bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
09-12-18 07:08 PM - Post#261175
In response to Bison137
DoC62 raises some interesting points and may have put his finger on th elephant in the room that nobody is talking about. The fact that Bucknell and colleges of our ilk, including the Ivies may be greasing the skids to drop FB. Given what’s now known about FB, re: concussions, and the fact that you do not see a lot of 80 year old former NFL ers around and that those older ex pros likely suffer from severe dementia, it becomes pretty difficult for an academically oriented school (funny, would you not think that by definition all schools would be “ academically orientedâ€) to justify playing a sport that risks damaging the very body organ that the school is trying to nourish and develop.
A few years ago one of the players on those early ‘60s Odell teams, who lives in the Lewisburg area, ventured the opinion to me that football would be gone in10 years. Given the shrinking pipeline of personnel, it probably is likely that football is doomed. In fact I believe that the moms of America would succeed in killing FB if there were not such big bucks accruing to those with a vested interest in keeping it going. I am of course referring to the power conference schools, the NFL, the TV networks etc. I have to admit to mixed emotions. On the one hand I do not want my grandkids concussed, on the other hand: J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.
|
jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
|
09-23-18 10:24 AM - Post#261560
In response to bison63
I feel badly for the team. I know they're putting in the work, but the last 2-1/2 games have been ugly. Let's hope things improve in the PL season. Tough one on the road a HC to start.
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
09-23-18 03:27 PM - Post#261562
In response to jkrun80
Somebody needs to take a long hard look at this situation and decide on which direction we go from here. Support the program, or drop the program.
|
HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
|
09-23-18 05:44 PM - Post#261563
In response to bison63
Support the program. Too much history and it doesn't take much to turn a program around. However the Administration may also say we are the basketball elites and will invest in Lacrosse rather than football.
But a decision does need made because it is ashame for these kids.
|
jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
|
09-23-18 07:19 PM - Post#261565
In response to HuskyColonial
The Patriot League looks very weak this year, so there is some hope we could go 3-3 or even 4-2 in the league. Fordham and Lafayette are 0-4 and have scored fewer points and given up more than we have. Lafayette lost to Colgate 49-0 this weekend. Lehigh and HC are 1-3 and have also given up more points than us, but they also played Navy and BC respectively. Lehigh did lose to Penn by a larger margin than we did, but played Villanova much closer. Georgetown is also 1-3 including a 41-0 loss to Dartmouth. Colgate seems to be the only strong team this year.
|
Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
|
09-23-18 09:50 PM - Post#261567
In response to jkrun80
Saturday's game was the first Bucknell football game that I have gone to in years. It was evident that there is a significant talent gap between Nova and Bucknell. To be honest, I expected Bucknell to lose, but the way that they lost was difficult to watch. The Bison got beaten in just about every aspect of the game.
The players seemed to try their best, but the talent just doesn't seem to be there.
New season, new team, new dream . . . |
|
Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
|
09-24-18 09:59 AM - Post#261569
In response to Bison89
I live in the Philly suburbs and follow Villanova sports pretty closely, yes even the Nova football team. But I had little interest in attending this game. It turned out uglier than I thought. Here are a few stats that are stark and disappointing: We had 87 yards passing for the game, despite being way behind and forced to pass nearly every play in the second half. Less than 100 yards passing for the game? We were down 42-7 at the half. Nova was motivated and angry after being upset by Towson (45-38) the prior week.
But Towson (not an annual football power) racked up over 500 yards of total offense vs. Nova, including 320 yards passing, and scored 35 points in the first half vs. the Wildcats!
I'm not usually one to cut right to the point but when your best player is your punter, you are a football team with multiple issues. We don't seem to have the size, speed or skills to compete well with teams like Penn (IVY LEAGUE) or Villanova ("basketball school").
Hopefully, the Patriot League (as noted above) is weak overall this year and will be an easier task for our football team. After the last two weeks, it has to get better but significant changes need to be made. I am 100% in favor of keeping and improving the program. One of my thoughts is that we should look long and hard at what Tom Gadd did so well over his successful term-- how did he and his staff break the "blah" seasons and tenures of other coaches here??
Thoughts on improving this picture?
|
BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
|
09-29-18 01:30 PM - Post#261688
In response to Doktore K
Anyone else having Roku trouble for the Holy Cross game?
|
JDBison2010
Masters Student
Posts: 763
Loc: Charleston, SC
Reg: 11-23-10
|
09-29-18 01:39 PM - Post#261689
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Using Roku. No issues for me
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
09-29-18 02:18 PM - Post#261690
In response to JDBison2010
No issues for me!
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
Bucknell FB 09-29-18 04:21 PM - Post#261691
In response to bison63
Bucknell breaks into the win column with a 19-16 win at Holy Cross. The defense was stellar, until we took a 19-7 lead, then we gave up lots of big plays. HC passed from deep In their own territory to inside our 10. The then rushed to inside the one where we held them twice. Announcers claimed that one of those rushes was a touchdown and showed a replay to prove it. Only thing was I did not think the replay showed anything. You could not see the ball. So now we take over and there is an apparent safety. Only problem was refs did not agree and spotted the ball for no loss, still inside the one. Another rush, and this time the safety is called. O holy day cry the announcers, what a huge play. Well let’s just assume that the refs once again did not call the safety, and replaced the ball on the six inch line. What does Bucknell do then. They would take an intentional safety so as not to have to kick from a short punt formation from the back of the end zone. Give up the two points and get s free kick from the 20. So the fact that Holy Cross actually forced the safety was no big deal, since the next play would have been an intentional safety( and if it was not, then Susan should be fired right now).
Unfortunately, after the free kick, it took HC just over a minute to score a TD and draw within 3. At that point are defense became stellar again and our no yardage offense started gobbling up yards (and time). Good win.
Edited by bison63 on 09-29-18 04:33 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
|
Re: Bucknell FB 09-29-18 06:13 PM - Post#261693
In response to bison63
Unfortunately, after the free kick, it took HC just over a minute to score a TD and draw within 3. At that point are defense became stellar again and our no yardage offense started gobbling up yards (and time). Good win.
This is a good win. But once they went up 12, they were clearly playing not to lose. They got a break on that roughing the punter call, which could have gone either way. The defense stepped up at the end when in counted. The offense played well between the 20's. The play calling at the goal line (at both ends) was questionable.
|
jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
|
09-29-18 08:41 PM - Post#261694
In response to jkrun80
Colgate is up 23-0 on W&M. Don't get your hopes up for next week's game.
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
10-09-18 03:15 PM - Post#262283
In response to jkrun80
Just wondering if any of our “insider†posters have any insights into the new AD’s thoughts re: the football program. Watching the home game against Colgate, the home crowd was particularly sparse. Never did get a wide shot of the Colgate crowd, but I’d bet it was bigger than ours.
|
HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
|
10-09-18 05:46 PM - Post#262313
In response to bison63
Totally hypothetical question for alumni. If the football program became more competitive at the expense of the basketball program (zero sum game), would you take it?
|
jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
|
10-09-18 07:16 PM - Post#262319
In response to HuskyColonial
Totally hypothetical question for alumni. If the football program became more competitive at the expense of the basketball program (zero sum game), would you take it?
No.
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
10-10-18 03:28 PM - Post#262364
In response to jkrun80
When I attended Bucknell, I would have answered “yes.†Not so today, and here is why! Imagine every year in football that we played teams of the ilk of UCLA, USC or LSU, and we were actually given a fighting chance to win. And in fact, sometimes we did win. That is what we have in basketball. We compete on a far bigger stage. The favorable publicity for the school is something that cannot be bought.
|
Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
|
10-10-18 03:57 PM - Post#262366
In response to jkrun80
Totally hypothetical question for alumni. If the football program became more competitive at the expense of the basketball program (zero sum game), would you take it?
No.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im_5QdHp04E
New season, new team, new dream . . . |
|
bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
|
10-10-18 05:05 PM - Post#262375
In response to Bison89
Think I missed the point.
|
Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
|
10-10-18 05:52 PM - Post#262377
In response to HuskyColonial
Totally hypothetical question for alumni. If the football program became more competitive at the expense of the basketball program (zero sum game), would you take it?
Not an answer to your question, but it is worth pointing out that over the past few years Bucknell has spent less money on football and basketball combined than have all our PL foes who have football.
|