First some links because I imagine some of you go elsewhere for the recaps and all that of the games
Washington Post's recap
AUEagles.com recap
AUEagles.com box score
Now, onto some other things. Occasional contributor and constant Blue Crew member BPW also has connections to Albany. (I would say SUNY-Albany, but I don't want to rile him up too much). Last night he was on the wrong side of Bender Arena (the Albany side), but I asked him to write up some thoughts about the game from an opponent's perspective. Read on and find out exactly how powerful the Blue Crew acting as a 6th man can be.
"At the beginning of Rocky III we see Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa battling it out. Both had their glory, both had their fame, and both want to return back to their glory. American University and The University At Albany remind me a lot of Apollo and Rocky. Both have had their fame and glory: AU has gone twice to the NCAA, so has Albany. AU had an amazing showing against Villanova, UA had a great showing against UConn. The Patriot League and the
American East are both similarly ranked as mid-majors. Yet, both programs are having rough starts to their seasons and are trying to regain their former glory.
How bad have the seasons started off?
The Great Danes were trounced by Syracuse University and Morgan State upset us. AU had her wings clipped by Macon, we barely eked out a victory against CUA; St. Francis was a mess. This game was critical. Due to the SUNY Binghamton athletic department scandal (Eagles and Danes alike can thank God that we have honorable men like Keith Gill, Current AU AD, and Lee McElroy, Former AU AD and current Albany AD) who put academics and integrity first and foremost in their programs) the top of the conference now goes to Boston, followed by Vermont followed by Albany. They needed this win to show that they are competitive. AU needed
this game too. One of the downsides to having such an amazing senior team last year, is that we have a not so amazing freshman team this year [Ed. Note: I think we have amazing freshmen on this team, but our components have not coalesced into an amazing team yet. I also imagine that's what BPW was going for. -Bill]. All of the predictions were in for a tight game, and boy was it tight.
The stats are up and people can read about who was great (Scotty McRae, Tim Ambrose, Mike Johnson on our side of particular note, Coach Will Brown who seems to know that you should use time outs.)
Yet, the one thing that I did want to comment on was the 6th man. I have never not rooted for the Eagles at Bender. When others cheer, I cheer, when others taunt the other team I taunt. Tonight, I was quiet when the rest of the AU crowd was cheering and I was able to
appreciate how much they were cheering.
Oh. My. Goodness.
AU has an amazing sixth man. The Pep Band sounded amazing. The cheerleaders and dance team danced well. The crowd was energized and pumped up. The other Albany fans, family and alumni that I sat with commented on how great our (AU) spirit is. I honestly think that if
UAlbany had brought down her dance team, her cheerleaders, her pep band, and some of the DANEger Zone Fans the game would have turned out much more in favor UAlbany. Of course if we could find our Mascot that would be really helpful.
UAlbany now moves on to play at the 2K Sports Classic, followed by a game down in Florida, our dreaded crosstown Rival (and my mother's alma Mater) Siena College, and finally University of Pennsylvania. It will be a tough season, but with this win under the belt things will get better.
I will note that when I am back home for Thanksgiving the Great Danes and the Eagles are battling it out over Volleyball at SEFCU arena. If I'm not too stuffed from Mrs. Brusoe's matzo balls I may just dust off my Red White and Blue fuzzy hat and go cheer for our ladies!
Sapientia et sua et docendi causa!"
Thanks for that contribution, BPW, definitely appreciate that!
We'll be back a little later today for SPECULATION TUESDAY! (And yes, there will actually be a Speculation Tuesday today, I'm not kidding, so check back in!)
Pro deo et patria and GO EAGLES!
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