Patch

From the very limited pictures I've seen: Wyatt actually looks healthy in the picture - hope he is in reality. A healthy Wyatt would really add to the Danes depth up front. He is physically a DI player who could have a big upside for us this year. Martin looks too lean!!! 15 or 20lbs would do him well. Hughes does look big - I hope he can adjust to DI play, I hear he is a kid who has had very little actual coaching and is somewhat raw. I am surprised Iati's arms were big enough for that tattoo, let's hope his shoulder will recover so he can start the season. Levi doesn't look 225 (he doesn't look it in person either) Knotts actually doesn't look 235 (which is very good)!! Jamar's body seems like it has really matured because his head looks very small and that wasn't so last season. Das Big Man is a tree (I saw him leaving the football game last weekend) and I hear so far he has been a pleasant surprise skill wise in practice.

DOWNTOWN - from what I hear it was an ankle turn and he is due to practice today. The only problem is the coaching staff really has to work with him on learning the offensive and defensive sets so any time lost by any of the new guys - hurts but hopefully all is well now.

Beautiful fall day at UA a fine turnout for the Homecoming. Even though I left just before the 3rd quarter ended The Danes man handled the Seawolves. The atmosphere at the game was great!!!

Unless something strange happens the last scholarship will got to a "Big" and probably a true "freshman" who we will have for 4 years. 2 years with Zoellner and 2 years to be the man inside. Of course if an offer comes that the coaching staff can't refuse and they can get a "special" player that's much better than the AE all bets are off.

Brent Wilson will probably put on some pounds and strength by next year and play mostly the 4. With his size and skills he'll make space for Zoellner on the offensive end and keep people from doubling down on "Das Big Man". Defensively he will be very able to defend AE 4 men and the Great Danes go from being the smallest front line in the AE to it's biggest in a flash!!!!!

professor - any idea of the extent of "Qs" injury is a a sprain, a break, etc.

How do you develop interest in a program if the fans don't know when the games are? I believe we are going to have 1 or 2 exhibition games and I guess no "open" intra squad scrimmage. Does anyone have any information? People complain that there's apathy on Campus when it comes to supporting our teams. I am of the belief we bring alot of that apathy upon ourselves because we do a very poor job of exposing the student body to what's going on within the program. The athletic department has to do more then hang up a few little posters around campus. I was just in a Price Chopper and they have Siena's schedule up and a promotion to support Siena Hoop. Last Year Siena's schedule and info were in almost all ot the Stewart Stores in the area.

Who is in charge of updating the UA site - here we are at the start of another season and we have last year's individual photos in Meet the Team. We have Frank Ross pictured as an assistant, and he's gone from the program. The website has to be kept up to date so prospects and their parents and coaches can get a view of what is on the team and where a recruit might fit in. If we are a year behind on the website it might be just enough to help us get out recruited.

Professor you're absolutely right - I made a mistake when I said perdicted double digit wins. Brown did say that was double digit wins would be a realistic goal. Let's hope that atleast two of the new Danes have success and play prominent roles as did Jamar and Levi last year. With that said - I don't expect any of them to score as well as Jamar or Levi.

The team finished second at the AAU Nationals in FLA. and just won the Hoops in the Heartland Tourney. They are so deep that their top scorer for the tourney was tied for the 23rd leading scorer in the tourney at 13ppg. The Most Outstanding Award went to Binnie and Meacham from Martin Bros. who have both commited to the Dayton Flyers. Evidently Wilson and Lillis kept good company this summer playing at a very high level of AAU competition on a very deep roster. Let's hope they bring that winning attitude with them to UA next year.

Coach Brown stated that double digit wins is a goal for this years team. He also said he felt the program was going in the right direction. I feel if we can survive this year with 11 or 12 wins that would be great because in 04/05 we will add 6 players who will all come in looking for minutes and a starting spot and with our top 6 or 7 returning the preseason practices should be wars!!!! In 04/05 everytime we take the floor with the exception of the "Money Games" we are going to have a decent chance to win.

Brent Wilson 16 pts including 4 from 3 and 6 rebounds in the championship game not a bad day at the office. He's playing for a very good well balanced team 6 have already committed. Brian Lillis did not play. He had a nagging injury which he had played through all summer. He's now resting it for his HS season.

Ruler you are now an IDIOT!!!!! I have done nothing but support the Football program as well as all the other Athletic Programs. I have stated I want them to go All Scholarship. I go to just about all FB home games. In fact I'm just a sports enthusiast I was at the Albany Invitational XC meet and the Field Hockey game this weekend. When the hoops team lays an egg I am the first to admit it. In Football, against good teams this year we have laid an egg!!!!!! No matter what sport "TURNOVERS KILL".!!!!!! With that said let's beat Stony Brook - BAD

Ruler what the Heck are you smoking???? How could you say we are the better team and could beat them 3 out of 5? Give Momouth the credit they deserve - they're better than us and they proved it on the field!!!! Jones got half his yards on one play other than that they ate him up!!!!! If our turnover situation was just this game maybe I could give your post some credence but we consistently turn the ball over each and every game. I have seen "ZERO" improvement in that area. When your QBs complete more passes to your opponent than they do to their teammates, and you don't get a firstdown in the first half you have problems. Take the 2 big plays away in the scoring drive and we mustered less than 100yds offensively. Yeah !!! We were really moving the ball. As much as I appreciate the job Ford has done I also wonder where he/or the Offensive Coordinator came up with that last "BIG" play which was ruled a lateral gone out of bounds and moved us right out position for at least a FG opportunity. Really original and tricky, especially with a QB with no skills. Our strength offensively is suppose to be smashed mouth Football and instead their "D" smashed us in the mouth and we backed down. "NO EXCUSES" the better team won!!! and we are left to play out the season for 2nd place. The HYPE is over - we are a "very decent team" playing in a "real crappy conference". Look at what we've done against the decent teams on our schedule.

How does the team look any surprises? Iati's shoulder and his ability to work out? Wyatt's health can he get through practice? Jamar's strength? Can Martin be an effective 4 man? Can Johnson or Cheese actually help us? Anybody from open tryouts invited to work out with the team? Is "Q" going to help? Has Knotts eaten himself off the team?

Turnovers Kill - we completed only 2 passes in the first half and they were both to Monmouth which led us to a 10-0 halftime deficit. A deficit we just couldn't make up in the second half. We are not a GREAT FB TEAM. We are a very decent NON-SCHLARSHIP school. No passing attack and our vaunted running game and huge offensive line couldn't muster a first down in the first half and our total offense was around 100yards for the game.

The Saints are wimps!!! They have everything in their favor and they try to portray playing us early in the season is an advantage to us. They're the team that took a Mexican jaunt and already have games and organized practices under their belt. They have 8 or 9 seasoned veterans back and a very good new group of recruits We on the other hand - could probably be starting Jamar and Levi and 3 newcomers, (one of which is rehabbing from surgery and might start practicing around Nov. 1). Most of the coming season we could see 5 Sophs/Freshman on th court at one time. We may also have to rely on contributions fro atleast 2 of our 3 walk ons. If we survive this meeting with a respectable showing that would be awesome because next year(04/05) we might be very, very competitive. Lets hope that Iati, Martin and Hughes are effective at the DI level.

Great post "Oldtimer" thanks for the history lesson. Like it or not you are now the Big Purple Fans" unofficial site Historian.

AMEN - DOWNTOWN!!!!!! Maybe appointing captains on a game to game basis, you need someone to deal with the refs on the floor and it can't be someone who is confrontational as it appeared Levi was a couple of times last season. This will be interesting how it works itself out.

Dane Pound there is a seniority problem. Which is why we as fans must be patient this year. When you look for a potential starting team you may find only freshman and sophs answering the call. Wilson(soph), Levine(soph), Iati(Fresh), Martin(Fresh), Hughes(soph elig.), "Q"(jr WO), Johnson(Fresh WO), Cheese(soph WO). Wyatt(jr),Pipikus(sr elig.), Knotts(soph) It's very hard when the team is so young. This causes problems both in experience and maturity. You would like your captains to be mature and responsible. It might be an honor for Jamar and Levi but do they need the burden of worrying about others when they are still struggling to make there own place.

DOWNTOWN - as much as I respect Dane Pound for his conservative approach and the balance he brings to this board. I agree with you wholeheartedly!!!! Dane Pound - think of the last 2 seasons. Wyatt was unable to play or limited by injury or illness more than he was healthy. I've heard he rarely ever gets through an entire practice. Make him a CAPTAIN ?????? In fact I've seen him ride a stationary bike more than I've seen him play basketball. The tough part about Wyatt is he looks like a stud and when he's healthy he even plays like a stud so we label him as having great potential. Let's see him practice and play everyday before we annoint him as a "LEADER"!

Dane Pound this is old news - Barnes has been working very hard for the Hoop Program. I think this is a sign that Brown is looking to build a program based on loyalty. Barnes was a good soldier when Brown took over and evidently Brown is showing the appreciation he has for the work effort of Brian. Remember Brown and the coaching staff also brought Lucius Jordan back to the Albany area and that should lead to some more local interest in 04/05. It's apparent to me that some good things are being done by our present basketball staff.

I have no idea what Coach Brown will do but other than the 2 sophs he has no one who has competed at a high level and no one who has won the respect of their teammates. Maybe he shouldn't name captains.

Wyatt doen't have a snowball's chance in hell of being named a captain!!!!!!

Dane Pound - I think it was at one of the basketball luncheons, last year, Brown said he would be one of the most travelled Head Coaches in DI. Willing to go anywhere anytime to get the players needed. From the early verbals it must be true and his assistants are doing the same.