The Big Dance

[Hopkins92]

I watched most of both games on Friday.

1) I know you're looking more for technical feedback, but... You guys were solid. I made an in-game comment giving one of you grief about a fairly routine catch by a GK that got blown out of proportion. But if that's the most glaring "error" (which it wasn't, it was just kind of funny), you guys killed it. (I don't have a ton of patience for announcers who clearly don't know the game, but insist on chattering away like they're calling a horse race or something.)

2) And, yes, your concerns are accurate... The commercial breaks were, for the most part, just the blue screen noting we were in a break.

Now, I might be in the minority, but unless you guys have the ability/production capacity, I'm not really sure it's worth doing a half-time show. Most people watching know they have 15 minutes to hop up and go get some stuff done, and I just don't think many folks want to sit through 8-10 minutes of analysis. Now, I think you could tell the audience "We're going to take a 10 minute break, and when we come back, we'll have first half highlights and talk strategy for the 2nd half" or whatever.

But as you mentioned, you guys need a break. As folks who sit back and think about big time broadcasts, they throw it to studio (or down on the field for the panel) and yammer on for a few commercial breaks. Then they come back to the booth before kick-off (sometimes with very little banter/analysis, sometimes with a condensed package of what the studio panel covered.

Anyways... There's a bunch of stuff you didn't ask for, but hopefully it is either validating or interesting.

[Falconer]

In a few instances, high D1 level players visit campus--about 20 years ago there was a local player (son of Messiah alumni) who briefly considered Messiah but ended up as an all-conference player at Penn State. He now coaches at D2 or NAIA level.

To have a little fun with my electronic friends from New England: the man I refer to here somewhat cryptically was a two-time AA who played several years for the New England Revolution and later briefly coached a Boston-area D3 team. As I understand it, few thought he'd actually end up at Messiah, but he did express some interest in doing so and did (I think) visit campus with that in mind as a possibility. (I happen to know his father, who taught HS math very successfully just a few miles from Messiah.)

Can anyone fill in the blank? 

[MaturinNYC]

(sorry, accidentally deleted so just reposting)   
Hi all - I think i'm one of the "UAA folks who were all over the place" that BrotherFlounder called out (though i think this is only my 3rd or 4th post?). Anyways, apologies for my silence, but i got home late last night from Greensboro (a 10 hour drive) and spent the day catching up on all the other stuff i've been ignoring for the past few weeks, only just getting on the boards tonight. I'm not at all sure that me saying this adds any gloss to the feat, but congratulations to Tufts on their championship, and to the NESCAC league on producing yet another championship team - very impressive.

So far my personal experience has been with the UAA, and i've only seen three NESCAC teams in person (2017 Conn College and Amherst, and 2018 Tufts) - so anything i post will likely be about the UAA. I get though that since the UAA regularly gets several Group C tournament slots and is often talked about as 'the best', that that will engender feelings of being slighted and some assumptions of superiority. So let me be clear that i respect every team i've seen from the various leagues that the team i follow (Rochester) has played against for the past 3 seasons. From the Skyline Conference to the powerhouses of the Liberty League and SUNYAC in particular (i've seen about 18 games from those two), they have some fantastic programs that play great soccer, and i can't recall any game that was easy...at all. One fact about D3 soccer that i can say with authority is that no school, no team, and certainly no league can claim a gulf of quality - there is quality all over, the margins are thin and getting thinner.

Having seen both semi's in person (and streamed the final on I95 while my wife drove), i wouldn't have been surprised by any of the 4 teams winning it all - they each showed the quality which got them there, but Tufts simply showed it more, longer and at the key moments, and so they deserve the big trophy.

Kudos to Hannah Lichtenstein on her excellent review of Semi #2, just spot-on with every word i thought. (Semi #1 was also very good, but no name attached). I also enjoyed reading all the posts and perspectives about the games here (in particular Mr.Right was pretty much that with his notes, and thanks PaulNewman). So in hopes of entertaining and informing, let me contribute some additional thoughts:

- Greensboro knows how to host, they did a nice job preparing the field and creating an environment befitting the Final Four  (loved the cannon blasts on the goals). And the NCAA did a great job with pre-game events, swag bags, site signage, trophies, etc. For our guys this was just 1 game further than the Elite 8 they reached last year, but it felt another level, very special.   
- Some have said that the field looked big, but according to sources it is 75 wide, which is about 8 yards wider than UofR's home field turf. So big, but not huge.
- Calvin looked like they could've beaten Barca or Man City on Friday - all they did turned to gold, and you could tell what it meant to them to finally get past a very good Chicago side that had barred the door for so long. I can relate to the feeling after UofR at last got past Messiah - it's a great feeling. But by definition such games are summits, both mentally and physically, so did reaching that height mean that they weren't 100% for the real summit the next day?  They certainly looked a step slower and a thought late vs. Tufts in the first half.
- In the 2nd semi, Rochester may have been suffering from the same "false summit" syndrome, even though the Messiah win was two weeks prior. Who knows for sure, but one thing was clear - experience told. Tufts had been here before and even in the introductions that showed - they were loose and engaged and enjoying themselves, whereas Rochester looked like they were still processing the event and the stage, and as many (including Coach Apple) have said, they didn't play the game that got them there in the first half. Tufts game denied Rochester comfort on the ball, and they executed it ruthlessly. Ironically after the second Tufts goal, Rochester seemed to find their gears and played with more confidence, only to yield a third before getting one back on a corner (btw, Miller took a boot in the jaw on his way to heading the ball, not 'off the face' as the stream showed). At that point the game felt like it could've easily turned had a 2nd goal come, but credit Tufts with limiting quality chances the rest of the way and seeing the game thru. 
- All four teams were quality as i said, as were their fans  (the one exception was a guy we referred to as "purple shirt" who clearly offended even his own side's supporters - if you're reading this sir, you'll find the game more enjoyable if you don't yell "you suck" so much to everyone playing, officiating or coaching it). It was fun to talk with supporters from the other schools, including those from the Women's teams who also stayed at the Sheraton - game recognizes game, as the kids say.
- One of the most surprising and strangely fantastic moments actually happened Friday night in the hotel lobby. Some of the Seniors from Rochester were gathered there, and after a while some of the Chicago players walked in. Seeing this unfold from nearby a parent said "I wonder how this is going to play out?". Two groups who fought each other for 4 years, both having recently lost their last game - could've easily gotten very negative very quick. Instead, there were jokes - "Hey, the guys who lost by 3 today should buy the guys who lost by 2 a coke", and debates over who has the more boring/nerdy campus, comparisons of scouting notes on each player ("the word on you was 'slow'" - "but i'm the fastest guy on our team!!!") and chants of "UAA! UAA!" (because you know, common ground must be found) and handshakes and back-slaps and more guys called out from their rooms to come and join in. It was 4 years of memories and laughs, and probably the best thing to cap off a career with. Unplanned, unexpected, uncommon and unforgettable.
- The best dessert i've ever had was the Affogato at Print Works Bistro in the Proximity Hotel
- The Rochester Alumni Assoc. hosted a post-game gathering at Horigan's House of Taps for alums, parents and friends, which had a really interesting concept: you buy a bracelet and fill it with $10 or $20, then you get a glass and walk up to a wall of taps offering beers and wines of every conceivable variety, and you get charged by the ounce. Grab another glass for a different drink, etc. So you can get a flight of tasters, or whole pints, wines, ciders, etc. - fantastic idea.

Ok, that's all i got.     

[MaturinNYC]

On a separate note out of curiousity as I try and report some things back to people ...
Thanks ... and I at least hope the broadcasts were entertaining. The games certainly were - even if the first one had us sitting outside under a tent.

I really enjoyed them and thought you were terrific onair. 

I had some problems staying connected during the Rochester game, but don't know wwhere the problem was.

Well we do need to take those breaks ... or we would kill ourselves with exhaustion. LOL

I watched the two semi's live, but i caught the final on the stream - i also thought you guys were great, solid observations and you had insightful anecdotes and were great, really added to the atmosphere.  Technically the connection stopped/froze a few times for me but i'm convinced that had more to do with the fact that i was in a car on a tethered connection from my phone - i simply restarted and it was fine, and i was grateful for the ability to watch it so absolutely no complaints there. 

[blooter442]

(sorry, accidentally deleted so just reposting)   
Hi all - I think i'm one of the "UAA folks who were all over the place" that BrotherFlounder called out (though i think this is only my 3rd or 4th post?). Anyways, apologies for my silence, but i got home late last night from Greensboro (a 10 hour drive) and spent the day catching up on all the other stuff i've been ignoring for the past few weeks, only just getting on the boards tonight. I'm not at all sure that me saying this adds any gloss to the feat, but congratulations to Tufts on their championship, and to the NESCAC league on producing yet another championship team - very impressive.

So far my personal experience has been with the UAA, and i've only seen three NESCAC teams in person (2017 Conn College and Amherst, and 2018 Tufts) - so anything i post will likely be about the UAA. I get though that since the UAA regularly gets several Group C tournament slots and is often talked about as 'the best', that that will engender feelings of being slighted and some assumptions of superiority. So let me be clear that i respect every team i've seen from the various leagues that the team i follow (Rochester) has played against for the past 3 seasons. From the Skyline Conference to the powerhouses of the Liberty League and SUNYAC in particular (i've seen about 18 games from those two), they have some fantastic programs that play great soccer, and i can't recall any game that was easy...at all. One fact about D3 soccer that i can say with authority is that no school, no team, and certainly no league can claim a gulf of quality - there is quality all over, the margins are thin and getting thinner.

Having seen both semi's in person (and streamed the final on I95 while my wife drove), i wouldn't have been surprised by any of the 4 teams winning it all - they each showed the quality which got them there, but Tufts simply showed it more, longer and at the key moments, and so they deserve the big trophy.

Kudos to Hannah Lichtenstein on her excellent review of Semi #2, just spot-on with every word i thought. (Semi #1 was also very good, but no name attached). I also enjoyed reading all the posts and perspectives about the games here (in particular Mr.Right was pretty much that with his notes, and thanks PaulNewman). So in hopes of entertaining and informing, let me contribute some additional thoughts:

- Greensboro knows how to host, they did a nice job preparing the field and creating an environment befitting the Final Four  (loved the cannon blasts on the goals). And the NCAA did a great job with pre-game events, swag bags, site signage, trophies, etc. For our guys this was just 1 game further than the Elite 8 they reached last year, but it felt another level, very special.   
- Some have said that the field looked big, but according to sources it is 75 wide, which is about 8 yards wider than UofR's home field turf. So big, but not huge.
- Calvin looked like they could've beaten Barca or Man City on Friday - all they did turned to gold, and you could tell what it meant to them to finally get past a very good Chicago side that had barred the door for so long. I can relate to the feeling after UofR at last got past Messiah - it's a great feeling. But by definition such games are summits, both mentally and physically, so did reaching that height mean that they weren't 100% for the real summit the next day?  They certainly looked a step slower and a thought late vs. Tufts in the first half.
- In the 2nd semi, Rochester may have been suffering from the same "false summit" syndrome, even though the Messiah win was two weeks prior. Who knows for sure, but one thing was clear - experience told. Tufts had been here before and even in the introductions that showed - they were loose and engaged and enjoying themselves, whereas Rochester looked like they were still processing the event and the stage, and as many (including Coach Apple) have said, they didn't play the game that got them there in the first half. Tufts game denied Rochester comfort on the ball, and they executed it ruthlessly. Ironically after the second Tufts goal, Rochester seemed to find their gears and played with more confidence, only to yield a third before getting one back on a corner (btw, Miller took a boot in the jaw on his way to heading the ball, not 'off the face' as the stream showed). At that point the game felt like it could've easily turned had a 2nd goal come, but credit Tufts with limiting quality chances the rest of the way and seeing the game thru. 
- All four teams were quality as i said, as were their fans  (the one exception was a guy we referred to as "purple shirt" who clearly offended even his own side's supporters - if you're reading this sir, you'll find the game more enjoyable if you don't yell "you suck" so much to everyone playing, officiating or coaching it). It was fun to talk with supporters from the other schools, including those from the Women's teams who also stayed at the Sheraton - game recognizes game, as the kids say.
- One of the most surprising and strangely fantastic moments actually happened Friday night in the hotel lobby. Some of the Seniors from Rochester were gathered there, and after a while some of the Chicago players walked in. Seeing this unfold from nearby a parent said "I wonder how this is going to play out?". Two groups who fought each other for 4 years, both having recently lost their last game - could've easily gotten very negative very quick. Instead, there were jokes - "Hey, the guys who lost by 3 today should buy the guys who lost by 2 a coke", and debates over who has the more boring/nerdy campus, comparisons of scouting notes on each player ("the word on you was 'slow'" - "but i'm the fastest guy on our team!!!") and chants of "UAA! UAA!" (because you know, common ground must be found) and handshakes and back-slaps and more guys called out from their rooms to come and join in. It was 4 years of memories and laughs, and probably the best thing to cap off a career with. Unplanned, unexpected, uncommon and unforgettable.
- The best dessert i've ever had was the Affogato at Print Works Bistro in the Proximity Hotel
- The Rochester Alumni Assoc. hosted a post-game gathering at Horigan's House of Taps for alums, parents and friends, which had a really interesting concept: you buy a bracelet and fill it with $10 or $20, then you get a glass and walk up to a wall of taps offering beers and wines of every conceivable variety, and you get charged by the ounce. Grab another glass for a different drink, etc. So you can get a flight of tasters, or whole pints, wines, ciders, etc. - fantastic idea.

Ok, that's all i got.   

I really like the anecdote -- the combination of banter plus mutual respect between a number of (but admittedly not all) rival teams is one of the things that has made me become a fan of D3 soccer as a whole. +K

[NEsoccerfan]

In a few instances, high D1 level players visit campus--about 20 years ago there was a local player (son of Messiah alumni) who briefly considered Messiah but ended up as an all-conference player at Penn State. He now coaches at D2 or NAIA level.

To have a little fun with my electronic friends from New England: the man I refer to here somewhat cryptically was a two-time AA who played several years for the New England Revolution and later briefly coached a Boston-area D3 team. As I understand it, few thought he'd actually end up at Messiah, but he did express some interest in doing so and did (I think) visit campus with that in mind as a possibility. (I happen to know his father, who taught HS math very successfully just a few miles from Messiah.)

Can anyone fill in the blank? 

Derek Potteiger?

[Buck O.]

Tufts and NESCAC....Much is made of the shortened NESCAC season, and limited time for preseason training. 

When my son was at a camp over the summer at a NESCAC school, one of the current players led a tour, and the topic of the delayed start of practice, compared to the rest of D3, came up.  He said that he had been told that it would probably be done away with next year, so that the NESCACs could start training at the same time as every other D3.  Anyone know if there's any truth to that?

Also, much is made in the D1 vs D3 discussion about kids choosing D3 because (among several factors) of the option for doing a junior year abroad?  I was thinking about this and realized I can't recall anyone mentioning any players of real significance for at least top level, competitive D3s where kids actually have taken a year abroad.  I can recall a player or two from Kenyon taking a Spring semester only to go abroad but not a full year.  Anyone have any evidence to the contrary?

Like others, I know of tons of examples of kids going abroad for the spring semester, but not for the whole year.  This is a topic that my son and I raised with a number of coaches and they were all fine with going abroad for the spring, and pointed to it as one of the advantages of a D3 program compared to D1.

More generally, if you were a player at, say, Kenyon, would you want to miss your junior season to go on a year abroad, when you could spend a semester abroad in the spring without missing the season?  I would think not.

Which reminds me, one more thing....to the extent that someone can share this info, what schools is Tufts winning recruits from in head to head battles or in cases where Tufts is one of a recruit's final 3-4 choices?  Other NESCACs?  Academically oriented D1 mid-majors (Davidson, Colgate, Richmond, Bucknell, etc)?

I doubt they are competing with Richmond, since Richmond cut its men's soccer team a couple of years ago.

[Buck O.]

On a separate note out of curiousity as I try and report some things back to people ... did anyone have any issues with the streaming of the games? I'm not necessarily looking for "it wouldn't start" as that could be anything from your device to the connection to the ...

I'm looking for "commercial breaks weren't really commercials" (just a screen that said commercial break) to the stream stopped and we had to go out and come back in to get the game again. That kind of stuff.

I do NOT want to necessarily overflow this page with complaints and such. I am, again, trying to put together some perspectives before I report some that I've already gathered from others to people I think need to know (and will listen to me). Feel free to DM me instead of crowding this thread or others.

Thanks ... and I at least hope the broadcasts were entertaining. The games certainly were - even if the first one had us sitting outside under a tent.

I really enjoyed them and thought you were terrific onair. 

I had some problems staying connected during the Rochester game, but don't know wwhere the problem was.

The commercial break was annoying.  I figure the folks watching are interested in D3 soccer generally and might have enjoyed some programing like a season retrospective or an interview with a NCAA D3 representative talking about the future.  Even a preview of the woman's game might been fun.

Well we do need to take those breaks ... or we would kill ourselves with exhaustion. LOL

I am curious if anyone actually saw commercials run during those breaks. I'm getting word that those breaks may not have been filled with ... commercials. That's a problem.

I would love to have more content at halftime. I actually suggested to the VP of DIII who was in attendance on Friday about coming up, but he didn't make it. We could try and get someone from the committee(s) in the future. Preview could be interesting, but I'm also conscious that not everyone watching Game A is planning to watch any other games.

And having to come and go from the Rochester game is what I was wondering about. I know there were bigger problems in the women's title game for whatever reasons, so I'm trying to chase down how wide-spread those technical problems may have been ... which I don't think were on the user's end (in my opinion based on a wealth of web streaming and TV production experience).

First off, I thought you and Ira did well.  Now, as to the questions you asked:

As others have reported, I never saw any ads during the commercial breaks.  Acura and Fruit of the Loom got their money's worth nevertheless, as I saw one of their ads whenever I had to reload the stream, as the stream would buffer for a bit and then quit.  This problem was much worse for the women's final:  I was actually playing the stream on my PC and my tablet simultaneously so that I could switch from one to other whenever one of them would freeze up, as it would take a couple of minutes to restart and sit through the requisite ad.  But in every game, it seemed like I had to reload whenever you went to a commercial break.  (I've noticed this issue with other streams as well.)

[Ommadawn]

I pulled a Blooter and took advantage of an opportunity for economical travel and accommodations, heading off not to Copenhagen, Reykjavik, or Liverpool, but to Greensboro for the Final Four.  Doing so allowed me to check off an item on my D3 men's soccer spectating bucket list (up next: a night game at the Rock Bowl). I will attempt to offer a few comments that, for the most part, do not duplicate the excellent observations of MaturinNYC and address issues that may not have been fully discussed or evident on the live stream. 

*My biggest regret in attending the games in person is that I did not get to view and, more importantly, hear Ira and Dave's webcast.  A family member who tuned in gave high marks to the commentary.

*In an attempt to let the live experience soak in, I went (largely) device-free.  I confess that I peeked at the halftimes to see what Mr. Right, Blooter, PaulNewman, and the rest of the gang had to say.  [By the way, who occupies the Rob Stone, Stuart Holden, and, most importantly, Alexi Lalas roles? Or is it more like who occupies the Stephen A. Smith ("Trent Vegter is a dear, dear friend..."), Max Kellerman, and Skip Bayless roles?  I have my own ideas, but suspect my karma would take a massive hit if I shared them ]

*As MaturinNYC mentioned, UNCG was a top notch host and everything about the facilities and presentation elements were first class.  It was amazing to see how well the field held up over 6 games (and multiple rainfalls) in less than 36 hours.  The grounds crew deserves a ton of credit for keeping the field playable.  I cannot remember any (overly) bad bounces. It was a real treat to see players run onto perfectly weighted, defender-splitting through balls that would have rolled mercilessly out of bounds on turf.

*All four teams were well-represented by family, friends, fans, and alumni.  Rochester won the custom gear competition hands down. Those snappy blue Final Four t-shirts evoked the spirit of Meliora and had to leave the Yellowjackets on the field feeling very supported. From an auditory perspective, the fans of all four teams brought enough cowbells to keep even Christopher Walken happy. The cannon shots after the goals were very cool on a visceral level and brought a bigtime feel to the games.

*Although not the mecca for coaches that the D1 basketball Final Four is, there were members of quite a few D3 coaching staffs in attendance, including Whitworth, from the Pacific Northwest.  It was interesting to see Brandon Bianco, chair of the championships committee, handing out all of the awards.  If Case had managed to knock off Calvin in the Elite Eight, would he have presented himself with the Case team award and shaken his own hand?  As I watched the title game, I wondered what was going through the mind of Coach Bianco's fellow committee member, Justin Serpone, who had to watch his conference rival claim another championship. 

*Calvin's performance against Chicago was, as amply described on these pages, simply stunning. After watching several of their live streams during the season, I had wondered if they could dominate elite teams the way they did their conference opponents. I got my answer!

*The elephant in the room of this whole event is the back-to-back format.  It almost guarantees that the title game is going to be more ragged than the semifinal matches.  I am waiting (but not holding my breath) for the Final Four that features Calvin, Yeshiva, and two other teams.  They would have to play the semifinals on Friday and the final on Monday, right?

*The energy that Tufts brought to the first 5-10 minutes of the final was palpable, belying my comment about the back-to-back format.  Speaking of energy, I was shocked to see in the box score that Calvin only used 13 players. I knew that the Knights didn't do a ton of subbing and that they experienced no drop off when they did, but had no idea that they only used 13 players.  That speaks volumes about their level of conditioning.  Even more impressive (to me) than the conditioning of the Knights was their collective first touch, especially the wide players, who routinely and calmly received passes in the air from distance in ways that left them ready to dribble or pass as needed.  From the Jumbos, I was awed by the real estate covered by Tasker and Lane.  I can't imagine that the video feed was able to capture them tracking both back and across the field with pace, thwarting attacks and closing down players with remarkable effectiveness.  I smiled at the LeBron-like halftime rest that Coach Shapiro gave Tasker when he subbed Tasker out at the 43-minute mark of the first half.

*Calvin's players, coaches, and supporters exuded pure class in victory and defeat.  With a fourth runner-up, the Knights have entered Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings territory, but with Coach Souders at the helm, their chances of winning the big one someday are strong. 

*I'm not sure if the webcast caught this, but midway through the first half of the final, when Tufts was racking up the fouls at an alarming rate and zero fouls had been called against Calvin, several Jumbo supporters were vocal in their criticism of the referee.  Coach Shapiro turned to the crowd and motioned for quiet, saying that addressing the referee was his job.  Nary a peep was heard from the fans regarding the referee for the rest of the game.  This incident shows the respect that the Jumbo supporters have for Coach Shapiro.

Final Four done.  Rock Bowl, here I come!

[blooter442]

A bit late here, but I too enjoyed the broadcast. The only technical thing I remember is that I did see the "Commercial Break" notice during halftime.

I pulled a Blooter and took advantage of an opportunity for economical travel and accommodations, heading off not to Copenhagen, Reykjavik, or Liverpool, but to Greensboro for the Final Four.  Doing so allowed me to check off an item on my D3 men's soccer spectating bucket list (up next: a night game at the Rock Bowl). I will attempt to offer a few comments that, for the most part, do not duplicate the excellent observations of MaturinNYC and address issues that may not have been fully discussed or evident on the live stream.

Good choice, and I am impressed you remembered some of my destinations! Two years ago I had finished a job the week of Thanksgiving and had 12 days until the next one started. With nothing to do that week and Brandeis heading to the Final 4 I looked at flights to Roanoke VA but all the tickets were in the $400+ round trip range, a price range which I very rarely pay (the last $500+ ticket I had was a $594 BOS-LHR round trip on BA last spring...an exceptional price at the time but that route is now selling for sub-$400). Even flights into IAD/DCA/BWI were above $300 round trip. I ended up doing a couple of $97 round trips to NYC and Chicago instead (both on United before the whole Dr. Dao episode; haven't flown them since). Regardless, glad to hear you got a good deal.

*In an attempt to let the live experience soak in, I went (largely) device-free.  I confess that I peeked at the halftimes to see what Mr. Right, Blooter, PaulNewman, and the rest of the gang had to say.  [By the way, who occupies the Rob Stone, Stuart Holden, and, most importantly, Alexi Lalas roles? Or is it more like who occupies the Stephen A. Smith ("Trent Vegter is a dear, dear friend..."), Max Kellerman, and Skip Bayless roles?  I have my own ideas, but suspect my karma would take a massive hit if I shared them ]

Also a good choice -- I tried to keep my phone away while live at the Regional and Sectional rounds this year. That being said, I sure hope I am not Lalas...he and Twellman are obnoxious. Is being Ian Darke an option?

[Ommadawn]

Also a good choice -- I tried to keep my phone away while live at the Regional and Sectional rounds this year. That being said, I sure hope I am not Lalas...he and Twellman are obnoxious. Is being Ian Darke an option?

Mr. Right wrote recently of your peacekeeping role on the board, so I thought that you might slide into the Max Kellerman position.  Besides, Ian Darke's accent differs from that of the one on the Soundcloud link you provided a while back 

[Mr.Right]

I'm ambivalent about some of the stuff above.  I'll pull a DT and say "there are good people on both sides, both sides."

When you write as much as MR does, with very detailed game set-ups and the like, he's going to get a couple of things wrong.  I've never seen him as a Tufts hater at all....maybe less ready to crown them before they've been crowned, but he always eventually has given Tufts its due.  All of our styles grate on each other after a while.  MR and I are probably responsible for at least half of each other's negative karma going back a few years ago....but imagine if people like him and myself and Falconer and 1970s and even BF (D4, can you do something about BF lol???) didn't participate.  We all contribute to making all this a bigger deal than it is.  MR helps hype Tufts and the rest of the NESCAC and often other programs and players as well.  I thought I was done, and then the season started and I gradually got pulled in more and more....and caught the Kenyon bug yet again with another great season I wasn't expecting and then only to be heartbroken yet again.  I'm sure some Kenyon folks are sick of me and my ridiculous comments.  But I've also elevated Kenyon's profile over the years, and I think it does make some difference when programs have their super-fans and super-defenders.  I'm also really embarrassed.  It really is remarkable how middle aged and older middle aged men can get so caught up in all this stuff.  Pretty easy to diagnose but much harder to treat...

I'm curious what the response to another Tufts title is around the Grantham area.....pretty quiet so far.

I do not think D4pace was taking a jab just countering my point which is what we do on here but thanks to all for the backup from some of the "gang" like NESoccerfan, Buck O and PN.  I agree with pretty much all of what PN said here except the part about being middle-aged...lol...I am still in my 30's.

[PaulNewman]

I'm ambivalent about some of the stuff above.  I'll pull a DT and say "there are good people on both sides, both sides."

When you write as much as MR does, with very detailed game set-ups and the like, he's going to get a couple of things wrong.  I've never seen him as a Tufts hater at all....maybe less ready to crown them before they've been crowned, but he always eventually has given Tufts its due.  All of our styles grate on each other after a while.  MR and I are probably responsible for at least half of each other's negative karma going back a few years ago....but imagine if people like him and myself and Falconer and 1970s and even BF (D4, can you do something about BF lol???) didn't participate.  We all contribute to making all this a bigger deal than it is.  MR helps hype Tufts and the rest of the NESCAC and often other programs and players as well.  I thought I was done, and then the season started and I gradually got pulled in more and more....and caught the Kenyon bug yet again with another great season I wasn't expecting and then only to be heartbroken yet again.  I'm sure some Kenyon folks are sick of me and my ridiculous comments.  But I've also elevated Kenyon's profile over the years, and I think it does make some difference when programs have their super-fans and super-defenders.  I'm also really embarrassed.  It really is remarkable how middle aged and older middle aged men can get so caught up in all this stuff.  Pretty easy to diagnose but much harder to treat...

I'm curious what the response to another Tufts title is around the Grantham area.....pretty quiet so far.

I do not think D4pace was taking a jab just countering my point which is what we do on here but thanks to all for the backup from some of the "gang" like NESoccerfan, Buck O and PN.  I agree with pretty much all of what PN said here except the part about being middle-aged...lol...I am still in my 30's.

LOL....just imagine how skilled you'll be at this stuff when you get a few more years under your belt.

I'm curious to see if D4 is going to respond to any of my questions about Tufts, recruiting, off-season, etc.  I was struck for example when I saw Tasker in person how strong he is as one of Tufts' smaller (relatively) players.  He clearly does a ton of weightlifting and strength training...and I do think Tasker in particular is one of the most underrated Tufts players in recent years.  I would have easily voted him as an AA.

That said, I disagree with D4 a little that Tufts should have had a handful of AA selections.  What makes them so good in my mind is that they have a full roster of very good players who find a way to mesh well together.  There is no way to focus on just one or three of their players.

I didn't realize that Calvin only played 13.  As I've said before I consider Shapiro and Souders like 1 and 1A in terms of best coaches.  I'm just a tiny bit less impressed learning that he only plays 13-14.  He makes a big deal about "all 26," and with a school with that kind of mission and in D3 I can't see only giving 13 kids playing time.  Also obviously is a weakness when playing a team like Tufts.

[MaturinNYC]

*My biggest regret in attending the games in person is that I did not get to view and, more importantly, hear Ira and Dave's webcast.  A family member who tuned in gave high marks to the commentary.

Rejoice Ommadawn, that's an easy regret to fix! - https://www.ncaa.com/video/soccer-men/2018-12-01/diii-mens-soccer-2018-championship-recap

*In an attempt to let the live experience soak in, I went (largely) device-free. 

Me too! I had several friends and family asking me to send them updates before the game - so i just sent out the live stream link to all and then turned my phone off. Nothing beats being there, but you're not there if you're looking at your feet.

*As MaturinNYC mentioned, UNCG was a top notch host and everything about the facilities and presentation elements were first class.  It was amazing to see how well the field held up over 6 games (and multiple rainfalls) in less than 36 hours.  The grounds crew deserves a ton of credit for keeping the field playable.

I agree, but a friend from London sent me a note saying "that pitch looks as beat up as Wembley" - the discolored patches are just an artifact of the grass seed they use i think, as in person and up-close it's smooth and uniform.

*All four teams were well-represented by family, friends, fans, and alumni.  Rochester won the custom gear competition hands down. Those snappy blue Final Four t-shirts evoked the spirit of Meliora and had to leave the Yellowjackets on the field feeling very supported.

Have to give a shout out to superfan Catherine Conway (older sister of our keeper, Patrick), who got that organized and made reality from her phone about 10 minutes after the Messiah game (technology & logistics are amazing these days). Also the women of the UofR Field Hockey team produced a hype video showing support from current students, athletes & alums to the Dean's office to an older gentleman playing a trumpet and delivering a rendition of a 1908 "UofR Battle Song" --- priceless stuff.   

*Calvin's performance against Chicago was, as amply described on these pages, simply stunning. After watching several of their live streams during the season, I had wondered if they could dominate elite teams the way they did their conference opponents. I got my answer!

That was my take as well - Calvin was clicking that game.

*The elephant in the room of this whole event is the back-to-back format.  It almost guarantees that the title game is going to be more ragged than the semifinal matches.  I am waiting (but not holding my breath) for the Final Four that features Calvin, Yeshiva, and two other teams.  They would have to play the semifinals on Friday and the final on Monday, right?

Great idea!  I agree, giving the teams even a one-day break would help - but you can also see how the reality (another hotel night bill for the NCAA, etc.) works against that.

*Calvin's players, coaches, and supporters exuded pure class in victory and defeat.  With a fourth runner-up, the Knights have entered Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings territory, but with Coach Souders at the helm, their chances of winning the big one someday are strong.

Agreed.

*I'm not sure if the webcast caught this, but midway through the first half of the final, when Tufts was racking up the fouls at an alarming rate and zero fouls had been called against Calvin, several Jumbo supporters were vocal in their criticism of the referee.  Coach Shapiro turned to the crowd and motioned for quiet, saying that addressing the referee was his job.  Nary a peep was heard from the fans regarding the referee for the rest of the game.  This incident shows the respect that the Jumbo supporters have for Coach Shapiro.

Lol, a similar scene played out on Friday as well.

[PaulNewman]

I pulled a Blooter and took advantage of an opportunity for economical travel and accommodations, heading off not to Copenhagen, Reykjavik, or Liverpool, but to Greensboro for the Final Four.  Doing so allowed me to check off an item on my D3 men's soccer spectating bucket list (up next: a night game at the Rock Bowl). I will attempt to offer a few comments that, for the most part, do not duplicate the excellent observations of MaturinNYC and address issues that may not have been fully discussed or evident on the live stream. 

*My biggest regret in attending the games in person is that I did not get to view and, more importantly, hear Ira and Dave's webcast.  A family member who tuned in gave high marks to the commentary.

*In an attempt to let the live experience soak in, I went (largely) device-free.  I confess that I peeked at the halftimes to see what Mr. Right, Blooter, PaulNewman, and the rest of the gang had to say.  [By the way, who occupies the Rob Stone, Stuart Holden, and, most importantly, Alexi Lalas roles? Or is it more like who occupies the Stephen A. Smith ("Trent Vegter is a dear, dear friend..."), Max Kellerman, and Skip Bayless roles?  I have my own ideas, but suspect my karma would take a massive hit if I shared them ]

*As MaturinNYC mentioned, UNCG was a top notch host and everything about the facilities and presentation elements were first class.  It was amazing to see how well the field held up over 6 games (and multiple rainfalls) in less than 36 hours.  The grounds crew deserves a ton of credit for keeping the field playable.  I cannot remember any (overly) bad bounces. It was a real treat to see players run onto perfectly weighted, defender-splitting through balls that would have rolled mercilessly out of bounds on turf.

*All four teams were well-represented by family, friends, fans, and alumni.  Rochester won the custom gear competition hands down. Those snappy blue Final Four t-shirts evoked the spirit of Meliora and had to leave the Yellowjackets on the field feeling very supported. From an auditory perspective, the fans of all four teams brought enough cowbells to keep even Christopher Walken happy. The cannon shots after the goals were very cool on a visceral level and brought a bigtime feel to the games.

*Although not the mecca for coaches that the D1 basketball Final Four is, there were members of quite a few D3 coaching staffs in attendance, including Whitworth, from the Pacific Northwest.  It was interesting to see Brandon Bianco, chair of the championships committee, handing out all of the awards.  If Case had managed to knock off Calvin in the Elite Eight, would he have presented himself with the Case team award and shaken his own hand?  As I watched the title game, I wondered what was going through the mind of Coach Bianco's fellow committee member, Justin Serpone, who had to watch his conference rival claim another championship. 

*Calvin's performance against Chicago was, as amply described on these pages, simply stunning. After watching several of their live streams during the season, I had wondered if they could dominate elite teams the way they did their conference opponents. I got my answer!

*The elephant in the room of this whole event is the back-to-back format.  It almost guarantees that the title game is going to be more ragged than the semifinal matches.  I am waiting (but not holding my breath) for the Final Four that features Calvin, Yeshiva, and two other teams.  They would have to play the semifinals on Friday and the final on Monday, right?

*The energy that Tufts brought to the first 5-10 minutes of the final was palpable, belying my comment about the back-to-back format.  Speaking of energy, I was shocked to see in the box score that Calvin only used 13 players. I knew that the Knights didn't do a ton of subbing and that they experienced no drop off when they did, but had no idea that they only used 13 players.  That speaks volumes about their level of conditioning.  Even more impressive (to me) than the conditioning of the Knights was their collective first touch, especially the wide players, who routinely and calmly received passes in the air from distance in ways that left them ready to dribble or pass as needed.  From the Jumbos, I was awed by the real estate covered by Tasker and Lane.  I can't imagine that the video feed was able to capture them tracking both back and across the field with pace, thwarting attacks and closing down players with remarkable effectiveness.  I smiled at the LeBron-like halftime rest that Coach Shapiro gave Tasker when he subbed Tasker out at the 43-minute mark of the first half.

*Calvin's players, coaches, and supporters exuded pure class in victory and defeat.  With a fourth runner-up, the Knights have entered Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings territory, but with Coach Souders at the helm, their chances of winning the big one someday are strong. 

*I'm not sure if the webcast caught this, but midway through the first half of the final, when Tufts was racking up the fouls at an alarming rate and zero fouls had been called against Calvin, several Jumbo supporters were vocal in their criticism of the referee.  Coach Shapiro turned to the crowd and motioned for quiet, saying that addressing the referee was his job.  Nary a peep was heard from the fans regarding the referee for the rest of the game.  This incident shows the respect that the Jumbo supporters have for Coach Shapiro.

Final Four done.  Rock Bowl, here I come!

Great post.  You need to take a risk to post more next year.  You seem like one of the few who has an appreciation for D3 across regions.  Are you willing to reveal your primary region of interest?

Is JP Dellacamera up for grabs?  Julie Foudy?  I just want to be somebody...

I thought the announcers were excellent.

And another kudos for one of the best single things in the tournament....the woman who called the CWRU sectional (and even considering that she was in the bag for CWRU.....she was superb.