The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

ed. note: the following post is by UMBC student Zak Bratcher, who attended last week’s game in Raleigh. It’s long, but worth it.

I remember going to my first UMBC basketball game two years ago. My roommate and I, both sports-obsessed freshmen who considered ourselves diehard Terps fans in our formative years, felt it natural to support our Division I men’s basketball team. We were playing Delaware sometime in December, a non-conference contest that meant practically nothing. Considering the Retrievers were coming off three forgettable losing seasons, the RAC arena was noticeably void of fans. My roommate and I represented two of about 30 less-than-crazed students composing the less-than-intimidating Dawg Pound student section.

I glanced at my buddy, “You think we’ll ever make the Tournament?”

Mostly out of courtesy, he didn’t respond.

At the time, we both realized our men’s basketball team had an arduous journey ahead to become relevant – probably too laborious for us to witness the resurrection in just four years. Hell, all we really wanted was for the Dogs to play a meaningful conference game in February. We weren’t holding our breath.

Last Thursday morning, a hoard of eight of my closest friends loaded into two cars, fueled up on coffee and donuts, and trekked down to Raleigh, N.C. Two weekends prior, we had logged over a thousand miles to support the Retrievers in their quest for a first ever America East Conference title, so following the Retrievers to their first ever NCAA Tournament game seemed only natural. After all, the 300-plus-mile retreat to the Mecca of College Hoops wasn’t a bad way to spend Spring Break.

Upon arrival, we followed Tobacco Road from Durham, home of the rigid, gothic architecture of Duke University, into Chapel Hill, home of the University of North Carolina. UNC’s campus has an overwhelmingly communal feel, highlighted by Franklin Street, a pathway connecting the university with downtown shops, restaurants, and bars. Clad in our gold and black, we felt right at home in the prototypical college town’s expanse of sky blue.

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Ed. note: the following comes to us courtesy of Gregory Esposito at the AZ Sports Hub, part of the Behind Enemy Lines alliance. Enjoy.

The Red Birds come into Baltimore on a high as they finally won a game it looked like there wouldn’t and evened their record at 1-1. A late forced fumble set up the game-winning field goal against the Seahawks. Yes, that’s right. For once in the Cards’ long history they had good luck instead of bad.

OFFENSE
The offense has been as advertised with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt. They’re a hard-nosed team who have run the ball as many times as they have thrown it this year.

Edgerrin James has carried a majority of the offensive load as he has run 50 times for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns so far. His field vision is back to what it was when he was in Indy and the revamped offensive line has managed to open holes wider then Paris Hilton’s legs (just ask Matt Leinart).

Speaking of Leinart, he bounced back after a difficult game one against the 49ers. He’s still going through the growing pains of a second year quarterback but he has dedicated himself to showing up at the practice facility at 5:30 AM to study film and being the last one to leave. The Ravens defense is probably the toughest he has faced in his young career so he will have to minimize the mistakes if the Cardinals are to win.

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are as advertised, continuing to catch more balls than people in Baltimore catch STD’s. They both have over 100 yards receiving thus far this season. Boldin has become a focal point of the offense being used in the backfield and in trick plays the same way Whisenhunt used Antwan Randle El in his time in Pittsburgh.

Tight End Leonard Pope has also emerged as a weapon in the red zone. He also can help spread the field as he had a 30 yard touchdown reception in last weeks match up.

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