During the 4th quarter...I saw something I haven't seen since Edsall was here...players running and jumping with excitement trying to get those of us braving the weather fired up. Watching them during that defensive series, and after the game was flat out AWESOME! It has been a long road for those kids, and they deserved the win they earned yesterday!
FD, I sit right behind the bench 9 rows back, so I have a pretty good view of the Husky sideline. My observations are that since PP left the bench has been pretty animated, and was totally ballistic during our three game win streak last year. This year the sideline has been pretty much appropriate for the situation. They seem happy and positive, even when losing, but always supportive and look like they're having fun. Casey Cochrane is an obvious leader on the sidelines, really popular kid. The most noticeable and memorable sidelines were the PP sidelines, with GDL always stooping in front of the OL bench with his clipboard and diagrams, lecturing players, and the players not looking in his direction. They just sat there and ignored him. And PP never said anything to anyone, he just marched around with his headphones on and occasionally let out a "Let's go." Completely uninspiring and uninspired by the end of the second year. TJ Weist had an immediately animated sideline. The relief that PP/GDL was gone was palpable. BD takes it to another level, very involved in everything, always talking to players, encouraging them. It's just the youth. You can't hire a 63 year old guy to come in and coach 19 year olds. I like BD.