FB: Liberty League

[Frank Rossi]

OK... let me say this once, as concisely as possible (yeah, I know, likely story), and move forward.  LD, you know damned well that the jabs we take during Shoes Week are commonplace comedy.  We get personal but don't take it personally.  This year, I really did do it to see if we couldn't drive the 'gros, Applejacks, etc. back because I miss the banter.  It used to be fun -- used to make the game a little more exciting as fans because we all seemed to want the win to justify our end of the banter in the end.  If you notice, I let my foot off the pedal by the end of Wednesday of last week because it just wasn't working and I wasn't going to be the lone voice in the crowd.

As for what's happened since, I apologize if I offended you or anyone else.  Yes, I am a pompous ass and I'm used to the mud in my direction -- I think U89 weathered me for that during our old bouts here (not starting a fight there, U89 -- pointing out you thickened my skin on here a lot).  I just got extremely upset that the microscope was on our game broadcast instead of at least some congrats for RPI.  At the press conference Wednesday, Coach King put it best -- at the end of Saturday night, one of those teams was going to right the ship this season.  That team was RPI, and they earned it.  I don't want to see people demean or obscure that accomplishment because it was a huge win for RPI.  

The negativity AFTER the game is something I've never seen to that degree because normally, we all would get together (literally and figuratively) and laugh it off and congratulate the victors.  It just was different and more negative, and I personally hate seeing that.  But, listen guys -- if that's the way you wanna roll, then go for it.  I just don't see how it helps the game and these teams.  You cheer your way, though, and I'll cheer my way.  And I'm sorry that I crossed the line in trying to make my point yesterday.

As for the Doid feud, let me say this one clearly.  If you think ANYONE is pleased with the wins and losses this year in or around the Union program, you're off your rocker.  I've been working behind the scenes as much as anyone trying to raise the mood of the team and coaches in hopes that we could get out of the rut we've been in, and it obviously hasn't worked.  Yes, there have been a lot of injuries and odd occurrences this year, but there have been a lot of undisciplined plays and ugly moments for the program.  Yet, those players still put on their uniforms with pride and understand.  And Carm, Tom and I still put on our headsets each weekend to honor that fact, even though living this week to week has been a painful experience.  I woke up this morning to a Facebook message from an alum saying, "What the hell has happned to Union Football?"  I live it day to day right now, but I still bleed garnet and respect that team.  Last night, I had a brief conversation with a player on Facebook (a senior), who said when I mentioned how the younger guys could get some great game experience in the next two weeks as everyone starts looking to the future, "Yes without a doubt. The season certainly has thrown a lot of curve balls at us but the younger guys will learn from this experience and the program will be back where it should be. The next two games are crucial to send our class off on a positive note and to get these guys momentum going into next season."  The current players haven't lost perspective as to how this isn't a Union Football season like any other in recent memory.  It doesn't turn Ls into Ws, I know, but I don't see a sunken ship quite yet -- especially since, from the sounds of it, there are some positive moves in the offing.  The freshman and sophomore classes are two pretty strong classes on paper -- and as they become more conditioned and disciplined, and with some other positive changes that I've heard about, things will get better.  Like the player said, though, Union still has two games to play and hopefully win this year.  We all know the situation, and as I said, nobody is justifying anything -- especially the guys in the booth who are all working to try to help improve the team in whatever ways we can.

Finally, sorry to Maxpower and the Ithaca faithful.  Max, that was an annual argument between Union and RPI guys that I get into, and you walked into the wrong part of it after a long weekend for me personally.  However, I will say this to Ithaca -- I know that there is a decent amount of money going toward athletics facilities over there right now.  I also know that Butterfield is a bit of an institution in terms of football complexes.  I'm just hoping that some of that money can find its way over to Butterfield in terms of upgrading things, including the Press Box.  Mike Warwick runs a class act in the Press Box, but it's as crowded a Press Box as I've ever seen and lacks 2010 technology -- those things are not his fault by any means.  Make his life easier by expanding and enhancing the Press Box and by improving lavatory facilities at the very least, if there is some money left over from the other enhancements.  I think it goes a long way in promoting the fan experience -- Hobart left the Boz intact and still made the experience much better for the fans and the media.  So, there definitely is a way to embrace history while keeping up with the Jones's.  Nonetheless, I apologize for the Internet potshot I took yesterday.

[Garnet]

What stones am I throwing at you, Frank? Grow up, for christ's sake. The point was about the team.

Because we know the "two guys" you're pointing to, attempting to claim we sugarcoat and justify the games when we report on them.  The specific thing Reg was pointing to was the second weekend in a row that an ECAC official robbed Union of rightful possession of the football.  Last week, Union would've been 30 yards from a 3rd-quarter tie.  Last night, Union would've been in the red zone, 1st and 10, down 14-0 with nearly ten minutes left.  Because of the wrong call and because the officials rushed the ball back into play instead of huddling to correct the call, RPI reeled off a 30-yard play -- and Union's defense was done in that drive.  Essentially, it was a 10- or 14-point swing in a game decided by 14 points.

We were not justifying the loss based on this -- the points I made were centered on how the officials were playing a role in the outcome of the last two games.  Needless to say, the ECAC observer in the Press Box, who normally has not much to do during the games, raced out of the Press Box to speak with the officials.  He could hear us during the broadcast and never came down to correct us -- so, I feel comfortable after checking the rule that we were correct -- and I don't have ECAC officiating training.

The loss sucks.  The game wasn't that great either -- I posted a pretty concise synopsis, much like what I said toward the end of the game on the air last night.  And we pointed our finger to mistakes the team made throughout the night (high punt snap, blocked FG on a low kick, the taunting call, etc.).  To make the comment you made undercuts the job we did on the air last night, whether or not we are the "Union broadcast."  I work with the best crew in the business when it comes to my color commentators and co-hosts, and I will defend the job we do since in Division III, there is no pay for this and the time commitment is great.  Perhaps defend the people getting torn apart on the boards when they actually provide a service for your team, win or lose, instead of lobbing on with cute little asides.  It's not appreciated, regardless of where your comments were pointed toward.  Win with class; lose with more class.

[EDIT:  By the way, speaking of winning with class, I've yet to see an RPI poster congratulate their own team on the win last night.  Oddly enough, Union89 and I [further edit: and dlip] were the only two three who did send congratulations last night publicly.  RPI posters owe their team some kudos for the big win last night -- we'll be doing more congrats later on ITH with Coach King... so, trust me, I know who won and lost the game and for what reasons.]

as Sgt. Hulka said in Stripes,  " Lighten up Francis."

[Garnet]

My motive?  To promote and enhance the game for the players and the fans of Division III that appreciate what Division III football really is -- a collection of players who play the game for the sake of playing the game of football. 

So the NESCAC has it right?

Play the game because you love the game. No need for a postseason.

[union89]

So you edited that post and still left in the last part?

It's been hard to decide where to draw the line on this conversation that has now gone over the line on both sides. Pretty embarrassing.

Are you kidding me.....the last line made this one of the greatest posts EVER.

[SaintsFAN]

lots of great reading on the last few pages... LD, how'd that move to Bah-stin go?

[lewdogg11]

lots of great reading on the last few pages... LD, how'd that move to Bah-stin go?

It went fine.  Unfortunately during my trip, I was unable to listen to the Union broadcast or post messages of congratulations to anyone.  Shame on me.  But bless your heart for asking.

[Knightstalker]

WTF, Vikings waived Randy Moss today.

[maxpower]

I don't know, Frank, maybe those that are down on their teams are better fans than you give them credit for. I was watching the Bills with my buddy yesterday, they're driving with under a minute left, and he says something like "let's see how they f*** this up." Now, that may be overly negative, but we use s*** like that as a defense mechanism, you know? I know it's DIII and everything, but we're still passionate fans. It's much easier to "laugh it off no matter who won" when your team is a perennial playoff threat like RPI and Union HAVE been... what looks like negativity could actually be serious concern. Fans will do what they do.

And this ain't pee-wee football where you have to have a big smile for the kids no matter what. I really don't think any serious RPI football player is going to let what an idiot like LD says get to him .

BTW, what happened that drive? Rory Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an INT on a play when there was NO REASON TO THROW. FML

[labart96]

WTF, Vikings waived Randy Moss today.

NK - too bad they can't waive Childress too.  His days are numbered....

[Frank Rossi]

I don't know, Frank, maybe those that are down on their teams are better fans than you give them credit for. I was watching the Bills with my buddy yesterday, they're driving with under a minute left, and he says something like "let's see how they f*** this up." Now, that may be overly negative, but we use s*** like that as a defense mechanism, you know? I know it's DIII and everything, but we're still passionate fans. It's much easier to "laugh it off no matter who won" when your team is a perennial playoff threat like RPI and Union HAVE been... what looks like negativity could actually be serious concern. Fans will do what they do.

And this ain't pee-wee football where you have to have a big smile for the kids no matter what. I really don't think any serious RPI football player is going to let what an idiot like LD says get to him .

BTW, what happened that drive? Rory Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an INT on a play when there was NO REASON TO THROW. FML

LMAO +k

[tecmobowler]

OK... let me say this once, as concisely as possible (yeah, I know, likely story), and move forward.  LD, you know damned well that the jabs we take during Shoes Week are commonplace comedy.  We get personal but don't take it personally.  This year, I really did do it to see if we couldn't drive the 'gros, Applejacks, etc. back because I miss the banter.  It used to be fun -- used to make the game a little more exciting as fans because we all seemed to want the win to justify our end of the banter in the end.  If you notice, I let my foot off the pedal by the end of Wednesday of last week because it just wasn't working and I wasn't going to be the lone voice in the crowd.

As for what's happened since, I apologize if I offended you or anyone else.  Yes, I am a pompous ass and I'm used to the mud in my direction -- I think U89 weathered me for that during our old bouts here (not starting a fight there, U89 -- pointing out you thickened my skin on here a lot).  I just got extremely upset that the microscope was on our game broadcast instead of at least some congrats for RPI.  At the press conference Wednesday, Coach King put it best -- at the end of Saturday night, one of those teams was going to right the ship this season.  That team was RPI, and they earned it.  I don't want to see people demean or obscure that accomplishment because it was a huge win for RPI.  

The negativity AFTER the game is something I've never seen to that degree because normally, we all would get together (literally and figuratively) and laugh it off and congratulate the victors.  It just was different and more negative, and I personally hate seeing that.  But, listen guys -- if that's the way you wanna roll, then go for it.  I just don't see how it helps the game and these teams.  You cheer your way, though, and I'll cheer my way.  And I'm sorry that I crossed the line in trying to make my point yesterday.

As for the Doid feud, let me say this one clearly.  If you think ANYONE is pleased with the wins and losses this year in or around the Union program, you're off your rocker.  I've been working behind the scenes as much as anyone trying to raise the mood of the team and coaches in hopes that we could get out of the rut we've been in, and it obviously hasn't worked.  Yes, there have been a lot of injuries and odd occurrences this year, but there have been a lot of undisciplined plays and ugly moments for the program.  Yet, those players still put on their uniforms with pride and understand.  And Carm, Tom and I still put on our headsets each weekend to honor that fact, even though living this week to week has been a painful experience.  I woke up this morning to a Facebook message from an alum saying, "What the hell has happned to Union Football?"  I live it day to day right now, but I still bleed garnet and respect that team.  Last night, I had a brief conversation with a player on Facebook (a senior), who said when I mentioned how the younger guys could get some great game experience in the next two weeks as everyone starts looking to the future, "Yes without a doubt. The season certainly has thrown a lot of curve balls at us but the younger guys will learn from this experience and the program will be back where it should be. The next two games are crucial to send our class off on a positive note and to get these guys momentum going into next season."  The current players haven't lost perspective as to how this isn't a Union Football season like any other in recent memory.  It doesn't turn Ls into Ws, I know, but I don't see a sunken ship quite yet -- especially since, from the sounds of it, there are some positive moves in the offing.  The freshman and sophomore classes are two pretty strong classes on paper -- and as they become more conditioned and disciplined, and with some other positive changes that I've heard about, things will get better.  Like the player said, though, Union still has two games to play and hopefully win this year.  We all know the situation, and as I said, nobody is justifying anything -- especially the guys in the booth who are all working to try to help improve the team in whatever ways we can.

Finally, sorry to Maxpower and the Ithaca faithful.  Max, that was an annual argument between Union and RPI guys that I get into, and you walked into the wrong part of it after a long weekend for me personally.  However, I will say this to Ithaca -- I know that there is a decent amount of money going toward athletics facilities over there right now.  I also know that Butterfield is a bit of an institution in terms of football complexes.  I'm just hoping that some of that money can find its way over to Butterfield in terms of upgrading things, including the Press Box.  Mike Warwick runs a class act in the Press Box, but it's as crowded a Press Box as I've ever seen and lacks 2010 technology -- those things are not his fault by any means.  Make his life easier by expanding and enhancing the Press Box and by improving lavatory facilities at the very least, if there is some money left over from the other enhancements.  I think it goes a long way in promoting the fan experience -- Hobart left the Boz intact and still made the experience much better for the fans and the media.  So, there definitely is a way to embrace history while keeping up with the Jones's.  Nonetheless, I apologize for the Internet potshot I took yesterday.

It's going to take me a while to get over that comment about our press box.  

[theoriginalupstate]

BTW, what happened that drive? Rory Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an INT on a play when there was NO REASON TO THROW. FML

The ball sails on him a lot because he has tiny hands...

[tecmobowler]

Yeah, that's happened to him a few times this year... figured he must have small, sweaty hands.  That last pick was modified football bad.

[Jonny Utah]

Does the presidents box at Butterfield Stadium have a bathroom? 

I do agree though, that is an old pressbox and you could easily do over and put on a second floor or third floor even.

[maxpower]

+k to the IC/SJF posters taking over many of the east region boards today.... helped by an unusual string of posts from an old fave, tecmobowler. what happened tecmo, after the bills loss you just needed some TLC? we know the pain.