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Column: Hughes’ big blunder, and five other musings

It’s been a thrilling past few weeks in sports. Baseball playoffs are getting interesting, the college football season has been scintillating, and the NFL’s first month has produced some memorable games. But not everything is as it should be. These are just a few things that have been bothering me recently about sports, both in the professional world and here on campus.

- If you weren’t at the football team’s heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Colgate last Thursday night, you missed a great game. I criticized the team after its blowout loss to Columbia last weekend, but I was impressed by how the Tigers, especially the defense, responded against a very talented Red Raiders squad. Watching the offense, though, I can’t help but think that head coach Roger Hughes grossly mismanaged his quarterback situation last year. Instead of choosing a backup to then-senior Brian Anderson ’09 from his roster of young signal callers last season, Hughes converted junior safety Dan Kopolovich, a high school quarterback, to be Anderson’s backup. What happened? Anderson graduated, Kopolovich returned to the defense, and Hughes was left to choose a starter for this year out of a crop of six quarterbacks, none of whom had thrown more than 10 passes in a college game. Sophomore Tommy Wornham has stepped into the role valiantly, but the learning curve is steep at this level, and he has often looked, well, inexperienced. If the team’s offensive struggles continue — Princeton earned just 14 points in its last two games — Hughes’ decision not groom a quarterback last season will loom larger and larger.

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- I was a bit perturbed by the way the Los Angeles Angels paid tribute to fallen teammate Nick Adenhart after they secured a playoff berth two weeks ago. I have said all year that the Angels’ handling of the Adenhart tragedy was classy — the Angels take his jersey with them on every road trip and have kept his home locker intact — but during the champagne throw-a-thon that has become customary of baseball teams heading to the playoffs, the Angels grabbed an Adenhart jersey and doused it with alcohol. The 22-year-old Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver on April 9, and while I certainly understand that the Angels meant no harm, a tribute to Adenhart involving the reckless use of alcohol is far from tasteful or appropriate.

- While we’re on the topic of baseball, since when do we cancel games because it is too cold? Game 3 of the Phillies-Rockies divisional series was postponed on Saturday because of sub-freezing temperatures. Don’t get me wrong, 27 degrees is damn cold. Would I want to play in it? Absolutely not. Would the elements have forced the teams to play differently? For sure. But these are professional athletes, and these are the playoffs: These aren’t middle schoolers playing recreational t-ball. Golfers might not be thrilled to play on U.S. Open greens that resemble porcelain bathtubs, but they tough it out. There is something wonderfully satisfying about watching professionals brave the elements, whether it’s snow, rain, wind or, in this case, cold air. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig deprived us of that privilege on Saturday. Would there have been fewer fans in attendance? Absolutely. But if postponing the game was an attempt to sell a few more hot dogs, the sport should be ashamed of itself.  

- Following sprint football games, it has been a Princeton policy that the Tigers not shake hands with their opponents for fear of the H1N1 virus. I understand that handshakes are one of the most common ways that viruses spread through society, but I always thought that applied in the corporate world when you normally would not make contact with others. After you spend 60 minutes with your hands under someone’s shoulder pads, tackling and blocking, is there really a point to banning the tapping of palms? This is like handing protective cups to bull riders after the rodeo: If there is damage, it is probably already done. Let’s not forgo a time-honored tradition of sportsmanship for a futile health measure.

- Is no one else supremely bothered by Penn State football’s joke of a schedule? The Nittany Lions play in a relatively weak BCS conference and then schedule their non-Big 10 games against Syracuse (RPI No. 116), Temple (No. 99), Akron (No. 139) and Eastern Illinois (No. 137). For those of you who are wondering, the Eastern Illinois Panthers are not even ranked in Division I-AA. I understand that scheduling is difficult, and politics definitely play a role, but come on, Penn State. Perennial national title contender Ohio State plays powerhouse USC every year. No. 4 Virginia Tech opened its season against No. 2 Alabama. When you play in a less-than-competitive BCS conference (cough, Big East or Big 10, cough) you should have to schedule at least one team within a zip code of your talent level. Penn State could learn something from the Princeton men’s water polo team: You truly learn about yourself as an individual and as a team when you play the best your sport has to offer, not just the teams that will put you on the fast track to the Rose Bowl or a high national ranking. 

- I’ll close with the one that really bothers me the most: The best team on campus right now is also the one no one talks about. Following its thrilling victory Sunday, the field hockey team is 10-2 and ranked fifth in the nation. The Tigers are the only team all season to play unanimous No. 1 Maryland to within a goal and have already beaten two top-five teams. With a unique blend of youth and experience — and a field full of talent — the team is poised to make a serious run at Princeton’s first NCAA title since 2003. The Tigers are away each of the next two weekends, but they return home for a pair of games at the end of the month. Show up. Start talking. 

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