Quote from: unionpalooza on December 10, 2024, 04:36:45 PMQuote from: UfanBill on December 09, 2024, 05:38:59 PMQuote from: tony/troy on December 08, 2024, 10:30:16 PMQuote from: UfanBill on December 07, 2024, 08:09:40 PMGreat to see eastern teams continue to prove themselves against national competition. Things have surely shifted. I was not surprised that Springfield came to play today since their ground game has been rolling and Cortland isn't the 2023 Dragons. Susquehanna knocking off St. John's was gold and JHU and Salibury showed Maryland strong. Nice...All great programs.![]()
BTW as a Union fan I'm trying hard to forget the disappointment of this past season. It started with only having 4 scheduled home games and the struggle became apparent quickly in a scrimmage against lowly Hartwick. The Garnet never got it right and 3-7 was exactly where they deserved to be. My sources tell me Union's OOC schedule for next season should include the two agreed upon E8 vs LL opponents(I heard Cortland and Utica?) and Susquehanna. Not sure about Springfield since with Hilbert joining the LL there's now room for only 3 OOC games. 2025 looms just as formidable and forgettable. I hope coach Drach brings in some studs.
So should Union really be playing Cortland and Utica in 2025 and we also already know Cortland will be playing Ithaca every year, Cortland is "off the board" as far as the 2025 LL/E8 interlock goes.
Should anyone find out anything else besides the above about the eastern side of the 2025 interlock post it.
If and when "enough precincts report their results" then everyone in the east can "project their interlock pairings" for 2025 by process of elimination.
Some of the eastern LL websites sometimes take forever to post upcoming schedules. Would be nice to know before forever.
Unless the plan has changed the original press release concerning the Liberty League vs Empire 8 scheduling agreement(https://empire8.com/news/2024/6/19/empire-8-and-liberty-league-announce-football-non-conference-scheduling-agreement.aspx) states..."This agreement will see members of both conferences fill vacancies within their respective schedules with nonconference opponents, with each institution playing two contests (one home, one away) against opponents from the other conference.
yeah, the announcement was pretty unclear as to whether or not Cortaca "counts" as one of the two interplay games. My hunch is generally no - most years both teams will have two interplay games in addition to Cortaca, exactly for every fourth year when they otherwise would get each other in the regular rotation. Those interplay games will be in Week 2/3, except that Cortaca can flex to Week 11 when it's a "interplay" game and not an "extra" OOC game.
I for one can't wait for interplay. Games against every E8 squad every four years sound awesome. Union v. Brockport and Cortland and Alfred (again)! Sort of how I felt when Ithaca joined the LL. These games are way more fun than Montclair or Worcester St. or Oliver.
Though still hate we had to take in Hilbert as part of the deal. The far west wing of the LL continues to make no sense.
Only time will tell if I what I heard back when is right, wrong or just be total BS but:
1) LONG STANDING ANNUAL rivalry games between teams from opposite conferences, namely Cortica and I90, would remain annual and be INCLUDED in the two games for all the teams involved.
2) The whole idea behind this agreement was to both reduce the total of needed non conference games from 4 to 3 AND to fill 2 of those 3 with lower cost games requiring no overnight stays and accompanying meals for travelling parties of 70 or so. With the possible exception of whenever SLU and Hartwick play each other, this agreement would do that every single time.
3) Thus, in order to contain costs, the four eastern LL teams (RPI, Union, SLU and Ithaca) will only be playing the four eastern E8 teams (Cortland, Utica, Morrisville and Hartwick). With the exception of the previously mentioned non annual SLU Hartwick matchup, the cost all games would be only two buses for one day each and fast food for the same day trip back home.
4) Obviously, the same would be desired for the west. Only problem is that the west started with 5 from the E8 but only three from the LL. So somebody had to be magically be transformed from a E8 team to a LL team and that somebody was Hilbert. Thus, in order to contain costs, the now four western LL teams (Buffalo State, new to the LL Hilbert, Rochester and Hobart) will only be playing the remaining four western E8 teams (Alfred, new to the E8 Alfred State, Brockport and St. John Fisher). With no exceptions, the cost all games would be only two buses for one day each and fast food for the same day trip back home.
5) Only guessing, but, choosing Hilbert as the team to move probably has something to do with geography and total miles traveled though I will be damned if I can figure out exactly what that is.