A hockey hotbed in Sussex

Last Tuesday night at Legends Stadium “hockey was in the house!” Two of the state’s best teams, Sussex Tech and Cape Henlopen, got after each other for 60 minutes in front of a crowd of 1,000 fans on the edge of their seats until the “clocks on the field” person left to get a pizza.

Former coaches and players and lots of middle school athletes all wanted to see the game. “Hockey Hotbed” in Sussex County and time for a team to break through and at least see Tower Hill in the final.

UNCONSCIONABLE - A return specialist fumbled a punt late in the game and the color analyst said that is just an “unconscionable mistake” and I thought “it sure is “ and what the heck are we talking about? A definition of the term can be stretched to mean beyond what is normal or acceptable, showing a complete disregard for the consequences of the dropped ball.

Remember we are talking about a football game and if your punt return guys think safety first you will see a lot of rolling footballs eating up field position putting your offense at the short end of a long field and isn’t that unconscionable?’

A SEA OF SOCCER - I went to a field at HOB last Saturday to watch my grandsons play introductory soccer, and that means no goalie and hopefully not everyone chasing the same ball. I was stunned to find no place to park and to see kids on fields all over the place. I had no idea that soccer had proliferated in the youth culture and so I beg the question: When will a downstate team win a state championship?

The feeder system appears to be in place so what is up? If I were a young soccer coach I’d be camped at those fields meeting and encouraging kids and hopefully someday seeing them in a high school uniform. I think high school soccer and rugby played in front of a packed stadium with a band and cheerleaders would make a better spectacle than football with all those huddles, time outs and change of field position.

BUFFALO BEATDOWN - A few years ago in the Cape high school office I spoke to a young coach who was on the recruiting trail for Buffalo University of the MAC Conference. I told him. “I see where Temple just joined your conference,” and he retaliated, “We are not happy about that. They can’t put a winning program on the field or put fans in the stands.”

I played for Temple back in the way day and told this guy I couldn’t believe he was a talking smack Buffalo Bull and reminded him that Philadelphia was the fourth-largest media market in the country and that the Owls were airborne circled the herd of frustrated bull Buffalos.

Temple beat reigning MAC champion Buffalo last Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field 37-13 in front of 14,000 fans.

Just before halftime linebacker Elijah “Peanut” Joseph returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record.

CHAMPAGNE BATH - I overheard a young Philadelphia sportswriter last Sunday in the Eagles press box complaining that he had hoped the Phillies would have clinched the division title on the road because he was tired of having his clothes ruined during the locker room champagne celebration. He was in the free, custom-made omelet line when he lodged this complaint.

You know all jobs have people who complain about all kinds of things, but I had never heard a champagne bath complaint ever.

SNIPPETS - The University of Maryland women’s soccer team dropped from the undefeated ranks last weekend losing last Friday 2-1 at Florida State then dropping a 2-0 at Miami Sunday, Sept. 27.

Midfielder Lydia Hastings had an assist in the loss against Florida State, which is ranked fifth in the country.

The Wesley Wolverines field hockey team (7-0), with Cape’s Brooke Bennett and Erin Bailey in the lineup, lost its first game of the season last Sunday 4-1. Attendence for the game was listed at 63 and the question is “does the counter include himself?”

Delaware dropped to 2-2 losing to William and Mary last Saturday and travels to Maine this Saturday for a game against the 2-2 Black Bears.

Maine lost to Syracuse – yes, the real Orangeman with Ron Paulus, the former Duke basketball point guard, at quarterback, 41-24 after leading 17-13 at halftime. Maine beat Delaware last year 27-10.

Delaware State football defeated Hampton 21-6 for its first victory of the season and will host Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Oct. 10 before traveling to face the University of Michigan Saturday, Oct. 17.

Mike Vick should be let off the chain and shown the doghouse door by the Eagles.

Kevin Kolb, with no feet or charisma, put up another 350-yard game and it’s apparent he may be the best quarterback in a pound of four so Vick should really be let go now. Oakland or Miami seem like the logical destinations.