FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[LineCat]

Keep the wins coming Widener. The offense looks good but the kickoff team cannot continue to allow another two returns a game and the defense still needs improvement to compete in the games ahead.

[PBR...]

So..... Another season of DVU delivering beatdowns. Anything else I missed? Kate you can fill me in... Peace

[tweisman5]

Below are my week 6 predictions and rankings. The spread (-#) is provided by Massey Ratings and the top 25 rankings are from the Hansen Ratings composite. Good luck to everyone this week!

Week 6 Predictions

Albright (-3.5) @ Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 3

Alvernia @ Misericordia (-17.5): Misericordia wins by 14

Widener @ King's (-0.5): Widener wins by 3

Leb Val @ Stevenson (-18.5): Stevenson wins by 17

Week 6 Rankings
1. Del Val (4-1, 3-0)
2. Stevenson (3-2, 2-1)
3. Lycoming (3-2, 2-1)
4. King's (2-2, 1-1)
5. FDU (4-1, 2-1)
6. Misericordia (3-1, 2-0)
7. Widener (2-3, 2-1)
8. Wilkes (2-3, 1-2)
9. Albright (0-5, 0-3) 
10. Leb Val (0-4, 0-2)
11. Alvernia (1-3, 0-3)

Prediction Record
Last Week: 4-2 (.667)
Season: 24-10 (.706)
Career: 67-28 (.705)

[jmcozenlaw]

So..... Another season of DVU delivering beatdowns. Anything else I missed? Kate you can fill me in... Peace

PBR, this board is on life support and that's why I'm barely around anymore. The amazing thing about DVU this year is that they lost 9 out of 11 defensive starters and three underclassmen who would have started didn't return. They lost 6 out of 11 offensive starters and their best WR is playing CB! They also lost their stud KR and PR (two different players) from last year. Many MAC schools had a ton of returning players this year and I must admit that I am stunned, so far, by the Aggies this season (albeit from quite a distance this year). They are YOUNG at many positions, starting FIVE freshmen on defense!

They still have very, very seasoned and experienced teams on the schedule. King's and Widener on the road should be very tough games, especially a very experienced Widener team, and Lycoming brings a ton of experienced players back yet again. Lyco started a bunch of freshmen and sophomores two seasons ago and this is to be the payoff season (like the Aggies last year).

If the Aggies win the MAC this year, they should build a statue of Coach Greco. But next year, the defense brings back 9 starters AND a monster stud (6'5" / 285 pounds) who is injured. The offense needs to backfill Darden at QB, but returns four linemen, a plethora of WR's, both TE's and all of the RB's (with the next RB stud in the fold already). If they figure out the QB position and the new RB plays up to his capabilities, with this defense being a year older..................it could be a season like last season in DTown!! God, I miss my beautiful hamlet of Doylestown (but couldn't turn down the money)!!

[LineCat]

....especially a very experienced Widener team, ...

Coach kelly said at his press conference kids are leaving and kids are asking to leave. Seniors, former starters, captains, riding the bench and with first year coordinators it's more like the Trump white house.

[tweisman5]

Friday Fact of the Week

Fact:

2018 Points Per Play (Thru Week 5)

1. Widener: .551
2. Misericordia: .539
3. Del Val: .489
4. Stevenson: .456
5. FDU: .448
6. King's: .417
7. Wilkes: .414
8. Leb Val: .339
9. Lycoming: .310
10. Alvernia: .267
11. Albright: .220

Reaction:

A few noteworthy results were revealed through this research. Misericordia has what looks to be a lethal offense if this trend continues through the season. Their offense seems to be what has been the main reason for their surprise season so far. Widener could be a dangerous team with a MAC best PPP offense and an improving defense. The final MAC game against Del Val could have huge conference implication if they continue to improve. Albright has been a horrible disappointment in nearly every statistical way so I'm intrigued how the rest of the season unfold for them.

[jmcozenlaw]

....especially a very experienced Widener team, ...

Coach kelly said at his press conference kids are leaving and kids are asking to leave. Seniors, former starters, captains, riding the bench and with first year coordinators it's more like the Trump white house.

That's an excuse for Kelly and for Widener. I'm quite close to a few people in the program (including one of the coaches) and many one and two year starters are back in the fold. The QB, best two WR's and most skill position players are back as are many of the defensive players from last year, including Char, the best defensive player in the MAC.

Also, I can tell that you are most likely a young millennial.  Your second sentence is absurd at best. You've got a former NFL linebacker coaching the defense so please don't go down the first year coordinator path. DelVal has 17 FIRST TIME STARTERS this year! Also, if Widener was like the Trump White House, given the success to date, they'd be undefeated and would never have lost to Miserbleicordia and Lycoming!!

You are so way out over your CNN skis. As a corporate attorney (me, not you) and a wealth manager/trader (me, not you) for very wealthy clients, I am so thankful that I didn't listen to the geniuses who in November 2016, predicted a 15%-25% immediate collapse in the financial markets if Trump pulled off the massive upset. I see the portfolio balances of my clients, my friends and my own accounts and as a corporate attorney (mergers and acquisitions), I see business and consumer confidence levels at all time highs. These are tangible facts, not CNN nonsense. I didn't vote for him (nor her) but if leaving the Trump White House results in the lowest unemployment rate since December 1969, getting rid of the business stifling onerous over-regulation, corporate tax cuts to make us competitive on the world landscape (we previously had the third highest corporate tax rates out of all of the industrialized countries), repatriation of hundreds of billions of dollars in off shore accounts, individual tax cuts, increased tax credits for the poor, building up a formerly weakened military, standing up to the thieves in China and on and on and on........................let them all leave (with the exception of Wilbur Ross, Mike Pompeo and Larry Kudlow). The key folks are still there and aren't going anywhere. Do some homework instead of listening to CNN.....................and listening to a Kelly press conference.

[jmcozenlaw]

Friday Fact of the Week

Fact:

2018 Points Per Play (Thru Week 5)

1. Widener: .551
2. Misericordia: .539
3. Del Val: .489
4. Stevenson: .456
5. FDU: .448
6. King's: .417
7. Wilkes: .414
8. Leb Val: .339
9. Lycoming: .310
10. Alvernia: .267
11. Albright: .220

Reaction:

A few noteworthy results were revealed through this research. Misericordia has what looks to be a lethal offense if this trend continues through the season. Their offense seems to be what has been the main reason for their surprise season so far. Widener could be a dangerous team with a MAC best PPP offense and an improving defense. The final MAC game against Del Val could have huge conference implication if they continue to improve. Albright has been a horrible disappointment in nearly every statistical way so I'm intrigued how the rest of the season unfold for them.

If you go by starter experience (the facts, not LineCat's incorrect comment about many Widener seniors and returning starters either quitting or riding the bench) and the fact that the game is at Widener, if Widener is still in the running for the MAC Championship and automatic bid when they play DelVal (and looking at their schedule, they certainly should be), they should beat DelVal when they play in Chester. If Widener is out of the running, I expect a good, tough game, given the Keystone Cup, bragging rights and recruiting for the 2019 season, I'll take DelVal in a close one.

[Warren Thompson]

For the sake of sanity and civility, let us please not have political partisanship in our posts. We had more than enough of that six years ago. 

[kate]

Thank you Warren, and jm, i beg to differ - this site is NOT on life support!    As always, hopeless homer that i am - GO DEL VAL - GO AGGIES!!!

[G-manWU]

For the sake of sanity and civility, let us please not have political partisanship in our posts. We had more than enough of that six years ago. 

I'm with Warren on this one!

[G-manWU]

Howdy to all, I hope everyone has been enjoying the season.

Since my last post I have had two opportunities to see Wilkes in person: September 29 vs. Alvernia at FirstEnergy Stadium, and October 6 for homecoming vs. Albright. A few observations...

- It's been great to see the Colonels playing with confidence, moving the ball and scoring throughout the game. There is still much work to be done, but the team is clearly growing and maturing.

- I was impressed with both Alvernia and Albright. The Golden Wolves have a ton of athleticism, played with grit, and have the potential to be a major factor in the conference, sooner rather than later. Albright appeared to have a small travel roster- some of their fans gave various reasons for this to people I talked with- but the team played all-out for the entire game. The Lions had an outstanding passing attack that cut the Colonels defense to shreds; thankfully the Wilkes offense was able to keep pace and get the last score. Albright also featured some good running backs who played better when more North-South running plays were called.

- Last but not least, 10 years out from my graduation , the Wilkes campus and academic programs continue to develop in spectacular fashion. As a communications department alum I was thrilled to see all programs for communications housed in a newly-renovated HQ on Main Street last year. The renovations this year to Stark Learning Center (home to the engineering and pharmacy programs) have been absolutely stunning. These are among many functional upgrades to walkways, crosswalks (vitally important on a downtown campus) and open spaces on campus, with extensive upgrades planned soon for the Ralston Athletic Complex. All of these developments compliment the growth in academic programs and achievements over the same period. It's great to look back over a full decade and realize how much better and stronger the school has gotten since my graduation.

I note these not to boast about my alma mater, but to highlight it as running with the rest of the MAC schools at the top of the pack among small, private universities in America.

I plan on seeing the Colonels in action in their last two games, against Lycoming and King's. If the FDU game was played on a Saturday, I'd probably make the drive to Madison, but the Friday night date just won't jive for me this year. Cheers everyone 

[tweisman5]

Below are my week 7 predictions and rankings. The spread (-#) is provided by Massey Ratings and the top 25 rankings are from the Hansen Ratings composite. Good luck to everyone this week!

Week 7 Predictions

Wilkes @ FDU (-5.5): FDU wins by 7

Misericordia @ Leb Val (-3.5): Leb Val wins by 7

Lycoming @ Del Val (-21.5): Del Val wins by 21

King's (-24.5) @ Alvernia: King's wins by 21

Stevenson (-12.5) @ Widener: Stevenson wins by 3

Week 7 Rankings
1. Del Val (4-1, 3-0)
2. Stevenson (4-2, 3-1)
3. Lycoming (3-2, 2-1)
4. Misericordia (4-1, 3-0)
5. Widener (3-3, 3-1)
6. King's (2-3, 1-2)
7. FDU (4-1, 2-1)
8. Wilkes (3-3, 2-2)
9. Leb Val (0-5, 0-3) 
10. Albright (0-6, 0-4)
11. Alvernia (1-4, 0-4)

Prediction Record
Last Week: 4-0 (1.000)
Season: 28-10 (.737)
Career: 71-28 (.717)

[gordonmann]

For the sake of sanity and civility, let us please not have political partisanship in our posts. We had more than enough of that six years ago. 

Amen.

I think Lycoming will play DVU close, similar to the Wilkes' game. A 21-point win would surprise me.

And not to be Debby Downer, but I don't see how anyone could be impressed with Albright this year. However they executed particular plays and drives, this is a winless team and I doubt anyone on their staff or roster would describe that as anything other than a disappointment.

[jmcozenlaw]

For the sake of sanity and civility, let us please not have political partisanship in our posts. We had more than enough of that six years ago. 

I'm with Warren on this one!

I'm with Warren on this one as well. My commentary was simply (and simple) the education of a new, young poster who interjected his personal politics on to a football forum. He learned his lesson.