Predictions

Hopkins 31, Ithaca 14. Bombers hang tough, but inexperience in the back of the D and a new O-line prove too much to overcome

Hobart 23, Alfred 3. I am lower on the Statesmen than most (I think they are a half step below the other three contenders), but Alfred has really backslid as a program.

Utica 17, Union 14 Pioneers haven't been super dominant against LL teams, but I think home field tips the scales

Rochester 24, Olivet 20 Do we get the Daniel Papantonis that can look unstoppable like he did in 2022? Or do the injuries that took much of his 2023 season render him a good, if limited back? It's week 1, let's be optimistic

La-Crosse 35, RPI 13 Don't think RPI has the magical mystery dust up in Wisconson

Endicott 38, St. Lawrence 7 Sorry Saints, but Endicott does not get enough national love for their season last year, so I'm taking it out on you

Brockport 55, Buffalo State 3 I miss plucky Buff State, and wish for a safe return to that status eventually. But Brockport's got to get ready for Susquehanna in Week 2, so I don't expect the Bengals to get much quarter here

Union has posted it's 2024 football roster. https://unionathletics.com/sports/football/roster They have 21 seniors including seven 5th years, 29 juniors, 20 sophomores and 32 incoming first years. This includes transfer WRs from Cornell and RPI. Notable players who left in the portal are WR Landers Green (E.Illinois) and DL Dionis Polanco (Rochester). Tough losses include OL Dan Haramis (personal choice) and All American OL Matt McCorkle (not in school).   

Also of interest ...Union Game Notes for Friday are available https://unionathletics.com/documents/2024/9/3/2024_FB_1_Utica.pdf ...Nothing yet from Utica and I've yet to see any 2 Deeps.

And there's this..."NEW TECH ON THE SIDELINES: This season the Liberty League has been approved by the NCAA
Football Rules Committee to use an experimental sideline technology provided by GoRout for
all conference games. The technology involves the coach or coordinator sending in plays via a
tablet on the sideline or press box to players wearing wristwatches on the field – a maximum
of three on either side of the ball can wear them during play. GoRout has provided this
experimental technology free to the Liberty League to try out this year."

Looks like the good old days are soon to be a distant memory forever...

Machiavelli describing Rochester as a "below mediocre team" is a little rough considering they were 5-5 last season with an above average schedule.  Here is a recap of their losses- they started the season with a 3 point loss to a good Utica team. Then had a 4 point loss to Union week 6.  After a tough loss to Ithaca week 8 where they were tied 3-3 going into the 4th RPI gave them butt whooping week 9.  They rebounded and played well week 10 in a 27-23 loss to Hobart. If not for a long passing TD with 2 minutes left they would have finished 6-4.  They look to improve this season with 9 5th years (most ever) and 14 seniors.  They finally have the experience and depth the top Liberty Teams have had for years.  Top players on offense include WR's Trey Johnson and Aidan Papantonis, RB's Daniel Papantonis and Jay Zheng, QB Ryan Rose (3 year starter), OL Luke Wilson, Cornell transfer WR Nick Wamp and TE Jackson Kane.  On the defensive side of the ball look for P Alex Wing, DB's Jordy Tawa, Judah Thomas, Jack Yensel and Simon Weeren, LB's Joe DeBonis and Happy Chane and DL JT Monahan.  I am not saying that they will win the conference but they have the best shot in 10 years to have a winning record.  I enjoy reading about other programs and always hope for the best for all Liberty teams.  IMO it is definitely one of the top 5 conferences in the country.
I look forward to representing the Yellowjackets this season.

JacketsPride, thanks for joining the group and  the preview for the Yellowjackets. I believe Chad Martinovich (Hobart 1994) will be successful at U of R as long as he is supported by this resource rich institution. It looks like this could be the season the  Yellowjackets have a real chance for a winning season if you start by beating Olivet this week. I will be rooting for you every week until the last game against Hobart. Good luck.

Nothing quite like week 1 predictions season

Hopkins 27, Ithaca 17 - As much as this pains me I think with a bunch of new starters it is going to take the Bombers a little bit to get going. My guess is they are going to rely on the 1-2 punch of Osborne and Williams to carry the load. I know they have some young speedsters (sophomores I believe) so this will be good experience for them. I expect them to play well on defense but the experience of Hopkins help them pull through on Butterfield (turf = not my Butterfield)

Hobart 28 Alfred 10- I think IC said it perfectly with respect to these two teams

Utica 23 Union 24 - I think Union gets it done on the road. Despite some new starters I think coaching makes the difference here.

Rochester 21 Olivet 18 - truthfully I don't know anything about Olivet but Rochester controls the clock with their running game and plays tough defense to get their season off to a strong start.

La-Crosse 38 RPI 20 - I think RPI hangs tough in the first half but La-Crosse pulls away late behind a big midwestern offensive line. I do think RPI has a chance to put up more points than we think.

Endicott 35 St.Lawrence 14 - I think the long travel for Endicott makes them start slow and allows St. Lawrence to even have a slight lead at halftime. Endicott is a talented team and the experience from last year allows them to pull away in 2H

Brockport 42 Buff St 9 - Tough start for the Buffs but hopefully they show flashes of getting back to being competitive throughout the game

Quote from: IC798891 on September 03, 2024, 02:52:26 PMPredictions

Hopkins 31, Ithaca 14. Bombers hang tough, but inexperience in the back of the D and a new O-line prove too much to overcome

Hobart 23, Alfred 3. I am lower on the Statesmen than most (I think they are a half step below the other three contenders), but Alfred has really backslid as a program.

Utica 17, Union 14 Pioneers haven't been super dominant against LL teams, but I think home field tips the scales

Rochester 24, Olivet 20 Do we get the Daniel Papantonis that can look unstoppable like he did in 2022? Or do the injuries that took much of his 2023 season render him a good, if limited back? It's week 1, let's be optimistic

La-Crosse 35, RPI 13 Don't think RPI has the magical mystery dust up in Wisconson

Endicott 38, St. Lawrence 7 Sorry Saints, but Endicott does not get enough national love for their season last year, so I'm taking it out on you

Brockport 55, Buffalo State 3 I miss plucky Buff State, and wish for a safe return to that status eventually. But Brockport's got to get ready for Susquehanna in Week 2, so I don't expect the Bengals to get much quarter here

Quote from: JacketsPride on September 04, 2024, 11:39:32 PMMachiavelli describing Rochester as a "below mediocre team" is a little rough considering they were 5-5 last season with an above average schedule.  Here is a recap of their losses- they started the season with a 3 point loss to a good Utica team. Then had a 4 point loss to Union week 6.  After a tough loss to Ithaca week 8 where they were tied 3-3 going into the 4th RPI gave them butt whooping week 9.  They rebounded and played well week 10 in a 27-23 loss to Hobart. If not for a long passing TD with 2 minutes left they would have finished 6-4.  They look to improve this season with 9 5th years (most ever) and 14 seniors.  They finally have the experience and depth the top Liberty Teams have had for years.  Top players on offense include WR's Trey Johnson and Aidan Papantonis, RB's Daniel Papantonis and Jay Zheng, QB Ryan Rose (3 year starter), OL Luke Wilson, Cornell transfer WR Nick Wamp and TE Jackson Kane.  On the defensive side of the ball look for P Alex Wing, DB's Jordy Tawa, Judah Thomas, Jack Yensel and Simon Weeren, LB's Joe DeBonis and Happy Chane and DL JT Monahan.  I am not saying that they will win the conference but they have the best shot in 10 years to have a winning record.  I enjoy reading about other programs and always hope for the best for all Liberty teams.  IMO it is definitely one of the top 5 conferences in the country.
I look forward to representing the Yellowjackets this season.

Let's not get our little speedos too bunched up over being called 'below mediocre'. A more competitive Rochester team would be a great thing for the LL. But...we've been waiting for that to happen for decades now and nothing has come to fruition. Even with a quasi-solid 2024 outlook, I won't have confidence that this will happen until we have tangible proof. For the last 10 seasons on record, Rochester is 30-65 as a program and 13-48 in the Liberty League. I'd definitely consider this below mediocre. That description is actually like saying your dog's sh!t doesn't smell THAT bad. I'd love to be wrong on this season, but there is no track record to prove otherwise at this point. Losing a few close games a year ago doesn't change my thought, particularly when they lost to RPI 49-10 in the second to last week of the season.

Week 1

Hopkins 38, Ithaca 6.  I think JHU plays in the Stagg Bowl this year, and Ithaca finishes 6-4, thus the predicted monkey stomp.

Hobart 24 Alfred 16. After struggling in the first half against an improved Saxon squad, the Statesmen switch to Tru Styles at QB and pull away.

Union 20, Utica 17.  A tough physical game but Union gets the win thanks to superior special teams play and a young o-line that does just enough.

Rochester 41, Olivet 10.  The Bees roll thanks to lots of skill at the skill position and a much improved defense.

RPI 27, UWL 17.  RPI shocks the nation, raising hopes high enough in Week 1 that the late season collapse to follow is especially brutal.  I think RPI is the LL favorite this year and UWL is over-rated, and home field advantage makes the difference.

Endicott 45, SLU.  Larries gonna Larry.

Brockport 49, Buff. St. 6.  With Hilbert on its way to the league, the Bengals get a head start on the race to the bottom.

Thanks for another shot at the program..."quasi-solid"...why so negative?  My only goal was to say that Rochester will be improved and give some information on this season.  Honestly, I thought we all are talking about this season's outlook not the last 10.  No one is arguing the past decade's record but like you said we will see. 

Let's not get our little speedos too bunched up over being called 'below mediocre'. A more competitive Rochester team would be a great thing for the LL. But...we've been waiting for that to happen for decades now and nothing has come to fruition. Even with a quasi-solid 2024 outlook, I won't have confidence that this will happen until we have tangible proof. For the last 10 seasons on record, Rochester is 30-65 as a program and 13-48 in the Liberty League. I'd definitely consider this below mediocre. That description is actually like saying your dog's sh!t doesn't smell THAT bad. I'd love to be wrong on this season, but there is no track record to prove otherwise at this point. Losing a few close games a year ago doesn't change my thought, particularly when they lost to RPI 49-10 in the second to last week of the season.


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You're a little new here, I get it. A lot of us have been here a long time and don't take things to heart or personally. I'd love to be wrong on this one. We'll see how it all shakes out. It goes beyond 10 years, but I was just providing evidence as to why we can't take Rochester seriously until the results are different. It's not the greatest comparison, but it's like saying Buff State should go .500 this year. St. Lawrence sprinkled a few good years in there from 2013-2016 so it's definitely a possibility. Best of luck to the Jackets. I hope the Hooters there is still alive and well.

We used to have a joke on the E8 boards about Utica and when they were going to "arrive" because it seemed like for a really long time, they'd win seven games and then follow it up by winning 4.

They didn't arrive until they arrived nationally by making the playoffs and winning a game everyone thought they'd lose.

That's how I see Rochester. For awhile now, the LL has been whoever comes out of the Hobart/Union/Ithaca/RPI scrums on top. If Rochester wants to change that narrative, Ws are what do it

Gotcha.  I look forward to providing insight to the board on what I hope will not be a below mediocre or quasi-solid season.  Good luck to all the Liberty teams.

Here is an unsolicited contribution from a UWL fan: Eagles by 14. Good luck to ALL participants.

Quote from: Machiavelli on September 05, 2024, 01:58:16 PMYou're a little new here, I get it. A lot of us have been here a long time and don't take things to heart or personally. I'd love to be wrong on this one. We'll see how it all shakes out. It goes beyond 10 years, but I was just providing evidence as to why we can't take Rochester seriously until the results are different. It's not the greatest comparison, but it's like saying Buff State should go .500 this year. St. Lawrence sprinkled a few good years in there from 2013-2016 so it's definitely a possibility. Best of luck to the Jackets. I hope the Hooters there is still alive and well.

Fun Fact:  I live 4,331 feet from a Hooters which I bet is the closest of any LL poster. 

Taste it. 

Quote from: unionpalooza on September 05, 2024, 10:03:00 AMWeek 1

Hopkins 38, Ithaca 6.  I think JHU plays in the Stagg Bowl this year, and Ithaca finishes 6-4, thus the predicted monkey stomp.

Hobart 24 Alfred 16. After struggling in the first half against an improved Saxon squad, the Statesmen switch to Tru Styles at QB and pull away.

Union 20, Utica 17.  A tough physical game but Union gets the win thanks to superior special teams play and a young o-line that does just enough.

Rochester 41, Olivet 10.  The Bees roll thanks to lots of skill at the skill position and a much improved defense.

RPI 27, UWL 17.  RPI shocks the nation, raising hopes high enough in Week 1 that the late season collapse to follow is especially brutal.  I think RPI is the LL favorite this year and UWL is over-rated, and home field advantage makes the difference.

Endicott 45, SLU.  Larries gonna Larry.

Brockport 49, Buff. St. 6.  With Hilbert on its way to the league, the Bengals get a head start on the race to the bottom.

I just saw a clip of the UWL dudes walking into the RPI facilities and hereby update my prediction to UWL 206, RPI -3.