A Playoff Atmosphere

It's been a season of huge games and it started with the first game of the season: the first for a UVM team in 33 years. Then came the first home game, the battle of the undefeated teams against Mass Fury, and last weekends renewal of a rivalry against the University of Maine. And now we look forward to another one, the game to decide the Western Division Championship against the Vermont Ravens.

The first meeting was intense. Scoreless through three quarters, we kicked a field goal to go ahead 3-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Ravens came right back on a very long drive and tied the score at 3. But we were able to respond quickly on a nine play drive that ended in the game's only touchdown and won, 9-3.

The rematch will feature two vastly improved teams. The Ravens are on a four-game winning streak and have scored on some long runs recently. Their offense seems to have found their rhythm and the defense is as tough as ever. But we've improved as well, on both sides of the ball, and there's no telling which team has the upper hand.

However, I'm fired up by the rhetoric coming out of Ravens Camp the last two weeks. To hear them tell the story, they've already won the division title. I don't think that there is any doubt in their minds that they feel we "got away with one" in Burlington. I can only imagine that they think we're like Appalachian State against mighty Michigan: we got lucky once, but the rematch would be different.

As a mathematician, I like looking at the numbers. The Ravens four wins were against teams that we've also defeated. One of the two Ravens losses have come at the hands of Mass Fury, who also defeated us. The only game that stands out is the 9-3 loss the Ravens suffered to my UVM team on September 8, 2007. I know that loss haunts them and it's the rallying cry for them this week. They want to prove to us that they are the better team. My guys are ready to show that Sept. 8 wasn't a fluke and that if you want to talk smack, you'd better be able to back it up.

So, with the title on the line, this game takes on a playoff atmosphere. Both teams will be more amped up than they've been so far. The game will be close and the game will be exciting. Can we win another big game? I'll let you know on Monday!

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I'm looking forward to a lot of things on Sunday: the roar of the crowd, the excitement of the game, just to name a few. But seeing Mike Salmon leading his Ravens sure is a great sight to behold. Mike has really paid his dues as an assistant with the Vermont Icestorm, and has proven that he was ready for the next challenge. Now if he could only get radio announcer, Chris Fells, to behave himself on game day, that would be something!