Ten quick hits to recap a busy weekend aboard two decommissioned aircraft carriers and a damp gator. 1. The games that finished: To minimal fanfare and with a relatively dry court, Notre Dame’s women’s team defeated the Ohio State women 57-51 on the decommissioned aircraft carrier Yorktown in Charleston, S.C., on Friday afternoon to begin what was supposed to be a four-game weekend shipboard slate. On Sunday in San Diego, the Syracuse men easily dispatched San Diego State 62-49 aboard the decommissioned carrier Yorktown. Between those games, things got interesting. 2. The first washout: The Ohio State and Marquette men…
Browsing: San Diego State
Are you a fan of early-season college basketball? Of camouflage-themed uniform designs? Of playing basketball on multiple warships, active and decommissioned? Or playing overseas, at odd times, to placate television audiences? If so, this is your lucky week. On Friday, five college hoops games with a military feel will be played in less than eight hours — four games on ships, one game on a base in Germany. Here’s a breakdown of who’s playing who where this Friday: (UPDATE: West Coast game moved to Sunday because of weather concerns) Armed Forces Classic Presented by: Sears Who: No. 14 Michigan State…
The “Battle on the Midway” college basketball game set for Nov. 9 on a decommissioned aircraft carrier in San Diego was supposed to be the centerpiece of a Veterans Day weekend celebration, including a charity concert, a fan fest and a fancy dinner. Now, all of the surrounding events have been canceled, according to a U-T San Diego report, and the game itself could vanish next. The contest between Syracuse and San Diego State, to be held in a 4,000-seat temporary stadium aboard the Midway, is not sold out, according to the report. The U-T says the $1,000-a-seat tickets have…
While the other service academies started last weekend, Army fans had to wait for the 2012 season to begin. Tomorrow, that wait ends. The storied tradition (trust us, it’s storied) of West Point football returns for a 123rd season, kicking off on the West Coast. Here are the basics: Who, where, when: Army at San Diego State (0-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Eastern. TV: NBC Sports Network (Paul Burmeister and Rod Woodson on the call). Gambling is illegal in most states: San Diego State is a 6.5-point favorite. Senior leaders: Army quarterback Trent Steelman enters his fourth season as a starter,…
Cold Warriors, stand down. Despite recent reports, the U.S. remains ahead of the Russians when it comes to the next generation of naval warfare — namely, hosting sporting events on aircraft carriers. English-language all-Russian-news site RT.com reported Monday that the Major Hockey League, which is actually a minor hockey league (those wacky Russians) to the big-time KHL, is planning to hold a game on a flattop anchored in the Gulf of Finland. The host team would be HC VMS St. Petersburg, the Russian navy’s official hockey club, according to the report. No date is set, no opponent is named, and…
Last week came the news that a key organization behind the 2011 Quicken Loans Carrier Classic had settled on a new host on a new coast for 2012, scheduling a college basketball doubleheader (men’s and women’s) for the World War II-era carrier Yorktown, now a museum ship in South Carolina. West Coast hoops-on-a-carrier lovers had only a few hours to be disappointed. A few days after the (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier report cited last week, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego Bay, will host a Nov. 9 men’s game, likely between San…
The brilliant careers of Ricky Dobbs and the rest of the Navy seniors ended with a 35-14 loss to San Diego State on Thursday night in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Aztecs offense had too much firepower for Navy’s defense, finishing with 555 total yards. Freshman running back Ronnie Hillman led San Diego State’s attack, rushing for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Hillman also caught a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which was effectively the back-breaker for Navy. Aztec junior quarterback Ryan Lindley threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns. For Navy, Dobbs has a typically strong game…
First, let me confess that I’m having trouble getting excited for this game. Maybe I’ve actually become numb to Navy playing in meaningless bowls, or maybe part of it has to do with the game being played two days before Christmas. I mean, there’s a lot on my mind right now. Should I have asked Santa for The Shake Weight For Men instead of the Perfect Situp? Will my wife resent the pots, pans, iron and vacuum that I bought for her? Did I leave the space heater plugged in next to the Christmas tree? Those concerns aside, this is…
Air Force’s road game at San Diego State this past weekend was supposed to be a warm-up before it faced two top-10 teams, No. 4 TCU and No. 9 Utah, in consecutive weekends. Instead, the trip turned into a debacle. Led by a freshman running back who rushed for 191 yards, San Diego State upset the then-No. 23 Falcons 27-25. To make matters worse, Air Force lost starting fullback Jared Tew for the rest of the regular season after possibly breaking his fibula in the first quarter. Outside of quarterback Tim Jefferson, Tew was probably the player the Falcons could…
