Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

This year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will have a new look, and not just because it will return to Dartmouth College after calling Windsor (Vt.) High School home for the last three years.

In past years there has been a limit placed on the number of offensive formations each team could use in the game, and coaches declared those formations before practice began. Each coach also had to declare what defensive front (40 or 50) they would be using in the game. Those restrictions will not be in place when this year's game is played Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth College.

"Really the only restriction is on defense, where you can't blitz from the second level either as a linebacker or as a deep secondary person," Vermont coach Mike Norman said at media day Monday.

Also removed was the rule that allowed a team that trailed by at least 10 points after it scored to receive the ensuing kickoff. In addition, quarters have been increased from 12 minutes to 15 minutes, and overtime has been approved for the first time in the game's history.

Other comments from Monday's media day:

New Hampshire coach Mike Beliveau on who will start at quarterback: "I can't tell you that yet. We started off with two getting most of the reps and that was Rob McCormick from my high school (Souhegan) and it was Evan Bidgood from Timberlane. then we started thinking as coaches, 'Wait, if one goes down, and only one other one gets reps, what if he goes down.' We're getting a third one ready now, and that's Codey Dalton. The thing about Codey and Rob is they come from spread offenses. Evan comes from under center mostly, but evan has a big arm and it's starting to come out now. We feel pretty good about quarterback. I'd still like to play only two in the game, but I'll go to the third if the other two aren't moving the club."

Vermont coach Mike Norman on the pressure of ending an 11-game losing streak: "We don't discuss it very much to be honest with you. I think there's enough other people out there who try to make it that there's a weight around your neck to hold you down. We're real with them there. We talk about New Hampshire's a larger state, has more schools, has more to pick from. The good think is that many of our kids have played games outside of the state of Vermont. There's certainly pressure on us, but I think there's a little pressure on New Hampshire too. It's expected that they're gonna win."

New Hampshire running back Kevin Davies on committing to play in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl and the CHad East-West All-Star Game this summer: "I didn't really give too much thought to it [not playing in one of the games]. I heard this was really fun from guys who played on my [Pinkerton Academy] team last year. Luke [Somers] and Mike [Mazzola] said it was a good experience, and something they're really going to remember. I was like, 'You only have one chance to do it, you better do it.'" 

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General admission tickets for Saturday's game are $8 if purchased in advance or $10 on game day. Reserve tickets are priced at $20 and can be obtained by contacting the Shrine Bowl Football office in Lebanon at (603) 448-1042. 

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