Sports

The Bates Student - September 25, 1998

 
 

White Mule hides for sale here: check with ruggers for details

By CAM DONALDSON
Sports Editor
 

Tired of reading Nitsche or memorizing amino acid structures? Alcohol policy got you drinking Moxie and watching MASH reruns at 1:00 a.m.? Racket sports and cross country don't do it for you? On October 3, the Bates campus will get a lot dirtier, a lot louder and a lot more fun when Bowdoin crosses the Androscoggin to meet the fairest lads of Bates College in the rugby home opener at 2:00 pm.

Last year Bates posted a 4-1 record, not quite good enough to clinch a spot in the New England Conference playoffs. This season they will have to weigh in with everything they have and finish with a perfect 5-0 record in order to make the playoffs.

"Overconfidence could be a problem this year," said Chris Morris '00. "We did real well in our scrimmage against Bowdoin last weekend and we start the season against a team that we destroyed last year."

Bates opens the season at Plymouth State this weekend, where they coasted to a 70-6 win last year. However, the `Cats would be wise to heed the lessons of two years ago, when they won New Englands and came in second in the Northeast Regionals but still beat lowly Plymouth State by only a one-point margin. That single point could have cost them what turned out to be a highly successful postseason.

"Not every game's a given in this league," said Morris. "Every game is crucial. We can't lose one if we plan to meet our goal of making New Englands."

Last year, all the team saw during the postseason were the White Asses of Colby College passing them in a 22-17 loss that forced Bates to relinquish its position as Downeast Division frontrunners. On October 10, as part of Parents Weekend festivities, Bates will get their chance to reel Colby in and take back what, by all accounts, belongs on Bobcat soil: the Downeast Division title.

"The most important thing for us to do this year is kill Colby," said Ralph Livermore '99. "We have a good mix of people on the team; a good bunch of seniors and a lot of rookies. We'll see if we can better what we did two years ago." Given a healthy squad capable of mustering the same level of nitro-powered offense seen last year, it would be unwise to bet against these Bobcats.

"Our forward pack looks ready to dominate, just as they have in recent years," said Morris. "The key will be to develop our backs, who never really gelled last year. A lot of our backs were out with injuries at times last season, preventing them from working well together."

This year, practices have included more conditioning elements in hopes of increasing durability and team health. Though you may never see Mark "Chooch" Jewell's mug on a Wheaties cereal box, this team is clearly more focused on building elite athletes. Only a fossil record remains from the days when unidimensional players of Tyrannosaur-like proportions lumbered around the rugby field at Bates.

"The subbing in rugby is very limited," said Coach Kevin Cullenburg. "Most guys play all 80 minutes of the game, so they really need to be in shape. No one has an advantage because they all learn the game when they come to college. I just try to teach the game and build from there."

Understanding the game will be key on a team where only three out of 40 players have high school rugby experience. It all comes down to being prepared...Prepared for the headiness that comes with success, for the bump and grind, and, above all, for Colby.
 


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Last Modified: September 25, 1998
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