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Post by sader1970 on Oct 23, 2021 21:27:40 GMT -5
Just back from the game. Polar Park is an outstanding new facility but really not suited especially well for football but it suffices. Pretty sure this game was more for the locals.
Son opined that if this game was at Fitton (daylight, of course seeing as we don't have lights) that between Family Day and all the Presidential Inauguration hoopla, we would have easily had 10,000 in the stands. I agreed. The campus was crowded. And saw on the webcams a little while ago that we must have had fireworks on campus.
Not sure how it came across on ESPN+ but while it was a typical HC game that people are slow to leave from the tailgates, the stadium got plenty full and, I thought, more enthusiastic than most games at Fitton.
As for the game itself, son & I agreed that the 'gate 10 points came from errors - the botched/fumble that practically gave them a TD but all they could get was a FG and, of course, the blown runback TD. Those really were on special teams.
No doubt that neither Sluka or Siderman are in the same ballpark as the QB for Merrimack but Sluka makes up for most of that with his legs. Siderman, I think, can improve with experience and has a very decent arm.
The strength this season is our running game. Peter Oliver reminds me of a smaller version of Larry Csonka. But he not only has power, he's shown especially on a couple of plays today that he can be shifty as well. I really, really like Fuller. He's like a younger version of Peter. When my son was telling about Fuller's stats during the game, I said that he really doesn't have a chance to get a lot of total yards because he is usually brought in when we are within 10 yards of the goal line. He's going to be a great one like his father.
But what was most satisfying for me was having watched Colgate for years "ice" games late because they had large RBs and a line that could grind it out and kill the clock eliminating any chance for our quick strike QBs like Dom to even get their hands on the ball for a comeback, the proverbial worm has turned.
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Post by saderfan1998 on Oct 23, 2021 21:32:46 GMT -5
A few thoughts after being there…
Overall…really fun. It is a nice facility with all of the amenities that come with it. Good cornerstone for a neighborhood on the path to revival.
Sight lines for football were quirky but not terrible. Offset by the novelty factor for an occasional game there.
I really like the the clear intention of HC to connect with Worcester. Happened to be heading back to the Union Station parking garage as mass was getting out at St. John’s. A parishioner asked the score, which I relayed…”Nice. Seems like they are good again”.
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 23, 2021 21:33:11 GMT -5
P.S. My seats were right in front of the press box with Kevin Shea & partner. I had binoculars and between that and a scoreboard with someone who knows how to run it (replays on virtually every play and sometimes from different angles), it wasn't bad at all.
The weirdest part was having both teams on the same side and presumably with an agreement, occasionally they stopped the clock so Colgate could get a bunch of defensive players on the opposite sideline as we got into the red zone along with an assistant coach there to make substitutions. Also curious if this "EBW Classic" is intended as an annual game at Polar Park. My impression was that this was not a one and done but no facts either way.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 23, 2021 21:35:56 GMT -5
The game presented well, as viewed on ESPN+
Few, beyond our normal curmudgeons should have a complaint about the quality of the broadcast this evening.
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Post by thecrossisback on Oct 23, 2021 21:40:23 GMT -5
Just got home that game was fantastic. My friends and I had a blast. Seats were really good at about the 50 yard line. The seats on the Worcester Wall looked really nice. Out of 27 games that was the best atmosphere with fans just into the game. (Loud) On the field complete domination. Gave them 10 points and it didn’t matter. Maybe Gate could have got their camera man in at quarterback? Oliver was great today! Edward Bennett Williams Classic Champs. He is smiling somewhere. 5-2 (2-0) See you in Bethlehem
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 23, 2021 22:30:26 GMT -5
Nice photos. To follow up on Kaftan's points, the receivers had opportunities to make great plays but like the long pass Coker couldn't reel in near the goal line, they didn't happen to make as many great plays as the runners did today. That could change in future games.
Also, curious how others feel about this question:
Which is more exciting:
A) a long run where the runner zig zags, jukes and slithers past multiple defenders or like Oliver today, runs them over and carries them, or
B) a long soaring pass completion
I would take A, but both are exciting.
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Post by HC92 on Oct 23, 2021 22:57:53 GMT -5
I was unable to go today but got to watch it on replay and thought we played a pretty complete game. One thing I didn’t like about the broadcast is that they didn’t really give you many (any?) good crowd shots so you couldn’t get a good sense of the crowd. Also didn’t seem to have microphones that would pick up the crowd well. Seemed pretty quiet on the broadcast. However, from those who were there, sounds like it was crowded and loud which is great.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 23, 2021 23:00:23 GMT -5
A2, run over and through them. Show total domination and have them on their heals, fearing the next play that they have to dive away to avoid contact and punishment. Rock em Sock em football. 😀
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Post by timholycross on Oct 24, 2021 10:17:36 GMT -5
A night game a year is great. I wonder if the future AAA schedules call for the season to go through September, like it did this year (previous to the pandemic, the regular seasons ended at Labor Day and then a couple weeks of playoffs; so Sept 15-20)....the earlier in the season the better in terms of warmer weather.
Maybe try to have Homecoming, Parents Weekend and "EBW Weekend" 3 different games; although they should exercise extreme caution in terms of making sure that nothing else interferes. Scheduling this game on, say, a Friday or Saturday that are part of the fall vacation would be foolish.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 24, 2021 12:05:57 GMT -5
I hope Georgetown can be the opponent for a future EBW Classic. Larry Lucchino mentioned EBW made him the head of Athletics at GU. I don't know if Larry was AD, as I don't recall that from previous articles about him, but there is some connection.
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 24, 2021 12:32:24 GMT -5
I hope Georgetown can be the opponent for a future EBW Classic. Larry Lucchino mentioned EBW made him the head of Athletics at GU. I don't know if Larry was AD, as I don't recall that from previous articles about him, but there is some connection. He was not an AD.
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Post by rgs318 on Oct 24, 2021 12:53:34 GMT -5
I was unable to go today but got to watch it on replay and thought we played a pretty complete game. One thing I didn’t like about the broadcast is that they didn’t really give you many (any?) good crowd shots so you couldn’t get a good sense of the crowd. Also didn’t seem to have microphones that would pick up the crowd well. Seemed pretty quiet on the broadcast. However, from those who were there, sounds like it was crowded and loud which is great. They had a few crowd shots early on. The first showed mostly open seats - right after the first score. The second showed most seats filled. I don't remember any after that. Yes, a mike to get the crowd noise is needed. On the broadcast it sounded pretty dull.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 24, 2021 13:32:53 GMT -5
I was unable to go today but got to watch it on replay and thought we played a pretty complete game. One thing I didn’t like about the broadcast is that they didn’t really give you many (any?) good crowd shots so you couldn’t get a good sense of the crowd. Also didn’t seem to have microphones that would pick up the crowd well. Seemed pretty quiet on the broadcast. However, from those who were there, sounds like it was crowded and loud which is great. They had a few crowd shots early on. The first showed mostly open seats - right after the first score. The second showed most seats filled. I don't remember any after that. Yes, a mike to get the crowd noise is needed. On the broadcast it sounded pretty dull. It was perfectly in tradition of camera locations at Fitton generally showing the visitor's stands and the vast emptiness of the end zone. Everytime I saw empty chair backs at Polar I wondered if those were '92s seats and felt bad for him again.😊 Work is needed to install camera locations at Fitton that span the home crowd whenever HC has a great play. Let's creep back into the entertainment business again. I got a call from a BC alumnus from Central Mass during the game. He was switching from the ACC network and Spectrum 1. He never would have rotated from BC-Louisville to HC-Colgate if he hadn't been caught up in the buzz surrounding this game at Polar.
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Post by timholycross on Oct 24, 2021 15:53:16 GMT -5
That's the third BC game that most people in Mass. cannot watch. Bad decision when you have an average (3-3) product.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 24, 2021 17:45:14 GMT -5
That's the third BC game that most people in Mass. cannot watch. Bad decision when you have an average (3-3) product. ACC network is on the Shrewsbury town cable system along with Spectrum 1, but apparently Central Mass Spectrum doesn't offer the ACC network on a regular basis. Other than BC fans, how many watch it? I think HC has a good deal with ESPN+, especially for dual HC and UFC fans. Anytime Spectrum 1 picks up the game it helps build a local fan base. Very positive that Kevin and Andy could negotiate the dual broadcasts because I think some cable networks (CBSSN?) have blocked that in the past, which is understandable. I inquired at the then Charter-3 many years ago about them picking up an HC game that was on an obscure cable network and was told the cable network wouldn't allow them to.
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Post by gks on Oct 24, 2021 17:47:08 GMT -5
That's the third BC game that most people in Mass. cannot watch. Bad decision when you have an average (3-3) product. ACC network is on the Shrewsbury town cable system along with Spectrum 1, but apparently Central Mass Spectrum doesn't offer the ACC network on a regular basis. Other than BC fans, how many watch it? I think HC has a good deal with ESPN+, especially for dual HC and UFC fans. Anytime Spectrum 1 picks up the game it helps build a local fan base. Very positive that Kevin and Andy could negotiate the dual broadcasts because I think some cable networks (CBSSN?) have blocked that in the past, which is understandable. I inquired at the then Charter-3 many years ago about them picking up an HC game that was on an obscure cable network and was told the cable network wouldn't allow them to. ACC network is on Spectrum Cable.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 24, 2021 18:34:58 GMT -5
ACC network is on the Shrewsbury town cable system along with Spectrum 1, but apparently Central Mass Spectrum doesn't offer the ACC network on a regular basis. Other than BC fans, how many watch it? I think HC has a good deal with ESPN+, especially for dual HC and UFC fans. Anytime Spectrum 1 picks up the game it helps build a local fan base. Very positive that Kevin and Andy could negotiate the dual broadcasts because I think some cable networks (CBSSN?) have blocked that in the past, which is understandable. I inquired at the then Charter-3 many years ago about them picking up an HC game that was on an obscure cable network and was told the cable network wouldn't allow them to. ACC network is on Spectrum Cable. Thanks.
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Post by timholycross on Oct 24, 2021 18:42:54 GMT -5
Comcast is the largest cable subscriber in the US and they don't offer the ACC Network. Not sure what the dispute is.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 24, 2021 19:12:05 GMT -5
Comcast is the largest cable subscriber in the US and they don't offer the ACC Network. Not sure what the dispute is. HC grad in charge of programming?
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Post by purplehaze on Oct 25, 2021 13:25:37 GMT -5
The Raiders play at Stanford and AWP next season - they are clearly not up to those challenges - I wish they would bow out of one of those and let us slide in - but such things don't happen
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 28, 2021 23:27:38 GMT -5
Just discovered this pod cast regarding the HC vs Colgate game last Saturday.
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Post by hc87 on Oct 28, 2021 23:59:25 GMT -5
That was really great.....thanks for posting.....so refreshing to see a younger guy with both the passion for HC football and a good grasp on college football history.
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Post by alum on Oct 29, 2021 4:57:47 GMT -5
ACC network is on Spectrum Cable. Thanks. I frequently find NESN, NESN+ and YES with ACC games.
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