So another year is here and it's been a little strange with CAAZone.com down. Let me introduce myself to those who are new to CSNBBS.com (worst name ever). I'm Mat Schlissel, a 1992 grad who has been covering this program in some form or fashion for 25 years (yes, this will be the 25th).
I don't what else to say about the Zone other than it's a big disappointment but not shocking that it's still not up. It was started by two guys from George Mason and when they left the conference, I though the Zone would be gone with them. But it stayed for at least one year. Maybe it will be back (I was told it would). I'm guessing it will by basketball season but by then, what's the point?
I took over the Zone as the moderator for the Towson board in the 2001-02 season and we had nice, but very small group. We really built the thing over the last few years to a group of over 100 posters and readers. I guess I was naive to think that we could keep the Zone and this site as two options. But there are still two options. CSNBBS.com and TowsonFans.com. Great thing about this site is that you can communicate with other schools around the country. Great thing about TowsonFans.com is that there is a great chat feature that fit up to 250 people. Hopefully, I'll have that up on Saturday and people are certainly welcome to check it out at 6pm. That something we started a few years ago at TowsonTigers.com and it's always fun talking to fans throughout the country though it gets a little monotonous when I have to do play-by-play (lol).
http://towsonfans.com/forums/index.php?/chat/
As for football, I have no clue how good this team is going to be. They've set the bar very high and I think they can achieve some great things if a couple things happen: 1)Keep Connor Frazier healthy. If he gets hurt, we're in trouble. Joe Brennan isn't bad but Connor adds that run option. We need a game-manager but somebody more like Grant Enders than Peter Athens. Why? Because we don't know how good the pass pro is going to be with 3 new starters. 2)Must limit mistakes defensively and play better against the run. Linebackers are a big question mark. Their success will be the key to the team. 3)Special teams must not hurt us. We'll have less margin for error this year. That means make the XPs, don't fumble the kickoffs and punt returns, no punt blocks and well, hopefully no blocked field goals (still have nightmares about that one).
Normally, I write previews for the football games and most basketball games. I'll try and continue as long as people read them. Don't think I'll have one for Central Conn. State since they are coming out with their game notes late.
Basketball and lacrosse should be fun this year. Hoops has shall we say, downsized their schedule. Should be a more exciting team assuming we can rebound without JB. Let's face it, whatever you think of Skerry, he had no point guard last year and no true center. Benimon had to do everything. I'd love to see him make the pro's. But now we have a center in Gavrilovic and two point guards in Hawkins and Ivory. Hopefully, they'll open it up for 4 McGlynn, who didn't have much room to shoot last season and rarely came off screens (that will change). Expect a break year from TJ this season.
In lacrosse, Nads has brought in a defenseman from Jacksonville and an attackman from UNC. Hopefully, we find a freshman or transfer that can face-off. But a returning Hodgson with some of those talented freshman growing up and becoming sophomores, hopefully means a CAA title.
So welcome to CSNBBS.com or TowsonFans.com. Maybe the Zone will return but if not, I'll try and make this site as active as possible. I''ll also be tailgating about 2 hours before the game at the Molen's tent across from the press box if you want to meet up and I'll be chatting from the football press box on Saturday night.
Mat1992.
