FB: Empire 8

[IC798891]

The Cortland bar is set at winning 2 home playoff games and getting to a national quarterfinal (like DelVal last year)........before being served up as Thanksgiving dinner for North Central or Mount Union.

Since I've already praised Cortland, now I'll give a little bit the other way. Mike Tyson famously said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

Nothing sums up Cortland in 2022 better than a really good team that had no plan when they got punched. You've got to show you can win those games when you're not up 35-0 in the second quarter.

Maybe 2023 Cortland can do that. But the 2022 team couldn't. 

[IC798891]

To expand on this:

Last year, Cortland lost the only two games where they didn't get to cruise home. They couldn't trade punches with IC for 60 minutes, and the second half of their playoff game was a disaster.

Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected. I want to see Cortland win a game when they're down 21-13 in the 3rd, tied in the 4th. Something more than just "Oh, they looked flawless in a 66-7 win over Buff State" or "They won 42-24 against a team that can't pass the ball"

[jmcozenlaw]

To expand on this:

Last year, Cortland lost the only two games where they didn't get to cruise home. They couldn't trade punches with IC for 60 minutes, and the second half of their playoff game was a disaster.

Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected. I want to see Cortland win a game when they're down 21-13 in the 3rd, tied in the 4th. Something more than just "Oh, they looked flawless in a 66-7 win over Buff State" or "They won 42-24 against a team that can't pass the ball"

IC, while Cortland blowing out (as they should) DelVal, at home, in the opener, doesn't mean a thing to you................it would mean a whole lot in how they are looked at (as most have no clue how much DelVal lost and thus are inaccurately ranked so high), how they move up in the rankings AND how it helps them out if they run the table, or lose one game, to a team that runs the table (IC).......and beat a team in their opener who might still finish 9-1. Think of Cortland's SOS if they beat a #12 ranked DelVal, who finishes 9-1 and lose a close game to IC, who finishes 10-0.

Yes, it matters. Think 3-dimensional chess here........not 4th grade checkers. In the end though, let's be honest, be it IC (who should run the table this year) or Cortland, neither is going to Mount Union, North Central, Wartburg or any UW school and beating them in a national quarterfinal.

[unionpalooza]

To expand on this:

Last year, Cortland lost the only two games where they didn't get to cruise home. They couldn't trade punches with IC for 60 minutes, and the second half of their playoff game was a disaster.

Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected. I want to see Cortland win a game when they're down 21-13 in the 3rd, tied in the 4th. Something more than just "Oh, they looked flawless in a 66-7 win over Buff State" or "They won 42-24 against a team that can't pass the ball"

IC, while Cortland blowing out (as they should) DelVal, at home, in the opener, doesn't mean a thing to you................it would mean a whole lot in how they are looked at (as most have no clue how much DelVal lost and thus are inaccurately ranked so high), how they move up in the rankings AND how it helps them out if they run the table, or lose one game, to a team that runs the table (IC).......and beat a team in their opener who might still finish 9-1. Think of Cortland's SOS if they beat a #12 ranked DelVal, who finishes 9-1 and lose a close game to IC, who finishes 10-0.

Yes, it matters. Think 3-dimensional chess here........not 4th grade checkers. In the end though, let's be honest, be it IC (who should run the table this year) or Cortland, neither is going to Mount Union, North Central, Wartburg or any UW school and beating them in a national quarterfinal.

Yeah, whatever DelVal's losses coming into the year, I'm gonna give Cortland credit if they blow out a program that (i) has the made the NCAAs the last 8 seasons, (ii) has won six NCAA games across their last 5 seasons.  You can't say that about Ithaca, or anyone Ithaca will play that year, or anyone else Regions 1 or 2.

I also don't think anyone in the LL runs the table this year.  Too much parity still across the big four. 

But mostly, I agree with JPM cozen that in any event, the stakes here at Region 1/2 honors.  No program in the Northeast/Middle Atlantic is remotely positioned to take down the big boys any season soon.  JHU in 2018 is close as anyone is going to get.  The number of programs to local talent ratio just won't support it.

[IC798891]

IC, while Cortland blowing out (as they should) DelVal, at home, in the opener, doesn't mean a thing to you................it would mean a whole lot in how they are looked at (as most have no clue how much DelVal lost and thus are inaccurately ranked so high), how they move up in the rankings AND how it helps them out if they run the table, or lose one game, to a team that runs the table (IC).......and beat a team in their opener who might still finish 9-1. Think of Cortland's SOS if they beat a #12 ranked DelVal, who finishes 9-1 and lose a close game to IC, who finishes 10-0.

Yes, it matters.

Delaware Valley, a little bit higher on this page, had a roster that was "a shell of itself" and, if they pull anything off "The staff will be the coaching staff of the Century"

So let's go with that.

We've seen Cortland play teams that don't have the roster talent they have. It's how they got to 9-0 last year: They blew them out. They didn't trail in their first nine games of the year. They never led by less than 14 points at halftime. They never led by less than 18 points heading into the 4th quarter. They were never tested

That's not an insult to Cortland. Getting a good enough roster to be able to out-talent teams 9 weeks in a row is really hard to do. It's a testament to their coaches and players that they have.

What I'm interested in seeing is how Cortland performs against a team that *isn't* whatever you all seem to consider Del Valley. If Cortland wants to win two home playoff games (Something they've managed to do once in program history) for the right to get blown out by North Central, they need to show they can beat teams that can match them talent wise.

But all I've read on this page is how Del Valley has no talent left, how the roster lacks depth, how their QB room is so empty a tight end is number 3, and how Cortland should blow them out.

So I'm assuming they will. And that's my point: Doing what you're supposed to do against teams you're better than is the easy part. 

[HansenRatings]

Playoff projections for the season using my model's preseason ratings:



You can look at other conferences on my website: https://hansenratings.github.io/.

[XREDDRAGON77]

It's that time of year again! Time to crawl out of the Dragon's lair and see what the men in red can do! Word is we have weapons. Some say DV might be ranked a little high, but you can't discredit a program that's reloaded and done nothing but win. If I wanted to get them, it would be early on before that D settles in! Hoping that 4 scores is possible and could be enough to pull out a W! Doubt this will be a blowout but wouldn't mind seeing one!

[XREDDRAGON77]

21-0 Red Dragons and the 1st quarter is almost coming to a close! Del Val forced into thee "3 and outs" and Cortland scored on all 3 possessions.

[jmcozenlaw]

To expand on this:

Last year, Cortland lost the only two games where they didn't get to cruise home. They couldn't trade punches with IC for 60 minutes, and the second half of their playoff game was a disaster.

Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected. I want to see Cortland win a game when they're down 21-13 in the 3rd, tied in the 4th. Something more than just "Oh, they looked flawless in a 66-7 win over Buff State" or "They won 42-24 against a team that can't pass the ball"

IC, while Cortland blowing out (as they should) DelVal, at home, in the opener, doesn't mean a thing to you................it would mean a whole lot in how they are looked at (as most have no clue how much DelVal lost and thus are inaccurately ranked so high), how they move up in the rankings AND how it helps them out if they run the table, or lose one game, to a team that runs the table (IC).......and beat a team in their opener who might still finish 9-1. Think of Cortland's SOS if they beat a #12 ranked DelVal, who finishes 9-1 and lose a close game to IC, who finishes 10-0.

Yes, it matters. Think 3-dimensional chess here........not 4th grade checkers. In the end though, let's be honest, be it IC (who should run the table this year) or Cortland, neither is going to Mount Union, North Central, Wartburg or any UW school and beating them in a national quarterfinal.

Yeah, whatever DelVal's losses coming into the year, I'm gonna give Cortland credit if they blow out a program that (i) has the made the NCAAs the last 8 seasons, (ii) has won six NCAA games across their last 5 seasons.  You can't say that about Ithaca, or anyone Ithaca will play that year, or anyone else Regions 1 or 2.

I also don't think anyone in the LL runs the table this year.  Too much parity still across the big four. 

But mostly, I agree with JPM cozen that in any event, the stakes here at Region 1/2 honors.  No program in the Northeast/Middle Atlantic is remotely positioned to take down the big boys any season soon.  JHU in 2018 is close as anyone is going to get.  The number of programs to local talent ratio just won't support it.

I tried to tell poster named IC that Cortland would blow out DelVal. DelVal lost 4 All-American's, including the DPOY on defense and 4 other non-All American starters. The offense lost 4 of their top 5 WR's (94% of receptions), their #2 RB, #1 TE, 3 starting OL and the program depth (due to an a-hole A.D.) is at an all time low. 3 QB's in the entire program. QB #3 is TE #1. It is currently a mess. In addition, against a very young and weakened defense, Cortland brought back the motherload on offense. A blind man could see this coming 1000 miles away!

I predicted a blowout................and will give IC some skinny on the NFL season if he would like _P.S. the Giants aren't all that)

The real tell will be if Cortland can beat IC and thus, run the table, get and win 2 home games in the playoffs and then be very competitive at North Central, Wartburg, Mount Union or one of the 2-3 Texas schools that is left standing. With the weapons on offense, if the large state school from NY is ever going to get to the national semifinals.......this might be their best shot.

[XREDDRAGON77]

I won't speak for the post season, but it would be amazing if they could reach the second round! As for today, it was a tale of 2 quarters! 2nd quarter didn't look good for us with the misfires. Picked in the end zone, gave up a long drive and TD. Got to the end zone again but called incomplete on a 4th down. Gave up a drive but stopped DV. The Aggies can still play and there is a lot left! We get the rock coming out...got to score again!

[IC798891]

I tried to tell poster named IC that Cortland would blow out DelVal. A blind man could see this coming 1000 miles away!

I predicted a blowout................and will give IC some skinny on the NFL season if he would like _P.S. the Giants aren't all that)

Speaking of blind: You might want to re-read my posts in response to your prediction. I didn't disagree with it at all. In fact, I agreed with it. What I said was:

"All I've read on this page is how Del Valley has no talent left, how the roster lacks depth, how their QB room is so empty a tight end is number 3, and how Cortland should blow them out. So I'm assuming they will"

I also said:

"Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected"

Next time, try to read people's posts for what they're actually saying, instead of just gloating. Might help with the -185 Karma you currently have

[Bartman]

The E8 thread is attracting few E8 posters ever since SJF program took a dive. Hope they come back and RedDragon  has someone to talk to other than LL drifters onto this board and Jmcozenlaw. I'd like to chat with a Mooville contingent for Saturdays game with Hobart, but I'll stick to the old LL board.

[Caz Bombers]

I wonder how and why Fisher football fell off the face of the earth. Their other sports are still very strong.

[jmcozenlaw]

I tried to tell poster named IC that Cortland would blow out DelVal. A blind man could see this coming 1000 miles away!

I predicted a blowout................and will give IC some skinny on the NFL season if he would like _P.S. the Giants aren't all that)

Speaking of blind: You might want to re-read my posts in response to your prediction. I didn't disagree with it at all. In fact, I agreed with it. What I said was:

"All I've read on this page is how Del Valley has no talent left, how the roster lacks depth, how their QB room is so empty a tight end is number 3, and how Cortland should blow them out. So I'm assuming they will"

I also said:

"Cortland blowing out Del Valley doesn't mean anything to me —especially since apparently it's to be expected"

Next time, try to read people's posts for what they're actually saying, instead of just gloating. Might help with the -185 Karma you currently have

You worry about your "karma score" (first time I've ever looked at actually).....................I'll "worry" about my brokerage accounts and real estate and going to Church and serving and giving to others. Priorities IC, priorities. When you bust on Cortland (we are talking about D3 football here, the 4th rung of college football) and praise Ithaca, let's see what happens down the line. Again, a football score vs. eternal life? Not even remotely close, as I'm sure your parents taught you and you are teaching your kids. God Bless.

[IC798891]

Where did I bury Cortland? When I said the E8 was theirs to lose a few weeks ago? Or was it earlier this week when I said I was going along with all the others here who were predicting a blowout win over Del Valley.

As I said, before responding to posts, actually try to read them first.

As for your Karma, it's nothing more than a tool that tells me that a whole lot of other posters see you the same way I do: As a person who makes bad faith arguments for the sake of gloating over others. I don't know if any of them have given up trying to have a D3 related discourse with you. I'm sure you calling the sport they follow the "4th rung of college football" endeared you to many of them

I personally prefer the D3 version, because it functions as more than just an NFL training ground run by multi-millionaire coaches and multi-millionaire athlete directors, all just scrambling for some of the billions of dollars being thrown around by TV networks and donors who obsess over the sport 24/7.

Enjoy ... whatever it is you do