Upside and downside of sports an emotion ride condensed into one season

Ella Shockley - A freshman for West Chester University field hockey, straight out of Delmar and Costen's granddaughter, scored the first goal of the season for the Golden Rams and the first goal of her collegiate career in a 10-1 win over Assumption Sept. 2. The goal came at 13:42 of the first half. Ella did not start in the game. She also had an assist in the game. Cami Smith of Cape had a shot on goal. Henlopen in the house! WCU is a Division II program. The Golden Rams women have always excelled in the sport going back 70 years. West Chester beat Bentley Sunday 5-1 to raise its season record to 5-1. 

Brenn Scott - Brenn Scott talked with trainer Jaycie Kerrick during the football game Sept. 1. A sit-down is only good news in a Sopranos episode. Brian Scott, Brenn's dad, is not bound by HIPAA restrictions. Brian reports Brenn sustained a broken clavicle during the game and will be out six to eight weeks. Brenn is a captain. He's a beast, a stud, plays halfback/tight end and inside backer. His being out of the Sallies game made a difference. He's the tackle-guys-for-a-loss player, the catch-the-ball-in-traffic guy, and losing him is like when wrestling lost Luke Bender last winter. That team went on to win state title anyway. It’s like Gage Joseph being lost in baseball. That team also won a state title. There will be a shifting around and reconfiguring of some players. Excellence often answers the door when opportunity knocks. 

Philly talk - Runner Kate Evans wore a Phillies shirt at the Last Blast Prediction 5K, which started a conversation between the two of us about what it means to be a loyal fan of Philadelphia sports teams. We talked about the Phillies; I talked 1964; she asked if I was an Eagles fan, then told me her dad is Mike Evans, who’s my age, who was starting center for the Eagles 1968-73, when Roman Gabriel was the quarterback. Her dad is also in the Boston College Hall of Fame. Kate, 48, lives in Wallingford, Pa. The left guard during that era of the Eagles was Dick Hart out of Morrisville, Pa., who never played college football. I know Hart, but didn’t mention that to Kate because sometimes I just connect too many dots.

That Navy Deal - I know a former college coach who referred to “That Navy Deal,”' meaning a massive celebration for beating Navy football was never warranted because the Midshipmen are just not that good. My belief is that the triple-option offense is ready for a fourth option – just get rid of it. Delaware (FCS) beat Navy Saturday 14-7 because they are a better football team. Delaware will host Delaware State Saturday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. The Hornets crushed Lincoln University 34-0 – “That Lincoln Deal” – in their home opener. I call the Hornets versus the Hens the Battle of the Bypass. 

Read the roster - If you’re a sports fan who watches tons of games on TV but doesn’t like to read, treat yourself to some personal edification and read the roster bios of a college football team. I chose Duke football after the Blue Devils demolished Temple 30-0. Watching the game, I thought, “Where did they get all these athletes? And is Duke test optional, meaning no SAT required.” The answer is no SAT is required, and if you read the Personal paragraph for each Duke player, the athletic lineage runs deep for all of them. “Dad was a master electrician and mom runs the register at Acme” just doesn't get you in the door. 

Snippets - Grace Hudson, a Cape defender on the field hockey team, has verbally committed to attend Belmont Abbey College of North Carolina. The Belmont Abbey Crusaders are Division II and play in the South Atlantic Conference. Abigail Kane, former Cape player, is a junior on the Belmont Abbey hockey roster. Jaden Davis (Cape), now a sophomore on the Salisbury University Seagulls football team, got a start at running back Sept. 2, as the Gulls beat visiting Albright 49-0. Jaden had 17 yards rushing on four attempts. Salisbury plays at Stevenson Sept. 10. The Mustangs are 1-0 after winning at St. Vincent 25-21 Sept. 3. Kayla Brady, who played every minute of every game as a sophomore, is now a junior at the University of Lynchburg and remains the starting field hockey goalie for the Hornets. Lynchburg has started the season 2-0 with wins over Longwood and Mount Olive. Tom Fitzpatrick, 72, trudged around “Fredman Bend” in Dewey Sunday 400 meters from the finish line at the Summer’s End 5K. Tom said, “The sad thing is I’m at top speed.” So was I, and I was sitting in the blue chair. My top speed is plop speed. Go on now, git!