FB: Liberty League

[SaintsFAN]

what's the early word the status of Hobart's starting QB??

2-8 won't cut it this week, judging by what SJF did to the JCU passing game.

[sjfcards]

SJF schedule was tougher than Hobart's this year and they have had to pull some games out of the fire.  Hobart has not had starters play in the 4th quarter yet this year, including against Utica which lost to SJF because they missed a PAT.

Lets not overlook that after just a horrid start from Fisher they out scored Utica 28-7 and played a significant portion of the second half with a backup QB and without their best wide receiver. Throw in the fact that one of Utica's touchdowns was a blatant pass interference on the wide receiver, and another was a questionable catch that game could be seen in a much different light than just looking at the final score.

[dlippiel]

Dlip thinks Fisher wins handily on Saturday. Wishing for the best from Bart here but dlip just doesn't think they can beat SJF (with or without Conlan). It will be a big jump for the statesmen in competition for sure. However Bart has a lot of talent and hopefully can pull out a win with home field.

[ITH radio]

Just wrapping up our show and SR OLB Devin Worthington said Conlan will play

[sjfcards]

Dlip thinks Fisher wins handily on Saturday. Wishing for the best from Bart here but dlip just doesn't think they can beat SJF (with or without Conlan). It will be a big jump for the statesmen in competition for sure. However Bart has a lot of talent and hopefully can pull out a win with home field.

Weather may be a factor as well. If the weather turns, Hobart has an advantage with Webb.

[pumkinattack]

The UC data point can be thrown out for a variety of reasons and there's not much else to compare this season.  SJF has a tougher schedule so far and even if Conlans leg is good to go, we're still pretty beat up.  Doesn't mean much though as Hobart has some playmakers still there.  Bayley will be fine, barely lost te job to Conlan in preseason, he only had to throw on a couple of 3rd and longs yesterday, so 2-8 doesn't mean much and even in a blowout he needed to get some live practice in.  Up the the WRs to make catches and they've all been guilty of dropping wide open passes this year.  Souffrant could be as good as Woodard, Vincent, Wright, LiDrazzah, etc if he caught more balls given his natural ability.

Hobarts had starters play into the 4th of games, but not very much at all and hasn't even been within 14 in the 4th more than 2-3x, maybe a total of 6-8 game minutes (counting a 13pt game w UC, but they scores pretty late to close it).  Will take 4 quarters this week. 

Setting the over/under at 35.  PA is taking the under.

[hobart16]

Weather looks to be cloudy with a high of 29 degrees, with some sun and winds at 8 mph, which isn't nothing.  Conditions might put an extra premium on running, and with Conlan playing but maybe not 100% Webb will have to show people why he is the man.  Hopefully Ellis is back to 100% too.  He is underrated in my view.  Absolute beast out there. 

[Upstate]

I think Fenti and Co. will gladly take the 8mph projected wind all day!

I can't wait for Saturday, with Conlon a go I think it's going to be a one score game!

[sjfcards]

I think Fenti and Co. will gladly take the 8mph projected wind all day!

I can't wait for Saturday, with Conlon a go I think it's going to be a one score game!

I think the weather looks ideal for football really. It will be nice to have the game decided on the field, and not have the weather be a discussion point either way.

[dlippiel]

The UC data point can be thrown out for a variety of reasons and there's not much else to compare this season.  SJF has a tougher schedule so far and even if Conlans leg is good to go, we're still pretty beat up.  Doesn't mean much though as Hobart has some playmakers still there.  Bayley will be fine, barely lost te job to Conlan in preseason, he only had to throw on a couple of 3rd and longs yesterday, so 2-8 doesn't mean much and even in a blowout he needed to get some live practice in.  Up the the WRs to make catches and they've all been guilty of dropping wide open passes this year.  Souffrant could be as good as Woodard, Vincent, Wright, LiDrazzah, etc if he caught more balls given his natural ability.

Hobarts had starters play into the 4th of games, but not very much at all and hasn't even been within 14 in the 4th more than 2-3x, maybe a total of 6-8 game minutes (counting a 13pt game w UC, but they scores pretty late to close it).  Will take 4 quarters this week. 

Setting the over/under at 35.  PA is takIing the under.

Dlip takes the under as well. Dlip loves Webb, he thinks the kid is just steller! Don't be surprised if it takes a couple of series for the O-line and Webb to adjust to how quickly the Fisher LB's will be in on contact. Bart has the opportunity here to prove a lot of us naysayers (yet supporters) wrong. Dlip also agrees with Lew regarding the feeling that some Bart fans are making injury excuses already. Pa is confident here regardless and Dlip credits him for that. Let's go Hobart!

[pumkinattack]

Heard a few days ago Conlan would be a go, but I've been worried since Sprinngfield about health and depth.  We had three guys go down against union for example.  Tons of talent, but the 35th, 40th and perhaps even 50th guy on the roster is going to make plays this weekend.  Every DB, LB and DT is going to have to play balls to the wall, not just Tyre, TJ, DW and a few other starters.  Souffrant, Fasano, Berkowitz and Robinson can't drop balls like they have too often this season.  Brad burns, Justin Burke and Chris Holoman are going to have to be effective when they are in the game.

Doesn't matter, most people seem to think Hobart is somewhat fraudulent and Fisher is going to walk in and win because their schedule is so much stronger (agreed about W&J, not sold on the E8 this year as a top 5 conference, but it's still better than the LL top to bottom pretty much since 2005-2006 area). 

I and a few other who pay attention have been waiting pretty much for round two all year and we'll find out now if they are for real.  It may sound presumptuous, but it's true.  I know these kids are tough as nails and have a lot of pride.  Now it's time to show the world, or not, what they're made of.  I have my opinions, but the arguing and inconsistent rationalization a everyone throws around are done come playoff time.  I plan to eat myself into a coma tomorrow, watch the Hobart game off Sat and then hopefully celebrate a win while watching Ga Tech take down UGA before passing out and waking up to December.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Heard a few days ago Conlan would be a go, but I've been worried since Sprinngfield about health and depth.  We had three guys go down against union for example.  Tons of talent, but the 35th, 40th and perhaps even 50th guy on the roster is going to make plays this weekend.  Every DB, LB and DT is going to have to play balls to the wall, not just Tyre, TJ, DW and a few other starters.  Souffrant, Fasano, Berkowitz and Robinson can't drop balls like they have too often this season.  Brad burns, Justin Burke and Chris Holoman are going to have to be effective when they are in the game.

Doesn't matter, most people seem to think Hobart is somewhat fraudulent and Fisher is going to walk in and win because their schedule is so much stronger (agreed about W&J, not sold on the E8 this year as a top 5 conference, but it's still better than the LL top to bottom pretty much since 2005-2006 area). 

I and a few other who pay attention have been waiting pretty much for round two all year and we'll find out now if they are for real.  It may sound presumptuous, but it's true.  I know these kids are tough as nails and have a lot of pride.  Now it's time to show the world, or not, what they're made of.  I have my opinions, but the arguing and inconsistent rationalization a everyone throws around are done come playoff time.  I plan to eat myself into a coma tomorrow, watch the Hobart game off Sat and then hopefully celebrate a win while watching Ga Tech take down UGA before passing out and waking up to December.

Not sold on the E8 being a top 5 conference - then what conference is getting slighted?  What criteria are you using?  Looking at OOC records or more of an "eyeball" thing?  Just curious.  From my viewpoint the E8 has a pretty stellar record OOC, does pretty well in the playoffs, etc.  Not sure what else you can go by to compare the strength of one conference to another. 

[pumkinattack]

I think Sals is way down based on their 5-4 record and the ECAC game (cue the "some people don't show up for ECAC games" comments, which I don't agree with), Alfred was early but RPI was bad this year so that loss hurts and I don't think Cortland was good, so the Cortaca game in conjunction to losing to Hartwick makes me believe the conference is 75% of what it was the prior few years.

I already said its better than the LL and past playoff performances are irrelevant to this year, so it doesn't make a lot sense to take major offense to that unless there's some kind of inferiority complex there.  The IC win is nice, but it was a close home win against Framingham St.  If they beat Wesley well revisit, but even Wesley isn't the same as in prior years which even their fans will acknowledge.   Beating a CC champ isn't anything.  I've seen CC champs for years and it's no better of a conference and probably worse than the LL and w/o a team like Hobart was last year and I hope is this year as well.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Ha, I was just curious.  I didn't say anything about taking major offense, I wanted to know what your justifications were.  Speaking of inferiority complex 

[Bombers798891]

The e8 is down. Look, I love this IC team, but it might not even be one of Mike's 10 best teams. Alfred looked great at times, but laid two eggs. Salisbury was insanely inconsistent. Fisher is probabl better than they're given credit for, but lost a couple close ones.

As for ECAC games, yes teams don't show up for them. Ithaca absolutely did not in 1999, and I've spoken with people associated with that program that have told me the players didn't want to play it and had already checked out. I don't think it's a universal explanation, but it certainly happens.