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Welcome to the head scratching, finger nail chewing, pacing holes in the carpet, watching the clock, off season in the ROC, Rochester, N.Y.

It started on a night way earlier than any Knighthawks fan was ever accustomed to by means of the team missing the playoffs for the first time in our history. Then the news hit that the Knighthawks would not be allowed to play at the Blue Cross Arena per the City of Rochester if Steve Donner were involved in the day to day operations of the team.

Well, honestly, I was trying to keep myself busy with the Rattlers season and keep my mind off of what was transpiring at One War Memorial Square.

Kind of tough when I drive by it every day and can admit (as per my therapist) that right after checking on my son Dylan each morning, the next thought is about Rochester pro lacrosse and the Knighthawks and Rattlers. Yeah, yeah, I know. More therapy is needed.

So, here is what we’ve all gone through here in the Flour/Flower City this summer. A new owner, who I’ll admit, I didn’t know anything about, but am damn glad at everything I’ve read about him and during the brief few conversations we’ve had over the summer. Our head coach, one year removed from bringing us a title, leaving for the Titans and taking two assistant coaches with him. The two original Knighthawks moving to the front office and taking on GM and AGM roles. A new head coach who, other than the Hall of Fame memberships, we don’t know a whole lot about. A warrior from the defense stepping behind the bench now in Haser and a new offensive coach in Bucktooth. The unthinkable happening with our heart and soul in John Grant going down for the season. 

So, besides Boston, I believe Rochester wins the title of “Fans needing a program worse than any other NLL team right now.”

Wanna know why this has been a great off-season though and why I think “our” Knighthawks are in great hands? First of all, both lacrosse titles are in WNY with the Champions Cup taking the I-90 west to Buffalo and Rochester winning the Steinfeld Cup (haven’t seen it, have you?) in the MLL, take that Long Island. More importantly though, I’ve heard more positive “buzz” around Rochester about the new owner, Curt Styres and his staff than I think I remember this decade. That has to translate to people wanting to check out the product on the field and the frivolity off of it getting the fans in the door in these tough economic times.

A lot of the financial mess has been erased, but as a fan that is way more in depth than I want to be involved with my team.  Put a product on the field that I can afford to bring my family to and enjoy and I’m locked in just like the past 14 seasons.  One of things that makes that happen is the front office and I’ve seen more smiles and heard more “smiles” in the voices of the front office at the BCA this summer than I remember.  The front of the BCA is receiving a whole new landscaping and sidewalk treatment which will be so welcoming to everyone attending events.  The lower atrium lobby is now adorned with a beautiful “bronze” statue that gives respect and insight into the origins of the game we all love. 

I was reading an article online at a coffee shop in High Falls today and a little boy was peeking over my shoulder wearing an Old Navy lacrosse t-shirt and saw the statue’s picture.  He pulled on his Dad’s leg and pointed to my phone and I heard his Dad explain that Native Americans created the game of lacrosse.  I reached in my wallet and gave them a business card and told them to call me for tickets to a Knighthawks game.  They said they had been to Rattlers, but wanted to check out the Knighthawks this season.  There’s two more seats filled. 

We may hold our own for capacity of seats filled at the BCA, but how much better would it be to look around and not see any seats empty in the horseshoe end and feel the thunder of the crowd cheering for “our” Knighthawks?

Yeah, this might have been the “Way Off” season, but I think every person who pulls the purple and teal (and probably orange now) over their shoulders on gameday is just waiting for the twenty seventh day of December. They will either be in Chicago or listening to the game with friends and family and shouting “LET’S GO HAWKS” at the top of their lungs realizing that our Knighthawks are back in action and thinking of hoisting that Cup in May 2009 again.

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