The Daily Press is reporting that the Colonials have folded. Though apparently the message has not been announced publicly yet.
Well, it was fun actually being able to afford tickets to a live, pro football game. That about wraps it up for this blog folks. I'm happy that we had a team for a year, just wish it could have been longer.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Whither Daunte?
We're getting closer and closer to training camp, and there's at least one notable absence on the Sacramento roster: Daunte Culpepper, almost certainly the UFL's biggest name, has yet to sign with the Mountain Lions.
Is he coming back? There's a lot of speculation, but there are reasons for and against.
Why Daunte Ain't Returning
Culpepper undoubtedly could have landed a backup job in the NFL in 2010, and though we don't know what his 1-year plus option UFL contract was worth, it was almost certainly less than the $820,000 minimum veteran salary he could have earned with an NFL squad. But he joined with the UFL because he wanted to prove he could still be the #1 QB on a roster.
The trouble is, he didn't prove it.
Through the Molos third game, Culpepper was looking sharp. A little low on completions at 58%, but admittedly his receivers weren't giving him any help in that area. 6 TDs to two picks. An 87.51 passer rating.
He falls apart in game 4, throwing 4 interceptions against the Locos on terrible throws. His rating drops to a mediocre 72.65. His numbers never really recover, especially after an awful showing in week 8 against, you guessed it, the Locos. In that game he threw for one TD and three interceptions. And though Sactown went 3-1 in the latter half of the season, Culpepper never did better than a 1/1 TD/INT ratio.
The point of all this statistical hooplah is that he did not prove to anyone that he can still be the best there is. And maybe he realizes it. His final statline on the year isn't bad... for a backup. Perhaps Daunte sees the writing on the wall and has decided to say goodbye to the UFL for a better salary in the NFL, should they play this year.
And yet, even just a serviceable quarterback would be an improvement on several NFL teams this year. Arizona, Minnesota, and Seattle come to mind.
Why Daunte Will Come Back
So he didn't prove that he's the man last year, perhaps he still feels the need to do so this year?
Despite the mediocre showing by the end of the season, Daunte's numbers aren't quite so bad if you remove the Locos games from the equation, which tack on seven interceptions and only one TD. His completion percentage still looks pretty awful, but some of that can be explained away by his big arm; Culpepper threw a lot of deep passes last year, which is reflected in the fact that his 1,944 yards gained through the air were the highest in the league by a 500-ish yard margin. And, as explained before, the early season saw a lot of dropped passes on the parts of his receivers.
Daunte has made his money playing football already. He'll still earn a modest paycheck in the UFL and it's more of a sure thing that the NFL at this point. If he still truly wants to be a starter, he's not going to get that in the NFL.
All in All
It comes down to why Culpepper wants to play. If it's pride, expect to see him in Sacramento. If it's money, don't expect to see his name inked to a UFL contract any time soon.
Is he coming back? There's a lot of speculation, but there are reasons for and against.
Why Daunte Ain't Returning
Culpepper undoubtedly could have landed a backup job in the NFL in 2010, and though we don't know what his 1-year plus option UFL contract was worth, it was almost certainly less than the $820,000 minimum veteran salary he could have earned with an NFL squad. But he joined with the UFL because he wanted to prove he could still be the #1 QB on a roster.
The trouble is, he didn't prove it.
Through the Molos third game, Culpepper was looking sharp. A little low on completions at 58%, but admittedly his receivers weren't giving him any help in that area. 6 TDs to two picks. An 87.51 passer rating.
He falls apart in game 4, throwing 4 interceptions against the Locos on terrible throws. His rating drops to a mediocre 72.65. His numbers never really recover, especially after an awful showing in week 8 against, you guessed it, the Locos. In that game he threw for one TD and three interceptions. And though Sactown went 3-1 in the latter half of the season, Culpepper never did better than a 1/1 TD/INT ratio.
The point of all this statistical hooplah is that he did not prove to anyone that he can still be the best there is. And maybe he realizes it. His final statline on the year isn't bad... for a backup. Perhaps Daunte sees the writing on the wall and has decided to say goodbye to the UFL for a better salary in the NFL, should they play this year.
And yet, even just a serviceable quarterback would be an improvement on several NFL teams this year. Arizona, Minnesota, and Seattle come to mind.
Why Daunte Will Come Back
So he didn't prove that he's the man last year, perhaps he still feels the need to do so this year?
Despite the mediocre showing by the end of the season, Daunte's numbers aren't quite so bad if you remove the Locos games from the equation, which tack on seven interceptions and only one TD. His completion percentage still looks pretty awful, but some of that can be explained away by his big arm; Culpepper threw a lot of deep passes last year, which is reflected in the fact that his 1,944 yards gained through the air were the highest in the league by a 500-ish yard margin. And, as explained before, the early season saw a lot of dropped passes on the parts of his receivers.
Daunte has made his money playing football already. He'll still earn a modest paycheck in the UFL and it's more of a sure thing that the NFL at this point. If he still truly wants to be a starter, he's not going to get that in the NFL.
All in All
It comes down to why Culpepper wants to play. If it's pride, expect to see him in Sacramento. If it's money, don't expect to see his name inked to a UFL contract any time soon.
Friday, July 1, 2011
NBA to NFL: "You call that a lockout?"
Well, looks like the National Basketball Association is also in lockout mode as of today. Owners have stated that 22 of the NBA's 30 teams are unprofitable. Players have argued that only 10 of the 30 teams are losing money.
When the major argument is whether 33% or 66% of the league is running in the red, you know there's a problem.
When the major argument is whether 33% or 66% of the league is running in the red, you know there's a problem.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
LB Coach Willis up on Domestic Abuse Charges
Ugh.
You hate to hear about this sort of thing anywhere, but it hits a bit closer to home when the scandal involves a member of your team.
Long story short, Hartford's linebacker's coach, James Willis, plead guilty to an assault and domestic abuse charge stemming from an incident in his home last December. Willis will be undergoing anger management training and has been sentenced to 30 hours of community service and a deferred 6-month probation. A violation could mean a 1-year prison sentence. Not something you want hanging over your head going into the season.
You hate to hear about this sort of thing anywhere, but it hits a bit closer to home when the scandal involves a member of your team.
Long story short, Hartford's linebacker's coach, James Willis, plead guilty to an assault and domestic abuse charge stemming from an incident in his home last December. Willis will be undergoing anger management training and has been sentenced to 30 hours of community service and a deferred 6-month probation. A violation could mean a 1-year prison sentence. Not something you want hanging over your head going into the season.
Monday, June 27, 2011
No T.O. in 2012?
According to several source, including AOL's Sportingnews.com, Terrell Owens has undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL. Several sources are saying that he couldn't be expected to recover before November.
At 37 years old, you have to think that this will be it for T.O., who spent the end of 2010 with a meniscus tear. Owens gets a lot of crap for being a "diva" type of wide receiver, and he deserves a lot of it IMO, but he's a hell of an athlete and it's going to be an occasion should he finally decide to hang 'em up.
At 37 years old, you have to think that this will be it for T.O., who spent the end of 2010 with a meniscus tear. Owens gets a lot of crap for being a "diva" type of wide receiver, and he deserves a lot of it IMO, but he's a hell of an athlete and it's going to be an occasion should he finally decide to hang 'em up.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Theismann Unhappy with UFL Owners
The Canadian National Post printed an interview with Joe Theismann today, and while the CFL was the main topic, Joe had a little to say about the UFL
That is... really not good to hear. We know that there have been some problems with bills and so forth, but it's not typical that you hear a comment as direct and unrestrained as this. Sad to say, it makes you wonder what some of the top brass were up to.
(post) Last year you were president of the Florida Tuskers in the UFL. What was that experience like?
(J.T) I worked hard as the head of football operations to fight for the people in the organization. Unfortunately the owners of the UFL have treated people like dirt. You can’t operate a successful business without being courteous and considerate of the people that work for you.
That is... really not good to hear. We know that there have been some problems with bills and so forth, but it's not typical that you hear a comment as direct and unrestrained as this. Sad to say, it makes you wonder what some of the top brass were up to.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday Grab Bag
I'm sure this picture is already making the rounds on the internet. It's a rough graphical presentation of the Bruins infamous $150k+ bar tab from Foxwood's casino.
And you've probably heard by now that the Colonials have a homefield again! Or at least, the framework of a stadium deal is there and it looks like the Rent will once again be the team's field in 2011. Great venue and great news.
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| "And no ice! I am so sick of ice!" |
And you've probably heard by now that the Colonials have a homefield again! Or at least, the framework of a stadium deal is there and it looks like the Rent will once again be the team's field in 2011. Great venue and great news.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Screaming at Football with Dad
Father's day is right around the corner, and I think it's important to note my dad's contribution to my own football knowledge. Mostly, I have come to understand that football means yelling a lot.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean, I think that you shouldn't start shouting if your team is up 58-7 midway through the third, and the opposing team manages to close the gap to 58-10. That's where dad and I disagree.
But football is an aggressive sport and it deserves loud, aggressive fans. And that is where dad has always had it right. I've been a geek longer than a football fan, and as such, my social circle doesn't revolve around sports. This is a shame because it's not fun to get angry at the TV alone. This is why I like watching a game with dad: while I sometimes question his choice of targets, his spirit is and always has been in the right place.
Some of the most fun I've had in my entire life was heckling visiting teams at Rentschler last year, yelling myself hoarse at the Colonial's touchdowns and booing the miscues. It's a vocal game. Thanks, dad, for instilling that in me.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean, I think that you shouldn't start shouting if your team is up 58-7 midway through the third, and the opposing team manages to close the gap to 58-10. That's where dad and I disagree.
But football is an aggressive sport and it deserves loud, aggressive fans. And that is where dad has always had it right. I've been a geek longer than a football fan, and as such, my social circle doesn't revolve around sports. This is a shame because it's not fun to get angry at the TV alone. This is why I like watching a game with dad: while I sometimes question his choice of targets, his spirit is and always has been in the right place.
Some of the most fun I've had in my entire life was heckling visiting teams at Rentschler last year, yelling myself hoarse at the Colonial's touchdowns and booing the miscues. It's a vocal game. Thanks, dad, for instilling that in me.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Let me Tell You...
...everything you need to know about sports in Connecticut.
Notice anything strange about this screen capture? Let's get a little closer.
Wait, what? Enhance!
The state's major news provider, the Hartford Courant, has a section on its website for a professional team that has not existed for fourteen years.
Also, Whalers merchandise is among the top sellers on NHL.com.
I mean, c'mon! If Winnipeg can get the Jets back, at least give us a cursory glance here NHL! Looks to me like people here, just maybe, might be thinking about how much they liked that pro hockey franchise they had all those years back?
Also, Whalers merchandise is among the top sellers on NHL.com.
I mean, c'mon! If Winnipeg can get the Jets back, at least give us a cursory glance here NHL! Looks to me like people here, just maybe, might be thinking about how much they liked that pro hockey franchise they had all those years back?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
2011 Schedule Released
We have a schedule!
I'm a little torn over the late start to Hartford's home games. It'd be nice to get into Rentschler early in the season, but I cannot stand summer weather, so the late start is appreciated. Home and away games are staggered such that between weeks 3-10, Hartford will be playing at home every other week. There are three Saturdays on the schedule and one Friday. No times are given.
Lets take a look at the matchups.
Week 1
Saturday, August 13 - Hartford at Virginia
These are two very different teams this year, and we have no way of knowing if a hostile crowd might be a factor in the team's first road trip of 2011. Hartford has never won a game against the Tuskers, but the now Destroyers have lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the field. This could be the game to turn that streak around.
Week 2
BYE - Hartford
Our biggest challenge. The team came off of their bye weeks looking very flat
Week 3 (HOME)
Saturday, August 27 - Sacramento at Hartford
Yeah, we all know what happened during last year's home opener vs Sacramento. Sactown is returning with a lot of the same offensive personnel, but this fan isn't worried. The last place Colonials gave the Molos fits last year.
Week 4
Sunday, September 4 - Hartford at Las Vegas
Last season's trip to Vegas was a heart breaker, but a close one. Sammy Boyd stadium hasn't been full enough to worry about the game environment and will not be a factor. The Colonials D was picked apart by drowsy-faced rookie QB Drew Willy.
Week 5 (HOME)
Saturday, September 10 - Las Vegas at Hartford
Ooh, back to back against Vegas, eh? This'll be interesting. Chase Clement could not handle the pressure of being a starter last year, and the Colonials capitalized on that with big plays. Whatever worked with Willy did not work with Clement. Home field advantage puts us over the edge I say.
Week 6
BYE - Hartford
Have a good rest, but for the luvva god remember to come back!
Week 7 (HOME)
Friday, September 23 - Omaha at Hartford
Poor play and a streak of bad luck broke Hartford's back in the home game against Omaha last year, but Omaha has lost the veteran presence of Jeff Garcia, who at the time of the Omaha@Hartford game in 2010 wasn't too banged up to perform. Then again, the team dropped Jeff Jagodzinski. Then again, we still have yet to see if Joe Moglia knows what he's doing. My guess is that J.M is going to have a rough first season, and this will be a Hartford win.
Week 8
Saturday, October 1 - Hartford at Sacramento
Hey, Sacramento, remember your last home game against the Colonials? You blew it. Really though, it was a close game that could have gone either way, and I think it'll go that way again.
Week 9 (HOME)
Saturday, October 8 - Virginia at Hartford
Hartford has an easier time against the former Tuskers at home last year, but who knows what 2011 will bring? Too close to call.
Week 10
Saturday, October 15 - Hartford at Omaha
We will beat you at home, and it will be glorious. No more ridiculous 4th quarter comebacks.
Predictions
3 wins
2 losses
3 I dunno's
I'm a little torn over the late start to Hartford's home games. It'd be nice to get into Rentschler early in the season, but I cannot stand summer weather, so the late start is appreciated. Home and away games are staggered such that between weeks 3-10, Hartford will be playing at home every other week. There are three Saturdays on the schedule and one Friday. No times are given.
Lets take a look at the matchups.
Week 1
Saturday, August 13 - Hartford at Virginia
These are two very different teams this year, and we have no way of knowing if a hostile crowd might be a factor in the team's first road trip of 2011. Hartford has never won a game against the Tuskers, but the now Destroyers have lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the field. This could be the game to turn that streak around.
Week 2
BYE - Hartford
Our biggest challenge. The team came off of their bye weeks looking very flat
Week 3 (HOME)
Saturday, August 27 - Sacramento at Hartford
Yeah, we all know what happened during last year's home opener vs Sacramento. Sactown is returning with a lot of the same offensive personnel, but this fan isn't worried. The last place Colonials gave the Molos fits last year.
Week 4
Sunday, September 4 - Hartford at Las Vegas
Last season's trip to Vegas was a heart breaker, but a close one. Sammy Boyd stadium hasn't been full enough to worry about the game environment and will not be a factor. The Colonials D was picked apart by drowsy-faced rookie QB Drew Willy.
Week 5 (HOME)
Saturday, September 10 - Las Vegas at Hartford
Ooh, back to back against Vegas, eh? This'll be interesting. Chase Clement could not handle the pressure of being a starter last year, and the Colonials capitalized on that with big plays. Whatever worked with Willy did not work with Clement. Home field advantage puts us over the edge I say.
Week 6
BYE - Hartford
Have a good rest, but for the luvva god remember to come back!
Week 7 (HOME)
Friday, September 23 - Omaha at Hartford
Poor play and a streak of bad luck broke Hartford's back in the home game against Omaha last year, but Omaha has lost the veteran presence of Jeff Garcia, who at the time of the Omaha@Hartford game in 2010 wasn't too banged up to perform. Then again, the team dropped Jeff Jagodzinski. Then again, we still have yet to see if Joe Moglia knows what he's doing. My guess is that J.M is going to have a rough first season, and this will be a Hartford win.
Week 8
Saturday, October 1 - Hartford at Sacramento
Hey, Sacramento, remember your last home game against the Colonials? You blew it. Really though, it was a close game that could have gone either way, and I think it'll go that way again.
Week 9 (HOME)
Saturday, October 8 - Virginia at Hartford
Hartford has an easier time against the former Tuskers at home last year, but who knows what 2011 will bring? Too close to call.
Week 10
Saturday, October 15 - Hartford at Omaha
We will beat you at home, and it will be glorious. No more ridiculous 4th quarter comebacks.
Predictions
3 wins
2 losses
3 I dunno's
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tryout Pics
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| I'm on the right. |
But I'm here to talk about the tryouts in Middletown this past Saturday. In fact, not so much to talk as to post pictures, so here we go.
Below: Only a few lucky participants would be picked Saturday (three, rumor has it), but some wouldn't even get the chance to finish competing. This poor kid walked off the field with his left leg taped from crotch to toe. At the very least, he did walk off.
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| Not a competitor; this guy stole Jerry Glanville's wallet and ran like hell. |
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| Goin' deep! (and breaking tables) |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Are you ready for some football (related activities)!?
I'll be heading on down to Hartford tomorrow for the Black Bear get-together and the tryouts on Saturday. Should be a good time.
It's 53 degrees out right now, and there's a scent of wood fires and vegetation wafting in through our windows. It's like an autumn night out there. Perfect weather for football.
It's 53 degrees out right now, and there's a scent of wood fires and vegetation wafting in through our windows. It's like an autumn night out there. Perfect weather for football.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Hockey Teams Moving North for the Summer
Looks like the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers have had enough of Georgia and are moving to Canada for the 2011-12 season. The team will be ditching their Atlanta moniker and going with something new. Apparently the Jets are leading in the polls, due to the team of the same name that played there until 1996.
Could a Hartford relocation be far behind? I wouldn't get my hopes up, but it's not unfeasible. Hockey has never been a staple of the south and, personally, I think two NHL teams in Florida is at least one too many. Sounds like the Winnipeg probablyJets will be playing in a venue even smaller than the XL Center.
Come on NHL. No excuses. With the threat of an NFL lockout I'm ready to sell myself to the Bruins if I have to, but I'd rather root for Hartford's home team.
Could a Hartford relocation be far behind? I wouldn't get my hopes up, but it's not unfeasible. Hockey has never been a staple of the south and, personally, I think two NHL teams in Florida is at least one too many. Sounds like the Winnipeg probablyJets will be playing in a venue even smaller than the XL Center.
Come on NHL. No excuses. With the threat of an NFL lockout I'm ready to sell myself to the Bruins if I have to, but I'd rather root for Hartford's home team.
Friday, May 27, 2011
It Ain't Football Season Yet
So have I mentioned the New Britain Rock Cats?
Like it or not, the proper football season isn't kicking off until mid-August, and something has to fill the void. I wouldn't suggest baseball on TV, which tends to be boring. But what about at the park?
It's amazing what a difference your actual physical presence at a game makes. When you're actually in the park there's something real about the crack of the bat, the dust that gets kicked up by a slide into home plate, and the cheer of a crowd you're smack in the middle of. Baseball on TV has a dreary dreamlike quality to it: you see the game, but it's almost like it isn't really happening. Just a lot of pictures on the screen. No smells of dirt and hot dogs (hopefully not in the same place) and beer and that slight metallic tinge you get from the bleachers. Sounds are muted. There's just no energy to it.
Which is why I find it funny that I'm not sure that I like football in the stadium more than I like watching it at home. The level of passion at an in-person game is intense--even an only partly full Rentschler Field has a gigawatt of spark to it. But foobaw is a tremendously complex game, with multiple camera angles that help viewers understand what just happened in the middle of the clouds of dust and heaps of players, and pauses in the action that are perfect for instant replay. It's more of mental experience at home, and a heady, emotional one on the field. Both are great.
Hmm, did I just fall back into football chat in a post about baseball in a football blog?
In any case, I have fond memories of attending New Britain Red Sox games with my parents and aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents back in the day. And also attending Rock Cats games. I'm not bitter about the 1994 switch to being a Twins affiliate, though I think young me was a little disappointed in it. But this isn't Minnesota's team or Boston's team, it's New Britain's team, and there's a certain pride in supporting the local guys, even if the glamor isn't there.
Check em' out this year. The team is currently sitting at 27-17 and looks like a winner. Meaning they have talent you could be seeing in a different, much more expensive uniform next year.
Anything else good about going to see a ballgame in person? Beer and nachos. Yeah yeah, you could have those at home, but there's a charming, picnic quality to Bud in a plastic cup.
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| Go Red So... uh, I mean Rock Cats! |
It's amazing what a difference your actual physical presence at a game makes. When you're actually in the park there's something real about the crack of the bat, the dust that gets kicked up by a slide into home plate, and the cheer of a crowd you're smack in the middle of. Baseball on TV has a dreary dreamlike quality to it: you see the game, but it's almost like it isn't really happening. Just a lot of pictures on the screen. No smells of dirt and hot dogs (hopefully not in the same place) and beer and that slight metallic tinge you get from the bleachers. Sounds are muted. There's just no energy to it.
Which is why I find it funny that I'm not sure that I like football in the stadium more than I like watching it at home. The level of passion at an in-person game is intense--even an only partly full Rentschler Field has a gigawatt of spark to it. But foobaw is a tremendously complex game, with multiple camera angles that help viewers understand what just happened in the middle of the clouds of dust and heaps of players, and pauses in the action that are perfect for instant replay. It's more of mental experience at home, and a heady, emotional one on the field. Both are great.
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| "But coach, they have sharp corners!" |
Hmm, did I just fall back into football chat in a post about baseball in a football blog?
In any case, I have fond memories of attending New Britain Red Sox games with my parents and aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents back in the day. And also attending Rock Cats games. I'm not bitter about the 1994 switch to being a Twins affiliate, though I think young me was a little disappointed in it. But this isn't Minnesota's team or Boston's team, it's New Britain's team, and there's a certain pride in supporting the local guys, even if the glamor isn't there.
Check em' out this year. The team is currently sitting at 27-17 and looks like a winner. Meaning they have talent you could be seeing in a different, much more expensive uniform next year.
Anything else good about going to see a ballgame in person? Beer and nachos. Yeah yeah, you could have those at home, but there's a charming, picnic quality to Bud in a plastic cup.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Saying Goodbye to One of the Greats
Macho Man Randy Savage died today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida. he was 58.
This really sucks. Randy was the only wrestler awesome enough to play heel to Hulk Hogan, and even thought he's been out of the wrestling biz for years now, he's always been remembered for his iconic voice. I used to love pro wrestling when I was a kid. He's a piece of my childhood that I'm very sad to say goodbye to.
Godspeed man. I hope you're elbow-dropping angels in heaven.
This really sucks. Randy was the only wrestler awesome enough to play heel to Hulk Hogan, and even thought he's been out of the wrestling biz for years now, he's always been remembered for his iconic voice. I used to love pro wrestling when I was a kid. He's a piece of my childhood that I'm very sad to say goodbye to.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
And We're Back!
Which is more than anyone can say for the NFL right now. Zing!
With greater attention being given to the lockout, and to the UFL's possible role during the lockout, I think it's time the league started to think about looking into (gasp! Horror!) raising ticket prices.
Now, I get that this is not going to be a popular opinion. People tend to get very upset when the prices of things go up. Just look at all the rage directed at the recent surge in gas prices.
So why should the UFL look into a small price hike on tickets? Well, this Stanford University study suggests that a higher price tag may actually be a factor in how people perceive the value of their purchases. The study focused on wine, but its not a great leap to apply it to events. People still bash the UFL for being "bush league" or "semi-pro" when the quality of the play is actually not that far from an NFL game. What does it say for that perception when a ticket is $15, compared to a comparable NFL ticket that might be $90 or more? It suggests that what you are getting is of considerably lower value. Commissioner Hugyghue has been quoted as saying that the price of a UFL game was comparable to a night out at the theater. Trouble is, movies are seen as cheap entertainment. Pro sports carry the notion of the elite: that you are watching the best there is out there.
A price bump--say, $5-$10 or so--doesn't push the ticket price out of reach of the average family, helps build the idea of the UFL as a professional league (when prices are not as far out of range of the NFL's) and gives the UFL a much needed revenue boost. I'm a writer, sporadically employed and often working for free (sigh, thank you very much English degree) but even I wouldn't complain if I had to scrape up another $5 for season tickets.
With greater attention being given to the lockout, and to the UFL's possible role during the lockout, I think it's time the league started to think about looking into (gasp! Horror!) raising ticket prices.
Now, I get that this is not going to be a popular opinion. People tend to get very upset when the prices of things go up. Just look at all the rage directed at the recent surge in gas prices.
So why should the UFL look into a small price hike on tickets? Well, this Stanford University study suggests that a higher price tag may actually be a factor in how people perceive the value of their purchases. The study focused on wine, but its not a great leap to apply it to events. People still bash the UFL for being "bush league" or "semi-pro" when the quality of the play is actually not that far from an NFL game. What does it say for that perception when a ticket is $15, compared to a comparable NFL ticket that might be $90 or more? It suggests that what you are getting is of considerably lower value. Commissioner Hugyghue has been quoted as saying that the price of a UFL game was comparable to a night out at the theater. Trouble is, movies are seen as cheap entertainment. Pro sports carry the notion of the elite: that you are watching the best there is out there.
A price bump--say, $5-$10 or so--doesn't push the ticket price out of reach of the average family, helps build the idea of the UFL as a professional league (when prices are not as far out of range of the NFL's) and gives the UFL a much needed revenue boost. I'm a writer, sporadically employed and often working for free (sigh, thank you very much English degree) but even I wouldn't complain if I had to scrape up another $5 for season tickets.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Until a Few Days Ago...
...I hadn't really realized how much of a homer I was. My wife and I went to Maine for our anniversary. We took my car with its Colonials license plate holder. The key is dangling off of a keychain that also holds a Colonials mini banner. I took my Colonials hoodie because the weather was chilly and rainy on and off. I took my laptop to get some work done ( and blessedly did very little) and brought with it my Colonials mousepad.
Something about being so far north of CT just really made it hit home. I can't guarantee that any of this paraphernalia raised awareness of the team, but we can hope.
Something about being so far north of CT just really made it hit home. I can't guarantee that any of this paraphernalia raised awareness of the team, but we can hope.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Been a Little While, Hasn't it Blog?
So goes it when you're trying to write the next great American novel. Or a novel, at least.
Seriously. I'm writing a novel. Nothing to do with the UFL or football at all, but it has eaten up a lot of my time lately. The lack of updates has certainly not been because there's been nothing to talk about. For starters, the Colonials' protected players list has been out since late April and contained notable names such as Ahmad Carrol and Colt Brennan. Both pictured below.
But in even bigger news, the UFL draft took place yesterday night at 8:00, entirely over Twitter. Hartford held the first pick and used it, to my surprise, on Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson. The move may have been necessitated by the lack of a commitment by 2010 starting quarterback Josh McCown, who would not or could not give Jerry Glanville a definite answer as to any future he might have with the team.
I don't blame McCown for wanting to move on, given what he lost by sticking with the Colonials. I'd also note that despite the fact he had what was statistically the best year of any UFL passer, his stats on the year are buoyed by two tremendous performances at the beginning of the year. Without games 1 and 2, McCown has a 60.36 passer rating and only about a 52% completion percentage.
In short we'll be fine with Brennan or Johnson, whoever starts for the year. Johnson's interview on ESPN 1410 today shows he's a class act. He said he was thankful for the opportunity to play for the team, which is a good attitude to have. I'm sure he wants to be in the NFL, but you have to take the opportunities you're given. Perhaps when he's proven that his shoulder has recovered from his surgery last year the other league will come a knocking.
In any event, the complete details are up here. Hartford spent numerous picks early on offensive line talent, and sought out help on the D-line with its later picks. Other notables are center Cecil Newton Jr., brother of quarterback Cam Newton, and running back Phil Tanner out of Tennessee.
They'll have to look towards free agency for wide receivers. Here's hoping Markee White returns.
Seriously. I'm writing a novel. Nothing to do with the UFL or football at all, but it has eaten up a lot of my time lately. The lack of updates has certainly not been because there's been nothing to talk about. For starters, the Colonials' protected players list has been out since late April and contained notable names such as Ahmad Carrol and Colt Brennan. Both pictured below.
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| Colt wants to get rid of the ball. |
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| Carroll wants the ball. |
But in even bigger news, the UFL draft took place yesterday night at 8:00, entirely over Twitter. Hartford held the first pick and used it, to my surprise, on Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson. The move may have been necessitated by the lack of a commitment by 2010 starting quarterback Josh McCown, who would not or could not give Jerry Glanville a definite answer as to any future he might have with the team.
I don't blame McCown for wanting to move on, given what he lost by sticking with the Colonials. I'd also note that despite the fact he had what was statistically the best year of any UFL passer, his stats on the year are buoyed by two tremendous performances at the beginning of the year. Without games 1 and 2, McCown has a 60.36 passer rating and only about a 52% completion percentage.
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| 1st pick in the 2011 UFL draft, seen here looking for a high five. |
In any event, the complete details are up here. Hartford spent numerous picks early on offensive line talent, and sought out help on the D-line with its later picks. Other notables are center Cecil Newton Jr., brother of quarterback Cam Newton, and running back Phil Tanner out of Tennessee.
They'll have to look towards free agency for wide receivers. Here's hoping Markee White returns.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
NFL Draft Tonight: also, Goodell
We have at least one more NFL draft before the league collapses in a great nuclear inferno, Demaurice Smith riding the pale horse of the grim reaper, swaying through NFL HQ with the merciless scythe of death. According to Roger Goodell, this is what we can expect to happen if the players "win." His piece in the Wall Street Journal now holds the record for strawman argument with the widest audience.
Because it is either that or Goodell has become so detached from why the lockout occurred that he could only be suffering from dementia. Quotes like the following suggest that the commish either has no idea what is going on or (much more likely) did an incredibly poor hack job trying to spin the events of the lockout against the players.
For instance: "For six weeks, there has been a work stoppage in the National Football League as the league has sought to negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement with the players."
But the league are the ones who decided that the current CBA wasn't good enough, and were incapable of negotiating a new one for a full two years after the decision was made to do away with the agreement at the time. NFL execs walked out of negotiations on at least one occasion, and seemed prepared to let the NFL float in limbo while player's savings dwindled away.
Another: "What would the NFL look like without a collectively bargained compromise?"
Well, Rog, we'll never know that because the players were also seeking a new CBA, and at no point was the idea of playing without one ever put on the table.
Wait, I take it back. If you want to know what the NFL would be like without a CBA, look to the early 90's. As far as I can tell, the league still exists and is even stronger than it was back then. So much for what he says afterward.
And another gem: "Rather than address the challenge of improving the collective-bargaining agreement for the benefit of the game..."
"Improving." Meaning, "you play more games for a lot less money because we say so."
How about this as a consequence of the players getting what they want: "No minimum player salary. Many players could earn substantially less than today's minimums."
So, the consequence of the greedy, nasty, goblin-like players wanting more money would be that they would arrange a deal where they made less? How in god's name does this make any sense?
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| Plague, Famine War... Demaurice Smith? Death-Maurice Smith? |
For instance: "For six weeks, there has been a work stoppage in the National Football League as the league has sought to negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement with the players."
But the league are the ones who decided that the current CBA wasn't good enough, and were incapable of negotiating a new one for a full two years after the decision was made to do away with the agreement at the time. NFL execs walked out of negotiations on at least one occasion, and seemed prepared to let the NFL float in limbo while player's savings dwindled away.
Another: "What would the NFL look like without a collectively bargained compromise?"
Well, Rog, we'll never know that because the players were also seeking a new CBA, and at no point was the idea of playing without one ever put on the table.
Wait, I take it back. If you want to know what the NFL would be like without a CBA, look to the early 90's. As far as I can tell, the league still exists and is even stronger than it was back then. So much for what he says afterward.
And another gem: "Rather than address the challenge of improving the collective-bargaining agreement for the benefit of the game..."
"Improving." Meaning, "you play more games for a lot less money because we say so."
How about this as a consequence of the players getting what they want: "No minimum player salary. Many players could earn substantially less than today's minimums."
So, the consequence of the greedy, nasty, goblin-like players wanting more money would be that they would arrange a deal where they made less? How in god's name does this make any sense?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Six Teams in 2011?
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the UFL is still considering adding a 6th team for the 2001 season.
I find it hard to believe that the league could still be thinking of adding another team, but if a TV contract is riding on the line, there may not be much of a choice. The question is, what quality of play would we get from a hastily-added expansion team, only four months from the proposed kickoff date?
The one thing that I can say in favor of this is that the staff in Hartford is being assembled with amazing speed. Jerry Glanville was only hired last month but news about position coaches and coordinators arrives every other day.
But Hartford already had a tentative roster, uniforms, a stadium and so forth. A new team will not only have to contend with finding coaches and player personnel, but finding a venue, new uniforms, sponsors, etc. A tremendous task to go through in only a few months. I'll be thrilled if it happens, but color me skeptical about our odds of seeing, say, the Chattanooga Barracudas, the Portland Octopi or the Salt Lake Monsters.
The UFL is undecided on whether to add a sixth team, with Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City and Chattanooga, Tenn., under consideration. If a sixth team is added, the schedule will expand to 10 games. If the UFL remains a five-team league -- Las Vegas, Sacramento, Omaha, Hartford and Virginia (replacing Florida) -- the eight-game schedule will continue.
"We're still talking to possible investors," Huyghue said. "We think we could get that sixth team up and running fairly quickly."
I find it hard to believe that the league could still be thinking of adding another team, but if a TV contract is riding on the line, there may not be much of a choice. The question is, what quality of play would we get from a hastily-added expansion team, only four months from the proposed kickoff date?
The one thing that I can say in favor of this is that the staff in Hartford is being assembled with amazing speed. Jerry Glanville was only hired last month but news about position coaches and coordinators arrives every other day.
But Hartford already had a tentative roster, uniforms, a stadium and so forth. A new team will not only have to contend with finding coaches and player personnel, but finding a venue, new uniforms, sponsors, etc. A tremendous task to go through in only a few months. I'll be thrilled if it happens, but color me skeptical about our odds of seeing, say, the Chattanooga Barracudas, the Portland Octopi or the Salt Lake Monsters.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Quick Shot from ESPN
Link
2. Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton may be the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Where is his ideal destination?
(Patrick) Hruby: The UFL's Hartford Colonials -- that way, Newton will be close to ESPN headquarters, where he can enjoy many more totally non-awkward quarterback classroom sessions with Jon Gruden.
2. Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton may be the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Where is his ideal destination?
(Patrick) Hruby: The UFL's Hartford Colonials -- that way, Newton will be close to ESPN headquarters, where he can enjoy many more totally non-awkward quarterback classroom sessions with Jon Gruden.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
What's Going On
Update: As of minutes ago, Coach Larry Zierlein, most recently seen as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach in 2009, has been hired on as the Colonials O-line coach.
Just a quick recap of the recent additions to the Hartford roster, mostly on the coaching side of things.
The Colonials have added...
Tim Krumrie as their defensive line coach. Krumrie had an 11-year career with the CIncinnati Bengals and served as a D-line coach with the Chiefs from 2006-2010.
Turk Schonert at QB coach, whom I've posted about previously.
Former pro-bowl wideout Harold Jackson as wide receivers coach.
And most recently, ex-Eagles/Packers/others linebacker James Willis at linebackers coach.
Plenty of happenings all over the team. Perhaps biggest of all was the recent announcement of QB Colt Brennan to the Colonials, announced via various channels over the past few days.
The Colonials join the Cleveland Browns in the category of "teams with quarterbacks named "Colt"."
On a bit of a tangent, I'm find it interesting how much easier it is to find UFL-related news these days. There are many more media markets willing to run stories on the league, and not just in, say, Hartford or Omaha or Las Vegas. Sure, I used my own blog as a source just now, but the story linked up there has a couple of other sources of its own. Searching for any of the names above typically brings up at least four or five hits for entirely separate news outlets. It's a good sign that the UFL is indeed growing, and that this may very well be the year that it all gets turned around.
Just a quick recap of the recent additions to the Hartford roster, mostly on the coaching side of things.
The Colonials have added...
Tim Krumrie as their defensive line coach. Krumrie had an 11-year career with the CIncinnati Bengals and served as a D-line coach with the Chiefs from 2006-2010.
Turk Schonert at QB coach, whom I've posted about previously.
Former pro-bowl wideout Harold Jackson as wide receivers coach.
And most recently, ex-Eagles/Packers/others linebacker James Willis at linebackers coach.
Plenty of happenings all over the team. Perhaps biggest of all was the recent announcement of QB Colt Brennan to the Colonials, announced via various channels over the past few days.
The Colonials join the Cleveland Browns in the category of "teams with quarterbacks named "Colt"."
On a bit of a tangent, I'm find it interesting how much easier it is to find UFL-related news these days. There are many more media markets willing to run stories on the league, and not just in, say, Hartford or Omaha or Las Vegas. Sure, I used my own blog as a source just now, but the story linked up there has a couple of other sources of its own. Searching for any of the names above typically brings up at least four or five hits for entirely separate news outlets. It's a good sign that the UFL is indeed growing, and that this may very well be the year that it all gets turned around.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Friday Update
Well, all the big news happened within the past two days. So in lieu of some earth-shattering announcement, have this video of Bethel University guard/DT Michael Jasper working out. Jasper is 6'4 and 395 pounds and has been projected as a late-round pick or possibly a UDFA.
395 pounds and the man can still leap nearly three feet in the air. Any knocks on him? His 40 time is tragically slow even for a lineman (on either side of the ball), though Jasper could lose 50 pounds, possibly gain some speed and still be the biggest guy on the field. Looks like the kind of guy who could be worth a look in the UFL should he fall entirely out of the draft.
395 pounds and the man can still leap nearly three feet in the air. Any knocks on him? His 40 time is tragically slow even for a lineman (on either side of the ball), though Jasper could lose 50 pounds, possibly gain some speed and still be the biggest guy on the field. Looks like the kind of guy who could be worth a look in the UFL should he fall entirely out of the draft.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Baseless Speculation
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| "Turk." Not "Kurt." |
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| You try to find a picture of JP where he doesn't look stoned. |
Russell Politely Asked to Leave Town
The 2007 #1 pick and perhaps the biggest draft bust of all time (though some would give the title to Ryan Leaf) JaMarcus Russell's work ethic and drive are apparently so bad that his life coach has told him to leave town. Via PFT:
Dear UFL,
Stay far, far away. Don't even do it for the publicity.
Sincerely,
Nick
"The latest embarrassment for the former No. 1 overall pick: Russell’s “Life coach” John Lucas told Russell he would no longer work with him and asked Russell to leave Houston, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports."Think about this. He was asked to leave a city. As in, John Lucas said to Russell not only that he was not interested in working with him, but that he wanted the former QB to not be in the same major metropolitan area as he was. If there was any more doubt that Russell would never return to pro football, I think this latest turn puts the final nail in the coffin.
Dear UFL,
Stay far, far away. Don't even do it for the publicity.
Sincerely,
Nick
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Other UFL
United Football League look out! There's another football organization with the initials UFL.
Yes folks, the Unicycle Football League is taking America by storm. Texas at least. Or... maybe parts of Texas. Man, where the hell was this on April Fool's day? It would've been the ultimate prank to post something legit that looks like it can't possibly be real.
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| Nothing I say can add to this. |
Yes folks, the Unicycle Football League is taking America by storm. Texas at least. Or... maybe parts of Texas. Man, where the hell was this on April Fool's day? It would've been the ultimate prank to post something legit that looks like it can't possibly be real.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Major League Sports: Minor League Cities
Hartford had a professional hockey club once. By the amount of Whalers paraphernalia still circulating around Connecticut, you might think that they still did. They worship in whispers: there's no major talk. The team has been dead for a while and thus there's no news to report. All a Hartfordian (Hartfordite? Hartfordiate?) can do is dream of the remains of this long sunk team, and chant their name to the dusky air. The cult of the Whalers is still very much around. Y'know, it kinda reminds me of something...
Oh god! Run, Hartford!
Could the UFL be the seed of a return of professional sports to Hartford? Maybe. Probably not. There's no denying that the entire state still laments the loss of the team. There's enough demand for Whaler merchandise that websites are willing to carry said gear, and even groups dedicated to bringing the team back. The states two minor league hockey teams are the Danbury Whalers and the Connecticut Whale.
If that's not enough to convince you, have a picture of Transformers star and hot chick Megan Fox in a Whalers t-shirt.
Really though, Megan, Transformers 2 was just awful. Maybe you're not the right person to make a case for things I like.
Maybe a better case for Connecticut's hunger for professional sports franchises could be made by Hobson Lopes in this Yahoo Sports article. Lopes is looking for a Major League Soccer team however, not an NHL one. He asks the question "If the UFL can bring a team to Connecticut, why not MLS?"
Why not indeed?
Hartford is sort of an odd duck as far as cities go. Its population is about 125,000, yet its metro area holds well over a million residents. This is roughly equal to Buffalo, NY, a city twice Hartford's size. A comparable city like Spokane Washington (200k) has a metro population half the size, and Oklahoma city, a town with four times Hartford's population has only slightly more residents in its metro area than Hartford.
In short, the city doesn't have the population any major league team would look for. The state does. There are five cities in Connecticut with populations of 100,000 or more: Waterbury (110k), Stamford (120k), Hartford (125k), New Haven (130k), and Bridgeport (145k). This is absurd for the third-smallest state in the union. By comparison, the second smallest, Delaware, has nothing in the 100,000-200,000 range. Neither does Vermont. New Hampshire (4th smallest) has one. Rhode Island has only one.
And there's the rub. There's no one city that really sums up the state's identity. No community that we truly feel proud of. Hartford gets that little extra edge because it's the capitol, and because it has history. Mark Twain said of it "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see, this is the chief... You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here." Connecticut has become a state full of third-tier cities. There are plenty of people here to support major league teams, but we lack a great big metropolis that would attract these organizations. I'm not sure that there's a cure for that, but I hope that some will see the UFL in Connecticut and think to themselves "Hey, maybe this can work."
One last thing: last year at a party I overheard a guy talking about the possibility that the struggling Tampa Bay Rays might relocate to Hartford. I don't see it happening due to the lack of a usable baseball stadium, but can you imagine that? The potential for a rivalry with Boston would be amazing. In fact, I think it would go something like this.
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| "Did somebody say whalers? I frickin' LOVE whalers!" |
Could the UFL be the seed of a return of professional sports to Hartford? Maybe. Probably not. There's no denying that the entire state still laments the loss of the team. There's enough demand for Whaler merchandise that websites are willing to carry said gear, and even groups dedicated to bringing the team back. The states two minor league hockey teams are the Danbury Whalers and the Connecticut Whale.
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| Pic courtesy of Totalprosports.com... you even reading this? |
Really though, Megan, Transformers 2 was just awful. Maybe you're not the right person to make a case for things I like.
Maybe a better case for Connecticut's hunger for professional sports franchises could be made by Hobson Lopes in this Yahoo Sports article. Lopes is looking for a Major League Soccer team however, not an NHL one. He asks the question "If the UFL can bring a team to Connecticut, why not MLS?"
Why not indeed?
Hartford is sort of an odd duck as far as cities go. Its population is about 125,000, yet its metro area holds well over a million residents. This is roughly equal to Buffalo, NY, a city twice Hartford's size. A comparable city like Spokane Washington (200k) has a metro population half the size, and Oklahoma city, a town with four times Hartford's population has only slightly more residents in its metro area than Hartford.
In short, the city doesn't have the population any major league team would look for. The state does. There are five cities in Connecticut with populations of 100,000 or more: Waterbury (110k), Stamford (120k), Hartford (125k), New Haven (130k), and Bridgeport (145k). This is absurd for the third-smallest state in the union. By comparison, the second smallest, Delaware, has nothing in the 100,000-200,000 range. Neither does Vermont. New Hampshire (4th smallest) has one. Rhode Island has only one.
And there's the rub. There's no one city that really sums up the state's identity. No community that we truly feel proud of. Hartford gets that little extra edge because it's the capitol, and because it has history. Mark Twain said of it "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see, this is the chief... You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here." Connecticut has become a state full of third-tier cities. There are plenty of people here to support major league teams, but we lack a great big metropolis that would attract these organizations. I'm not sure that there's a cure for that, but I hope that some will see the UFL in Connecticut and think to themselves "Hey, maybe this can work."
One last thing: last year at a party I overheard a guy talking about the possibility that the struggling Tampa Bay Rays might relocate to Hartford. I don't see it happening due to the lack of a usable baseball stadium, but can you imagine that? The potential for a rivalry with Boston would be amazing. In fact, I think it would go something like this.
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| 2008: Sox/Rays battle royale. Wish I'd been there. |
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Colonials Release Protected Players List
You've almost certainly heard by now that the Hartford Colonials (and every other UFL team) has released their list of protected players for the 2011 season.
I'm not going to go into much detail over the obvious ones. Andre Dixon was a no brainer of course. Michale Spicer gets added because he tied for the team lead in sacks and was one of better pass rushers on the team last year. There are a few head scratchers though, either guys who are missing or guys who you'd think the team wouldn't be worried about protecting.
Markee White and Patrick Carter were not on the list of protected wide receivers, which doesn't mean that neither could play for the team, just that the Colonials didn't feel the need to tell other UFL teams "hands off." While it seems at first glance that the team is focusing on players who have not signed with other leagues--White is in the AFL now, and Carter signed with the Dolphins' practice squad--I'm a little worried at the lack of a standout #1 receiver.
There are a lot of offensive linemen coming back. No offense to these guys, but I hope to see some competition between them and some new recruits in training camp. Last year's O-line was spotty outside of the home opener. It seems that right tackle Pete Clifford is still on the roster. Clifford struggled a lot last year and I'm curious as to what the coaches see to inspire continued confidence in him as a starter.
Jy Bond of all people is a weird choice. He was the worst punter in the league last year in terms of yards per punt, which is pretty much the main thing you're going to be looking for on fourth downs. This doesn't seem like the kind of guy you'd need to keep other teams away from. I guess there's something to be said for consistency.
On the plus side, as I recall there were only nine players that made it from the New York Sentinels to the Colonials. Kinda suggests that the team is getting better, eh?
I'm not going to go into much detail over the obvious ones. Andre Dixon was a no brainer of course. Michale Spicer gets added because he tied for the team lead in sacks and was one of better pass rushers on the team last year. There are a few head scratchers though, either guys who are missing or guys who you'd think the team wouldn't be worried about protecting.
Markee White and Patrick Carter were not on the list of protected wide receivers, which doesn't mean that neither could play for the team, just that the Colonials didn't feel the need to tell other UFL teams "hands off." While it seems at first glance that the team is focusing on players who have not signed with other leagues--White is in the AFL now, and Carter signed with the Dolphins' practice squad--I'm a little worried at the lack of a standout #1 receiver.
There are a lot of offensive linemen coming back. No offense to these guys, but I hope to see some competition between them and some new recruits in training camp. Last year's O-line was spotty outside of the home opener. It seems that right tackle Pete Clifford is still on the roster. Clifford struggled a lot last year and I'm curious as to what the coaches see to inspire continued confidence in him as a starter.
Jy Bond of all people is a weird choice. He was the worst punter in the league last year in terms of yards per punt, which is pretty much the main thing you're going to be looking for on fourth downs. This doesn't seem like the kind of guy you'd need to keep other teams away from. I guess there's something to be said for consistency.
On the plus side, as I recall there were only nine players that made it from the New York Sentinels to the Colonials. Kinda suggests that the team is getting better, eh?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Destroyers Sign Quarterback Jeff George
Hot on the heels of yesterday's UFLAccess article on teams’ QB situations, the Virginia Destroyers have signed long-time NFL veteran and former Washington Redskin Jeff George. George was on the roster for the Marty Schottenheimer led 2001 Redskins, who compiled an 8-8 record.
“Some people might laugh about it. I've been hearing the excuse, 'You're too old,' but I look at guys now playing near 40, and if you can throw it like I can throw it ... Why wouldn't you take a look at me?" the 43-year old George has said. “I know it’s a young man’s game, but you can’t tell me I’m not better than some of the quarterbacks that are out there.”
If the Destroyers make the UFL championship, George could have a record setting season. At 43, Jeff George would tie the late great George Blanda for the oldest quarterback to play in a championship game.
“I’m thrilled to have him aboard,” said Destroyers coach and GM Marty Schottenheimer. “Jeff and I have some history, and I know firsthand that he has more experience than any ten quarterbacks you can name. He’ll be a brilliant addition to what we’re trying to do here in Virginia.”
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Quick Coaching Update
According to FootballScoop.com, Jerry Glanville is looking at former Buccaneers/Patriots/Saints coach Harold Jackson, former Buffalo Bills QB coach and offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and Illinois assistant coach (and former Tuskers running backs coach) Kurt Beathard to add to the staff in Hartford.
The Colonials are still missing offensive line and quarterbacks coaches as well as defensive and special teams coordinators. The gentlemen listed above are all offensive guys, so if any of these pan out it seems that we'll still be looking for coordinators in the other two phases of the game.
Of course it was recently reported that Glanville has already hired five coaches. Let speculation run rampant as to who those names were and what positions they're going to be in charge of.
The Colonials are still missing offensive line and quarterbacks coaches as well as defensive and special teams coordinators. The gentlemen listed above are all offensive guys, so if any of these pan out it seems that we'll still be looking for coordinators in the other two phases of the game.
Of course it was recently reported that Glanville has already hired five coaches. Let speculation run rampant as to who those names were and what positions they're going to be in charge of.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A Few Things to Like About East Hartford
The name of the team is the Hartford Colonials, but the venue in which they play is, in fact, in my old home town of East Hartford: not-so-proud hive of the East Hartford High football Hornets, who won only a single game in the four years I attended. Pictured below is the school's mascot, presumably clutching a sprained wrist and grimacing in pain.
But the point is that I lived in this town for nearly fifteen years. It's had some ups and downs and, yeah, it ain't the prettiest place. But damn it, it's my home. And there are a few good things about East Hartford. Name one? Fine!
1: Burnside Brewery
Yes folks, I'm going right for the beer.
Located at 776 Tolland St (you'd think it would be on Burnside Ave), the Burnside microbrewery churns out delicious Ten Penny and Dirty Penny ale in wonderful, wonderful hillbilly-esque jugs. It's a small place so there's no brewery tour, but you can check them out at this link Warning: Site may contain bagpipe music. I'm serious.
Ten Penny has been a favorite of mine for years for barbecues and parties. It's only available in the 64 ounce growlers, so find someone or someones to share with or steel yourself for an overwhelming amount of goodness. (I don't need to tell you to be responsible, do I? I mean, if you need random football bloggers to dispense life advice you need more help than I can give.) Could be a good pickup for, oh, I dunno, maybe tailgating? Know anyone who might be doing that?
2: Cabela's
Not far from Rentschler Field, in fact Cabela's is visible from it! The sporting goods giant features two floors of sporting, hunting and fishing paraphernalia, a small cave/aquarium, a snack shop with roasted nuts and... a gun library. I'm not sure how that last bit works. Odds are you might be looking for something to do in the area, and this shop which is just as much an exhibition as a market is a a fun place to stop for outdoorsy types. Or people who like sporting goods stores. If you know anyone like that.
3: The Triple-A Diner
Connecticut has a really good selection of late night diners. Definitely more so than Massachusetts, which I add because I still have yet to find one since moving. That being said, this is mostly a nostalgia pick. My bud Art and I have been hanging out here since the halcyon days of East Hartford High and its horrible Hornets. A little less now that we've both moved further away from the place, but Main Street's Triple-A is a place with some history, and I still remember it fondly even if I visit it less frequently. This was where my father and his best friend used to hang out back in the 70s.
The food is about what you'd expect for a 24-hour greasy spoon. Good place for a bite to eat late and it's been a staple for the area's night owls for many, many years. One of the few places around you can get a Monte Cristo. As far as I know the jukeboxes still don't work. The Triple-A's greasy breakfast's have cured many a hangover throughout the years I'm sure. Maybe even one or two induced in someone (we won't mention names) who's tried to tackle a bottle of Ten Penny all by themselves.
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| ""Eh" pretty well sums up the team." |
1: Burnside Brewery
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| "Officer, I just had one beer!" |
Located at 776 Tolland St (you'd think it would be on Burnside Ave), the Burnside microbrewery churns out delicious Ten Penny and Dirty Penny ale in wonderful, wonderful hillbilly-esque jugs. It's a small place so there's no brewery tour, but you can check them out at this link Warning: Site may contain bagpipe music. I'm serious.
Ten Penny has been a favorite of mine for years for barbecues and parties. It's only available in the 64 ounce growlers, so find someone or someones to share with or steel yourself for an overwhelming amount of goodness. (I don't need to tell you to be responsible, do I? I mean, if you need random football bloggers to dispense life advice you need more help than I can give.) Could be a good pickup for, oh, I dunno, maybe tailgating? Know anyone who might be doing that?
2: Cabela's
Not far from Rentschler Field, in fact Cabela's is visible from it! The sporting goods giant features two floors of sporting, hunting and fishing paraphernalia, a small cave/aquarium, a snack shop with roasted nuts and... a gun library. I'm not sure how that last bit works. Odds are you might be looking for something to do in the area, and this shop which is just as much an exhibition as a market is a a fun place to stop for outdoorsy types. Or people who like sporting goods stores. If you know anyone like that.
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| Oh deer! |
 |
| Sigh. |
Connecticut has a really good selection of late night diners. Definitely more so than Massachusetts, which I add because I still have yet to find one since moving. That being said, this is mostly a nostalgia pick. My bud Art and I have been hanging out here since the halcyon days of East Hartford High and its horrible Hornets. A little less now that we've both moved further away from the place, but Main Street's Triple-A is a place with some history, and I still remember it fondly even if I visit it less frequently. This was where my father and his best friend used to hang out back in the 70s.
The food is about what you'd expect for a 24-hour greasy spoon. Good place for a bite to eat late and it's been a staple for the area's night owls for many, many years. One of the few places around you can get a Monte Cristo. As far as I know the jukeboxes still don't work. The Triple-A's greasy breakfast's have cured many a hangover throughout the years I'm sure. Maybe even one or two induced in someone (we won't mention names) who's tried to tackle a bottle of Ten Penny all by themselves.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Blog Update
Just a quick scheduling note before. While the regular Thursday updates were good at keeping me on task (well, until they became the Friday updates) I feel like it’s also been a hindrance at times. For starters, I end up feeling like every entry must be long and ponderous since this blog is only being utilized once a week. That and it also leaves me feeling like I can’t update whenever big news gets mentioned, since I must wait forThursday.
So the schedule here at "Blue Foot, Gold Foot" is changing. There will always be a Friday post now that the schedule has wandered there. However, I’ll be posting bits and pieces throughout the week as well. Overall each entry will likely be a bit shorter, but I think more frequent content will make for a more interesting blog.
Next piece will be today or tomorrow and will detail some of the things there are to like about East Hartford, the town in which our beloved Rentschler Field stands. There'll be beer and fine dining... well, dining anyway.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Hotel 2011
I'm sitting here watching the replay of Hartford's first home game in 2010, and I think it's only now that I'm really struck by the fact that we are no longer in the post-2010 season fugue, we've busted down the doors to the 2011 season and are standing in the lobby, waiting for the bellboy to quit loafing and take our damn bags up to our room.
As of writing this, it's the second quarter and the Colonials are up 10-0. Damn that was a great game.
There's a hell of a lot of bad news that happened in Post-2010. Nobody can deny that, but we're beyond that now. With the hiring of Jerry Glanville, we're past that. You can actually feel the air in the room change, and not just because the snooty bellboy opened up the windows (he's doing extracurricular stuff, looking for a bigger tip) but because there's a whole new attitude in the organization.
Of the five UFL head coaches, four have been in the NFL. Three of those have winning records. Jerry? He doesn't. But I'll take gladly take his 60-69 record and multiple playoff appearances and his awesome attitude over Palmer's 8-32.
McCown-to-Chery and it's now 16-0 by the way. Aaaaand now 17-0!
I feel energized. I feel good. We have a coach. There will be a 2011 season. There's nowhere to go but up. What else can you ask for? Fine, here's a dollar. Now get out of my room. I want to see what's on pay per view.
As of writing this, it's the second quarter and the Colonials are up 10-0. Damn that was a great game.
There's a hell of a lot of bad news that happened in Post-2010. Nobody can deny that, but we're beyond that now. With the hiring of Jerry Glanville, we're past that. You can actually feel the air in the room change, and not just because the snooty bellboy opened up the windows (he's doing extracurricular stuff, looking for a bigger tip) but because there's a whole new attitude in the organization.
 |
| "See? See? We did have that one game. I mean 27-10? Come on!" |
McCown-to-Chery and it's now 16-0 by the way. Aaaaand now 17-0!
I feel energized. I feel good. We have a coach. There will be a 2011 season. There's nowhere to go but up. What else can you ask for? Fine, here's a dollar. Now get out of my room. I want to see what's on pay per view.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Welcome to Glanville
It's been announced in a few places, but since this is about Hartford's football team, we'll go with this link to the Hartford Courant. Former Oilers/Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville is slated to be the Colonials new coach. A+ to the UFL for name recognition: Glanville has a long history in the NFL and other football leagues and is a major name in the sport. His win/loss record is less than perfect however, so it remains to be seen what sort of team will take the field in August.
There were a lot of names being bandied about. Eric Mangini, of course, though the CT native was said to be still pursuing NFL opportunities. The embattled Brad Childress was another. Hard to get a good read on Childress. The Vikings seemed to improved each year under his tenure, but 2010's team was a train wreck and I get the impression that the players never respected him.
Jim Mora Jr. was another former NFL head coach without an offer from America's largest football league last year. I get the impression that he's in the same boat as Childress: not a lot of respect from his personnel.
In the "note likely to ever happen" pile were Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher. There are NFL teams who would welcome these guys back, and I can't see them in the UFL when the possibility of an NFL paycheck still looms in their future like an ominous silver-lined thundercloud.
 |
| Genesis Video Games: Glanville 1 - Palmer 0 |
There were a lot of names being bandied about. Eric Mangini, of course, though the CT native was said to be still pursuing NFL opportunities. The embattled Brad Childress was another. Hard to get a good read on Childress. The Vikings seemed to improved each year under his tenure, but 2010's team was a train wreck and I get the impression that the players never respected him.
Jim Mora Jr. was another former NFL head coach without an offer from America's largest football league last year. I get the impression that he's in the same boat as Childress: not a lot of respect from his personnel.
In the "note likely to ever happen" pile were Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher. There are NFL teams who would welcome these guys back, and I can't see them in the UFL when the possibility of an NFL paycheck still looms in their future like an ominous silver-lined thundercloud.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The NFL Lockout, Simplified
Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is on Twitter, and he's had a few things to say about the lockout. For starters, here's a quick look at the bargaining process in stick figure comic format.
Not much you can really add to this. Unless you add the following take on Roger Goodell's letter to the players (available at the link above and elsewhere.
What amazes me is the amount of vitriol aimed at Kluwe by the average fan. The lockout has constantly been cited as a battle of "millionaires vs billionaires", which is enormously short-sighted. I'm not sure that the entirety of the casual fanbase understands that this is not a strike: the owners have chosen to remove the possibility of football in 2011 if they didn't reach a deal that gave them significantly more revenue and more control over revenue. Goodell's last deal would have had the player's share of revenue as static and unchangeable. Meaning players might see 4.5 billion of the 9-ish billion the league would make in 2011... but would receive the same pay out of the projected $25 billion dollars the league is looking to make by 2027. (Numbers here are admittedly very rough.)
So it shocks me to see people calling Kluwe "Chris Klueless." Would anyone accept a deal that reduced their pay by as much as 18% merely because their boss said they needed the money, and had done nothing to prove the claim? How about during an era of unprecedented growth in their industry? And if your boss proposed a deal that essentially shrank your paycheck to half of what it was (compared with your company's profits) in fifteen years. You'd think the average person would be against that.
I think we're conditioned to hate on professional athletes for making quite a lot of money for "playing a game." There's that sense that these people came from nothing, didn't have to work hard and are getting paid over what anyone is worth. If player salaries are reduced, it's not like owners are going to throw parades and hand out free candy to children. They're going to pocket that cash. And yet people will stand in their corner because these people have lived the supposed American Dream. They're rich businessmen. Whether or not they've actually worked for that money, the perception is that owning a team = work. Playing for a team = not work. It's not really accurate and it has no place here. The lockout was an attempt by men with money to make more money.
You can still be against the current player salaries and realize that, even if those were lowered, you as a fan would see no benefit.
Not much you can really add to this. Unless you add the following take on Roger Goodell's letter to the players (available at the link above and elsewhere.
What amazes me is the amount of vitriol aimed at Kluwe by the average fan. The lockout has constantly been cited as a battle of "millionaires vs billionaires", which is enormously short-sighted. I'm not sure that the entirety of the casual fanbase understands that this is not a strike: the owners have chosen to remove the possibility of football in 2011 if they didn't reach a deal that gave them significantly more revenue and more control over revenue. Goodell's last deal would have had the player's share of revenue as static and unchangeable. Meaning players might see 4.5 billion of the 9-ish billion the league would make in 2011... but would receive the same pay out of the projected $25 billion dollars the league is looking to make by 2027. (Numbers here are admittedly very rough.)
So it shocks me to see people calling Kluwe "Chris Klueless." Would anyone accept a deal that reduced their pay by as much as 18% merely because their boss said they needed the money, and had done nothing to prove the claim? How about during an era of unprecedented growth in their industry? And if your boss proposed a deal that essentially shrank your paycheck to half of what it was (compared with your company's profits) in fifteen years. You'd think the average person would be against that.
I think we're conditioned to hate on professional athletes for making quite a lot of money for "playing a game." There's that sense that these people came from nothing, didn't have to work hard and are getting paid over what anyone is worth. If player salaries are reduced, it's not like owners are going to throw parades and hand out free candy to children. They're going to pocket that cash. And yet people will stand in their corner because these people have lived the supposed American Dream. They're rich businessmen. Whether or not they've actually worked for that money, the perception is that owning a team = work. Playing for a team = not work. It's not really accurate and it has no place here. The lockout was an attempt by men with money to make more money.
You can still be against the current player salaries and realize that, even if those were lowered, you as a fan would see no benefit.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Not a Random Fandom
It's Friday. And to that, all I can add is ta da!
Linked above is Dusty Sloan's Fan Friday article on the UFL's website. It was awesome being chosen for the piece, and a bit of a surprise, too. I'm hoping this won't come off as narcissistic, but I wanted to expand on something at the end.
Fandom is a funny thing. Back in the early days of sports you didn't have much of an option but to root for the home team. It's not like you were going to listen to the 1870 Red Stockings' games on the radio. And in 1926, the NFL's Hartford Blues were still siting around wondering when people would invent the TV so they could show up on it.
So I'm from New England, and yet I'm not a Pats fan. There are a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I wasn't even into football until I picked up Tecmo Super Bowl as an impressionable youth in 1991. Anyone ever try to play that game as the Patriots? They have a middling ground game and an abyssmal pair of QBs --by the game's standards at least, which I add because my father still holds Steve Grogan as one of his favorite players. Put simply, I wasn't about to beat my cousin (who owned the game and the Nintendo) with his QB Bills (Jim Kelly) and Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed.
Slight tangent: I'm not sure why he wasn't a Pats fan either. We lived in the same town. And he looks like John Elways, which you'd think would've pushed him towards the Broncos.
So, who was I going to play as? Well, I briefly tried out the Packers because I liked Don Majkowski's name. That didn't go so well. What next?
The team and player pictured to the right were next.
QB Eagles was a freak of nature. He only had one good receiver to throw to (Fred Barnett), but that was fine. That was all he needed.QB Eagles would drop back to pass, and if the 100-yard bomb wasn't an option, he would run like hell, end zone to end zone for the TD. This player was not a man. He was a shadow creature that fed on the nightmares of defensive players and had been spawned from a dimension of pure darkness.
Oh, and Reggie White and the rest of the "D" was pretty good too. But who really played this game for the defense? If you weren't throwing the ball at least 40 yards or zig-zagging with your speediest back you were playing wrong.
I think that for a little while I'd actually convinced myself that Cunningham really could do all of that stuff. He ran for more yards in 1990 than the rest of the Eagles runningbacks did that year. Today I still don't want to disbelieve it. Of course, 91' was also when Cunningham's ACL was torn. Theoretically I never really got to see the best of him out on the field.
In a nutshell, I ended up rooting for a team I'd only barely been aware of previously, from a state/town I lived several hundred miles away from because of a player who I thought was Superman incarnate. (to be fair, he wasn't far off athletically from his video game likeness.) All this based on a video game. I still like the Eagles. They're my NFL team and they're rivals with the Dallas Cowboys, whom I despise. Nothing is going to change that.
But damn if it isn't different when you're a fan of a team that actually lives and breathes on the ground your own feet have tread. The place you call home. The Colonials are part of where I grew up. The Hartford area has been hit in similar ways to Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and many of the rust belt cities. Not as hard, perhaps, but if you live there you can feel it. You know it. Hartford's population has dropped in the past twenty years. The crime rate is high.This is a city that is fighting for something to be proud of. East Hartford, where Rentschler field is, and where I'll finally admit I'm originally from, feels the same effects. It's down but not out, and whatever its flaws I will defend it.
The Colonials are now part of my town, playing in a stadium that could have housed the Patriots. I'm not even a Pats fan. I don't feel betrayed. It's more that I pine for what could have been. The economic opportunities and prestige of a pro sports organization could do great things for the place. If you think that hasn't been on anyone's mind, Let me remind you of the Whalers.
The cult of the Whalers is still very much alive in Hartford. I have friends in the area who still talk about the team. Hell, the area's AHL team just changed its name to the Whale. If that isn't an indication that the average Connecticutian is painfully aware of that hole in the middle of the state where the professional hockey team used to be, I don't know what is.
So that is part of the reason I am a dyed-in-the-wool Colonials fan. The UFL can be our league, the Colonials our team if we support them. I'm glad they decided to settle down in the place I grew up, and I hope that the league and the city will both benefit and prosper from the partnership.
Linked above is Dusty Sloan's Fan Friday article on the UFL's website. It was awesome being chosen for the piece, and a bit of a surprise, too. I'm hoping this won't come off as narcissistic, but I wanted to expand on something at the end.
Fandom is a funny thing. Back in the early days of sports you didn't have much of an option but to root for the home team. It's not like you were going to listen to the 1870 Red Stockings' games on the radio. And in 1926, the NFL's Hartford Blues were still siting around wondering when people would invent the TV so they could show up on it.
 |
| "You're from HDNet? What's an HDNet? And get that strange motorcar off of the pitch. What in the world is a DeLorean anyway? Just take the picture and be off, ye vagabond." |
Slight tangent: I'm not sure why he wasn't a Pats fan either. We lived in the same town. And he looks like John Elways, which you'd think would've pushed him towards the Broncos.
So, who was I going to play as? Well, I briefly tried out the Packers because I liked Don Majkowski's name. That didn't go so well. What next?
 |
| "Grah! I am evil Randall Cunningham!" |
QB Eagles was a freak of nature. He only had one good receiver to throw to (Fred Barnett), but that was fine. That was all he needed.QB Eagles would drop back to pass, and if the 100-yard bomb wasn't an option, he would run like hell, end zone to end zone for the TD. This player was not a man. He was a shadow creature that fed on the nightmares of defensive players and had been spawned from a dimension of pure darkness.
Oh, and Reggie White and the rest of the "D" was pretty good too. But who really played this game for the defense? If you weren't throwing the ball at least 40 yards or zig-zagging with your speediest back you were playing wrong.
I think that for a little while I'd actually convinced myself that Cunningham really could do all of that stuff. He ran for more yards in 1990 than the rest of the Eagles runningbacks did that year. Today I still don't want to disbelieve it. Of course, 91' was also when Cunningham's ACL was torn. Theoretically I never really got to see the best of him out on the field.
In a nutshell, I ended up rooting for a team I'd only barely been aware of previously, from a state/town I lived several hundred miles away from because of a player who I thought was Superman incarnate. (to be fair, he wasn't far off athletically from his video game likeness.) All this based on a video game. I still like the Eagles. They're my NFL team and they're rivals with the Dallas Cowboys, whom I despise. Nothing is going to change that.
But damn if it isn't different when you're a fan of a team that actually lives and breathes on the ground your own feet have tread. The place you call home. The Colonials are part of where I grew up. The Hartford area has been hit in similar ways to Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and many of the rust belt cities. Not as hard, perhaps, but if you live there you can feel it. You know it. Hartford's population has dropped in the past twenty years. The crime rate is high.This is a city that is fighting for something to be proud of. East Hartford, where Rentschler field is, and where I'll finally admit I'm originally from, feels the same effects. It's down but not out, and whatever its flaws I will defend it.
The Colonials are now part of my town, playing in a stadium that could have housed the Patriots. I'm not even a Pats fan. I don't feel betrayed. It's more that I pine for what could have been. The economic opportunities and prestige of a pro sports organization could do great things for the place. If you think that hasn't been on anyone's mind, Let me remind you of the Whalers.
 |
| Have you seen me? |
So that is part of the reason I am a dyed-in-the-wool Colonials fan. The UFL can be our league, the Colonials our team if we support them. I'm glad they decided to settle down in the place I grew up, and I hope that the league and the city will both benefit and prosper from the partnership.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Updating on Friday... (Well, alright. A little update now)
Some of you may have noticed that I've missed my Thursday update for the past two weeks, and have posted on Friday instead. That hasn't been intentional... until now. I'll be holding off until tomorrow for this week's entry.
For now I don't really have much UFL news to gab about. I mean, there are little things like this, which is the freshest headline I could find today, and which (if you clicked) would tell you that the Virginia Destroyers have signed a deal with a company by the name of New Era Tickets. The small ticketing firm is an offshoot of Comcast. Sounds like a good deal for the UFL to be working with a company with firm backing. But this is the kind of news that's only news in the offseason.
And why should we care about ticketing info for a team that we'll be destroying in the fall? Hear that Destroyers? Yeah, that's right. I went there. Whatcha gonna do about it?
One final note: it seems like the NFL Lockout is already providing the UFL with a whole bunch of free press. I'm not sure that it'll be enough without the benefit of a serious and concerted UFL-devised ad campaign, which the league has not previously tried in lieu of cheaper options such as Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth, but the word is certainly getting out there. And that is good news.
For now I don't really have much UFL news to gab about. I mean, there are little things like this, which is the freshest headline I could find today, and which (if you clicked) would tell you that the Virginia Destroyers have signed a deal with a company by the name of New Era Tickets. The small ticketing firm is an offshoot of Comcast. Sounds like a good deal for the UFL to be working with a company with firm backing. But this is the kind of news that's only news in the offseason.
And why should we care about ticketing info for a team that we'll be destroying in the fall? Hear that Destroyers? Yeah, that's right. I went there. Whatcha gonna do about it?
One final note: it seems like the NFL Lockout is already providing the UFL with a whole bunch of free press. I'm not sure that it'll be enough without the benefit of a serious and concerted UFL-devised ad campaign, which the league has not previously tried in lieu of cheaper options such as Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth, but the word is certainly getting out there. And that is good news.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Paying the Rent
As the NFL lockout looms ever closer, and was we slowly grind our way through this offseason towards the UFL's third, it's becoming ever more important that the league get a handle on its outstanding debts. Important to note in that list is that The UFL still owes $90,000 to the state of Connecticut for it's use of Rentschler field last year.
I'm not certain what the venue situation is in other cities, but I don't see any other place for the Colonials to play in Connecticut should they be unable to pay "The Rent." Dillon Stadium in Hartford crossed my mind: it's a 20k seat facility that is mostly used for high school football and (in the 60s) for Rolling Stones-related riots. Colonials fans could certainly fill up the stadium, which is half the size of Rentschler. But might there be a stigma attached to using a field that's primarily used by high-schoolers? Two other football teams--the Woman's Football Alliance's New England Nightmare, and the Independent Woman's Football League's Connecticut Crushers--also play in Dillon, which may cause scheduling troubles.
The Yale Bowl in New Haven seats 60,000, and seems an unlikely place to play given that one of the major reasons the Tuskers were shuttered was how terrible the cavernous and old the Citrus Bowl was. The Yale Bowl was built in 1914 and would hold four times the average attendance of last year's games. Not ideal. And the fact that it's all the way out in New Haven might start giving people flashbacks to the Sentinels' 2009 season without a home.
The UConn Huskies old, 16k capacity field, Memorial Stadium in Storrs (pictured below)? It would look terrible if the Colonials were shuffled off to the Huskies old and unused stadium. Particularly since it's apparently slated for demolition. It has about the capacity, but a lot of baggage to go with it.
Sad to say that outside of Rentschler field these are our best options. I grew up in East Hartford, where Rentschler is situated, and I have a soft spot in my heart for the stadium because it's both in my old hometown and because I always felt it was underutilized. It is also, hands down, the best stadium the UFL has right now. TD Ameritrade? Pftt. New, but really a baseball park. The Virginia Sportsplex? Please. The new designs look great but they're not a patch on the Rent. I know nothing about Sammy Boyd and don't care to expand on that. And then all we have left is the Mountain Lions and Hornet Field, which is probably just a ripoff of the New Britain Rock Cats old ballpark, Beehive Field. I have a lot of good memories of Beehive Field, and you, sir, are no Beehive Field.
Alright, so I get unreasonable when it comes down to matters of local pride. In all seriousness, Rentschler is the only stadium in the UFL right now that was built explicitly for football and has the capacity needed for the pro game without looking like a canyon. It's a great stadium and the Colonials' best option in the Hartford area. Let's hope they can get this straightened out before August.
I'm not certain what the venue situation is in other cities, but I don't see any other place for the Colonials to play in Connecticut should they be unable to pay "The Rent." Dillon Stadium in Hartford crossed my mind: it's a 20k seat facility that is mostly used for high school football and (in the 60s) for Rolling Stones-related riots. Colonials fans could certainly fill up the stadium, which is half the size of Rentschler. But might there be a stigma attached to using a field that's primarily used by high-schoolers? Two other football teams--the Woman's Football Alliance's New England Nightmare, and the Independent Woman's Football League's Connecticut Crushers--also play in Dillon, which may cause scheduling troubles.
 |
| We already had two football teams in Hartford? How come nobody tells me these things? (Side note: Actually Crushers players were working the snack stands at the first Colonials games. First I'd heard of them. I wish them well, even though the New England Intensity are much closer to me geographically and have a much better record.) |
The Yale Bowl in New Haven seats 60,000, and seems an unlikely place to play given that one of the major reasons the Tuskers were shuttered was how terrible the cavernous and old the Citrus Bowl was. The Yale Bowl was built in 1914 and would hold four times the average attendance of last year's games. Not ideal. And the fact that it's all the way out in New Haven might start giving people flashbacks to the Sentinels' 2009 season without a home.
The UConn Huskies old, 16k capacity field, Memorial Stadium in Storrs (pictured below)? It would look terrible if the Colonials were shuffled off to the Huskies old and unused stadium. Particularly since it's apparently slated for demolition. It has about the capacity, but a lot of baggage to go with it.
 |
| "I am a sad stadium." |
Sad to say that outside of Rentschler field these are our best options. I grew up in East Hartford, where Rentschler is situated, and I have a soft spot in my heart for the stadium because it's both in my old hometown and because I always felt it was underutilized. It is also, hands down, the best stadium the UFL has right now. TD Ameritrade? Pftt. New, but really a baseball park. The Virginia Sportsplex? Please. The new designs look great but they're not a patch on the Rent. I know nothing about Sammy Boyd and don't care to expand on that. And then all we have left is the Mountain Lions and Hornet Field, which is probably just a ripoff of the New Britain Rock Cats old ballpark, Beehive Field. I have a lot of good memories of Beehive Field, and you, sir, are no Beehive Field.
Alright, so I get unreasonable when it comes down to matters of local pride. In all seriousness, Rentschler is the only stadium in the UFL right now that was built explicitly for football and has the capacity needed for the pro game without looking like a canyon. It's a great stadium and the Colonials' best option in the Hartford area. Let's hope they can get this straightened out before August.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Could it be That I Missed a Day?
Sorry folks! It's been a little busy in non-football related ways in the BFGF household. There's certainly been plenty of news, and so I don't have that as an excuse.
Most recently, the Hartford Colonials may have lost the services of this man on the right. If you don't recognize him without a helmet and pads and jersey, well, that's former Colonials wideout and very tall human being Markee White.
What's the big deal? Well, apparently White has rejoined the Arena Football League's Spokane Shock. This may or may not be a problem if the Colonials come calling in August; the Arena league's schedule ends in July, but its playoffs extend further into the summer.
Whether or not the Shock make it to the playoffs, the question remains: will White even want to play after enduring another season in the AFL? Football takes its toll on a body, and if White feels he's had enough for the year, Hartford might be losing its only serious receiving threat.
So who are we left with? At this point, it's hard to say what the team will look like after a new head coach comes to town and new tryouts are held, but the team still has on its roster the following people.
Jason Chery: Chery was decent enough when called upon. He's a smaller, scrappier type of receiver with good speed and decent but not fantastic hands. While reliable as a third or fourth receiver, I don't think we saw enough of him last year to confirm whether or not he can be the #1 or #2 guy.
Shaheer McBride: A tall wideout with good hands but not high-end speed, McBride seems like the type better suited for short gains and endzone completions. I liked what I saw out of him in 2010, but he doesn't strike me as a receiver you can use in every situation.
Syndric Steptoe: Pictured on the left, the Colonials subpar punt returner has loads of agility but questionable hands. His Wikipedia page lists his height and weight at an astonishing 12'9 and 495 lbs, respectively. Meaning, you're never going to overthrow the guy, but do you really want to pay his Twinky bill?
That and his name sounds like some kind of disease. (No offense Syn!)
In all seriousness, Steptoe is listed by more reputable sources as being 5'9 and about 200 lbs. He's an adequate slot receiver and can gain yards if he has some space, but he dropped a few balls last year and he's not the kind of guy I'd want to rely on more than necessary.
Last on the list (according to the UFL's own site) is Aaron Valentin, who, according to his official photograph, is apparently some kind of shadow given form, sapience and malevolence and told to play football. Stories about Valentin are often told by parents to scare their children. Nobody has actually seen the wideout, but every so often some stranger comes by with a long, grizzled beard, muttering gibberish about a shadow carrying a football down Farmington Ave, looking for his lost endzone. (wooooo!)
What's the big deal? Well, apparently White has rejoined the Arena Football League's Spokane Shock. This may or may not be a problem if the Colonials come calling in August; the Arena league's schedule ends in July, but its playoffs extend further into the summer.
Whether or not the Shock make it to the playoffs, the question remains: will White even want to play after enduring another season in the AFL? Football takes its toll on a body, and if White feels he's had enough for the year, Hartford might be losing its only serious receiving threat.
 |
| "6'7. Or, 9'7 with my antigravity boots on." |
Jason Chery: Chery was decent enough when called upon. He's a smaller, scrappier type of receiver with good speed and decent but not fantastic hands. While reliable as a third or fourth receiver, I don't think we saw enough of him last year to confirm whether or not he can be the #1 or #2 guy.
Shaheer McBride: A tall wideout with good hands but not high-end speed, McBride seems like the type better suited for short gains and endzone completions. I liked what I saw out of him in 2010, but he doesn't strike me as a receiver you can use in every situation.
 |
| "The camera subtracts 300 pounds." |
That and his name sounds like some kind of disease. (No offense Syn!)
In all seriousness, Steptoe is listed by more reputable sources as being 5'9 and about 200 lbs. He's an adequate slot receiver and can gain yards if he has some space, but he dropped a few balls last year and he's not the kind of guy I'd want to rely on more than necessary.
Last on the list (according to the UFL's own site) is Aaron Valentin, who, according to his official photograph, is apparently some kind of shadow given form, sapience and malevolence and told to play football. Stories about Valentin are often told by parents to scare their children. Nobody has actually seen the wideout, but every so often some stranger comes by with a long, grizzled beard, muttering gibberish about a shadow carrying a football down Farmington Ave, looking for his lost endzone. (wooooo!)
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