January 14, 2025 • 17 mins
The UConn AD makes his weekly Tuesday visit on the Rob Dibble Show
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
U KA Women's Biggiest Basketball heard right here on Fox
Sports Radio ninety seven nine Hartford and free on the
iHeartRadio apps.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now your chance to win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Just enter this nation ye keyword on our website money,
that's money.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Enter it now and that again sports.
Speaker 5 (00:21):
Doc lives here.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
You're listening to The Rob Dibble Show.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Back on The Rob Dibble Show's Ben Darnell in your
afternoon drive. Kirk Kaplan on the ones and twos. Thank
you so much for keeping us on the air and
joining us on his weekly hit. Here is David Benedict,
the Yukon Athletic Director, here on the hotline, and mister Penedict,
welcome to the show. Can you give us a little
insight and you know, not trying to pry here, but
Liam McNeely, do you have any idea when he might
(00:51):
be back and what do you think about us rebounding
against Georgetown?
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Look, you know, the only thing I can tell you
about Liam is that I think he's responding well to
his his rehab. And you know, I look forward as
much as the coaches and all of our fans do
him getting back on the court, and I hope that
that takes place sometime soon. But in the meantime, you know, uh,
(01:18):
I think some of the guys that are having the
opportunity to get some additional time or are making the
most of it. So you know, look forward to seeing
him back whenever that is, you know, as it relates
to the rebound, I was, I was in Philly for
the Nova game as well as in DC, and thought that,
you know, we we played a tough, physical game against Villanova,
(01:43):
came up a little bit short, and obviously, uh had
it had a great, great rebound against Georgetown.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I learned this like down south with all my college
baseball friends, and it was a situation where we had
a couple of pitchers that were junior and could possibly
be drafted. Their arms weren't like their arms were barking
like Dibbs knows how it is in the end of
the year, you know, the game ten, game eleven, and
they were held out a little bit longer. And then
coaching coaching staffs, both coaches staffs was working for a
(02:13):
couple of teams to explain to me, like, these guys
are prospects in MLB, so we don't want to be
the school to mess them up. We want to do
everything right by them. And that's where I kind of learned, Like,
you know, a lot of these athletic departments, a lot
of these programs, you know, they're looking out for kids
in the next level if they've got the chance, and
they know they have the chance. Is that something you've
dealt with? And we've got too high profile basketball players
(02:36):
right now on the shelf and we hope they get
back soon. But for liam for a page for athletes
of that caliber, for your athletic department, Like, is there
something that's discussed about knowing their next level and knowing
you know, all the things that go on with just
these particular athletes that are such superstars that we got
to take it easy compared to other athletes that we've had.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, it's a fairer question, Ben, I would tell you that.
I'm not going to suggest that there's not a conversation
is about that, But I think the primary focus here
is to make sure in either one of these cases
that when you bring them back, they're as healthy as
(03:18):
they're going to be in the course of the season
and gives you know, I mean as an athlete and
you know, as you play longer. You know, it's tough
to ever be one hundred percent during the course of
the season, and so I think the key here and
the main priority is not bringing them back too early
(03:40):
so that you put them at risk at re injuring
because they're not in a place where they can sustain
the level of intensity that's required on the court. And
so I think that's probably the primary piece then. But
you know, again, there are a lot of things to
think about, especially when you're on with individuals that are
(04:01):
supposed to be not just traft picks, but high draft picks.
So but I but I think those two things go
hand in hand. If someone's ready to return and they're
capable of playing at a certain level, then I don't
think that you're you know, potentially impacting the other.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Talking to David Benedict, the Yukon Athletic director, and yeah,
I'm not probing on our particular, but no, the xl
cample things like that. I know, even when I was
in the minor leagues, like there were certain standards you
had to have in the training room. Is there are
there standards and practices at the you know, just this
(04:42):
level D one level that wherever the facilities are even
the visitors would have the rights to a weight room,
the white rights to a training facility.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
My wife said, well, you know, they don't have an
MRI machine at the XL or they don't have an
MRI machine, you know in some of these facilit is
there a standard that all colleges have to go by,
as you know, were these athletes even hockey? You know,
I mean we have a brand new facility, they probably
have the state of the art equipment there. What's the
standard amongst let's say, in the Big East.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Well, I mean number one, I'm not familiar with any facility.
I'm not even sure professionally, I'm not aware that anyone
has an MRI machine within the context of their athletics facility.
I mean, those things are very, very expensive and very
utilized all the time, not just for athletes but obviously
(05:37):
for the general public, and there's just not that many
of them around. I've heard of X ray machines being available,
and you see that a lot in football facilities because
you know, there's probably a higher probability of potential breaks,
you know, But as standard, there's no national standard. There's
(05:58):
not a standard within the NC double and frankly, you
know in both of these cases, you are dealing in
basketball with a lot of soft tissue injuries and an
X ray typically is not going to show that, which
is why you know we're going to typically get home
if we're on the road, or the next day after
(06:20):
the game, if we're at home, and you're going.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
To get someone into an MRI as.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Quickly as possible. And we're fortunate because of Yukon Health
and the facilities that we have associated with our our
hospital system that we have a great MRI on campus,
and obviously we have access to MRIs that are on
the campus in Farmington, so we're in a very good position.
(06:47):
I couldn't speak to what everyone else.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Has access to.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
A new word of the Week in the David Benedict
visits to the Rob Deubile Show, This is We got
kind of mad about this story when it happened with
Page and we got even more mad when we heard
about the Caitlin Clark stalker situation. Stalkers is the word.
I didn't think you'd ever have to deal with this,
but now it becomes more of a reality than we
would like to admit. But stalkers, like how are you
(07:15):
dealing with this kind of stuff and did you ever
think you would be in a world where you have
to protect your student athletes from so many outside influences
that are so negative in a way that it's really
disgusting to think about.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Well, listen, I think because of really social media and
the impact that that has had on really building the
profiles of athletes and being able to be seen nationally,
it does create more of an interest. And when you
talk about you know, Paige Beckers specifically, you know, she
(07:53):
had I think a million followers before she ever got
to Yukon, and so there's a you know, there's unfortunately
a downside to all that publicity and all of that access,
and so hey, look, we're doing everything we can. Obviously,
we work with our police department on campus to help
(08:14):
make sure we're doing everything we can to provide a
safe environment not just for Page but for all of
our students on campus. But where there's a need to
do some extra things, we're certainly doing that. And you know,
the women specifically are traveling with someone on the road.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Now, yeah, we don't need you to give away much
more than that, but Ben is offering his services. I
ever need extra bodyguards. He's he's your guy. Welcome guards you, David.
I want to see high.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
On my legs of being able to provide that kind
of security. I may be I may be looking to
secure our people from.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Ben in better hands with that's beautiful. Let me ask
you about the football schedule. I know we got ten
games now, and we've talked about it, that the Ohio
State game you're going to maybe have a good replacement
and you're trying to get a contract there. I mean,
are we trying to get twelve scheduled games? I mean
if you maybe lose UMass, if they go to the
(09:13):
MAC and we lose them, can we replace them with somebody?
I mean, are there any colleges in the works? I
guess is my question.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah. I mean, look, our schedule is technically done for
next year. We have twelve games. We are going through
a little bit of a modification right now because of
the UMass transition, but we'll get those things announced here soon.
We do have this year, we were fortunate enough to
(09:41):
have seven home games. Next year, we're going back to
six at home and six on the road. But we
feel great about the schedule next year and we look
forward to it because I think it gives us a
great chance to build off of the success that we
had this year.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Winter sports often le we got the big East going
on in men's women's basketball, hockey is really heating up.
I love saying that with the pun on. You know,
the ice also just about to start. We are already
chewing on coach Penders' schedule of Yukon baseball. I just
saw today on Yukon husky dot com that fifty years
of softball, Like we're celebrating fifty years all over place.
(10:20):
We just did hockey in Hartford last weekend. Fifty years
of hockey in Hartford. Now fifty years of softball at Yukon.
And this program is really off and run and have
some really good years in the last couple of years.
I mean, what are you looking for here in the
fiftieth year of softball on campus.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Well, look, Coach Valancino has done an amazing job since
she arrived several years ago. We've we've done everything but
win the conference tournament, which you know, fortunately or unfortunately
for us, we've won the regular season multiple times since
she's been here, but we haven't been able to get
over the hump and win the tournament, which in our
(10:58):
league you've got to win the tournament to.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Get to the NCAA postseason.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And so really the goal is and you know, it'd
be at a great year to do it, be it
that we're celebrating fifty years of softball. You know, the
goal this year is to win both the regular season
and the tournament so that we can get to the
ncuble A's And I think Laura is doing a great job,
and I think her program is ready to get over
the hump. And then you know baseball, coach Penders, you know,
(11:25):
continues to put together monster non conference schedules so that
he can prepare his team for a conference run.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
Obviously, we're competing for championships.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Every year in that sport, and you know, ultimately, while
we've been to the Super Regionals two of the last
three years, coach Penders and his staff, who've been together
I think longer than any other staff in the country,
their primary focus is getting to the College World Series.
I think they're obviously very happy with the recent level
of success, but they are not going to be, I think,
(12:00):
totally fulfilled until they get this program to the College
World Series.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
And I wanted to give Jim a plug because a
lot of my coaches that I deal with locally went
to the coaches seminar with the entire Yukon Baseball staff
was there. They were huge for these high school, junior
high Babe Ruth coaches and stuff. They came back, they
couldn't speak any more highly at Jim And we already
know that because we talked to him and we're going
(12:26):
to be with them at the Miracle League. Was that
February second with his entire staff. I mean, and I'm
sure all your staffs are the same way. They're always
giving back to the communities and stuff like that. But
just I want to throw that at you that again,
you know, besides what he does for the university, he's
doing a lot on just you know, at the grassroots levels,
(12:48):
helping these coaches get get better coaching kids well.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Coach Oriyama has said, I think on multiple occasions that
the best coach on our campus is Jim Penders, and
I think he he says that because of what Jim's
been able to accomplish with being in the Northeast, which
we know how difficult it is being a Northeast baseball program,
and for both our baseball and softball programs. The amount
(13:13):
of travel that they have to do because of weather
early in the year makes it that much more challenging,
and so the success that he had over a long
period of time is just amazing. And then the fact
that he's a Connecticut born.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
And raised guy.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
His family had lineage obviously to baseball in the state
for a long time. And I just hope that people
really recognize how much of a treasure he is and
how good of a coach and staff that he has
at Yukon, because we're doing amazing things with so much
less than what most programs have that are achieving at
(13:52):
the same level.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So true, I think that's also true, But I also
think coach Hurley, Coach Mora, and coach Ariama just coach
Pender's buck because they want free hats. They got the
best entire campus. Hey, what were your thoughts on caravan
breaking into the practice facility and shooting free throws after
that Nova loss.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Well, let's correct that he didn't break in.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
It sounds to the.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Window he snuck in through the second floor window.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
No, our guys have access to the facility anytime they
want to go in and get shots up, which is,
you know, one of the great aspects of having facilities
like we do. But look, I mean that's.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
No surprise to me.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I mean, Alex Caravan is, you know, everything that you
want and expect out of a young person. He's I
believe his major is mechanical engineering. He's on track to
graduate at the end of the spring, which would be
three years. So he's going to get his degree in
mechanical engineering. You're the first we talked about this.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I'm glad you're saying that man has job well done.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Heretulations awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Well, I mean he's he's a leader in every way
that you could want and hope and expect.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Someone to be.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And so look, I was disappointed, as everybody was to
lose the game, but I was more disappointed that that
Alex uh was in that situation and didn't find success.
I mean, I recall sitting there and I got up
(15:35):
to go stand near the little bomb that our team
and coaches would have to walk through, recognizing it was
going to be an interesting finish. And when that happened
and Alex got fouled with three seconds, I said, Okay,
the worst thing that could happen is we go to overtime.
The best thing as we win and they got to
(15:55):
take a Hail Mary. And so it never even entered
my mind that Alex would go up and miss two
shots because of the confidence and respect that I have
for him and the fact that it did happen. The
one thing that I really kind of leaned on was
knowing the type of person he was and knowing that
(16:18):
he was not going to allow that to define him
moving forward. And so I'm sure, as Coach Hurley said,
you know, sometimes you got to take a step back
and appreciate what you've accomplished, which I think you referenced,
you know, getting out your rings and you know, taking
a look at those and what you've done. But it
was great to see Alex come back at Georgetown and
(16:41):
have a game.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
But that was no surprise to me.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I mean, he's he's just a fantastic individual and we're
very fortunate to have him on our roster.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
David, always great to have you on every week man.
We look forward to it and have have fun this
weekend with all the different games going on. We appreciate
your time.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
All right, guys, stay warm, go
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Hupsky's eighty four East men, I have a vehicle fire
as you make it.
U KA Women's Biggiest Basketball heard right here on Fox
Sports Radio ninety seven nine Hartford and free on the
iHeartRadio apps.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now your chance to win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Just enter this nation ye keyword on our website money,
that's money.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Enter it now and that again sports.
Speaker 5 (00:21):
Doc lives here.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
You're listening to The Rob Dibble Show.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Back on The Rob Dibble Show's Ben Darnell in your
afternoon drive. Kirk Kaplan on the ones and twos. Thank
you so much for keeping us on the air and
joining us on his weekly hit. Here is David Benedict,
the Yukon Athletic Director, here on the hotline, and mister Penedict,
welcome to the show. Can you give us a little
insight and you know, not trying to pry here, but
Liam McNeely, do you have any idea when he might
(00:51):
be back and what do you think about us rebounding
against Georgetown?
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Look, you know, the only thing I can tell you
about Liam is that I think he's responding well to
his his rehab. And you know, I look forward as
much as the coaches and all of our fans do
him getting back on the court, and I hope that
that takes place sometime soon. But in the meantime, you know, uh,
(01:18):
I think some of the guys that are having the
opportunity to get some additional time or are making the
most of it. So you know, look forward to seeing
him back whenever that is, you know, as it relates
to the rebound, I was, I was in Philly for
the Nova game as well as in DC, and thought that,
you know, we we played a tough, physical game against Villanova,
(01:43):
came up a little bit short, and obviously, uh had
it had a great, great rebound against Georgetown.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I learned this like down south with all my college
baseball friends, and it was a situation where we had
a couple of pitchers that were junior and could possibly
be drafted. Their arms weren't like their arms were barking
like Dibbs knows how it is in the end of
the year, you know, the game ten, game eleven, and
they were held out a little bit longer. And then
coaching coaching staffs, both coaches staffs was working for a
(02:13):
couple of teams to explain to me, like, these guys
are prospects in MLB, so we don't want to be
the school to mess them up. We want to do
everything right by them. And that's where I kind of learned, Like,
you know, a lot of these athletic departments, a lot
of these programs, you know, they're looking out for kids
in the next level if they've got the chance, and
they know they have the chance. Is that something you've
dealt with? And we've got too high profile basketball players
(02:36):
right now on the shelf and we hope they get
back soon. But for liam for a page for athletes
of that caliber, for your athletic department, Like, is there
something that's discussed about knowing their next level and knowing
you know, all the things that go on with just
these particular athletes that are such superstars that we got
to take it easy compared to other athletes that we've had.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, it's a fairer question, Ben, I would tell you that.
I'm not going to suggest that there's not a conversation
is about that, But I think the primary focus here
is to make sure in either one of these cases
that when you bring them back, they're as healthy as
(03:18):
they're going to be in the course of the season
and gives you know, I mean as an athlete and
you know, as you play longer. You know, it's tough
to ever be one hundred percent during the course of
the season, and so I think the key here and
the main priority is not bringing them back too early
(03:40):
so that you put them at risk at re injuring
because they're not in a place where they can sustain
the level of intensity that's required on the court. And
so I think that's probably the primary piece then. But
you know, again, there are a lot of things to
think about, especially when you're on with individuals that are
(04:01):
supposed to be not just traft picks, but high draft picks.
So but I but I think those two things go
hand in hand. If someone's ready to return and they're
capable of playing at a certain level, then I don't
think that you're you know, potentially impacting the other.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Talking to David Benedict, the Yukon Athletic director, and yeah,
I'm not probing on our particular, but no, the xl
cample things like that. I know, even when I was
in the minor leagues, like there were certain standards you
had to have in the training room. Is there are
there standards and practices at the you know, just this
(04:42):
level D one level that wherever the facilities are even
the visitors would have the rights to a weight room,
the white rights to a training facility.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
My wife said, well, you know, they don't have an
MRI machine at the XL or they don't have an
MRI machine, you know in some of these facilit is
there a standard that all colleges have to go by,
as you know, were these athletes even hockey? You know,
I mean we have a brand new facility, they probably
have the state of the art equipment there. What's the
standard amongst let's say, in the Big East.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Well, I mean number one, I'm not familiar with any facility.
I'm not even sure professionally, I'm not aware that anyone
has an MRI machine within the context of their athletics facility.
I mean, those things are very, very expensive and very
utilized all the time, not just for athletes but obviously
(05:37):
for the general public, and there's just not that many
of them around. I've heard of X ray machines being available,
and you see that a lot in football facilities because
you know, there's probably a higher probability of potential breaks,
you know, But as standard, there's no national standard. There's
(05:58):
not a standard within the NC double and frankly, you
know in both of these cases, you are dealing in
basketball with a lot of soft tissue injuries and an
X ray typically is not going to show that, which
is why you know we're going to typically get home
if we're on the road, or the next day after
(06:20):
the game, if we're at home, and you're going.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
To get someone into an MRI as.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Quickly as possible. And we're fortunate because of Yukon Health
and the facilities that we have associated with our our
hospital system that we have a great MRI on campus,
and obviously we have access to MRIs that are on
the campus in Farmington, so we're in a very good position.
(06:47):
I couldn't speak to what everyone else.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Has access to.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
A new word of the Week in the David Benedict
visits to the Rob Deubile Show, This is We got
kind of mad about this story when it happened with
Page and we got even more mad when we heard
about the Caitlin Clark stalker situation. Stalkers is the word.
I didn't think you'd ever have to deal with this,
but now it becomes more of a reality than we
would like to admit. But stalkers, like how are you
(07:15):
dealing with this kind of stuff and did you ever
think you would be in a world where you have
to protect your student athletes from so many outside influences
that are so negative in a way that it's really
disgusting to think about.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Well, listen, I think because of really social media and
the impact that that has had on really building the
profiles of athletes and being able to be seen nationally,
it does create more of an interest. And when you
talk about you know, Paige Beckers specifically, you know, she
(07:53):
had I think a million followers before she ever got
to Yukon, and so there's a you know, there's unfortunately
a downside to all that publicity and all of that access,
and so hey, look, we're doing everything we can. Obviously,
we work with our police department on campus to help
(08:14):
make sure we're doing everything we can to provide a
safe environment not just for Page but for all of
our students on campus. But where there's a need to
do some extra things, we're certainly doing that. And you know,
the women specifically are traveling with someone on the road.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Now, yeah, we don't need you to give away much
more than that, but Ben is offering his services. I
ever need extra bodyguards. He's he's your guy. Welcome guards you, David.
I want to see high.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
On my legs of being able to provide that kind
of security. I may be I may be looking to
secure our people from.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Ben in better hands with that's beautiful. Let me ask
you about the football schedule. I know we got ten
games now, and we've talked about it, that the Ohio
State game you're going to maybe have a good replacement
and you're trying to get a contract there. I mean,
are we trying to get twelve scheduled games? I mean
if you maybe lose UMass, if they go to the
(09:13):
MAC and we lose them, can we replace them with somebody?
I mean, are there any colleges in the works? I
guess is my question.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah. I mean, look, our schedule is technically done for
next year. We have twelve games. We are going through
a little bit of a modification right now because of
the UMass transition, but we'll get those things announced here soon.
We do have this year, we were fortunate enough to
(09:41):
have seven home games. Next year, we're going back to
six at home and six on the road. But we
feel great about the schedule next year and we look
forward to it because I think it gives us a
great chance to build off of the success that we
had this year.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Winter sports often le we got the big East going
on in men's women's basketball, hockey is really heating up.
I love saying that with the pun on. You know,
the ice also just about to start. We are already
chewing on coach Penders' schedule of Yukon baseball. I just
saw today on Yukon husky dot com that fifty years
of softball, Like we're celebrating fifty years all over place.
(10:20):
We just did hockey in Hartford last weekend. Fifty years
of hockey in Hartford. Now fifty years of softball at Yukon.
And this program is really off and run and have
some really good years in the last couple of years.
I mean, what are you looking for here in the
fiftieth year of softball on campus.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Well, look, Coach Valancino has done an amazing job since
she arrived several years ago. We've we've done everything but
win the conference tournament, which you know, fortunately or unfortunately
for us, we've won the regular season multiple times since
she's been here, but we haven't been able to get
over the hump and win the tournament, which in our
(10:58):
league you've got to win the tournament to.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Get to the NCAA postseason.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And so really the goal is and you know, it'd
be at a great year to do it, be it
that we're celebrating fifty years of softball. You know, the
goal this year is to win both the regular season
and the tournament so that we can get to the
ncuble A's And I think Laura is doing a great job,
and I think her program is ready to get over
the hump. And then you know baseball, coach Penders, you know,
(11:25):
continues to put together monster non conference schedules so that
he can prepare his team for a conference run.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
Obviously, we're competing for championships.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Every year in that sport, and you know, ultimately, while
we've been to the Super Regionals two of the last
three years, coach Penders and his staff, who've been together
I think longer than any other staff in the country,
their primary focus is getting to the College World Series.
I think they're obviously very happy with the recent level
of success, but they are not going to be, I think,
(12:00):
totally fulfilled until they get this program to the College
World Series.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
And I wanted to give Jim a plug because a
lot of my coaches that I deal with locally went
to the coaches seminar with the entire Yukon Baseball staff
was there. They were huge for these high school, junior
high Babe Ruth coaches and stuff. They came back, they
couldn't speak any more highly at Jim And we already
know that because we talked to him and we're going
(12:26):
to be with them at the Miracle League. Was that
February second with his entire staff. I mean, and I'm
sure all your staffs are the same way. They're always
giving back to the communities and stuff like that. But
just I want to throw that at you that again,
you know, besides what he does for the university, he's
doing a lot on just you know, at the grassroots levels,
(12:48):
helping these coaches get get better coaching kids well.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Coach Oriyama has said, I think on multiple occasions that
the best coach on our campus is Jim Penders, and
I think he he says that because of what Jim's
been able to accomplish with being in the Northeast, which
we know how difficult it is being a Northeast baseball program,
and for both our baseball and softball programs. The amount
(13:13):
of travel that they have to do because of weather
early in the year makes it that much more challenging,
and so the success that he had over a long
period of time is just amazing. And then the fact
that he's a Connecticut born.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
And raised guy.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
His family had lineage obviously to baseball in the state
for a long time. And I just hope that people
really recognize how much of a treasure he is and
how good of a coach and staff that he has
at Yukon, because we're doing amazing things with so much
less than what most programs have that are achieving at
(13:52):
the same level.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So true, I think that's also true, But I also
think coach Hurley, Coach Mora, and coach Ariama just coach
Pender's buck because they want free hats. They got the
best entire campus. Hey, what were your thoughts on caravan
breaking into the practice facility and shooting free throws after
that Nova loss.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Well, let's correct that he didn't break in.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
It sounds to the.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Window he snuck in through the second floor window.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
No, our guys have access to the facility anytime they
want to go in and get shots up, which is,
you know, one of the great aspects of having facilities
like we do. But look, I mean that's.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
No surprise to me.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I mean, Alex Caravan is, you know, everything that you
want and expect out of a young person. He's I
believe his major is mechanical engineering. He's on track to
graduate at the end of the spring, which would be
three years. So he's going to get his degree in
mechanical engineering. You're the first we talked about this.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I'm glad you're saying that man has job well done.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Heretulations awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Well, I mean he's he's a leader in every way
that you could want and hope and expect.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Someone to be.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And so look, I was disappointed, as everybody was to
lose the game, but I was more disappointed that that
Alex uh was in that situation and didn't find success.
I mean, I recall sitting there and I got up
(15:35):
to go stand near the little bomb that our team
and coaches would have to walk through, recognizing it was
going to be an interesting finish. And when that happened
and Alex got fouled with three seconds, I said, Okay,
the worst thing that could happen is we go to overtime.
The best thing as we win and they got to
(15:55):
take a Hail Mary. And so it never even entered
my mind that Alex would go up and miss two
shots because of the confidence and respect that I have
for him and the fact that it did happen. The
one thing that I really kind of leaned on was
knowing the type of person he was and knowing that
(16:18):
he was not going to allow that to define him
moving forward. And so I'm sure, as Coach Hurley said,
you know, sometimes you got to take a step back
and appreciate what you've accomplished, which I think you referenced,
you know, getting out your rings and you know, taking
a look at those and what you've done. But it
was great to see Alex come back at Georgetown and
(16:41):
have a game.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
But that was no surprise to me.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I mean, he's he's just a fantastic individual and we're
very fortunate to have him on our roster.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
David, always great to have you on every week man.
We look forward to it and have have fun this
weekend with all the different games going on. We appreciate
your time.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
All right, guys, stay warm, go
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Hupsky's eighty four East men, I have a vehicle fire
as you make it.
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