BestDaneSinceHamlet

Can you post the YouTube link?

As long as she's better than Ki-Jana Carter, we're ok.

That makes...6? if link and Stire both sign? does that mean someone else is out?

Crappot, now this thing is completely frozen

For the record, I like the mismatched uniforms. They set us apart, like our mascot

I assume this is also on Dane Zone?

Couple of things. Was that Patsos who was screaming the whole time on the sideline almost drowning out the broadcast?

Also, Siena can talk all they want about high class, but they game wasn't even livecast on ESPN for stats, which I believe is a home team responsibility...

On the radio it sounds like as many Dane fans as Siena fans

Guys, guys. Let's not stoop to this level. Let's let the ball tell the truth and get back to real information, not misinformation.

Is the game being streamed anywhere?

Isn't that 6300 number also skewed because of the 10k plus they get for the UA game? What's their average gate without that game?

Full disclosure. I interviewed for this. Unfortunately my "go to the Buick and turn left" style of offense was nixed when they wouldn't let my father's car onto the field.

I agree with the Notre Dame analogy. To help recruiting, you HAVE to play the big boys. All Lacrosse players know the legacy of those schools. It's the same reason why Will Brown every year travels to one Mecca of college basketball, be it syracuse, duke, UNC, Kansas. It gives him a recruiting tool.

Would I like to see those schools come to UA? Yes, but if they won't do it now, that doesn't mean we should remove them from the schedule. I'll take an away against any of those schools vs. a home against Bellarmine or Bucknell any day.

It was more of a general thought than specific to anyone person. My apology for any ruffled fur

I agree. If you support them on the road, you support showing the local community that Albany IS the bigger draw in the area and the team to support. Financial support notwithstanding, if you show the players you support them, it will help recruiting in the future..

Anyone have a report on the scrimmage?

When we talked to the asst AD he said they haven't started interviewing and that was two weeks ago

Any info on a score of the Marist scrimmage? Points? Anything?

What happened to the Twitter feed at the top. I loved that function..and ..now that UA is all behind Damian..can we have him on the masthead. Thanks DanePound, btw..you do a great service running this thing.

D

Does anyone have any information on the exact nature of the improvements to SEFCU and when they are going to happen?

One other point that I forgot to make was where the stadium is positioned in relationship to visibility. If intentional, it was a brilliant move to have it rising up from Western Avenue as you drive by the campus. it looks fantastic from the street and really adds to the campus visual profile.

Crap, that should be returning Alumnus. Stupid grammar.

Folks,

For the first time since 1996, I set foot on the UAlbany campus. Jammaster and I (full disclosure, he was the best man at my wedding May 2012 and we graduated together back in 1995) stopped by on our way down from Burlington where he had to be for a work thing, and I joined him as part of my trip home from Cali.

Campus Overall:

The changes at the school are amazing in the last 17 years. I love how all the new construction now surrounds the old concrete campus and makes it seem more like a campus and less like a prison or an old set from Blade Runner. I love that the food in the campus center are local business vs. the KFC and Taco Bell that we had (which was an improvement since in 1993 we were voted worst food in America). I noticed about 1/5 of all students wearing some sort of UA gear; a huge leap up from when we went there. The LCs look great and I love the campaign showing all the interesting graduates from years past. Maybe one day I'll get one up there. The branding of the school as UAlbany is all over the place and they've done a great job beautifying and incorporating the school colors, etc.

They are redoing the fountain and it looks like it could be really cool. Bummer that Fountain Day is no more though. Used to be the best day of the year.

Athletic Facilities:

Wow, just wow. I was completely blown away. Not just by the new stadium but by the whole layout of the athletic campus in general. They put all the athletic facilities together, and in a real, not slapdash way. All of the facilities seem top notch, and its great how all of the major sports have their own new, or newish fields (excepting Soccer, which piggybacks at the Bofo). We went up to UVM the day before and every single thing that UA has blows away what they have at UVM. I can't imagine, based on facilities, how the A-East will be able to hold on to UA. The athletic program just seems at a whole 'other level; more akin to UMASS (minus the Mullins Center) than a school like UVM.

Damien Branding:

As the big proponent of using the cartoon dog, I am over the moon proud to say that Damien IS EVERYWHERE. Stuffed animals in the school store, on almost anything that is branding UA on the campus, on clothing, etc, and it WORKS.

A conversation with Associate Athletic Director Voelker

While we were checking out SEFCU we bumped into a guy who turned out to be the Assoc. Athletic Director, Charlie Voelker. Here's what we learned:

- They are actively using Damien, the reason why it didn't get used before was that the previous head of graphics hated it. Now each sport's coach can use it as they see fit, and most of them love it. It's why you see the Dane head on ESPN.com during the scoreboard. They see it as a great way to reach out to the community. They also do bring rescue danes to the basketball game. Not football though, since there was a dog biting incident a bit ago.

- Phase 2 of the stadium is pretty much planned. It's about getting the money and approval. We got a sense that he was a bit frustrated with the SUNY overlords and how long it takes for them to make decisions

- They are going to be putting in new videoboards and sprucing up SEFCU a bit. Don't think its a SB type arena makeover, but its a step in the right direction.

- He (as we are) doesn't love the U AT Albany thing they insist on using (a leftover from Hitchcock). He would much prefer they be Albany University, or University of Albany, as would many folks, but expressed frustration from the SUNY overlords on this one as well.

- A few of the athletic dept members read BPF, but not him. He made a good point that some of them worry too much about what 15-20 active people say, and that happens at other schools too.

Overall, the school is coming along nicely and is a huge leap forward from where we were when I was going there.

Second level above the doors leading into the gym. We sorta scurried out of there after the shouting

Was with poster Jammaster Jay on the Uvm campus today checking out Patrick Gym.

The team was in there practicing and as we poked out head in JMJ shouted (sorta) UA U Know. I think I saw some guy on the second level look down and sorta sneer.

Way to rep, Jay