue Devils are going for at least 2nd in the league with a good run this weekend.
Sunday's paper
Football coverage.
Monday: Women's soccer, maybe football stuff.
Not as crazy as last weekend, but a good amount on tap for you.
By the way, since I know you're going to ask: The Qb is a "gametime decision," but I'd be stunned if anything was different. One will start, the other will play.
Saturday's paper: CCSU Gameday for the Monmouth game, women's soccer coverage. The Blue Devils are going for at least 2nd in the league with a good run this weekend.
Sunday's paper
Football coverage.
Monday: Women's soccer, maybe football stuff.
Not as crazy as last weekend, but a good amount on tap for you.
By the way, since I know you're going to ask: The Qb is a "gametime decision," but I'd be stunned if anything was different. One will start, the other will play.
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