'Got you jumpin' off the track and shovin' into overdrive'

Boston University has the Dog Pound. Binghamton has the BU Zoo. Well, UAlbany has...



That's right! UAlbany's new student fan club has been created. The new name for Great Dane Nation: DANEger Zone. It beat out Daniancs and Purple Pack in a student vote. They will be introduced the the UAlbany community this Friday at the home opener against Morgan St.

UAlbany is the past had an unofficial group called the RACC Rowdies (when the SEFCU Arena was called the RACC). However, it never really gained any steam. Should be interesting to see how the students respond. While UAlbany is a tough place to play, if this thing can build, it could get tougher. However, the big question is how long will it take for someone to pull a Hot Dog and Jesus and dress up as Maverick, Goose and/or Iceman?

Hello, world

Hi there! My name is Hot Dog and I'm a proud senior at Boston University. Over the last three, going on four, years I've worn a hot dog costume to most (but not all) BU sporting events on campus. My best friends, who I went to high school with, dresses as Jesus. Like it or not, we've become somewhat of a fixture on the BU campus and are known as two of the biggest sporting fans. The best possible description of our lives comes from a BU Today piece done on us in our sophomore year. You can watch it HERE, but I'll tell you, not much has changed for us since that video was filmed.

It's not easy. No one said it would be. However, it's certainly a lot of fun. I wouldn't still be making an ass out of myself in public if I wasn't enjoying it.

So, that's my life in a nut shell. More people know me at this massive private institution as the hot dog than they do by my real name, which I won't reveal here.

I've seen some stuff in my three, going on four, years at BU. The highlight is without a doubt a National Championship last year for the men's hockey team. Talk about the culmination of my life! Never ever have I felt emotion that gripped me during that National Championship game, which BU came back and scored two goals in the final minute to send it to overtime. You can actually see me crying for minutes on end if you re-watch the broadcast.

It's a shame though, because I "blew my load" early in one regard. This year's hockey team at BU is not nearly on the same level as last years. Fortunately for me, BU has reigned supreme in most other America Least sports, so that's been enjoyable.

I'll let you know right now: my favorite sport is basketball, and my favorite team on campus is the men's basketball team. Luckily, I don't have to worry about the acheivements (or lackthereof) of the hockey team. I only want one thing this year - a BU men's basketball America East championship. I'd go without the regular season title if BU could just make it to the big dance. That's all I want.

I know the basketball team well. I know the players, I know how they play, I know they're favorite foods, and I know their academic standings. I also know the dance team - very well, if you know what I mean. See, I danced with them once. NEVER AGAIN.

What I don't know nearly as well as the basketball or dance team is our new coach. Coach Patrick Chambers is in charge, and I've heard there is a new attitude to this team that was never seen in the Wolff era.

Luckily, I get to find out more about Chambers and what this year's Terrier team is all about on Friday in Iona.

I'll let you all know this right now - Scott Brittain is out indefinitely. He suffered a concussion, probably, weeks ago and the symptoms remain. He isn't allowed to play for two weeks until after the symptoms disappear. That hasn't happened, so it's looking like the earliest our big Canadian could return would be December. This certinaly doesn't help in out of conference play, where BU will be greatly overmatched in the paint for almost every game.

Regardless, BU's schedule definitely allows the potential of a 2-0 start before heading to Puerto Rico for their November 19-22 tournament. Iona then GW - it's essential to the popularity of basketball on our campus that the team gets off to a 2-0 start.

This is the time of year when fans of any AE team gets to root for every other AE team. The better each team does, the better the conference does, and the better off our seed will be come tournament time. Theoretically. I'll be pulling for Binghamton up until the start of January at least.

So that's that. You know me, I know you. We'll have some fun this season and hope for the best for our conference and for each of our teams.

The season begins...AND WE HAVE LET THE DOG OUT!

The season kicks off tonight in upstate-New York. The UAlbany Flu Bugs (I mean Great Danes) takes on Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. Even more special is that Jim Boeheim is going for his 800th career win tonight. Some great bulletin-board material today according to Will Brown. He said on his Twitter account that this morning at hit hotel, he had an invitation slipped under his door inviting people to Boeheim's 800th win celebration.

Also, Jeff Goodman has released his NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions. He predicts Boston to win the conference and take on West Virginia as the 16 seed in the East.

With the start of the season WE HAVE SOME NEWS. In our way of getting Boston U. and more spunk and fun to the blog, we are bringing in a fan favorite to America Least. Starting this week Hot Dog, from the world famous Hot Dog and Jesus Show over at BU, will be a contributor to our blog. We are glad to have him aboard. He will be providing incite about BU, but also about overall thoughts about what is going on in the conference. If you have read their blog, you know anything goes! That is why we wanted him and are glad to have him with us.

So let the season (and insanity) begin!

Trip Down Memory Lane...What If??

It is an exciting time with America East basketball set to begin this week! With the excitement in the air, some teams in the league are looking forward to some growth in the upcoming season, while others are looking at what they've lost.

Having said that, I'd like to air out the old dirty laundry and look at the players that are eligible and playing this year who have left our budding conference and tell them to go to hell!...just kidding. The following is a list of players who left the America East Conference and are currently playing elsewhere. With this list of names (some great players...some so so) lets see some votes on how the America Least Readers think this team of America East traitors could compete in the AE as a 10th member. We'll call them the AE Traitors. While you're at it, take this list and give your version of the starting 5. Have fun! (if I forgot any...feel free to add them...note only players who are eligible and playing are counted)

Mark Socoby (who knows where he is?)

Lazar Trifunovic - Radford

Kyle Robbins - UIC

Joe Trapani - BC

Jordan Clarke - Drake

Anthony Raffa - Coastal Carolina

Malcolm Campbell - (Alaska Anchorage DII)

Drake U’u - Cal Poly

Corey Hassan – Sacred Heart

Will Creekmore – Missouri State

Arin Dunn – Colorado St

Apfeld hurts knee again

Computer issues over the last view days. Sorry about the late updates. Speaking of issues, it seems that Freshman Catamount Luke Apfeld has issues again, with his knee. The news coming out of Burlington that he injured his knee this week. While Jeff Goodman from FoxSports says it is an ACL injury, there is no word from the university confirming it. The scary situation is that if it is an ACL injury, it would be the third of Apfeld career. The 6-8 forward has had two ACL injuries while in high school.

It is real scary stuff. I am no doctor, but from a guy who has knee issues (yes, I am an old 20-something), if you injure your ACL twice, that's not good. A third time, some doctor may come out and say "enough is enough." We wish Luke all the best and will follow the story as it continues.

One week...BU and Vermont get reps

Mid-Major Top 25 was released. Boston and Vermont getting recognition. Boston is ranked 22nd, while Vermont received votes and are in the Top 35.

The season kicks-off a week from today. Albany vs. Syracuse in The Dome. Exhibition games have started. UMBC has one this weekend. Vermont destroyed Concordia this past weekend in Burlington 92-46. Here is some highlights...



Maurice Joseph went off with 15 points. However, this is Concordia, so keep your knickers calm Catamount fans (Who am I kidding, this is going to be a good team this year). One week boys and girls!

AE Coaches Poll Released, First Team Picks

We have our first look at the coaches poll from the Albany Times Union. Here is what we have:

Boston University (8 votes)
Vermont (1 vote)
UAlbany
Stony Brook
New Hampshire
Hartford (tied for sixth)
UMBC (tied for sixth)
Maine
Binghamton

Overall, I think it is a fair shake-up. I think there are three tiers to the league this year. I really can't see a big swing in any direction for any team.

The preseason first team looks like...

Tim Ambrose, G, UAlbany
John Holland, G, Boston
Corey Lowe, G, Boston
Joe Zeglinski, G, Hartford
Muhammad El-Amin, G , Stony Brook
Marqus Blakely, F, Vermont

Obviously as more information comes out of Hartford, we will get it up.