Monday, June 22, 2009

Fenway on ice and other links

The Bruins will play in Fenway as part of the NHL's Winter Classic. Now reports are surfacing that BC will also play in the old ballpark. This is all still unofficial, and I don't know who the opponent would be (BU is likely). We also don't know if this would be a double-header with the Bruins game or be a separate ticket. Regardless, it should be very cool.


This writer doubts that Rice will even get drafted.


Andy Katz mentioned Holy Cross' interest in Pat Duquette.


Check out the quotes in the second half of this article on BC's new basketball recruit Kevin Noreen. The ACC analyst gives the classic broken clock line when criticizing:

Still, Oettinger wonders if the Eagles can thrive if they’re only bringing in diamonds in the rough.

“It catches up with you sooner or later because sometimes they are no better than what the rest of us think they are,” he said.
Is this guy serious? If one team consitently found talent despite what everyone else thought, I wouldn't predict that their luck would run out. I would start to wonder what they know or do that no one else does. But that's just me...

14 comments:

70sGuy said...

How dare you Brick Oettinger?

Do you not realize Brick Oettinger that Al Skinner has won on average 11% percent more regular season games than writers have predicted during his 9 seasons at BC?

Do you not realize Brick Oettinger that Al does not just recruit diamonds in the rough but also rubies in the rough? If you take all of those rubies and attach them to glass slippers, and click them together 3 times, we are a dead certain lock for the 8 seed this year! And of course we are not going to lose by 17 points like last year, because this is our Flirty Do 32 (trademark pending) year!

So take that Brick, and take that all you Big East haters like Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Rick Pitino and Jamie Dixon with your national championships or pretty hair.

We have Al Skinner and even though he has never been to the Elite 8, he plays pickup games on campus and still talks to Sean Williams.... oh heck take it away Wikipedia...

Coach Skinner is known for his impeccable dress habits among Boston College fans, earning him the nickname "Coach Handsome". Those who watch closely notice that Skinner only wears a tie for home games, electing to wear either a polo or mock turtleneck on the road. It is rumored that Skinner does not wear the same suit twice in a given season.

conlonc said...

Bitter much NG?


The prospect of Bruins-Caps and BC-BU at Fenway has me tinkling in my pants.

BCMike said...

WTF was this seizure about?

Smells like a BigLeast fan trying to pose.

Erik said...

I'd like the double header if I could get tickets. Considering everything, I'd much rather have separate games so I can get in to see BU/BC at a reasonabe price - and let the B's fans have their own game for $75-200 perticket.

Unknown said...

I understand that Fenway Park is recognized more nationally, but I think that the sightlines would be much better if this game was played in Harvard Stadium.

BCNorCal07 said...

I never even thought of Harvard Stadium. That would be an awesome place to hold the game. Unfortunately, no suites and not nearly enough concessions, so it's never going to happen. Still, a doubleheader with the Bs at Fenway would be pretty rightous.

As far as BBall recruiting, doesn't this analyst realize that we don't need every recruit to be a potential star? Most of them end up as Shawn Marshalls, effective supporting players on good teams. You only need to find two stars per recruiting cycles to be good. It's pretty obvious that Al has shown he can do that, year in and year out.

CT said...

Yeah, nice input from one of our ex-conference brethren. Of course, the poster misses the larger point: "critics" are too often wrong to be taken that seriously. Skinner has his recruiting method and, though I'd like to see it amended to include some blue-chippers every once in awhile, he gets more out of them than most would assume.

Again, I wish he would change that up a bit, but I also wish we had a Plan B when our "bowling for baskets" style of play goes in the tank or when we can't break a press, but I digress.

I don't "hate" the Big East. I'll enjoy it even more when the NCAA gets done with the UCONN fiasco that is sure to come.

The other point that ATL picked up on: maybe the guys who have never actually played bball but write about it need to look at themselves before writing that "sooner or later" Skinner's recruiting will catch up with BC.

Again, my complaint would be that BC COULD win a nat'l championship in bball, but seems content to let Skinner do his own thing. Admission standards are tougher, ok, just ask O'Brien, but Duke manages. I've long thought it's time we took the bball program national and get serious about winning everything--it's far more likely year in and year out than in football.

Eagle in Brighton said...

NG sounds like a BE troll (or Brick fan).

I agree, it would be nice to see Skinner push for a blue-chipper once in a while, but the fact remains, he's been successful with his methods thus far.

Other Catholic schools have done well in terms of recent high profile recruiting (GTown, 'Nova, 'Zaga, Xavier), no reason BC can't be a Rivals darling in addition to making the tourny annually, as they've done with regularity under Al. To be frank, I think Skinner's talented (hence ability to find under the radar kids) but just lazy/uninterested in all the ass-kissing necessary in landing top-40 talent.

Erik said...

I'm curious why Harvard Stadium would be better than Alumni Stadium?

70sGuy said...

I am not a Big East troll. Went to BC and think the move to the ACC was the best move we have made in 20 years. Its the best bball conference in the land and I just wish we would start recruiting like an ACC school instead of a MAC school.

I am just satirically making the point that how long does it take to evaluate Al's post season accomplishments...9 years, 15 years? I agree with some of what CT and Eagle in Boston say...it just seems like under recruited kids + flex + Al's very laid back style probably will never get us to the Big Dance.

Its the age old debate on BC message boards. Be content with consistently above average teams or hire someone who may try to swing for the fences a bit more.

Claver2010 said...

We have committed to the Denver Cup which is on New Years 2010. So maybe it'll be on another date...

Big Jack Krack said...

Right on NG21 and CT - I'm sick of the flex; the slowdown, the "cool", etc. Let's go for some blue chippers now and then - and wouldn't it be nice to land a big man or two? I'd like to see us swing for the fences, and Al isn't really the type. He has his style, he has his style, he will stick to his style........

JP from Dorchester said...

Good call Claver.... NHL is looking to do a doubleheader, but not with a college game. Looking like Calgary will get the second game, with both being on New Years.

I hear BC and BU are looking to play at Fenway, but not with the Bruins date. Might make the tickets cheaper, but with the prices they charge at Fenway, I wouldn't count on it being that much less. Still worth the $ though.

Erik said...

Ideal situation, BC/BU NOT on New Year's because I'd rather watch football that day, not the same day as Bruins (for price and availability), not when the students are home in New Jersey since that's our vocal cheering section, and a little luck from the weather gods.