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Commodore Notebook 11/14/2005 November 14, 2005 OTHER THAN THAT, HOW DID YOU ENJOY THE PLAY, MRS. LINCOLN? It was a rough weekend for several of our teams. We will enjoy more good ones than bad so keep the faith. WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT FIRST HALF? I have listened to a number of explanations and theories and I still can’t tell you. No single account makes total sense to me. I will never believe that we weren’t “ready to play” as many have concluded, unless that is a catch-all phrase to say we were ineffective and lackluster. I simply can’t imagine that 100 men could invest that much sweat equity into their team and then decide that it somehow didn’t matter on a critical day. Besides, if you saw or listened to the game we actually started off pretty good. My own guess is simple: there were a number of variables that soured at the wrong time. Kentucky is improving, Rafael Little was a difference-maker, our special teams were flat and had some bad luck to boot?there are a lot of things that affect a given game. It is just too easy to accuse coaches, special teams players or the alleged Curse of Dudley Field. I’ve written before that over my two decades, our football teams have stumbled when they had a chance to step forward, yet they fight to their last breath when told they are big underdogs. I can’t explain that. Coaches change, players change, circumstances change but this trait lingers. Like Saturday’s game, if you ask 100 people you will get 90 different theories on why this happens. MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS BOOMING Season ticket sales for men’s basketball have passed 8,000 for the first time in recent memory. The men have their home opener Friday against Jacksonville State (7:00) and then host Furman Sunday afternoon (5:00 pm). WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNEY COMING SOON You might want to bring the family to women’s basketball’s annual tournament, November 25 and 26. The Commodores will open Friday at 2 pm against Charleston Southern with Colgate and McNeese State playing about 4:00 p.m. The championship game is Saturday at 4:00. THINGS I WISH I DIDN’T WRITE A week ago in this space I lamented the SEC officials’ replay system and mistakes it had made in recent games. By mid-week I wish I had written about fly-fishing as I felt I had contributed to an embarrassing climate. When there are so-called fans on internet message boards joking about collecting money to burn down an official’s house, (the wrong official at that!) I want to disassociate myself from the discussion and go take a shower. Yes, we want to be passionate in supporting our teams and yes, sometimes our emotions boil over. However, it was classless to write such garbage DAYS after a game is history and I hope true Commodore fans feel the same. I can only hope those posters were not Vanderbilt fans. We are better than that. WHAT SHOULD WE BE THINKING TODAY? In terms of Commodore athletics, we should be thinking positive. First off, it does no constructive good to be discouraged. Secondly, we have many reasons for optimism as this is will be a very good overall athletic year here. Both basketball teams should have excellent years, baseball is going to be a treat and a lot of Olympic sport programs have outstanding talent and direction. I am bullish on our football program. Yep, we lose Jay Cutler — who may be remembered as the best offensive player we’ve had here in 50 some years. But as big a loss as that will be, it is apparent to many that our overall talent level is rising, thanks to the tireless and expert work of our coaching staff. I think a more veteran team, one with older and stronger linemen and more experienced personnel at key skill positions, will offset a couple key losses. Don’t expect to be in the majority if you express this opinion at the water cooler, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t right! |
