The Big Dance

[Falconer]

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

Since you asked, PaulNewman, I'll give my twenty five cents.

Tufts is clearly the premiere D3 program over the past five years. Clearly. Those used to saying that the road to the title goes through Grantham need a geography lesson.

I'm sure you want more, so I'll offer more. First, IMO the two best Falcon teams in that period were (in order) 2014 and 2016. Tufts beat the former on a deflected shot in the first minute on a small muddy field, while the Falcons hit the woodwork at least once (was it twice?) in the closing minutes. That's as close as it gets. I think the Falcons were probably slightly better, meaning that they might have beaten Tufts in a 3-game series, but that's just my opinion and we'll never know. We do know that Tufts won fair and square and went on to beat two really good teams soundly in the Final Four. They fully deserved that win.

The 2016 team lost at home to Calvin in 2OTs. Calvin deserved to win that one: they clearly dominated the second half, tied the game, and won on a great play. True, the Falcons should have scored at least 3 in the first half, but they have to blame themselves and no one else for not advancing. Calvin then gave Tufts all they could handle in the final, but Tufts prevailed. That's what great teams do. Had the Falcons advance, maybe they beat Tufts, but that's only speculation. What we do know favors Tufts.

Now, the 2017 team was a different story. No one, flat no one, shut them out all year, and they played great defense except on set plays where they sucked on both ends of the field. Perhaps Tufts would have beaten them in the semi-final, if they got past Brandeis, but I actually don't think so. Not b/c Tufts wasn't just as good last year--they might have been better than the Falcons last year--but that particular Falcon team as everyone knows, just refused to lose. I think we can assume that they would have scored at least one against Tufts, just as they scored against everyone else, and perhaps that would have been enough. More likely, it would have been like the Brandeis game, which ended 3-2. Again, this is speculation. What we do know is that, reversing 2016, the Falcons got it done and the Jumbos didn't make the Final Four.

The 2018 Falcon team was (IMO) perhaps (I say perhaps) weaker overall than the 2014, 2016, and 2017 teams--though obviously stronger than the 2015 team that didn't even get a bid. The SRs this year (the 5 big names being West, Ruiz Plaza, J Brautigam, Bell, and Alejos) were just FR in 2015. All 5 started before the season ended--which tells you a lot about that team, since that just never happens in Grantham. The supporting cast was the weakest in a long time. The JR and SO classes on this year's team aren't as deep as the SRs of 2017 and 2018, especially the SO class. However, the FR class is certainly among the very best in Falcon history; we'll see just how good before they are done. Luke Groothoff (as noted by bloots) is the first FR AA (second team, but he should have been 1st team IMO) for the Falcons since Kasiguran, who might have been the single best D3 player of his era. Groothoff could prove to be in that category: time and teammates will tell. Kasiguran's supporting cast was unbelievably good, still (IMO) the greatest Falcon class ever. I know next to nothing about the incoming FR class, except that it might be the largest in number under Brandt or McCarty and it's supposed to contain one of the best CBs out there (someone from the Southwest). That's exactly what's needed if the Falcons are to reclaim supremacy from Tufts. Two or three great classes in a row are what the doctor ordered. Perhaps that's in the works.

I would have loved to see a Falcon-Tufts semi-final: who wouldn't have? Rochester stepped in and prevented that. I congratulated them without any sour grapes already, as anyone can see. They played a great game, earning the right to play Tufts themselves, but as saw they weren't quite in the same class as Tufts. I don't know whether the Falcons would have done any better, but almost certainly they wouldn't have beaten Tufts without CM Ruiz Plaza, CB Cooper Robbins, and three other key players much slowed by injuries (Alejos and Kokolios were starters unable to start), with 7 men in all down or out. I mention this here only b/c you asked for my view, PaulNewman, so I'm giving it. All things considered, this wasn't going to be the year for that Falcon-Jumbo game; the real Falcon team wouldn't have showed up. I think we can assume that West would have scored at least once vs Tufts, since he scored against every other top 25 team this year, but we can't assume that the Falcons would have scored twice or have shut out the Jumbos. Certainly it would have been a barn burner.

So, that's my thoughts. More than three cents worth, granted. I hope others don't resent any of this, which I've kept to myself until now. Had there been no specific request from you, I probably would have remained silent. I missed all 3 games this weekend owing to family commitments and other things--and mostly that would have been true even if the Falcons had made it to Greensboro. Just as I missed the game with Rochester. So, I can't comment specifically on any of the games. The only time I've seen Tufts this year was their home game vs Bates, in which Bates put cement around the wheels of their bus and Tufts proceeded to display an almost studied inability to finish. Clearly they got over that problem at some point in November, which is why they won (apparently).

Congratulations to Tufts. They earned it.

[PaulNewman]

Great post MaturinNYC....

A few loose thoughts/questions not necessarily fitting here but didn't want to start a whole new thread....

Tufts and NESCAC....Much is made of the shortened NESCAC season, and limited time for preseason training.  My question is whether there really is a lack of a Spring season.  I know they can't have any sort of formal Spring season with official practices and real scrimmages, but....is there an expectation that players training and lift and play indoors through the winter, and then latch on to some kind of fairly competitive Summer action?  Do the captains tapped for the next year make sure there is ongoing training and cohesion?

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?

And what goes into programs NOT utilizing the training trip abroad once every 3-4 years?  Is this allowed in NESCAC?  Why would very competitive programs not take advantage?  Funding?  Just coach preference?  Lack of player interest? 

And finally (for now), and to the extent that there is any truth to this....what is the reason(s) some (and I don't mean Mr.Right) during the season (and prior seasons) seemed doubtful or unsure about how good Tufts is.  It almost seems like some are surprised.  Yes, there is good fortune (the pure luck of getting home field for the sectional in 2016), but Tufts arguably could have zero titles or FIVE.  Who could say they wouldn't have won last year if they had gotten by Brandeis in an OT game?  And they lost in the last 30 seconds to Kenyon in 2015 (preventing the Jumbos from playing in the Elite 8....none other than Calvin)?  And think there is a momentum that comes from winning one, but certainly after two to three within a short time frame that helps creates a culture of expecting to win, having a certain swagger, and I'm sure huge benefits in terms of recruiting.

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)?

Gratuitous, self-serving commentary corner....the more I watched Calvin the more I'm not super confident that Kenyon would have beaten Calvin.  We probably will mostly remember Tufts beating Calvin, but the Knights certainly were a fantastic team and would have been worthy national champions.  But I do think Kenyon would have had a chance.  Looking through some of the comments about how Tufts asserted control early in the game, I think it's possible that Kenyon is one of the other few teams that could have taken Calvin out of its game a little too.  Calvin is used to having control, even in close games, but I think the high pressure and swarming of the Lords (on a very good day) could have bothered Calvin....not to the same degree as Tufts, because the Lords could not match the overall size, athleticism and physicality of Tufts, but perhaps enough to create a competitive game.  After all, the Lords did finish at 18-1-3 which compares pretty well to the eventual Elite 8 and Final Four teams.

[blooter442]

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?

I think "year abroad" might be colloquial...I certainly don't know of any players who have gone for a full year, rather just the spring. (That doesn't mean it hasn't happened, of course.)

[PaulNewman]

Thanks, Falconer.  Good post.

As you probably noticed from pretty early on I said I was hoping for a Tufts-Messiah match.  Certainly Messiah would have had a chance (certainly as good a chance as anyone else), but what I think we're learning about Tufts is that they might even have been disappointed that they didn't get Messiah.  Just like Messiah teams, they now expect to win no matter what and regardless of who the opponent is.  It is impressive that Shapiro can walk the line between supreme confidence and over-confidence.

Going forward will be interesting....1)  does Shapiro stay?  and 2) is Tufts now like the Golden State Warriors?  Darlings at first and a marvel but now with a target on their backs and a team most of us will really want to see lose and be even madder when they don't.

[NEsoccerfan]

Just hoping Mr. Right would be gracious enough to congratulate Tufts after hating on them/shorting them all season. Probably the same guy who shorted Apple and Amazon. Eventually you'll be right I guess. See you next year my man!

As far as BetaBob....Where were you all season? Obviously, you were reading my work but failing to throw yourself into the mixer. I would not care if you are a Jumbo partisan. Why not log in and give it to me and critique my work each week? Give us your opinions and evals....Instead you decide to read my work all year and then throw a cheap shot to my gut when I am not looking. That's fine to each his own.....

Yeah, I agree with Mr. Right.  Woofing once your team has won, after having not made a peep all season, is weak.  And I think it's ridiculous to claim that Mr. Right has been "hating on" Tufts specifically.  Anyone who follows this site knows that he is ready and willing to drop bombs on anyone at any school, if he doesn't think they're doing the job.  He may not always be right when he does that, but I appreciate that he's willing to say what he thinks and why he thinks it.

Spot on, Buck O - these jabs at Mr. Right are quite bush league.

[d4_Pace]

First I want to clarify I wasn't trying to take a jab at Mr Right. He does a good job but as someone with a unique perspective on the players he wanted to mention I wanted to offer my counterpoints. We have obligation to agree or see the game the same way.

[d4_Pace]

Next in response to falconer. I think that 2014 messiah team was easily the best we played and the discussion amongst alumni was how this weekends calvin team stacked up with the consensus being they were very close to the same level. Tufts can certainly sympathize with Messiahs Injury plight because to some extent, all credit to Brandeis, that's what prevented the Tufts messiah final four last year. Tufts had 9 starters miss time during the season including 3 for the sweet 16/elite 8 games. It would have been interesting test between the team that always scored and the one that never conceded. I'm sure the two will run into each other soon enough.

[d4_Pace]

I can only speak for tufts but a large percentage of Tufts Juniors go abroad. In the past couple years Meith, Najjar, Weatherbie, zinner, Coleman, Eichhorst, Johnson, both Halliday's, Majumder and others have gone their junior spring.

[D3Grad]

Kudos to Tufts for winning another title.  I was rooting for Calvin to get the title since they have been longing for so long.  Tufts is also hard to root against because they are an extremely respectful side during and after a game.  After losing to them in 2016 not one rude word came out of their mouth which I greatly appreciated.  A quality all great teams should have and I expect a lot of that comes through Shapiro. 

[Gregory Sager]

And what goes into programs NOT utilizing the training trip abroad once every 3-4 years?  Is this allowed in NESCAC?  Why would very competitive programs not take advantage?  Funding?  Just coach preference?  Lack of player interest?

North Park's men's soccer program has never taken such a trip. The only international trips that NPU teams have taken have typically been missions service trips, in which the team (it's usually women's basketball or softball) goes to Latin America or Africa and stages youth clinics, digs a fishpond or two or patches a hospital roof, and plays a few local teams. Those kinds of trips are pretty easy to fund via church donations.

For the NPU soccer program, there's the additional headaches involved in getting extra visas arranged for all of the international players who would be going on the trip (although the problem would solve itself nicely if the trip was to Scandinavia), plus you'd have to pry a lot of the Scandinavian players away from the town teams that they play for in the summer, which is a very big deal for them since it involves local pride. And the American kids are typically busting their humps all summer trying to earn enough money for school in the fall; many of them are from working-class immigrant families, for whom just paying a NPU tuition bill is a financial challenge.

I would imagine that lots of other D3 schools that don't have deep pockets don't take international trips.

[rangerfan]

Great post MaturinNYC....

A few loose thoughts/questions not necessarily fitting here but didn't want to start a whole new thread....

Tufts and NESCAC....Much is made of the shortened NESCAC season, and limited time for preseason training.  My question is whether there really is a lack of a Spring season.  I know they can't have any sort of formal Spring season with official practices and real scrimmages, but....is there an expectation that players training and lift and play indoors through the winter, and then latch on to some kind of fairly competitive Summer action?  Do the captains tapped for the next year make sure there is ongoing training and cohesion?

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?

And what goes into programs NOT utilizing the training trip abroad once every 3-4 years?  Is this allowed in NESCAC?  Why would very competitive programs not take advantage?  Funding?  Just coach preference?  Lack of player interest? 

And finally (for now), and to the extent that there is any truth to this....what is the reason(s) some (and I don't mean Mr.Right) during the season (and prior seasons) seemed doubtful or unsure about how good Tufts is.  It almost seems like some are surprised.  Yes, there is good fortune (the pure luck of getting home field for the sectional in 2016), but Tufts arguably could have zero titles or FIVE.  Who could say they wouldn't have won last year if they had gotten by Brandeis in an OT game?  And they lost in the last 30 seconds to Kenyon in 2015 (preventing the Jumbos from playing in the Elite 8....none other than Calvin)?  And think there is a momentum that comes from winning one, but certainly after two to three within a short time frame that helps creates a culture of expecting to win, having a certain swagger, and I'm sure huge benefits in terms of recruiting.

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)?

Lots of interesting commentary in this thread!

There are some questions above that I might be able to offer some color to as the parent of a committed NESCAC player.

My son had overnights and long visits at a variety of NESCAC schools so he got a wide variety of perspective from many different current players and coaches. At one school, I talked to the coach about terms abroad specifically (this school made the NESCAC tourney this season). He said 6 of 8 juniors went on term abroad the past season (and they went together!). The coach said he encourages it. The rising seniors become even closer, and the younger classes have to step up and become 'leaders' in the absence of the true 'leadership group' during the spring 'practices.' Other coaches had similar sentiments on terms abroad, but admittedly, I only discussed this personally with 2 current NESCAC coaches.

As for how different players made their decisions, it was fascinating to hear the details of conversations my son had with different players. He said there were a bunch of players that literally visited EVERY NESCAC school to find 'the right fit' for them after getting offers from every coach. I think most realize they aren't going pro playing at the D3 level, so the right fit academically, socially, soccerwise, etc. is all part of the puzzle. Not every kid wants a 5000+ student school in a city like Tufts, and not everyone wants to be in Maine or Vermont, etc. Now I realize this anecdote is probably unlikely, but many different players said very similar things. And seeing for ourselves how different various coaches run their programs, and how different some of the schools are from one another, leads me to believe this is all true. Some kids specifically told my son there were some coaches they could never play for so that school was off of their list.

Spring workouts and summer training are a must--if you want to play. In my area, many NESCAC players from rival schools find themselves playing as teammates on U23 teams over the summer. The games aren't that important, but the practices sure are. You'd be quite impressed with the quality of the practices, as there are a lot of D1 kids (and graduates!) playing on/practicing with/against these teams as well.

Finally, what schools is Tufts winning players from--I think that is a very loaded question. Tufts wins some players, and they also lose some. A recruiting class is quite small, and Shapiro is later than many (I'd probably even say later than most, or even last!) to make solid offers. And he is open and honest about it! But that comes from his position of strength, right? Success breeds success. Some kids want to wait, others don't. Some kids wait and get screwed and lose a spot. Shapiro is also a great guy and kids WANT to play for him. I was talking to another NESCAC recruit just yesterday about this exact issue, and he told me that there were only 3 NESCAC coaches he wanted to play for, and a few he "would never player for." Shapiro was one of the 3 he would play for. No shock there!

One thing that was always of interest to my son was the quality of talent at the school camps. If you've been to a Tufts one day camp, you'll see a massive disparity in the talent level between the players. And because Shapiro does one day camps rather than a 4 day camp like Bowdoin or Amherst, for instance, Friday's camp might have few skilled players relative to Saturday's camp.

I personally think the fact that Tufts is so different from the rest of NESCAC as a school makes it hard, if not impossible, to answer this question. Tufts has an engineering school, so if that's your thing, you think Tufts. If you want to go to school in a small New England town, Williams might be your choice. I doubt there are very many players looking at Richmond AND Tufts, but hey, I could be very wrong too. Once he knew that it was likely because of his academic performance, my son, for instance, was set on NESCAC. Geography also played a big part in the decision.

[daddyEzK]

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.

[Falconer]

I know relatively little about recruiting at Messiah, since I've never had a son on the team and I don't know any of the parents well enough to hear things. Having followed the team forever, however, I have picked up enough information in the Brandt-McCarty eras to know just a little with some confidence.

First, Messiah doesn't recruit in the same way that many other schools apparently recruit. Players come after Messiah rather than the other way around. They often show up at summer camps initially (so I hear), and if they are led to believe they might be good enough to play at Messiah then they will then (if so inclined) let coaches know of their interest. The coaches know which positions they need to fill, they know how many slots they have for the next season (perhaps more than usual next year for reasons entirely unknown to me), and I think it may be first come first served from there. I know that some well qualified players were turned down in Brandt's years simply b/c they waited too long to make a decision. Unable to say whether that's still true under McCarty. 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. Kai Kasiguran was at that level (he declined an offer from Akron), and so perhaps is current FR Luke Groothoff. Jack Thompson might have been at that level also, though for some reason he didn't pile up AA honors at Messiah--he certainly merited such. Only a very small number of Falcons (as far as I know) have also been recruited by NESCACs. Those schools in general are just so different from Messiah in so many ways, that it doesn't seem likely to happen very often. Nor does Messiah ordinarily get many players from New England, although in an exceptional case next fall there will be 3 returning starters (Shay Quintin and the Groothoff brothers) from New England. Quintin is the only one who attended a famous prep school, however--Milton Academy, where some apparently regarded him as the best player despite several teammates going to D1 or NESCAC.

Second, every so often a player decides not to return, for his own reasons, even sometimes a starter--Danny Brandt (who obviously reversed his decision later on) is the best known recent example. Another recent example was a FR from CA who was highly athletic and skilled, but (apparently) for financial reasons didn't return: one of his parents teaches at a private college in CA that plays D2, he got free tuition at that school, and he's good enough to start for them (as he did this season). I hear he would rather have stayed at Messiah, but life can override one's preferences as we all know. For the most part, however, players who choose Messiah stay, play all four years, and graduate--even in one famous case (POY Josh Wood) they enroll in one of the graduate programs and play another year.

Do they go abroad? I don't have much knowledge about this for specific players. I can say only this much. I can't recall seeing any foreign language majors on the soccer roster at any point in the past couple decades. One doesn't always know this type of information very precisely. The college will publicize a player's major in certain news releases, and usually they list it for each incoming player in the spring, but who knows whether any given player changes his major at some point? I do know that (according to the catalog) language majors must spend a full year abroad. I don't know whether that could be accomplished by two spring semesters. I also know that the college is famous for offering zillions of opportunities for students to go abroad. In a few recent years, I recall seeing news releases to the effect that Messiah was among the top 10 undergraduate colleges (in a given year) for sending students abroad; well over half of the students do this, apparently, however for many of them it happens in 3-week courses in January (they have a January term) or after the spring term. So, unless this situation has changed, I think we can assume that at least some soccer players do go abroad, though whether for a full semester I cannot say.

I think Messiah usually does do a foreign trip of some sort at the level allowable--isn't it limited to once in four years, or something like that? For a long time, when Layton Shoemaker was coaching and even occasionally under Brandt, they would also do an in-season western trip every few years, either to CA or CO or Chicago. UAA schools have schedules that require air travel, but I doubt a place like Messiah could ever do that. They have NESCAC level enrollments, but nothing remotely close to NESCAC level endowments (or tuition levels).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

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).

[daddyEzK]

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).

just a blank screen that said we were in a commercial break.