FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

"Our kids don't feel good about this at all," Girardi said. "Any time a game like this happens you want to play the very next day. I can see it in them. I think they are going to give a good account of themselves. I really do."
    Baltz, a three-year starter and one of four captains, said the Warriors want to show members of past championship teams that they aren't as bad as their record or last week's result indicates. Lycoming has won 13 Middle Atlantic Conference titles and members of every championship team should be in attendance Saturday.
    "We want to show them that we can still play the same way that they did," Baltz said. "We want to show them that we're not dead yet." (Williamsport Sun Gazette)

The Lyco football family of athletes will always be there to support the Warriors in both victory & defeat, unlike many of the past frontrunners who have posted on this board and have come & gone....The current group of frontrunners' longevity on this board, supporting their team, even in defeat, remains to be seen!...Simba

I was a little bored today trading futures and commodities so I went back and read the first 50 pages or so of the 2005 season (the first 50 pages under the new format). I can't believe how mean spirited and harsh the board was at that time. Damn!!! Many of those posters are long gone but I found it funny that even back then, bman was busting simba's stones about only hearing from him after Lycoming victories...........and with stories from the distant past.

Simba, as the last paragraph from one of your posts (above) from 2005 (almost 11 years ago to the day) states...........have you become (or always been) that same frontrunner who is heard from in the good times, but disappears in the not-so-good times? Interesting.

The human condition continues to fascinate me (the Swarthmore in me )

Also..........I would love to hear from the dearly departed PBR.........

[kate]

That goes for me, too, jmcozenlaw.  Used to love PBR's take on things.  Still have to thoroughly read the landmark startup thesis.  No sour grapes, just need to know what makes them tick!  (And why)!  Good luck to the Aggies tomorrow for their Homecoming games!!!

[jmcozenlaw]

That goes for me, too, jmcozenlaw.  Used to love PBR's take on things.  Still have to thoroughly read the landmark startup thesis.  No sour grapes, just need to know what makes them tick!  (And why)!  Good luck to the Aggies tomorrow for their Homecoming games!!!

Hey Kate, I've been stunned at the departures of bman and simba, right around the same time, as they been around for years (much longer than me). I put those Landmark pansies in their place. I love the CPA Exam pass rate........you can't dispute facts!! Ronk acts like Scranton is Harvard.........it's freakin Scranton........and it's in Scranton!! I don't think any of those kids hang around Scranton once they graduate. Great Italian food though in Scranton and Clarks Summit.........along with a nice mafia presence (the landfill business )

A debit is a debit.......a credit is a credit.......and Eireann Anastasi started out right around six figures with her DelVal Bachelors and M.B.A.........in addition to rewriting the record book. My Ivy buddies always say that the toughest part about their journey was getting in, not the work itself. If you can get in, the work is a breeze. The "my school is better than yours" is such an outdated, false narrative........as is the "many football players can't get into my MAC school, but they got into others". If they only knew what I knew..........

[tweisman5]

Week 7 Predictions:

Wilkes@Del Val: Del Val wins by 28 points

Stevenson@Widener: Stevenson wins by 3 points

FDU@Albright: Albright wins by 28 points

This week is tough to choose between Widener and Stevenson due to Del Val looming next week on all Stevenson fans minds. I'm hopeful that Widener isn't overlook, because they are more than capable from knocking Stevenson off today.

Week 7 Conference Rankings:
1. Stevenson
2. Del Val
3. Albright
4. Widener
5. Kings
6. FDU
7. Lycoming
8. Leb Val
9. Wilkes
10. Misericordia

Slight shift in rankings this week. I believe Del Val has been showing up well since that close lose to Albright, thus if another game was played between those two, I would be picking Del Val. I believe FDU has shown some fight and is deserving to be sitting in the 6th spot. Wilkes and Misericordia could flip either way, but I believe Wilkes has the higher ceiling between the two.

[wone3]

I think the statement was made that the MAC has to go thru Stevenson this year. Next week is the key game; and then after that it is play like expected ( no injuries or unexpected surprises) and lay no eggs.

If Stevenson pulls out the homecoming game against Del Val then they are 2 games up.

If Del Val wins, then the match up Nov 12 with Widener is the most likely deal maker. Del Val has both FDU and Lyco before them.

Stevenson will have King's Wilkes and Lyco after next week.

Buckle up for the end of the year!

[jmcozenlaw]

I think the statement was made that the MAC has to go thru Stevenson this year. Next week is the key game; and then after that it is play like expected ( no injuries or unexpected surprises) and lay no eggs.

If Stevenson pulls out the homecoming game against Del Val then they are 2 games up.

If Del Val wins, then the match up Nov 12 with Widener is the most likely deal maker. Del Val has both FDU and Lyco before them.

Stevenson will have King's Wilkes and Lyco after next week.

Buckle up for the end of the year!

Wone - I actually made the statement, via my preseason prediction that it would be Stevenson, Albright, DelVal and Widener in that order. I think I will wind up nailing it on the head. I was not at the DelVal vs. Wilkes game today but will read nothing into the score as the "Bad Wilkes" obviously showed up.

I'll wait until Thursday or Friday to make my official prediction, but given Stevenson beat both Albright and Widener on the road, I've got them as a 10 point favorite at home next week against DelVal. My only question will be if they have the team to win a few games in the NCAA playoffs. We'll see.......

P.S. I lit a candle this morning in memory of simba, bman and PBR

[wesleydad]

Was at the Stevenson/Widener game today.  Good first half until Widener's poor special teams showed up and gave up the punt return TD with under 1 minute left in half.  Second half turned into a defensive game until again Widener's poor punt team had a bag snap and Stevenson scores again.  Follow that with Widener having no passing game and you get the blowout with a 75+ yard TD and and Int returned for a TD.  Stevenson is pretty good.  I think the game with Del Val will be a good one.  Widener did not look any different to me since week 1 against Rowan.

[D3MAFAN]

Was at the Stevenson/Widener game today.  Good first half until Widener's poor special teams showed up and gave up the punt return TD with under 1 minute left in half.  Second half turned into a defensive game until again Widener's poor punt team had a bag snap and Stevenson scores again.  Follow that with Widener having no passing game and you get the blowout with a 75+ yard TD and and Int returned for a TD.  Stevenson is pretty good.  I think the game with Del Val will be a good one.  Widener did not look any different to me since week 1 against Rowan.

Agree with you Wesleydad, it was a good game until that late PR before half. I really like Stevenson, I think they have the defense and a mixture on offense to play with Delaware Valley and probably win a couple games if they were to make the playoffs. Like the Widener jerseys today too.

[wone3]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

[AUPepBand]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

Pep is curious about this statement. Does Stevenson sell pre-game tickets? Are you saying that anyone arriving at the game will be turned away? Can't imagine that happening at any D3 venue. Pep recalls games back in the 1960s and early 1970s when between 7,000 and 8,000 were standing-room-only in then 5,000 capacity Merrill Field at Alfred. Mind you, some of the regulars showed up at 11 a.m. for a 2 p.m. kickoff just to stand in line to get first dibs on the best seats. No one was ever turned away, to Pep's knowledge.

[jmcozenlaw]

Was at the Stevenson/Widener game today.  Good first half until Widener's poor special teams showed up and gave up the punt return TD with under 1 minute left in half.  Second half turned into a defensive game until again Widener's poor punt team had a bag snap and Stevenson scores again.  Follow that with Widener having no passing game and you get the blowout with a 75+ yard TD and and Int returned for a TD.  Stevenson is pretty good.  I think the game with Del Val will be a good one.  Widener did not look any different to me since week 1 against Rowan.

Agree with you Wesleydad, it was a good game until that late PR before half. I really like Stevenson, I think they have the defense and a mixture on offense to play with Delaware Valley and probably win a couple games if they were to make the playoffs. Like the Widener jerseys today too.

My preseason pick to win the MAC, and the current #15 in the country per the poll, had better do a lot more than "having the defense and mixture on offense to play with Delaware Valley" given that the game will be at home and also given that DelVal could not beat the team (Albright ) at home that Stevenson beat on the road. Not only did I pick Stevenson before the season started but once they beat Albright on the road, the conference was theirs to win. Once DelVal lost at home to Albright, Stevenson had a stranglehold on the MAC.

I'll stick by my prediction of Stevenson by 10 as I have been money all year. A DelVal victory would stun me.

[jmcozenlaw]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

Stevenson has done a great job building the program and also has built in advantages of facilities and bottom line cost. DelVal has a wide receiver that transferred from Stevenson (he isn't playing much) and he's mentioned to a few people how nice the packages are for some of the players. The other advantage is the lack of proximity to clusters of other D-III programs. Misericordia is in their fifth year and they are struggling. Wilkes and King's are literally across the street from each other and about 15 minutes from Misericordia. There is not enough talent to go around, in the dying ex-coal miner region, on a consistent basis for three schools within 15 minutes of each other. Stevenson doesn't have proximity concerns like that with other D-III schools.......or they would all get together and form a Maryland dominant conference instead of having to drive up to play 3 schools in Northeast PA and one in North Central NJ.

I'm sticking with the 10 point Stevenson win, although it might be a three point game with a late touchdown that makes it such. With great facilities, great financial aid packages, fertile recruiting grounds without a ton of local, proximate competition for many of those players.......especially those who want to stay close to home and don't have 5/6 options as a result  (like a Philly kid who can get to Widener, DelVal, Rowan, TCNJ, Wesley, Albright and soon-to-be Alvernia within 15 - 90 minutes).........I can see Stevenson staying at or near the top of the MAC, for as long as they are in it, for many years to come.

I can also see a MAC realignment down the road as more non-football schools add the sport (to get to 14 in the current MAC) and Stevenson is paired off with more of the schools that they compete against in all of the other sports. MAC Freedom and MAC Commonwealth in a very loose way if Alvernia is joined by Arcadia, DeSales, Messiah and who knows who else. Two divisions of 7 football playing schools. 6 conference and 4 non-conference games each year. DelVal would be with the 3 Northeast PA schools, FDU, DeSales and Arcadia. Stevenson would be with the Widener, Lycoming, Leb Val, Albright, Alvernia, Messiah group. That is years away.......if it ever happens. But remember that you did hear it here first!!

[Pat Coleman]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

Pep is curious about this statement. Does Stevenson sell pre-game tickets? Are you saying that anyone arriving at the game will be turned away? Can't imagine that happening at any D3 venue. Pep recalls games back in the 1960s and early 1970s when between 7,000 and 8,000 were standing-room-only in then 5,000 capacity Merrill Field at Alfred. Mind you, some of the regulars showed up at 11 a.m. for a 2 p.m. kickoff just to stand in line to get first dibs on the best seats. No one was ever turned away, to Pep's knowledge.

They do -- in fact, we mentioned the start of their season ticket package sales when I interviewed Ed Hottle on the June or July podcast. Stevenson's venue is not really configured for SRO patrons.

[AUPepBand]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

Pep is curious about this statement. Does Stevenson sell pre-game tickets? Are you saying that anyone arriving at the game will be turned away? Can't imagine that happening at any D3 venue. Pep recalls games back in the 1960s and early 1970s when between 7,000 and 8,000 were standing-room-only in then 5,000 capacity Merrill Field at Alfred. Mind you, some of the regulars showed up at 11 a.m. for a 2 p.m. kickoff just to stand in line to get first dibs on the best seats. No one was ever turned away, to Pep's knowledge.

They do -- in fact, we mentioned the start of their season ticket package sales when I interviewed Ed Hottle on the June or July podcast. Stevenson's venue is not really configured for SRO patrons.

Thanks, Pat. Guess Pep missed the summer podcasts.    Pep also has since taken a look at some online pics of Mustang Stadium and can see there really isn't any place for "overflow," unless there were room for bleachers behind the visitors' bench. Pep has since recalled that most Cortaca games are "sold out."

Guess that's one of the advantages of "The Pit"...having plenty of room for overflow both in and outside the stadium, more like Clemens Stadium, which Pep visited (in addition to Crusader Stadium in Belton, TX) while on a coast-to-coast excursion in July-August.

[jmcozenlaw]

The defense for Stevenson was there last year and they graduated some but not all from that side of the ball. The offense was a new one for them last year and they went thru a couple of QB's last year. The offense seems to have found itself this year and a lot of the "core" are juniors or younger. Not bad for a team in less than 10 years of existence.

Del Val is going to be a battle but it is also Homecoming/Family weekend and already sold out. I'm looking forward to a dynamite game next week.

JM I won't make my prediction either yet but I think 10 points is the max for a difference. Del Val's QB mobility has me worried; he has proven being able to run as well as pass and an earlier game, the D didn't do a great job with that. I'm thinking a 3-7 point game and nip-tuck all the way. I'd like to be able to breathe and enjoy it ( maybe similar to what happened with widener last year, where they went out big in first half and hung on); but I'm not even close to expecting it.

Pep is curious about this statement. Does Stevenson sell pre-game tickets? Are you saying that anyone arriving at the game will be turned away? Can't imagine that happening at any D3 venue. Pep recalls games back in the 1960s and early 1970s when between 7,000 and 8,000 were standing-room-only in then 5,000 capacity Merrill Field at Alfred. Mind you, some of the regulars showed up at 11 a.m. for a 2 p.m. kickoff just to stand in line to get first dibs on the best seats. No one was ever turned away, to Pep's knowledge.

They do -- in fact, we mentioned the start of their season ticket package sales when I interviewed Ed Hottle on the June or July podcast. Stevenson's venue is not really configured for SRO patrons.

Pat, how does Coe jump from #32 (seventh in the 'others receiving votes' group) by beating the #21 team by 11 points? I know #13, #15, #21 and #22 lost but that seems like a heck of a jump given where they were the week before with 17 total points. Does it seem spot on to you.........understanding that this is not a science? Thanks!