We're back, bitches. The Beav had a winning weekend on the books, going 24-20 against the spread. This raises our season record to 41-43, almost out of the red. Let's try to put together a solid week 3 so we can move forward and bury the week 1 blues for good.
Nut Kickin' Good
This week's Nut Kick Game took place on Friday night, as the lone game of the evening could very well have served Dan Hawkins his walking papers. Hawkins' Colorado outfit failed to bounce back from their week 1 loss to Colorado State, yielding to Toledo 54-38 in the Glass Bowl. The Buffs have dropped to 0-2 overall, and still have a difficult Big 12 schedule to try to navigate their way through. Unless something major happens, Hawkins, who is already on the hot seat after leaving a Boise State juggernaut to take over a struggling Colorado program, could find himself out of work by season's end. Moreover, he has had to watch his former school enjoy success every season since he left. THAT, my friends, is a kick in the nuts.
Live Action Baby
The rainy New England forecast on Saturday found the Beav slipping into Fitton Field for the match up between #25 Holy Cross and visiting Sacred Heart. Due to the 1pm start time conflicting with the 12pm Syracuse/Penn State start time, we did not get to the game early for pre-game tailgating. We simply went straight into the game, which I typically don't like to do but will chalk it up as a necessary sacrifice in life. So after seeing the Orange put up a fight against a superior opponent, and then listening to the same game on the radio, the Beav & Co. entered Fitton Field hoping the Pioneers & Crusaders would bring us a fresh start. We had no such luck, however, as we were greeted by a 21-0 Holy Cross lead as we showed up early in the 2nd quarter. Minutes later the Crusaders tacked on another touchdown to make it 28-0. Then, with the Holy Cross 2nd team warming up and everyone in the stadium feeling an ass-whooping on the horizon, the Pioneers took the ensuing kickoff the distance for their first score. Capping the kickoff return in style, the returner planted a forearm shiver to the face of the Holy Cross kicker right in front of our seats.
With a renewed energy on their sidelines, the Pioneers defense held for a 3 and out and then drove to bring the game to 28-14 with a score. HC tacked on a field goal before the half, and the Crusaders took a 31-14 lead into the locker rooms.
At halftime the Beav's foursome had a chance to walk the stadium and check out what was going on. For my 3 cohorts, it was their inaugural trip to a HC football game. The last and only time I was at Fitton Field was for the Lafayette/HC game back in 2003. So halftime was a good opportunity for us all to get some better takes of this 85 year old facility, a true old timer of stadiums.
One of the beauties of watching a game at Fitton Field is the fact that there is no replay board like there is in more modern stadiums. Because of this, it puts more responsibility on the fan to watch the game live rather than trying to rely on a replay monitor. Personally, I like this challenge. I feel like it probably weeds out some of your classic douchebag fans who go to games and sit around with their Ipod I-Touching themselves the whole time. And then when there's a big hit or big play they're the first to ask you what happened. Look, assholes, I'm not a play by play guy. Its not my job to watch the game and tell you about it as it unfolds. So for those of you out there who feel like you fit this mold I wouldn't advise a trip to Fitton Field.
Aside from the rustic feel, the stadium also suggests that there was a peak era in Holy Cross football and it has long ago passed. I've seen photos from the 1980s when the Crusaders played in-state rival Boston College and Fitton Field was packed. But as of late, the atmosphere at the 23,000+ capacity stadium has been a far cry from the old days. Saturday's attendance for the Sacred Heart game was just shy of 2,900 people. That said, the fans in attendance were a noisy sort who had lots of big plays and scoring to cheer about.
When play resumed in the 2nd half the Crusaders wasted little time getting on the board, as they padded their lead with another touchdown, making it 38-14 and virtually sealing the deal. The Pioneers fought hard, however, and answered with a touchdown of their own to make it 38-21. On their next possession the Pioneers turned the ball over with an interception that was returned inside the Sacred Heart 10. The Pioneer D held strong, forcing a field goal attempt that ended up wide left. As the third quarter neared an end the Pioneers drove the distance of the field, only to turn the ball over on downs as a big hit from the HC secondary jarred the ball loose, forcing an incomplete pass and preventing a Sacred Heart comeback for good.
From that point the Crusaders put their attack on cruise control and closed the game with a 52-21 win. All in all it was an entertaining contest, filled with athletic plays, hard hits, turnovers, and scoring. Holy Cross improved their record to 2-0 overall on the season, while Sacred Heart dropped to 0-2. In live games with the Beav, the Crusaders notched their first win to up their mark to 1-2 lifetime, while Sacred Heart sits at 0-1 after our first encounter.
Next up
This weekend will take us back to the Carrier Dome for the second time in 3 weeks to see the Orange take on the Wildcats of Northwestern. The 7:00 kickoff should allow for maximum tailgating and soaking in of the local atmosphere. It may even allow us to visit Dinosaur Barbecue for a pregame meal, we'll see.
Be sure to check back for our week 3 picks and key games to watch. Until next time take care.
Beav
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