The region’s biggest game of the year is six days away and already the war of words between two very different breeds have started,
The game, of course, is the Albany Cup, and the two breeds are Saints and Danes with their respective coaches leading their respective packs.
The show began last week when Jimmy Patsos went on Big Board Sports with Rodger Wyland and stirred the pot, adamantly announcing that his team would never go to SEFCU arena after Sunday’s matchup. In addition, the Boston native took a cute shot at the UAlbany color commentator Zach Bye, calling the College of Saint Rose grad “Will Brown Jr.”
Fast-forward a week to UAlbany’s trouncing of SUNY Oneonta 97-56. With that win came return fire during post-game commentary from Will Brown who reminded Patsos that “this isn’t Comedy Central.”
Come Sunday, Brown had more to say as chronicled by Tim Wilkin of the Albany Times Union, after the Danes downed Brown University, 80 to 76.
And here we go again. @UAHOOPSWB says he likes Siena coach Jimmy Patsos. Doesn’t like him taking digs at his program though
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
“He started it,” @UAHOOPSWB said. “He was calling out our JUCO players, and saying they did us a favor 10 years ago starting this series.
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB: ” And he is waiting for his thank you card. If you want to do comedy, you go to the Palace Theater or Proctor’s. He’s not funny
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB: “We’re going to give them an opportunity to play in a full arena. They are used to playing in an arena that is two thirds empty
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB: “We are doing them a favor.”
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB: “I don’t comment on what seems to be going on with all his players (suspensions to Lavon Long and Nico Clareth).”
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB:” Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with that stuff. This is not me taking shots. This is me defending my program & athletic dept
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
@UAHOOPSWB: “If he (Patsos) doesn’t like it, I really don’t care to be honest with you. Find me 1 other series where same team goes on road
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB:”every single time. I am not going to address it. If he comes out with more dumb remarks, I am not going to get into it.
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
@UAHOOPSWB: “If you want to have some fun with me, that’s fine, but don’t … the JUCO players … they are doing us a favor.”
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB “If they don’t want to play the game, then don’t play the game. Don’t say we won’t ever do it again. Is he President of Siena?
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB “I know if I were shooting my mouth like that, Mark Benson (UA AD) would say, ‘chill out.’
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB says he needs to come up with a human mute button for Patsos. “Then he can worry about coaching his team.”
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB “If he worried about coaching his team as much as he does about running Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus …
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
.@UAHOOPSWB “Everything is a joke. That is what bothers me. You are taking shots. Don’t take shots. I like the guy.”
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) November 21, 2016
On Monday, in his usual spot on Wyland’s show, Wilkin’s editor Pete Iorizzo discussed his thoughts on the Albany Cup.
Later in that same show Brown also came on air, reiterating his comments with Wilkin.
With Patsos scheduled to come on the show Wednesday, expect more gnarling of teeth, as the alpha-coaches circle closer to this weekend’s contest for dominance between their two packs.
-Dylan Rossiter(@ByDylanRossiter)
