FB: Liberty League

[pg04]

Of course we've all thought there was a "down" year and Mount still rolls through. Should be interesting, though.

[jaypeter]

Mount Union fan living in Rochester, here. Anybody know where I can look for playoffs tickets? I may have missed it in my first look through the school's football page.

[stlawus]

I do not disagree in saying that Mount's team is a lot more inexperienced than last year's, but they have still murdered teams all throughout the season.  Let's not forget that Mount's QB last year was playing WR his first 2 years on the roster.  However I do agree that if there's a team in the east that can play with them it's Hobart.

[wesleydad]

If there's a year to beat MUC before the finals, it's this year. They look to be on the road for the majority (Hopefully only 1 week and out!)

Yes, this is the year you want to play Mount.   They're starting their 3rd or 4th freshman QB, can't remember, but this Mount team is crazy inexperienced.  The secondary is meh and gets the blame defensively, but the real problem is up front.  Dline is average for D3, very weak by Mount standards. 

If they play well, the offense can be explosive, but the freshman QB is way too turnover prone for my liking. 

The East Region should be thrilled with this draw.   3 legitimate chances to slay the dragon.

Listen to HScoach, he knows his Mount stuff.  Told me early in the year that they will struggle when they play someone good and he was right.  Get after it and see what happens.  Tough first round draw, but so be it, go get it done.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I do not disagree in saying that Mount's team is a lot more inexperienced than last year's, but they have still murdered teams all throughout the season.  Let's not forget that Mount's QB last year was playing WR his first 2 years on the roster.  However I do agree that if there's a team in the east that can play with them it's Hobart.

Yeah, but their 9 victims were a combined 35-54.  Until they faced (and lost to) John Carroll, the best teams (record-wise) that they faced were 6-4 Heidelberg and 5-4 NC Wesleyan.  This is NOT the usual UMU team - more like UWW in 2013 (or was it 2012?).

[Hobart15]

Geneva hotel rooms sold out

[Frank Rossi]

We posted our interview with the NCAA Committee Chairman as a stand-alone podcast for now -- the rest of the show will be posted over the next day, as explained in the show's prologue.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2016/11/14/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

[Bartman]

Geneva hotel rooms sold out

Yes because D3 women's field hockey tournament on at same time. People will need to stay all over the local area. Even our No.1 women's soccer team who have home field privilege need to go on road. Hobart/ LL / Geneva/ Western NY needs to get tickets and support the Statesmen if you are in driving distance as Sweeney( aka David) will be slinging the rock to take down Goliath🙏🙏💒😀

[AUPepBand]

Pep was in Holmes Auditorium with the AU football team and many fans for the NCAA Division III Football Championships Bracket Show. There were cheers when it was announced Alfred would host Bridgewater State. The only other major outburst was when it was announced that Hobart would host Mount Union.

Pep is just hoping that Sweeney and Shed and the rest of the Statesmen give the Purple Raiders a major beat down at the Boz to break through that cursed wall that has for a few decades blocked the East Region from having a national contender. Hey, this is the year of the Cubs, right? You gotta believe!

Go get 'em, Statesmen!

[Bartman]

Pep was in Holmes Auditorium with the AU football team and many fans for the NCAA Division III Football Championships Bracket Show. There were cheers when it was announced Alfred would host Bridgewater State. The only other major outburst was when it was announced that Hobart would host Mount Union.

Pep is just hoping that Sweeney and Shed and the rest of the Statesmen give the Purple Raiders a major beat down at the Boz to break through that cursed wall that has for a few decades blocked the East Region from having a national contender. Hey, this is the year of the Cubs, right? You gotta believe!

Go get 'em, Statesmen!

Pep,

     Thanks for the encouragement, +k.  This is the year to sling the rock at Goliath , if ever there was one. I am more excited for this than any game for the Statesmen. There will be no bitching about why Hobart didn't get a lower ranked team in the first round...blablabla......I have looked at their team roster and a few games on video and it is excellent , but the Statesman are equal in size (I think a few pounds and inches separates the 2 starting lineups), but we need the Statesman's hearts to triple in size this Saturday. There are many that have said the Raiders have an easy path...and we will try to make that so...an easy path back to Alliance....while I am excited I know that this team must play it's best game in Hobart football history to beat the Raiders.... we cannot be intimidated by the Mount Union mystique...we can respect , which the Statesmen will, a program that has a great tradition.....but this is THIS YEAR, not the past and they will have to beat a team that is peaking right now while I have to say the Mount has to be motivated to make up for a down performance....mentally this is the team that lost the streak, and Hobart will try to be the team that makes it 2 losses in a row.

Facts; last game at the BOZ....Hobart 28, Mount Union 7 (1973....Bartman was there)
History: Hobart 2 wins.....Mount Union  1  ( although loss was a 42-7 modern day NCAA playoff game in Alliance against a GREAT UMU team)

Looking forward to the challenge and perhaps a trip to Mayberry in a few weeks...you are right it is a crazy year for the unexpected in the world...so why not the Statesmen.
If we are behind with under minute to go ....we have them where we want them

[fisheralum91]

Hey Bartman- At least you arent playing Fisher.........Right?

[Bartman]

Hey Bartman- At least you arent playing Fisher.........Right?

Fisher 91......if Fisher appeared as the first matchup in the bracket....the white flags would have been out for sure......no question we match-up much better against the Mount than the Cardinals....

[Hobart15]

No doubt it was a shock when I saw the brackets. It's been a incredible year so far with so many games we pulled out of the fire including the miracle at WPI. Looks like one more may be inline. Think we need the weather to be friendly for throwing and we must put enormous pressure on their QB to have a chance.  According to team, JC could have picked off a few more balls that were dropped. Hope to have D'antonio back. Looks like no injuries of any sort from Rochester game. Barfield will give them an added dimension as he ran well last week. How they matchup with Shed will be very interesting. Do they think he is over hyped and single cover him or do they double and give opportunities to other players. So many angles for this one.

[Bartman]

No doubt it was a shock when I saw the brackets. It's been a incredible year so far with so many games we pulled out of the fire including the miracle at WPI. Looks like one more may be inline. Think we need the weather to be friendly for throwing and we must put enormous pressure on their QB to have a chance.  According to team, JC could have picked off a few more balls that were dropped. Hope to have D'antonio back. Looks like no injuries of any sort from Rochester game. Barfield will give them an added dimension as he ran well last week. How they matchup with Shed will be very interesting. Do they think he is over hyped and single cover him or do they double and give opportunities to other players. So many angles for this one.

This is a coaching chess match, for sure. I think the key will be giving Sweeney time and one or two trickerations  ala DeWall. We can run on this team ,to some extent ,because they are not the impenetrable wall like past UMU teams. On Defense, we have to stop the Mount run from just plowing through us but I think this could be another Brockport-like game if we can make it so. We will bend but not brake on Defense, look for a few turnovers, mix it up on blitzes(D'Antonio and Jemison are key)...these are Freshman QB's at the Mount so they are on the road and feel the pressure.....make them feel the pressure of failing great expectations of the Mount.......it is possible...... BUT no stupid penalties ...concentrate EVERY play....and if Harper makes a good play he CANNOT celebrate, it could wake the beast...GO BART

[wesleydad]

No doubt it was a shock when I saw the brackets. It's been a incredible year so far with so many games we pulled out of the fire including the miracle at WPI. Looks like one more may be inline. Think we need the weather to be friendly for throwing and we must put enormous pressure on their QB to have a chance.  According to team, JC could have picked off a few more balls that were dropped. Hope to have D'antonio back. Looks like no injuries of any sort from Rochester game. Barfield will give them an added dimension as he ran well last week. How they matchup with Shed will be very interesting. Do they think he is over hyped and single cover him or do they double and give opportunities to other players. So many angles for this one.

This is a coaching chess match, for sure. I think the key will be giving Sweeney time and one or two trickerations  ala DeWall. We can run on this team ,to some extent ,because they are not the impenetrable wall like past UMU teams. On Defense, we have to stop the Mount run from just plowing through us but I think this could be another Brockport-like game if we can make it so. We will bend but not brake on Defense, look for a few turnovers, mix it up on blitzes(D'Antonio and Jemison are key)...these are Freshman QB's at the Mount so they are on the road and feel the pressure.....make them feel the pressure of failing great expectations of the Mount.......it is possible...... BUT no stupid penalties ...concentrate EVERY play....and if Harper makes a good play he CANNOT celebrate, it could wake the beast...GO BART

Mount does not usually change from the system they use.  They will likely play the same defense they usually do.  Now what they are really good at is making changes in game.  So if Hobart starts burning them with passing they will adjust and bring less pressure, dropping more into coverage.  On offense, Mitchell is a nice running back, but he does not do much between the tackles, so if Hobart can keep them from running outside, advantage Hobart.  The QB turns the ball over more than Mount is used to seeing so that will also be an issue if Hobart can win the turnover battle.  Finally, playing at home will be a huge difference than playing on the road.  Normal game day patterns are definitely an advantage to any home team.  Good Luck this week.