Tough choice for Patriots Hall
The folks on the nominating committee for the Hall at Patriot Place keep things interesting, don’t they?
The three options for the fan vote were announced on Thursday – kicker Adam Vinatieri, receiver Wes Welker and offensive guard Logan Mankins.
All three are absolutely worthy candidates. All three belong. It’s a choice that rivals 2016 when Kevin Faulk won the vote over Raymond Clayborn and Mike Vrabel.
But, in this case, all three come with a bit of an after-taste from some fans – certainly not from me.
Some fans still blame Welker for the poorly-placed Super Bowl “drop” against the Giants – I believe it was as much on Tom Brady as it was Welker.
Others weren’t happy that Mankins complained his way out of town, and Vinateiri took the money in Indy and played more games for the Colts than Pats.
Welker revolutionized the slot receiver position with five 100-plus catch seasons here. Mankins is likely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with his seven Pro Bowl appearances, and Vinatieri is the greatest clutch kicker in the history of the game.
This vote will be a tough one, but since Vinatieri chronologically came first, he is my guy.
Owl captains honored
Timberlane Regional junior captains Cole Seuss and Kyle Lindblad were selected by the National Wrestling Coaches Association as Scholar All-Americans for the 2024-2025 winter season. They are the only two recipients in the state of New Hampshire this year.
Cole was third in the state tournament and had a record of 41-17. He carries a GPA of 4.02.
Kyle was a state champion and had a record of 40-9. He carries a GPA of 4.08.
Timberlane, the state’s all-time premier wrestling program, swept both the Division I and Meet of Champions this year under their leadership.
Amesbury’s Waters milestone
It was great to see former Eagle-Tribune All-Star pitcher Ashley Waters pick up career victory No. 350 as the head softball coach at Boston University this week.
Waters earned the win just down the road, 2-1, over Boston College.
What Waters has accomplished, putting BU softball on the national map, is the best-kept secret in New England sports.
By the way, Salem freshman Addie Lucier had a pair of hits in that win, raising her average to .287 on the season for the Terriers.
Not so Frozen Four
It’s a gripe of spring from this corner, but I still need to know what the NCAA is thinking about, playing it’s thawed-out Frozen Four this weekend. The college hockey season starts in October. There is no reason to play it out this long.
Let’s at least try and act like the façade of these kids attending classes and being students is actually real.
No season needs to be this long.