2022 Season Game Notes

[Chargers96]

Messiah looked super smooth tonight against CNU.  I know CNU was missing their #1 center-back (transfer from Virginia Tech) that has played nearly every minute this year.  Not sure it would've mattered.

[Kuiper]

Hamilton College @ Connecticut College
10.1.2022

-  Connecticut in All Whites
-  Connecticut in All Whites
-  Hamilton in All Blue.
-  Playing on the turf overlooking the Thames.  Beautiful place to play, but the wind must be brutal.
-  I say it again.  I keep looking for something for the team for having won a national championship. Field level banner?  Something?
-  Bit ugly.  Lots of turnovers.
-  Hamilton has Connecticut pinned back a bit.  Make it very difficult for them to get past midfield.  When they do get forward, Hamilton does well turning them back.
-  Connecticut is steadily taking ownership of the game.  Now its Hamilton struggling to get out of its own half.
-  Hamilton needs to get a hold of the ball if they are going to stand a chance. 
-  18 minutes left.
-  Wonder how much Hamilton is suffering from the altitude ... of being in first place in the conference?
-  One of the first things I learned when started playing, was if it was windy, you keep the ball on the ground.  Hamilton could learn the lesson.
-  Connecticut is now relentless getting forward.  And Hamilton sits deeper and deeper. 
-  Strikes me as a gut check game... who is willing to put up with the elements and take the game.
-  And looks maybe like Hamilton!
-  6 minutes left, they get the ball down the right wing and drive the ball across.  Hamilton's forward heads the ball very well to the far post.  Nothing Connecticut Keeper can do.
-  Amazing how open the forward was.  Headed it between two defenders.
-  Connecticut 0, Hamilton 1
-  And Connecticut get a goal waived off for offside.
-  Connecticut needs to not try so hard... forcing too much.
-  Halftime.
-  Just watching first half.  So many more games.
-  Hamilton in All Blue.
-  Playing on the turf overlooking the Thames.  Beautiful place to play, but the wind must be brutal.
-  I say it again.  I keep looking for something for the team for having won a national championship. Field level banner?  Something?
-  Bit ugly.  Lots of turnovers.
-  Hamilton has Connecticut pinned back a bit.  Make it very difficult for them to get past midfield.  When they do get forward, Hamilton does well turning them back.
-  Connecticut is steadily taking ownership of the game.  Now its Hamilton struggling to get out of its own half.
-  Hamilton needs to get a hold of the ball if they are going to stand a chance. 
-  18 minutes left.
-  Wonder how much Hamilton is suffering from the altitude ... of being in first place in the conference?
-  One of the first things I learned when started playing, was if it was windy, you keep the ball on the ground.  Hamilton could learn the lesson.
-  Connecticut is now relentless getting forward.  And Hamilton sits deeper and deeper. 
-  Strikes me as a gut check game... who is willing to put up with the elements and take the game.
-  And looks maybe like Hamilton!
-  6 minutes left, they get the ball down the right wing and drive the ball across.  Hamilton's forward heads the ball very well to the far post.  Nothing Connecticut Keeper can do.
-  Amazing how open the forward was.  Headed it between two defenders.
-  Connecticut 0, Hamilton 1
-  And Connecticut get a goal waived off for offside.
-  Connecticut needs to not try so hard... forcing too much.
-  Halftime.
-  Just watching first half.  So many more games.

In the second half, right after Hamilton scored a second goal to go up 2-0, you can hear on the broadcast Coach Burk screaming to his players, or to Djerdjaj specifically, to "show some leadership."  He seemed to be asking him to join the half-hearted huddle that some of the players were trying to get going and Djerdjaj had apparently walked by going to the center circle.  That moment seemed to sum up the game, and perhaps the season, thus far.

[SimpleCoach]

In the second half, right after Hamilton scored a second goal to go up 2-0, you can hear on the broadcast Coach Burk screaming to his players, or to Djerdjaj specifically, to "show some leadership."  He seemed to be asking him to join the half-hearted huddle that some of the players were trying to get going and Djerdjaj had apparently walked by going to the center circle.  That moment seemed to sum up the game, and perhaps the season, thus far.

They are not the same.  Not sure if it is complacency, or what.  But so far, I find the season to be very disappointing especially coming off a national championship.

SC.

[camosfan]

Hamilton College @ Connecticut College
10.1.2022

-  Connecticut in All Whites
-  Connecticut in All Whites
-  Hamilton in All Blue.
-  Playing on the turf overlooking the Thames.  Beautiful place to play, but the wind must be brutal.
-  I say it again.  I keep looking for something for the team for having won a national championship. Field level banner?  Something?
-  Bit ugly.  Lots of turnovers.
-  Hamilton has Connecticut pinned back a bit.  Make it very difficult for them to get past midfield.  When they do get forward, Hamilton does well turning them back.
-  Connecticut is steadily taking ownership of the game.  Now its Hamilton struggling to get out of its own half.
-  Hamilton needs to get a hold of the ball if they are going to stand a chance. 
-  18 minutes left.
-  Wonder how much Hamilton is suffering from the altitude ... of being in first place in the conference?
-  One of the first things I learned when started playing, was if it was windy, you keep the ball on the ground.  Hamilton could learn the lesson.
-  Connecticut is now relentless getting forward.  And Hamilton sits deeper and deeper. 
-  Strikes me as a gut check game... who is willing to put up with the elements and take the game.
-  And looks maybe like Hamilton!
-  6 minutes left, they get the ball down the right wing and drive the ball across.  Hamilton's forward heads the ball very well to the far post.  Nothing Connecticut Keeper can do.
-  Amazing how open the forward was.  Headed it between two defenders.
-  Connecticut 0, Hamilton 1
-  And Connecticut get a goal waived off for offside.
-  Connecticut needs to not try so hard... forcing too much.
-  Halftime.
-  Just watching first half.  So many more games.
-  Hamilton in All Blue.
-  Playing on the turf overlooking the Thames.  Beautiful place to play, but the wind must be brutal.
-  I say it again.  I keep looking for something for the team for having won a national championship. Field level banner?  Something?
-  Bit ugly.  Lots of turnovers.
-  Hamilton has Connecticut pinned back a bit.  Make it very difficult for them to get past midfield.  When they do get forward, Hamilton does well turning them back.
-  Connecticut is steadily taking ownership of the game.  Now its Hamilton struggling to get out of its own half.
-  Hamilton needs to get a hold of the ball if they are going to stand a chance. 
-  18 minutes left.
-  Wonder how much Hamilton is suffering from the altitude ... of being in first place in the conference?
-  One of the first things I learned when started playing, was if it was windy, you keep the ball on the ground.  Hamilton could learn the lesson.
-  Connecticut is now relentless getting forward.  And Hamilton sits deeper and deeper. 
-  Strikes me as a gut check game... who is willing to put up with the elements and take the game.
-  And looks maybe like Hamilton!
-  6 minutes left, they get the ball down the right wing and drive the ball across.  Hamilton's forward heads the ball very well to the far post.  Nothing Connecticut Keeper can do.
-  Amazing how open the forward was.  Headed it between two defenders.
-  Connecticut 0, Hamilton 1
-  And Connecticut get a goal waived off for offside.
-  Connecticut needs to not try so hard... forcing too much.
-  Halftime.
-  Just watching first half.  So many more games.

In the second half, right after Hamilton scored a second goal to go up 2-0, you can hear on the broadcast Coach Burk screaming to his players, or to Djerdjaj specifically, to "show some leadership."  He seemed to be asking him to join the half-hearted huddle that some of the players were trying to get going and Djerdjaj had apparently walked by going to the center circle.  That moment seemed to sum up the game, and perhaps the season, thus far.

This is the best I have seen Djerdjaj played all year, last year they lost 5 games I think, still early!

[Gregory Sager]

In the second half, right after Hamilton scored a second goal to go up 2-0, you can hear on the broadcast Coach Burk screaming to his players, or to Djerdjaj specifically, to "show some leadership."  He seemed to be asking him to join the half-hearted huddle that some of the players were trying to get going and Djerdjaj had apparently walked by going to the center circle.  That moment seemed to sum up the game, and perhaps the season, thus far.

They are not the same.  Not sure if it is complacency, or what.  But so far, I find the season to be very disappointing especially coming off a national championship.

This is why they say that the hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat a championship, especially at the college level. I saw this happen at North Park, basketball version but the exact same thing that Kuiper's talking about with Djerdjaj and the Camels. There's always a little voice in the back of your mind if you've won a ring that says, "This is yours forever. Nothing and nobody can ever take it away from you." And that little voice in the back of your mind can seep into your unconscious and affect your motivation, your decision-making, your attitude. The drive that got you to where you were the year before can be affected. The terrible pain of losing can seem to be a little lessened once you've tasted the ultimate joy of winning a natty. And if you can live with that pain, you're probably not going to win another one ... because, strange as it may sound, I've been told by several people who own national championship rings that the pain of losing is the greatest motivator they've ever felt.

[SimpleCoach]

Johns Hopkins University @ Gettysburg College
10.2.2022

-  Johns Hopkins in their Blues
-  Gettysburg in their Whites
-  Weather courtesy of Hurricane Ian.
-  Love the field at Gettysburg.  Another great place I would love to do a Fields of Dreams. 
-  Clearly to start, JHU is better in possession.  It's there game.
-  Gettysburg holding then trying to break out up high when they can.  But Johns Hopkins is too good defensively to be caught off guard.
-  Will say, JHU is one of the more disciplined teams positionally than most.  This is why I rank them so highly.  Makes it hard breaking them down.
-  38 minutes in, Gettysburg has a chance in front of goal, but the Hopkins Keeper comes up big with a save to his left.
-  The final third for Hopkins is where I think they rush it or are a bit imprecise.
-  Gettysburg trying to press, but Hopkins deals with it cooly by keeping the ball.
-  Wow, Gettysburg#7 just gets a red card for a pretty reckless tackle with studs up.  Straight Red.
-  27 minutes.
-  Three minutes later, Gettysburg still able to get to goal.  This time on a set piece where they win a header and force the save by the Hopkins Keeper.
-  Hopkins can be masterful with the ball in the back and midfield, but don't seem to get the changing dynamics when you get closer to goal.  Still need depth and varying runs to make goals happen.
-  With a man down, the space kills Gettysburg.  Working twice as hard to keep the same shape going.
-  Halftime.
-  Gettysburg down a man for last 15 after a pretty reckless challenge.  Johns Hopkins is starting to own the ball.
-  Second Half
-  For Gettysburg, only have one player pressing high.  Trying to force them into tight spaces when they get further up the field.
-  Johns Hopkins just being patient with the ball until they can find that space.
-  Gettysburg for obvious reasons, can't get out of their own half with the ball.
-  Johns Hopkins is peppering the goal, but it's not terribly dangerous.  Close, but nothing the Gettysburg Keeper or the defenders are not capable of dealing with.
-  Gettysburg just had a set play where their guy dribbled out of bounds....you would think they would respect the ball a bit more since being down a man.  This is the sort of details that make a team much better.
-  24 minutes left.
-  Gettysburg just had a chance to go ahead but ball is shot wide.  Careless defending and the Gettysburg forward is to goal all alone.  Wide ride.  Probably most dangerous play this half.
-  And finally, on a dead ball foul out wide that get's floated in, Johns Hopkins gets the go ahead goal on a header to the far post.  Nothing the Gettysburg Keeper could do.  Defender let his man cut in front of him.
-  Gettysburg 0, Johns Hopkins 1
-  14 minutes left in the game.
-  Johns Hopkins is in control but not really getting to goal as much as I thought.  Gettysburg is now pressing trying to get something going to find the equalizer, but they are caught chasing the ball too much.
-  4 minutes left.
-  Ok.  Not sure I understand this.  Gettysburg Keeper seems to be a fine net minder.  Dead ball, 25 yards out.  Shot is hit directly at him, rather than catching it, he punches it out.  Now you can argue the merits of should he have caught it or not, but the consequence of that decision is that Johns Hopkins won the ball and now has them pinned in their back because they were not able to clear it out.  Oh and a minute has been burnt of the clock. 
-  2 minutes left.
-  Gettysburg left with a corner in under a minute
-  Everyone in the box including the Gettysburg Keeper.  Goes out for a goal kick.
-  Game over
-  Gettysburg 0, Johns Hopkins 1.

[Hopkins92]

You had me worried that I was losing my mind, SC... Final score was 1-0 for Hop.

[SimpleCoach]

You had me worried that I was losing my mind, SC... Final score was 1-0 for Hop.

Oops.

SC.

[SimpleCoach]

Southwestern University @ Trinity University
10.2.2022

-  Trinity in All Maroon
-  Southwestern in All Yellow.
-  Love the Trinity stadium.
-  Also their games are professional.  Multiple camera angles and an outstanding announcer.
-  Trinity seems to have a better handle on the game.  Getting up the field more than Southwestern.
-  Trinity presses high and make it difficult for Southwestern.
-  And six minutes in Trinity#5 gets tripped as he is going into the box.  Ref calls a PK on Southwestern.
-  Trinity#8 puts it to the left of the Southwestern Keeper who dives to his right.
-  Trinity 1, Southwestern 0
-  Don't think there was much arguing the call.  Thought it was pretty clear.
-  Southwestern has a monster of a throw in.   Lands in the middle of the box.
-  Southwestern seems to have gotten into gear and is getting a bot more forward.  Haven't been dangerous but at least pinning Trinity back a bit.
-  They are doing water breaks.  It is Texas after all.
-  Not sure if it is the game or not, but expected a but more control from Trinity.
-  And now Southwestern gets a PK for a hand ball on Trinity#6.  The replay shows a hand ball.
-  Southwester#9 buries it to the left of the Trinity Keeper who dove to his right.
-  Trinity 1, Southwestern 1
-  Again, Trinity is wasteful with the ball in attack.  Sends the ball up with no real purpose.
-  Trinity Keeper is very good in the air.  Has snagged a couple of ball floated into the box as if it was no problem.
-  And Halftime.
-  All even at 1.

[4samuy]

Messiah looked super smooth tonight against CNU.  I know CNU was missing their #1 center-back (transfer from Virginia Tech) that has played nearly every minute this year.  Not sure it would've mattered.

Southwestern University @ Trinity University
10.2.2022

-  Trinity in All Maroon
-  Southwestern in All Yellow.
-  Love the Trinity stadium.
-  Also their games are professional.  Multiple camera angles and an outstanding announcer.
-  Trinity seems to have a better handle on the game.  Getting up the field more than Southwestern.
-  Trinity presses high and make it difficult for Southwestern.
-  And six minutes in Trinity#5 gets tripped as he is going into the box.  Ref calls a PK on Southwestern.
-  Trinity#8 puts it to the left of the Southwestern Keeper who dives to his right.
-  Trinity 1, Southwestern 0
-  Don't think there was much arguing the call.  Thought it was pretty clear.
-  Southwestern has a monster of a throw in.   Lands in the middle of the box.
-  Southwestern seems to have gotten into gear and is getting a bot more forward.  Haven't been dangerous but at least pinning Trinity back a bit.
-  They are doing water breaks.  It is Texas after all.
-  Not sure if it is the game or not, but expected a but more control from Trinity.
-  And now Southwestern gets a PK for a hand ball on Trinity#6.  The replay shows a hand ball.
-  Southwester#9 buries it to the left of the Trinity Keeper who dove to his right.
-  Trinity 1, Southwestern 1
-  Again, Trinity is wasteful with the ball in attack.  Sends the ball up with no real purpose.
-  Trinity Keeper is very good in the air.  Has snagged a couple of ball floated into the box as if it was no problem.
-  And Halftime.
-  All even at 1.

Christopher Newport University @ Messiah University
10.1.2022

-  Homecoming for Messiah.
-  And it's pouring and they are playing on Shoemaker Field.
-  Throwback game from the 80s!
-  Messiah in their traditional Whites and Blues
-  Christopher Newport in Grey.
-  Messiah doing what Messiah does.
-  And 3 minutes in, ball slotted for Messiah#21 who takes a touch around the CNU Keeper who trips him for a PK!
-  Pretty clear and you can't argue.
-  And Messiah#22 shoots to the Keepers left and the Christopher Newport Keeper comes up bit.
-  Weather is not cooperating.
-  Messiah just peppered the goal and came up with nothing.
-  Oh, my gosh and on the ensuing attack, CNU takes a shot on goal, and it deflects off a Messiah Defender for a go ahead goal.
-  Messiah 0, Christopher Newport 1
-  Announcers are just outstanding.  Professional.
-  Clear CNU is looking for the counter when they can.
-  Looks like it's a great crowd.
-  No need to panic.  Early in the game.  Lots to be played.
-  And like that, Messiah with a great individual effort, scores the tying goal.
-  Ball comes out of the back, worked through the midfield, and swung out to the left wing who goes 1v1 with the outside back, takes a touch to his right and hits the ball far post for the goal! Messiah#8 with the great play on his end. 
-  Just for the record, the ball never got off the ground.
-  29 minutes left.
-  Holy cow.  I mean that's an amazing goal for Messiah.  Similar play, same side, this time Messiah#11 ropes the ball to hit far post upper corner.  That's just lethal.
-  Messiah 2, Christopher Newport 1
-  Messiah is explosive going forward.  CNU has to really be alert or Messiah will take advantage
-  Halftime
-  Messiah 2, Christopher Newport 1
-  Second Half
-  Christopher Newport is stepping higher and trying to hold on to the ball a little.
-  But it all falls apart in the blink of an eye
-  Ball cleared out and CNU defender running back to recover.... No real pressure.  CNU#5 makes a pass that gets cuaght up in the wet grass and is recovered by Messiah#8.  He faces up the defenders.  He has a runnner wide open to his left that I don't think he say, and Messiah#21 going full blast to his right.  He lays it off to his right and Messiah#21 buries the ball far post for the goal!
-  43:35 left in the half. 
-  Just a remarkable heads up play and great execution.
-  Messiah 3, Christopher Newport 1
-  And Messiah with a shot off the post five minutes later.
-  CNU is definitely hurt by that third goal.  But truth is they have no answers to what Messiah is doing.
-  CNU is a good team, but truth be told, against Messiah, they look like a mid table ECNL team.
-  And CNU may be the MVP because he has kept it from being worse.
-  Speaking of keeper, Messiah Keeper Jared "The Mullet" Pavlovich hasn't had a mullet all season.
-  And finally, on a corner, Messah#22 gets up on a corner and heads the ball that's blocked but comes back to head the ball into the back of the net for the fourth.
-  Messiah 4, Christopher Newport 1. 
-  This is turning out into a real shellacking.
-  35 minutes left in the game.
-  Messiah is just dominant.
-  22 minutes left.
-  All respect to University of Chicago who I do think is ... the second best team in the country ... there is something about this Messiah team that for me, makes it the #1 team.  And I don't think it is close.  There I said it.
-  16 minutes left and CNU kind of had a half chance to goal.
-  And Jared "the Mullet" Pavlovich makes a great save to his left on a opportunistic shot off a rebound for CNU.
-  11 minutes left.
-  Think I will let this one go for the evening.  This one is done and dusted.
-  By the Messiah#6 is a monster in the back.  Tough as nails.
-  I'm out.

simple coach, 

nice job on your you tube channel I enjoy it.  You did admit on your top 25 show when you selected messiah at number one, that it is with some bias when selecting your top 5.  I can only assume it was with messiah and maybe Kenyon.  If there is some bias, maybe you shouldn't vote.  Chicago beat A pretty defensively stout Rochester squad today on the road 1-0. Keep up the good work. 

[Moderator edit:  moved response outside the quoted posts]

[PaulNewman]

nice job on your you tube channel I enjoy it.  You did admit on your top 25 show when you selected messiah at number one, that it is with some bias when selecting your top 5.  I can only assume it was with messiah and maybe Kenyon.  If there is some bias, maybe you shouldn't vote. Chicago beat A pretty defensively stout Rochester squad today on the road 1-0. Keep up the good work.

Shouldn't vote......in a fan poll?  Where did he have Chicago at?  All the way down to #2 or #3?  Do you truly think any voter could vote without considering who we thought they were last year, what we've seen this year, reputation, expecations of who we thought they would be, impressions of the quaity of wins, etc?  Especially when the voters, even the "real ones," can't possibly watch every game or even most games?

I'm voting Chicago #1 this week but I've had them at #3 (behind North Park).  Obviously the win over NPU was very impressive and I'll take your word for it that 1-0 over UR is a great result.  Chicago, like most highly related teams, have had some less than blow-ya-away results...like 1-0 against DePauw and KZoo, and they were fortunate to win over a 10 man Calvin team and easily could have drawn or lost at Luther.

[4samuy]

no. not in the least bit.  I've watched in excess of 50 games in their entirety thus far this year and I understand every thing your saying about fan poll, games watched etc. there's no way to watch every one but to say one team is tops in the nation and quoting " and I don't think it is close" is statement that that supports my thoughts.  I don't think that statement should/ can be made based on the fact that you cannot possibly watch every team.

[4samuy]

I did not go to University of Chicago, and don't have a personal connection to the school. I'm a CCIW guy who played for the conference and really enjoyed.  Yes, I've watched all of the Chicago games plus many others all over the country, except maybe out west.  I'm pretty sure I've watched every team in the current top 25 in its entirety.  IMHO you can't use the should've and could've because again we haven't seen all teams, so results are results.  Early season, mid season late Sean. Did you know that 3 of the five goals Chicago has given up were due to inadvertent hand balls in the box.  IMO opinion all were just bad luck.  As far as blo away results, how'd that work in the final four last year, which I thought was tremendous.
Maybe that's just me.

[blue_jays]

Christopher Newport University @ Messiah University
10.1.2022

-  All respect to University of Chicago who I do think is ... the second best team in the country ... there is something about this Messiah team that for me, makes it the #1 team.  And I don't think it is close.  There I said it.

simple coach, 

nice job on your you tube channel I enjoy it.  You did admit on your top 25 show when you selected messiah at number one, that it is with some bias when selecting your top 5.  I can only assume it was with messiah and maybe Kenyon.  If there is some bias, maybe you shouldn't vote.  Chicago beat A pretty defensively stout Rochester squad today on the road 1-0. Keep up the good work. 

Here's the thing: Messiah has proven to be a dynasty in D3 soccer. They get to Final Fours and title games more regularly than anyone. They look as formidable as ever and are blowing people out. They can be voted #1, bias or not. It's really splitting hairs at this point between these undefeated teams. And don't be surprised when the eventual NESCAC champ who took some lumps in conference ends up winning the title. Polls are not the be-all, end-all. They're just fodder for conversation and comparison really.

UChicago last year was ridiculously young (over half the roster had never played a varsity game), couldn't score consistently, they lost 5 times in the regular season due to mental errors late in games, and they STILL made the Final Four and should have beaten Amherst if it wasn't for that huge save in OT. They also boasted a top 3 best defense in the country while playing the hardest schedule in the country. This team showed it can be very good and would only get better.

Now in 2022, the Maroons are realizing their potential. The smothering defense is basically just as good as last year. The offense has taken a considerable leap forward, led by the ever-dangerous Yetishefsky aka Yeti, and some precocious youngsters. They aren't afraid of close games (they played 11 games last year that ended in a 1-0 scoreline).

Are they the #1 team in the country? Maybe, who knows. Blowing teams out every game isn't how they do things, they aren't Messiah in that way. At the same time, North Park was blowing out everyone on their schedule, and they just took a 3-0 loss at UChicago where the Maroons really turned the heat up on them in the second half. But that's the norm for UChicago teams: they wear you out as the game progresses and then hit you hard once you slip up. Just look at their goal distribution the last two years. 2022 season = 7-2 in first halves, 14-3 in second halves. 2021 = 11-2 in first halves, 19-8 in second halves.

Do I see Messiah losing a game on their remaining schedule? Highly doubt it. Do I see UChicago taking a loss or two the rest of the way? Most likely. UChicago is very vulnerable on grass because the slower surface hurts their dribbling and precision passing. The Maroons love playing on turf, the faster the better, it plays right into their strengths. Even though the UAA is slightly down this year, everyone is capable of beating each other, just takes one bad bounce to do it. Back in 2017, UChicago took a big fat 3-0 loss at home on grass to Emory. Fast forward 6 weeks, and they take down Emory in PKs to get to the Final Four on UChicago's turf field.
So when UChicago takes a maybe-inevitable loss, are we just going to think they're not a top 5 team anymore? Ultimately it's about a body of work, and the Maroons have built an impressive resume.

Addendum: UChicago beat Chris Newport 3-1 last year despite being outshot.

[PaulNewman]

That's all fine...as long as it's understood that no one has disrespected Chicago in the least.  Quite the contrary.  And SC endorsed them being #2 in the country.  Last week I said the two teams had separated from everyone else, at least for now.  I mean EVERY poll...fan, D3 soccer, coaches poll...has had Chicago at #1 (and that was before North Park!), so I think everything is OK.

As for Chicago winning differently I don't care how they win and I think they're very explosive...with Yetishevsky and a few of those frosh and sophs and set play prowess with the two stud CBs...but that's different than maybe not winning, which could of happened a couple of times.