I got home from work this morning around 3:30. I go to the Swarm website and see that Howard has the first edition of Turf Talk on the website. As I start reading his week one review I started to worry because he states that the Swarm website's countdown to gametime has now reached 0 days, 0 hours and 0 minutes. He also states that the season starts tonight. I frantically searched for the season schedule and a trusted calendar because at that time I wondered if I had become completely lost and forgotten what day it was again. Kind of like the time I called my brother on his birthday and gave him his birthday blessing. My brother's birthday is on November 27. I called him on October 27. I didn't forget when his birthday was, I actually thought it was November and not October.

After double checking all the schedule information, making sure I knew what day it actually was and taking comfort in knowing I didn't step in a time-travel porthole which projected me a day into the future, I calmed down realizing that Howard is just as excited about the season opener as everyone else. Thanks for giving me a nice little scare there Howard.

You miss one heck of a game, Wildheadtatt.

Lets get it pumped up around here, Swarmiacs!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Hive...

How's it going? Tough night last night, huh? Definitely a heartbreaker but I'm confident the guys will come back strong Friday night vs. Rochester.

Sorry about the mix-up about the countdown... I wrote the preview for the game day program but that sentence was edited out. It made sense for the program since that would be read when the clock was in fact at 0:00:00. When I read it on the website I gave my best Homer Simpson D'Oh! My bad.

As for the game... I'm doing postgame interviews which will post on the website as soon as the Swarm posts them. Some interesting thoughts from the guys. Clearly no one was happy last night but I got the sense they knew that mental mistakes cost them. I doubt we'll see the same mistakes next week. I think the layoff hurt them... even though they started so strong, they didn't play like the team we're used to seeing.

I was VERY impressed with Patterson in goal. The score would have been much worse if he didn't stand on his head. If the national lacrosse media pays attention to the Swarm this year, he'll receive the kudos he deserves.

How much of a stud is Brock Boyle? Corporal's favorite is clearly the fan favorite. He is a great guy too... listen to the interview with him when it posts. Tallk about a guy getting everything out of his talent. I also interviewed Dewey, Patterson, Ward, Pollock and Cousins. They're all getting much more media savvy... now if only the Minnesota media would cover them.

Speaking of that... I thought Perk did a great job. He's giving the team a ton of press and I'm sure the guys appreciate it. Glad he didn't get hurt last night... I'm looking forward to his piece on Perk at Play on Tuesday.

One final note... Derek Moffat wasn't at the game on Saturday. His mom passed away and he was in Canada taking care of things. I'm sure he'd appeciate the Hive's condolensces.

See you on Friday... we had a nice crowd on Saturday. Hopefully we'll have the same against the Knighthawks.

LaxProf

PS: Sorry I didn't make the tailgate... I'll be there this year chowing some of WHT's burgers and Postergirl's brownies.

My condolescences to Derek and his family. Come back when you can as a lot of us missed you on Saturday night.

P.S. Marty brought in the Swarm's Eastern Scout Mike Lines as an assistant Saturday. Mike has worked with Dewey in the past and is a defensive guru according to Marty. Mike said last night that he will help out at games when Marty needs him. Below is stats from when played in the late 80's and early 90's.

During the summer, Mike is the head coach of the Niagara Thunderhawks in the Ontario Junior B league who won the Southwest Division with a record of 15-5. They won their first two series in the Ontario Jr. B playoffs (best of five) over Hamilton in 3 games and Windsor in 5 before losing to Orangeville in 5 in the semifinals. Also according to one player, Lines had a mullet back in the day.

Stats from Bible of Lacrosse

Thanks for the info Howard. My condolensces to Derek Moffat and the rest of the Moffat family.

Anytime you want to stop by the tailgate you are more than welcome to. Just keep an eye on the tailgate topic to see what the menu will be. This new grill should take good care of some burgers. We should get some burgers more often.