FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[bill]

FYI
Both FDU and Moravian are working hard to get their artificial surfaces ready for this weekend. Because of the 11-15 inches of rain we've both had, both schools have had storm drains collapse either under or next to their fields....I think FDU's will be playable by Sat, though...I can't speak for Moravian.
Hope everyone has a safe weekend (no injuries)!

[Pat Coleman]

Not all D-II full-timers are union positions. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schools' coaches are and it's possible they are at some other state schools, but it is not a characteristic of Division II as a whole.

[bman]

Warren

Just kidding you...but to reply...maily bovine...some equine and taurine ...no porcine that I know of...

[WUDLINE]

Pat- Sorry  I should have made myself clearer I was only speaking of the PSAC.

Warren - I think Bill explained the MAC situation pretty well. 

Bman- I wish they would have told us WU was such a horrible academic university before we spent all of that money on our degrees.

[bman]

Dline

Personally I'm sick about it....

[gordonmann]

Last year I put together "Aggie Football Recaps" which provide approximately 5-minute audio stories of Delaware Valley games.

While some technical issues at SportsJuice.com prevented me from posting those this year, it looks like we're ready to roll 'em out again.

So if you're feeling a need to recap the Lycoming or Moravian games, they are posted here.  I try to add highlights from both teams unless the game is prohibitively lopsided.  So Lyco and Moravian fans can hear their highlights and just turn the rest off if they want.

I'll add the other games as time moves along.

[Billman56]

4man

I think Don Hansens' picks look fairly accurate with the exception of DVC/Albright.  After the pregame warm ups and after the 1st quarter, it will turn into another quadmire like last year against Juniata and the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.  The following week DVC is away but the field will be ruined. Just another good argument for "Turf".  However I feel that this game will be low scoring  say like 17-10??

GO AGGIES!!!

[Billman56]

Gordo...will you guys be making another CD like the one from last year??  That one was great!

[Billman56]

Pat Coleman

I received pictures from Josh Bowerman...excellent quality and value...please pass this along to him.

[LVCALUM]

I read over all of the posts concerning the possible defections of MAC schools to other leagues with great interest.  Whether motivated by a desire to be part of a more prestigious conference or be part of a less challenging football conference, I think that it makes more sense for those teams to remain in the MAC.  I was curious as to what other posters thought about the following idea.

First, I thought  about the possibility of splitting the conference into 2 divisions.  I recall that the MAC used to be comprised of two leagues, Commonwealth and Freedom.  Back then, it seemed that the more northern institutions were grouped in the Freedom while the southern institutions were part of the Commonwealth.  Each league selected its own all-star teams, and crowned division champions.  However, the conference, as it does today, received only one automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs which was awarded to the overall champion based on record, with various tiebreakers used.

I was thinking that perhaps more traditionally powerful teams, with arguably lower academic standards, could be placed into one division, with traditionally weaker teams with arguably higher academic standards could be placed into the other division.  Since (I think) there are currently 11 members in the MAC that play football, it would be nice to add one more team to make 2 divisions of 6.  Even if the MAC couldn't pick up another team, make one division have 6 teams and the other have 5 teams.  So, if you are in the 6 team division, you would play a total of 5 "division games," two inter-division games (which could rotate year by year) and two non-conference games.  Same for the 5 team division, except each team would have to pick up an extra non-conference game.  Have the winners of the two leagues play each other in a conference championship game at the end of the year (a la the Big 12 in D-1 football), with the winner getting the conference's automatic bid.

Proposed Membership:

Division 1

Lyco
Widener
Kings
Wilkes
DVC
Albright

Division 2

LVC
FDU
Juniata
Susquehanna
Moravian

Benefits of this setup:  More non-conference games, something the MAC is always slighted on.  This would increase the chances of getting an at-large bid out of the MAC, assuming good performance. Games would theoretically be more competitive.  All teams would have something to play for (separate division championships, all-stars, etc.).  There would be a prestige to get into and stay in the better football division.   
 
Weaknesses of this setup:  Historical performance can be an unpredictable indicator of present and future performance.  Cases in point are DVC and Lyco.  It would be difficult to place teams into leagues in this manner.  However, we could go on historical performance to start, and have a reshuffling every so often (3-4 years) where cumulative records are compiled and teams are assigned to divisions.  It also seems unfair to have a team from the weaker division get a shot at the stronger champion in a winner take all playoff game.

Anyways, I'd be interested to hear what everyone thinks.  My proposed membership is not intended to be a slight at any particular school in any way.  There were several teams that seemed to have gone either way. 

[gordonmann]

Billman:

Yes, I hope to do so along with the game broadcasts as before.

[Pat Coleman]

Have the winners of the two leagues play each other in a conference championship game at the end of the year (a la the Big 12 in D-1 football), with the winner getting the conference's automatic bid.

You can do that but it would count against your 10 games. You only get an 11th contest for your title game if you have 12 teams in the conference.

[Billman56]

LVCALUM....What is so wrong with it the way it is now set up.  I havent read all of your other posts...

[Billman56]

Gordo...thanks for the update.

LVCALUM....At a quick glance , it looks like you are back on the Academic thing again!

[Lyco80]

I am not sure what all the buzz is about concerning petitions to change leagues particularly as it allegedly relates to academic standards and football prowess.  However, if it isn't broke why fix it?

Additionally, for those of you, and you seem to be legion, who are eager to pronounce Lycoming dead and washed-up, I only want to point out one very telling fact.  And as we all know, facts are stubborn things.

That fact is this - since 1983 - when the MAC was last realigned - Lycoming is the winningest program - bar none.  Here are the facts:

Lycoming:  153-34-3 .813
Widener:   146-54-1 .715
Susq:         122-66-1 .648
Moravian:  114-76-2 .599

Note - Susquehanna - an alleged academic powerhouse - also managed a healthy won-loss record.  So why the move?  I am sure some of you will be eager to point out this is past performance and not necessarily an indicator of future results.  Granted.  However, if this were a mutual fund, where would your money be, on Lycoming with a career victory return of .813 or DVC at .370 or LVC at .263? 

Last year was the first non-winning season for Lycoming in 30 years!  One disappointing data point and this season appears to be more of the same.  Okay, two data points and now we have a line.  I saw a great deal of heart on Saturday and a good bit of talent when I was at David Person field for the Wilkes loss.  Furthermore, I did not claim the Warriors had 300 yards offense - I quoted from the Williamsport Sun Gazette what was listed in the game stat sheet.  Regardless, if Lycoming has not been, the class football program for the MAC in recent years, it has certainly been in the elite few.  All this trash talking does not square with the facts, and frankly, it is wearisome and unfounded, despite current outcomes. 

Until another program can find a way to generate the sustained successful output of the Warriors it will all just be smack. 

My hat is truly off to the newcomers to the top of the standings.  Competition is what makes our country keen.  Sustained superior performance is what is truly remarkable not just an abrupt turn around of a program followed by coach(es) who pad their resume and then move on and up the D coaching ladder.

All the best.