Re: Coaching.  We all know it can be an seemingly unfair profession at times.  Your career often is at the mercy of others above you.  The administration, AD, Head coach if you are an assistant. 

If you want to make it a career then you need to be willing to move and have your "life" disrupted by decisions made that are out of your control.  It's what you sign up for when you decide this is what I want to do.

Re: the RPI situation watching from afar and having a vested interest for 4 years it was like similar to situations that play out across many AD's.

Older coach that did great things for the program and rescued it from the abyss

Same coach very successful on and off the field with a very successful W/L record and managed to recruit fairly well

The team maybe underachieved a bit near the end of said run and with that some glaring game decisions that created some fan/team/player? questioning see NJ playoff game

Young assistants that were unsure of the coaches long/short term intent and left (I would have loved to see Chad Martinovich be assured of the job...he subsequently left to be HC of MIT)

My two cents... let's see if the new guy can get it done.  D3 recruiting is certainly a different landscape than D1.

Sorry to reenter the LLPP world on a sad note. 

A former RPI FB player ('11) in his Sr. year has passed unexpectedly. 

Cole Rocque was a friend of my sons and had many RPI teammates as close friends.  I understand he was a great kid and my thoughts go out to his family, friends and the RPI FB community.

OMFG...

Just caught up on the daytime soap that is LLPP.  As a father of a recent LL player I always was careful/hesitant to post on here.  When my son was in that whirlwind that is recruiting I checked out these boards but could never imagine posting on behalf of my son nor touting his hugeness.

IAH give it a break.

1. He can play (at some level) he obviously has some talent and size.  Let the coaches put him on the field if he deserves it.
2. He will find his way.  He will or will not be successful (football and life) if he wants it.  Not because you do.
3. Don't pimp him out or inflate his abilities.  It will not work out for the best..I've seen it happen.  If he wants a great FB career advise him to choose a level that will allow him to play, not watch.  Your son could be anything from 1AA to 3 depending on his desire to watch or start.
4. Advise him to pick a school first for the education and second for football.....really.
5. Think about your actions... I mean this.  It's easy to get wrapped up in this exciting time.  It is a treat and a privilege for us fathers to watch our boy play and enjoy their success.  But when you become part of the story only bad things will eventually happen.

Gents:

Feel compelled to tell you a short story..

As only a few of you may know my son was a player up until Sat.. I have tried to be impartial on this board and while i certainly wore the red glasses it's a bit dangerous to comment while your son is still playing.  In any case I enjoyed the banter and tried to be careful about what I said and how it came across.

His experience at RPI has been great.  They had a tough season this year but they have won a ton of games, won the LL, made the NCAA's and the experience for him as a player has been great.  He made 1st team all conference last year and has started every game since his So. year.  Deans list every semester and LL all academic.  If I sound proud I am.

I personally have met some great coaches, alumni, and parents.  But it all has to come to an end and it has been a great ride.

He has played for 12 years.. from pop warner through college.  So Sat. was pretty emotional.  Thinking back on 12 years and all those games ....  from throwing the ball in the back yard to now has been something I will always cherish.

I tried to prepare myself for the "senior ceremony" where they announce the player and the parents meet him on the field.  Everything was great.... I held back the emotions and told him to have fun today.  Then I looked down at his cleats.  He had #10 on both cleats..  I asked him what that was for...?  He said "that's for you pops..."

# 10 was my number in college and high school.

At that point I had to look away...Kinda lost it.

So for all you young guys with boys that may eventually play the sport we love.  Enjoy it.  It goes fast.

My bad... Union D is much better than Susq D IMO.  Obviously didn't read the post carefully.

If the U D plays solid and doesn't arm tackle Paveltz i think they win.  The arm tackling seems to happen from the middle of the third Q on.  Paveltz and their O line tend to wear you down.  You stop the running game for 2/3rds of the game and then he starts getting 6-12 yards a carry mostly on second effort.

If i am the U coaching staff they need to limit the 3rd down conversions early in the game by pressing the wideouts.  They like to run the stop routes and 8 yard outs to convert 3rd and 6.

QuoteThis is probably the best defense they have face all year and if the offense can click on all cylinders they can be a very dangerous team.

Not sure I would agree.  This is the same D that gave up 30 points to an inept RPI offense at their place.

They can be dangerous if they can convert on 3rd down. The difference in this Susq team vs the last two years is Palazzi and their recievers have been able to convert on 3rd down after teams focus on Paveltz.

The key to beating them is to finish tackles on Paveltz.  RPI just didn't accompish that.  Too may arm tackles and excuse or not, too many players on D gassed or not playing due to the ****'n flu.

Speaking of concussions......

The Stim is not a fan of the sissification of FB.  'Specially in the NFL with the QB hits etc.  One change I might make though where there is significant occurance of injury is the traditional use of the "wedge" play on the KO.

Seems like there is always someone who slips past the initial block and runs with a 50 yard head of steam into the wedge with his head first.  It's either him or one of the wedge guys who is walking a bit silly after the play.  Seems like an unneccesary level of contact with the full field run by the covering guy who is making a name for himself by throwing himself into the wedge.

You can't block below the waste back towards the ball but you can run full steam into 4 guys head first?

Maybe make a rule that limits the proximity of blockers on KO's.  Just seems like a remnant of a bygone era before all the pads and helmets.

QuoteYou may have gathered the Hobart perspective on this one from the LL updates, but yeah, this one was about as ugly as it gets.  While TGP credits the Hobart "D" on one hand, the level of play by both offenses was well below par.

WEOS' Baker kept indicating that Hermann seemed to keep getting in last minute play calls from the RPI sideline which may have contributed to his struggles.

Regardless, not the LL's best performance (if not worse performance) in quite some time.

Nah.... I unfortunately saw it in person.. Ugly

You know I have used that toss away phrase of "ugly' game, but when both offenses go a combined 2 for 33 on 3rd down conversions it is beyond ugly. 

Thought both defenses did play well.. not going to discredit their collective efforts but dropped/inaccurate passes, penalties and some curious play calling made for a frustrating game to watch.

Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that a ranked team and one who most expected to at least challenge for the LL would put on a show like that.   

Question:

When does a team that goes 1 for 17 on third down win?

Answer: 

When their opponent goes 1-16, throws 3 picks,  muffs a punt inside the 10, lets the punter run for 2 first downs and has by my count 5 drops.

Horrible game (in reallity Hobart didn't really sparkle either) at Geneva.  Hobart scoring drives were -4 and 11 yards.

Might have been the worst game i have ever watched for offensive futility

First chance to jot down a few thoughts from the Shoes game.

Interesting game to watch.  but sloppy, lot's of penalties and while there where no turnovers, it was not a particularly well played contest. 

Quick thoughts:

Well I have seen Union finally and they are pretty much as expected.  Good... certainly not a great team.  I think the "they are loaded with talent and underachieving" is a bit overdone.  They did some nice things Sat.  But they have 3 really good players and a bunch of good ones.  They are good but they are where they are because they have prevailed in the close games.  Certainly that is the sign of a good team  If things continue to roll their way I might say they are more an overachieving team.  BTW my "really good" are Coney, Peters and Gallo.  Just can't put Connelly in that mix.  Not from the little I have seen (Shoes 08 and 09).  They are big up front on O and do a nice job getting Coney some space.  DB's are OK.  They did a nice job for the most part in coverage Sat but RPI hurt themselves with at least 4 drops.  D line gets a B.

What they did do was play solid error free football.  It was the key as RPI moved the ball but couldn't stay out of bad downs and distance with the flags.

6 Passes completed??? 

Connelly did help himself out by scrambling well and picking up some yardage but he did looked confused at the same time

Coney is a nice back.  He follows his blockers and seeks open space.  He has the has the speed to get to the corner.  I think all of his TD's yesterday where when he bounced outside after having nothing inside.  He runs hard but he is not a punishing kind of back...just very effective.

Union D played solid especially in the redzone.

I now know why there is a U on the back of one of the officials.     I think the count was 5 to 1 on the holding calls.  At least 3 on RPI would have been first downs in the 3rd quarter deep in U territory.  Then there was the blocking below the waist (announcer call).  The signal was for a chop block....  flag was thrown at the end of the play on the sidelines.  King was not speechless!  Again a first down deep in U territory. 

Having said that the calls weren't the reason for the loss...No excuses .... maybe yesterday was just an example of the horrid officiating I have seen all year.   Picked up flags... holding calls after the play was over... horrible spots... late whistles... it's been horrible almost every game I have seen this year.

RPI lost their best DB on the first play on a vicious hit on the KO.  I think the problem was the wind pushed the KO deep and the wedge didn't get deep enough to pickup the oncoming defenders.  Losing him hurt in run support.  Tim Acker is a really good player

Caswell is McGowan reincarnate.

Hermann needs to move his eyes of the intended receiver then come back to him and either release the ball or move to the next receiver.  I mean this is the skill that all good QB's pick up as the game slows down for them.  He will improve and if he can combine his physical skills  with above he will be very good.

Nice kick by the RPI place kicker 38 yards into the wind.  Very impressive.

Although the game changed on the missed chipshot with the wind before halftime.

And then again on another penalty against RPI for roughing the kicker after they had stopped U deep in their own territory.

If you have a player like Gallo, how do you not get him the ball more?

Both Pat McCarthy (1 catch)and Brian Hall starting OT were really dinged up and not anywhere near full speed.

Loved the opening call by Audino.. Wildcat to Gourier with a pitched reverse.  Went only for about 6 or so but I love how he mixes in a trick play early in games.

As a Dad only have the two games left but it will not be my last Shoes game.  If there is something "right" about the way college football should be, the Shoes is it.

BTW...congrat's boys on a great pig roast spread

Shoes...

Should be a good one.  Have witnessed the last 3 where each game could have gone either way.  Should be another close one.

Some of the results may make it look like a Union win by ~ 10 or so but both RPI and Union have struggled.  Union has certainly not dominated teams and neither Union or RPI has put a complete game together yet. 

RPI has been a rollercoaster to watch..
Last week the RPI score was not indicative of the game.  St.L. didn't score a offensive TD yet stayed in the game with a blocked punt for a TD.  RPI decided to go for two 4 and goals and came away without points.  A fumble in the red zone, 2 INT's while driving, a dropped 60 yard (in the air) TD pass and ta da RPI puts up 10 points total.  Should have been ~ 27. 
The week before the O puts up 30 and the D couldn't stop anyone with quite a few with the flu and a key defender sitting it out. 
Against Rochester the TOP was 42-18 or so as the O was lost w/o Herman.  Rochester ran 86 plays to 41 for RPI.  O was 3 and out nearly ever possession and the D while gassed never got themselves off the field.

Union however has shown signs of putting it together albeit usually for a half.  However they have got it done late to win the close games and they may need the Houdini act again on Sat. 

Actually I don't know what to expect.  Thinking it will be the usual 3-7 point difference but i would not be surprised to see one of the two put a complete game together and win by 14.  I honestly think that could be either team.  Both offenses could get hot and put up some points - question is which will keep away from the turnovers.  Connelly has been prone to the INT and Herman has had his share of freshman throws as well.

RPI seems to have got as bit of the running game back in the last few weeks.  Costa looks much better than earlier in the year and I think the O line has turned it around.

Looking forward to it. 

Go-Red. Oh sorry...... go MHIT. 

Dlippiel... I hope you come to regret that  post

Made it to Selinsgrove.  Weather wasn't too bad.  Could have been worse.  Game was a bit sloppy but the Crusaders scrapped and while RPI did answer several times they couldn't make any number of key stops to get themselves back in the game.

Number of 4th and 5/6/7 yard downs that killed RPI.  Similar to Roch the D couldn't get themselves off the field.  Paveltz is tough and he keeps his feet moving.  He runs through arm tackles.  Last year they held him in check.  No such luck this game.  He played very hard.

Please don't file this under "excuses" ... Susq earned the win.... they executed more cleanly and played very physical but the several of the defensive players were on fumes due to a bug and they missed a few key players.

Look for a big response next week vs. St Lawrence.  Seasons not over.  Plenty to play for.

Solid win by the team from Roch.  No excuses either.   RPI entertained an opportunistic team that was hungry for a win and outplayed RPI for 3 1/2 quarters yesterday. 

The Engineer simply didn't finish off some opportunties and couldn't get a stop on numerous 3rd down chances.  Roch played very well and dominated TOP as they intelligently played dink and dunk on many key plays.  TB ran hard and he converted when they called his number.

I still think that they will come back of the break and have a solid second half.  From the looks of the league, it is wide open.  Can forsee RPI getting hot and winning out or 1 loss. 

Yesterday was disapointing but not a dealbreaker.  They can beat Susq, Hobart will be at their place and RPI would love to thank them for last year and squash some resurgent post season hopes of the Statesman,  Union will be a typical hard fought "shoes" affair either way, and if I am a player on the RPI team I remember MMA down on a really crappy day (in multiple ways) in NY last year.

Let's get healthy and see what happens.

Can't help feeling that the Aruck/Hager/Sanders graduations are really behind the Hobart losses.   I know the QB play has been inconsistent but as the Stim said at the beginning their O even from last year wasn't really scary.   They won alot of games last year with the D shutting people down or keeping it close and the O doing enough to win.

They can still run the table and they will continue to be a force all season... , but allowing a team to rush for 200 yards on 50 carries is a different proposition than last year.  325 tackles in the interior of your defense is a bunch to replace

Sorry Redswarm.. and Frank with 2PM start correlations, RPI traveled to WPI the night before.

Good move IMHO.