NJAC

[Falconer]

Many thanks, FW, for the additional data and commentary.  The two games with Stockton followed up on their appearance in the Final Four in 2001--which Messiah hosted and Stockton won, defeating Redlands in the championship game (which I saw).  Brandt wanted to play them (the Falcons lost to Redlands in the semis and so a game with Stockton didn't happen), and so a home-and-home was scheduled for the next two seasons. I can't find a box for the 2002 contest at Stockton; in 2003 at Grantham there were no cards given.

The data confirm my impression that TCNJ has been scheduled more often than any other NJAC school, and in fact they own the only victory by one of those schools in the period covered by the data.  The fact that Brandt scheduled them for another home-and-home immediately after that victory, coupled with the scheduling of Stockton immediately after they won a championship is further evidence (not that it's needed) that the Falcons aren't afraid of playing NJAC schools.

As for not scheduling schools from the Centennial Conference (another criticism leveled at the Falcons here), they certainly do schedule those schools and probably would like to do so more often--but I sense some hesitation on the part of those schools to reciprocate.  For example, Messiah played Dickinson nearly every year down through 2014, a period that includes the very good Dickinson teams of recent years.  The Falcons' all-time record in those games is 34-0-0, so if that series will not be resumed (I don't know whether that is true) it could well be for that reason.  Of course if it were to continue, critics could always say that Messiah schedules cupcakes, even though some of Dickinson's teams were good enough to qualify for the tournament and at least two of those teams dominated Messiah while losing on the scoreboard.  Messiah plays Gettysburg every year and I have no reason to think that won't remain true.  This year's game was the single most competitive game all year, IMO.  Gburg started a lot of freshmen (maybe half a dozen, but I didn't check the box, one of them (at least) a dynamite scorer who could start for Messiah at target right now (IMO).  Both teams are very young so the upside for those future games is big.  But this paragraph takes us well outside the NJAC and I need to take it elsewhere if I want to say more.

[Falconer]

To be fair -- and I had to remind myself by looking at the posts -- this sidetrack about Messiah and the NJAC started with a Messiah supporter interjecting the idea that Messiah might have good reason to avoid NJAC teams in the context of commenting on last night's game.

Aside from the overall display which I personally found outrageous, I frankly am stuck on what I'm hearing is a SIXTH year All-American player getting himself tossed in the 90th minute of a game that was over in his team's favor, knowing that his team already had lost two players for the final.  Sure, MSU might have earned a Pool C last night, but then again they were barely in the rankings last week and a loss to Rowan will give them six losses and seven blemishes overall, so it would be far from shocking to see them not get a bid.  Soccer apparently (and presumably playing for and representing MSU) meant enough to stick around for six years so one would think a veteran of that sort and with such importance to his team would be feeling great about a huge win with hopes of further post-season play in his mind.  Also have to wonder about the coaches, AFTER seeing two players get tossed, not exhorting the rest of the players on the field to chill out and avoid further damage especially knowing what potentially was at stake.  All that said, MSU will probably go out and beat Rowan 4-0 and that will make them seem in some bizarre way vindicated.

AMEN to that.  I had (last week, I think) pointed out somewhere that Lucas Terci is a superb striker, making MSU an opponent no one will want to face this month.  You just have to scratch your head, wondering what he and the coaches were thinking: why in the world to you want to take him out of any future game, let alone the present game?  There is neither strategic nor moral justification for getting red card number three at any point in the season, let alone at this point.  I was hesitant to say it this bluntly, but you've basically said it for me so I'll second it.

[Mr.Right]

Lost in all of this Messiah / NJAC scheduling nonsense is the fact hat Falconer considers this league not to play futbol but football. That is just a foolish comment because after watching the top teams in this league all season they are some of the more technical / skilled sides in the country. Especially on the carpet. Yes they are chippy and yes they do stupid things BUT that does not mean they play like Amherst or some Nescac schools that hoof all day and rely on their athleticism and set pieces. It is really some great possession futbol especially from RUN and Rowan and even MSU was knocking it around. To me last night's game was more entertaining  a game as I have seen since well RUN v Rowan. MSU might not have to win the AQ as that win last night was not factored in but a loss might do them in. A draw might get it done. MSU deserves it more than Rochester and SLU I can tell you that. The eye test tells me they are a legit NCAA team.

[Falconer]

Lost in all of this Messiah / NJAC scheduling nonsense is the fact hat Falconer considers this league not to play futbol but football. That is just a foolish comment because after watching the top teams in this league all season they are some of the more technical / skilled sides in the country. Especially on the carpet. Yes they are chippy and yes they do stupid things BUT that does not mean they play like Amherst or some Nescac schools that hoof all day and rely on their athleticism and set pieces. It is really some great possession futbol especially from RUN and Rowan and even MSU was knocking it around. To me last night's game was more entertaining  a game as I have seen since well RUN v Rowan. MSU might not have to win the AQ as that win last night was not factored in but a loss might do them in. A draw might get it done. MSU deserves it more than Rochester and SLU I can tell you that. The eye test tells me they are a legit NCAA team.

Mr. Right, actually I don't doubt the ability of those teams to play excellent soccer.  Not at all.  For example, the RUC team in the finals a few years ago was a terrific team with the best striker I've seen in D3 a decade.  In the current example, the Terci brothers can flat play: so, why not do it and steer clear of the rest? 

What I doubt is the ability of several of those teams to focus on their ability and just play soccer.  The other stuff just plays to the worst in some of their fans.  I can't imagine any of this stuff happening at OWU, Wheaton, Williams, or any of the other storied programs that do know how to focus on their ability.

[Ji Sung Park the Bus]

So much NJAC hate.  Everyone else keep throwing their marshmellow's and leave us to play our games.

[firstplaceloser]

i would have to say that majority of the NJAC teams played futbol this year and not football. don't let one game shape your opinion on the rest. It was a lack of discipline that the coaches can't control. you really think coaches encourage players to act like that?  come on. don't be surprised if there are 2-3 njac teams left in the S16-E8

[mjan]

i would have to say that majority of the NJAC teams played futbol this year and not football. don't let one game shape your opinion on the rest. It was a lack of discipline that the coaches can't control. you really think coaches encourage players to act like that?  come on. don't be surprised if there are 2-3 njac teams left in the S16-E8

Your opinion is why the behavior exists. The coaches can control it, it's called "The Bench". If that's the program the coach wants to run that player will start the next game, if the coach has control of the program he sits him.

[PaulNewman]

i would have to say that majority of the NJAC teams played futbol this year and not football. don't let one game shape your opinion on the rest. It was a lack of discipline that the coaches can't control. you really think coaches encourage players to act like that?  come on. don't be surprised if there are 2-3 njac teams left in the S16-E8

Your opinion is why the behavior exists. The coaches can control it, it's called "The Bench". If that's the program the coach wants to run that player will start the next game, if the coach has control of the program he sits him.

Correct.  Just one more point.  The behavior isn't bothering us fans, unless we're MSU fans upset that our team is short-handed.  We all know the NJAC is one of the top two or at worst top three conferences in the country.  We know they play really good, hard-nosed soccer and are always candidates to go very deep in the tournament.  [Rowan has been considered by most one of the top two teams in the country this entire season, and by a significant margin, until the last third of the season when Messiah has emerged as a potential co-equal and RUN also emerged as a serious contender.]  The behavior hurts themselves and their own teams.  And if a coach can't positively influence a player over SIX years in his program then maybe he shouldn't have a player for six years no matter how many goals he scores OR maybe he shouldn't be coaching.  Coaches yell and scream at their players throughout the game.  There's nothing to prevent a coach from yelling "Hey, Jimmy, 90 seconds to go, we got this game.  NO MORE CARDS!  KEEP YOUR COOL!"  Now I would guess the coaches very well might have been yelling something like that and if so then it goes back to the player.  Or is there simply no responsibility on anyone at all?

[firstplaceloser]

i would have to say that majority of the NJAC teams played futbol this year and not football. don't let one game shape your opinion on the rest. It was a lack of discipline that the coaches can't control. you really think coaches encourage players to act like that?  come on. don't be surprised if there are 2-3 njac teams left in the S16-E8

Your opinion is why the behavior exists. The coaches can control it, it's called "The Bench". If that's the program the coach wants to run that player will start the next game, if the coach has control of the program he sits him.

which part of my opinion do you have a problem with exactly? because nothing i said would suggest what you have just said. why would msu bench their best player after doing that in the NCAAs. montclair itself may push more punishment on him but there's no need to bench him. they won't win without him playing.

[firstplaceloser]

montclair pulling an upset right now!

[firstplaceloser]

right after i say this they score again! someone called this happening!

[PaulNewman]

Now that shows a different side of MSU's character.  Impressive and well done.

[rudy]

Now that shows a different side of MSU's character.  Impressive and well done.

Have to give them credit for coming up big in the conf tournament to get a bid. 3 hard fought wins. Outshot 29-9 in final game but win it anyway.  So Rowan will likely take one of the pool c bids leaving some other bubble team out. And RUN as well. Three bids for NJAC?

[firstplaceloser]

Now that shows a different side of MSU's character.  Impressive and well done.

Have to give them credit for coming up big in the conf tournament to get a bid. 3 hard fought wins. Outshot 29-9 in final game but win it anyway.  So Rowan will likely take one of the pool c bids leaving some other bubble team out. And RUN as well. Three bids for NJAC?

3 bids for the NJAC and completely deserved. like i said before don't be surprised for all 3 to make a run at the big dance

[Mr.Right]

Now that shows a different side of MSU's character.  Impressive and well done.

Have to give them credit for coming up big in the conf tournament to get a bid. 3 hard fought wins. Outshot 29-9 in final game but win it anyway.  So Rowan will likely take one of the pool c bids leaving some other bubble team out. And RUN as well. Three bids for NJAC?

3 bids for the NJAC and completely deserved. like i said before don't be surprised for all 3 to make a run at the big dance

Agreed. I would like to see all 3 of them clean up some minor defensive things to make a NCAA Final 4 run but offensively they all will be very dangerous.