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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jun 21, 2023 22:37:00 GMT -5
Substitute "artificial" for "phony"? Geez, get a life. You are the one that called it phony. Holy Cross is the massive outlier as I have documented multiple times in having a grass football field in New England. Yes, it is nice to be the best |
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jun 22, 2023 1:46:14 GMT -5
Boston University first installed artificial turf at Nickerson for the fall of 1970. HC played at BU on October 17, 1970. IIRC, it was a very rainy day and the turf had a residue that created soap bubbles when players slid on the field. Of note, the highest yards on a single play by a Holy Cross receiver occurred, with a pass completion by Colin Clapton to Eddie Jenkins of 99 yards. Also during the same game against BU, Joe Wilson had the most rushing yards gained in a single play of 94 yards. static.goholycross.com/custompages/oldsite/sports/m-footbl/2009-10/files/09fb-records.pdf |
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jun 22, 2023 1:55:46 GMT -5
Both Fitton and the football grass practice field at the top of Mt.St.James are in impeccable shape.
I was on the practice field at this most recent reunion weekend for the picnic, and it was very easy to walk on. Combined with the new surface now being installed on Fr.K field, and the surface in the Indoor Practice Facility, lower leg injuries should be mitigated. A luxury most football teams do not have regarding four different venues to either practice or conduct game day operations.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Jun 27, 2023 11:50:35 GMT -5
I was just looking at this schedule closer (nice to have six OOC games), and it got me thinking -- Best OOC slate since...?
Two Ivy games (H and Y), local New England CAA games (UNH and URI), a nearby game against Bryant, and then on the road against a team we have historically played frequently (Syracuse).
All games against quality opponents that are within a "drive" for most alums.
We often talk about what an OOC schedule should look like -- this seems damn close to a perfect one.
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Post by hcpride on Jun 27, 2023 12:45:24 GMT -5
I was just looking at this schedule closer (nice to have six OOC games), and it got me thinking -- Best OOC slate since...? Two Ivy games (H and Y), local New England CAA games (UNH and URI), a nearby game against Bryant, and then on the road against a team we have historically played frequently (Syracuse). All games against quality opponents that are within a "drive" for most alums. We often talk about what an OOC schedule should look like -- this seems damn close to a perfect one. A much better situation would be a competitive Patriot League. But a nice OOC (and this is a nice one) makes the best of a bad situation. Syracuse (a team we played pretty regularly 50 years ago) may be down a talented RB in 2024 (looks like he’s not playing in 2023): dailyorange.com/2023/06/syracuse-running-back-lequint-allen-issued-suspension-after-altercation/ |
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 27, 2023 17:28:52 GMT -5
I was just looking at this schedule closer (nice to have six OOC games), and it got me thinking -- Best OOC slate since...? Two Ivy games (H and Y), local New England CAA games (UNH and URI), a nearby game against Bryant, and then on the road against a team we have historically played frequently (Syracuse). All games against quality opponents that are within a "drive" for most alums. We often talk about what an OOC schedule should look like -- this seems damn close to a perfect one. Bryant and Merrimack moved into the quality opponent category right on schedule to meet HC's needs. I would say both are, until proven otherwise, higher quality opponents than any current PL football program except Fordham. 2004 schedule is neck and neck with 2003 for best OOC schedule in memory. 2004 has six quality opponents, 2003 has B.C. |
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Post by efg72 on Jun 27, 2023 17:45:09 GMT -5
The Bryant and Merrimack programs are improving but not top 40 quality opponents
Our push for success in sports, specifically football, needs a mindset shift beyond non CAA schools in the northeast
If we are 8-3 or better this year we should get the top 40 to schedule home/home games moving forward
No reason to play ivies or other non CAA schools in the northeast, we do enough of that with our PL schedule
One-Two FBS Pay games, two CAA, one top 10 national FCS program and of course our PL games
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Jun 27, 2023 18:08:46 GMT -5
Programs like Bryant and Merrimack are 1) local and 2) perfect for relatively easy OOC games.
On number two, I actually don’t think these are gimmes.
They’re better than CCSU, Wagner, et al.
Every program should have an easier OOC game on the schedule.
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Post by efg72 on Jun 27, 2023 18:49:52 GMT -5
Didn't suggest any team is an automatic W, but those mentioned offer little to the growth of the program and future success😇✝️
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Jun 27, 2023 19:01:36 GMT -5
Financially, it’s very difficult to justify playing another top ten FCS program, as that likely requires a flight.
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 27, 2023 19:29:30 GMT -5
The Bryant and Merrimack programs are improving but not top 40 quality opponents Our push for success in sports, specifically football, needs a mindset shift beyond non CAA schools in the northeast If we are 8-3 or better this year we should get the top 40 to schedule home/home games moving forward No reason to play ivies or other non CAA schools in the northeast, we do enough of that with our PL schedule One-Two FBS Pay games, two CAA, one top 10 national FCS program and of course or PL games What were some of the best FCS top-40 out of region matchups last year? |
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Post by hiltonheadcrusader on Jun 27, 2023 19:43:49 GMT -5
Financially, it’s very difficult to justify playing another top ten FCS program, as that likely requires a flight. Agreed on that point. That said, I will be interested to see if Maine can be competitive at NDSU.....will kickoff about the same time we celebrate our first victory vs BC since Glenn Verrette knocked down the Eagles try for 2 in 1978. |
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 27, 2023 19:49:31 GMT -5
We've only gone farther than an adjacent state to play an FBS game once recently. UConn, BC, Navy, Syracuse, Buffalo, UConn, BC, Army, Syracuse.
Rather than endowing the Head Coach position, ("Holy Cross Head Coach" is so much cleaner than the "Joseph and Wilhimina Danforth-McGuilicutty Jr.'48 family Head coach) perhaps athletic development could seek an endowment of an annual home game against a top forty out of region powerhouse, which might cost the same as a head coach annual salary to underwrite as a buy game each year and could be named for the donor.
If opponents want a home and home then HC could play two top forty national opponents each year, one home and one away. Might not cost as much that way, maybe just a sweetener to sign the series.
I'm tossing this idea out there for EFG 72, but in doing so it highlights why these games are relatively infrequent. Schools don't want to lose their FCS dividend: lower cost.
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 27, 2023 19:56:12 GMT -5
Financially, it’s very difficult to justify playing another top ten FCS program, as that likely requires a flight. Agreed on that point. That said, I will be interested to see if Maine can be competitive at NDSU.....will kickoff about the same time we celebrate our first victory vs BC since Glenn Verrette knocked down the Eagles try for 2 in 1978. The Black Bears will be taking the Bangor-Fargo commuter shuttle.🙂 I wonder what the finances of this game are. It sure is exciting for the Maine players and fans, like an early season playoff game. Maine has mandatory out of region travel to play league opponents and they open the season on September 2 at Florida International. |
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Jun 27, 2023 20:47:06 GMT -5
Maine doesn't have much autonomy with scheduling because no one wants to travel to Orono.
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Post by Bob Saccamano on Jun 27, 2023 21:09:11 GMT -5
Maine doesn't have much autonomy with scheduling because no one wants to travel to Orono. Assumption this year has scheduled a game at Grand Valley State...got to wonder financials on that one too. |
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 27, 2023 21:49:12 GMT -5
A wing and a prayer? Just kidding, hoping the Greyhounds have negotiated a good deal and/or fund raised for the trip.
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Post by Chu Chu on Jun 28, 2023 11:24:19 GMT -5
I would like to see us invite South Dakota State University to Fitton.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Jun 28, 2023 13:20:13 GMT -5
I would like to see us invite South Dakota State University to Fitton. Would love this to take place. |
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Post by longsuffering on Jun 28, 2023 16:40:15 GMT -5
Rabid Jackrabbit fans who are technicians at nearby Daktronics in Brookings will be bidding on the assignment to come out and give all our video boards their annual checkup that week.
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Post by timholycross on Jun 28, 2023 16:46:24 GMT -5
Boston University first installed artificial turf at Nickerson for the fall of 1970. HC played at BU on October 17, 1970. IIRC, it was a very rainy day and the turf had a residue that created soap bubbles when players slid on the field. Of note, the highest yards on a single play by a Holy Cross receiver occurred, with a pass completion by Colin Clapton to Eddie Jenkins of 99 yards. Also during the same game against BU, Joe Wilson had the most rushing yards gained in a single play of 94 yards. static.goholycross.com/custompages/oldsite/sports/m-footbl/2009-10/files/09fb-records.pdfThe "slip and slide" event happened two years earlier. www.newspapers.com/article/69395777/1968-holy-cross-bu/The plays you describe w/Wilson and Jenkins did occur in 1970. |
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Post by hcpride on Jun 28, 2023 16:55:47 GMT -5
I would like to see us invite South Dakota State University to Fitton. Would love this to take place. I have a feeling we are midway thru a very small HC window of opportunity for a national championship. On the one hand we have numerous 5th years, a special QB, and a coveted coach while on the other NIL has not yet been disruptive at our level. Things could be very different in a couple of years. Sooo, let’s get them to Fitton ASAP. |
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jun 28, 2023 16:57:26 GMT -5
50 years later….guess I confused the games at BU. I do remember several football team members talking about Nickerson conditions after the rainy game.
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