FB: Liberty League

[Pat Coleman]

And I was joking, so ...

[John McGraw]

Wow, what a fun night.

On the game, I was very impressed with Springfield. It took them a little while to get the offense going, but once they did, they seemed to ram the ball right down Union's throat. Sharpe once again was solid and I think his touchdown run on 4th and inches when he got up from the pile and ran in from 40yds out was amazing. He took a beating too and still was there at the end for the last crucial drive.

Union's a real young team and I think it showed. The offense started strong and then fizzled out after Civetti's touchdown pass to McKelligan. Agreeing with what RT said, Civetti's more of a pocket passer and Gourrier is a runner. It reminds me of when Syracuse had the combination of Troy Nunes and RJ Anderson. That didn't work out too well for SU and I don't think it'll go well for Union, especially when you have them rotating out during an offensive series. I really would have liked to see more of Gourrier down the stretch. He's got amazing speed and a decent arm.

Springfield's defense was particularly solid, especially without Harasymiak who went down early in the game. I don't think he returned. Though, I think they'll still be open to giving up the long ball against the likes of Fisher and Ithaca. But they still played hard and gave the two young quarterbacks fits.

John thinks RT did a tremendous job on color commentary and with the interviews. Nothing like pulling a guy out of the press box during a 90-minute lightning delay for an on-camera interview, or, using the brief intermission between the third and fourth quarters to interview the Union AD. Really, it was all about the large tie knot.

[Senor RedTackle]

Line of the night for RT-
"Did you say the always dangerous Utica team??"  "That's tue, (HaH) RPI lost to them a few years ago.....  you kiond of threw me for a loop there....."

Great job guys......RT, If I were to critique you public speaking, I need a few more hand gestures....Seriously though, good job, not bad for the first time out there as a color man.

john did a great job, as well.

Good catch Reg...RT was just watching the replay and asked him self "what's up w/ the hand??". Oh well....something to work on for next time.

[Touchdown Tommy]

This is quite a barn burner between the Yazz Flutes and the Clownpunchers...

Regulator has proven to be a valiant opponent.  But now I must crush you.  

[Senor RedTackle]

John thinks RT did a tremendous job on color commentary and with the interviews. Nothing like pulling a guy out of the press box during a 90-minute lightning delay for an on-camera interview, or, using the brief intermission between the third and fourth quarters to interview the Union AD. Really, it was all about the large tie knot.

"did you get goosebumps while tying your tie this morning? That's a large knot".

John...was a pleasure to share the booth with you. Helped RT out alot. That was a grueling experience w/ the heat, the delay, the late time, etc....not exactly the ideal conditions to open the season with but it all worked out. Hope to work with you again!!

Thanks to those who tuned in and gave some feedback!!

[Touchdown Tommy]

Regulator peeing down his leg with TDT only .75 pts behind him with Edge and Rackers going for the Defending Champ...





Enginegro: Don't spend all that Green in one place.  The Clownpunchers go down just like his alma mater this weekend...

['gro]

Liberty League FF - Final Score

Yazz Flute  125.84 // U89's Clownpunchers 123.45

Yazz Flute Wins!!... BYAAAH!!


The celebration has just started at Yazz Flute HQ and will last until the early morning...
click here to join the party

[union89]

Liberty League FF - Final Score

Yazz Flute  125.84 // U89's Clownpunchers 123.45

Yazz Flute Wins!!... BYAAAH!!


The celebration has just started at Yazz Flute HQ and will last until the early morning...
click here to join the party

Regaddamndiculous....+1K for the flute concert.

PM me your address....

[Frank Rossi]

With my Union Week 1 travels completed, I have a lot of issues I want to address concerning posts over the last day:

1) I think LD (and others) considered the Hobart loss to Dickinson embarassing.  I beg to differ.  Dickinson, an NCAA playoff team from 2006, has had its share of decent games against Hobart over the last decade.  Here is a list of close games or Dickinson wins:

2006 - D 28, H 31
2003 - D 17, H 16
2001 - D 2, H 6
1999 - D 32, H 10

I applaud Hobart for keeping a team that, even four years ago, looked to be a team that might be a threat in four years.  Sure, we all take risks with scheduling non-conference opponents based on future expectations, but there are certain conferences (and perhaps individual teams) that we know for 95% likelihood will not be strong no matter what.  Dickinson does not belong to one of those conferences.

2) This whole "Fighting Dutchmen" issue is stupid.  Pin some of the blame on me, as when I began my broadcasting of Union games in 1995, I purposely chose to make use of "Fighting Dutchmen" more consistent for a few reasons:

a) It distinguishes Union's football team from Hofstra's for someone casually listening (both the Dutchmen, although Hofstra is the "Flying Dutchmen");

b) It distinguishes the football team from other Union teams;

c) Because we have been on multiple stations and Internet streams, we consider ourselves the "Fighting Dutchmen Radio Network" -- something that makes much more sense flow-wise than the "Union Football Radio Network"

So, since this has been at least consistent for 13 seasons now, I'm wondering what a supposed fan who is suddenly griping about its use has been listening to for the last 13 seasons.  As long as I broadcast Union games, Union's football team will be called the "Fighting Dutchmen," and I make no apologies for it.

3) Don't blame the broadcasters of the Union game for officiating gaffes since the officials themselves, at times, did not seem to know the rules.  Case-in-point was after the assessment of the kickoff offsides call but the failure to move the chains in accordance with the ball's spot.  If the officials don't know the rules, then I think we can forgive the broadcasters if they misconstrue an initial signal on the field.

4) The whole Endicott/Springfield starting opponent issue is a bit ludicrous.  Each of these opponents is a bad choice for RPI and Union, respectively, although I'd rather see Springfield on my schedule than Endicott.  Here's the breakdown:

a) Redtackle attempted to make the case based on yesterday's game that Jimmy Robertson (QB - RPI) is in the top ten of the division.  I'm sorry, but based on the scheduling alone, you can't make that argument cogently when the team has only played a relative cream puff.  Sure, RPI looked strong yesterday, but I won't give them any credit until Week 3 vs. Hobart.  That's nothing personal against RPI -- You guys know I'm in favor of a strong league from top to bottom, but Endicott doesn't help anyone's case (nor does Utica, although perhaps one could argue that Utica is slowly improving).  If Union played that schedule to start, I'd be the FIRST one to gripe.

b) Springfield doesn't help Union's cause much anymore.  The evolution of Springfield on Union's schedule is when the auto-bid didn't exist.  Springfield was also Union's final game of the season at that time, meaning that both teams had a long resume built, making the game an ultimate finale.  These days, it doesn't belong on the schedule because non-league games are really in place for two reasons:  (1) to help your team iron out issues, learn and prepare for the league schedule; and (2) to impress the Committee for Pool C (or Pool B) purposes.  The first reason should be held as the most critical reason, though.  The second reason, however, should motivate a team to play against another team that provides a good matchup.  Playing Springfield teaches us nothing about Union -- and seriously teaches Union's team nothing about itself to a degree -- because Springfield's offensive style is too unique and not to be re-encountered on Union's schedule all season.  And Union's offense learns little because Springfield's running style prevents Union's offense from having a sufficient number of plays to learn anything about itself.  I'm not saying Union needs to dump Springfield for Our Lady of Endicott State, but instead, Union should look at teams like (God forbid) Ithaca and Cortland that mimic offenses and defenses they may see later in the season.  I really can give you little assessment of the 2007 Union team until they face Muhlenberg (a generally good and practical all-around team for Union to face), although I'll give you some things I would like to see based on Game 1 later in the week.

5) The whole 9-game/10-game debate in this world of the auto-bid really has some god points on both sides.  I think after seeing the last weekend play out, I have a better take on why a team or should not take on a 10th game -- quality of the already-scheduled non-league games.  In general, the Quality of Wins consideration is going to be made based on non-conference opponents since the net quality of teams played inside your own conference for all teams that play in Pool A conferences will hover around the same level (only differing by the opponents' opponents on their scheduled non-conference games).  Without getting into mathematical equations, it makes sense to pick teams that will have decent W/L records -- and then, where QoW indices are not hugely disproportionate for teams under consideration,  the committee will probably be narrowing playoff teams down by physically looking at schedules once that first cut is made.  So, it makes sense to pick teams that don't stand out as creampuffs -- OR -- it makes sense to at least post an extra win to give the committee some feeling of faith in a team's strength.  So, if a team schedules (in an 8-team conference) two quality non-league games, I see it as more risk than benefit to schedule the 10th game (you'll build your resume if you win them and learn your lessons as a team on the field).  If the two games have an average-to-sub-par quality aspect, then the third game has a better benefit (based on experience and resume issues) than cost effect.  Sure, it's tough to prognosticate schedules four years ahead, but again, you will have some sense of how you're scheduling games.

Based on this, did Hobart need a 10th game?  It really depends on which of the games was the 10th game scheduled...My guess is CMU -- which was a gutsy 10th game, but Alfred's inconsistency and Dickinson's inconsistency made it a borderline decision -- I don't fault Hobart for their choice (granted, all 3 teams were in a playoff game of some variety last season).  I think RPI, though, needs to quickly re-evaluate their 9-game decision.  The nature of the league and the Division has changed too much to sit on their hands and assume their current (and past) scheduling will continue to impress the country.  The Liberty League is only strong if the top tier of its teams are strong on a national level, and Coach King's analysis of the tough league teams is a self-defeating prophecy if it were to be adopted by all eight teams.

----------

Sorry to rant for so long on these issues, but these things really irked me while I was reading on the train ride home.

[pg04]

I think the problem becomes Endicott has to play SOMEONE...there aren't enough teams as bad as them to put on the schedule  .  I agree, though.  There seem to be enough "reasonably easy" (I don't like calling teams easy to beat) wins in the Conference for RPI.

[Jonny Utah]

Union should be applauded for scheduling a tough non-conference game at any point during the season.  And it might help them in a certain situation.  If at the end of the year, Union is 8-2 with a loss to SC and a loss to RPI and SC is 10-0 or 9-1, Union might still get a bid.  Now if RPI goes 8-1 with a loss to Union team that wins the league at 7-2, then RPI might not make it with the poor nonleague game.


"These days, it doesn't belong on the schedule because non-league games are really in place for two reasons:  (1) to help your team iron out issues, learn and prepare for the league schedule; and (2) to impress the Committee for Pool C (or Pool B) purposes. "

What ever happend to having big football games!!  Another reason why I dont like the automatic bids.  It gives teams a reason to not play the best schedule possible.  And as we still know it wont happen, a super conference in upstate NY is the only way to go and make it totally fair. 

On the other hand, now we know that SC is a better team than Union.  Maybe it wouldnt be fair if the two teams didnt play and SC went 9-1 and didnt make it over an 7-2 Union team that won the league.  Either way, I think it is better when the best teams play.  Especially when they are close like Union/SC and you can get bigger fan interest.

[PBR...]

pbr is back....no voice ....body wiped out from massive beer consumption and one helluva great time!!!!  another great experience out at state college, pa where pbr has been going to games since he was about 6 years old...pbr now has been to the 2 largest attendance games at beaver stadium....111,000+ for nebraska and 110,500+ for nd...all in all great time and atmosphere. we sent this tool back to south bend once and for all!!! still cant believe he showed up to signing day looking like this in a stretch limo telling everyone he was going to bring ND 4 national championships what a tool!

['gro]

+k PBR for the clausen pic... also props to PSU for covering the spread (along with Tennessee and LSU)

[AUPepBand]

Pep just read the Hobart release of the Statesmen's 30-27 OT loss to Dickinson and is somewhat surprised by the last minute turn of events. Hobart, sitting on a 24-19 lead with a first down on the Dickinson 11-yard-line with less than 1:00 remaining, runs the ball to the 5-yard-line where Dickinson forces a fumble, the ball is scooped up and returned 95 yards for a TD and the home team takes a 27-24 lead with a successful 2-pt conversion. Granted, Hobart marched downfield in the final 47 ticks to tie it with a field goal, but then lost it in OT.

It surprises Pep that Hobart didn't kneel down on that first down play. Not sure how many TOs Dickinson had remaining, but would think they'd need all three to save any time. Pep knows only what he read. Any Hobart fans know more? Rev.?

[lewdogg11]

Union should be applauded for scheduling a tough non-conference game at any point during the season.  And it might help them in a certain situation.  If at the end of the year, Union is 8-2 with a loss to SC and a loss to RPI and SC is 10-0 or 9-1, Union might still get a bid.  Now if RPI goes 8-1 with a loss to Union team that wins the league at 7-2, then RPI might not make it with the poor nonleague game.


"These days, it doesn't belong on the schedule because non-league games are really in place for two reasons:  (1) to help your team iron out issues, learn and prepare for the league schedule; and (2) to impress the Committee for Pool C (or Pool B) purposes. "

What ever happend to having big football games!!  Another reason why I dont like the automatic bids.  It gives teams a reason to not play the best schedule possible.  And as we still know it wont happen, a super conference in upstate NY is the only way to go and make it totally fair. 

On the other hand, now we know that SC is a better team than Union.  Maybe it wouldnt be fair if the two teams didnt play and SC went 9-1 and didnt make it over an 7-2 Union team that won the league.  Either way, I think it is better when the best teams play.  Especially when they are close like Union/SC and you can get bigger fan interest.

All this 'props to Union for scheduling Springfield' crap is nonsense.  It is NOT going to help them in when the voting comes because they got killed.  If it was a close game i'd beg to differ.  It might help them as a team, and how they perform down the stretch....absolutely...but will they have a better outlook for the playoffs because they played Springfield and got killed?  Not a chance.

Now look, I think everyone on here is sick of the RPI schedule.  It is what it is.  There's nothing anyone here can do about it.  Each year, there seems to be a new opening and they fill it with teams like Husson.  What can ya do?  If I were a Hobart fan, i'd be psyched about it, because by week 3, Hobart will be ready, RPI probably won't be, as usual.

As far as Dickinson is concerned....Frank, it is embarrassing.  Look at EACH of those games you mentioned.  Hobart shows a lack of ability to finish them off.  They've fared pretty well in the LL and can finish teams off within the conference, but it's aggravating when they are obviously a better team and program than Dickinson, and they can't put them away at the end of the game.