The Miracle In Landover

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

The Booth was an interesting place last Friday night as Shenandoah played it’s “2020” football opener against Hampden-Sydney. Because of technical challenges, my 200th broadcast of Hornet Football will be memorable, as I had to fly solo and use a hand-held cell phone for the broadcast. Hey, you do what you have to do to get the game on the air.

As for the game itself, SU was shut out 26-0 by the Tigers. Clearly, this Hornet team is a work in progress, and has some things to fix. But the long-term goal is to lay a foundation for the Fall, and that has to be remembered. Still, a win would have been nice for my milestone broadcast.

For this edition of VFB, I wanted to take you back to our Bicentennial year of 1976. It was this week that the University of Virginia pulled off what is referred to as “The Miracle In Landover,” by running a gauntlet of 3 ranked teams to win the ACC Basketball Tournament. The Cavaliers entered the tournament with a record of 15-11 (4-8 in the ACC), and their only chance of making it to the NCAA tourney , then just a 32-team affair, was to run the table in Landover, Maryland. Until 1975, only the winner of the ACC tournament advanced to the big dance, but with a limited field, there was no chance for an at-large bid for UVA.

The 3-day tournament, held at The Capital Centre, was the first ACC Tournament held outside the state of North Carolina, so several teams were without their usual “home court” advantages. Lefty Driesell’s Maryland Terrapins were a favorite. Upon coming to Maryland, Lefty had called his Terps “The UCLA of the East,” and has 3 superb guards: John Lucas, Mo Howard, and Brad Davis. And, they were playing in their own backyard. UNC was the regular-season favorite, finishing 11-1 in the league.

But, the Cavaliers caught fire, behind the magical play of Wally Walker. First, was a relatively easy 75-63 win over number-17 NC State in the opening round. Surely the magic would end against the aforementioned number-9 Terps. But behind Walker’s 27 and Billy Langloh’s 20, Virginia prevailed, 73-65. On to the championship game.

The task at hand: beat a more-talented North Carolina team coached by legendary Dean Smith, and loaded with names like Walter Davis, Phil Ford, and Mitch Kupchak. The 25-2 Tar Heels were assured a spot in the NCAA tournament, win or lose. For the Cavs, it was win or go home. Again, “Wally Wonderful” propelled Virginia to a stunning 67-62 win, completing an incredible 3-day run in Landover.

As a footnote, Walker was named tournament MVP, but the ride would end for UVA the following week with an opening round NCAA loss to DePaul in, of all places, North Carolina. 

As you watch this week’s ACC Tournament, which now has a gazillion teams, double-byes, and much less pressure, take a second and remember the 1976 “Miracle In Landover,” when an underdog caught lightning in a bottle.

Until the next visit from The Booth…GO HORNETS!

RW

A Look back At 200

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Well, it’s March, and we’re playing football at Shenandoah University. the Hornets will play the home opener of what is an abbreviated Spring schedule this Friday night (3-5) at Shentel Stadium against ODAC foe Hampden-Sydney. SU fell to Bridgewater on the road last weekend 27-21, in a game that started slowly, but found the Hornets right in the game until the end.

I was doing some math this week and it turns out that Friday night’s game will be my 200th play-by-play broadcast of Shenandoah University football, which is quite a milestone. I have many great memories from the past 20-plus seasons, and thought I’d share a few in this week’s VFB.

We’ll start with the road trips, which began in the late Summer of 2000, with the very first SU game at Bethany (WV) in a “media van,” filled with broadcasters & video crews. Quite a ride, which was highlighted by Rick Ours’ famous “Fries n Bleu” at a stop in Morgantown. There were the endless rides to Fayetteville, NC and Maryville, TN (which always seemed like 3-day excursions), and the many trips in-between. And now we ride in comfort in school-supplied cars! Lots of miles on the odometer.

I must give a nod to the many color commentators who have been by my side over the years. the very first was my late friend Mike Kelly, who I think about often. Dennis Cox would always find a way to Crozet, no matter where that week’s road trip took us. I was fortunate enough to share the booth with Walter Barr, who forgot more football than I’ll ever know. Local great Trey Kern, who had so much energy and passion about football, that it was contagious. And of course, Scott Musa, the king of multi-tasking. Thanks, Scott, for all those stops at the legendary Mac n’ Bob’s in Roanoke & Macado’s in Farmville! We eat pretty well on the road.

At this point I will mention the Hornet head coaches, who I have formed great relationships with over the years. The first was the aforementioned Coach Barr, who started the program, and was so complimentary of my work. An absolute legend! I will always cherish my talks with Coach Paul Barnes, who made me feel like a part of the ’03 & ’04 years by giving me a championship ring. And Coach Scott Yoder, who is so accommodating with his time and knowledge of the “x’s” and “o’s” and is a true family man.

Finally, the teams and players. I have been so blessed to watch players like Rico Wallace, Hayden Bauserman, Anthony Frates, and so many others who have worn the Midnight Blue. There have been ups and downs, but every season had it’s own personality and memories. To broadcast an NCAA playoff game was a great thrill, and something I hope to repeat in the near future.

It’s been a great 200-game ride, one I hope will not end anytime soon. May the next 200 be just as memorable!

Until next time from The Booth…GO HORNETS!

RW

A Take On Tiger

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Nice to be back after a week on “Winter Break,” which was spent mostly bonding with my new puppy (I have the chew marks on my hand to prove it) and digging out cars from my driveway. No trip to Cancun this year…

Although I won’t be at Jopson Field to broadcast , the Shenandoah University Hornets are going to play a football game Saturday against Bridgewater. hard to believe, but the last time SU played football was mid-November of 2019. Because of COVID restrictions at BC, this will be only the 3rd game since the start of the program in 2000 that I will not be doing the play-by-play. Good luck to Coach Scott Yoder’s squad on Saturday afternoon!

Well, since everyone else has weighed in on the Tiger Woods car crash yesterday, I might as well add my take, and it’s probably nothing earth-shattering. I was somewhat amazed at the wall-to-wall news coverage, which reminded me of the infamous OJ Bronco chase from years ago.

While there is no real discussion of alcohol being involved in the crash, deputies have mentioned that the vehicle, a rented SUV, was travelling at a high rate of speed on the winding California road. Until the investigation is complete, there is only speculation. There is some talk that he was possibly late for an engagement and was hurrying to get to the appearance. Having a driver (not the golf-club variety), as so many high-profile celebs do, might have prevented the crash, but that is hindsight.

With Tiger’s injuries including several compound fractures, I couldn’t help but think of Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith and his amazing comeback from a gruesome leg injury. It took Smith 2 seasons and many surgeries before he got back on the field in 2020-21. And he isn’t 45 like Tiger. It will be a long road back.

That being said, Tiger Woods isn’t your grandfather’s 45 year-old pro golfer, with pot belly and cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He is a fitness fanatic, who would love nothing better than to step on to a tee box again, prove everyone wrong, and add yet another chapter to a career already filled with comebacks.

The book isn’t closed yet, but Augusta National won’t be the same this Spring…

Until the next visit from The Booth, Get Well Tiger, and GO HORNETS! BEAT BC!

RW

NASCAR’s Perfect Storm

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Talk about a strange sight. Recently, as I’ve been driving past Shentel Stadium on the way to my basketball public address gigs at The Wilkins Center, I notice the lights on and actual Shenandoah University football players practicing in the dead of Winter. Hopefully, the scheduled short season will happen starting in late February, but as a natural skeptic, I’ll believe it when I see it. Meanwhile, I’m going to invest in a nice parka and some thick socks. The Booth will probably be a little frosty…

With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, we move on to another Super Bowl, “the Super Bowl of Stock Car racing,” the Daytona 500. The Great American Race happens this Sunday, and although I’m not a devout NASCAR fan, it’s the one race I do watch, because seeing sunny Florida on my high-def TV in February reminds me that Spring can’t be that far off.

The Daytona 500 is a truly iconic American sporting event, but it wasn’t always that way. Until 1979, NASCAR was basically a regional sport (southern), and races were not shown live. Rather, they were taped and run later, primarily on CBS.

That all changed in 1979, when CBS broadcast flag-to-flag live coverage of the Daytona 500. The eastern half of the country was socked in by a massive blizzard, thus a sports-hungry nation gathered around the television that afternoon for the now iconic race.

And what a race it was! On the final lap, a collision between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough, who were leading the race, allowed Richard Petty to come from a half-lap behind to win the Daytona 500, as Allison and Yarborough spun into the grass infield. The two were then captured on live TV duking it out as The King celebrated in victory lane.

The race also featured new innovations like the in-car camera, and the low-angle shot, which are standard in today’s coverage.

The 1979 Daytona 500 put NASCAR in the national spotlight, where it remains today. If not for a “perfect storm” of events, NASCAR may have remained a regional sport, an acquired taste for those primarily south of the Mason-Dixon. Instead, we have multi-million dollar race teams and ultramodern “super-speedways” from coast-to-coast and border-to-border, with a number of networks jumping on the bandwagon to provide coverage.

And it all began on February 18, 1979.

Until next time in the Booth, enjoy the race, and GO HORNETS!

RW

A Guarantee From Joe Willie

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Sometimes, it’s as simple as doing the eye test.

Last night, Randolph-Macon invaded the Wilkins Center as the number-one ranked NCAA D-3 men’s basketball team in the nation. You didn’t have to scratch your head and ask “why?” The Jackets quickly pulled away amidst a hailstorm of 3-pointers and the game was over almost as soon as it started. It didn’t help that the Shenandoah Hornets shot 25 percent in the first half, but it wouldn’t have mattered.

What I saw from RMC was a talented, disciplined, well-coached team. Every pass had a purpose, and the Jackets were loaded with dead-eye shooters.

While it’s not fun to be on the short end of a 102-51, I’ll bet most players want to test their skills against the very best. Number One is what you should aspire to be, and Macon provided the measuring stick last night. Sometimes it hurts , though, to get whacked with it.

Changing gears, I’m going to make you feel old. This Sunday is the playing of the 55th Super Bowl, the conclusion of a season like no other. Someone asked me this week what the first Super Bowl was that I remember. That answer is easy: It is Super Bowl III, featuring the upstart New York Jets from the AFL against the heavily-favored NFL Champion Baltimore Colts.

The Colts were a juggernaut and were heavily favored by somewhere in the 18-point range. The game is memorable for the bold “guarantee” made by Jets’ QB “Broadway Joe” Namath in the week leading up to the game. From a chaise lounge in Miami, donning shades and swim trunks, drink-in-hand, Joe Willie guaranteed a win against the mighty Colts, and then delivered with a 16-7 triumph.

But the game is burned into my memory, because Super Bowl 3 was a microcosm of what was going on in the country at the time. 1968 was one of the most divisive years in US history. The Vietnam War, Summer riots, and the assassinations of MLK and RFK threatened to tear the country apart. In addition, the lines were drawn demographically. A youthful, more liberal America was seen as a threat to an older, more conservative USA.

The Jets, with the long-haired Namath as it’s frontman, represented that new, vibrant America. The Colts, represented by the flat topped, high-topped Johnny Unitas, were the face of the “establishment.” And the game itself was seen not just as the AFL against the NFL, but as a matchup of young versus old, liberal versus conservative.

I’m sure that many households were like mine on that January day in 1969, as fathers and sons were glued to their Magnavox console TVs, the dads cheering for Earl Morall and Johnny U, and the sons rooting for Broadway Joe and the underdog Jets.

Super Bowl III was more than a football game, and it will always remain so for me.

Until the next visit from The Booth, enjoy the Big Game, and GO HORNETS!

RW

RIP Hammerin’ Hank

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greettings from The Booth!

For those that don’t know, in addition to my football play-by-play duties at Shenandoah University, I also handle the public address for men and women’s basketball at SU. Someone asked me recently what it was like to do PA with no fans in attendance at the Wilkins Center. My answer was that I just do what I normally would do. The duties are scaled down a bit, for example, with no crowd, there are no announcements during time outs. I just do a quick intro, starting lineups, and announce who scored a basket or committed a foul. Mainly, I think this contributes to as much of a normal game atmosphere as possible, which helps the players.

I would also add that in an empty Wilkins Center, my voice sounds better for some reason. I guess it’s kind of like singing in the shower. We all sound like rock stars there, don’t we?

Changing gears, the sports world lost a true legend and gentleman recently with the passing of Hank Aaron, who I still consider to be baseball’s “Home Run King.” I remember vividly that weekend in April of 1974 when Hammerin’ Hank tied Babe Ruth’s career home run record with number 714 against the Reds on a Saturday, which meant a national broadcast on NBC that Monday night. I remember Dodgers pitcher Al Downing serving up number 715, and Braves reliever Tom House catching the ball in the Braves bullpen. I remember the fan that tried to run around the bases with Aaron, and a young Craig Sager trying to interview Hank as he rounded third base.

I also remember the death threats that started in late 1973 when Aaron was on the verge of breaking the record, and how he needed security to protect his family. As a somewhat innocent 14 year-old sports fan, I couldn’t wrap my head around that. The grace under pressure that Hank Aaron displayed throughout the home run chase under the threat of bodily harm is something we can’t even begin to imagine.

It also should be remembered that Hank Aaron was not a one-dimensional player. In addition to the homers, he was also a .305 lifetime hitter, and collected over 37-hundred hits. he fielded his position well, and struck out relatively few times. He was a complete baseball player, and a class act on and off the field.

I’m not a huge fan of asterisks in sports, but the home run record, now held by Barry Bonds, should have one. In the so-called “steroid era” of baseball, we all share some blame. Bulked-up players full of PEDs sent baseballs sailing out of MLB ballparks in record numbers. And we all turned a blind eye, because stadiums were filled and money was being made. After all, “chicks dig the long ball.”

755 is still the number, because Aaron played the game the right way. RIP, Hammerin’ Hank. You are still the Home Run King.

Until the next visit from The Booth…GO HORNETS!

RW

The Elements

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Knock on wood, it looks like we’re finally going to play some basketball at Shenandoah University! Starting today, the Hornet men will play a limited Winter schedule and will open today against Mary Baldwin at The Wilkins Center. No fans will be permitted at Wilkins, but be sure to listen to the action on The River 95-3…and check out my Sports Dogs Podcast this week on this website as coach Adam Walsh previews the season.

(because of the unpredictability of COVID-19, the sports situation at SU remains fluid, so stay tuned, and we’ll keep you up to date)

Well, we’re down to the NFL’s “Final Four” as we approach Championship Weekend. The AFC title game will match the Buffalo Bills against the Kansas City Chiefs. As of early this week, KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes was still in concussion protocol, and may miss the game. That would certainly even the playing field, but don’t sell the Bills short. Buffalo is a very good football team. They belong in this contest.

The NFC game gives us a matchup of 2 of the NFL’s best QBs in Aaron Rodgers of the Packers and Tom Brady (the GOAT), who is trying to get another ring, this time with Tampa Bay. With Rodgers’ home base being Green Bay, and Brady having played all those years in New England, both are used to playing in harsh weather conditions. With a winter storm predicted for Green Bay this weekend, we could have one of those classic “snow games.”

Which brings me to this: former NFL great Kurt Warner said this week that he is in favor of having the playoffs played indoors in a domed venue. While this would make for pristine playing conditions, we would miss out on some great moments.

Growing up, I loved the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes played in the old “Met” in Minneapolis, and it always seemed to be snowing there. Quarterback Joe Kapp was a favorite of mine, along with the “Purple People Eaters” defense, but what I remember most were the snow banks all around the field, and the flamethrowers which tried in vain to soften up the frozen tundra. The Vikings were hard to beat at home in December.

And without the elements, we would have missed out on the iconic “Ice Bowl” in 1967, as Bart Starr of the Packers scored on a quarterback sneak on the concrete-like surface of Lambeau to beat the Cowboys in the NFL Championship Game in 16-below temperatures.

I could go on-and-on with examples: the Fog Bowl, The Tuck-Rule Game, and the Freezer Bowl 1981 AFC Championship, played in 40-below wind chills in Cincinnati. Point is, football isn’t meant to be played in perfect conditions, and the backdrop of snow, sleet, and arctic wind chills is part of NFL lore.

Easy for me to say, when I’m under a comforter and glued to my 55-inch HD television…

Enjoy the games this weekend…and GO HORNETS!

RW

A Beginning

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Well, almost.

It was “one and done” for The Washington Football Team on Super Wild Card Weekend, as the burgundy and gold lost to the ageless Tom Brady and the Bucs , as expected, 31-23. But the 7-9 WFT didn’t go down without a fight, and earned the respect of Tampa and a lot of the NFL who thought they didn’t earn a seat at the post-season table.

(At this point, I need to veer off-track with a few random thoughts. Why is the much-heralded Washington front four nicknamed “Maroon-4”? I get the reference to the musical group, but maroon isn’t one of the team colors. I’m reminded of former Redskins coach Jim Zorn, who in his opening press conference upon being hired, asked for “3 cheers for the old maroon and black.”

And, did you see the comparison-photos of 43 year-old Brady and 43 year-old George Blanda from back in the day? Blanda looked 70, while Brady looked 25. I’m pretty sure the reason is that in the late 60s, Blanda had no access to dieticians, massage therapists, and yoga pants. But the difference was striking.)

Anyway, on Saturday night, the WFT acquitted itself nicely, thanks to the efforts of instant folk hero Taylor Heinicke, who in his first start as Washington QB, almost single handedly willed his team to victory. The former ODU signal caller even came back out of the locker room late in the game after a shoulder injury, and in a “Willis Reed” moment, got the WFT within a TD at 28-23.

As disappointing as the loss was, it felt like more of a beginning than an end. In the last 20-plus years of the Dan Snyder regime, the playoff appearances have been few and far between, the post-season wins even more rare. And the playoff exits always felt like the end, rather than something to build on the following year. Even “Joe Gibbs 2.0″seemed like like a magic act performed with smoke and mirrors.

Saturday night’s loss felt different. Much has been written about the exciting young defensive line, led by rookie captain Chase Young. But there are some exciting young stars on the offensive side of the ball, and while this year might be the final chapter of the feel-good story of Alex Smith, and the end of Ryan Kerrigan’s time in DC, there is a lot to be hopeful about in 2021.

In a tumultuous year for the organization on many fronts, head coach Ron Rivera navigated his team through the rough waters of 2020 to a division title and playoff appearance, despite his own personal challenges. For that, he should at least be considered for Coach Of The Year honors.

We all know too well that ownership could mess things up without even trying, but Saturday night felt like the start of something big.

Until the next visit, so long from The Booth. GO WFT, GO HORNETS!

RW

Hail To The WFT!

SU field oversight
SU field oversight
Winchester Printers

Greetings from The Booth!

Welcome to 2021, hopefully a year that brings an end to the pandemic, and a return to all things “normal,” like concerts, fairs, movies, and fans at sporting events. Before we move on to this week’s topic, many thanks to all of you who told us how much you enjoyed our “This Week In Shenandoah University Football” segments over the past several months. It was great to re-live some great memories from the last 20 years in “The Booth.”

For the first time since 2015, the Washington Football Team is headed to the NFL playoffs following Sunday’s 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. At 7-9, the WFT is only the third team with a losing record to make the postseason in a non-strike year. After a 2-7 start, Washington finished 5-2 to get into the playoffs as the NFC East champions. Much has been written about the feel-good stories of both Coach Ron Rivera, who battled cancer during the season, and QB Alex Smith, who should easily win the NFL Comeback Player Of The Year award.

Those two things, combined with the name change of the team, the negative publicity surrounding Dan Snyder and the culture within the organization, and the continuing drama of Dwayne Haskins, made for a season that was “so 2020,” as the saying now goes. It was only fitting that the WFT won the division almost by default.

Which brings me to this past Sunday night. In a game that the Eagles basically handed to Washington, the burgundy-and-gold on several occasions tried to give it back, before finally securing the victory. Philly coach Doug Pederson made several questionable decisions, including giving up what would have been a tying chip-shot field goal late in the game, instead going for the TD on fourth-and-goal (which failed). The most questionable move (just ask Giants fans) was replacing future franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts with backup Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter, which also backfired.

Many have accused Pederson of “tanking” the game to improve the team’s position in the draft, and one could make that case based on “the eye test.” This was not a good look for the NFL, which flexed the game to prime time, only to see two teams playing hot potato. Surely there will be more discussion about the “integrity of the game” in the weeks to come.

To the Giants (and their livid fan base), who needed an Eagles win to secure the division title, you should have taken care of business with a few more wins during the season. When you rely on help from other teams in a playoff scenario, you seldom get it. Washington fans have been there. If a 7-9 record isn’t playoff worthy to some, 6-10 shouldn’t even get a sniff of the postseason.

Someone had to win the “NFC Least,” and this year it’s the Washington Football Team, who now have to prepare for the GOAT Tom Brady, and the Bucs. The WFT is going to be looked down upon, much like the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks who somehow crashes the country club soiree. In the words of Judge Smails, played by the great Ted Knight in the movie Caddyshack, “some people just do not belong.”

But don’t forget, this is the 2020 season, and Washington is playing with house money.

Until next time from The Booth, HTTWFT! and GO HORNETS!

RW