FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

I attended Hobart undergrad and Southern Cal for my MBA. Total opposites on every level. The biggest difference I think is that the pride in a big time athletic program, by the students, alums, faculty and staff makes more sense at a USC than a HC. A lot of kids pick HWS b/c they wanted small, personal interaction with actual faculty (who usually abhor or feign interest in athletics). If I had to quickly sum it up, that'd be it.

And to Jason's point, not sure where the posters from 10 years + ago vanish off to other than careers, kids, etc. Only some of us hang on to the passion and interest that brought us on board from way back. I do also thing other avenues like Twitter, social media has made this medium very old fashioned (even though it's nice not to have a 140 character limit sometimes).

To your second point ITH, it still comes back to a gradual or pretty quick loss of interest as career, kids and other affect all of us in one way or another. I'm typing this note in between gold trades and will be shuttling my kids around all afternoon and evening. You just have to care enough and there are a precious few of us remaining. I yearn for the "good old days" in a lot of ways though (morals, ethics, Faith, etc.) and that probably makes me a dinosaur!!

[jmcozenlaw]

Excited for the season to finally kick off tonight! With the start of the season, it means the start of predictions and some fun trying to guess the upsets! My prediction for this upcoming season is as followed:

1. Albright
2. Delaware Valley
3. Stevenson
4. Widener
5. Lycoming
6. Lebanon Valley
7. Kings
8. Wilkes
9. FDU-Florham
10. Misericordia

I believe the last few weeks will become a tight three team race again between Albright, Stevenson, and Del Val. The key conference games this season I believe will be: W2 Stevenson@Albright, W4 Albright@Del Val, and W8 Del Val@Stevenson. I see Stevenson as the dark horse team in the three team race. Most people are split between Del Val and Albright winning the conference, and I understand why; however, if there was any team that could capture the conference it would be Stevenson. If Albright loses W2 and W4, it's likely you can count them out contending for a conference championship. I would circle W8: Del Val@Stevenson as a possible "unofficial" conference championship if this occurs. The only issue I see with Stevenson that leaves them as an unknown contender is the QB and LB positions. If they can find good players at those position, I see them running the table on the season.

Here are my week 1 picks:

Del Val@Wesley: Wesley wins a close game by 10
Albright@Salisbury: Albright a close game by 3
NC Wesleyan@Stevenson: Stevenson wins by 10
Rowan@Widener: Widener wins by 9
Muhlenburg@Wilkes: Muhlenburg wins by 23
Leb Val@F&M: Leb Val wins a close game by 3
Susquehanna@Lycoming: Lycoming wins by 13
Kings@Moravian: Moravian wins by 14
Utica@Misericordia: Utica wins by 24

I'm going to throw a curveball or two in here on my 2016 season predictions:

1. Stevenson (the key DelVal game is at home and getting better at the higher level transfer gig..........but not Rowan in the 90's )
2. Albright (6 first place votes by MAC coaches and everybody back of significance from last year's MAC Champion)
3. DelVal (Stevenson on the road + the annual loss vs. a team that you shouldn't lose to.........at Wilkes in 2015)
4. Widener (excellent defense and solid running game)
5. Lycoming (may surprise with what they have at RB/QB and all they have back from last year)
6. King's (might be better than most think)
7. Wilkes (same as King's)
8. Leb Valley (too many decent teams in the MAC)
9. FDU (best receiver in the conference is the highlight)
10. Misericordia (they replaced a running QB........with a running QB........the long slog continues)

On another note, to those who don't think a 1st round draft pick, a 4th and the 2017 cap space now freed up to resign Bennie Logan was a criminal haul for an oft-injured QB who was gone after this season.........I want to sit next to you at the poker table and take all of your money!

I'm not one to toot my own "predicting horn" (although bman has done so for me over the years...........I do quite well with the NFL as well ) but in my September 4 post above, I've got Stevenson, Albright and DelVal, followed by Widener........and it is playing out just like I thought. Stevenson now has an even clearer path with the DelVal game at home and Albright out of the way.

Sometimes you just have to say, "damn, I'm good"........or, "damn, I'm lucky"

Stevenson runs the table as does Albright. DelVal loses at Stevenson and at Widener. Stevenson is the only MAC school in the playoffs and gets a #4 seed in the East. Book it!!

Week Five Predictions:

Bman - 34          Lycosimba - 16 (I'm hoping this game brings my two friends back to the board. Lycosimba needs the game to stay alive. Bman needs it to stay undefeated with Albright and Stevenson both coming to Chester)
Wilkes - 27         FDU - 20 (Not a whole lot to say........although the FDU Women's Hoops Team looks damn good again)
Stevenson - 40   Miserables - 10 (My MAC preseason favorite....see above....will whack Les Miserables up in Dallas. Speaking of which........the Cowboys stink!!!)
Albright - 33       King's - 13 (The preseason choice of 6 of the 9 head coaches.....not including Albright's as you can't vote for yourself.....will put it to King's up in Reading)
DelVal - 23         LebVal - 17 (Weather could affect the Battle of the Valley's. The Aggies might have blown the season last week as Stevenson and Widener both control their own destiny)


The Eagles have a bye this week so Ginger Jesus (Carson Wentz) will not be torching anybody's team. He (and the defense) made the Steelers look like Misericordia!!

[wone3]

My week 5 picks

Widener - 31         Lyco - 10  Lyco's D has to find a way to stop the pass. Widener knows they need to keep winning and can't over look this game ( and the next against Leb Val) for a few weeks down the road with Stevenson at home if they want a shot at the auto qualifier or a bowl game at year end.

Wilkes - 24         FDU - 17  I will say that FDU is showing better than it has in the past. If they could get a few good kids (QB was picked off 4 times last week at Stevenson and the run game got shut down) and maybe some better consistency; then they will be in the middle of the conference in the next couple of years. In other words, they aren't as much of the pushover as they have been in the past.

Stevenson - 48   Miserables - 10  This is other portion of the soft spot in schedule for Stevenson. They can't play like they did in Q1 against FDU and overlook this team and coast; but they should put it away early and get some backups more play time going into the break next week. Widener comes up on the 15th and they should use this game to work on eliminating mistakes that they can't have going forward for the rest of the season.

Albright - 28       King's - 13  Albright's pride keeps on going especially if they want a chance for a bowl game or outside shot at the auto qualify

DelVal - 24         LebVal - 17 Del Val needs to keep holding serve for a shot at the qualifier or a bowl game.

I'm thinking we'll have 4 teams ( stevenson, widener, del val and albright) looking for the 3 spots (auto and 2 bowl games) coming down to the end of the season and they all know that they need to keep winning to stay in it. I can almost guarantee that all 4 will NOT be playing a post season game and just not sure who's going to be the one sitting out as of quite yet mainly because Widener hasn't matched against any of the other 3 ( Stevenson 1-0, Albright 1-1 and Del Val 0-1 as of now).

[jmcozenlaw]

My week 5 picks

Widener - 31         Lyco - 10  Lyco's D has to find a way to stop the pass. Widener knows they need to keep winning and can't over look this game ( and the next against Leb Val) for a few weeks down the road with Stevenson at home if they want a shot at the auto qualifier or a bowl game at year end.

Wilkes - 24         FDU - 17  I will say that FDU is showing better than it has in the past. If they could get a few good kids (QB was picked off 4 times last week at Stevenson and the run game got shut down) and maybe some better consistency; then they will be in the middle of the conference in the next couple of years. In other words, they aren't as much of the pushover as they have been in the past.

Stevenson - 48   Miserables - 10  This is other portion of the soft spot in schedule for Stevenson. They can't play like they did in Q1 against FDU and overlook this team and coast; but they should put it away early and get some backups more play time going into the break next week. Widener comes up on the 15th and they should use this game to work on eliminating mistakes that they can't have going forward for the rest of the season.

Albright - 28       King's - 13  Albright's pride keeps on going especially if they want a chance for a bowl game or outside shot at the auto qualify

DelVal - 24         LebVal - 17 Del Val needs to keep holding serve for a shot at the qualifier or a bowl game.

I'm thinking we'll have 4 teams ( stevenson, widener, del val and albright) looking for the 3 spots (auto and 2 bowl games) coming down to the end of the season and they all know that they need to keep winning to stay in it. I can almost guarantee that all 4 will NOT be playing a post season game and just not sure who's going to be the one sitting out as of quite yet mainly because Widener hasn't matched against any of the other 3 ( Stevenson 1-0, Albright 1-1 and Del Val 0-1 as of now).

Should be an interesting day!! Sending out an APB for bman and Lycosimba (especially on bman vs. Lycosimba day) and tweisman!!!!!

[tweisman5]

I'm a little late this week on my picks, but it has been a long week of class work, so needed to kick back a few last night! Anyways, here are my picks for week 5:

FDU@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 10 points

Kings@Albright: Albright wins by 14 points

Del Val@Leb Val: Del Val wins by 14 points

Stevenson@Misericordia: Stevenson wins by 27 points

Widener@Lycoming: Widener wins by 10 points

Also here are my conference rankings heading into week 5:

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

[jmcozenlaw]

I'm a little late this week on my picks, but it has been a long week of class work, so needed to kick back a few last night! Anyways, here are my picks for week 5:

FDU@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 10 points

Kings@Albright: Albright wins by 14 points

Del Val@Leb Val: Del Val wins by 14 points

Stevenson@Misericordia: Stevenson wins by 27 points

Widener@Lycoming: Widener wins by 10 points

Also here are my conference rankings heading into week 5:

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

Despite 6 of the 9 non-Albright head coaches picking Albright to win the conference, I picked Stevenson before the start of the season. Your Top Four now are how I ranked my Top Four before the games started. We shall see.......

[wone3]

I'm a little late this week on my picks, but it has been a long week of class work, so needed to kick back a few last night! Anyways, here are my picks for week 5:

FDU@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 10 points

Kings@Albright: Albright wins by 14 points

Del Val@Leb Val: Del Val wins by 14 points

Stevenson@Misericordia: Stevenson wins by 27 points

Widener@Lycoming: Widener wins by 10 points

Also here are my conference rankings heading into week 5:

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

Despite 6 of the 9 non-Albright head coaches picking Albright to win the conference, I picked Stevenson before the start of the season. Your Top Four now are how I ranked my Top Four before the games started. We shall see.......

Guessing that ranking was coming from the question mark of who the stevenson QB was going to be (offense was a bit more of a question mark last year..they really have clicked this year) as the main reason; along with the fact they didn't think the defense would repeat the stats they pulled out last year.

[jmcozenlaw]

I'm a little late this week on my picks, but it has been a long week of class work, so needed to kick back a few last night! Anyways, here are my picks for week 5:

FDU@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 10 points

Kings@Albright: Albright wins by 14 points

Del Val@Leb Val: Del Val wins by 14 points

Stevenson@Misericordia: Stevenson wins by 27 points

Widener@Lycoming: Widener wins by 10 points

Also here are my conference rankings heading into week 5:

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

Despite 6 of the 9 non-Albright head coaches picking Albright to win the conference, I picked Stevenson before the start of the season. Your Top Four now are how I ranked my Top Four before the games started. We shall see.......

Guessing that ranking was coming from the question mark of who the stevenson QB was going to be (offense was a bit more of a question mark last year..they really have clicked this year) as the main reason; along with the fact they didn't think the defense would repeat the stats they pulled out last year.

Based on all that was returning for Stevenson along with a few key transfers coming in, I had Stevenson number one in my preseason poll. I had Albright number two based off of returning just about everybody from last year's MAC Conference Champion.......followed by DelVal and Widener. It seems to be playing out just as I had expected halfway through the season.

Bman and Lycosimba........where are you guys?? Are neither of you back from Williamsport yet? A four overtime game. I have to hear the details..........

[jmcozenlaw]

I'm a little late this week on my picks, but it has been a long week of class work, so needed to kick back a few last night! Anyways, here are my picks for week 5:

FDU@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 10 points

Kings@Albright: Albright wins by 14 points

Del Val@Leb Val: Del Val wins by 14 points

Stevenson@Misericordia: Stevenson wins by 27 points

Widener@Lycoming: Widener wins by 10 points

Also here are my conference rankings heading into week 5:

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

Despite 6 of the 9 non-Albright head coaches picking Albright to win the conference, I picked Stevenson before the start of the season. Your Top Four now are how I ranked my Top Four before the games started. We shall see.......

Guessing that ranking was coming from the question mark of who the stevenson QB was going to be (offense was a bit more of a question mark last year..they really have clicked this year) as the main reason; along with the fact they didn't think the defense would repeat the stats they pulled out last year.

Based on all that was returning for Stevenson along with a few key transfers coming in, I had Stevenson number one in my preseason poll. I had Albright number two based off of returning just about everybody from last year's MAC Conference Champion.......followed by DelVal and Widener. It seems to be playing out just as I had expected halfway through the season.

Bman and Lycosimba........where are you guys?? Are neither of you back from Williamsport yet? A four overtime game. I have to hear the details..........

Calling all bmans and lycosimbas..........calling all bmans and lycosimbas. Hopefully you guys had a chance to break bread (if not beers) up in Williamsport on Saturday. I need to hear both of your perspectives on the game. I may start calling the local hospitals to see if you guys are ok!!

[D3MAFAN]

With Alvernia adding football, how will the scheduling work? Similar to the PAC or are there plans to add an additional team to make 12 and split into two divisions and have a championship game?

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2016/10/alvernia-adding-football

[ITH radio]

The LL needs at least one new member. One of the MAC or PAC schools in No PA would be good potential candidates (assuming there any)

[AUPepBand]

The LL needs at least one new member. One of the MAC or PAC schools in No PA would be good potential candidates (assuming there any)

Gosh, Pep thought the LL might try to woo Alfred....perhaps that was just a few posters speculating.   

[jmcozenlaw]

The LL needs at least one new member. One of the MAC or PAC schools in No PA would be good potential candidates (assuming there any)

Don't be surprised if Misericordia isn't making a few phone calls to the Liberty League. Three schools within 10 minutes of each other (Misericordia, King's and Wilkes) with King's and Wilkes literally right across the street, in an areas that are not exactly booming (Wilkes-Barre and Dallas). Misericordia is the Northernmost PA team currently in the MAC.

[jmcozenlaw]

With Alvernia adding football, how will the scheduling work? Similar to the PAC or are there plans to add an additional team to make 12 and split into two divisions and have a championship game?

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2016/10/alvernia-adding-football

Gordon Mann & Pat Coleman......what are your thoughts? Does the MAC just move forward with a 10 game schedule and zero non-league games? Do you see a team like Misericordia, Stevenson or anybody else exploring any non-MAC options in the future? Arcadia is pretty deep in their own football study right now and that would make one helluva mess out of the MAC on the football side!!

[Warren Thompson]

With Alvernia adding football, how will the scheduling work? Similar to the PAC or are there plans to add an additional team to make 12 and split into two divisions and have a championship game?

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2016/10/alvernia-adding-football

Arcadia is pretty deep in their own football study right now and that would make one helluva mess out of the MAC on the football side!!

When I arrived in the area in 1967 (i.e., the "Dark Ages" ), the MAC was  already in a "helluva mess" in all sports simply because of its size.