dslyank

There comes a time when you got to show a little pride and gumption, step up and say If you want us, come and get us. There is no way we should be traveling to play @ NEC schools. Over the years we played far too many away games because University field was so inferior. Too many years we played only 5 or even 4 home games. How many years have we had only one and even zero home games in the month of September.

Bob Ford was interviewed at half time @ the BU game. He said we open the new stadium vs Rhode Island? Was this a mistake, did he mean the Caa opener is RI? I thought we opened the stadium vs CCSU? He did acknowledge that we would be playing CCSU and another NEC team but did not specify where. He also said we would be playing 7 away and only 5 home? {Why'd we build this place if we can not even get half our games at HOME?????} We also will be playing Old Dominion (away I assume) and 8 caa games (4 home 4 away). So if not CCSU, who and when is our other home game? Also, if here are 11 Caa teams, how come we only play 8?

Sometimes the basketball gods are just against you--BU's comeback actually started when Papale throws up a 25 foot shot looks like it going to be an air ball, hits the front of the rim, bounces straight-up with a weird back spin and somehow trickles in. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it in forty years of watching basketball. And the last play in regulation was almost like the basketball had a magnet in it with BU holding the iron. The ball just seemed to gravitate to them twice when I was sure we had it; I will have to watch the replay on tw, because I still do not know how BU got possession. Anyhow, I hope the team does not lose confidence, they actually played WELL--killed BU on the boards (40-29), forced BU into shooting badly (until the last several minutes and OT), had five guys in double figures--in short did everything but win (TO's did hurt though, especially early on)

If I am not mistaken, this goes immediately behind the goal post in the SOUTH end zone. Two questions: will there be an ancillary score board in the North end zone or corners or somewhere? AND what do they do with this scoreboard if/when they put seats in the south end zone? Responses sought from those in the KNOW, but reasonable guesses appreciated also.

Not much crazier than typing the women are 11 games over .500 - the two hoops teams are a combined 30-7 Not to kick a dead horse; but combine the 30-7 overall with a combined 10-1 in league play and $iena gets tu front page and 1/2 another for a 30 point beating. UA men and women get about 4 columns together.

I think we need to look at being 1 & 0 each of the next four games; and I am pretty sure (or at least hopeful) that is the way the coaches and team will be thinking. One game @ a time is more than just a cliche a this point. I see no reason why we cannot win them ALL. The team has already established itself as a contender for the league title with an impressive OC record against tough competition and good start in the AE. Now they just need to dispatch each game one team at a time. ps. yes I saw the VT game and so what, I still think we are the better team or at least certainly better than we showed that day

We WILL score a ton of goals; but the defense as it has been since our fall from "national attention" will be the QUESTION? A stud goal tender [even though I thought Huber played pretty well last year] is a start. But the guys in front of the net and the middie D's must do something different/better/tougher/faster/whatever???? I never played lacrosse but have seen every home and a number of away games in the D1 era and scoring goals has never/rarely been our problem. 19th nationally in goals scored per game but 58th allowed {anyone know how many D1 teams--I think < 70} last year. The new rules, speeding up play,limiting stalling and the sort of shot clock, should help our style, but we simply must find some guys who can play D and get the ball out of our end and to the scorers.

All I know about "O" & "D" is if you are good at both you should win most of your games; good at one and not the other probably win around half your games; and bad at both, well not too likely to win too often. So far this year, UA HAS BEEN pretty good at both, yesterday very bad at both hence the arse whipping. For those in panic, Vermont is not going to go 16-0, 10-6 would not surprise me. I have not seen brook yet, but I still feel UA (and yes I was at the game) is every good and perhaps better than VT. A lot of credit has been handed out to VT defense (and rightfully so) but many of our TO's were unforced and UA missed maybe 6-10 lay-ins {especially by the bigs, but also the guards missed a number of "easy" chances.} Combine that with some wide open 3's which we normally make +40% of the time, and all of a sudden you can not give 100% credit to VT's D. In other words we were bad at both and as I said that is why we got BEEEEEEAT. One last observation, it appeared to me UA players were slipping and sliding all over the place as if on ice, while VT. did not suffer this problem. Maybe they hold a practice or two on their ice rink to get use to these conditions [just kidding really?].

I really doubt that UA will attract any disgruntled or otherwise $iena fans. As Bob says, who needs them. Albany is starting to get a decent following in its own right. +2400 for a new years eve matinee with no students in town is not bad. Keep winning and when the students return, you will see ncaa years type crowds of 3000-4000. Maybe more. But the increase will not come from casual "$iena" fans (I am not even sure there is such a thing as a casual fan, or if there is, it is not a significant number). The numbers will come from +140,000 UA alumni and "casual" fans who finally realize what UA means tho the capital district, athletically and otherwise.

It seems to me that upper reserved may be better seats [better sight line and angle] than the MORE expensive lower reserved?????? Any of you stadium construction experts have any thoughts on this? Anyone know for instance @ what yard line range the lower reserved are at?? Again, I do not know how they can be out marketing seats, until questions like this can be answered???????

OK Jeff, I will give you some props for this. How about AE football? The above list gives seven football playing members. Add one or two football affiliates??

IIKO I agree on all three points. We probably did not deserve to win anyhow, but how can the tackle of Hooley be a no call (we did get awarded the ball which makes no sense since as I saw it, Hooley lost the ball out of bounds while being tackled). The last play was pretty much right in front of me and I thought it was no where even close to hitting the rim and I think the video bears that out---but what gets me , how can they not even attempt to review a game deciding call like that.

Click, Dane Pound and others, I asked the sight line question and preview seat selection question @ the 2012 opener. In addition, I had three other questions: 1. is the $1000 a one time assessment/donation or would it be required every year? 2. is it fair to give preference to someone who lays down $1000, over donors who have been giving for years and in many cases have given many more thousands over time?? 3. what do you do if the premium seats do not sell out (it is going to look pretty bad if your best section is empty [this happened at the new Yankee stadium and was very awkward resolving]). These question were posed in writing and have NOT been answered and I do not think they can legitimately market the new stadium before they are answered; and everyone should be asking these questions. Even if the answers are not popular they need to be addressed. Particularly #1--Is the cost of the seat $1140 per year? There are NCAA and perhaps legal ramifications to how this is answered (I know it is customary at many larger programs to have donor $ requirements, but this must be spelled out and made clear). Again if the seats don't sell what do you do in year two, give them away and give back the $1000 donated in year one? Besides being more fair to long time donors, UA needs to be CLEAR and FORTHRIGHT (legally and otherwise) and so far, they have been NOT.

with all due respect, it would have helped if you included the schedule in that post or at least provided a link to it. you just said "Lacrosse schedule released" and that was it. Mad dog, I said in my post the release and schedule were on the UA sports web site, which I felt anyone who reads this blog would know. It is also linked to this blog. But hear it is http://www.ualbanysports.com.

Also, like Phoenix I read the web posting on volleyball. Even though it was a little hard to figure out, if the second player mentioned was the #1 ranked girl in the country or just an individual from the #1 team in the country {either way looks like a great find and good class of recruits}, I think the site does a good job overall on reporting on ALL UA teams. In addition to basketball and football, I have season tickets to volleyball and Lacrosse, and believe me the attendance for those is SAD. But, I do not think you can blame UA marketing/web. I recently made a post on THIS blog concerning the Lacrosse schedule being on the UA web site; and did not get a single reply from the hundreds of "fans", who follow this blog. Now,I am not really trying to be critical, the interest is just not there for these other sports. So to complain about attendance for basketball and football {"the money sports"}, and to complain about UA marketing efforts, shows a lack of understanding of the Albany sports [or lack thereof] market.

Good job Phoenix. It looks like we are on track to break our all time season ticket average. The holiday and pre-conference attendance is always less. I can probably count on two hands the number of home games I have missed in 40 years, and I am actually pretty impressed with the crowds so far. With conference play and purple growl and the increased marketing that HAS been going on, I expect a huge second half. Charlie Voelker and his staff have been doing a great job of marketing the team, and if some people are not seeing this they are not paying attention.

What has happened to Guerrier's shot--0 for 6 yesterday? I have been nervous all year about Rowley getting too many minutes. The more other teams become aware of who he is and what he can do and what his limitations are (size and no shot) the more ineffective he will and is becoming. I still think Luke is the better choice; he's as tough, bigger obviously, and can hit the three if given the chance. I am thrilled about what Rowley brings each and every game, but his best weapon (besides his toughness) may be he surprises people, but the longer he his out there the element of surprise wears off . Hooley freshman or not is flat out GOOD, and will only get better. And at 8&2, who am I to complain about anything or any player. Keep it up Danes!

2013 schedule out (baseball also) but still no roster for lacrosse.

It is a LONG way until "I told you so". The only thing that really matters is that one ncca bid; but I did say last spring that UA would be fine and perhaps better without Suero. And right now we certainly look like a better team then last year!

I know I am in the minority, but I kind of like it AmEast football. Anyhow, I do not have "sources", but Monmouth or Wagner to maac makes NO SENSE at all, unless as someone said it is a ploy to get NEC to raise schollies????

Jumping on topic a little late; I was sky high Saturday night--AWESOME GAME!!!!!!! Wife took me down to earth with "honey do" list yesterday and this am. But now, I just want to say great game plan and preparation by coaching staff; great execution with poise and desire by the whole team. EVERY player contributed. Fans were awesome, student and otherwise {I never ever saw UA fans leave in mass in a close game with five minutes to go. UA fans-- students and otherwise, may be small in numbers as the TU complains, but we are knowledgeable, devoted and support our team to the end}. So now, in spite of a lot of negative TU $iena, I think like Patch said I'll just sit back and bask and enjoy the victory the team delivered.

5700 something @ TU last night; and figure Umass brought something (I don't know) but they are close and have an alumni presents, so say 700 to 1000. Predictions for 12000 Saturday (which I do not believe) and $iena says they are still doing us a favor by scheduling us. GET OUT OF CURRENT CONTRACT AND GET A BETTER DEAL NOW. Without us, they will be hard pressed to average 5000 per game this season.

They took the blog post down? Wow censorship. The post, toned down somewhat is in today's TU.

I agree 98%. Subtract 2% because I say get out of current contract and do something fair NOW>

I am glad Will does not read this blog, I would be disappointed and may be even a little embarrassed if he did read it. Bloggers are just arm chair quarterbacks who for years have been yelling and screaming at cathode ray tubes (pre plasma and lcd). Now we can vent and scream and yes make nonsense coaching opinions {more about how to coach and less about who should coach--I hope} and hear other arm chair qb's and their ideas. So coaches DO have better things to do than read our ramblings; but Wilkins and other writers better know, we are the ones buying newspapers (in print or online), buying sports magazines, watching ESPN etc (and buying/drinking the beer of the week or desiring the Lexus that drives itself so we can watch espn while we drive). We are the ones filling the stands and stadiums, and while the coaches need to be preparing their teams not reading our nonsense, writers have nothing better to do, or for that matter anything to do at all WITHOUT US.