FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[DVCFan11]

The Aggies opened the season last year with these same three teams but i hope the results chance this year (0-3 in 2007). I gotta say im a little worried about that offensive line since last year Iona got to, and was in Isgro's face almost all game. The defense needs to pick it up to, they cant let Iona jump on them early and cant lose the lead like they did last year. Anyone got any news on the injury front for the Aggies? who does Widener open with?

[gordonmann]

Delaware Valley confirmed that DL Greg Rissinger will not play this weekend due to injury.  The run defense has been a big strength of this team the past three seasons so there's a lot of pressure on the newcomers (Natale, Porter) to perform.

Widener opens at North Carolina Wesleyan next week.  They scrimmage Penn at Franklin Field on Friday afternoon.

[PBR...]

Delaware Valley confirmed that DL Greg Rissinger will not play this weekend due to injury.  The run defense has been a big strength of this team the past three seasons so there's a lot of pressure on the newcomers (Natale, Porter) to perform.

Widener opens at North Carolina Wesleyan next week.  They scrimmage Penn at Franklin Field on Friday afternoon.

gordon, pls pass along to everyone at dvc on how great the new website looks!! It is sooo much easier to navigate and looks great!! well done by everyone.

[jmccloskey]

Gordon

Thanks for that.  I always assumed the Pioneers was related to the Military acadamy since the Military engineers were generally referred to as pioneers...

Pep thought that Widener at one time was known as PMC Colleges....was it Penn Military Corps Colleges or was it Penn Military College (PMC)?

The PMC Colleges was from when there were actually two colleges using the same campus..Penn Military College, and (I believe) Penn Manor College, which was a traditional four year college.  Eventually the military college was closed down, though present day Widener still has a strong ROTC chapter.  One remainder of the PMC days was the broom drill, held at the Homecoming game.  You'd have retired vets who'd attended PMC, some in their 80s, marching across the field carrying their brooms for the official "inspection", it was certainly a unique tradition.  That was discontinued when Leslie C Quick stadium was decommissioned, though.

[D3FBFan55]

Does anyone know of a site that has a list of the D3 pre-season All Americans?  I didnt see it on this site.

[Pat Coleman]

There's a link for All-Americans on the left-hand rail of every news page.

[AUPepBand]

Gordon

Thanks for that.  I always assumed the Pioneers was related to the Military acadamy since the Military engineers were generally referred to as pioneers...

Pep thought that Widener at one time was known as PMC Colleges....was it Penn Military Corps Colleges or was it Penn Military College (PMC)?

The PMC Colleges was from when there were actually two colleges using the same campus..Penn Military College, and (I believe) Penn Manor College, which was a traditional four year college.  Eventually the military college was closed down, though present day Widener still has a strong ROTC chapter.  One remainder of the PMC days was the broom drill, held at the Homecoming game.  You'd have retired vets who'd attended PMC, some in their 80s, marching across the field carrying their brooms for the official "inspection", it was certainly a unique tradition.  That was discontinued when Leslie C Quick stadium was decommissioned, though.

Thanks for the clarification, jmccloskey, Pep vividly remembers seeing "PMC Colleges" listed and, in fact, either the coach or athletic director was a member (perhaps chair) of the selection committee for the former Knute Rockne Bowl that snubbed an undefeated 1971 Alfred University football team (8-0) in favor for the larger Bridgeport University (8-1) squad in a meeting with, Pep believes, Hampden-Sydney.

Pep probably wrote a letter to said committee member at PMC Colleges. That was long before D3football.com and Post Patterns where Pep can daily express his feelings of support for his Saxons.....Thanks, Pat! 

[WUDLINE]

jmmcloskey-
The broom drill actually originated from the cadets using brooms to drill with during war times do to a lack of available weapons. The  drill  tradition still takes place at every home coming game and its importance is explained to the students players, and fans. Also the "pride" still play at Quick stadium.

Update from, camp : I am told that the overall numbers are down with only around 105 players on the team. I was also told that it appeared that around 10 players were on the sidelines with some type of injury. The blue gold game was competitive but there are some questions surrounding the depth of talent after the starters.  Which could stem from the number of players that are out with injuries. I was also told that all 3 Qb's looked good.

[D3FBFan55]

There's a link for All-Americans on the left-hand rail of every news page.

Thank you.

[KingSting999]

Weather doesn't look promising for Saturday, does that help or hurt what the Aggies will try and do?

[gordonmann]

Tough to say.

Stormy weather certainly hurts passing oriented teams, but I'm not sure that describes Delaware Valley any more.  They are most effective when they can use the speed of their receivers, spread defenses out and let Isgro hurt teams with his arm and legs.  They've won slogfests with a heavy dose of running attacks (Juniata in 2004, King's in 2006).  Iona had a very good run defense last year, but I believe a lot of that unit is gone.

Defensively, the Aggies were very good against the run and were hurt by big plays last year.  Bad weather mitigates the big play threat but, again, this is a different crew so is the run defense still a strength?

I hope the field holds up in the bad weather, because there's a long season to go with 5 more games at home.

[gordonmann]

On that note, if Del Val fans would rather not pack up the ark for tailgating, you can stay home and listen to the game online.

Iona Gaels

versus
Delaware Valley

Click here to listen. 

The link won't be active until 12:40 pm for pregame.  You'll need Windows Media Player 9.0 to listen.

[PBR...]

Tough to say.

Stormy weather certainly hurts passing oriented teams, but I'm not sure that describes Delaware Valley any more.  They are most effective when they can use the speed of their receivers, spread defenses out and let Isgro hurt teams with his arm and legs.  They've won slogfests with a heavy dose of running attacks (Juniata in 2004, King's in 2006).  Iona had a very good run defense last year, but I believe a lot of that unit is gone.

Defensively, the Aggies were very good against the run and were hurt by big plays last year.  Bad weather mitigates the big play threat but, again, this is a different crew so is the run defense still a strength?

I hope the field holds up in the bad weather, because there's a long season to go with 5 more games at home.

good points gordon...if memory serves pbr right wasnt the widener came played in a driving rain storm last year as well? that game didnt turn out too well for the fighin ag's though

[gordonmann]

Quite right, PBR.

[PBR...]

Quite right, PBR.

gordon fyi just saw the latest weather forecast....holy 'ish...allentown, pa calling for 7.5 inches of rain and 30mph steady winds and gusts up to 55mph ....worst of it will be mid to late afternoon. after showers overnight tonight might even get a break early morning tomorrow until about noon then the really heavy stuff. schools should really consider moving the game up an hour to try and get it done by 3pm if possible. logistically might be too late at this point

EDIT: weather is going to be a huge factor tomorrow in alot of d3 games playing in the area. havent checked the schedule but teams IF playing home affected heavily will be  dvc, muhlenberg, moravian, ursinus, widener (but think they are in nc), albright