FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

Knightstalker · October 08, 2008, 08:15:42 AM

G-ManWU, the NJAC schools aren't D-II because most of them can't afford it. I think all the schools would be hard pressed and would probably be non-scholarship with the exception of possibly Rowan, MSU and maybe TCNJ. D-III is where the NJAC schools belong, they are founding members of D-III, they follow the rules and for football they have 100 man roster limits. Additionally for football there are only 5 NJAC in NJ. The trouble is FDU is within an hour or so of 4 of them and are competing against them. But there is a significant NJ presence on the FDU roster and I recognized several of the names. There are many kids who were good HS players who should be pretty good D-III players. Including several of the freshmen. It looks like they had a good class come in this year.

dog · October 08, 2008, 12:22:24 PM

GMAN I think you may be correct in a sense.

Maybe there was a spot in time where the MAC was spoiled with talent, for a five to six year time fram when three or four teams had Big Time Talent. I watched Trichilo, he was a freak. I also got to see guys like Bartosic, Jones, Coleman, Carmon, Cushman, Wilson & Keene from Kings, and a couple of guys I am probably missing in that time frame that were definitely able to play at higher levels. Maybe I was a bit "spolied" by seeing these guys week in and week out.

G-manWU · October 08, 2008, 02:53:38 PM

Thanks for the response Dog. Indeed all of those guys mentioned were very talented and could have played at some schools in higher classifications. As is the case with every player on a D3 roster, each had their own reasons for landing at whatever school they played for, and such talent dose not always come easy. My very first game working at Wilkes was the 2004 season opener- Albright vs. Wilkes- with both Port and Trichilo having incredible games in an eventual 38-35 Lions win.

Today, I think there is still a good amount of talent in the MAC, but it is hard to match the prolific talents of many of those players you mentioned. For example, in looking at Albright the last few seasons, I thought Asay was a fantastic player, but if you compare him with Cushman..well, that's a tough standard to measure up to.

On a final note, I think any MAC game is still a good one, with talented players on each team, and if you are an Albright fan you've got a good squad to follow down in Reading. Best wishes on the rest of the season

maAggie · October 09, 2008, 12:50:06 PM

Not to belabor the point, but I think many of the schools you've mentioned(ie. Rowan, and DVC) have gone a different direction in their recruiting. Rowan, for instance, was a mess when K.C. Keeler was there. Coach Accorsi, has spent less time chasing D-I washouts (many of whom were never even enrolled in classes at the school) and instead is focusing on "student"-athletes. He does have a transfer QB who is a local kid that transferred from UDel where he was a WR, but didn't play much, but he's not in the same catagory of a Greg Lister or even Orihal, also, he's not throwing to a bunch of D-I transfers either. The same for Isgro at DVC, he's got good solid receivers, but there are no Carmen's or Donnie Marshall's out there catching his passes. While it's often a great luxary to have such big, athletic guys, there's also no baggage with the current crop of players. I think in terms of DVC, this offense can be just as explosive as the cast of 3 years ago, but it also has the ability (and uses it) to control the ball and allow the defense some time off the field. Some things are all relative, and all that really matters is the guys you line-up with each week, regardless of God-given talent, are going to play within the system and utilize all their own talents in a way that compliments their teammates while playing within the coach's system. And to me, that's just as exciting to watch and appreciate as seeing a naturally gifted athlete that isn't always giving 100% and thinking of the good of the team.

Knightstalker · October 09, 2008, 01:11:07 PM

Quote from: maAggie on October 09, 2008, 12:50:06 PM
Not to belabor the point, but I think many of the schools you've mentioned(ie. Rowan, and DVC) have gone a different direction in their recruiting. Rowan, for instance, was a mess when K.C. Keeler was there. Coach Accorsi, has spent less time chasing D-I washouts (many of whom were never even enrolled in classes at the school) and instead is focusing on "student"-athletes. He does have a transfer QB who is a local kid that transferred from UDel where he was a WR, but didn't play much, but he's not in the same catagory of a Greg Lister or even Orihal, also, he's not throwing to a bunch of D-I transfers either. The same for Isgro at DVC, he's got good solid receivers, but there are no Carmen's or Donnie Marshall's out there catching his passes. While it's often a great luxary to have such big, athletic guys, there's also no baggage with the current crop of players. I think in terms of DVC, this offense can be just as explosive as the cast of 3 years ago, but it also has the ability (and uses it) to control the ball and allow the defense some time off the field. Some things are all relative, and all that really matters is the guys you line-up with each week, regardless of God-given talent, are going to play within the system and utilize all their own talents in a way that compliments their teammates while playing within the coach's system. And to me, that's just as exciting to watch and appreciate as seeing a naturally gifted athlete that isn't always giving 100% and thinking of the good of the team.

MaAggie, where do you get your facts about Rowan players not even being enrolled in classes. I can tell you that you are so far from the truth with that statement it is not even funny. Unless you have some hard facts you should not throw accusations around like that. The NJAC would have come down on Rowan for that and Rowan would have forfeited a lot of wins if that was the case.

Pat Coleman · October 09, 2008, 01:25:07 PM

Come on now, that's a ridiculous assertion, MaAggie. Spare us.

KingSting999 · October 09, 2008, 04:40:09 PM

I believe maAggie has used a poor choice of words in describing the "attendance" of some former Rowan players in classes. I am sure that Coach Keeler had all of his players enrolled in school. We will discuss the post and I am sure that a clarification will be made. We both are very close to the Rowan program and have known quite a few former players and coaches. Coach Keeler is a very successful coach as was Coach Mangus at Del Val. Their records speak for themselves and let's just leave it at that. They both viewed winning as paramount and both pushed the envelope in reaching their goals. Nothing wrong with that as ever coach should always be looking for that little edge to put their team over the top. That's what seperates winners from losers.....preperation!

KingSting999 · October 10, 2008, 06:10:18 AM

MAC prediction time: Had three of four right last weekend so taking another shot at this....... remember, for amusement only!

FDU 21 - Wilkes 20
Would be a complete shocker in previous years but the MAC is moving towards parity lately. Home field gives FDU the edge.

Kings 24 - Widener 21
Widener due for a break out game but long bus ride and improved Kings team stands in the way. Could be a real nailbiter.

Lycoming 24 - Albright 22
Yet another close battle with Lyco making a real statement that they are for real this year. Could go down to who has the ball last in this one.

Del Val 31 - Leb Val 21
The Aggies must control Parker who ran roughshod through the Wilkes defense last week. They should be able to put enough points on the board to come away with the win if they protect the ball against a much improved opponent.

Let's see your picks,,,, GO AGGIES!!!!!

PBR... · October 10, 2008, 08:31:37 AM

Quote from: KingSting999 on October 10, 2008, 06:10:18 AM
MAC prediction time: Had three of four right last weekend so taking another shot at this....... remember, for amusement only!

FDU 21 - Wilkes 20
Would be a complete shocker in previous years but the MAC is moving towards parity lately. Home field gives FDU the edge.

Kings 24 - Widener 21
Widener due for a break out game but long bus ride and improved Kings team stands in the way. Could be a real nailbiter.

Lycoming 24 - Albright 22
Yet another close battle with Lyco making a real statement that they are for real this year. Could go down to who has the ball last in this one.

Del Val 31 - Leb Val 21
The Aggies must control Parker who ran roughshod through the Wilkes defense last week. They should be able to put enough points on the board to come away with the win if they protect the ball against a much improved opponent.

Let's see your picks,,,, GO AGGIES!!!!!

gotta go w/

widener 21 kings 10....almost believe it or not a must win for widener as whoever wins the mac this year will likely have 0 or 1 loss imho. if widener were to have 2 losses and still not playing dvc or albright yet would put them in a very difficult position.

Albright 24 Lyco 17....some of the lustre comes off Lyco's star this week. Albright is a very good team and well coached. Lyco needs another good recruiting year as Albright has too much talent on their team and beats a scrappy Lyco team.

DVC 28 Leb Val 14....DVC has too much offense for leb val and dvc's defense makes some nice stands to hold back Parker. For sure Parker will have his moments and have a nice game but not a great game. Isgro throws for 2 tds and dvc pounds the ball late in the game and rushes for 2 tds

G-manWU · October 10, 2008, 04:33:22 PM

PBR- No Wilkes prediction this week? I'd be curious to hear your take on this one, as I have learned from my time at Wilkes that the players on the roster from NJ probably get more excited for this game than many others on the schedule, esp. with the game being in Jersey this season.

KingSting- After seeing the Colonels last weekend, I can't argue against you picking them. But just one thing- if that 21-20 score comes due to a missed PAT from Wilkes, you may want to re-think that pick. While several aspects of the game have been lacking at Ralston Field this season, Wilkes dose have a fantastic freshman kicker who has been a real asset to date. Last season missed PATs directly cost us the chance to win two of our first three games, and this year that problem is fixed for the Colonels.

Best wishes to everyone on your weekend- I'll be back here covering some HS games for a newspaper where I am currently a freelance correspondent, so I can't make the trip to Madison. Have fun, safe travels, and we'll see you all after the action

gordonmann · October 10, 2008, 11:24:48 PM

Programming note...

Delaware Valley
vs.
Lebanon Valley

It's homecoming and a big game as the Flying Dutchmen (3-1, 1-0 MAC) led by Charlie Parker take on Mike Isgro and the Aggies (3-1, 1-0 MAC).

If you can't be there, click here to listen. Pregame coverage starts at 12:40 pm and kickoff at 1 pm.

Lyco80 · October 11, 2008, 05:39:41 PM

Warriors win, again. They now have more wins than their total from last year - not too shabby for a first year coach and after all the legitimate emotion about the change of head coaches.

What were the picked to finish in the MAC - fifth? That is why the games are played.

Congrats to Coach Clark and the boys from Williamsport - great to see a class program resurgent.

The MAC is always a tough place to play and this year is no exception. I see a true collision shaping up between Del Val and the Warriors. It is such a pity that kid Isgro plays for them since both his father and uncle attended Lycoming - one a standout O lineman and the other a hard-nosed wrestler.

While the apple does not fall far from the tree it is a shame it didn't roll up the Susquehanna.

ATB

PBR... · October 13, 2008, 08:35:42 AM

congrats to dvc on another big win. taking care of bizness 1 game at a time. good luck against fdu this week. how a team wins and takes care of business and yet drops in the top25 poll is beyond pbr but go figure...granted they didnt blow leb val out 42-7 but come one already voters.

Pat Coleman · October 13, 2008, 10:43:03 AM

They fell because they got passed by someone who had a more impressive week. The thing about rankings is that if someone rises, someone else must fall.

Delaware Valley got the exact same number of votes in both polls, coincidentally enough. But Cortland State had a good week itself and passed them.

PBR... · October 13, 2008, 11:05:44 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on October 13, 2008, 10:43:03 AM
They fell because they got passed by someone who had a more impressive week. The thing about rankings is that if someone rises, someone else must fall.

Delaware Valley got the exact same number of votes in both polls, coincidentally enough. But Cortland State had a good week itself and passed them.

totally see the point...my thinking/feeling (not saying pbr is right here) a team shouldnt necessarily be jumped when you win a game by almost 2 tds. if dvc or anyteam would of won the game by a point on a last second fg for example one could see the rationale for losing some votes but when you beat who your supposed to beat by almost 2 tds pbr doesnt think a team should fall in the rankings (guess pbr is sensitive in that he is a big fan of joe pa and joe doesnt traditionally run up the score and it cost him a championship in '94 by being a nice guy)