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Post by rgs318 on May 4, 2020 5:36:15 GMT -5
Always the optimist, I feel it may be time to look at our first scheduled opponent in 2020 football. Merrimack went 6-5, posting a winning record in their first year as a D-1 team (their schedule was a mix with some D2 opponents remaining as they moved to D-1 full time). They lost 4 of their first 6 games (including close losses to CCSU and Lehigh), but they won 5 of their last 6 games. Their only loss in that string of wins was at home to URI (14-42). In their homecoming ing game vs Bryant, a record crowd (just over 10,000) saw the Warriors take an early lead (14-7), but lose it as they failed to hold on at the end.
They look young, but they have 20 redshirt players (most of whom are frosh who practiced with them all of last season). They also have three post-graduate players. On the year, they were 4-1 at home...where HC will play them.
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Post by rgs318 on May 4, 2020 5:42:45 GMT -5
It is very early, and the point spread may well change (I expect it to) as the season grows closer. Massey has HC as a 21 point favorite (34-13) with a 91% chance for the win. BUT, the Warriors, like our Crusaders, were never shut out last year and posted some big scores against Franklin Pierce (57-0) and Mayville State (78-7). I see this game (if it is played) as an HC win, but closer than this prediction. They appear to be a very emotional team who will be sky high when playing at home in their. opener. They still may be playing with a chip on their collective shoulder, trying to show they belong in D-1.
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Post by rgs318 on May 4, 2020 5:56:55 GMT -5
In their win over LIU, the following players had strong games (years are their 2020 year): #28 Matt Brehon RB 5' 9" 210 lbs Junior
#8 Christian Carter QB 6' 1" 205 lbs Junior
#43 Anthony Dandini TE/HB 6' 1" 250 lbs Redshirt Junior
#47 Cory Hagerman DL 6' 2" 260 lbs Junior
#2 Caleb Holden DB 5' 10" 180 lbs Senior
#6 Michael Mercuri LB 6' 1" 220 lbs Redshirt Senior
#52 Jake Ragusa LB 6' 0" 215 lbs Redshirt Senior
#19 Johnny Rosario WR 6' 4" 215 lbs Junior
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Post by rgs318 on May 4, 2020 6:03:46 GMT -5
QB Christian Carter (6'1" 205) was 2018 NE10 Rookie of the Year and has been the starting QB for the Warriors for the last two years. In 2019, he completed 188 passes in 339 attempts, with 15 TDs. He allowed 10 ints on the year - 3 each by URI and St Francis (PA).
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Merrimack
May 4, 2020 7:02:32 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by purplehaze on May 4, 2020 7:02:32 GMT -5
You have too much time on your hands
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Post by ndgradbuthcfan on May 4, 2020 7:11:30 GMT -5
Change "You and your" to "We all and our".
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Post by rgs318 on May 4, 2020 7:16:54 GMT -5
You have too much time on your hands Indeed...and being awake at 5:00 am I was in need of something to do.
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Merrimack
May 4, 2020 8:15:18 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on May 4, 2020 8:15:18 GMT -5
Always the optimist, I feel it may be time to look at our first scheduled opponent in 2020 football. Merrimack went 6-5, posting a winning record in their first year as a D-1 team (their schedule was a mix with some D2 opponents remaining as they moved to D-1 full time). They lost 4 of their first 6 games (including close losses to CCSU and Lehigh), but they won 5 of their last 6 games. Their only loss in that string of wins was at home to URI (14-42). In their homecoming ing game vs Bryant, a record crowd (just over 10,000) saw the Warriors take an early lead (14-7), but lose it as they failed to hold on at the end. They look young, but they have 20 redshirt players (most of whom are frosh who practiced with them all of last season). They also have three post-graduate players. On the year, they were 4-1 at home...where HC will play them. . The box score says the Bryant game attendance was over 10K, but Duane Stadium is listed as having a seating capacity of 3500 plus additional seating and amenities on a patio area. That's a big patio.
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Post by longsuffering on May 4, 2020 8:18:14 GMT -5
Packed stadiums seems so 2019, but the scientists have the pedal to the metal to develop a vaccine and treatments so let's be optimistic.
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Merrimack
May 4, 2020 13:42:05 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by hc2020 on May 4, 2020 13:42:05 GMT -5
Always the optimist, I feel it may be time to look at our first scheduled opponent in 2020 football. Merrimack went 6-5, posting a winning record in their first year as a D-1 team (their schedule was a mix with some D2 opponents remaining as they moved to D-1 full time). They lost 4 of their first 6 games (including close losses to CCSU and Lehigh), but they won 5 of their last 6 games. Their only loss in that string of wins was at home to URI (14-42). In their homecoming ing game vs Bryant, a record crowd (just over 10,000) saw the Warriors take an early lead (14-7), but lose it as they failed to hold on at the end. They look young, but they have 20 redshirt players (most of whom are frosh who practiced with them all of last season). They also have three post-graduate players. On the year, they were 4-1 at home...where HC will play them. . The box score says the Bryant game attendance was over 10K, but Duane Stadium is listed as having a seating capacity of 3500 plus additional seating and amenities on a patio area. That's a big patio. I could see a scenario where tickets are purposefully limited so that social distancing can be maintained in stadiums. Perhaps a lottery system for season ticket holders for each game, with comp. tickets provided to players, staff and administration making up the rest. Sounds weird, but the size of Fitton might enable more spectators than at some other venues.
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Post by hc87 on May 4, 2020 13:47:11 GMT -5
Sadly, I think the 1st evah meeting between these 2 fine institutions in football is on very shaky ground right now.
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Post by longsuffering on May 4, 2020 19:24:06 GMT -5
Outdoors in the warm late summer sun with six feet between spectators and with tailgating and concessions closed. Fans could stand six feet apart as they slowly file into and out of the stadium and bring their Flintstones Lunch Boxes. I'm starting to read now that outdoor transmission is much less likely than indoor. It seems the challenge is keeping participants in a gathering six feet away from each other so limited crowds, perhaps by lottery might work.
The players, coaches, refs, etc are another kettle of fish. They would have to be tested with only those who are negative being allowed to participate, I would think.
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Merrimack
May 5, 2020 19:16:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by nycrusader2010 on May 5, 2020 19:16:42 GMT -5
Always the optimist, I feel it may be time to look at our first scheduled opponent in 2020 football. Merrimack went 6-5, posting a winning record in their first year as a D-1 team (their schedule was a mix with some D2 opponents remaining as they moved to D-1 full time). They lost 4 of their first 6 games (including close losses to CCSU and Lehigh), but they won 5 of their last 6 games. Their only loss in that string of wins was at home to URI (14-42). In their homecoming ing game vs Bryant, a record crowd (just over 10,000) saw the Warriors take an early lead (14-7), but lose it as they failed to hold on at the end. They look young, but they have 20 redshirt players (most of whom are frosh who practiced with them all of last season). They also have three post-graduate players. On the year, they were 4-1 at home...where HC will play them. . The box score says the Bryant game attendance was over 10K, but Duane Stadium is listed as having a seating capacity of 3500 plus additional seating and amenities on a patio area. That's a big patio. Kind of how UNH has a Homecoming attendance in the 20,000 range every year...with a 9,000 seat stadium.
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Post by sader1970 on May 5, 2020 20:45:53 GMT -5
Actually, a shade over 11,000. Been there for a couple of HC games including their inaugural game in the revamped stadium. My recollection is there is an open field at one end zone that perhaps people sit at and might count towards game attendance but certainly not 9,000 more people. You sure you have your numbers right? unhwildcats.com/sports/2016/8/10/wildcat-stadium.aspx
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Merrimack
May 6, 2020 9:47:01 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by nycrusader2010 on May 6, 2020 9:47:01 GMT -5
Actually, a shade over 11,000. Been there for a couple of HC games including their inaugural game in the revamped stadium. My recollection is there is an open field at one end zone that perhaps people sit at and might count towards game attendance but certainly not 9,000 more people. You sure you have your numbers right? unhwildcats.com/sports/2016/8/10/wildcat-stadium.aspxUNH routinely reports Homecoming attendance in the 20K range because they make people buy tickets to the tailgate and count it as game ticket sales.
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Post by nhteamer on May 6, 2020 10:09:23 GMT -5
We should NEVER play a game like this.
ZERO upside.
Finite potential for DISASTROUS downside.
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Post by rgs318 on May 6, 2020 11:00:59 GMT -5
I read a post saying almost exactly the same thing a few seasons back about HC playing Monmouth. If the school scheduled this game against Monmouth, I have to believe they had a reason to do so. As a fan, it is not important for me to know why, although I would be interested. Maybe they see this as a potential future rivalry, perhaps it is just because it is close. Whatever the reason GO CROSS GO!
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on May 6, 2020 11:10:21 GMT -5
As I posted in another thread quite a while back this game is part of a multi-sport arrangement with MC, of which games included MC Men's hockey at the Hart this past Oct. and WBB at the Hart this past Nov.
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Post by rgs318 on May 6, 2020 11:22:06 GMT -5
CTP, thanks for the reminder. It puts this into perspective.
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Post by HC92 on May 6, 2020 11:42:03 GMT -5
I like the idea of multi-sport agreements where one school is a more attractive opponent in one sport and maybe less attractive in another sport. Merrimack and HC are a good match at the moment between football and hockey. Not sure how many other examples I could come up with if I tried. Probably not a huge number.
Leveraging associate football memberships in the PL for scheduling in other sports is another potential area of opportunity that has been raised here in the past. That would be easier to do if we had more football members. Can’t really afford to chase Fordham and GU away at the moment as that might mean the end of the auto-bid. And I think Fordham does play some PL schools in hoops each year. Just not HC for some reason.
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Post by rgs318 on May 6, 2020 11:50:29 GMT -5
Perhaps it is because Fordham has not beaten HC in this century (HC is riding a 6 game win streak through 2005),
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Post by timholycross on May 6, 2020 14:47:47 GMT -5
I like the idea of multi-sport agreements where one school is a more attractive opponent in one sport and maybe less attractive in another sport. Merrimack and HC are a good match at the moment between football and hockey. Not sure how many other examples I could come up with if I tried. Probably not a huge number. Leveraging associate football memberships in the PL for scheduling in other sports is another potential area of opportunity that has been raised here in the past. That would be easier to do if we had more football members. Can’t really afford to chase Fordham and GU away at the moment as that might mean the end of the auto-bid. And I think Fordham does play some PL schools in hoops each year. Just not HC for some reason. I really would like an 8th football team; think it's not a good thing that every 5th year HC (and the other schools not named Lehigh and Lafayette) wrap up their league schedule a week earlier than everyone else.
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Post by Tom on May 6, 2020 15:09:01 GMT -5
It seems the challenge is keeping participants in a gathering six feet away from each other so limited crowds, perhaps by lottery might work. The players, coaches, refs, etc are another kettle of fish. I would not have an issue with their defensive players socially distancing themselves from our players
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Post by nycrusader2010 on May 10, 2020 11:03:08 GMT -5
It appears that everyone who was upset about us playing "lowly" Merrimack on 9/5 will get their wish and this game most likely won't happen.
In other news, I had a dream on Friday night that I was at an HC/Air Force game in Colorado springs. I awoke from the dream with HC down 38-0 with about 2 minutes to go before halftime.
Also random: a couple months back I had a dream that we beat Navy in Annapolis in a rematch of last year's opener. Really low-scoring game -- 18-16 or something...and the game was played in a really old-looking field that looked nothing at all like Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
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Merrimack
May 10, 2020 13:31:21 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on May 10, 2020 13:31:21 GMT -5
It appears that everyone who was upset about us playing "lowly" Merrimack on 9/5 will get their wish and this game most likely won't happen. In other news, I had a dream on Friday night that I was at an HC/Air Force game in Colorado springs. I awoke from the dream with HC down 38-0 with about 2 minutes to go before halftime. Also random: a couple months back I had a dream that we beat Navy in Annapolis in a rematch of last year's opener. Really low-scoring game -- 18-16 or something...and the game was played in a really old-looking field that looked nothing at all like Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. We still have a shot in the second half of the Air Force game to go 2-0 against the service academies. A good omen for the upcoming season.🙂
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