FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[mikefln]

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

That is a good thing.  I respect DelVal, but when 1 team rules the roost for so long it is not good for anyone.  It is good that there is some competition this year.

[jmcozenlaw]

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

That is a good thing.  I respect DelVal, but when 1 team rules the roost for so long it is not good for anyone.  It is good that there is some competition this year.

I agree, although there had better be more than "some competition" this year. Two or three of those five teams mentioned above needs to beat DelVal in a very down year for them.........especially those who are loaded with seniors and 5th year Covid players. Again, no excuses for any of the five (King's, Stevenson, Widener, FDU and LebVal). None. Zip. Zilch.

[kate]

In that wind and rain for tomorrow's game - BEST of LUCK to our Delaware Valley University Aggies as they take on King's College for their home opener.   We'll be watching on here!   GO AGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thewaterboy]

Another tough one for Alvernia... only seeing the final, but was really hoping they'd get it done today. 1-2 wins possible for them from here on out IMO.

[jmcozenlaw]

Another tough one for Alvernia... only seeing the final, but was really hoping they'd get it done today. 1-2 wins possible for them from here on out IMO.

Now that he ran out of former Wesley players.........let's see his true recruiting chops in a conference that is not loaded with monster teams!!

[jmcozenlaw]

Quite honestly, this is as ready for the taking that I've seen them in many years. Not only King's.............but Stevenson, Widener, FDU (at FDU), Leb Valley also have zero excuses not to knock off DelVal in what looks like an off year for the traditional MAC power.

That is a good thing.  I respect DelVal, but when 1 team rules the roost for so long it is not good for anyone.  It is good that there is some competition this year.

I will hand it to King's, they won the "mouthy, tough guys on social media the week leading up to the game" award.................the "strut around the field like a cocky team that has actually won something in pregame" award............the "mock an opposing player when he gets lit up and most of the starters don't get down on a knee" award..........and the "we are getting our azz kicked 28-0, but I'm still going to chirp at your sidelines with a minute left in the game" award.......

But as for the game itself.......every faux tough guy has a gameplan, that is, until he gets punched in the mouth!!!

DelVal has 8 seniors on the roster (and a few impact players sitting it out this year and will be back in 2024). They lost 4 All-American's and 4 other starters on defense. The offense lost 5 out of 6 WR's, including 2 gamebreakers, as well as RB #2, TE #1, FB/HB #1 and 3 OL. QB #3 is TE #1.

In a down year (for them), they demolished a King's team loaded with seniors and 5th year players. A KIng's team that many on the team (and outside of the team) guaranteed the "changing of the guard". Talking the talk is one thing. Walking the walk is another.

DelVal still has a shot in a down year, with a depleted roster lacking depth at most positions. Given all that is coming back next year and an offseason to reload with freshmen and transfers.......something tells me that the Aggies are not dead in the water. Getting to the top is tough. Staying there is tougher. You are everybody's biggest game.

They may not win the MAC this year, in fact, for many reasons, they probably shouldn't. King's learned a couple of lessons yesterday, one's that Leb Valley, Stevenson and Widener might have learned something from as they saw the score:

1. As depleted as DelVal is, don't play social media "tough guy" as it only fuels the fire. Even a dog on 3 legs can still bite hard
2. You'd better get the Aggies this year, while they are depleted, as they only have 8 seniors and a full offseason to reload

King's, no, Queen's............actually, you are Jokers!!!

[thewaterboy]

Another tough one for Alvernia... only seeing the final, but was really hoping they'd get it done today. 1-2 wins possible for them from here on out IMO.

Now that he ran out of former Wesley players.........let's see his true recruiting chops in a conference that is not loaded with monster teams!!

EJ Lee was really the only Wesley guy that was on Alvernia's roster last year. Darin Matthew's on the OL is the only Wesley guy this year... and he didn't even see much PT at Wesley.

Azz is one of the best recruiters in the game. He pulled Joe Callahan out of nowhere and we know how that turned out. If he gets time he'll be ok. I will say Azz is in a bit of a different situation than trying to recruit for Wesley. Alvernia has no track record.

[jmcozenlaw]

Another tough one for Alvernia... only seeing the final, but was really hoping they'd get it done today. 1-2 wins possible for them from here on out IMO.

Now that he ran out of former Wesley players.........let's see his true recruiting chops in a conference that is not loaded with monster teams!!

EJ Lee was really the only Wesley guy that was on Alvernia's roster last year. Darin Matthew's on the OL is the only Wesley guy this year... and he didn't even see much PT at Wesley.

Azz is one of the best recruiters in the game. He pulled Joe Callahan out of nowhere and we know how that turned out. If he gets time he'll be ok. I will say Azz is in a bit of a different situation than trying to recruit for Wesley. Alvernia has no track record.

I'd say without EJ Lee, that Alvernia team, last year is winless. He rushed for 651 net yards while the rest of the team combined rushed for 438 yards. He also tied for most receptions AND made a freshman QB look really good.............who looks brutal this year without EJ.

What blows my mind about Alvernia (and Albright) is the football talent right in their backyard. I'll give you that Azz needs more time but Alvernia as a program is now in it's 6th year and they dole out nice packages, some of the best in the MAC. Also, Eastern beat Alvernia this year in their second game (not year) in program history, recruiting against DelVal and Widener up and down the road.

Lastly, Stevenson never had a program and look at how quickly they became relevant. I'm not saying that Azz can't or won't do it..........but he/they had such a different deal down at Wesley. They had their pick of the crop given the lack of schools nearby. Alvernia is a different animal and if Albright ever gets good again, LebVal stays decent, DelVal bounces back from a down year for them, Widener gets back to where they were years ago....................and Lycoming and Wilkes recruit as Landmark Conference participants....................it will not be easy for Azz. The typical Wesley recruit is a different breed than the typical student  or student-athlete at Alvernia and the campus and campus life is much, much different. I do wish him luck though as it will be race between them and Albright to bring some type of prominence back to Reading area college football...........in the same way that King's has similarly done, by overtaking Wilkes and Misericordia (I don't count count Keystone) for Wilkes Barre/NEPA college football.

He's got the experience, connections with high school coaches and the ability to offer great packages. There are no excuses not to be at least 5-6 win team, 2-3 years out, especially with Eastern, Albright, Misericordia and FDU on the annual schedule. That should be 4 gimmies!!

[kate]

Congratulations on the win Saturday, Aggies!   King's is a formidable opponent!   Hope you have productive bye week, cause the schedule really doesn't let up!   Very nice to hear Gordon Mann's call of the game after going three weeks without it!

[mikefln]

I will hand it to King's, they won the "mouthy, tough guys on social media the week leading up to the game" award.................the "strut around the field like a cocky team that has actually won something in pregame" award............the "mock an opposing player when he gets lit up and most of the starters don't get down on a knee" award..........and the "we are getting our azz kicked 28-0, but I'm still going to chirp at your sidelines with a minute left in the game" award.......

But as for the game itself.......every faux tough guy has a gameplan, that is, until he gets punched in the mouth!!!


King's, no, Queen's............actually, you are Jokers!!!

Kings certainly showed that they were pretenders. Some team other than DVC needs to step up for the conference's sake. 

[jmcozenlaw]

I will hand it to King's, they won the "mouthy, tough guys on social media the week leading up to the game" award.................the "strut around the field like a cocky team that has actually won something in pregame" award............the "mock an opposing player when he gets lit up and most of the starters don't get down on a knee" award..........and the "we are getting our azz kicked 28-0, but I'm still going to chirp at your sidelines with a minute left in the game" award.......

But as for the game itself.......every faux tough guy has a gameplan, that is, until he gets punched in the mouth!!!


King's, no, Queen's............actually, you are Jokers!!!

Kings certainly showed that they were pretenders. Some team other than DVC needs to step up for the conference's sake.

Zero excuses for both Lebanon Valley and Stevenson not to take DVU down in a down year for them...........especially with their All-Region stud RB out for the year with a broken collarbone! Again, zero!!!!

[kate]

This afternoon if i checked in on the Catholic/Susquehanna game would i have to pay??    Del Val has their bye this week and my Phillies don't start until 4.    What's a fan to do?

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, the Landmark Conference is all pay-per-view now -- any athletic contest hosted by a Landmark school.

[thewaterboy]

Eyebrow raising score thru 1 half of play. Del Val 7, Alvernia 0. We will see how well Alvernia's line holds up in the second half... but you can def see the experience of Alvernia's coaching staff against Duke Greco and crew is what is keeping it close.

[jmcozenlaw]

Eyebrow raising score thru 1 half of play. Del Val 7, Alvernia 0. We will see how well Alvernia's line holds up in the second half... but you can def see the experience of Alvernia's coaching staff against Duke Greco and crew is what is keeping it close.

The announcers (assuming they were students) drove me insane. They were calling the DelVal defensive line one of the best in the country (they were last year with the 3 All-Americans.........this year they are playing with 3 brand new players who have never started). They were calling DelVal the 24th best team in the country (being ranked 24th by D3football.com vs. being the 24th best team in the country are miles apart). They said that RB Jay White (90% of DelVal's offense) was out this game. The All-Region and potential All-American candidate, pre-injury, is out for the year with a broken collarbone.

This DelVal team is a shell of it's former self. Young, inexperienced, injured and eerily thin at many key positions. Azz did a good job with what he has (which talent wise is not much below what DelVal currently has) but the true test will be how he and they do from here, as playing like they did today, they should win 2 or 3 of their final 5 games.

DelVal losing stud RB Jay White was their death knell (kind of like Alvernia without an EJ Lee) in an already precarious season. They have a ton coming back next year, including a couple of difference makers (i.e. Barksdale) who are not playing this year and Greco and Brady know what they need on the recruiting trail, especially hunting some transfers.

If this current conference winning streak (48) ends at 49, 50  or 51 (my bet it is one of these).......it's a record that no other MAC school approaches for as long as there is a MAC.