Alumni Gymnasium (capacity 1,650)
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
The Result: Monmouth 67, Rider 66
The hoop gods smiled on me for a second consecutive night. Tonight’s clash started sloppy, but ended with a frantic finish in a packed house.
Monmouth’s defensive intensity made the difference. After the Hawks drew within one point with 18 seconds left, they called a time-out. When Rider inbounded, the Hawks trapped Rider’s Harris Mansell in the corner. He tried to force the ball to a teammate, but Monmouth stole it and Whitney Coleman scored the go-ahead bucket with five seconds left. Rider raced down the floor and missed their final shot as the buzzer sounded.
Venue Rating: A-
Facility: A-. Rider’s Alumni Gymnasium is a fantastic place to see a basketball game. It’s a tiny gym that steadily grows hotter and stuffier as the game progresses. One side is all bleachers, while the other is split between chair-back seats and bleachers. It’s one of the purest basketball venues you’ll find. On the downside, you have to walk a mile to find a restroom and good luck finding a water fountain.
Attendance (1,650): A+ . Finally, my first capacity crowd of the tour. In fact, judging from the many students sitting in the bleacher aisles, it may have been beyond capacity. I’ve come a long way from Colgate…literally and figuratively.
Basketball Environment: A-. A student performed a solo of the national anthem, and Rider had a pep band, cheerleaders and dance team in action tonight, along with a Bronc mascot.
I enjoyed the spectators that surrounded me. They seemed to be a more informed group, peppered with a few amusing loudmouths that provided entertainment with color commentary and G-rated sarcasm directed at refs, players and coaches.
If the fans amped up their participation to the steady pace seen at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Alumni Gym would have easily garnered an A+.
Fan Face-Off: Monmouth Edges Rider
The Fan Face-Off winner isn’t selected by number of fans, or by their volume. It focuses on the performance of the fans who show up for their team, regardless of their number.
Tonight’s Fan Face-Off competition was just as close as the game itself, but the small yet boisterous Monmouth contingent is walking away with the honors. Just when I thought I would never hear an away team chanting, the Hawk boosters came through with “de-fense” chants that challenged the Broncs’ fans in their own gym.
Approximately 10 Rider students stood for the entire game, leading chants throughout. If only more of the student body exerted the same level of energy. Most of them didn’t really get into it until late in the game.
Those 10 Rider students need to step up a notch in classiness. They yelled “sucks!” at the end of each opposing player’s name during the pregame introductions, and closed out the evening with a common yet foul-mouthed chant that can be politely translated to mean “nonsense.” They were, however, on better behavior than during my first visit to Rider last November. (Which was another great game at Rider...on that night, Bucknell’s Kevin Bettencourt hit the game winner with 1.2 seconds left.)
Best Mascot: Rider Broncs
“Broncs” gets the edge, as it connotes strength, speed and aggressiveness. It also inspired the creative nickname for Rider’s rowdy Alumni Gymnasium: the “Broncs’ Zoo.”
Graduation Success Rate: Rider 82%, Monmouth 56%
A blowout for the Broncs. Rider alumnus and ESPN analyst Digger Phelps should be proud.
Life on the Road
It was a long haul from Boston to Lawrenceville. On the way, I called in to the nationally syndicated Tony Bruno Show to discuss my adventure. I tried to share my blog address at the end, but was immediately jettisoned. No free plugs, even for a site that exists purely for the love of the game.
Driving past New York City for the first time since 9/11 gave me pause. The Empire State Building once again dominates the skyline, like a mother that has lost two sons yet proudly and gracefully carries on as the family’s matriarch.
I watched tonight’s game with Marie Meseroll, grandmother of my Bucknell friend Forrest Chilton. Marie and her husband Charlie, both Bucknellians themselves, live in a nice neighborhood across the street from Rider. Their home is awash in Bucknell and bison decor. I enjoyed two treats at their home: a nice afternoon nap in a cozy guest bed, and a delicious home-cooked dinner highlighted by shrimp and cocktail sauce prepared to perfection.
My streak of flawless navigation ended after the game in an unlikely way: En route to my mother’s house in suburban Philly, I inexplicably missed the exit from I-95 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, costing me about 15 or 20 minutes.
Total Miles To Date: 1,250
Next Game: Major mileage. I’ll stop in Alexandria, Virginia to pick up college buddy Forrest Chilton at the school where he teaches, then we’ll continue to Williamsburg to see Cornell square off with Virginia Military in the opening game of the William & Mary Tip-Off Classic before returning to Alexandria for the night.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Day 3: Harvard Crimson at New Hampshire Wildcats
Lundholm Gymnasium (capacity 3,500)
Durham, New Hampshire
The Result: Harvard 83, New Hampshire 81 (OT)
Final scores can sometimes be deceptive. Often, reporters will say a game “wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate.” But seeing “OT” next to a final score is like seeing a USDA stamp of approval—the game’s quality has been certified.
Overtimes are special. Think about all the variables and events that happen within a game, and all the forces that have to align to create a tie after 40 minutes of action. Tonight’s game in Durham, New Hampshire was special indeed, featuring 25 ties and lead changes. Both teams rallied from deficits as large as 8 and 9 points before reaching a 70-70 tie at the end of regulation.
The end of the game left you feeling bad for New Hampshire freshman Sam Herrick, who went to the line with a half-second left in OT and a chance to tie the game with two made free throws. The ultimate pressure situation—the kind all kids imagine themselves in when shooting by themselves in their driveway. (As a lad, I pretended I was playing for Notre Dame and a teammate to Kelly Tripucka.) Unfortunately Herrick missed the first, and UNH was unable to convert off his intentional miss on the second.
Venue Rating: B-
Facility: B+. Ah, bleachers. Some places have bleachers on the floor that yield to permanently-installed seats on the next level. At Lundholm, there is no next level, just two sets of gigantic bleachers that end with the wall. And Lundholm’s are made of wood.
In my last entry, I said I liked wooden bleachers, but tonight I realized that I absolutely adore them. To the extent they’re not filled, they create a beautiful backdrop for the game’s action. And there are few sounds in life as sweet as a set of wooden bleachers being stomped on to punctuate chants or simply create noise. I reveled tonight in giving Lundholm’s bleachers a mighty pounding.
Attendance (642): D. I hate to think of the mundane alternate activities being pursued by students who chose not to attend tonight’s great game. Sure, some may have been studying, but what a shame for any of them to have missed it.
There was something unique about the fans in the student section: They were overwhelmingly female. Wooden bleachers…overtime…and surrounded by the University of New Hampshire’s better half—I felt like I had stumbled through the jungle into some kind of basketball Shangri-La.
Basketball Environment: B-. No pep band, but we had cheerleaders and a UNH mascot named “Wild E. Cat” who worked the stands for the first half but then went AWOL after the break. UNH periodically played recorded music during the time-outs. I’m not wild about that, but it wasn’t too bad until they broke out the country music. I’d have thought I would be safe from it 1,800 miles from my Texas home.
Before the game, a female student singing group did a fantastic rendition of the national anthem. (Are you taking notes, Colgate?)
Fan Face-Off: New Hampshire wins
There must have been Harvard fans at the game tonight, but I couldn’t find them. They were the least visible and vocal visitors so far.
The UNH crowd was pretty tame during the first half, but got things cooking with “de-fense” chants and nice bleacher-stomping during the seesaw second half.
I watched tonight’s game with high school friend Tim Houck, who is also giving me two nights of lodging at his place. We sat in the student section and dove into the action ourselves, though I must confess to absent-mindedly trying to initiate a “de-fense” chant while New Hampshire was on offense. (I think it was a Freudian slip as I secretly wished for the overtime that eventually came.)
Best Mascot: Crimson
Last summer, I undertook a project to memorize all 330+ Division I basketball mascots. I had always known quite a few, but decided to climb to the summit and memorize all of them. This led me to prize unique mascots, as they were easier to remember (and also give the school a more distinct identity).
“Wildcats” is shared by nine Division I teams. Mix in 13 tigers, 8 panthers, 4 lions, 3 jaguars, 2 catamounts, 4 bobcats and 3 bearcats, and the NCAA is so overgrown with cats that I’m thinking of calling Animal Control on them. “Crimson” doesn’t really have an intimidation factor, but it’s unique and does have an old-school charm that befits a 360 year old university.
Graduation Success Rate: New Hampshire by forfeit
In an act of Crimson cowardice, Harvard joins its Ivy League peers in keeping its graduation rates to itself. The Ivies may be exempted, but their failure to voluntarily report their statistics undermines their credibility as supposed leaders in higher education.
If only the Crimson were bold enough to play, they may have had a shot: New Hampshire sports a lousy 56% NCAA graduation success rate. Take your victory Wildcats, but be warned: With such a low rate, if you so much as crack a smile, I’m blowing the whistle for “excessive celebration.”
I SAW THAT!
Life on the Road
When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do. In Boston, that means enduring a painful crawl during rush hour. I drove downtown this morning to meet Mason Eubank for breakfast at the Seaport Hotel. Mason and I worked together in San Antonio and he is now with Fidelity Investments here in Boston. We had a great time catching up over french toast.
My other major activity of the day was a nap which put a dent in the sleep deficit I had built writing these accounts. Host Tim Houck and I headed for Durham in the late afternoon and enjoyed a nice dinner at Libby’s Bar & Grill. Try their “Chicken Bomb” sandwhich. It was just what I needed after subsisting on too many crackers and soft pretzels during the previous 24 hours.
Total Miles To Date: 850
Next Game: Tomorrow I head south to New Jersey and the cozy confines of Rider’s Alumni Gym, as the Broncs host the Monmouth Hawks.
Durham, New Hampshire
The Result: Harvard 83, New Hampshire 81 (OT)
Final scores can sometimes be deceptive. Often, reporters will say a game “wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate.” But seeing “OT” next to a final score is like seeing a USDA stamp of approval—the game’s quality has been certified.
Overtimes are special. Think about all the variables and events that happen within a game, and all the forces that have to align to create a tie after 40 minutes of action. Tonight’s game in Durham, New Hampshire was special indeed, featuring 25 ties and lead changes. Both teams rallied from deficits as large as 8 and 9 points before reaching a 70-70 tie at the end of regulation.
The end of the game left you feeling bad for New Hampshire freshman Sam Herrick, who went to the line with a half-second left in OT and a chance to tie the game with two made free throws. The ultimate pressure situation—the kind all kids imagine themselves in when shooting by themselves in their driveway. (As a lad, I pretended I was playing for Notre Dame and a teammate to Kelly Tripucka.) Unfortunately Herrick missed the first, and UNH was unable to convert off his intentional miss on the second.
Venue Rating: B-
Facility: B+. Ah, bleachers. Some places have bleachers on the floor that yield to permanently-installed seats on the next level. At Lundholm, there is no next level, just two sets of gigantic bleachers that end with the wall. And Lundholm’s are made of wood.
In my last entry, I said I liked wooden bleachers, but tonight I realized that I absolutely adore them. To the extent they’re not filled, they create a beautiful backdrop for the game’s action. And there are few sounds in life as sweet as a set of wooden bleachers being stomped on to punctuate chants or simply create noise. I reveled tonight in giving Lundholm’s bleachers a mighty pounding.
Attendance (642): D. I hate to think of the mundane alternate activities being pursued by students who chose not to attend tonight’s great game. Sure, some may have been studying, but what a shame for any of them to have missed it.
There was something unique about the fans in the student section: They were overwhelmingly female. Wooden bleachers…overtime…and surrounded by the University of New Hampshire’s better half—I felt like I had stumbled through the jungle into some kind of basketball Shangri-La.
Basketball Environment: B-. No pep band, but we had cheerleaders and a UNH mascot named “Wild E. Cat” who worked the stands for the first half but then went AWOL after the break. UNH periodically played recorded music during the time-outs. I’m not wild about that, but it wasn’t too bad until they broke out the country music. I’d have thought I would be safe from it 1,800 miles from my Texas home.
Before the game, a female student singing group did a fantastic rendition of the national anthem. (Are you taking notes, Colgate?)
Fan Face-Off: New Hampshire wins
There must have been Harvard fans at the game tonight, but I couldn’t find them. They were the least visible and vocal visitors so far.
The UNH crowd was pretty tame during the first half, but got things cooking with “de-fense” chants and nice bleacher-stomping during the seesaw second half.
I watched tonight’s game with high school friend Tim Houck, who is also giving me two nights of lodging at his place. We sat in the student section and dove into the action ourselves, though I must confess to absent-mindedly trying to initiate a “de-fense” chant while New Hampshire was on offense. (I think it was a Freudian slip as I secretly wished for the overtime that eventually came.)
Best Mascot: Crimson
Last summer, I undertook a project to memorize all 330+ Division I basketball mascots. I had always known quite a few, but decided to climb to the summit and memorize all of them. This led me to prize unique mascots, as they were easier to remember (and also give the school a more distinct identity).
“Wildcats” is shared by nine Division I teams. Mix in 13 tigers, 8 panthers, 4 lions, 3 jaguars, 2 catamounts, 4 bobcats and 3 bearcats, and the NCAA is so overgrown with cats that I’m thinking of calling Animal Control on them. “Crimson” doesn’t really have an intimidation factor, but it’s unique and does have an old-school charm that befits a 360 year old university.
Graduation Success Rate: New Hampshire by forfeit
In an act of Crimson cowardice, Harvard joins its Ivy League peers in keeping its graduation rates to itself. The Ivies may be exempted, but their failure to voluntarily report their statistics undermines their credibility as supposed leaders in higher education.
If only the Crimson were bold enough to play, they may have had a shot: New Hampshire sports a lousy 56% NCAA graduation success rate. Take your victory Wildcats, but be warned: With such a low rate, if you so much as crack a smile, I’m blowing the whistle for “excessive celebration.”
I SAW THAT!
Life on the Road
When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do. In Boston, that means enduring a painful crawl during rush hour. I drove downtown this morning to meet Mason Eubank for breakfast at the Seaport Hotel. Mason and I worked together in San Antonio and he is now with Fidelity Investments here in Boston. We had a great time catching up over french toast.
My other major activity of the day was a nap which put a dent in the sleep deficit I had built writing these accounts. Host Tim Houck and I headed for Durham in the late afternoon and enjoyed a nice dinner at Libby’s Bar & Grill. Try their “Chicken Bomb” sandwhich. It was just what I needed after subsisting on too many crackers and soft pretzels during the previous 24 hours.
Total Miles To Date: 850
Next Game: Tomorrow I head south to New Jersey and the cozy confines of Rider’s Alumni Gym, as the Broncs host the Monmouth Hawks.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Day 2: Iona Gaels at Rhode Island Rams
Thomas F. Ryan Center (capacity 7,657)
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
The Result: Rhode Island 85, Iona 60
I was pulling hard for the Gaels. After all, my 10-day adventure is really a celebration of mid-major ball, and tonight’s was the only game in the series pitting a mid-major against a major conference team. I even wore an Iona-red shirt to go with my naturally Iona-red hair.
Of course, with George Mason’s Final Four appearance and the rise of conferences like the Missouri Valley, the mid-major label is becoming vague. Rhode Island, a member of the Atlantic 14—err, I mean—10, is technically a “major” team, but the A-10 might be said to be on the “bubble” of majordom, having sent just one team to the Big Dance in 2005 and two in 2006.
When Iona’s De’Shaune Griffin hit a jumper to tie the game at 22 with 5:44 left in the first half, my hopes of a barn-burning upset soared. But the Rams responded with a blistering 17-2 run to make it a fifteen-point game at the half. Iona, missing starter Kyle Camper to a broken foot suffered in practice, wouldn’t threaten again.
Venue Rating: C
Facility: B. The Ryan Center is a modern, sparkling, brightly lit venue with sharp, clean exterior architecture. All of which is a problem. It’s a little too nice, lacking the charm of older, smellier facilities. But it earns a B for being such a well-designed, easily navigated building.
Attendance (3,164): C. Even it you take an optimistic view, the Ryan Center was only half-full. I cut them a little slack for it being an out-of-conference match-up, but a C is all I can justify.
Basketball Environment: C . Last night’s dismal fan experience at Colgate left me craving the traditional trappings of college basketball, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Pep band? Check. Chanting students? Check. Cheerleaders? Check. Dancing girls? OK, maybe they’re not so traditional, but…CHECK!
Why a C, then? The student cheering was pretty well sustained through the game, but with the low numbers in a big building, you couldn’t really say the joint was jumpin'.
Fan Face-Off: Rhode Island
This competition favors the home team, but last night Binghamton showed how a road team can pull off the upset. Tonight, there were about a dozen Iona faithful behind the bench, and it was clear they took the game very seriously, but—c’mon people—you gotta throw me a chant or two!
Rhode Island wins, carried by its students.
Best Mascot: Gaels
While the Gaels were soundly defeated on the court, they routed the Rams in mascot competition. As a mascot afficionado, I value those that are unique or at least uncommon. (Teams from St Mary’s of California also use “Gaels). In addition, “Gaels” appeals to me personally, given my Irish heritage and startlingly authentic leprechaun appearance.
Of course, we are probably just one generation away from this mascot being deemed offensive. Some fear an Orwellian future where mankind is controlled by Big Brother. Others foresee an uninhabitable world devastated by global warming. I personally dread the day all Division I teams call themselves “Golden Eagles.”
Graduation Success Rate: Iona 54%, Rhode Island 33%
The Gaels take the win, but with little to brag about. In the only 10-10-10 game pitting a mid-major against a major conference school, I’d have hoped for a blowout by Iona. They're both way too low.
Ready for Prime Time?
Iona color commentator Bill Daughtry had me on as his half-time guest to discuss my 10-10-10 adventure. Iona Assistant AD Brian Beyrer generously provided me with a ticket for a second row seat behind Iona’s bench.
Did you ever have a ticket that was too good? I had to “downgrade” myself and move up a few rows after I found I couldn’t see anything on the other side of Iona coach Jeff Ruland, a towering man who played professionally for the Washington Bullets.
Life on the Road
The drive from Hamilton, NY to Kingston, Rhode Island was a 5 ½ hour doozie. Unlike yesterday’s drive, which climaxed with a relaxing drive through farmland, today was pretty much major highways all the way. Dense fog in the western mountains of Massachusetts made driving pretty demanding for close to an hour.
As for in-car entertainment, I’m playing about two CDs per trip. I alternate music and silence, as it makes the music sweeter when I reward myself with it. Today’s albums: Squeeze’s “Singles 45 and Under” and “The Best of Blondie.”
At the game, I enjoyed nice conversation with a URI fan named John Scott. I’m close to living the ultimate lifestyle, but John may have me beat. A retired marine biologist, John sticks around Rhode Island only for the out-of-conference schedule—then he winters in the Carribean.
After the game, I drove north 90 minutes to the home of my high school chum, Tim Houck. Sometimes when you stay with friends or family, you’re in a room filled with toys, boxes, old exercise equipment. Not here. Not only does my room look like one found in an upscale bed and breakfast, it even has its own separate bathroom. Oh my!
Total Miles To Date: 670
Next Game: Harvard at New Hampshire.
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
The Result: Rhode Island 85, Iona 60
I was pulling hard for the Gaels. After all, my 10-day adventure is really a celebration of mid-major ball, and tonight’s was the only game in the series pitting a mid-major against a major conference team. I even wore an Iona-red shirt to go with my naturally Iona-red hair.
Of course, with George Mason’s Final Four appearance and the rise of conferences like the Missouri Valley, the mid-major label is becoming vague. Rhode Island, a member of the Atlantic 14—err, I mean—10, is technically a “major” team, but the A-10 might be said to be on the “bubble” of majordom, having sent just one team to the Big Dance in 2005 and two in 2006.
When Iona’s De’Shaune Griffin hit a jumper to tie the game at 22 with 5:44 left in the first half, my hopes of a barn-burning upset soared. But the Rams responded with a blistering 17-2 run to make it a fifteen-point game at the half. Iona, missing starter Kyle Camper to a broken foot suffered in practice, wouldn’t threaten again.
Venue Rating: C
Facility: B. The Ryan Center is a modern, sparkling, brightly lit venue with sharp, clean exterior architecture. All of which is a problem. It’s a little too nice, lacking the charm of older, smellier facilities. But it earns a B for being such a well-designed, easily navigated building.
Attendance (3,164): C. Even it you take an optimistic view, the Ryan Center was only half-full. I cut them a little slack for it being an out-of-conference match-up, but a C is all I can justify.
Basketball Environment: C . Last night’s dismal fan experience at Colgate left me craving the traditional trappings of college basketball, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Pep band? Check. Chanting students? Check. Cheerleaders? Check. Dancing girls? OK, maybe they’re not so traditional, but…CHECK!
Why a C, then? The student cheering was pretty well sustained through the game, but with the low numbers in a big building, you couldn’t really say the joint was jumpin'.
Fan Face-Off: Rhode Island
This competition favors the home team, but last night Binghamton showed how a road team can pull off the upset. Tonight, there were about a dozen Iona faithful behind the bench, and it was clear they took the game very seriously, but—c’mon people—you gotta throw me a chant or two!
Rhode Island wins, carried by its students.
Best Mascot: Gaels
While the Gaels were soundly defeated on the court, they routed the Rams in mascot competition. As a mascot afficionado, I value those that are unique or at least uncommon. (Teams from St Mary’s of California also use “Gaels). In addition, “Gaels” appeals to me personally, given my Irish heritage and startlingly authentic leprechaun appearance.
Of course, we are probably just one generation away from this mascot being deemed offensive. Some fear an Orwellian future where mankind is controlled by Big Brother. Others foresee an uninhabitable world devastated by global warming. I personally dread the day all Division I teams call themselves “Golden Eagles.”
Graduation Success Rate: Iona 54%, Rhode Island 33%
The Gaels take the win, but with little to brag about. In the only 10-10-10 game pitting a mid-major against a major conference school, I’d have hoped for a blowout by Iona. They're both way too low.
Ready for Prime Time?
Iona color commentator Bill Daughtry had me on as his half-time guest to discuss my 10-10-10 adventure. Iona Assistant AD Brian Beyrer generously provided me with a ticket for a second row seat behind Iona’s bench.
Did you ever have a ticket that was too good? I had to “downgrade” myself and move up a few rows after I found I couldn’t see anything on the other side of Iona coach Jeff Ruland, a towering man who played professionally for the Washington Bullets.
Life on the Road
The drive from Hamilton, NY to Kingston, Rhode Island was a 5 ½ hour doozie. Unlike yesterday’s drive, which climaxed with a relaxing drive through farmland, today was pretty much major highways all the way. Dense fog in the western mountains of Massachusetts made driving pretty demanding for close to an hour.
As for in-car entertainment, I’m playing about two CDs per trip. I alternate music and silence, as it makes the music sweeter when I reward myself with it. Today’s albums: Squeeze’s “Singles 45 and Under” and “The Best of Blondie.”
At the game, I enjoyed nice conversation with a URI fan named John Scott. I’m close to living the ultimate lifestyle, but John may have me beat. A retired marine biologist, John sticks around Rhode Island only for the out-of-conference schedule—then he winters in the Carribean.
After the game, I drove north 90 minutes to the home of my high school chum, Tim Houck. Sometimes when you stay with friends or family, you’re in a room filled with toys, boxes, old exercise equipment. Not here. Not only does my room look like one found in an upscale bed and breakfast, it even has its own separate bathroom. Oh my!
Total Miles To Date: 670
Next Game: Harvard at New Hampshire.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Day 1: Binghamton Bearcats at Colgate Raiders
Cotterell Court (capacity 3,000)
Hamilton, New York
The Result: Colgate 78, Binghamton 70
While I didn’t get the overtime thriller I hoped for, I did get to see a very good game. Binghamton battled back from an 8-point, first-half deficit, tying the game at the break with a well-executed play that set up a Duane James three-pointer. But in the second half, Colgate senior guard Jon Simon took over, scoring nine consecutive points to answer Binghamton’s rally.
Venue Rating (academic scale): F
One of my favorite aspects of basketball travel is visiting and evaluating basketball venues. For my 10-10-10 adventure, I’m proud to unveil the exclusive FAB rating system,which evaluates venues based on three key attributes: Facility, Attendance and Basketball Environment.
Facility: D Walk into Cotterell Court and something immediately seems out of kilter. In some kind of feng shui violation, the court feels like it’s oriented the wrong way relative to the arches supporting the ceiling and roof. Picture the Palestra with its court turned 90 degrees.
The building gets novelty points for having a bowling alley. And you get a good chuckle watching the away team come and go from the court, as it is forced to run through the doors and lobby used by the general public.
Other than that, the place is pretty unremarkable. I like bleachers, but prefer wood to the hard plastic I endured at Cotterell. A nice scoreboard is about all it has going for it.
Attendance (510): F. That was not a typo. A Division I basketball game involving two teams separated by only 65 miles and only 510 people show up. And of that total, only a small fraction were students. Pitiful. With the game tied at the break, I heard one student ask another, “Are you going to stick around for the second half?”
Basketball environment: F Good game aside, if I wanted to kick off my adventure with a bang, I probably couldn’t have chosen a worse place. Empty gym. No pep band. No cheerleaders. A tape recorded chorale version of the national anthem. (Colgate’s website boasts of its music degree programs, yet the university can’t find a student to perform the anthem?) Worst of all, during every time-out the “crowd” is tortured with blaring recorded music in a desperate attempt to create excitement.
Fan Face-Off: Binghamton wins on the road!
Given its atrociously apathetic student body, Colgate was ripe for the upset. Binghamton fans, many of whom came by bus, bettered their upstate rivals with buses and a balanced attack: old clappers and young yappers. While the many older fans could be relied on for consistent clapping, a spirited group of perhaps 8 Binghamton students periodically pounded the bleachers as they stood and chanted.
The Bearcat boosters also won the appearance battle: the older crowd was impressively dressed in green Bearcat duds, while the 8 students had their faces painted.
Two factors made the fan battle a close one. A group of Colgate-clad children behind a basket gave it their all. And a Bearcat student almost cost his side the Fan Face-Off by yelling “you suck!” while Colgate players shot their free throws. Fortunately the other students didn’t follow the lead of this classless moron.
Best Mascot: Bearcats
It's a close one, but I’m going with the Bearcat. Colgate used to be the Red Raiders, but dropped the “red” out of concerns that it might be offensive to American indians (even though it apparently wasn’t referring to them). Bearcats wins just for being less nebulous.
Federal Graduation Rate: Colgate 80, Binghamton 63
This is college basketball, so with each game we'll see how the programs compare in the classroom. Where possible, I’m using the NCAA Graduation Success Rate, but Binghamton doesn’t one. For this match-up, I used the Federal Graduation Rate, and Colgate wins handily. (For the record, Colgate’s NCAA graduation success rate is 92%.)
Life on the Road
Day 1 was fantastic. En route from Philadelphia to Hamilton, I stopped at Nina’s Café on New York Street in Dunmore, Pa. I’m friends with the proprietors’ brother, and she treated me to fantastic meatballs and sauce, and threw in some delicious pizza that featured an unusual blend of cheeses.
Hamilton is known for being remote, but the drive was beautiful. Rolling farmland interrupted by pretty Victorian towns. And while Cotterell Court didn’t garner much praise from me, the town of Hamilton and Colgate’s campus are wonderful. Hamilton has a center square lit up for the holidays, and the pretty campus is perched atop a hill overlooking town. At the base of the hill is a small lake teaming with geese.
Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, this will be my only night in a hotel: the Colgate Inn. A nice mile walk from the court with nice rooms and free breakfast...a great place.
Total Miles To Date: 250
Next Game: Iona at Rhode Island.
Hamilton, New York
The Result: Colgate 78, Binghamton 70
While I didn’t get the overtime thriller I hoped for, I did get to see a very good game. Binghamton battled back from an 8-point, first-half deficit, tying the game at the break with a well-executed play that set up a Duane James three-pointer. But in the second half, Colgate senior guard Jon Simon took over, scoring nine consecutive points to answer Binghamton’s rally.
Venue Rating (academic scale): F
One of my favorite aspects of basketball travel is visiting and evaluating basketball venues. For my 10-10-10 adventure, I’m proud to unveil the exclusive FAB rating system,which evaluates venues based on three key attributes: Facility, Attendance and Basketball Environment.
Facility: D Walk into Cotterell Court and something immediately seems out of kilter. In some kind of feng shui violation, the court feels like it’s oriented the wrong way relative to the arches supporting the ceiling and roof. Picture the Palestra with its court turned 90 degrees.
The building gets novelty points for having a bowling alley. And you get a good chuckle watching the away team come and go from the court, as it is forced to run through the doors and lobby used by the general public.
Other than that, the place is pretty unremarkable. I like bleachers, but prefer wood to the hard plastic I endured at Cotterell. A nice scoreboard is about all it has going for it.
Attendance (510): F. That was not a typo. A Division I basketball game involving two teams separated by only 65 miles and only 510 people show up. And of that total, only a small fraction were students. Pitiful. With the game tied at the break, I heard one student ask another, “Are you going to stick around for the second half?”
Basketball environment: F Good game aside, if I wanted to kick off my adventure with a bang, I probably couldn’t have chosen a worse place. Empty gym. No pep band. No cheerleaders. A tape recorded chorale version of the national anthem. (Colgate’s website boasts of its music degree programs, yet the university can’t find a student to perform the anthem?) Worst of all, during every time-out the “crowd” is tortured with blaring recorded music in a desperate attempt to create excitement.
Fan Face-Off: Binghamton wins on the road!
Given its atrociously apathetic student body, Colgate was ripe for the upset. Binghamton fans, many of whom came by bus, bettered their upstate rivals with buses and a balanced attack: old clappers and young yappers. While the many older fans could be relied on for consistent clapping, a spirited group of perhaps 8 Binghamton students periodically pounded the bleachers as they stood and chanted.
The Bearcat boosters also won the appearance battle: the older crowd was impressively dressed in green Bearcat duds, while the 8 students had their faces painted.
Two factors made the fan battle a close one. A group of Colgate-clad children behind a basket gave it their all. And a Bearcat student almost cost his side the Fan Face-Off by yelling “you suck!” while Colgate players shot their free throws. Fortunately the other students didn’t follow the lead of this classless moron.
Best Mascot: Bearcats
It's a close one, but I’m going with the Bearcat. Colgate used to be the Red Raiders, but dropped the “red” out of concerns that it might be offensive to American indians (even though it apparently wasn’t referring to them). Bearcats wins just for being less nebulous.
Federal Graduation Rate: Colgate 80, Binghamton 63
This is college basketball, so with each game we'll see how the programs compare in the classroom. Where possible, I’m using the NCAA Graduation Success Rate, but Binghamton doesn’t one. For this match-up, I used the Federal Graduation Rate, and Colgate wins handily. (For the record, Colgate’s NCAA graduation success rate is 92%.)
Life on the Road
Day 1 was fantastic. En route from Philadelphia to Hamilton, I stopped at Nina’s Café on New York Street in Dunmore, Pa. I’m friends with the proprietors’ brother, and she treated me to fantastic meatballs and sauce, and threw in some delicious pizza that featured an unusual blend of cheeses.
Hamilton is known for being remote, but the drive was beautiful. Rolling farmland interrupted by pretty Victorian towns. And while Cotterell Court didn’t garner much praise from me, the town of Hamilton and Colgate’s campus are wonderful. Hamilton has a center square lit up for the holidays, and the pretty campus is perched atop a hill overlooking town. At the base of the hill is a small lake teaming with geese.
Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, this will be my only night in a hotel: the Colgate Inn. A nice mile walk from the court with nice rooms and free breakfast...a great place.
Total Miles To Date: 250
Next Game: Iona at Rhode Island.
10 Games in 10 States in 10 Days
On November 27, 2006, I will undertake a basketball adventure that will take me to 10 college basketball games in 10 different states/DC in 10 consecutive days. Why? Because I want to.
I love college basketball, and have a special fondness for the mid-majors. A recent career change gives me the freedom and flexibility to take to the road in the ultimate basketball travel vacation. And an amazingly supportive wife gave me the final go-ahead.
My itinerary
November 27: Binghamton at Colgate in Hamilton, NY
November 28: Iona at Rhode Island in Kingston, RI
November 29: Harvard at New Hampshire in Durham, NH
November 30: Monmouth at Rider in Lawrenceville, NJ
Dec 1: Cornell vs VMI in Williamsburg, VA
Dec 2: Northern Iowa at Bucknell in Lewisburg, PA
Dec 3: Bucknell vs George Mason in Washington, DC
Dec 4: Howard at Navy in Annapolis, MD
Dec 5: Bucknell at Delaware State in Dover, DE (women)
Dec 6: Texas Christian at Texas-San Antonio in San Antonio, TX
I love college basketball, and have a special fondness for the mid-majors. A recent career change gives me the freedom and flexibility to take to the road in the ultimate basketball travel vacation. And an amazingly supportive wife gave me the final go-ahead.
My itinerary
November 27: Binghamton at Colgate in Hamilton, NY
November 28: Iona at Rhode Island in Kingston, RI
November 29: Harvard at New Hampshire in Durham, NH
November 30: Monmouth at Rider in Lawrenceville, NJ
Dec 1: Cornell vs VMI in Williamsburg, VA
Dec 2: Northern Iowa at Bucknell in Lewisburg, PA
Dec 3: Bucknell vs George Mason in Washington, DC
Dec 4: Howard at Navy in Annapolis, MD
Dec 5: Bucknell at Delaware State in Dover, DE (women)
Dec 6: Texas Christian at Texas-San Antonio in San Antonio, TX
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