[NU Sports] Lacross 3-peat!!

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

A late post on last week's thrilling (too thrilling) win over UVa.  at 
Franklin Field.  Proud lacrosse Dad that I am, I attended the game at  Franklin 
Field last week with my daughter (Roy, how can we forget the fly-over  in 
Annapolis in 2002?), and we had a terrific time.  Thoughts:
  1)  The crowd of 6,075 was the 3rd straight year an attendance  record was 
set; breaking the 5800 that attended the championship game at Boston  
University last year.  In 2008 and 2009, the Final 4 will be held at Towson  
University (a quick 45 minute drive from Wildelk's home in York, Pa.!)
  2) Poster Mark reported that 2/3 of the crowd was pro-NU; not sure  about 
that as I sat in both the upper deck and lower bowl; lot's of UVa fans  there 
as well, but for sure 1/3 to 1/2 rooted for our beloved Cats.
  3)  As this is a pro-football website, I'll report it in  football terms.  
We were up by 11-5, but Coach Amonte Hiller was concerned  about UVa.'s fire 
power.  She opted to slow the game down, and as we've  said on this here list, 
playing not to lose is asking for disaster.   However, I read an article which 
quoted UVa.'s coach as saying NU's stall  tactics won NU the game, as she 
felt Big Mo had swung the direction of UVa, and  if the game had continued as it 
was, UVa. would have won. So what do I know  (Very little, as it was the first 
lacrosse game I had ever paid admission!:) 
  4) What athletic talent our team has. They run like the wind. In the  2nd 
half we went down to field level as NU was going in for a clinching 15th  goal 
(which they got) and you really got an idea of how fast our team is.
  5) 12 of our 15 goals were scored by players that will be back next  
season. OUCH!
  6) A little love for Franklin Field.  I've been in FF at least  10 times 
for Temple and Penn games, so the "respect" factor is in place.   Stand it up 
against today's stadiums, and it is VERY archaic.  I love that  the only access 
to the 2nd deck is steps at the back of the lower bowl; there  are no 
restroom/concessions on the 2nd deck.
   However, a little FF FYI is in order. My beloved Eagles won  their last 
championship at FF in 1960; beating Green Bay as Chuck Bednarik went  "both 
ways" .  The Birds moved out of FF in 1972 when Veteran's Stadium  opened.
  Nowadays, the 2nd deck (the stadium still holds in excess of 50K)  rarely 
is used, but in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, Temple would need the 2nd deck  when 
a Penn St. or Miami (Fla.) would come calling.  U of P holds the Penn  relays 
every Spring, which the upper Bowl is used.  Additionally, a hot  local 
rivalry between Villanova and Penn has been gaining steam, gaining in  excess of 
15,000 for 1-AA action.
   So give FF some love, as it holds much history in it's ancient  brick 
fascade.  Those who refer to Ryan Field as "Dyche" know what I  mean.
 
   As usual, go  CATS!!!                           Eric
   



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