FB: Liberty League

[D3pc]

The LL actually boasts some phenomenal schools. Besides the NESCAC, it may be the next best academic league in division 3 football. I know alum from SLU, Hobart, and Union and it is amazing what the job placements are for graduates. Not to mention alumni events/helping out. I can't personally speak for RPI but it is no doubt that they have a great student body there as well. They generally have the most representatives on the all academic team. UofR is such an underrated school, and I think the only reason i say underrated is because it is lesser known further out here on the set coast. It is one of the top research universities in the nation with another low acceptance rate. It's a good move for Ithaca academically, and football wise. The LL may not have the top to bottom depth of the E8, but going forward it certainly can. As of now, Hobart, SLU, RPI all fit it with the E8 teams where everyone is good and anyone can beat anyone. Yes i Know they all lost their respective games, but they were also all on the road. If SLU played Morrisville later on they win no doubt. If Hobart played Ithaca later on, they win no doubt. If RPI played Alfred later on (with nicer weather) they have a much better shot and i think it is more 50/50. Anyway, the conference is getting better, and the 7th school better be ready for a heck of a (east region) conference.

[jknezek]

The LL actually boasts some phenomenal schools. Besides the NESCAC, it may be the next best academic league in division 3 football. I know alum from SLU, Hobart, and Union and it is amazing what the job placements are for graduates. Not to mention alumni events/helping out.

It's possible. But I think the NCAC, SAA and Centennial would all be in that conversation as well for football conferences.

[Bartman]

The LL actually boasts some phenomenal schools. Besides the NESCAC, it may be the next best academic league in division 3 football. I know alum from SLU, Hobart, and Union and it is amazing what the job placements are for graduates. Not to mention alumni events/helping out. I can't personally speak for RPI but it is no doubt that they have a great student body there as well. They generally have the most representatives on the all academic team. UofR is such an underrated school, and I think the only reason i say underrated is because it is lesser known further out here on the set coast. It is one of the top research universities in the nation with another low acceptance rate. It's a good move for Ithaca academically, and football wise. The LL may not have the top to bottom depth of the E8, but going forward it certainly can. As of now, Hobart, SLU, RPI all fit it with the E8 teams where everyone is good and anyone can beat anyone. Yes i Know they all lost their respective games, but they were also all on the road. If SLU played Morrisville later on they win no doubt. If Hobart played Ithaca later on, they win no doubt. If RPI played Alfred later on (with nicer weather) they have a much better shot and i think it is more 50/50. Anyway, the conference is getting better, and the 7th school better be ready for a heck of a (east region) conference.

D3pc,
    I like your enthusiasm for the LL. I do believe the E8 football is overrated and the LL is underrated. I personally think SLU, RPI and Hobart all showed great improvement at the end of the season...and were all potential 50/50 contests if matched against the E8 champ, Cortland. This, of course, will be disputed by E8 followerers but is my humble and totally unbiased opinion.
The addition of Ithaca is good for our league and is a good match for them. There are  great schools in the LL and UofR is a fantastic academic institution as you point out. I know it is often tough for the LL coaches to recruit athletes(balancing academics/diversity/financial needs with admissions) , but I have known many grateful graduates that attended LL schools with either merit or need scholarships that were extremely happy with the athletics and the academics....and the alumni network. I know a few have struggled academically when they arrived, but I also know "learning differences" programs at a number of these schools(I have heard SLU is particularly good) are better resourced than some of the other D3 schools and have helped prepare the student-athletes for life without football. That said, I think that is the celebretated difference between many D3 conferences(E8 and LL for sure) and many D1 programs.... we love our game but realize we owe a full educational experience/life preparation  to our athletes. While the LL may never have a National Champion(although we now have a member in Ithaca that achieved this 3 times), I think they will fare very well in the region and have some great playoff efforts like this past season(snaps to SLU for hanging in there against Mount Union...who will probably win the Stagg... and RPI for the ECAC win) .
  Looking forward to a new rivalry with Ithaca v. Hobart , and noticed Hobart had already scheduled Ithaca for the next 3 years as on OOC quite awhile ago , so somebody knew something... a long wait until next year but looking forward to the rise of the Statesman in 2016 after a strong 2015 season finish(and that was a TD catch Larry fans...I saw it from the goal line with a great angle..see you in Larryland next year for another heartbreaker  )
  Happy Holidays to all

[AUPepBand]

The LL actually boasts some phenomenal schools. Besides the NESCAC, it may be the next best academic league in division 3 football. I know alum from SLU, Hobart, and Union and it is amazing what the job placements are for graduates. Not to mention alumni events/helping out. I can't personally speak for RPI but it is no doubt that they have a great student body there as well. They generally have the most representatives on the all academic team. UofR is such an underrated school, and I think the only reason i say underrated is because it is lesser known further out here on the set coast. It is one of the top research universities in the nation with another low acceptance rate. It's a good move for Ithaca academically, and football wise. The LL may not have the top to bottom depth of the E8, but going forward it certainly can. As of now, Hobart, SLU, RPI all fit it with the E8 teams where everyone is good and anyone can beat anyone. Yes i Know they all lost their respective games, but they were also all on the road. If SLU played Morrisville later on they win no doubt. If Hobart played Ithaca later on, they win no doubt. If RPI played Alfred later on (with nicer weather) they have a much better shot and i think it is more 50/50. Anyway, the conference is getting better, and the 7th school better be ready for a heck of a (east region) conference.

D3pc,
    I like your enthusiasm for the LL. I do believe the E8 football is overrated and the LL is underrated. I personally think SLU, RPI and Hobart all showed great improvement at the end of the season...and were all potential 50/50 contests if matched against the E8 champ, Cortland. This, of course, will be disputed by E8 followerers but is my humble and totally unbiased opinion.
The addition of Ithaca is good for our league and is a good match for them. There are  great schools in the LL and UofR is a fantastic academic institution as you point out. I know it is often tough for the LL coaches to recruit athletes(balancing academics/diversity/financial needs with admissions) , but I have known many grateful graduates that attended LL schools with either merit or need scholarships that were extremely happy with the athletics and the academics....and the alumni network. I know a few have struggled academically when they arrived, but I also know "learning differences" programs at a number of these schools(I have heard SLU is particularly good) are better resourced than some of the other D3 schools and have helped prepare the student-athletes for life without football. That said, I think that is the celebretated difference between many D3 conferences(E8 and LL for sure) and many D1 programs.... we love our game but realize we owe a full educational experience/life preparation  to our athletes. While the LL may never have a National Champion(although we now have a member in Ithaca that achieved this 3 times), I think they will fare very well in the region and have some great playoff efforts like this past season(snaps to SLU for hanging in there against Mount Union...who will probably win the Stagg... and RPI for the ECAC win) .
  Looking forward to a new rivalry with Ithaca v. Hobart , and noticed Hobart had already scheduled Ithaca for the next 3 years as on OOC quite awhile ago , so somebody knew something... a long wait until next year but looking forward to the rise of the Statesman in 2016 after a strong 2015 season finish(and that was a TD catch Larry fans...I saw it from the goal line with a great angle..see you in Larryland next year for another heartbreaker  )
  Happy Holidays to all

Pep doesn't want you to be disappointed here, so since you asked for a dispute from an E8 fan, hey....in the spirit of giving, here's Pep's take!

Pep agrees that Hobart, RPI, SLU probably all had a 50/50 chance against E8 champ Cortland State....but the difference between the LL and the E8 at least in 2015 was that they'd also have a 50/50 chance against the other eight members of the E8, because everyone in the E8 had a 50/50 chance against Cortland State. After all, in the E8, it was Buffalo State (7-4, 5-3) and Morrisville State (6-4, 4-4) that actually beat the Red Dragons.

As for the argument of when the teams were scheduled to play, Pep was tempted to go that route with his Saxons. Had AU switched the St. John Fisher and Ithaca games, AU might have been E8 champs! But it is what it is.

Suffice it to say, the LL's Upstate NY members and the E8 members are all strong football programs but they annually compete for the
crème de la crème (pardon my French) of pretty much the same neighborhood....and the talent seems to be equally disbursed among the football programs of some outstanding institutions of higher education. Whereas, at the Mount, "the" program has been so prominent that it now draws its players from Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana....and a few from Ohio.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

[Bombers798891]

I've been a charter member of the E8 is overrated fan club, so in general I agree.

Actually, while you're all here, can anyone give me the lowdown on wheelchair seating and general accessibility of the visitor stands at some of these LL stadiums? I generally wind up having to sit in the home bleachers wherever I go, which kind of sucks. I remember sitting in the home bleachers at RPI for the 2001 playoff game, and at Hobart in like, 1999/2000, but things may change. Would appreciate any info people have. (Ithaca has, unquestionably, the least accessible stadium in all of D-III)

[ITH radio]

Here's info re the Boz:

http://www.hwsathletics.com/sports/2010/8/27/ISA_0827105555.aspx?id=293#access

[dlippiel]

First, thank you coach Audino for all you've done. You will be missed and dlip wishes nothing but the very best for you and your family from here on out, because you deserve it!

Second, dlip is ecstatic, yes ecstatic with the addition of Ithaca Football to the Liberty League! dlip couldn't be happier and has the utmost respect for the Bombers program! Question: When do they officially join?

Third, dlip doesn't give a **** who wins tonight. He hopes the ****ing Stagg is an injury free, competitive football game

[jknezek]

Third, dlip doesn't give a **** who wins tonight. He hopes the ****ing Stagg is an injury free, competitive football game

I'm with you. I'm tired of UMU, but I don't have any interest in STU either. While I think the SJU people go a little overboard, there is something off-putting about STU. From the cr@p at the end of their last Stagg, to the behind the back 2 pointer. They just don't sit well with me...

[bman]

Third, dlip doesn't give a **** who wins tonight. He hopes the ****ing Stagg is an injury free, competitive football game

I'm with you. I'm tired of UMU, but I don't have any interest in STU either. While I think the SJU people go a little overboard, there is something off-putting about STU. From the cr@p at the end of their last Stagg, to the behind the back 2 pointer. They just don't sit well with me...

While I also don't care who wins, I am mesmerized by St Thomas's right tackle...he is one large human being, and being a former DE, I can't imaging having to deal with that...
PS Watched a little of the game last night and focused on Marpet...he played ok despite the penalty...

[Bartman]

The LL actually boasts some phenomenal schools. Besides the NESCAC, it may be the next best academic league in division 3 football. I know alum from SLU, Hobart, and Union and it is amazing what the job placements are for graduates. Not to mention alumni events/helping out. I can't personally speak for RPI but it is no doubt that they have a great student body there as well. They generally have the most representatives on the all academic team. UofR is such an underrated school, and I think the only reason i say underrated is because it is lesser known further out here on the set coast. It is one of the top research universities in the nation with another low acceptance rate. It's a good move for Ithaca academically, and football wise. The LL may not have the top to bottom depth of the E8, but going forward it certainly can. As of now, Hobart, SLU, RPI all fit it with the E8 teams where everyone is good and anyone can beat anyone. Yes i Know they all lost their respective games, but they were also all on the road. If SLU played Morrisville later on they win no doubt. If Hobart played Ithaca later on, they win no doubt. If RPI played Alfred later on (with nicer weather) they have a much better shot and i think it is more 50/50. Anyway, the conference is getting better, and the 7th school better be ready for a heck of a (east region) conference.

D3pc,
    I like your enthusiasm for the LL. I do believe the E8 football is overrated and the LL is underrated. I personally think SLU, RPI and Hobart all showed great improvement at the end of the season...and were all potential 50/50 contests if matched against the E8 champ, Cortland. This, of course, will be disputed by E8 followerers but is my humble and totally unbiased opinion.
The addition of Ithaca is good for our league and is a good match for them. There are  great schools in the LL and UofR is a fantastic academic institution as you point out. I know it is often tough for the LL coaches to recruit athletes(balancing academics/diversity/financial needs with admissions) , but I have known many grateful graduates that attended LL schools with either merit or need scholarships that were extremely happy with the athletics and the academics....and the alumni network. I know a few have struggled academically when they arrived, but I also know "learning differences" programs at a number of these schools(I have heard SLU is particularly good) are better resourced than some of the other D3 schools and have helped prepare the student-athletes for life without football. That said, I think that is the celebretated difference between many D3 conferences(E8 and LL for sure) and many D1 programs.... we love our game but realize we owe a full educational experience/life preparation  to our athletes. While the LL may never have a National Champion(although we now have a member in Ithaca that achieved this 3 times), I think they will fare very well in the region and have some great playoff efforts like this past season(snaps to SLU for hanging in there against Mount Union...who will probably win the Stagg... and RPI for the ECAC win) .
  Looking forward to a new rivalry with Ithaca v. Hobart , and noticed Hobart had already scheduled Ithaca for the next 3 years as on OOC quite awhile ago , so somebody knew something... a long wait until next year but looking forward to the rise of the Statesman in 2016 after a strong 2015 season finish(and that was a TD catch Larry fans...I saw it from the goal line with a great angle..see you in Larryland next year for another heartbreaker  )
  Happy Holidays to all

Pep doesn't want you to be disappointed here, so since you asked for a dispute from an E8 fan, hey....in the spirit of giving, here's Pep's take!

Pep agrees that Hobart, RPI, SLU probably all had a 50/50 chance against E8 champ Cortland State....but the difference between the LL and the E8 at least in 2015 was that they'd also have a 50/50 chance against the other eight members of the E8, because everyone in the E8 had a 50/50 chance against Cortland State. After all, in the E8, it was Buffalo State (7-4, 5-3) and Morrisville State (6-4, 4-4) that actually beat the Red Dragons.

As for the argument of when the teams were scheduled to play, Pep was tempted to go that route with his Saxons. Had AU switched the St. John Fisher and Ithaca games, AU might have been E8 champs! But it is what it is.

Suffice it to say, the LL's Upstate NY members and the E8 members are all strong football programs but they annually compete for the
crème de la crème (pardon my French) of pretty much the same neighborhood....and the talent seems to be equally disbursed among the football programs of some outstanding institutions of higher education. Whereas, at the Mount, "the" program has been so prominent that it now draws its players from Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana....and a few from Ohio.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Pep,
    Good points as usual.........had some great games with the Saxons in the old days...would be happy to see the "AD's" schedule a few again...The Saxons were a tough bunch this year...Merry Christmas

[Bartman]

First, thank you coach Audino for all you've done. You will be missed and dlip wishes nothing but the very best for you and your family from here on out, because you deserve it!

Second, dlip is ecstatic, yes ecstatic with the addition of Ithaca Football to the Liberty League! dlip couldn't be happier and has the utmost respect for the Bombers program! Question: When do they officially join?

Third, dlip doesn't give a **** who wins tonight. He hopes the ****ing Stagg is an injury free, competitive football game

Dlip,
- Respectfully echo your good wishes to Coach Audino.

- IC enters the entire LL "no later than" 2018-19 seasons.

- Rooting for the  Tommies, HC is an ex IC player Glen Caruso...I think he will have his hands full tonight

[pg04]

Speaking of Audino, Frank Rossi just talked about him on the D3football.com pregame show.

According to him, it was less of a "retirement" and more of a "force out" because he was ready to come back. Interesting.

Frank added that D3 should be more about wins and losses and his body of work should be worth more. Also, he discussed the gutting of the program financially.

I can't possibly summarize all he said and I don't know if the program will be archived, but there were some poignant comments by Frank on the philosophy of D3. Regardless, Thoughts on the above points from the LL/Union followers?

[D3viewer]

Speaking of Audino, Frank Rossi just talked about him on the D3football.com pregame show.

According to him, it was less of a "retirement" and more of a "force out" because he was ready to come back. Interesting.

Frank added that D3 should be more about wins and losses and his body of work should be worth more. Also, he discussed the gutting of the program financially.

I can't possibly summarize all he said and I don't know if the program will be archived, but there were some poignant comments by Frank on the philosophy of D3. Regardless, Thoughts on the above points from the LL/Union followers?

Pg....this is basically the same situation that happened to Coach Salomone (RIP) at Brockport.

[pg04]

Speaking of Audino, Frank Rossi just talked about him on the D3football.com pregame show.

According to him, it was less of a "retirement" and more of a "force out" because he was ready to come back. Interesting.

Frank added that D3 should be more about wins and losses and his body of work should be worth more. Also, he discussed the gutting of the program financially.

I can't possibly summarize all he said and I don't know if the program will be archived, but there were some poignant comments by Frank on the philosophy of D3. Regardless, Thoughts on the above points from the LL/Union followers?

Pg....this is basically the same situation that happened to Coach Salomone (RIP) at Brockport.

It's interesting because I am currently doing grad school at the University of Georgia. Mark Richt was fired after a series of winning seasons but not conference championships. These types of things happen in D1, but they shouldn't really happen in D3, at least not when you consider the philosophy of D3.

I was too far removed from Brockport by the time Rocco's tenure was over. However, I was there during (I guess) the most successful times of the program and it was quite obvious how much he cared for his players and providing them with the best experience. I was very surprised, to say the least, when he was no longer the coach. It's unfortunate if this has happened to Audion in the way that Frank conjectured.

[dlippiel]

Dlip is now rooting for St. Thomas simply because of the Tommies fans dressed as lumberjacks with the huge ****ing saw prop...Dlip just can't turn his back on that!

Frank knows what he is talking about, trust Dlip. Dlip doesn't even know the intricacies like Frank does.