bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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09-11-22 09:15 AM - Post#344562
While it seems to have escaped notice on this board, there is a Bucknell football team, and they are playing and not surprisingly after two games they are 0-2.
After a game and a half of no offense, Coach Cochini made the switch to Nick Semptinphelter at QB and produced more points in the second half (14) as the team had scored in a game and a half, plus OT prior to that change (13). What’s more 6 of those pre Semtinphelter points were aided by the OT possession starts at the opponent 25 yard line rule. Plain and simple, Nick moved the team, and the Bison dominated the second half after looking like they might lose by 40 at halftime.
Still, after a thoroughly boring jloss to predicted # 11 CAA finisher Towson, followed by the loss to SoCon 5th picked VMI, the long sought football turnaround does not appear to be a reality this season. Next week? At Central Michigan in what figures to be a blowout.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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09-11-22 02:58 PM - Post#344564
In response to bison63
If there's a silver lining, they beat the point spread in both games. I watched up until it was 21-0 yesterday, so missed their comeback attempt. At least there was a comeback attempt.
It's hard to say where this team stacks up in the PL, but safe to say it's the bottom half.
BTW if you have seen the end of the Holy Cross - Buffalo game, it's pretty wild.
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Bucknellbisonfan21
Masters Student
Posts: 548
Loc: Bloomsburg
Reg: 11-12-15
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10-08-22 04:38 PM - Post#345081
In response to jkrun80
The talent gap between Bucknell and Holy Cross is jarring.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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10-08-22 06:13 PM - Post#345083
In response to Bucknellbisonfan21
Painful to watch
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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10-08-22 07:02 PM - Post#345084
In response to Bison54
I missed the start of the game, so I checked the score before turning it no. It was already 14-0 so I decided not to bother.
I feel for the players, but have to wonder how long this train wreck will be allowed to continue. I don't see that pouring millions into upgraded facilities is going to help.
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Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
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10-08-22 07:33 PM - Post#345085
In response to jkrun80
This is embarrassing. What is our strategic plan for football?
At least we had a strong defense under Coach Susan. What are we doing well now??
Really disappointed in progress over last 2 years or so.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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Football: Yes, they are playing.
10-08-22 08:47 PM - Post#345090
In response to Doktore K
Progress or regress? I’m not trying to poke a bear but it doesn’t seem the current Administration is serious about promoting competitive athletics. Nathan Davis being retained is the greatest abomination regardless of football since FCS football is a money drainer no matter your success and Bucknell hasn’t been a football school in my lifetime. And I’m 48.
Edited by HuskyColonial on 10-08-22 08:49 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-10-22 06:34 PM - Post#345131
In response to HuskyColonial
Well we were a FB power when I was in school. ( at our level) QB was Paul Terhes consensus Little All American, One of the running backs was Ashton Ditka, if the name is familiar, he has a brother named Mike. Ash was essentially a mini Mike: same build but in a smaller package. Also in that era Sam Havrilak and Tom Mitchell both who played in the NFL, and excelled. The supporting cast was pretty good too. This coach came in with good credentials, and so did Susan. Once here the bottom fell out for them. What does that tell you?
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-10-22 06:39 PM - Post#345132
In response to bison63
BTW, meant to say also that Saturday was an embarrassment. Getting beat 82-0 by Temple some years back was bad, but when a PL foe wins 50-0, and easily could have scored a lot more, it makes a statement about Bucknell Athletics and Football specifically.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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10-10-22 08:39 PM - Post#345133
In response to bison63
Beginning in 1950 and ending in 1965, the Bison beat Temple every year except for 1953 with coaches Harry Lawrence and Bob O'Dell (Carroll huntress came in 1965, the last year before the 82-28 crushing...yes we scored 4 TDs. Played until 1970, then not again until 2019's opener, which was a 56-12 loss.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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10-11-22 02:33 PM - Post#345150
In response to Bison54
We are a good coach and a few very good players from being a decent team. But what we see is what we get. The basketball team might be below .500 this year too. Competitiveness and winning are not on the short list of administrative goals, especially when the money is coming in. Faculty and staff use the football games as a meet and greet for the new staff, and good weather for the game is way more important than the score. And basketball is the new football, sad to say. Bucknell follows the money, not the W's.
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Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
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10-12-22 09:11 AM - Post#345166
In response to Paulie777
Below .500? I’d just like us to be competitive and showing progress toward a winning season in the future. When was our last winning season?
A couple of stats based on my research: we have only 11 seniors out of 93 players listed on our football roster. Not good. Lots of dropouts from the program. Why?
So we have freshmen and sophs playing against teams like Holy Cross that allow 5th year seniors. 19 year olds playing against 23 year olds with hundreds of hours in the weight room. And we wonder why we have so many key injuries year after year?
Holy Cross has 5 team captains this year. Four of them are 5th year seniors who already have been All PL for 3 or 4 years. LBs who are 6-2 and 230. To my knowledge we have 0 players in their 5th years.
Level the playing field! Let’s compete and win some games.
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res
Masters Student
Posts: 839
Reg: 03-21-06
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10-12-22 11:08 AM - Post#345169
In response to Bison54
Beginning in 1950 and ending in 1965, the Bison beat Temple every year except for 1953 with coaches Harry Lawrence and Bob O'Dell (Carroll huntress came in 1965, the last year before the 82-28 crushing...yes we scored 4 TDs. Played until 1970, then not again until 2019's opener, which was a 56-12 loss.
I haven't heard the name Harry Lawrence in a long time. My parents lived next door to him in Linntown in the late '40s. Just up the hill from the athletic fields.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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Football: Yes, they are playing.
10-12-22 01:07 PM - Post#345173
In response to res
An unsuccessful, losing football team is a great sink for all of Bucknell's shortcomings, making the students stronger when they go out into the world. Yes, in the 40's and 50's it was a different story, football was played as the game it ought to be, and played to be won and also enjoyed by the students, staff, and townfolk. But sometime in the late 70's when football was losing its hold on its place at Bucknell, it was decided to keep the program going. This was generated by a fear of what Bucknell would be like without a football team, and because of this it was essential to keep the team as the team was an intrinsic part of the school and what made Bucknell students above average and smart, good looking, thoughtful and great people as they were and still are. So football stayed because of this and everything was as it should be. But the interesting thing is that Bucknell with the football team operates as though there was no football team and the team flounders. Bucknell ought to face the fear of what the school would be without the team, which is exactly what it is now. This would free up Bucknell to understand it is ok to drop the program, or conversely free the team up to become the powerful program it should be. Let's not ascribe to the nascent assumption that Holy Cross can whoop us on the field, but it needs to be so for the continued success of Bucknell students prosperity off the field. The issue is not the football team, but the decidedly innocent perception of what it means to have a team. Give football at Bucknell its due, or drop the program altogether. The students will be fine.
Christy Mathewson played football at Bucknell. And there were a lot of people in the 40's and 50's and a great Pittsburgh contigent that made sure Bucknell football prospered. It would be honoring all these people and Bucknell in general to make football a powerhouse as it should be. The time is here to decide to make it strong again or put it to rest.
Edited by Paulie777 on 10-12-22 01:21 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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bison75
Masters Student
Posts: 487
Reg: 01-26-06
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10-12-22 01:20 PM - Post#345176
In response to Paulie777
I would assume that the Pascucci family was assured that we wouldn’t drop football when they donated all that money to upgrade the facilities. I’d rather see us drop down to D3, where Holy Cross and Fordham are replaced by Gettysburg and Susquehanna.
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res
Masters Student
Posts: 839
Reg: 03-21-06
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10-12-22 05:17 PM - Post#345178
In response to bison75
If you drop football to D3, you have to drop all sports to D3. If the administration isn't going to allow teams to compete at D1, then that's probably the best solution. I'd be OK with that, but I suspect that's a decidedly minority opinion.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-13-22 01:21 PM - Post#345191
In response to Bison54
Beginning in 1950 and ending in 1965, the Bison beat Temple every year except for 1953 with coaches Harry Lawrence and Bob O'Dell (Carroll huntress came in 1965, the last year before the 82-28 crushing...yes we scored 4 TDs. Played until 1970, then not again until 2019's opener, which was a 56-12 loss.
I was at Bucknell from 1959-1963, or for the 59-62 FB seasons. During those years Temple FB was a joke, and they were a sure victory each season. I stand corrected, that 82 point game Temple posted against us was not a shutout.and in fact in terms of margin of victory, not even as bad a defeat as last Saturdays HC game. All of which supports my point about the soory state of Bucknell Athletics.
If you think Bucknell was never a FB school, go back and look up the individual and team accomplishments of players like Terhes, Ditka, Michell, Havrilak and Ron Giordano, Jack Eachus, Mickey Melberger, Tom Alexander, Joe Haering to name a few.
Most upsetting is the fact that this administration has seemed to have cast aside the idea that if nothing else we want to be competitive with our peer schools.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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10-13-22 04:40 PM - Post#345195
In response to bison63
Yes, and although I did not personally observe, the teams of the early 1950's had an undefeated season in 1951 (George Young).......when will they ever learn to win again
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-17-22 10:10 PM - Post#345292
In response to Bison54
So, I watched the game at Yale and spent the better part of 3 quarters trying to figure out how Yale had won 3 games as they struggled to beat us. Lowlights of the day for us: we drive 80 plus yards to the Yale ten and have to settle for a FG. Next, while still leading 3-0 we have 1st an goal at the Yale 5 and turn it over on downs. Finally trailing 14-9 In the 3rd and it is still anybodys game, Yale has a 4th and 10 at the Bison 32. They pass down the left sideline to the two where a Bucknell kid intercepts instead of just batting the ball away. Result, instead of 1st and 10 for the Bison at our own 32, it’s 1st and 10 at our 2 yard line. I thought smart kids went to Bucknell! After that Yale turned the game into a rout.
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Bucknellbisonfan21
Masters Student
Posts: 548
Loc: Bloomsburg
Reg: 11-12-15
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10-22-22 03:33 PM - Post#345367
In response to bison63
Interesting finish in the Lehigh game. Bucknell missed a game tying extra point with 2:00ish minutes left which forced them to kick and recover an onside kick that lead to a game winning extra point distance field goal.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-23-22 12:09 AM - Post#345380
In response to Bucknellbisonfan21
Yes, it was quite the finish to this battle between the PL’s bottom feeders.
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mcapodee
Sophomore
Posts: 156
Reg: 01-29-06
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10-24-22 08:35 AM - Post#345398
In response to bison63
I feel like Lehigh historically was one of the top football programs in the Patriot League. Do we know if they made a conscious decision to focus less on football or do they just have a coaching issue?
Goodman Stadium is by far the best place to watch a football game in the Patriot League, especially when the leaves are changing on South Mountain.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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10-25-22 10:40 PM - Post#345418
In response to mcapodee
I watched the YouTube replay of the Bucknell-Lehigh game tonight. I was embarrassed of and for Birdsong.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-25-22 10:51 PM - Post#345419
In response to HuskyColonial
The game was on ESPN + and it was the Lehigh announcers. Where did you find a Birdsong version?
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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10-26-22 10:23 AM - Post#345432
In response to bison63
I watched the replay of this game since it may be another year before we win another one. What an ugly display of the sport. It had it all, stupid penalties, broken plays, poor decision making. It's ironic that a special teams play gave us the chance to win, since that was our downfall for most of the game. The difference in this game was that Lehigh is just as inept as Bucknell.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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10-26-22 05:36 PM - Post#345450
In response to jkrun80
Birdsong was on Bison Vision.
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HoleinOne
Masters Student
Posts: 596
Loc: Bluffton, SC
Reg: 02-15-09
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10-29-22 10:54 AM - Post#345532
In response to HuskyColonial
Would love to understand what goals the current Administration feels its supporting by having a non-performing football team. Might provide some insight into the future for Bison basketball. Many of the management and other courses teach the need to deal with issues and not let them linger (def:stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to change). Bucknell has great football history - wonder how the future aligns with our school's future.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-29-22 04:44 PM - Post#345537
In response to HoleinOne
18,000 at the Fordham /HC game which is going to OT tied at 45. We won’t draw that for the season.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-29-22 04:58 PM - Post#345539
In response to bison63
Both FU and HC score tds in ot. HC after their goes for two and makes it to win 53/52. What a finish. Bra man and Truax should be forced to watch the game. But instead Truax does zoom events talking about how terrific Bucknell athletics is doing.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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10-29-22 08:30 PM - Post#345541
In response to bison63
Next week could be as bad or worse than the Holy Cross game.
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bison75
Masters Student
Posts: 487
Reg: 01-26-06
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10-29-22 11:51 PM - Post#345544
In response to jkrun80
Meanwhile, I was at our game. A few observations.
1. Colgate isn’t very good either, but they’re better than us.
2. Our defense actually played pretty well.
3. We were pretty much gifted our only score, thanks to a ridiculous pass interference call.
4. Counting the pep band there were about 150 fans in the home stands at the start of the game. I took a photo and counted them.
5. Gorgeous fall day, and the leaves were spectacular. Glad I made the drive up the river.
6. La Casa de Pizza (House of Pizza) is selling tee shirts commemorating 50 years in their current location.
7. Basketball season is only nine days away.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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10-30-22 12:29 AM - Post#345545
In response to bison75
Good report, 75. In addition to the sports perspective, I enjoyed the "Za's" pizza item too.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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11-05-22 06:35 PM - Post#345847
In response to Bucknellbisonfan21
I was curious to see which game would be more lopsided, Lehigh-Holy Cross or Bucknell-Fordham. Unfortunately, we "won" that battle 59-17 vs 42-14.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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11-06-22 12:28 AM - Post#345854
In response to jkrun80
How far and fast we've fallen since the storybook spring 2021 Patriot League Southern Division championship.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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11-06-22 01:45 AM - Post#345855
In response to jkrun80
I was curious to see which game would be more lopsided, Lehigh-Holy Cross or Bucknell-Fordham. Unfortunately, we "won" that battle 59-17 vs 42-14.
Holy Cross has a great offense, but Fordham has the top offense in the country for either of the D1 subdivisions. It helps that Holy Cross has 11 5th year players and Fordham at least seven. Bucknell, as you know, has exactly 0 in that category.
The game was actually competitive into the fourth quarter, with Bucknell trailing Fordham at that point 31–17. Unfortunately Fordham won the last 10 minutes by a score of 28–0.
Bucknell also led early in the second quarter and were tied 3-3 five minutes before halftime. Fordham then went on a 21-0 run. As has happened a number of times during the season, the defense wears out when it is on the field constantly.
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Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
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11-06-22 08:53 AM - Post#345858
In response to Bison137
Just looked at the Fordham football site. The Rams have scored 40 points or more in all 9 of their games this year, with 5 outbursts of at least 50 points! Amazing. They also give up a LOT of points with a record of 7-2. Looks like their game plan is basically this— We will win this track meet and out score you.
Meanwhile in Bison Land, where we have no 5th year players, no transfers, and not much offensive talent, we have a season high point total of 19. Have not scored 20 points in a game all year! Has that ever happened before? Probably not.
What is our strategy or game plan? Thought this staff would bring in offensive talent and a passing game to put up at least 20 points a game. Not happening. Disappointing after a 1-10 season last year and just one win this year. Changes needed for Bison to be competitive again. Better practice fields won’t solve these issues.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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11-06-22 07:41 PM - Post#345883
In response to Bison137
In fairness to the defense, half of those last 28 points were given up on turnovers by the offense and special teams. While the offense has been bad, special teams have been truly awful.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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11-06-22 10:16 PM - Post#345898
In response to jkrun80
And in the first half, some questionable decisions on fielding kicks had the offense start inside the 5, twice.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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11-07-22 03:27 PM - Post#345944
In response to Bison54
The HC game was NEVER competitive, not for a single second. In this game, a game in which Fordham needed a lopsided win in order to stay alive for an at large bid, Bucknell competed and stayed in the game late into quarter 3. One never thought the Bison would win, but they hung around despite the lack of offense, until such time as the offense imploded and the pick 6 parade began.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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11-13-22 09:55 AM - Post#346445
In response to bison63
The comeback win against G-town needs to be acknowledged. Bison were down by 11 with 9 minutes to go and tied the game with a FG and a game tying td + 2 pt conversion with about :30 seconds to go. An OT FG and stout defense won it, setting the team up for a possible 2 game win streak to end the season with next Sat vs Marist.
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res
Masters Student
Posts: 839
Reg: 03-21-06
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11-19-22 06:00 PM - Post#346844
In response to bison63
The comeback win against G-town needs to be acknowledged. Bison were down by 11 with 9 minutes to go and tied the game with a FG and a game tying td + 2 pt conversion with about :30 seconds to go. An OT FG and stout defense won it, setting the team up for a possible 2 game win streak to end the season with next Sat vs Marist.
You got your wish, '63. Nice comeback by the boys today. I wish I could say the last two weeks are something to build on, but I'm way too skeptical to go there.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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12-02-22 03:25 PM - Post#347379
In response to res
Coach has released a statement saying the OC and Receivers coaches are being replaced. i feel good about the tone of this release, and am also encouraged by the reference to the transfer portal.
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Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
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Re: Coach statement
12-03-22 09:51 AM - Post#347389
In response to Bison54
So what was his reference to the transfer portal? Interested to hear more specifics.
Anything else of interest? Need more offense and big play potential.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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Re: Coach statement
12-03-22 10:27 AM - Post#347391
In response to Doktore K
Can't find the email to quote, but the essence was they had a good recruiting class but they still had spots and wer looking at the possibility of adding transfers who would have an immediate impact. Coupled with the coaching staff changes, it sounds like the offense is a priority. He did mention returning 11 starters on offense....
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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12-03-22 10:49 PM - Post#347442
In response to Bison54
Did I hear Doug Birdsong say something on one of the games that indicated Bucknell might be rethinking the 5th eligibility policy. It was in the context of Zander Rices last year of eligibility. Something to the effect of will he spend it playing for his Dad, or might he spend it at Bucknell. Can’t remember the quote, but something he said made me think they are thinking about it.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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12-04-22 12:27 AM - Post#347445
In response to bison63
Idk, but his dad could certainly use him at Monmouth. Then again, his dad may not be the coach next year based on how things are going there.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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Re: Coach statement
12-04-22 06:42 PM - Post#347491
In response to Bison54
Here is the text from Coach Cecchini's email:
Bucknell Football Alumni, Family, and Friends,
I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. With the 2022 football season behind us, I thought it would be a good time to both reflect on the year we had, and look at what the future has in store for Bucknell Football.
To be certain, this season’s on-field results fell far below the expectations of our players, coaches, and football family. This is not to say that I am not proud of the effort of our team. I am extremely proud of how our players handled adversity and kept their dedication and determination despite an 0-6 start. To be able to finish the season 4th in the conference by winning three of our last five contests was a testament to the resilience of our football team, and a personification of our A.C.T. philosophy (Attitude, Character, and Toughness).
That being said, it is apparent that for us to achieve our full potential as a championship-caliber team, we need to improve offensively, so I decided to make coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball at both the offensive coordinator (and QB coach) and wide receiver positions. I will move quickly with interviews to fill both vacancies and provide you with an update when our staff is finalized.
As I look to next season, I am excited about our prospects for competing for a Patriot League Championship. Our 27 rising seniors are the largest and most experienced group in the Patriot League. All 11 starters return on offense, as do at least seven on defense. Additionally, we are examining the transfer portal for talented football players who can make an immediate impact on our program during the 2023 season while continuing to recruit talented high school prospective student-athletes, so that we are well-positioned to sustain our success into the future.
A major component to sustaining success is the level of investment into the program, and I am appreciative that so many of you have supported our program along with the University’s commitment to seeing our football program succeed. Through a combination of institutional support and donor giving, we have invested in increased summer access for players to train; more opportunities to recruit nationally; practice and in-game technologies; an enhanced strength and conditioning program; and the new facility improvements at the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex (videoboard, artificial practice fields, and the new team center).
The time is now for us to capitalize on this positive momentum. As we go forward, we need your support more than ever before. We must use this time to rally and fuel our passions to grow our football program’s profile. Together, we can ascend to the top of the Patriot League. And when we do, we plan on staying there!
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