FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[DVCFan11]

anyway you look at it, or whoever you are routing for on saturday (AGGIES!!!) best of luck to both the aggies and albright and to all the MAC seniors. its been one of the best years of mac play ive seen, with the title going right down to the final week. hopefully it ends up back in Aggieland

[G-manWU]

Very good conversation on here since my last visit- I hope all of you have been well lately. My thanks to Grizzman and Gordon for catching up with my at Ralston Field last week, and to KingSting, very good meeting you and your family as well.

In terms of the traditon argument and where the championship belongs, the simple answer is that the championship belongs to whatever team earned it on the playing field in any given season. Tradition and past history are very important and meaningful, but every year is a new season and each team starts with a 0-0 mark in the win-loss records. If you look back on the period of 2004-06, DVC had not won the conference once before their two-year run, and at Wilkes we had not claimed the title since 1993. Dose that make the three combined championships won by our programs any less meaningful than Lyco's 2003 title or Widener's run in the early 2000s? To put it in very humble terms, I don't think so..........

Lyco80- When you speak of the other school on the Susquehanna River, I am curious as to what school/team you are referring to. I know Susquehanna is now out of the conference, so that narrows it down to Wilkes and King's. I know the Monarchs came aboard after your were probably done playing, but both campuses are located on the same street in Wilkes-Barre, just across from the river bank, even though King's plays their games at the newly-renovated Betzler Fields Complex just off I-81.

On a final note to everyone, my best to all then seniors around the MAC who will be playing their last games on Saturday. As Wilkes heads to Chester, the matchup will be the last call for many of my good friends on the team who were part of the first recruiting class to come in after I started working with the program. No matter who wins, both team's senios will be able to take away a degree from a great university, a conference title, and a lifetime of memories from great careers.

[Lyco80]

I am pleased to see how much chat has churned up here in the last week or so - parity will do that since so many teams are still in the MAC hunt.

The other school I envisioned is no longer a MAC competitor but remains a local rival much closer than the twins in the twin cities.

As for tradition and posts who act as if the Warriors have not done anything since the 80's let me point out that in the 1990s - when many of the current players were already born - Lycoming went to the National championship not once but twice - albeit losing in OT once and getting spanked a second time.  That is not before fire was discovered or pencils were invented.  More recently they lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003 after the tragic death of one of their all-time best wide receivers to a bizarre infection.

I am not sure, perhaps Pat Coleman or one of the other gurus on here can answer this question:  how many other MAC schools played in the NCAA championship game?

President John Adams, arguing in defense of the British soldiers accused of the infamous "Boston Massacre" stated, "facts are stubborn things." 

Indeed, they are, by the way, they were acquitted, despite the outcry of the uninformed and inflamed.

Go Warriors - smash mouth time at Person Field!

ATB

[Warren Thompson]

I am pleased to see how much chat has churned up here in the last week or so - parity will do that since so many teams are still in the MAC hunt.

The other school I envisioned is no longer a MAC competitor but remains a local rival much closer than the twins in the twin cities.

As for tradition and posts who act as if the Warriors have not done anything since the 80's let me point out that in the 1990s - when many of the current players were already born - Lycoming went to the National championship not once but twice - albeit losing in OT once and getting spanked a second time.  That is not before fire was discovered or pencils were invented.  More recently they lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003 after the tragic death of one of their all-time best wide receivers to a bizarre infection.

I am not sure, perhaps Pat Coleman or one of the other gurus on here can answer this question:  how many other MAC schools played in the NCAA championship game?

ATB

While I'm far from a "guru," I seem to recollect that MAC member Widener played in at least one NCAA championship game (Manlove was the coach at the time).

I also seem to remember that Lyco played Allegheny in a D3 title game (don't ask me the exact year) in an All-Pennsylania matchup.

[PBR...]

I am pleased to see how much chat has churned up here in the last week or so - parity will do that since so many teams are still in the MAC hunt.

The other school I envisioned is no longer a MAC competitor but remains a local rival much closer than the twins in the twin cities.

As for tradition and posts who act as if the Warriors have not done anything since the 80's let me point out that in the 1990s - when many of the current players were already born - Lycoming went to the National championship not once but twice - albeit losing in OT once and getting spanked a second time.  That is not before fire was discovered or pencils were invented.  More recently they lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003 after the tragic death of one of their all-time best wide receivers to a bizarre infection.

I am not sure, perhaps Pat Coleman or one of the other gurus on here can answer this question:  how many other MAC schools played in the NCAA championship game?

ATB

While I'm far from a "guru," I seem to recollect that MAC member Widener played in at least one NCAA championship game (Manlove was the coach at the time).

I also seem to remember that Lyco played Allegheny in a D3 title game (don't ask me the exact year) in an All-Pennsylania matchup.

correct you are warren, also believe widener won 2 national championships while manlove was coach. (but me memory could be fading at this point..LOL)   warren you havent been around much this season, usually you can add some good info on leb val. needless to say there are a lot of dvc fans rooting for leb val this weekend!!!

[gordonmann]

You guys are too humble.  Your memories are better than you think.

Lycoming played Allegheny in 1990 (the 21-14 OT loss).  The other appearance was a 61-12 loss to Mount Union in 1997.  There's a long list of excellent teams with similar results against the Purple Powerhouse.

Widener won the national title in 1977 (39-36 over Wabash) and 1981 (17-10 over Dayton).  Current Aggies assistant Bill Manlove was the head coach both years.

Juniata (remember them?) played in the title game in 1973, a 41-0 loss to Wittenberg.  I suspect the Eagles were part of the MAC back then but can't verify it.

Keep in mind the MAC was much larger before 10 teams split off in 1993.  If you consider 1994 forward the "modern MAC era," then Lyco's the only team to play in a title game.

And lest you think my knowledge is something special...

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/

[Warren Thompson]

I am pleased to see how much chat has churned up here in the last week or so - parity will do that since so many teams are still in the MAC hunt.

The other school I envisioned is no longer a MAC competitor but remains a local rival much closer than the twins in the twin cities.

As for tradition and posts who act as if the Warriors have not done anything since the 80's let me point out that in the 1990s - when many of the current players were already born - Lycoming went to the National championship not once but twice - albeit losing in OT once and getting spanked a second time.  That is not before fire was discovered or pencils were invented.  More recently they lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003 after the tragic death of one of their all-time best wide receivers to a bizarre infection.

I am not sure, perhaps Pat Coleman or one of the other gurus on here can answer this question:  how many other MAC schools played in the NCAA championship game?

ATB

While I'm far from a "guru," I seem to recollect that MAC member Widener played in at least one NCAA championship game (Manlove was the coach at the time).

I also seem to remember that Lyco played Allegheny in a D3 title game (don't ask me the exact year) in an All-Pennsylania matchup.

correct you are warren, also believe widener won 2 national championships while manlove was coach. (but me memory could be fading at this point..LOL)   warren you havent been around much this season, usually you can add some good info on leb val. needless to say there are a lot of dvc fans rooting for leb val this weekend!!!

Widener's D3 championship teams (don't ask me which ones) featured Joe Fields and Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson. The former went on to play on Sundays with the NY Jets, the latter with the Houston Oilers.

I've not been around overly much till recently ... recovering from knee replacement surgery
and its accompanying PT. (ADVICE TO YOU YOUNG ONES: don't ever get old, at least don't let your knees get old.  )

[Warren Thompson]

You guys are too humble.  Your memories are better than you think.

Lycoming played Allegheny in 1990 (the 21-14 OT loss).  The other appearance was a 61-12 loss to Mount Union in 1997.  There's a long list of excellent teams with similar results against the Purple Powerhouse.

Widener won the national title in 1977 (39-36 over Wabash) and 1981 (17-10 over Dayton).  Current Aggies assistant Bill Manlove was the head coach both years.

Juniata (remember them?) played in the title game in 1973, a 41-0 loss to Wittenberg.  I suspect the Eagles were part of the MAC back then but can't verify it.

Keep in mind the MAC was much larger before 10 teams split off in 1993.  If you consider 1994 forward the "modern MAC era," then Lyco's the only team to play in a title game.

And lest you think my knowledge is something special...

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/

I do believe Juniata was a member of the MAC in 1973 and for many years earlier.
They certainly were when I arrived in Annville in fall 1967.

[PBR...]

I am pleased to see how much chat has churned up here in the last week or so - parity will do that since so many teams are still in the MAC hunt.

The other school I envisioned is no longer a MAC competitor but remains a local rival much closer than the twins in the twin cities.

As for tradition and posts who act as if the Warriors have not done anything since the 80's let me point out that in the 1990s - when many of the current players were already born - Lycoming went to the National championship not once but twice - albeit losing in OT once and getting spanked a second time.  That is not before fire was discovered or pencils were invented.  More recently they lost in the second round of the NCAA playoffs in 2003 after the tragic death of one of their all-time best wide receivers to a bizarre infection.

I am not sure, perhaps Pat Coleman or one of the other gurus on here can answer this question:  how many other MAC schools played in the NCAA championship game?

ATB

While I'm far from a "guru," I seem to recollect that MAC member Widener played in at least one NCAA championship game (Manlove was the coach at the time).

I also seem to remember that Lyco played Allegheny in a D3 title game (don't ask me the exact year) in an All-Pennsylania matchup.

correct you are warren, also believe widener won 2 national championships while manlove was coach. (but me memory could be fading at this point..LOL)   warren you havent been around much this season, usually you can add some good info on leb val. needless to say there are a lot of dvc fans rooting for leb val this weekend!!!

Widener's D3 championship teams (don't ask me which ones) featured Joe Fields and Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson. The former went on to play on Sundays with the NY Jets, the latter with the Houston Oilers.

I've not been around overly much till recently ... recovering from knee replacement surgery
and its accompanying PT. (ADVICE TO YOU YOUNG ONES: don't ever get old, at least don't let your knees get old.  )

well pbr truly hopes your recovery is going well and its good to see you back among the mac faithful. its time for a great weekend of college football with a lot riding on the games this weekend. the entire northeast is loaded w/ meaningful games.

[jb]

  I have not posted all season but have enjoyed reading all the banter.  I figured I would break my silence in wishing Lyco Warriors and our son good luck against LVC College in his last Regular Season Game.

   To all the players that I've had the pleasure to get to know, Chat with, and occasionally cook for, I wish you all continued success.

GO WARRIORS!
JB

[KingSting999]

Boy it looks like the lousy weather is going to be with us tomorrow. It could have a direct bearing on the two games that still have MAC championship scenarios. With that in mind it looks like the teams that can protect the ball and move it on the ground will have a distinct advantage if the weather predictions hold true (high winds & rain),

Of course being an Aggie fan there's only two teams I can pick tomorrow:

Del Val 21 - Albright 20

Should be a real good one, Aggie O-line is healthy again and Cook could be the difference in the game. The freshman back from Albright will try and answer but I see the Aggies squeaking out the W.

Leb Val 21 - Lyo 20

Can't really seperate these teams, just would like to see the LV squad come out on top.

The MAC this year has been one big roller coaster ride with one week having teams that look inbeatable only to see them stumble the following week. If home field advantage holds up the MAC will wind up in Williamsport but who really knows! Good luck to all and best wishes to all of the Seniors who may be strapping the pads on for the last time in their young lives. Thanks for the memories.....It's been great!

[gordonmann]

Big games and bad weather.  Where have we heard that before?

Speaking of hearing things...

Delaware Valley (6-3, 4-2)
vs.
Albright (7-2, 5-1)

The regular season finale couldn't be bigger for both teams with a conference title and the NCAA playoff bid at stake.  We'll have frequent updates of the Lycoming/Leb Val showdown along with the game play-by-play.

Click here to listen starting at 12:40 pm, 1 pm kickoff.

You'll need Windows Media Player 9.0 or later to listen.  The link will not be active until pregame coverage begins.

[labart96]

lots of old schoolers on this board.  k+ to all.

what you lack in quanity of posts you make up for in quality (maybe we on the LLPP could learn some things from the MAC?  uh.....never mind

[DVCFan11]

good luck tomorrow aggies, bring that title home. also thank you to all the MAC seniors for your four years, may all your games give you memories for a lifetime

[G-manWU]

Lyco80,

As always, a very good choice of comments from across the Pacific. I know the rival you are speaking of and that was what first came to mind, but with them out of the league I was not 100% sure. As I believe you were at Lyco when SU also had some decent squads, I would love to hear some of your perspectives on that rivalry.

In regards to the recent history of the Warriros, I can't speak for the others on here, but Lycoming has always been held in the highest regard by the Wilkes staff and fanbse. When I arrived at training camp in the summer of 2004, the Warriors were the team to beat in the MAC. While the last four years have not been quite as good as the glory years, Williamsport was and always will be a key stop on the road to the MAC title IMHO.

To close out this topic, one of the big pluses of working in and around the press box for four seasons is getitng to see many great exibits that the players don't see, as well as getting access to copies of the game program/media guide- I have a copy of one of these publications from each game we played in over my four years at Wilkes. As a result, I have learned the history of Lyco's program quite well- they always produces one of the best program books in the league. I also always stopped to admire the displays inside the Shangraw Complex from the Stagg Bowl and also the tributes to the player you speak of- I remember seeing him play when the Warriors came to Ralston Field in 2003 and his spirit will always remain with the players and fans at Person Field.