FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[wone3]

Widener should have nothing to worry about unless they REALLY underestimate anyone in the conference or suffer some really bad injuries. Lyco looks like they are gonna have a tough year ( I do realize they are young in a lot of spots this year) after the loss today to Stevenson (which I called a few weeks ago). The questions will be how the rest of the league plays against each other.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Lycoming struggling on both sides of the ball. Not a typical start for their program. Will be interested to see how they bounce back in the next few weeks. Widener might already have the league wrapped up.

[gordonmann]

It's probably too early to conclude Widener will run away with the division, though I do think they'll win it. Based on the very early results, Stevenson and Albright should give them a challenge.

And kudos to FDU for hitting the front page of D3football today. Pressley is a beast.

[Warren Thompson]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

[wone3]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

They already do in Women's Volleyball and Lacrosse I think both Women and Men. Stevenson plays Widener at home for football for their combo homecoming/family weekend in late October which will be interesting. I still think Widener has too much for them this year but it will be fun to watch the next few years.

[bill]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

Not too big, as long as Messiah stays in the conference 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

They already do in Women's Volleyball and Lacrosse I think both Women and Men. Stevenson plays Widener at home for football for their combo homecoming/family weekend in late October which will be interesting. I still think Widener has too much for them this year but it will be fun to watch the next few years.

They dominate in men's lacrosse, though the gap is closing with some teams. They don't dominate in women's lacrosse - that is a two to three headed race at the top, though the conference is average per the nation. Women's lacrosse they are very good in conference wise, but above average nationally. It's all perspective, really.

As for homecoming... amazingly one of only two games that weekend at Stevenson. Last year almost every (or every) fall sport played Friday or Saturday. Nuts.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

If you look at the location of their school and what they can offer academically and athletically with facilities etc., they should be dominating the league but they don't. Messiah dominates in almost every sport. Lycoming historically does in football. Basketball is always a toss up but it's been Alvernia, Messiah and Lycoming lately. Soccer has been and will continue to be Messiah and Lycoming for mens and Messiah for womens. So aside from lacrosse and a good start to football this year I don't see any trends or factors setting up Stevenson to become the next Messiah.

As said above though, it's really all perspective.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

While I agree on some of your points and being that I am contracted to oversee their video production does give me some perspective... I think you are down playing Stevenson's basketball teams a bit too much considering the men have been in the title game the last two years (and yes, under performed expectations) and the women won the title last year.

Messiah is Messiah. They are good at all sports and dominate in ones like soccer. However, Stevenson women did "beat" Messiah in a shootout for the title last year in soccer. That being said, Messiah never rebuilds... they just reload and that makes them dangerous in soccer every single year. Messiah basketball has also been at the top of the heap more years than not and Messiah is coming around nicely in lacrosse.

And that is what is really makes a quality program... when they are reloading and not rebuilding every year. Many teams in the conference, even in football, are streaky. It wasn't that long ago LVC basketball was one of the best... last year they were barely talked about. Nothing against some of the football teams in this conference, but I am amazed at how streaky they are. Great one year, disappointing the next, surprising the following, etc. Widener is usually always in the conversation, but even they can have years where you are scratching your head. That isn't a knock on the conference as having the same team dominate (Mount Union) can be a detriment or at least demoralizing. However, other conferences (OAC) have shown that some programs also use that dominance to improve themselves.

Back to your point... can Stevenson be the next Messiah? Who knows. That is certainly their goal... but there are so many factors including other programs in this conference who want to have the same success that will make a large difference.

[wone3]

What are the odds that Stevenson won't be dominating the Commonwealth in most sports in the near future?

If you look at the location of their school and what they can offer academically and athletically with facilities etc., they should be dominating the league but they don't. Messiah dominates in almost every sport. Lycoming historically does in football. Basketball is always a toss up but it's been Alvernia, Messiah and Lycoming lately. Soccer has been and will continue to be Messiah and Lycoming for mens and Messiah for womens. So aside from lacrosse and a good start to football this year I don't see any trends or factors setting up Stevenson to become the next Messiah.

As said above though, it's really all perspective.

Football is only in its 5th or 6th year and not sure how long the other sports have been out there, so it is still young and new. It does take a bit to build up a powerhouse and convince kids to come. Who would you rather play for at their age, a "proven" winner who is usually at the top year after year; or be a starter or founder of a sport at a new school, knowing the potential is there for some rough years ahead and you might not see success while there. I agree about Messiah and soccer; they are a juggernaut (not unlike what Juanita was in Women's Volleyball when they were in the league).

[wone3]

I agree football in this league is streaky but it has had "cycles". Lyco was the historic bigwig for a while as the only team to win the league  and everyone was chasing them; but that hasn't been the case since mid to late 90's after their 2 Stagg bowl appearances. Since then it usually has been a potential 2- 3 teams ( then the rest of the league) and Lyco has not been the dominate one for sure. They have had to scoreboard watch to see if they share a portion of the title or have finished just outside the title realm. Usually it had been either Del Valley or Widener that has won the title out right or shared it with either the other team or Lyco. Stevenson is building and their QB this year is only a sophomore. I'm not ready to move them up there; but if they consistently play like they did last year and the start of this year, then they should move into the title talk in the next few years.

[bill]

Well, here's our trip down memory lane. I arbitrarily started in 1990:

2014 - Widener
2013 - Lycoming, Lebanon Valley
2012 - Widener
2011 - Delaware Valley
2010 - Delaware Valley
2009 - Delaware Valley
2008 - Delaware Valley, Albright, Lycoming
2007 - Widener
2006 - Wilkes
2005 - Delaware valley
2004 - Delaware Valley
2003 - Lycoming
2002 - King's and Widener
2001 - Widener
2000 - Widener
1999 - Lycoming
1998 - Lycoming
1997 - Lycoming and Albright
1996 - Lycoming
1995 - Widener
1994 - Widener
1993 - Wilkes
1992 - Lycoming
1991 - Lycoming
1990 - Lycoming

Lycoming:10 titles, 3 shared
Widener: 8; 1 shared
Del Val:6; 1 shared
Wilkes has won twice, Albright shared twice.

That's about it...with a sprinkling of Kings and Leb Val

[bman]

Well, here's our trip down memory lane. I arbitrarily started in 1990:

2014 - Widener
2013 - Lycoming, Lebanon Valley
2012 - Widener
2011 - Delaware Valley
2010 - Delaware Valley
2009 - Delaware Valley
2008 - Delaware Valley, Albright, Lycoming
2007 - Widener
2006 - Wilkes
2005 - Delaware valley
2004 - Delaware Valley
2003 - Lycoming
2002 - King's and Widener
2001 - Widener
2000 - Widener
1999 - Lycoming
1998 - Lycoming
1997 - Lycoming and Albright
1996 - Lycoming
1995 - Widener
1994 - Widener
1993 - Wilkes
1992 - Lycoming
1991 - Lycoming
1990 - Lycoming

Lycoming:10 titles, 3 shared
Widener: 8; 1 shared
Del Val:6; 1 shared
Wilkes has won twice, Albright shared twice.

That's about it...with a sprinkling of Kings and Leb Val

If for nothing else...to be thorough..:
1989 - Lycoming and Susquehanna
1988 - Moravian and Widener
1987 - Susquehanna and Widener
1986 - Susquehanna
1985 - Lycoming
1984 - Widener
1983 - Susquehanna
1982 - North: Delaware Valley and Lycoming
1982 - South: Widener and Swarthmore
1981 - North: Delaware Valley and Juniata
1981 - South: Widener
1980 - North: Delaware Valley
1980 - South: Widener
1979 - North: Lycoming
1979 - South: Widener
1978 - North: Lycoming
1978 - South: Widener
1977 - North: Albright
1977 - South: Widener
1976 - North: Albright
1976 - South: Franklin & Marshall
1975 - North: Albright
1975 - South:
1974 - North: Wilkes
1974 - South: Franklin & Marshall
1973 - North: Juniata
1973 - South: Franklin & Marshall
1972 - North: Albright
1972 - South: Franklin & Marshall
1971 - North: Upsala
1971 - South: Franklin & Marshall
1970 - North: Susquehanna 
1970 - South: Moravian

[wone3]

Well, here's our trip down memory lane. I arbitrarily started in 1990:

2014 - Widener
2013 - Lycoming, Lebanon Valley
2012 - Widener
2011 - Delaware Valley
2010 - Delaware Valley
2009 - Delaware Valley
2008 - Delaware Valley, Albright, Lycoming
2007 - Widener
2006 - Wilkes
2005 - Delaware valley
2004 - Delaware Valley
2003 - Lycoming
2002 - King's and Widener
2001 - Widener
2000 - Widener
1999 - Lycoming
1998 - Lycoming
1997 - Lycoming and Albright
1996 - Lycoming
1995 - Widener
1994 - Widener
1993 - Wilkes
1992 - Lycoming
1991 - Lycoming
1990 - Lycoming

Lycoming:10 titles, 3 shared
Widener: 8; 1 shared
Del Val:6; 1 shared
Wilkes has won twice, Albright shared twice.

That's about it...with a sprinkling of Kings and Leb Val

Thank you for helping to prove my point about cycles...My mention was the 2 Stagg bowl appearances by Lyco which were 90 and 97. I honestly forgot Lyco won the league title the next 2 years (98 and 99) but if you start in the 2000's it has been for the most part Widener or Del Valley with Lyco dropping off to only 1 outright and 2 shares in the past 15 years and a smattering of others in there.

[Simba]

Thanks bman for posting Lyco's first back to back MAC'S in 78 and 79...I just put Springsteen's Glory Days on the stereo!...Simba