Post by Admin on Apr 15, 2004 9:05:07 GMT -5
RNorwich University Sports Information: www.norwich.edu/news/sports/2004/rugby4-14-04.htm
April 14, 2004
Rugby heads to Colorado for USA Rugby's Sweet 16
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University rugby team will be making its debut appearance in USA Rugby’s Collegiate Championships when the Cadets face Brigham Young University in the Men’s Collegiate Division I Round of 16 on Friday, April 16, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Cadets will face the Cougars at 1:00 p.m. MT on Friday. Norwich will play either Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo or Texas A&M in the consolation/final round on Saturday, April 17; the consolation is slated for 11:00 a.m. MT while the final will take place at 12:00 p.m. MT.
“This weekend has been on our mind every day since we qualified, which was back in the second week of November,” said Head Coach Bob Weggler, who will be making his sixth trip to the USA Rugby national championships, and his third as a head coach. “Since then, we’ve worked all winter – nights in Plumley Armory or Shapiro, even until midnight one night. We’ve only been outside now for three weeks, so getting back to the level we want to be at has been a little difficult.”
“With the team I have, realistically, if we come to play and we’re focused for 80-plus minutes we can beat any team we play,” said Weggler.
Weggler gave his squad last weekend off for the Easter holiday, and the last three days have been filled with final preparations – physical and mental – for the team’s first appearance on rugby’s national stage.
“Last week we laid low and everybody went home for Easter, and I think right now we have kids who are fresh and ready to go,” said Weggler.
“I told them Monday in practice we’ve got to work now on the mental game and the mental imagery. Think about the winning try you’re going to score. Think about the great tackle you’re going to make, and skill-wise about staying low. Things like that are going to make the difference whether we win or lose.”
The Cadets earned their berth in the USA Rugby Collegiate Championships by virtue of its performance in the Northeast Rugby Football Union championships, held November 8-9 in Amherst, Mass. Norwich fell to top-seeded Army, 25-24, and then routed Northeastern 45-7 in the consolation match. Norwich earned the second bid by outscoring Cornell, which also went 1-1 during the tournament, against two common opponents.
Weggler does not believe that being a “cold-weather” team in a bracket with schools from California and Texas will be an obstacle – he points to the fact that two of the teams in last year’s USA Rugby final four were Army and Harvard as evidence of the fact.
“One of the things that could be an issue is the altitude change, and we’re just going to deal with it,” said Weggler. “They’re going to be short of breath and that’s just the way it is.”
The winner of Norwich’s four-team pool will advance to the 2004 USA Rugby final four, scheduled for April 30 to May 1 in Palo Alto, Calif., on the campus of Stanford University.
To reach that last round, however, the Cadets must get past Brigham Young. The Cougars are an older team than traditional college students, due to the mission requirements of the Mormon church, and feature a back who plays for the U.S. National team. BYU is also able to draw upon some strong high school rugby programs in the area; the high school national champion for the last few years has come from the Salt Lake City region.
“We have to make sure that we minimize mistakes – we can’t get into a position where we’re playing catch-up because we’re not a team that scores a lot of points. To make an analogy to basketball, we’re a slow-down type of team, not a run-and-gun type of squad,” said Weggler.
“There are going to be some anxieties and there is going to be some nervousness, but I think once they get through 10 minutes of play, it’s going to be like any other rugby game. I think we’re prepared,” said Weggler.
Lefresne, March 2004
April 14, 2004
Rugby heads to Colorado for USA Rugby's Sweet 16
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University rugby team will be making its debut appearance in USA Rugby’s Collegiate Championships when the Cadets face Brigham Young University in the Men’s Collegiate Division I Round of 16 on Friday, April 16, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Cadets will face the Cougars at 1:00 p.m. MT on Friday. Norwich will play either Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo or Texas A&M in the consolation/final round on Saturday, April 17; the consolation is slated for 11:00 a.m. MT while the final will take place at 12:00 p.m. MT.
“This weekend has been on our mind every day since we qualified, which was back in the second week of November,” said Head Coach Bob Weggler, who will be making his sixth trip to the USA Rugby national championships, and his third as a head coach. “Since then, we’ve worked all winter – nights in Plumley Armory or Shapiro, even until midnight one night. We’ve only been outside now for three weeks, so getting back to the level we want to be at has been a little difficult.”
“With the team I have, realistically, if we come to play and we’re focused for 80-plus minutes we can beat any team we play,” said Weggler.
Weggler gave his squad last weekend off for the Easter holiday, and the last three days have been filled with final preparations – physical and mental – for the team’s first appearance on rugby’s national stage.
“Last week we laid low and everybody went home for Easter, and I think right now we have kids who are fresh and ready to go,” said Weggler.
“I told them Monday in practice we’ve got to work now on the mental game and the mental imagery. Think about the winning try you’re going to score. Think about the great tackle you’re going to make, and skill-wise about staying low. Things like that are going to make the difference whether we win or lose.”
The Cadets earned their berth in the USA Rugby Collegiate Championships by virtue of its performance in the Northeast Rugby Football Union championships, held November 8-9 in Amherst, Mass. Norwich fell to top-seeded Army, 25-24, and then routed Northeastern 45-7 in the consolation match. Norwich earned the second bid by outscoring Cornell, which also went 1-1 during the tournament, against two common opponents.
Weggler does not believe that being a “cold-weather” team in a bracket with schools from California and Texas will be an obstacle – he points to the fact that two of the teams in last year’s USA Rugby final four were Army and Harvard as evidence of the fact.
“One of the things that could be an issue is the altitude change, and we’re just going to deal with it,” said Weggler. “They’re going to be short of breath and that’s just the way it is.”
The winner of Norwich’s four-team pool will advance to the 2004 USA Rugby final four, scheduled for April 30 to May 1 in Palo Alto, Calif., on the campus of Stanford University.
To reach that last round, however, the Cadets must get past Brigham Young. The Cougars are an older team than traditional college students, due to the mission requirements of the Mormon church, and feature a back who plays for the U.S. National team. BYU is also able to draw upon some strong high school rugby programs in the area; the high school national champion for the last few years has come from the Salt Lake City region.
“We have to make sure that we minimize mistakes – we can’t get into a position where we’re playing catch-up because we’re not a team that scores a lot of points. To make an analogy to basketball, we’re a slow-down type of team, not a run-and-gun type of squad,” said Weggler.
“There are going to be some anxieties and there is going to be some nervousness, but I think once they get through 10 minutes of play, it’s going to be like any other rugby game. I think we’re prepared,” said Weggler.
Lefresne, March 2004