A look at what happened in those six lost days

A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, Sun Senior Sports Columnist

So, first I have to thank the readers who emailed me wondering where my stories were last week.

Full disclosure, I spent six lost days in Wilmington, N.C.

It began innocuously enough, driving down there to attend my granddaughter’s graduation from UNC-Wilmington.

But, alas, as we were driving to dinner after the ceremony, I felt incredibly cold and couldn’t stop shivering.

The next morning, family members informed me I was going to the emergency room … no arguments.

A quick blood test revealed I had a serious strep blood infection and was immediately admitted and administered a heavy dose of antibiotics.

That was Sunday, the afternoon of the Bills-Lions game in Detroit. And though I felt lousy, my enthusiasm for the game hadn’t changed, especially since I had picked the Lions to win, 29-24, in my advance piece.

Much to my amazement, Buffalo played its best game of the year and the 48-42 final didn’t do justice to how much the Bills dominated.

I took notes throughout the entire game and it pained me that defensive tackle Ed Oliver, a frequent target of criticism in this space, put out his best effort of the season, with four tackles, three of them solos, and a sack. (EDITOR’S NOTE: This past Sunday he returned to form with one assisted tackle in Buffalo’s lackadaisical 24-21 win over New England at Highmark Stadium.)

Anyway, when the Lions game ended, my notes were for naught, as I was too exhausted to write about one of the best performances of the season.

Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two scores, solidifying his bid for NFL MVP while Detroit QB Jared Goff threw five TD passes with no interceptions … AND LOST.

Of all games not to write about.

The hospital sprung me on Friday afternoon and we were home Sunday in time for the early NFL games.

MEANWHILE, about the time the strep infection was commandeering my body a week ago Saturday, I was missing the Bonnies’ mild-upset, neutral-court 74-70 victory over Providence in Uncasville, Conn.

To me, that was a critical victory.

Back after St. Bonaventure’s 7-1 start to the men’s basketball season, I was on a Zoom call with coach Mark Schmidt.

As with many fans, I looked at the remaining non-conference schedule and figured a 12-1 start was not out of the question, tying the 1969-70 Final Four team.

So, of course, I asked Schmidt about the very scenario the Bona faithful was contemplating.

“We should be so lucky,” he said with a cynical laugh looking ahead to a Bucknell game at Lewisburg, Pa. a day later. “We’re not good enough to overlook anybody … especially on the road. We prepare for the team in front of us, not the Saturday game, or the break or the Providence game. It’s one game at a time and it’s coach-talk but that’s what we preach.

“You’ve got to shut out all the noise. All we’re guaranteed right now is a 7-25 (record) and 7-25 isn’t good enough. This is the biggest game on the schedule because it’s the next game and that’s what we’ve prepared for … we have to play well if we’re gonna win and I think the kids know that. They see that Richmond game and figure, ‘If (Bucknell) can beat Richmond, they can beat us.’”

So, of course, Bona beat Bucknell, UB. Providence, Siena and Niagara to complete that 12-1 start, the lone loss to Utah State, 72-67, in a neutral court ESPN tournament at Kissimmee, Fla.

The Bonnies’ average margin of victory in those 12 games is 15 points and its closest victory was that 4-pointer against Providence.

Next up is the Atlantic 10 season opener against Virginia Commonwealth on New Year’s Eve afternoon at the Reilly Center and you can expect a fired up home crowd after that impressive non-conference start.

(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)

Read more from Chuck on the Bills and Bonnies:

• Bills didn’t play with a sense of urgency against the Patriots

• Bills passed a big test against the Lions

• The media missed the point with questions of McDermott

• We did not expect the Rams-Bills results as Josh Allen sets major records

• Will the Bills be motivated against the Rams?

• Schmidt doesn’t want the Bonnies to get caught up in 12-1 talk

• A look at the rise under Sean McDermott

• The snow and the Buffalo Bills were too much for the 49ers

• St. Bonaventure Bonnies put unbeaten hoops record on the line in ESPN Tournament

• Pollock Prediction on San Fran at Buffalo Sunday night game