|
Post by gks on Sept 30, 2023 21:15:58 GMT -5
And by the way, regarding the turnovers, give some credit to Harvard for forcing those turnovers. We weren't that sloppy, they were that good. The pick 6 went right through a receiver's hands....Harvard was Johnnie (ode to Fouracre) on the spot....got a gift. The second interception was a heck of a play.
|
|
|
Post by cmo on Sept 30, 2023 21:18:21 GMT -5
Harvard 0 turnovers Holy Cross 5 turnovers That's the game right there. Oddly enough, I think had we not roughed the punter and gotten the ball back at midfield with around 11 minutes left and down 35-21, we find a way to win the game. I think so too. Did #6 get the penalty? He ran on field late.,
|
|
hc69
Crusader Century Club
Posts: 220
|
Post by hc69 on Sept 30, 2023 21:18:30 GMT -5
Back from the game as well. We were out of sync even before the opening kickoff. Our kickoff team started to line up at the wrong end of the field. I noticed it right away and said to my wife, "That's not a good way to start things off." Prophetic, as it turned out.
Don't blame the loss on Polar Park. It wasn't the venue that caused Matt to throw three picks, including a pick-6, and lose a fumble. And the venue didn't push our defense around for 200+ yards on the ground. Nor did it coach the Harvard offense how to limit Dobbs. Harvard was the better team on the field and deserved to win. They made the plays when they needed to and we didn't.
This game showed we can't continue to have our defense sleepwalk through the first half and expect our talent to pull it out in the second half.
I also predicted 8-3. I thought we could lose the two FBS games and an FCS game along the way. We're two-thirds of the way there and if our run defense doesn't improve by November 11 we'll be all the way there. If we get down to Army like we did to Harvard they'll run the ball down our throats.
Maybe I'm the only one who sees the irony, but many of the same people who wanted us to drop the Ivies because they supposedly are bad now want us to drop Harvard because they beat us.
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 30, 2023 21:23:02 GMT -5
Isn't this the story of the game? I don't see where "Harvard kicked our butts" or that we were "dominated".
Total Yardage HC 468 Harvard= 360
Rushing-yards per carry HC= 4.1 Harvard= 4.3
Passing- Yards per attempt HC= 12.3 Harvard= 7.6
I know there are other elements of the game--special teams, penalties, field position, etc, but it sure looks to me that the turnovers (weren't we top 10 in FCS last year in turnover margin?) are what cost us the game. You believe we could have won that game if not for the turnovers? Isn’t that the logical conclusion?
|
|
|
Post by deep Purple on Sept 30, 2023 21:27:53 GMT -5
You believe we could have won that game if not for the turnovers? Isn’t that the logical conclusion? Ok, I guess you and I were watching a different game.
|
|
|
Post by cruskater31 on Sept 30, 2023 21:36:06 GMT -5
Some thoughts after arriving home.
1. Offensively, the stats show we did in fact beat Harvard in a number of categories. Turnovers killed us against a very good Harvard team. Very unlike the HC teams we have seen.
2. Sluka was not quite pinpoint as he has been thus far this year. More like early years. I posted early with NyCru about looking tentative and holding the ball too long. My wife wondered if coaches talked to him about not running unless it was a designed play. If they did, tell me so I can take that coach to the woodshed tomorrow. We need Sluka to be HIM (in the words of the youths today).
3. Defensively we made nice adjustments on the interior line but could never set the edge on the QB runs. He is a so so passer but damn he is fast. Like 20 yards fast before first contact. We are undersized but I don't think that hurt us too much in the 2nd half.
4. Harvard is very good and I would say should be in the 15-20 rank but with the disrespect for Ivies, probably more like 19-20. Shame they don't have higher aspirations. Hope the go undefeated and win the Ivy (they might crack the top 10 at that point).
5. Kudos to Murphy and his defensive coaches. They bottled us up all night. Coker was great. Actually think Ches was out coached for once. The offensive script in the first half was too predictable.
6. I do think not being allowed to substitute from the near sideline did hurt us. Boo Polar. The atmosphere was great and reminded me of the Yankee Stadium game. At that game, I expected an L, we were not thinking PL Championship that year let alone national championship. I was happy eating my Delta club buffet and having free beverages. I will only step foot in Polar if we are forced to use it for a night playoff game (we should at least have a first round home game) I would go back. I like rented lights once a year. Polar should be, if continued, for a crappy team we can beat. Yes we would have probably lost to Laffy today but would have beat Lehigh, Colgate, and Bucknell.
7. Yes seeding talk was premature. Win out with an Army win and we might still get one but our focus needs to be on the next game...which means...I feel bad for Bucknell. Pound the crap out of them and yes run it up. 70-0. At least more than Laffy put up.
8. Laffy will be tough and might be the defacto PL champ game. Their offensive impressed me today. Just watched the highlights. Yes, Bucknell is terrible so I expected Laffy to shut them down, but more to the tune of 30-7. Win out in the PL and upset Army. Their QB runs but is not as fast as Harvard's. I think we have a shot still.
9. Lot of parity. NDSU lost to an unranked and un RV SD team. William and Mary, resurgent Villanova, and UNH all lost.
10. Surprised not many reviews or challenges. I guess from our vantage point near the 50, which seemed good, we couldn't see some close plays in the endzones.
11. In addition to turnovers, blocked punts and kicks have been a hallmark of the Ches era. Are we playing stars less on special teams these days? I didn't like the penalty for roughing the punter but nearly got to the ball. We need to stay aggressive on special teams. We don't beat ranked teams without a positive turnover margin and good special teams.
12. Stay positive everyone! Move on and focus on beating Bucknell. Remember 2021!!
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Sept 30, 2023 21:41:42 GMT -5
Now that we are a few hours after a disappointing loss, think how the players and staff must feel. As much as we the fans might have wanted this win, we sit in our own world and bring little to the game but our support. My comments, which were very selfish, and those others have expressed were part of a natural disappointment. However I can't imagine how the staff and players feel after tonight. With that said tomorrow begins a fresh approach and start to the rest of the season. Our role as alums and fans needs to find a way to create a voice of support for all involved in the program. Ten games in front of them to take the trophy, six more games to win and have a playoff run Let’s put today in the column of games played, lessons learned, and get ready to support the young men and staff who fight every day to deliver for the school And Hc69 we get nothing out of a win vs the Ivies, and we will be spanked by the loss - mostly because they decline to conform and participate in the playoff system GoCross Go! I don't see your comments as selfish, you just have opinions that are challengable, which is great for a discussion board.
|
|
|
Post by bfoley82 on Sept 30, 2023 22:00:12 GMT -5
8-3 and 7-4 now becomes possible Dobbs is incredible, but the supporting cast and game coaching adjustments need to pick it up if we are going to Frisco Offensively, it might have been the game plan and a bad game in execution Put this one to bed and move forward We don't need to panic, but we need a sense of urgency 🙏🍀✝️🏈 Frisco??? Be lucky to even make the tournament at this pace...
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 30, 2023 22:01:19 GMT -5
Isn’t that the logical conclusion? Ok, I guess you and I were watching a different game. Okay one last try- we scored zero points on the five possessions where we turned over the ball. How many points did we average on the possessions where we did not have a turnover? Multiply by five
|
|
|
Post by deep Purple on Sept 30, 2023 22:08:49 GMT -5
Ok, I guess you and I were watching a different game. Okay one last try- we scored zero points on the five possessions where we turned over the ball. How many points did we average on the possessions where we did not have a turnover? Multiply by five Did we have the lead at any point during the game?
|
|
|
Post by hc87 on Sept 30, 2023 22:13:53 GMT -5
My hope is that this is like the Merrimack game in 2021....a game we seemed out of synch as well...but very well may have been our "wake-up call" that year.
|
|
|
Post by midwestsader05 on Sept 30, 2023 22:17:09 GMT -5
Play enough games and days like this happen. Literally everything that could have gone wrong at critical moments did and we lost to a capable opponent by 10. Just a weird day across the entire country. Nothing is fundamentally different with this team tomorrow morning than it was on Friday afternoon. The offense is VERY good. 5 TOs and still put up 468 yards! That's insane.
The Defense is still very young at DL and DB. Missing Hask and Jarmo hurt. Talented freshman are still freshman. ST's also hurt with the big KO return to start the game and then roughing the kicker on the punt deep in their territory after the D forced a 3 and out. I agree with SOV, that game likely goes to OT if we get the ball in Harvard territory right there. Bucknell will get the heat next week. Laffy will come in confident 3 weeks from now. Fordham in NYC after. Will be a fun ride.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Sept 30, 2023 22:25:55 GMT -5
Some thoughts after arriving home. 1. Offensively, the stats show we did in fact beat Harvard in a number of categories. Turnovers killed us against a very good Harvard team. Very unlike the HC teams we have seen. (IMHO, Harvard a very solid/good team but the uncharacteristic turnovers for us was what did us in. If we played them 10 times, I still believe we beat then 8 times. Only Coker played to his potential today and, of course, that's at least in part due to Harvard. We missed Chris Smith tonight)2. Sluka was not quite pinpoint as he has been thus far this year. More like early years. I posted early with NyCru about looking tentative and holding the ball too long. My wife wondered if coaches talked to him about not running unless it was a designed play. If they did, tell me so I can take that coach to the woodshed tomorrow. We need Sluka to be HIM (in the words of the youths today) .(Had the same observation that he was just too slow in his decision making, especially whether to run or not, a beat or two slow and it is a game of inches and milliseconds). 3. Defensively we made nice adjustments on the interior line but could never set the edge on the QB runs. He is a so so passer but damn he is fast. Like 20 yards fast before first contact. We are undersized but I don't think that hurt us too much in the 2nd half. (Tonight DePrima was "The Premiere" - he was much better than Matt . . .. tonight. -See #2 above)
4. Harvard is very good and I would say should be in the 15-20 rank but with the disrespect for Ivies, probably more like 19-20. Shame they don't have higher aspirations. Hope the go undefeated and win the Ivy (they might crack the top 10 at that point). (Totally agree. Do the "experts" give credit to Harvard for bumping off #5 or would they rather just think that we weren't really a #5 to begin with and so, Harvard moves up minimally?)5. Kudos to Murphy and his defensive coaches. They bottled us up all night. Coker was great. Actually think Ches was out coached for once. The offensive script in the first half was too predictable. (See #1, we missed Chris Smith)6. I do think not being allowed to substitute from the near sideline did hurt us. Boo Polar. The atmosphere was great and reminded me of the Yankee Stadium game. At that game, I expected an L, we were not thinking PL Championship that year let alone national championship. I was happy eating my Delta club buffet and having free beverages. I will only step foot in Polar if we are forced to use it for a night playoff game (we should at least have a first round home game) I would go back. I like rented lights once a year. Polar should be, if continued, for a crappy team we can beat. Yes we would have probably lost to Laffy today but would have beat Lehigh, Colgate, and Bucknell. (Was at Yankee Stadium game as well as now 3 EBW games at Polar Park. Not using baseball fields as an excuse for losses but even the 50 yard line seats stunk. Food better than the crumby food trucks at Fitton and the bathrooms better and closer but as for me, I'll take Fitton. Despite what it may have appeared to on ESPN+, the stadium had a large crowd, Now, another gripe: sitting behind an apparent alum perhaps in his mid-late 50's and also apparently drunk with his sons or young friends. Starts the game off cursing, giving the finger to the refs. Just embarrassingly obnoxious. In front of him is one of our College chaplains and was so tempted to ask him to try to control himself but knew my wife as much as she was PO'd at him, would be more so, if I spoke to him. She confirmed that if I had, she would have gotten up and left. The cheerleaders and dance teams were performing better than at Fitton. The band, well, they do their best. Parking at Polar? For the 3rd year, I parked in Green Island Garage. $20 the first 2 years . . . $31 this year to park on the 3rd floor (1st floor both prior years. Nice that as a "Season Ticket Member" I got $10 off the food per ticket, so about half price). 7. Yes seeding talk was premature. Win out with an Army win and we might still get one but our focus needs to be on the next game...which means...I feel bad for Bucknell. Pound the crap out of them and yes run it up. 70-0. At least more than Laffy put up. (OK)8. Laffy will be tough and might be the defacto PL champ game. Their offensive impressed me today. Just watched the highlights. Yes, Bucknell is terrible so I expected Laffy to shut them down, but more to the tune of 30-7. Win out in the PL and upset Army. Their QB runs but is not as fast as Harvard's. I think we have a shot still. (Very impressed with the Harvard QB)9. Lot of parity. NDSU lost to an unranked and un RV SD team. William and Mary, resurgent Villanova, and UNH all lost. (But we'll be the ones to drop like a rock in the polls. The only partial saving grace is Harvard was #24 or #25, so maybe we drop to #20?)10. Surprised not many reviews or challenges. I guess from our vantage point near the 50, which seemed good, we couldn't see some close plays in the endzones. (Agree)11. In addition to turnovers, blocked punts and kicks have been a hallmark of the Ches era. Are we playing stars less on special teams these days? I didn't like the penalty for roughing the punter but nearly got to the ball. We need to stay aggressive on special teams. We don't beat ranked teams without a positive turnover margin and good special teams. (From my vantage point and even on the replay, it looked like our running into the punter was caused by being blocked into him. Was sure the flag would get picked up. But maybe my purple eyeshades obstructed my vision?)
12. Stay positive everyone! Move on and focus on beating Bucknell. Remember 2021!! (Coach Chesney told the team before and after the BC game that 'they can't beat us, we can only beat ourselves . . . and we did'." I suspect that will be pretty much what he told them after this game too. You cannot have 5 turnovers against any ranked team and expect to win.)
|
|
|
Post by nycrusader2010 on Sept 30, 2023 23:35:34 GMT -5
Harvard is the best football team in New England. URI may end up in that conversation.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Oct 1, 2023 2:49:33 GMT -5
Attendance- 7906
|
|
|
Post by thecrossisback on Oct 1, 2023 4:45:43 GMT -5
Frisco??? Be lucky to even make the tournament at this pace... Really how do you figure this? I will tell who won’t make it Harvard! Observations; Losing the turnover battle 5-0 won’t beat any FCS teams. Sat on the wall but agree the environment is just not loud. it was a day of upsets. Ours was at least 2 ranked teams playing. On to Bucknell. See you in Lewisburg.
|
|
|
Post by bigfan on Oct 1, 2023 5:58:57 GMT -5
Harvard has better athletes and we were out-coached.
|
|
|
Post by bfoley82 on Oct 1, 2023 6:06:19 GMT -5
Frisco??? Be lucky to even make the tournament at this pace... You must really feel the pain with UNH sitting at 0-2 in the conference and 3 losses I didn't know this was a UNH forum...
|
|
|
Post by thecrossisback on Oct 1, 2023 6:29:29 GMT -5
You must really feel the pain with UNH sitting at 0-2 in the conference and 3 losses I didn't know this was a UNH forum... Answer the question how do you figure we will be lucky to make the playoffs?
|
|
|
Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 1, 2023 6:41:56 GMT -5
Harvard has better athletes and we were out-coached. And +5 in turnovers. Also kind of a big deal.
|
|
|
Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 1, 2023 6:44:15 GMT -5
How? That has to be considered an epic fail. Unless there were that many people whose ability to travel was disrupted by the biblical rains on Friday into Saturday. Not sure how bad it was in New England but parts of NYC got 7+ inches on Friday and we had tons of road closures. State of emergency was implemented.
|
|
|
Post by dadominate on Oct 1, 2023 6:57:25 GMT -5
in my view, while harvard was the better team on both sides of the ball and outcoached us, this game was all about turnovers. how many games are ever won with a 5 turnover differential? i would venture close to none.
that is part of the mechanism through which harvard was the better team, but we also made some uncharacteristic mistakes. in fact, you could argue we had what was in essence 6 turnovers with the foolish roughing the kicker.
our defense needs to improve, but if we hold on to the ball, we win the game last night. harvard had something to do with that, but they are certainly no better than bc and are not THAT much better than yale.
let's hope we consolidated our turnovers this season into this clunker and we move forward with no such mistakes going forward.
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 1, 2023 7:07:13 GMT -5
I'm really curious about the special teams angle - have opponents just adjusted in prepping for HC, or is something missing? Yes, offense made plenty of mistakes, but I have to cut them some slack - how many times this year have they been presented the ball with a short field? Doesn't seem like too many. Just wondering why. Course the D figures into that too, but I feel like that is more explainable.
I made the comment earlier about Harvard being a physical team for a couple of reasons: 1) while the O Line gave Sluka a lot of time in most passing situations, it didn't seem like they were opening a lot of holes for the backs, and 2) usually Fuller wears on teams as the games go on, and starts going through them like melted butter. Didn't see a lot of that last night.
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 1, 2023 7:07:50 GMT -5
Harvard has better athletes and we were out-coached. Did they get a lot more talented between last year and this year?
|
|
|
Post by hc2020 on Oct 1, 2023 7:23:52 GMT -5
How? That has to be considered an epic fail. Unless there were that many people whose ability to travel was disrupted by the biblical rains on Friday into Saturday. Not sure how bad it was in New England but parts of NYC got 7+ inches on Friday and we had tons of road closures. State of emergency was implemented. Weather was a non-factor as it relates to attendance. It was cloudy but dry all day and not dreadfully misty and cold like the previous week. There were plenty of Holy Cross fans in attendance, including a very large contingent of students in the right field upper deck (where the beer garden is located - of course). I would attribute the lower turnout to a lack of significant presence by Harvard fans. I saw some for sure, but not a big turnout by them. I guess Polar Park is not a significant enough draw to get them there.
|
|