FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[TheGrove]

Gman:

I can guarantee you that no one on the coaching staff that was there in 2006 has forgotten, nor have the seniors who were freshmen on the fateful day.

It's almost enough to make me wish we'd pulled Mount Union instead... 

[PBR...]

Words cannot truly describe the emptiness I feel right now after the Albright comeback victory over Lebanon Valley, and I just called the game.  I can't even imagine how the players feel.  Up 23-0 almost halfway through the third quarter, and then the wheels fall off for a little while and Albright ties it.  I will say that the difference between this year's team and other teams of the past was apparant, since after squandering a 23 point lead in the past, former teams would have allowed things to continue to spiral out of control.  This year's Dutchmen gutted out a TD drive in response to the Lions' tying the score at 23.  Then when Albright came down and equalized again, LVC was able to drive down into potential field goal range.  Wide right no longer applies to the Buffalo Bills for me.  Overtime #1, we had them stopped after we scored.  It was 4th and 15 at the 30, but Pillar made an amazing catch in the end zone between two defenders who looked like they were in perfect position to knock down the pass.  Then the heartbreak on the failed two point conversion in the second OT.  So close to the NCAAs.  Now a monumental task of regrouping before the first ever ECAC Bowl appearance (I'm assuming) in school history.  Congrats to the winners.  Gutsy comeback without your four year starting QB.  Good luck to all the MAC teams in the postseason.   

Several things...

1) Congratulations to the entire DVC community! A fantastic job by the Coaching Staff and Players. This senior class is to commended for buying into coach clements philosophy after coach mangus moved onto new horizons. The senior leadership on this team is just fantastic and they deserve all the accolades they have been getting. Now the fun starts and all those weights you lifted, wind sprints, film study is put to use for your chance at the ultimate prize. Well done by DVC!!

2) Leb Val...wow, what a heart breaking loss. Not even sure what to say as pbr is sure it still stings. Kelly was knocked out of the game and w/ that lead thought for sure this game was over. It was great to see Leb Val do so well this year the entire LVC nation should hold their heads high. You didnt make the playoffs but you are in a ECAC game and this program is obviously headed in the right direction. Keep up the good work and good things will continue to come your way. Would of been great to see Warren and BakLVC excitement heading into the d3 playoffs but a ECAC game is nothing to look down upon. Finish out the year strong!

3) Bring on the susquatch! Its time for redemption.....There is no tomorrow now, lose and you go home.

[kate]

AMEN, PBR - on all counts!!!

[Warren Thompson]

PBR et al.

Yes, the double OT loss to Albright stung. *

Yet, a post-season matchup in the ECAC is not the worst thing in the world; it does provide some measure of redemption, as well as the opportunity to go against a team not usually on your schedule.
==========================================

* Were it the Valley playing at Alfred, they would go against a former coach. Dave Murray, the current Saxon head coach, was head man in Annville for one season (0-10, as I recall) when the Dutchmen were still in the doldrums prior to the return of Jim Monos. (And the 0-10 season wasn't truly Murray's fault -- and that's all I'll say on that point.)

{While I'm at it, I'd like to defend Coach Monos' decision to go for two in the second OT v. Albright. He wanted to win the game then and there because, as a coach on the field, he saw that, for whatever reason/s, LVC was not stopping the Lions in the second half and beyond. I believe we ought respect that. It was a risk, but in this case, I think, a risk worth taking.}

[G-manWU]

While I will get to the good news regarding the Colonels in just a moment, I know Coach Sheptock would be disappointed in me for not mentioning the most important news of the day first. That news is that King's head coach Rich Mannello has stepped down from his position with the Monarchs after 19 seasons as the head coach.

If you are new to MAC football, or don't know much about King's and MAC football in Wilkes-Barre, I should let you know that Coach Mannello took on the massive challenge of building the King's program from scratch after the school brought back varsity football for the 1993 season. After JV teams played in 1991 and 1992, the Monarchs hit the field in 1993 with their trademark rushing game. While some of the early years were not the greatest, the team won back-to-back ECAC Championships in 2000 and 2001, before winning the MAC Championship and the school's first NCAA playoff game in 2002. The following years brought more ECAC berths and three straight wins in the Mayor's Cup from 2000-2002. Even though there were several losing records since then, the vast majority of those losses were ultra-close affairs that could have gone either way- the Albright win on the last play deflected pass in 2005 comes to mind.

In that short time, a remarkable number of MAC all-confernce players and All-Americans have played for Coach Mannello, including Richard Jackson, Steve Wilson (later an assistant at Wilkes) Damon Saxon, and Craig Haywood. Many others have gained recognition or have been helped  by the numerous community-based programs Coach Manello has helped start around the local community. Also, since Coach Girardi retired at Lycoming, Coach Mannello has been the dean of MAC Coaches in terms of years coached in the league. I am sure I speak for all posters and fans around the league in wishing him nothing but the best on his future plans.

As for who will take over the position, I don't know the inside info, but I would assume assistant coach Jim Anderson would be first in the running. In four years of working with two sports in the MAC, and getitng to know dozens of coaches and administrators around the league and elsewhere, I can say there there are few people I have enjoed meeting and seeing more than Coach Anderson. He wears many hats within the Monarch program already, has been with the program from the beginning. and would be the natural coach to take over the position if he should wish.

I know many of you who know that I bleed Wilkes Blue and Gold on here may be suprised that I am talking this way about the coaching staff of our main rival, esp. after they trampled over the Colonels just a few days ago. The simple reply is that this is the kind of sportsmanship that exists in the Mayor's Cup rivalry, as taught by Coach Sheptock, Coach Mannello, and many other coaches and administrators at both schools on River Street, on the newly-refurbished banks of the Susquehanna River.

Here's a link to the official press release from King's:
http://www.kingscollegeathletics.com/news/2009/11/16/FB_11_16_09_mannello_resignation.aspx

[G-manWU]

Now, as for the Colonels, I am pleased to see that the team will be squaring off against Franklin & Marshall in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. The Colonels join Lebanon Valley in the ECACs, and while misisng out on the NCAAs is disappointing, the MAC will feature four teams in action on Saturday.

Here's hoping for a good result for Wilkes, both for the seniors playing their last game, and the underclassmen looking to return and improve for next season. Best of luck to all the participating MAC teams on Saturday 

[AUPepBand]

PBR et al.

Yes, the double OT loss to Albright stung. *

Yet, a post-season matchup in the ECAC is not the worst thing in the world; it does provide some measure of redemption, as well as the opportunity to go against a team not usually on your schedule.
==========================================

* Were it the Valley playing at Alfred, they would go against a former coach. Dave Murray, the current Saxon head coach, was head man in Annville for one season (0-10, as I recall) when the Dutchmen were still in the doldrums prior to the return of Jim Monos. (And the 0-10 season wasn't truly Murray's fault -- and that's all I'll say on that point.)

{While I'm at it, I'd like to defend Coach Monos' decision to go for two in the second OT v. Albright. He wanted to win the game then and there because, as a coach on the field, he saw that, for whatever reason/s, LVC was not stopping the Lions in the second half and beyond. I believe we ought respect that. It was a risk, but in this case, I think, a risk worth taking.}

Pep is well aware of what "might have been" had the Dutchmen pulled off the 2-point play. And, given an LVC win, it might have been LVC meeting Coach Murray's Saxons.

Without digging too deeply into Pep's memory bank, Pep believes LVC had been in an 0-10 skid the year prior to Murray's arrival. And, while Pep does not pretend to know much about LVC or Murray's year there, Murray aptly fit the criteria Alfred was seeking in a head coach to replace AD Jim Moretti, who was serving in both capacities for a year or two.

Quite frankly, Murray has rebuilt the Alfred program and while we often look at the wins and losses as the measure of a coach, at Alfred it goes way beyond that. Murray molds fine young men.

The father of an AU freshman football player said to me at a recent game, "I dropped off my boy at Alfred for a weekend visit to the campus; when I picked him up, he had become a young man."

Pep once traveled with the team early in Murray's coaching career at AU. Murray holds a high behavioral standard for his players...tie and jacket for dinner, respect for everyone, expressions of gratitude extended to those serving them.

Pep often says that Murray and his lovely wife Karin have three daughters....and 150 sons! He has had his young men knocking on the NCAA door for five straight years and finally, now, in 2009, the door has been opened.

On Saxon Warriors!!

[Warren Thompson]

Pep:

I'm well aware of Coach Murray's success since he shook the dust of Annville off his shoes back when.

[kate]

Grove, Hello!  Sorry we have to part ways on our respective teams (football that is); we still are jointly huge Phillie fans, so if we ever actually meet, there's our common ground  ; Warren, Great luck to LVC this weekend with Salisbury - your bold letter post was spoken like a TRUE fan of D3 which of course applies to us all!  GManWu, i hope that Wilkes batters F & M.  We'll be following all the games this weekend from our women's tourney in Annville.  GO MAC!!!

[maAggie]

CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Clements; Coach of the Year in the MAC, Kyle Gesswein; Defensive Player of the Year, and other 12 Aggies selected as MAC All Conference players!!!! All well deserved awards and the fruits of their successes!!!!

[gordonmann]

Yes, including MAC Rookie of the Year Jonathan Lavelle who was an important anchor of the Aggies' defensive line as a freshman.

[G-manWU]

Gordon & maAggie,

Indeed, the Aggies dominated the all-conference units. Well-earned by all, but don't forget that Wilkes linebacker Andrew Yacina shared the ROY award with Lavelle 

Congrats also to the other Colonels who earned spots on the all-conference team, including my good friend and HS basketball teammate Sean Madden, as well as Nick Genuardi, who helped me out with filming a great deal in his first two years...since kickers/punters have plenty of idle time in practice 

Kate,

I also hope the Colonels win, but it won't be an easy game. Enoy your time at LVC- one of the best gyms in the area and be sure to stop at Funk's- my favorite restaurant around any MAC stadium.

[AUPepBand]

Anyone know the extent of Tanner Kelly's injury on Saturday? Will he play this Saturday in Alfred?

Pep's gotta know so the band can arrange its repertoire....

[PBR...]

Anyone know the extent of Tanner Kelly's injury on Saturday? Will he play this Saturday in Alfred?

Pep's gotta know so the band can arrange its repertoire....

Pep ...pbr has been asking around on several fronts and no info...my guess no matter what the coaches will be playing it close to the vest. Albrights backup qb came in and lit it up in the 2nd half last week so either way AU should expect to see the ball in the air saturday...

[AUPepBand]

Anyone know the extent of Tanner Kelly's injury on Saturday? Will he play this Saturday in Alfred?

Pep's gotta know so the band can arrange its repertoire....

Pep ...pbr has been asking around on several fronts and no info...my guess no matter what the coaches will be playing it close to the vest. Albrights backup qb came in and lit it up in the 2nd half last week so either way AU should expect to see the ball in the air saturday...

Alex Yunevich used to say that when you put the ball in the air, one of three things can happen... and two of them are bad. Pep probably shouldn't be showing his cards, but it seems when the opponent puts the ball in the air at Merrill Field, good things happen for Alfred. For instance:

ST. LAWRENCE....30-for-58 passing with 4 ints, 2 TDs in a 38-16 loss
SPRINGFIELD...4-for-9 passing with 1 int, 1 TD in a 49-28 loss
HARTWICK...17-for-38 passing with 2 ints, 2 TDs in a 42-17 loss
ROCHESTER...10-for-25 passing with 4 ints and a Pick 6, 0 TDs in a 51-14 loss
UTICA...25-for-46 passing with 2 ints and a Pick 6, 2 TDs in a 56-30 loss

Passing on Merrill Field for 2009 was successful 48.86% of the time.
Passing on Merrill Field for 2009 was incomplete 51.14% of the time.
Passing on Merrill Field for 2009 resulted in an interception 7.4% of the time.
Passing on Merrill Field for 2009 resulted in an AU TD 1.13% of the time.
Passing on Merrill Field for 2009 resulted in 7 TDs in 176 passes, just about 4.0% of the time.

Therefore, for every 7 TDs an opponent has scored via the pass on Merrill Field, Alfred has scored 2 TDs.