FB: Empire 8

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks for coming up and introducing yourself!

[Machiavelli]

Few days late but huge congrats to Cortland on an amazing win and run. That Cortland team never looked intimidated by North Central or the situation at any point in the game. Even when they'd give up big plays to let NC back in, Cortland came right back at them and responded. Lehnan was very good. I think it was ABUNDANTLY clear, Boyes is a step above. Boyes played what I would describe as a nearly perfect game. He was flawless, clutch, tough as nails, and led by example. The entire Cortland team came to play and I was psyched when the game was over and I didn't have to watch #99 on NC's D jumping up and down every other play like a tool. Act like you've been there before my man, you have been. The Stagg Bowl now runs through New York. Sounds good to the ears. Congrats! On to 2024...

[Machiavelli]

One other thing I'd like to mention:

Back after Round 1 of the playoffs, I made the comment that I thought Endicott looked like the better team in the game against Cortland. Many disagreed, which is fine. At the very least, they were on the same playing field that day and Cortland had to scrape together a very tough W. I do NOT think Endicott would have made the run Cortland did had they won that game. They would have likely folded against the brass. The only reason I'm bringing this up is the East made some waves this year. I think Endicott wasn't far off, even having beaten HSU. Ithaca had a pretty significant QB injury during the year and ultimately pooped themselves in round 2. But likely not far off. It feels like there's a chance the East is back on the rise, and I hope we can keep the momentum.

[IC798891]

One other thing I'd like to mention:

Back after Round 1 of the playoffs, I made the comment that I thought Endicott looked like the better team in the game against Cortland. Many disagreed, which is fine. At the very least, they were on the same playing field that day and Cortland had to scrape together a very tough W. I do NOT think Endicott would have made the run Cortland did had they won that game. They would have likely folded against the brass. The only reason I'm bringing this up is the East made some waves this year. I think Endicott wasn't far off, even having beaten HSU. Ithaca had a pretty significant QB injury during the year and ultimately pooped themselves in round 2. But likely not far off. It feels like there's a chance the East is back on the rise, and I hope we can keep the momentum.

I was thinking about this a lot actually. I agree that I don't think we're toasting Endicott as national champions had they beaten Cortland in R1, but their performance vs HSU, along with Cortland beating NCC, really should cause the reflexive dismissals of the East to stop for a year or so.

[@d3jason]

One other thing I'd like to mention:

Back after Round 1 of the playoffs, I made the comment that I thought Endicott looked like the better team in the game against Cortland. Many disagreed, which is fine. At the very least, they were on the same playing field that day and Cortland had to scrape together a very tough W. I do NOT think Endicott would have made the run Cortland did had they won that game. They would have likely folded against the brass. The only reason I'm bringing this up is the East made some waves this year. I think Endicott wasn't far off, even having beaten HSU. Ithaca had a pretty significant QB injury during the year and ultimately pooped themselves in round 2. But likely not far off. It feels like there's a chance the East is back on the rise, and I hope we can keep the momentum.

I was thinking about this a lot actually. I agree that I don't think we're toasting Endicott as national champions had they beaten Cortland in R1, but their performance vs HSU, along with Cortland beating NCC, really should cause the reflexive dismissals of the East to stop for a year or so.

Congrats to Cortland!

Way to get the monkey off of the east's back. After years of traveling with Wesley to the semifinals (some close, so not so close), It's great to see someone finally breakthrough.

Agreed on Endicott, but they have been building an excellent program for a while. Got to travel there in 2019 and they had Wesley 17-0 at the half before falling 20-17 on buzzer-beating field goal.

Along with the top E8 and Liberty League contenders, I think that programs like Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Susquehanna, Del Val, and maybe CNU may have the ability to step it up to the highest level.

[UfanBill]

Again congratulations to Cortland for their epic season. They've obviously been named #1 on the final D3 Top 25 Poll and it's unanimous as it should be.

+k to you MACH for your comments on the Stagg Bowl. I'm in 100% agreement. 

[XREDDRAGON77]

Still in shock over that win! The whole playoff I guess too! Reminds me of the year PAC Lute won it back in the late 90s. Definitely in the underdog after Rowan knocked off Mount and beat the odds! I'd like to think Cortland can stick around near the top a little longer...but I'll take what we accomplished and totally be content!

[Bartman]

Few days late but huge congrats to Cortland on an amazing win and run. That Cortland team never looked intimidated by North Central or the situation at any point in the game. Even when they'd give up big plays to let NC back in, Cortland came right back at them and responded. Lehnan was very good. I think it was ABUNDANTLY clear, Boyes is a step above. Boyes played what I would describe as a nearly perfect game. He was flawless, clutch, tough as nails, and led by example. The entire Cortland team came to play and I was psyched when the game was over and I didn't have to watch #99 on NC's D jumping up and down every other play like a tool. Act like you've been there before my man, you have been. The Stagg Bowl now runs through New York. Sounds good to the ears. Congrats! On to 2024...

+k Mach......Never would have thought it was possible....we were all Red Dragons in New York for the Stagg Bowl.

[Machiavelli]

Back atcha BMan. Even one for UFBill. It's the giving season afterall. LOL. Now let me go find that one terd so I can smite him...

[Ice Bear]

All good thoughts here. I'll send a +k to everyone as well. I think we have all been waiting for this for many years now. Personally I had basically given up hope on a Stagg winner from the East and was just trying to focus on all the positives within the E8, LL, NJAC, etc. If I'm being honest this championship blew me out of the ****ing water. Especially the way Cortland played over the last three weeks. Just an incredibly high level of football and one we are all so proud of.

[wally_wabash]

Still in shock over that win! The whole playoff I guess too! Reminds me of the year PAC Lute won it back in the late 90s. Definitely in the underdog after Rowan knocked off Mount and beat the odds! I'd like to think Cortland can stick around near the top a little longer...but I'll take what we accomplished and totally be content!

Thank you for stopping by the podcast!

When I wrote about Zac Boyes in September (quarterback week!) I found that Cortland's roster was super young.  Not really super young, but not a lot of graduating players.  Yes, some graduating players are big ones, but a huge chunk of that roster is coming back.  I've been preparing myself since September to defend my position that I was going to rank Cortland super high in the 2024 preseason poll.  I appreciate the Red Dragons making that talking point much easier for me next summer/fall.   

[XREDDRAGON77]

I can't recall where I heard it, but the word was Cortland had a lot of 5th year Covid guys on the roster. Of the graduating players, only 6 seniors were starters. It was brought up that the TE (Kendrick?),WR (Iadaeveo), 3 OL (no idea on the status of the guy who filled in with the injuries), Qb (Boyes), and RB (alfanostjohn) are all slated to return. Not a bad place to be as an offensive unit for 2024. Lapp and Burgess were studs...not easily replaceable! The Dragons have had some great receivers through the years, so I'm sure they will reload in some capacity!

I'm not sure what they have back defensively, but if what was said is correct, they should be in really good shape!

[Jonny Utah]

I can't recall where I heard it, but the word was Cortland had a lot of 5th year Covid guys on the roster. Of the graduating players, only 6 seniors were starters. It was brought up that the TE (Kendrick?),WR (Iadaeveo), 3 OL (no idea on the status of the guy who filled in with the injuries), Qb (Boyes), and RB (alfanostjohn) are all slated to return. Not a bad place to be as an offensive unit for 2024. Lapp and Burgess were studs...not easily replaceable! The Dragons have had some great receivers through the years, so I'm sure they will reload in some capacity!

I'm not sure what they have back defensively, but if what was said is correct, they should be in really good shape!

The other WRs besides Lapp and Burgess made great plays all year long.  Obviously helps with the top guys run off coverages but still not a bad place to be.

[Pat Coleman]

The boards are back! And the big question for our most recent podcast is, what's next? We get that answer from Cortland coach Curt Fitzpatrick, North Central coach Brad Spencer and one of the newest teams on the block, Roanoke College.

https://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2024/01/18/atn-podcast-351-whats-next/

[XREDDRAGON77]

Everyday on my lunch break I would check to see if the boards were back! Normalcy had returned!!!