Quick thoughts on the football team

So it wasn't the prettiest of wins. But HC won the game in overtime at Dartmouth yesterday, and is now 5-2 on the season. Yes, I realize the five wins haven't come against traditional 1-AA powers. But two of them have come against Ivy League opponents, and the two losses were competitive.

I expected this season to be a step back from last year. They graduated many seniors on offense, and I thought the Crusaders would struggle this year. Looks like I was wrong! And I'm happy with that! Two years ago, HC was getting pummeled in the second half of games, even as the first halves were tightly contested. Last year, HC went 6-5 and had some tough 4th quarters. Look at the Delaware game as an example. HC was losing 21-17 after three, and got trounced in the fourth, eventually losing 35-23.

This year, Holy Cross has had some late-game fades, but they're hanging on to win! The conclusion? Depth. The gradual increase in depth from two seasons ago is paying dividends. If this trend continues next year, I expect we won't see the late fades at all. Coach Tom Gilmore has turned this team around. He's acquiring the right pieces, and I'm excited about the coming years! I don't know how he got a talent like Aaron Jones to commit to HC instead of Lehigh, but whatever he said, it worked. Holy Cross football is finally on its way back to glory. Let's win these last four games!

WoMag found this blog!

We made the newspaper! No, not the T&G. It's the local alternative weekly, Worcester Magazine. Veteran Crossports readers will recall that WoMag published a cover story on Holy Cross football, entitled "Goodbye, Glory Days" in its November 13-19, 2003 issue. WoMag, meet Tom Gilmore.

Anyway, I discovered during a phone call this evening that there was some "big news" relating to yours truly. How big could it be if I didn't know it myself? Well, we're excited to report that WoMag has listed us in this week's edition of its Blog Log. They picked up our "Ice Storm" post which detailed my harrowing journey home from Bucknell to Worcester.

Maybe this news isn't at the same level as knowing Kevin Bettencourt is reading your blog (or more accurately, Boxman's Blog), but it's still pretty cool. I haven't seen the print edition yet, but hope to pick up a copy tomorrow. To any readers who've surfed over here after reading about us in WoMag, welcome aboard!

Congrats HC Football!

Before it becomes "old news," I have to pass along hearty congratulations to Coach Tom Gilmore, the coaching staff and managers, and all the players for a winning Holy Cross football season!

At the pre-season get-together with Coach Gilmore at Funky Murphy's on Shrewsbury Street, my friend and occasional Crossports poster "Jim" told HC Athletic Director Dick Regan that he thought HC would win seven games this year. Dick shouted over to Coach Gilmore, saying, "Hey Tom, this guy here already has you losing four games!" Everyone got some laughs from that, but Jim's seven-win prediction wasn't far off.

Fifth-year seniors Steve Silva (pictured) and Luke Dugan were a big part of the team's turnaround. Hopefully Steve will get his deserved consideration for the Payton Award.

And let's not forget senior QB John O'Neil, from White Plains, NY, who may be, statistically at least, the third-best quarterback to play at Holy Cross. He's played through injuries for the better part of two seasons, and had some rough spots in his senior year, so I'm happy he's able to walk away a winner.