Before we get into the nitty gritty of Dirty Dan Drehmel's saturday performance let me say a few things about Portland.
1. Portland has the single nicest airport in America. I've been to at least 7 other airports so I know this. Trees, greenhouse style windows, Starbucks, futuristic architecture... can't prove it, but Dante's "Paradiso" may be loosely based on a lay-over at Portland International Airport.
2. All Portland teens/tweens dress like emo kids or goths. Not sure why.
3. All middle-aged men in Portland dress like they are about to go on a hike. Maybe they all are?
4. Unlike in SoCal the air doesn't hurt your lungs. In sum Portland has it's ups (airport, air-quality) and it's downs (the way almost everyone dresses). Good trip overall.
Now back to our golden-locked hero. After a subpar Friday practice at the Lewis & Clark Field and a noisy bout with seasonal allergies on sunday night Dan was all ready for his first away game. This time Dan was expected not only to sacrifice distance and kick the ball high, he was also expected to kick away from number 29, starting RB Joevonte Mayes. Apparently kicking off to one side of the field is harder than it looks because Dan's opening kickoff was a 40 yard shank job. Not pretty. Four touchdowns later Dan had turned in four flawless extra points and 4 decent kickoffs (46, 50, 54 and 51 yards respectively). 28-21 Sagehens lead at the half.
Second half was a slaughter. 4 more touchdowns, 4 more Dan Drehmel extra points. Not only had Dan made all 8 extra points in a game, he also didn't leave the kicking net in the airport. The ghost of Matt Paisner had officially been excorcised. Or had it? On his 9th and final extra point attempt Dan took a shaky run at the ball and pulled it badly, glancing it off the outside of the left post. A career 100% PAT man was suddenly looking at a much less invincible 90%. On the plus side, Dan followed this disaster with an angry 58-yard kickoff, his only kick of the day inside the 15.
Having yet to kick a field goal Dan's record is mixed, but promising. 51 yard kickoff average, 9/10 PAT's. Couldn't expect much better for his first 2 games, then again he still hasn't faced that big pressure kick that is likely to define his whole season.
Fantasy Update: Owners of Pomona-Pitzer QB Jake Caron will be pleased to know that he rushed for 145 yards and 5 touchdowns and passed for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns. Not too shabby.
Bye Week Blog Status: This week the Sagehens have a bye, so anything could happen on this blog. That's right anything. You don't want to miss that do you?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Thrill of Competition, The Agony of Defeat.
Saturday wasn't pretty. After 8 glorious minutes, featuring a spirited goal line stand by the sagehens defense, a 68 yard touchdown pass from Sophomore QB Jake Caron to Senior WR Kevin Kelley, and three breathtaking kicks from Dirty Dan Drehmel, nothing went right for the Sagehens. Final score: Loggers 37 Hens 7.
Dan got way under his opening kickoff, and popped it up to the 27 yard line. Not the perfect kick, but nonetheless a respectable opening effort, executed to Head Coach Roger Caron's liking (more on this later).
After Caron's quick touchdown strike Senor Drehmel banged the extra point through with relative ease, adding his name to the NCAA record books where he now trails his hero Mason Crosby by a tally of 308-1. Mr. Crosby had no comment on Dan's chase for 308.
The real highlight was Dan's second kickoff. Like a hopeful young osprey that has just learned to fly, Dan's second kickoff soared through the sky to the amazement and delight of the Pomona-Pitzer faithful. But don't take my word for it, hear what The Automated ScoreBook for Football has to say! "Dan Drehmel kickoff 63 yards to the UPS2, Williams, K. return 17 yards to the UPS19." The 2 yard line. The 2 yard line!!!! Shocked by the colossal drive over his head, Kavin Williams retreated, bobbled the ball and was brought down short of the 20. Unfortunately, Kavin would regain some of his dignity, rushing for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns and throwing for 149 more.
In light of this kick, the "Caron Strategem" (kick it really high, don't worry too much about distance) may be out the window. As the great Lao-Tsu once said: If your kicker has a big leg, feed him rice and ham until he kicks touchbacks. 8 minutes of glory: a couple of hours of hanging out on the bench. Such is the life of a kicker.
Dan got way under his opening kickoff, and popped it up to the 27 yard line. Not the perfect kick, but nonetheless a respectable opening effort, executed to Head Coach Roger Caron's liking (more on this later).
After Caron's quick touchdown strike Senor Drehmel banged the extra point through with relative ease, adding his name to the NCAA record books where he now trails his hero Mason Crosby by a tally of 308-1. Mr. Crosby had no comment on Dan's chase for 308.
The real highlight was Dan's second kickoff. Like a hopeful young osprey that has just learned to fly, Dan's second kickoff soared through the sky to the amazement and delight of the Pomona-Pitzer faithful. But don't take my word for it, hear what The Automated ScoreBook for Football has to say! "Dan Drehmel kickoff 63 yards to the UPS2, Williams, K. return 17 yards to the UPS19." The 2 yard line. The 2 yard line!!!! Shocked by the colossal drive over his head, Kavin Williams retreated, bobbled the ball and was brought down short of the 20. Unfortunately, Kavin would regain some of his dignity, rushing for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns and throwing for 149 more.
In light of this kick, the "Caron Strategem" (kick it really high, don't worry too much about distance) may be out the window. As the great Lao-Tsu once said: If your kicker has a big leg, feed him rice and ham until he kicks touchbacks. 8 minutes of glory: a couple of hours of hanging out on the bench. Such is the life of a kicker.
Next Week I follow Daniel-san out to the wild, wilderness of Oregon where the
Sagehens take on Lewis & Clark. Turf-shoes have been purchased; apparently
Lewis & Clark has that old, bootleg AstroTurf junk that cuts your knees up. Friends
and family are encouraged to join us!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Preseason Outlook: Golden Locks...And Golden Boot?
Dateline, September 10: It's 11:39 in Claremont California and our hero, boy-wonder Daniel William Drehmel sleeps peacefully in his bed (2 mattresses stacked on top of each other, no bed frame, props to Conway). We can only wonder at the fleeting thoughts passing through his tired mind. Over the last three weeks Daniel has been subjected to the most intense physical and mental torture imaginable. Earlier today Daniel did between 16 and 17 sets of leg press, he was so tired afterward he couldn't remember how many. Like a wounded Mother-Babboon protecting her young from aggressive wildebeasts, Dan played through the pain and executed 3 mediocre kickoffs later that day, "On Saturday those will go 5 yards further," Dan claimed, undaunted. Below are some of the highlights from training camp, the beginning of the journey that will no doubt lead him to the Super Bowl someday.
First day of camp: Dan runs a mile and a half faster than alot of the guys on the team!"
Another day: Dan is forced to tackle people, and doesn't completely miss. "Dirty Dan becomes Dangerous Dan" exclaims Coach Williams (see him here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxMcjfMAgTY)
A different day: Dan almost tackles his holder on a botched snap. Apparently he didn't know that when his holder RJ screams fire that means it's a botched snap. Dan is such an idiot some times!
A different day: Wunderkid QB Jake Caron throws a left-handed rocket toward our unsuspecting hero. Dan tries to catch it, and jams his pinky into the top of the ball dislocating all three joints. Apparently this looked cool. Unfortunately for me Coach Williams calmly popped it back into place. Trainer Jed tells Dan to get it x-rayed. He does. No break!!! The town of Claremont exhales a sigh of relief audible all the way from nearby Upland (Wow, that's loud!!!).
On Saturday the question on everyone's mind will no doubt be: Can this plucky Drehmel kid outkick the amazing 6"0' 185 lb University of Puget Sound Freshman Kicker, Wyatt Everton (from Spokane for all my Washinton State readers!)???? Only time will tell.
First day of camp: Dan runs a mile and a half faster than alot of the guys on the team!"
Another day: Dan is forced to tackle people, and doesn't completely miss. "Dirty Dan becomes Dangerous Dan" exclaims Coach Williams (see him here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxMcjfMAgTY)
A different day: Dan almost tackles his holder on a botched snap. Apparently he didn't know that when his holder RJ screams fire that means it's a botched snap. Dan is such an idiot some times!
A different day: Wunderkid QB Jake Caron throws a left-handed rocket toward our unsuspecting hero. Dan tries to catch it, and jams his pinky into the top of the ball dislocating all three joints. Apparently this looked cool. Unfortunately for me Coach Williams calmly popped it back into place. Trainer Jed tells Dan to get it x-rayed. He does. No break!!! The town of Claremont exhales a sigh of relief audible all the way from nearby Upland (Wow, that's loud!!!).
On Saturday the question on everyone's mind will no doubt be: Can this plucky Drehmel kid outkick the amazing 6"0' 185 lb University of Puget Sound Freshman Kicker, Wyatt Everton (from Spokane for all my Washinton State readers!)???? Only time will tell.
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