Sports mirror life in a happy to sad haphazard pattern

Rough patch - Cape football left the bus barn for the 2018 season and has encountered a pair of rough patches, losing at Delmar 42-14, then getting throttled at Suitland 55-13. The Vikings have not scored a rushing touchdown in either game. The Suitland game was a calamity of catastrophes, which included two fumbles returned for touchdowns and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown to start the game. Cape had scored first on a 40-yard fumble return by lineman Jonah Robertson. Cape was playing without starting quarterback Sam Jones, who came up concussed the day before the game. Back to the game, there was an interception returned for a touchdown and Cape had another punt blocked at its own 1-yard line. The Vikings’ offensive score came on an 80-yard double pass, Curtis Purnell to Jack Dennis. Delmar and Suitland have a combined record of 5-0. The Vikings will travel to Northeast, Md., on Friday night to face the Eagles, a 3-0 team. “It’s been frustrating that we can’t run the football,” said coach J.D. Maull. “We’ve had injuries at key positions that have pressed younger players into action, but we will weather this storm and come out the better for it on the other side.”

Young love - Taylor Gooch and William Gibbs are having a child together in February. They love each other and are happy about it. I tell the story here with their permission because it is insightful and educational, and it reflects what happens when real life interrupts Division I college athletics. Taylor is a scholarship lacrosse player at Temple University, playing for coach Bonnie Rosen’s Owls. Bonnie’s program is all about character and doing things the right way, backed by an extensive university support system. Temple has stood behind and honored Taylor’s lacrosse scholarship. “Bonnie has been more supportive than I could ever have asked for,” Taylor said. Taylor is a dean's list student majoring in kinesiology. “I’ll take some online courses this spring, then come up to campus in the summer for one final class and graduate,” Taylor said. And that is the story of what can happen when life interrupts the game. A young couple happy to become parents, who will journey on together with their child.

Comparing football scores - Maryland beat Texas, Texas beat USC, Villanova beat Temple, Temple beat Maryland and Towson beat Villanova. The message: “There is parity in college football to a point, but only Maryland faces a Big Ten schedule the rest of the season.”

Showdown about to go down - Powerhouse field hockey teams Cape and Delmar will scrap on the Champions Stadium turf Thursday night at 6 p.m. Last season, Cape won the Division I state title, while Delmar won the Division II crown. Cape lost at Delmar last season 6-3. No teams in Delaware have the depth of talent and speed that the Vikings and Wildcats can put on the field. Delmar is 3-0 on the season with a game scheduled for Tuesday at Dover, but a weather bad guy is predicted (thunderstorms) which may disrupt the schedule.

Quitting at halftime - Football is the most stressful of sports. It’s what coach Duffy Doherty called a collision sport, adding, “Dancing is a contact sport.” I have seen players shed the pads at halftime going back to a teammate in the Philly City Championship game in 1963. He didn’t quit, just made an aggressive decision to no longer play. Vontae Davis of the Bills had a revelation during the first half of Sunday’s game against the Chargers, “I don’t need to be out here,” and retired at halftime. When a team cuts a player, fans don’t say the team quit on him, so when a young man walks away, perhaps afraid the next time his bell gets rung he’ll answer it, “Hello?” then they should respect the decision. There’s always another player to pick up the helmet.

Snippets - It has been happening forever to athletes after an on-campus visit to the financial aid office. The family is told what an amazing aid package they are receiving, but who cares; smart people go right to the bottom line. “Is this what I have to pay? I don’t have an extra $20K to $30K hanging around. Where are you seeing that loose change in my portfolio?” “It’s your ability to borrow funds,” parents are told. I frame it this way: “Paying for college is like buying a new car every year, then throwing it away.” I know you can’t put a value on education, so go tell that to the bank. No deposit, no return. Go on now, git!