Between the Lines
3/16/2012 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Men's Lacrosse
This Week: On the road again. Willie Nelson would love this year's lacrosse schedule as the Orange hit the bricks for the third straight week. But for the biennial trip to Hopkins, we'll allow it. Some added pomp, Saturday is the 50th all time meeting between the sport's two most storied programs.
“Hopkins is the number two team in the country,” captain Bobby Eilers accurately noted. “They always come out to play us. There's a long rivalry between us. We have all week, we have spring break, no classes. So it's pretty much Hopkins week, we've been studying film, talking about their personnel, our studies this week are all on Hopkins.”
Sadly “Hopkins 301” isn't accredited, but the study of the opposing rosters sure is interesting. The next reboot of “The Parent Trap”, if Lindsay Lohan isn't available to play the mom this time of course, could easily be about the two squads recent roster revamps.
“You look at them for the last couple years, two years ago they were mostly freshman and last year mostly sophomores,” John Desko recalled. “This year if you look at the roster as far as the guys who are in in a game situation, they're mostly juniors out there with a couple of seniors. Last year we were a bunch of seniors out there against their sophomores. Kind of a role reversal this year.”
Syracuse's most recently departed seniors were a collective 5-0 against the Blue Jays. The 2011 group helped end a 10 year drought at Homewood, beat Hopkins twice in overtime, and celebrated the 2008 championship by ending the back to back title bid from Dave Pietramala's bunch. But that's all been filed under accomplishments.
Saturday both sides will be ready for their annual mid March shot at a signature win. “I think it's the intensity and the atmosphere of the game,” Brian Megill said excitement growing already midweek. “We tend to get really up for big games such as this one.”
“I remember going down freshman year. We were just standing there, the ball was on the other end, and all you heard was their student section or their fans just saying, Syracuse go home, you guys stink, all this stuff. And they're right on the field, right on the fence. It's a different atmosphere, but it's fun to play in, it's a good rivalry.”
Saturday at 4:00 most will be decked out in green, bracket in hand, but in Baltimore Orange and Columbia Blue will rule the afternoon.
Conversion Vans, Buses, Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Just as catchy as the John Candy original. I expect it in theatres any day now. But all were vital forms of transportation in the last week covering Syracuse sports.
Conversion Van: Greater Syracuse Moving & Storage owner Jon Cleland, whose trucks shuttle Orange football, lacrosse, and other equipment around the country, chauffeurs us to lacrosse games in style and comfort. The ride to and from St. John's was most pleasant and included one victory and three Shamrock Shakes.
Bus: A majority of the typing of the column was done in row 5 of a Caz Limo bus en route to Hartford with the women's hoops team for the WNIT. In fact we just passed Columbia High School on the left. Shout out to Craig Forth.
Plane: Southwest 2046 is wheels up at 8:05 Saturday morning from Bradley International heading to BWI. Bags fly free. If they do so on time on the same plane, you'll even have a lacrosse broadcast to listen to Saturday afternoon.
Trains: It's just not a real visit to New York until you've ridden the subway. A few of us hopped the 7 train in Queens last Friday, pointed ourselves toward MSG, and added some hoops to our lacrosse trip. Despite an 8 year gap between games, Syracuse is now 0-2 when I attend the Big East Tournament. Apologies for that. Though may I say, the sausage sandwich at MSG, while overpriced, is delicious. Caramelized onions and peppers on top? Yes please.
Automobiles: Due to the whims of the WNIT my route back from Baltimore may not be a direct shot to Syracuse. Saturday night the Hertz NeverLost may have to live up to its name.
Higgo's Heroes: The staff at the Hartford Hilton. They'll know us by name before too long. Barely a week after the Big East Tournament we've returned to Hartford for a first round WNIT meeting with the host Hawks. The lodging is the same and the staff is still exceedingly friendly. Plenty of hotels have helpful staff but few of the non tropical variety do it with the ease and smile of these folks in Hartford.
But let's get down to brass tacks. I left (one of) my cell phone chargers plugged in room 1408 last Wednesday, and I'll be darned if we weren't reunited eight days later. For the right to leave this charger, shall we say in Charlotte later this lacrosse season, the good folks at the Hartford Hilton are this week's heroes.
And as it is Hartford I'd be remiss not to again deify the fish taco creators at Agave. Lunch Friday anyone?
Next Broadcasts: Tonight we open the WNIT in Connecticut against Hartford at 7:00. The only other meeting between the Orange and Hawks resulted in a four point Hartford win in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge. Faceoff for Syracuse-Johns Hopkins lacrosse is at 4:00 from Baltimore Saturday. Should the Orange win this evening, WNIT round 2 action will commence in Philadelphia against Drexel Monday at 7:00. Then on Wednesday we're back to Big East lacrosse when Providence comes to the Dome for a 7:00 faceoff. ESPN 97.7 and Orange All Access are your best bets for all of that. Depending on the malleable men's basketball schedule lacrosse could also find itself on TK99.
If you know where I'll be Sunday, please tell me @BrianHigginsSU.
“Hopkins is the number two team in the country,” captain Bobby Eilers accurately noted. “They always come out to play us. There's a long rivalry between us. We have all week, we have spring break, no classes. So it's pretty much Hopkins week, we've been studying film, talking about their personnel, our studies this week are all on Hopkins.”
Sadly “Hopkins 301” isn't accredited, but the study of the opposing rosters sure is interesting. The next reboot of “The Parent Trap”, if Lindsay Lohan isn't available to play the mom this time of course, could easily be about the two squads recent roster revamps.
“You look at them for the last couple years, two years ago they were mostly freshman and last year mostly sophomores,” John Desko recalled. “This year if you look at the roster as far as the guys who are in in a game situation, they're mostly juniors out there with a couple of seniors. Last year we were a bunch of seniors out there against their sophomores. Kind of a role reversal this year.”
Syracuse's most recently departed seniors were a collective 5-0 against the Blue Jays. The 2011 group helped end a 10 year drought at Homewood, beat Hopkins twice in overtime, and celebrated the 2008 championship by ending the back to back title bid from Dave Pietramala's bunch. But that's all been filed under accomplishments.
Saturday both sides will be ready for their annual mid March shot at a signature win. “I think it's the intensity and the atmosphere of the game,” Brian Megill said excitement growing already midweek. “We tend to get really up for big games such as this one.”
“I remember going down freshman year. We were just standing there, the ball was on the other end, and all you heard was their student section or their fans just saying, Syracuse go home, you guys stink, all this stuff. And they're right on the field, right on the fence. It's a different atmosphere, but it's fun to play in, it's a good rivalry.”
Saturday at 4:00 most will be decked out in green, bracket in hand, but in Baltimore Orange and Columbia Blue will rule the afternoon.
Conversion Vans, Buses, Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Just as catchy as the John Candy original. I expect it in theatres any day now. But all were vital forms of transportation in the last week covering Syracuse sports.
Conversion Van: Greater Syracuse Moving & Storage owner Jon Cleland, whose trucks shuttle Orange football, lacrosse, and other equipment around the country, chauffeurs us to lacrosse games in style and comfort. The ride to and from St. John's was most pleasant and included one victory and three Shamrock Shakes.
Bus: A majority of the typing of the column was done in row 5 of a Caz Limo bus en route to Hartford with the women's hoops team for the WNIT. In fact we just passed Columbia High School on the left. Shout out to Craig Forth.
Plane: Southwest 2046 is wheels up at 8:05 Saturday morning from Bradley International heading to BWI. Bags fly free. If they do so on time on the same plane, you'll even have a lacrosse broadcast to listen to Saturday afternoon.
Trains: It's just not a real visit to New York until you've ridden the subway. A few of us hopped the 7 train in Queens last Friday, pointed ourselves toward MSG, and added some hoops to our lacrosse trip. Despite an 8 year gap between games, Syracuse is now 0-2 when I attend the Big East Tournament. Apologies for that. Though may I say, the sausage sandwich at MSG, while overpriced, is delicious. Caramelized onions and peppers on top? Yes please.
Automobiles: Due to the whims of the WNIT my route back from Baltimore may not be a direct shot to Syracuse. Saturday night the Hertz NeverLost may have to live up to its name.
Higgo's Heroes: The staff at the Hartford Hilton. They'll know us by name before too long. Barely a week after the Big East Tournament we've returned to Hartford for a first round WNIT meeting with the host Hawks. The lodging is the same and the staff is still exceedingly friendly. Plenty of hotels have helpful staff but few of the non tropical variety do it with the ease and smile of these folks in Hartford.
But let's get down to brass tacks. I left (one of) my cell phone chargers plugged in room 1408 last Wednesday, and I'll be darned if we weren't reunited eight days later. For the right to leave this charger, shall we say in Charlotte later this lacrosse season, the good folks at the Hartford Hilton are this week's heroes.
And as it is Hartford I'd be remiss not to again deify the fish taco creators at Agave. Lunch Friday anyone?
Next Broadcasts: Tonight we open the WNIT in Connecticut against Hartford at 7:00. The only other meeting between the Orange and Hawks resulted in a four point Hartford win in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge. Faceoff for Syracuse-Johns Hopkins lacrosse is at 4:00 from Baltimore Saturday. Should the Orange win this evening, WNIT round 2 action will commence in Philadelphia against Drexel Monday at 7:00. Then on Wednesday we're back to Big East lacrosse when Providence comes to the Dome for a 7:00 faceoff. ESPN 97.7 and Orange All Access are your best bets for all of that. Depending on the malleable men's basketball schedule lacrosse could also find itself on TK99.
If you know where I'll be Sunday, please tell me @BrianHigginsSU.
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