This will be the first in a series of posts previewing Harvard Men's Hockey's 2010-11 season.
Back in September, WHRB was invited to participate in the annual ECAC media poll, an attempt to predict where each team will finish without having seen them play. Below the jump, we post our picks from September, and offer our thoughts on why we made them. We'll also post next to the teams their final ranking in both the coaches and media polls. We'll wrap up with our preseason all-ECAC team selections.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tune in to WHRB's coverage of Harvard vs. Dartmouth
Next for Harvard:
Opponent: Dartmouth Big Green
Date: Saturday, October 30th
Time: 1:30pm (coverage begins at 1)
Where: Memorial Field, Hanover, NH
Coverage: 95.3FM in Greater Boston area (listeners outside area may tune in to the online stream at whrb.org)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tune in to WHRB For Harvard Women's Hockey vs. Yale
Opponent: Yale Bulldogs
Date: Friday, October 29, 2010
Time: 7pm
Where: Bright Hockey Center, Allston, MA
Coverage: 95.3 FM in the Boston area (and around the world on WHRB.org)
Broadcasters: Bryan Dunmire (play by play) and Charlie Hobbs (color commentary)
The ninth ranked Harvard Crimson get their season underway at home against Ivy League and ECAC rival the Yale Bulldogs. The Crimson are coming in after a 2-2 exhibition tie against the McGill Martlets that saw Katherine Chute net both goals for the Crimson. Expectations are high as always in Cambridge, with much of last year's NCAA qualifying team returning, and the all-time winningest coach in Division I Women's Hockey, Katey Stone, behind the bench. Yale brings in a familiar face, as new head coach Joakim Flygh served three years as the assistant coach for the Crimson. Yale, who lost to the same Martlets 1-0 in an exhibition game, are seeking their first win of the young season, after a 4-1 loss and a 1-1 tie on the road against the Vermont Catamounts of Hockey East.
Don't miss the season opener for Harvard women's hockey, as Bryan Dunmire and Charlie Hobbs will be live from the Bright Center for a 6:45 pregame, and the drop of the puck at 7:00 pm on 95.3FM and WHRB.
Date: Friday, October 29, 2010
Time: 7pm
Where: Bright Hockey Center, Allston, MA
Coverage: 95.3 FM in the Boston area (and around the world on WHRB.org)
Broadcasters: Bryan Dunmire (play by play) and Charlie Hobbs (color commentary)
The ninth ranked Harvard Crimson get their season underway at home against Ivy League and ECAC rival the Yale Bulldogs. The Crimson are coming in after a 2-2 exhibition tie against the McGill Martlets that saw Katherine Chute net both goals for the Crimson. Expectations are high as always in Cambridge, with much of last year's NCAA qualifying team returning, and the all-time winningest coach in Division I Women's Hockey, Katey Stone, behind the bench. Yale brings in a familiar face, as new head coach Joakim Flygh served three years as the assistant coach for the Crimson. Yale, who lost to the same Martlets 1-0 in an exhibition game, are seeking their first win of the young season, after a 4-1 loss and a 1-1 tie on the road against the Vermont Catamounts of Hockey East.
Don't miss the season opener for Harvard women's hockey, as Bryan Dunmire and Charlie Hobbs will be live from the Bright Center for a 6:45 pregame, and the drop of the puck at 7:00 pm on 95.3FM and WHRB.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ivy League Football Power Rankings (Week 7)
League play for the Ancient Eight is in full swing, and some teams appear to be picking up steam. Is Penn destined to wear the Ivy League crown, or is some dissident team preparing to start a revolution? The Quakers remain the front-runners, but this gap is sure to close in the last remaining weeks. Parity has not been one of league’s strong qualities; Penn, Brown, and Harvard stand among the leaders after Yale’s loss this week. History has shown that winning the Ivy League title is almost impossible after two league losses (since 1982 to be exact). How teams deal with injuries and adjust during game situations will be pivotal. (Cue eerie music) And then there were four…
Penn (5-1, 3-0) – The Quakers extended their Ivy League unbeaten streak to 11 games and looked like their usual, dominant selves against Yale. Where is the Achilles’ heel? Penn gets stereotyped as defensive-oriented team, but readers may be quietly surprise to know that that scored on special teams, rushing, and passing. They are steamrolling like an 18-wheeler straight into the Bears next week, a pivotal game with high implications for the Ivy League race. The Quakers have yet to face a gunslinging team like the Bears, but I don’t think the Quakers know what fear is. The Penn Quakers have already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there
NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Brown (4-2, 3-0) – The Joe Springer era began this week, but not much else changed with the Bears. They still produced a strong passing game to complement a consistent running attack, and the defense was able to reject the hospitality and handed out punishment like pamphlets. As much as I am tempted to move Harvard above Brown, I’ll let Penn do the work for me next week in a matchup of the Ivy League unbeatens, a game between an offensive powerhouse and a defensive wall. Insinuation alert: defense wins championships, right? This is the de-facto championship for the Bears, as a win would surely result in a crowning ceremony.
NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
Harvard (4-2, 2-1) – Gino and company ran over New Jersey like nobody’s business, and you have to consider Gordon as a potential offensive Player of the Year for the Ivy League. What’s even better, Collier Winters made a surprise guest appearance and picked up right where he left off, throwing two TDs to Kyle Juszczyk. The Crimson produced a season high 583 yards of offense. Things are looking up, but it’s difficult to determine how much we can read from this game; the song “Eye of the Tiger” wasn’t exactly inspired by Princeton. However, Crimson fans can rejoice as the merry-go-round of QBs has finally (hopefully) stopped. This sets up the highly anticipated matchup with Penn, last year’s de facto championship, in the coming weeks.
NEXT GAME: vs. Dartmouth
Yale (4-2, 2-1) – Yale put up a surprisingly good fight against the defending Ivy League champions, and a late comeback bid fell just short a Rudy-like feel good story of the season. Patrick Witt was a monster early on, finishing the game with 331 yards of passing, but he also had some costly mistakes and turnovers that ended the upset bid. I guess being Handsome doesn’t really translate to good football skills. They should be able to pick up a win against Simba to set up a great matchup against the Bears.
NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
Dartmouth (4-2, 1-2) – The sleeper of the year is finally shaking off the early season rust and beginning to establish its position in the Ivy League. QB Conner Kempe was the star of the Columbia game with a composed 14 play touchdown drive near the end of the game to pull out for the win against the perennially contending bulldogs. The best thing is that Kempe is only a junior and imagining how he will contribute to the team next year is a scary thought. But don’t hold your breath, as the Crimson come rumbling through on an offensive tear. The Big Green better be on its game or Hanover will be run over-d.
NEXT GAME: vs. Harvard
Columbia (3-3, 1-2) – Things have quickly turned sour at Pride Rock. Two Ivy League straight losses have put the Lions in a bad position to contend for the title. The game against the Big Green was a game that should have been won by 9 times out of 10, but the Columbia defense was porous and tired the entire 4th quarter. Even worse, they have to play Yale on the road, and games away from Pride Rock have been the opposite of paradise. Maybe they can turn it around with a statement game against the Bulldogs. Other playmakers, besides the do-it-all Sean Brackett, needs to stand out and contribute.
NEXT GAME: vs. Yale
Princeton (1-5, 0-3) – The Tigers played the Crimson admirably for much of the first half, notching the first points of the game. Like the Big Red, the Tigers are playing for pride at Jersey Shore. Perhaps I jumped the gun in the preseason about the potential of the Tigers, but I still think they are a good team. Maybe I am rationalizing my choice. The now-declared “The (Ugly) Situation” Bowl against Cornell should be a good indicator of my intuitions. Eye of the tiger baby. Eye of the tiger.
NEXT GAME: vs. Cornell
Cornell (1-5, 0-3) – Cornell, again, gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality in the Ivy League, but the team at this point is playing for next season. However, the pieces are in place for continued rebuilding with head coach Kent Austin and QB Jeff Matthews leading the way. The game against Princeton will be for pride more than anything but it would be interesting to see how Cornell stack up against the underrated Tigers offense. The Big Red has been the epitome of inconsistency: bright spots are quickly marred by “I-can’t-believe-(its butter)that-just-happened.”
NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton.
My Weekend "Pick 8"
Harvard 35 - Dartmouth 18
Brown 17 - Penn 14 (UPSET SPECIAL)
Cornell 21 - Princeton 7
Yale 21 - Columbia 14
Till next time…
Penn (5-1, 3-0) – The Quakers extended their Ivy League unbeaten streak to 11 games and looked like their usual, dominant selves against Yale. Where is the Achilles’ heel? Penn gets stereotyped as defensive-oriented team, but readers may be quietly surprise to know that that scored on special teams, rushing, and passing. They are steamrolling like an 18-wheeler straight into the Bears next week, a pivotal game with high implications for the Ivy League race. The Quakers have yet to face a gunslinging team like the Bears, but I don’t think the Quakers know what fear is. The Penn Quakers have already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there
NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Brown (4-2, 3-0) – The Joe Springer era began this week, but not much else changed with the Bears. They still produced a strong passing game to complement a consistent running attack, and the defense was able to reject the hospitality and handed out punishment like pamphlets. As much as I am tempted to move Harvard above Brown, I’ll let Penn do the work for me next week in a matchup of the Ivy League unbeatens, a game between an offensive powerhouse and a defensive wall. Insinuation alert: defense wins championships, right? This is the de-facto championship for the Bears, as a win would surely result in a crowning ceremony.
NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
Harvard (4-2, 2-1) – Gino and company ran over New Jersey like nobody’s business, and you have to consider Gordon as a potential offensive Player of the Year for the Ivy League. What’s even better, Collier Winters made a surprise guest appearance and picked up right where he left off, throwing two TDs to Kyle Juszczyk. The Crimson produced a season high 583 yards of offense. Things are looking up, but it’s difficult to determine how much we can read from this game; the song “Eye of the Tiger” wasn’t exactly inspired by Princeton. However, Crimson fans can rejoice as the merry-go-round of QBs has finally (hopefully) stopped. This sets up the highly anticipated matchup with Penn, last year’s de facto championship, in the coming weeks.
NEXT GAME: vs. Dartmouth
Yale (4-2, 2-1) – Yale put up a surprisingly good fight against the defending Ivy League champions, and a late comeback bid fell just short a Rudy-like feel good story of the season. Patrick Witt was a monster early on, finishing the game with 331 yards of passing, but he also had some costly mistakes and turnovers that ended the upset bid. I guess being Handsome doesn’t really translate to good football skills. They should be able to pick up a win against Simba to set up a great matchup against the Bears.
NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
Dartmouth (4-2, 1-2) – The sleeper of the year is finally shaking off the early season rust and beginning to establish its position in the Ivy League. QB Conner Kempe was the star of the Columbia game with a composed 14 play touchdown drive near the end of the game to pull out for the win against the perennially contending bulldogs. The best thing is that Kempe is only a junior and imagining how he will contribute to the team next year is a scary thought. But don’t hold your breath, as the Crimson come rumbling through on an offensive tear. The Big Green better be on its game or Hanover will be run over-d.
NEXT GAME: vs. Harvard
Columbia (3-3, 1-2) – Things have quickly turned sour at Pride Rock. Two Ivy League straight losses have put the Lions in a bad position to contend for the title. The game against the Big Green was a game that should have been won by 9 times out of 10, but the Columbia defense was porous and tired the entire 4th quarter. Even worse, they have to play Yale on the road, and games away from Pride Rock have been the opposite of paradise. Maybe they can turn it around with a statement game against the Bulldogs. Other playmakers, besides the do-it-all Sean Brackett, needs to stand out and contribute.
NEXT GAME: vs. Yale
Princeton (1-5, 0-3) – The Tigers played the Crimson admirably for much of the first half, notching the first points of the game. Like the Big Red, the Tigers are playing for pride at Jersey Shore. Perhaps I jumped the gun in the preseason about the potential of the Tigers, but I still think they are a good team. Maybe I am rationalizing my choice. The now-declared “The (Ugly) Situation” Bowl against Cornell should be a good indicator of my intuitions. Eye of the tiger baby. Eye of the tiger.
NEXT GAME: vs. Cornell
Cornell (1-5, 0-3) – Cornell, again, gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality in the Ivy League, but the team at this point is playing for next season. However, the pieces are in place for continued rebuilding with head coach Kent Austin and QB Jeff Matthews leading the way. The game against Princeton will be for pride more than anything but it would be interesting to see how Cornell stack up against the underrated Tigers offense. The Big Red has been the epitome of inconsistency: bright spots are quickly marred by “I-can’t-believe-(its butter)that-just-happened.”
NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton.
My Weekend "Pick 8"
Harvard 35 - Dartmouth 18
Brown 17 - Penn 14 (UPSET SPECIAL)
Cornell 21 - Princeton 7
Yale 21 - Columbia 14
Till next time…
Photo-Blog: WHRB goes to Princeton, NJ
Here are some photos from WHRB's coverage of Harvard vs. Princeton
A metal tiger outside Princeton Stadium, showing more ferocity than the football team did Saturday.
Third Quarter action
That's Color Commentator Charlie Hobbs on the left and myself, Scott Reed, on the right
Halftime festivities
Postgame handshakes
The Princeton team and band after the game
The "security booth" we broadcasted from
Not even Dr. House could cure the Princeton football team of its ills Saturday (this is the Frist Student Center, used as the Princeton-Plainsboro hospital in the Fox series "House")
Thoughts from the Booth: Hatch, Winters Return as Harvard Runs Over Princeton
Sunny skies and mild temperatures welcomed the Crimson to Princeton, New Jersey on Saturday, and some familiar faces returned as Harvard put away a struggling Princeton team. The Crimson (4-2, 2-1 Ivy) racked up 583 yards in total offense, with 394 yards coming on the ground. Senior Gino Gordon had a career day, running for a career-high 204 yards on 20 carries. Each of the top three Crimson running backs recorded a score: Gordon had a 26-yard run in the first quarter, Treavor Scales had a 46-yard scamper in the second, and Rich Zajeski added a 9-yard touchdown run just before halftime.
On defense, Harvard displayed the pattern we've seen from them all season: tough against the run but soft against the pass. Princeton rushed 32 times for 88 yards, for only 2.8 yards per carry, with 32 of those yards coming on Jordan Culbreath's first quarter carry. For the most part, the Tigers were unable to consistently run the ball against Harvard. Against the pass, though, the Crimson showed signs of weakness. Princeton Quarterback Andrew Dixon, a backup with limited playing experience, completed 20 of 29 passes for 195 yards. Senior Tiger Wide Receiver Trey Peacock, the best pass-catcher the Ivy League has to offer, had another big day in hauling in 11 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. The Crimson were able to pick off Dixon twice, both times when Princeton was inside the red zone and threatening to score.
The biggest story of the day for the Crimson, however, was the return of its top two quarterbacks in Collier Winters and Andrew Hatch. Hatch started the game but had a shaky first half, going 9-21 for 98 yards and two interceptions. It was a surprise to see Head Coach Tim Murphy pull Hatch at the break and go with the junior, Collier Winters. Winters tore his labrum in a preseason scrimmage and was not expected to return at all this season. Apparently, he has had a rather quick recovery and entered the game on Saturday, playing the entire second half. Winters had a stronger showing than Hatch, going 8-12 for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Although the coaching staff did not yet trust Winters to throw downfield much, he performed ably for his first start back.
Looking forward, the return of Hatch and Winters brightens Harvard's outlook for the remainder of the season. Injuries have severely hampered a Crimson team that, in this writer's opinion, had the potential to go undefeated if healthy. Harvard still has a shot at an Ivy title, however, provided they win out and the Brown Bears lose once (Brown defeated Harvard 29-14 back in September). It remains to be seen whether Hatch or Winters will be trusted with complete control of the offense, or whether Coach Murphy decides to use both quarterbacks in some capacity. Regardless, it is good news that both are healthy and will be available for the home stretch of the Ivy season. This weekend's game against the Dartmouth Big Green (1:30pm, WHRB 95.3FM) looms large. If Harvard can escape Hanover with a win, the table will be set for late-season showdowns with Penn and Yale.
On defense, Harvard displayed the pattern we've seen from them all season: tough against the run but soft against the pass. Princeton rushed 32 times for 88 yards, for only 2.8 yards per carry, with 32 of those yards coming on Jordan Culbreath's first quarter carry. For the most part, the Tigers were unable to consistently run the ball against Harvard. Against the pass, though, the Crimson showed signs of weakness. Princeton Quarterback Andrew Dixon, a backup with limited playing experience, completed 20 of 29 passes for 195 yards. Senior Tiger Wide Receiver Trey Peacock, the best pass-catcher the Ivy League has to offer, had another big day in hauling in 11 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. The Crimson were able to pick off Dixon twice, both times when Princeton was inside the red zone and threatening to score.
The biggest story of the day for the Crimson, however, was the return of its top two quarterbacks in Collier Winters and Andrew Hatch. Hatch started the game but had a shaky first half, going 9-21 for 98 yards and two interceptions. It was a surprise to see Head Coach Tim Murphy pull Hatch at the break and go with the junior, Collier Winters. Winters tore his labrum in a preseason scrimmage and was not expected to return at all this season. Apparently, he has had a rather quick recovery and entered the game on Saturday, playing the entire second half. Winters had a stronger showing than Hatch, going 8-12 for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Although the coaching staff did not yet trust Winters to throw downfield much, he performed ably for his first start back.
Looking forward, the return of Hatch and Winters brightens Harvard's outlook for the remainder of the season. Injuries have severely hampered a Crimson team that, in this writer's opinion, had the potential to go undefeated if healthy. Harvard still has a shot at an Ivy title, however, provided they win out and the Brown Bears lose once (Brown defeated Harvard 29-14 back in September). It remains to be seen whether Hatch or Winters will be trusted with complete control of the offense, or whether Coach Murphy decides to use both quarterbacks in some capacity. Regardless, it is good news that both are healthy and will be available for the home stretch of the Ivy season. This weekend's game against the Dartmouth Big Green (1:30pm, WHRB 95.3FM) looms large. If Harvard can escape Hanover with a win, the table will be set for late-season showdowns with Penn and Yale.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tune in to WHRB's coverage of Harvard vs. Princeton
Next for Harvard:
Opponent: Princeton Tigers
Date: Saturday, October 23rd
Time: 1pm
Where: Princeton Stadium, Princeton, NJ
Coverage: WHRB 95.3FM in greater Boston area (listeners outside the area may tune in to the online stream at whrb.org)
After a tough nonconference loss to Lehigh, Harvard hits the road and returns to Ivy play Saturday against the Princeton Tigers. The Crimson need to shake off any negative emotions from their loss last week, as they are still in the thick of the Ivy League race. Princeton has had a rough year so far, going 1-4 under first-year coach Bob Surace. The Tigers will likely be without starting quarterback Tommy Wornham, but they still possess the top receiver in the league in Trey Peacock. Peacock looks to wreak havoc on a Crimson defense that gave up big plays through the air a week ago.
As for Harvard, it remains to be seen which quarterback will start. Sophomore Colton Chapple has done a solid job, but the offense is not clicking as much as it might with Andrew Hatch or Collier Winters. Whoever the quarterback is, the Crimson should be able to take care of business on Saturday.
Be sure to tune in for the 1pm kickoff. Scott Reed and Charlie Hobbs will have the call live from Princeton, NJ. Our coverage will begin at 12:30 with the Harvard Pregame Show with Raafil Alidina and James Yoon. Go Crimson!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Ivy League Football Power Rankings (Week 6)
With the Crimson wrapping up their non-conference schedule with Lehigh, all teams in the Ivy-League are now entering conference play. How teams play for the next five weeks will separate the men from the boy scouts, and thus far, defending champion Penn has emerged as the clear leader of the pack. The best of the rest? Inconsistency has marred every other team. In addition, with key injuries piling up for all teams, there is no telling how the power ranking will change in the following weeks. The amazing race to the Ivy League championship begins now…
Penn (4-1, 2-0) – Can anyone stop this team? Columbia came in with huge momentum following two blowout wins, yet Penn remained unfazed to notch another methodical, mistake-free game. The Quaker defense stifled Sean Brackett all game, and TB Colavita came up big by recording the 1st 100 yd rushing game since October 2009. So far, no team has been able to solve mighty quakers from churning out wins. Now, riding high on a 10 game Ivy League winning streak, they visit the Bulldogs on what could be an interesting matchup. You can’t be that good, right?
NEXT GAME: vs. Yale
Brown (3-2, 2-0) – Providence, we have a problem. The loss of All-Ivy QB Kyle Newhall-Caballero to a season-ending wrist injury is already having an impact on the Ivy League championship race. Brown barely squeezed out a win against the lowly Princeton Tigers but coming back from a 13-0 deficit to win 17-13. Joe Springer is more than a capable QB, but you have to wonder if the offense will ever be the same. I feel like the Bears are always on the cusp of losing… or maybe that is just wishful thinking. In all seriousness, the Brown is the most curious team heading into Ivy League play.
NEXT GAME: vs. Cornell
Yale (4-1, 2-0) – When a team keeps winning, you can’t always blame it on the cha-cha-cha-chance. Yale pulled through over Fordham with a thrilling field goal block of Chris Dooley on what I like to call a “defensive shootout.” Yes, the offenses of both teams was inept much of the game, but you have to recognize that defense wins championships and the Bulldog defense looked like championship material. And they have depth! With Patrick Witt sidelined, Brook Hart stepped in to score the lone touchdown of the game. They are the next contenders on the Defeat Penn Challenge.
NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
Columbia (3-2, 1-1) – Columbia played admirably in a loss to Penn on Saturday. They didn’t get blown out and responded well to the Quaker’s vaunted defense. However, they could be a contender… next year. They have the pieces in play for a great team, but the inexperience definitely came out when the Lions fell behind, and the offense sputtered. Regardless, you can’t drop them for losing to well-oiled machinery that is Penn. They next face the “drop it like its hot” Dartmouth at home which should help the lions come out with the victory.
NEXT GAME: vs. Dartmouth
Harvard (3-2, 1-1) – The Crimson start their most important stretch of the season with a disappointing loss due to a blown call. With less than 2 minutes remaining, Colton and Co. drove down the field, converting several 4th downs to be within striking distance of the end zone, but a TD pass to Mike Cook was called back on out-of-bounds reception. Be that as it may, what was most troubling about Harvard was its inability to close out the game leading 17-0 at the half. Upset-minded Tigers are roaming on the shores of New Jersey to capitalize on The Situation. They almost upset Brown but couldn’t hold on for the win.
NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton
Dartmouth (3-2, 0-2) – The Big Green pulled out a thrilling victory over Holy Cross in game marred by turnovers from both teams. The Crusaders had 4 miscues in the 4th quarter alone, handing the game to Dartmouth on a gilded platter. But kudos to TB Nick Schwiegger who trampled over everyone with 169 yards of the ground. But the sign of a good team and a great team, I think, is the TO margin and Dartmouth is falling a little short in the category. The Big Green is on the very cusp of greatness and the first step begins with a tough road trip to Columbia.
NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
Princeton (1-4, 0-2) – My sleeper pick of the year came up short against the vaunted Brown offense but there was a lot to like in the Tigers. They started strong and scored 13 unanswered points early in the game. The defense found an answer in stuffing up the pass and rush. For most of the game, the defense came up big time for the Tigers, but with Brown driving up the field in a pressure situation, it was the Bears who had the “eye of the tiger.” Maybe they can finally break through for a marquee win? Did I jump the gun on my sleeper pick sleeping?
NEXT GAME: vs. Harvard
Cornell (1-4, 0-2) – Cornell, again, gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality in the Ivy League. Besides that, there’s not much else to cheer for. Colgate spanked the Big Red 44-3 like it was the 1950s, with the Raiders rushing for almost 300 yards. Is the season already over in Ithaca? People might begin to question head coach Kent Austin’s decision to start a freshman QB in Jeff Matthews who has largely been ineffective. But the first cut is always the deepest, and graded on a learning curve, Cornell is not that bad. At least they have good hospitality?
NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Till next time…
Penn (4-1, 2-0) – Can anyone stop this team? Columbia came in with huge momentum following two blowout wins, yet Penn remained unfazed to notch another methodical, mistake-free game. The Quaker defense stifled Sean Brackett all game, and TB Colavita came up big by recording the 1st 100 yd rushing game since October 2009. So far, no team has been able to solve mighty quakers from churning out wins. Now, riding high on a 10 game Ivy League winning streak, they visit the Bulldogs on what could be an interesting matchup. You can’t be that good, right?
NEXT GAME: vs. Yale
Brown (3-2, 2-0) – Providence, we have a problem. The loss of All-Ivy QB Kyle Newhall-Caballero to a season-ending wrist injury is already having an impact on the Ivy League championship race. Brown barely squeezed out a win against the lowly Princeton Tigers but coming back from a 13-0 deficit to win 17-13. Joe Springer is more than a capable QB, but you have to wonder if the offense will ever be the same. I feel like the Bears are always on the cusp of losing… or maybe that is just wishful thinking. In all seriousness, the Brown is the most curious team heading into Ivy League play.
NEXT GAME: vs. Cornell
Yale (4-1, 2-0) – When a team keeps winning, you can’t always blame it on the cha-cha-cha-chance. Yale pulled through over Fordham with a thrilling field goal block of Chris Dooley on what I like to call a “defensive shootout.” Yes, the offenses of both teams was inept much of the game, but you have to recognize that defense wins championships and the Bulldog defense looked like championship material. And they have depth! With Patrick Witt sidelined, Brook Hart stepped in to score the lone touchdown of the game. They are the next contenders on the Defeat Penn Challenge.
NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
Columbia (3-2, 1-1) – Columbia played admirably in a loss to Penn on Saturday. They didn’t get blown out and responded well to the Quaker’s vaunted defense. However, they could be a contender… next year. They have the pieces in play for a great team, but the inexperience definitely came out when the Lions fell behind, and the offense sputtered. Regardless, you can’t drop them for losing to well-oiled machinery that is Penn. They next face the “drop it like its hot” Dartmouth at home which should help the lions come out with the victory.
NEXT GAME: vs. Dartmouth
Harvard (3-2, 1-1) – The Crimson start their most important stretch of the season with a disappointing loss due to a blown call. With less than 2 minutes remaining, Colton and Co. drove down the field, converting several 4th downs to be within striking distance of the end zone, but a TD pass to Mike Cook was called back on out-of-bounds reception. Be that as it may, what was most troubling about Harvard was its inability to close out the game leading 17-0 at the half. Upset-minded Tigers are roaming on the shores of New Jersey to capitalize on The Situation. They almost upset Brown but couldn’t hold on for the win.
NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton
Dartmouth (3-2, 0-2) – The Big Green pulled out a thrilling victory over Holy Cross in game marred by turnovers from both teams. The Crusaders had 4 miscues in the 4th quarter alone, handing the game to Dartmouth on a gilded platter. But kudos to TB Nick Schwiegger who trampled over everyone with 169 yards of the ground. But the sign of a good team and a great team, I think, is the TO margin and Dartmouth is falling a little short in the category. The Big Green is on the very cusp of greatness and the first step begins with a tough road trip to Columbia.
NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
Princeton (1-4, 0-2) – My sleeper pick of the year came up short against the vaunted Brown offense but there was a lot to like in the Tigers. They started strong and scored 13 unanswered points early in the game. The defense found an answer in stuffing up the pass and rush. For most of the game, the defense came up big time for the Tigers, but with Brown driving up the field in a pressure situation, it was the Bears who had the “eye of the tiger.” Maybe they can finally break through for a marquee win? Did I jump the gun on my sleeper pick sleeping?
NEXT GAME: vs. Harvard
Cornell (1-4, 0-2) – Cornell, again, gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality in the Ivy League. Besides that, there’s not much else to cheer for. Colgate spanked the Big Red 44-3 like it was the 1950s, with the Raiders rushing for almost 300 yards. Is the season already over in Ithaca? People might begin to question head coach Kent Austin’s decision to start a freshman QB in Jeff Matthews who has largely been ineffective. But the first cut is always the deepest, and graded on a learning curve, Cornell is not that bad. At least they have good hospitality?
NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Till next time…
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tune in to WHRB's coverage of Harvard vs. Lehigh
Next for Harvard:
Opponent: Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Date: Saturday, October 16th
Time: 12noon
Where: Harvard Stadium
Coverage: WHRB 95.3FM in greater Boston area (listeners outside area may tune in to the online stream at whrb.org)
Harvard continues its longest homestand of the season this Saturday against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (3-2). The Crimson (3-1, 1-1 Ivy) look to maintain their momentum from their big victories over Lafayette and Cornell, hoping to have Senior Quarterback Andrew Hatch back for this one. Should Hatch not be able to play, Harvard will turn for the third straight game to sophomore Colton Chapple. Scott Reed and Charlie Hobbes will have the call live from Harvard Stadium starting at noon, but be sure to tune in at 11:30 for the Harvard Pregame Show with James Yoon and Raafi Alidina. Go Crimson!
Highlights of Cornell game with WHRB audio
The athletic department has made a video with highlights from the Harvard's 31-17 win over the Cornell Big Red. The video includes audio from WHRB's call of the game (video courtesy of GoCrimson.com).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Ivy League Football Power Rankings
As the Crimson look to finish their non-conference schedule with a matchup against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at Harvard Stadium, there is no better time to release the inaugural WHRB Sports power rankings for football.
1. Penn (3-1, 1-0) – The defending champions of the Ivy League rightly claim the top spot for their consistent play throughout the season. Al Bagnoli just became the winningest coach in Penn history with a thrashing over Bucknell. Their vaunted defense that allowed them to win the title last year has faltered at times (Dartmouth comes to mind), but otherwise Penn is a well-oiled machine comparable to Ivan Drago from Rocky. “I will break you!” Anybody? They won’t face much competition until the Brown game at home. NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
2. Brown (2-2, 1-0) – I admit that I almost ranked Harvard ahead of Brown for the inaugural power ranking based solely on a mathematical logic of the transitive property. The Bears lost to the Holy Cross Crusaders in a tight game 17-13 the past week. If Harvard man-handled Holy Cross, and Holy Cross notched an “upset” over Brown, then Harvard theoretically should have sent the Bears crying home to their mothers. Alas, I stopped myself of such foolish thoughts. Brown is still the best passing offenses in the Ivy League, and their defense has looked surprisingly formidable of late. NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton
3. Harvard (3-1, 1-1)– Although picked to finish 1st in the Ivy League this year, Harvard is not the same team that began the season with such high expectations. Injuries to on all sides of the football – offense, defense, and special teams – will hurt the Crimson in the long run. However, despite the lone, yet horrific loss to Brown in the second game of the season, head coach Tim Murphy has admirably managed the game to exploit the strengths of the team. With the offense firing on all cylinders – over 400 yards of offense the past two games – and the defense looking like their usual dominant selves, don’t count out the Crimson just yet. Run Gino (or Treavor or Rick), Run! NEXT GAME: vs. Lehigh
4. Columbia (3-1, 1-0) – There is no team carrying greater momentum than the Columbia Lions at this moment; winner of three straight, the latest being a 42-38 pounding of Lafayette. QB Sean Brackett is on fire and the defense is playing with the vengeance of a scored lover. But somebody should tell Simba soon that playing at the beautiful Pride Rock might not last much longer. An ominous trip to Penn looms ahead, and this matchup should provide answers to how good this Columbia team actually is, away from home. Are dark times ahead in the New York-ian Safari? NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
5. Yale (3-1, 2-0) – Yale carries a lot of momentum coming into the Ivy League stretch of their schedule with an emotional victory thanks to Phillipe Panico’s last second field goal to beat Dartmouth 23-20. Head coach Tom Williams has the Yale program back on track after a slow season last year, and as of now, they are tops in the Ivy League. Patrick Witt in his 2nd year as starting QB is developing surprisingly quickly, which is a warning to the entire conference. Although they may not have the talent or experience just yet to contend for a title, look for Yale to pull off a few upsets to shake the Ivy League standings like a Polaroid picture. NEXT GAME: vs. Fordham
6. Dartmouth (2-2, 0-2) – The Big Green is my colleague Brendan Roche’s sleeper pick of the year and so far they have not disappointed (even though their record may say otherwise). Clearly overmatched, they nevertheless took Penn “Ivan Drago” Quakers to OT, just coming off a bit short near the end, and they competed well against a great Yale team. However, coming off short doesn’t win championships – only defense. Dartmouth is an upset-minded team ready to play with the big boys of the Ivy League, but consistency (of actually coming out with the win) will be the difference maker for the rest of the season. NEXT GAME: vs. Holy Cross
7. Cornell (1-3, 0-2) – Cornell gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality of any Ivy League team. However, they start a true freshman QB Jeff Matthews, who I think will be contending for the Ivy League Player of the Year in the near future, and have one worst defenses in the conference. Matthews definitely has played like a veteran at times but his inexperience often translates to turnovers in key situations. He just needs more time to develop and get used to the college game. Props to 1st year head coach Kent Austin as well. They did show flashes of brilliance in the Harvard game, limiting the Crimson offense through 3 quarters, but as John Madden might say, “the game is 4 quarters.” Brilliant. NEXT GAME: vs. Colgate
8. Princeton (1-3, 0-1) – My own sleeper pick for the year is in full hibernation mode thus far into the season. Is it that time of the year already?! The last two games have been blowouts of monstrosity: 42-14 loss to Columbia and 44-10 loss to Colgate. As they get ready for the their Ivy League schedule, 2nd year starter Tommy Wornham needs to get his mind together and get the offense clicking or it’s going to be a long season for head coach Bob Surace’s team. Besides a 2OT victory over Lafayette, all parts of Princeton’s game have been in disarray. Do I smell a QB controversy ahead? NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Till next time...
1. Penn (3-1, 1-0) – The defending champions of the Ivy League rightly claim the top spot for their consistent play throughout the season. Al Bagnoli just became the winningest coach in Penn history with a thrashing over Bucknell. Their vaunted defense that allowed them to win the title last year has faltered at times (Dartmouth comes to mind), but otherwise Penn is a well-oiled machine comparable to Ivan Drago from Rocky. “I will break you!” Anybody? They won’t face much competition until the Brown game at home. NEXT GAME: vs. Columbia
2. Brown (2-2, 1-0) – I admit that I almost ranked Harvard ahead of Brown for the inaugural power ranking based solely on a mathematical logic of the transitive property. The Bears lost to the Holy Cross Crusaders in a tight game 17-13 the past week. If Harvard man-handled Holy Cross, and Holy Cross notched an “upset” over Brown, then Harvard theoretically should have sent the Bears crying home to their mothers. Alas, I stopped myself of such foolish thoughts. Brown is still the best passing offenses in the Ivy League, and their defense has looked surprisingly formidable of late. NEXT GAME: vs. Princeton
3. Harvard (3-1, 1-1)– Although picked to finish 1st in the Ivy League this year, Harvard is not the same team that began the season with such high expectations. Injuries to on all sides of the football – offense, defense, and special teams – will hurt the Crimson in the long run. However, despite the lone, yet horrific loss to Brown in the second game of the season, head coach Tim Murphy has admirably managed the game to exploit the strengths of the team. With the offense firing on all cylinders – over 400 yards of offense the past two games – and the defense looking like their usual dominant selves, don’t count out the Crimson just yet. Run Gino (or Treavor or Rick), Run! NEXT GAME: vs. Lehigh
4. Columbia (3-1, 1-0) – There is no team carrying greater momentum than the Columbia Lions at this moment; winner of three straight, the latest being a 42-38 pounding of Lafayette. QB Sean Brackett is on fire and the defense is playing with the vengeance of a scored lover. But somebody should tell Simba soon that playing at the beautiful Pride Rock might not last much longer. An ominous trip to Penn looms ahead, and this matchup should provide answers to how good this Columbia team actually is, away from home. Are dark times ahead in the New York-ian Safari? NEXT GAME: vs. Penn
5. Yale (3-1, 2-0) – Yale carries a lot of momentum coming into the Ivy League stretch of their schedule with an emotional victory thanks to Phillipe Panico’s last second field goal to beat Dartmouth 23-20. Head coach Tom Williams has the Yale program back on track after a slow season last year, and as of now, they are tops in the Ivy League. Patrick Witt in his 2nd year as starting QB is developing surprisingly quickly, which is a warning to the entire conference. Although they may not have the talent or experience just yet to contend for a title, look for Yale to pull off a few upsets to shake the Ivy League standings like a Polaroid picture. NEXT GAME: vs. Fordham
6. Dartmouth (2-2, 0-2) – The Big Green is my colleague Brendan Roche’s sleeper pick of the year and so far they have not disappointed (even though their record may say otherwise). Clearly overmatched, they nevertheless took Penn “Ivan Drago” Quakers to OT, just coming off a bit short near the end, and they competed well against a great Yale team. However, coming off short doesn’t win championships – only defense. Dartmouth is an upset-minded team ready to play with the big boys of the Ivy League, but consistency (of actually coming out with the win) will be the difference maker for the rest of the season. NEXT GAME: vs. Holy Cross
7. Cornell (1-3, 0-2) – Cornell gets a thumbs up in my book for having the best hospitality of any Ivy League team. However, they start a true freshman QB Jeff Matthews, who I think will be contending for the Ivy League Player of the Year in the near future, and have one worst defenses in the conference. Matthews definitely has played like a veteran at times but his inexperience often translates to turnovers in key situations. He just needs more time to develop and get used to the college game. Props to 1st year head coach Kent Austin as well. They did show flashes of brilliance in the Harvard game, limiting the Crimson offense through 3 quarters, but as John Madden might say, “the game is 4 quarters.” Brilliant. NEXT GAME: vs. Colgate
8. Princeton (1-3, 0-1) – My own sleeper pick for the year is in full hibernation mode thus far into the season. Is it that time of the year already?! The last two games have been blowouts of monstrosity: 42-14 loss to Columbia and 44-10 loss to Colgate. As they get ready for the their Ivy League schedule, 2nd year starter Tommy Wornham needs to get his mind together and get the offense clicking or it’s going to be a long season for head coach Bob Surace’s team. Besides a 2OT victory over Lafayette, all parts of Princeton’s game have been in disarray. Do I smell a QB controversy ahead? NEXT GAME: vs. Brown
Till next time...
Friday, October 8, 2010
Harvard Hosts Cornell this Saturday on WHRB
Next for Harvard
Opponent: Cornell Big Red
Date: Saturday, October 9th
Time: 12noon
Where: Harvard Stadium
Coverage: WHRB 95.3FM in greater Boston area (listeners not in Boston may tune in to the online stream at whrb.org)
After splitting a two game stretch on the road, Harvard returns home to face Cornell trying to record its first Ivy League win of the year. The Crimson might again be without starting quarterback Andrew Hatch, who suffered a concussion in the game against Brown. That likely means that Colton Chapple will be called upon to lead the Crimson offense.
WHRB will have coverage of the game from the opening kickoff until the final snap. Scott Reed and Charlie Hobbs will have the call live from Harvard Stadium starting at noon, but be sure to tune in at 11:30 for the Harvard Pregame Show with James Yoon and Raafi Alidina. Go Crimson!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Eerie Happenings in Easton
Colton Chapple, Saturday's starter at Quarterback (photo courtesy of Gocrimson.com)
So this past Saturday, the Harvard coaching staff turned to sophomore Colton Chapple to play quarterback after Andrew Hatch was forced to miss the game due to a concussion. It was Chapple's first career start, not counting his one play of action against Brown. Colton preformed admirably in a limited role, throwing 6-11 for 82 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, Chapple did not turn the ball over and gave the Crimson a chance to win. But was there something supernatural behind his performance? Color Broadcaster Charlie Hobbes and I witnessed a coincidence that was too good to be true.
Walking around the beautiful campus of Lafayette College following the Crimson victory, Charlie and I headed for the main quad, looking for buildings of interest. As we approached the on-campus church, we stopped and stared in disbelief. Here is what we saw:
That's right. The church on campus at Lafayette is called the Colton Chapel. On the campus where Colton Chapple was making his first career start. Now that's wild. What are the odds?
Here's some more info on Colton Chapple: http://gocrimson.com/sports/fball/2010-11/bios/chapple_colton
Here's some more info on the Colton Chapel: http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p956
Crimson Banged Up After Win Over Lafayette
With a resounding 35-10 win over the Lafayette Leopards, Harvard bounced back strongly from its loss to Brown. Led by Gino Gordon, the Crimson were able to establish an effective running game, taking the pressure off of replacement starter Colton Chapple, filling in for the injured Andrew Hatch. However, the Harvard's prospects for the rest of the 2010 season have been dampened by the sheer volume of injuries the Crimson have suffered. Here is an incomplete list of Harvard contributers who are missing time due to injury:
QB Collier Winters - out at least 5 more weeks (torn labrum)
QB Andrew Hatch - doubtful for Saturday (concussion)
CB D.J. Monroe - out for year (knee)
QB Collier Winters - out at least 5 more weeks (torn labrum)
QB Andrew Hatch - doubtful for Saturday (concussion)
CB D.J. Monroe - out for year (knee)
LB Blaise Deal - out for year (undisclosed)
WR Chris Lorditch - out for year (knee)
WR/KR Marco Iannuzzi - out for year (knee)
Alex Gedeon - day-to-day, missed Lafayette game (shoulder)
CB Brian Owusu - out for year (knee)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
October-November Schedule Announcement
As the calendar turns from September to October, Harvard athletics, and thus WHRB's coverage of Crimson athletics, begins a transition from the fall season to the busy and exciting time when the fall season and winter season are both in full swing. As the student voice of Harvard football, and the home of Harvard hockey, there are some exciting games ahead on our calendar for the next two months. The month of October will have us broadcast six contests across two different sports, before yielding to a November that will feature fifteen games across four different sports, in addition to Crimson Sportstalk every Sunday at 1pm. Here are some of the highlights:
Friday, October 29th: Harvard women's hockey vs. Yale, 7pm.
Harvard's quest for an ECAC title and a return to the NCAA Tournament begins as the Crimson start their season at the Bright Hockey Center against their arch-rivals, the Yale Bulldogs. Harvard, led by the winningest Division I Coach, Katey Stone, take on a Yale team led by former Harvard assistant Joakim Flygh.
Friday, November 5th: Harvard men's hockey vs. Union, 7pm
The Crimson look to get their season off on the right foot as they take on the high flying Union Dutchmen at the Bright Hockey Center. Led by head coach Ted Donato '91, the underdog Crimson, picked 7th to finish in the ECAC by the coaches, will look to prove themselves against a preseason frontrunner for the Cleary Cup.
Saturday, November 13th: Harvard football at Pennsylvania, 1:30pm
The two favorites for the Ivy League title collide in Philadelphia and the Crimson will be looking for revenge against the toast-throwing Quakers, the only team to beat the Crimson in Ivy League play last year. If Harvard is to have any shot of being Ivy League champions, the Crimson will need a win at Franklin Field.
Wednesday, November 17th: Harvard Men's Basketball vs. Holy Cross, 7pm
The season gets under way at Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson take on Bay State rival Holy Cross. Harvard, fresh off a 20+-win season and its first postseason bid since 1946, will now be looking for an Ivy Championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.
Saturday, November 20th: THE GAME, Harvard football vs. Yale, 12pm
Always circled on both Harvard and Yale fans' calendars every year, The 127th edition of The Game, held this year at Harvard Stadium, needs no introduction. Be sure to tune in for our special, hour long pregame show at 11am, and stick around as Tim Murphy's Johnnies seek their fourth straight win over the rival Elis.
Tuesday, November 23rd: Harvard women's basketball at Boston University, 7pm.
Harvard women's basketball, a WNIT participant last year, has an early season trip to face local rival Boston University. Last season, the Crimson defeated all four Bay Area opponents, including Boston University, for the first time in school history.
Sunday, November 28th: Harvard men's basketball vs. Colorado, 2pm
It's sure to be a big game with a BCS school making the rare visit to Cambridge, as the Colorado Buffaloes wrap up their potential final season in the Big XII before heading to the Pac-10 conference. Harvard will be looking to earn a "signature win" at home, hoping to impress both the Crimson Crazies and the tournament selection committee. The Crimson, 1-1 vs. BCS schools last year, last hosted a BCS school in December of 2007, when Tommy Amaker's former program, the Michigan Wolverines, paid a visit, with Harvard getting a 62-51 win.
Below the jump, we present our full October-November schedule.
Friday, October 29th: Harvard women's hockey vs. Yale, 7pm.
Harvard's quest for an ECAC title and a return to the NCAA Tournament begins as the Crimson start their season at the Bright Hockey Center against their arch-rivals, the Yale Bulldogs. Harvard, led by the winningest Division I Coach, Katey Stone, take on a Yale team led by former Harvard assistant Joakim Flygh.
Friday, November 5th: Harvard men's hockey vs. Union, 7pm
The Crimson look to get their season off on the right foot as they take on the high flying Union Dutchmen at the Bright Hockey Center. Led by head coach Ted Donato '91, the underdog Crimson, picked 7th to finish in the ECAC by the coaches, will look to prove themselves against a preseason frontrunner for the Cleary Cup.
Saturday, November 13th: Harvard football at Pennsylvania, 1:30pm
The two favorites for the Ivy League title collide in Philadelphia and the Crimson will be looking for revenge against the toast-throwing Quakers, the only team to beat the Crimson in Ivy League play last year. If Harvard is to have any shot of being Ivy League champions, the Crimson will need a win at Franklin Field.
Wednesday, November 17th: Harvard Men's Basketball vs. Holy Cross, 7pm
The season gets under way at Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson take on Bay State rival Holy Cross. Harvard, fresh off a 20+-win season and its first postseason bid since 1946, will now be looking for an Ivy Championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.
Saturday, November 20th: THE GAME, Harvard football vs. Yale, 12pm
Always circled on both Harvard and Yale fans' calendars every year, The 127th edition of The Game, held this year at Harvard Stadium, needs no introduction. Be sure to tune in for our special, hour long pregame show at 11am, and stick around as Tim Murphy's Johnnies seek their fourth straight win over the rival Elis.
Tuesday, November 23rd: Harvard women's basketball at Boston University, 7pm.
Harvard women's basketball, a WNIT participant last year, has an early season trip to face local rival Boston University. Last season, the Crimson defeated all four Bay Area opponents, including Boston University, for the first time in school history.
Sunday, November 28th: Harvard men's basketball vs. Colorado, 2pm
It's sure to be a big game with a BCS school making the rare visit to Cambridge, as the Colorado Buffaloes wrap up their potential final season in the Big XII before heading to the Pac-10 conference. Harvard will be looking to earn a "signature win" at home, hoping to impress both the Crimson Crazies and the tournament selection committee. The Crimson, 1-1 vs. BCS schools last year, last hosted a BCS school in December of 2007, when Tommy Amaker's former program, the Michigan Wolverines, paid a visit, with Harvard getting a 62-51 win.
Below the jump, we present our full October-November schedule.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Program Alert: Football vs. Lafayette, Saturday at Noon
Next for Harvard
Opponent: Lafayette Leopards
Date: Saturday, October 2nd
Time: 12noon
Where: Fisher Stadium, Easton, PA.
Coverage: WHRB 95.3FM (online listeners may tune in to stream at whrb.org)
Harvard travels to Easton, Pennsylvania in its first chance to get back on the field following a disappointing loss to the Brown Bears. This could be something of a turning point for the season: the offense, which was lackluster against Brown, must find a way to run the ball effectively. Quarterback Andrew Hatch also needs to rebound and recover the form that he had in the season-opener against Holy Cross.
We at WHRB are excited to bring you coverage of this game, as we do for every football game this season. Myself (Scott Reed) and Charlie Hobbs will have the call for you tomorrow - we begin our trip to Easton tonight. Also remember to tune in at 11:30am for the Harvard Pregame Show. Co-hosts James Yoon and Raafi Alidina will discuss the game, and we will have interviews with Head Coach Tim Murphy and with Wide Receiver Marco Iannuzzi, last week's Player of the Game. Go Crimson!
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