×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

It’s a bit early to dream about Patriots’ perfection

By Alan Greenwood - Staff Writer | Sep 18, 2019

Alan Greenwood

Having scored 76 points and allowed a measly three in the season’s first two weeks, the New England Patriots have successfully turned many of their fans’ minds into amorous mush.

If you, or someone you know, is afflicted with 19-0 fever, there is but one cure:

Remember 2007.

Actually, that fever didn’t break until the Feb. 3, 2008, when the New York Football Giants shocked the world by putting a 1 where the 0, as was widely presumed, would stay for all eternity.

It is worth recalling that those Pats didn’t exactly swagger into the Super Bowl. They were banged up and occasionally looked downright hobbled by the end of the regular season. By and large, New Englanders ignored those warning signs. Going purely by memory, the average predicted score of Super Bowl XLII was New England 10,000, New York 3.

This isn’t to suggest that the Pats have played extraordinarily well, that their defense could be absurdly scary and the offense isn’t even in high gear yet. They have a better than great shot at breezing from now through October unfazed by any foe.

Their schedule through October is filled with, to put it charitably, stiffs. Their first varsity game is set for Nov. 3 against the Baltimore Ravens.

By all means enjoy the ride through the first half of the season. It should be incredibly fun.

But don’t start predicting perfection until Christmas, at the earliest.

TIME TRAVEL: Sept. 19, 1969 – ” ‘It’s been a long five weeks and we’re anxious to see what we can do,’ “ is how Ken Parady, coaching successor to Buzz Harvey, views tonight’s game in which the 1969 edition of the Nashua High Purple Panthers will be unveiled.

“One of the largest crowds ever to be on hand for an opening contest is expected to jam Holman Stadium tonight to see Parady’s version of the Panthers launch a new season against a new opponent, St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover.

“The Panthers have suffered through the effects of two consecutive losing seasons and tonight hope to take the first step which eventually will place the Panthers on the winning side of the ledger.”

Nashua routed St, Thomas, 43-12, before 6,000 fans, as reported by Telegraph sports editor Greg Andruskevich.

RICK WHO: Just when you thought the name Rick Pitino had been sandblasted off the proverbial wall, here he back in the news. He and the University of Louisville have settled their competing lawsuits that stemmed from his departure as men’s basketball coach in 2017.

Pitino sued for breach of contract. Seeking $38.7 million. Louisville sued for damages it endured when the NCAA made them vacate victories that were tainted by recruiting violations that Pitino said he knew nothing about.

It’s hard to believe that Pitino knew nothing of his staff’s dangling monetary payments to families or hookers for recruits.

So what did he gain from his legal win? Louisville agreed to classify his departure as a resignation instead of a dismissal.

As Curly once said to Moe, “You can’t fire him.”

“Why not?”

“He quit.”

Contact Alan Greenwood at 594-1248, agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_AlanG.com.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *