FB: Liberty League

[Oline89]

Well SLU has had HWS' number when it comes to alumni support and they jumped over us in national rankings about a decade ago after being well in our rear view mirror from the 80s to the late 2000's, so they're doing something right.

Speaking of doing something right - Hobart released their 2019 schedule already and it's fantastic. My two cents are below:

http://gohobart.blogspot.com/2019/01/statesmen-post-2019-slate-and-its.html?m=1

That's a tough schedule.  And have always said there is nothing wrong with an tough schedule, as you are most likely only getting in with the pool A anyway.  Good for them.

Love seeing Hobart filling the schedule, especially with teams from the NJAC.  Hobart ended last season with the toughest SOS in the country, I have to believe 2019 will be even tougher.  I hope some other LL teams start scheduling OOC against NJAC, can only help the league's reputation. 

[NED3Guy]

Will be very interesting to compare the early season growth of Union and Hobart based on their OOC schedules.

Hobart drops Shenandoah and Endicott and adds Rowan and Montclair in their places.
Union, reportedly, drops somebody (Husson, Springfield, Curry or Coast Guard) and adds Westfield State.

Clearly two differing philosophies being used for OOC scheduling. Each Coach has certainly earned the right to make those choices and not be questioned by some dude on a message board, so I'll hold off on passing judgement on either. October 5 will be a good test to see what philosophy prepares a team better I suppose.

Worth noting that at quick glance, Hobart has 11 NJ guys on roster...perhaps getting these NJAC games is a sign that they plan to push even harder in NJ in the coming years???

[ITH radio]

It's definitely a focus - guys like Mike Harper and Max Janoff started helping them get more kids up from NJ.

[Oline89]

Will be very interesting to compare the early season growth of Union and Hobart based on their OOC schedules.

Hobart drops Shenandoah and Endicott and adds Rowan and Montclair in their places.
Union, reportedly, drops somebody (Husson, Springfield, Curry or Coast Guard) and adds Westfield State.

Clearly two differing philosophies being used for OOC scheduling. Each Coach has certainly earned the right to make those choices and not be questioned by some dude on a message board, so I'll hold off on passing judgement on either. October 5 will be a good test to see what philosophy prepares a team better I suppose.

Worth noting that at quick glance, Hobart has 11 NJ guys on roster...perhaps getting these NJAC games is a sign that they plan to push even harder in NJ in the coming years???

I believe that Hobart is looking to recruit NJ (and hopefully Eastern PA).  I don't think playing the NJAC schools is going to directly divert players from the NJAC to Hobart, but getting the Hobart name and reputation out to players and coaches in these athlete fertile regions can only help with recruiting. 

[Oline89]

Big game tonight in LL basketball, Hobart v STL.  I had  a question for the stalwarts of the LL Football page, why is Rochester a LL member in every sport except basketball?  The UAA seems like a nice academic league, but that is a lot of long distance travel--NYC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago...
Trying to figure out the advantages for Rochester.

[Caz Bombers]

Big game tonight in LL basketball, Hobart v STL.  I had  a question for the stalwarts of the LL Football page, why is Rochester a LL member in every sport except basketball?  The UAA seems like a nice academic league, but that is a lot of long distance travel--NYC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago...
Trying to figure out the advantages for Rochester.

Rochester isn't in the LL for every sport but basketball. They play in the LL where the UAA doesn't have an auto bid or doesn't do a championship and in the UAA where they do.

UR is in the LL for baseball, softball, football, men's golf, field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's squash, women's rowing, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track & field.

UAA for volleyball plus both genders of basketball, soccer, swimming, cross country and tennis.

That's 12 in the LL and 11 in the UAA. Used to be a 14/9 split, but they withdrew from the Liberty League in m/w swimming a few years ago.

It's extremely advantageous for UR. They get to both have and eat an awful lot of cake.

[Oline89]

Big game tonight in LL basketball, Hobart v STL.  I had  a question for the stalwarts of the LL Football page, why is Rochester a LL member in every sport except basketball?  The UAA seems like a nice academic league, but that is a lot of long distance travel--NYC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago...
Trying to figure out the advantages for Rochester.

Rochester isn't in the LL for every sport but basketball. They play in the LL where the UAA doesn't have an auto bid or doesn't do a championship and in the UAA where they do.

UR is in the LL for baseball, softball, football, men's golf, field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's squash, women's rowing, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track & field.

UAA for volleyball plus both genders of basketball, soccer, swimming, cross country and tennis.

That's 12 in the LL and 11 in the UAA. Used to be a 14/9 split, but they withdrew from the Liberty League in m/w swimming a few years ago.

It's extremely advantageous for UR. They get to both have and eat an awful lot of cake.

Thanks Caz!  That explains a lot.  Not much cake being served in football.  The travel budget must be huge for the 11 sports in the UAA. 

[Caz Bombers]

again, not really a burden. Of those 11 sports, only m/w basketball plays a double round robin. Soccer plays a single round robin, so each gender is playing at most 4 road matches within the UAA. Volleyball knocks out all its conference matches in 2 weekends where everyone goes to one school and plays 3 or 4 matches.

Cross country, swimming and tennis don't have a conference schedule so they can play whoever they want and meet up at the UAA Championships.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Besides which, I believe the 'poorest' schools in UAA measure their endowments in billions, not tens or even hundreds of millions.  I suspect the travel costs are easily affordable.

[Oline89]

again, not really a burden. Of those 11 sports, only m/w basketball plays a double round robin. Soccer plays a single round robin, so each gender is playing at most 4 road matches within the UAA. Volleyball knocks out all its conference matches in 2 weekends where everyone goes to one school and plays 3 or 4 matches.

Cross country, swimming and tennis don't have a conference schedule so they can play whoever they want and meet up at the UAA Championships.

I see the men's and women's teams travel together, basketball games are scheduled Friday and Sunday, allows for grouping the away games into one weekend trip (Chicago-St Louis, Pittsburgh-Ohio, etc.)

[Oline89]

NESCAC board has a nice article link for 3 players heading to Union to play football this fall, LB looks like a great addition to the defense.

[ITH radio]

Union and RPI adding Amcats to their 2019 schedule is..... well.... hmmm

[UfanBill]

NESCAC board has a nice article link for 3 players heading to Union to play football this fall, LB looks like a great addition to the defense.

Thanks for the link...Could Flanagan be the heir apparent to departing senior Jack Reilly? Nice recruiting job. I'm getting little tidbits indicating the Dutchmen are having another strong recruiting season. This is exactly why Union schedules games in New England.

[Oline89]

NESCAC board has a nice article link for 3 players heading to Union to play football this fall, LB looks like a great addition to the defense.

Thanks for the link...Could Flanagan be the heir apparent to departing senior Jack Reilly? Nice recruiting job. I'm getting little tidbits indicating the Dutchmen are having another strong recruiting season. This is exactly why Union schedules games in New England.

Hoping that Hobart scheduling NJAC teams, has the same affect in NJ.  Boston is 5 1/2 hours to Geneva, from  NJ only 4!

[UfanBill]

Union and RPI adding Amcats to their 2019 schedule is..... well.... hmmm

Without getting a confirmation from Union, a check of Anna Maria Amcats 2019 schedule shows a home game against Union Sept.14th and a visit to RPI on Sept.28th. The Amcats were 1-9 in the weak ECFC last year...hmmm indeed.  Coupled with Union's reported game with Westfield St. that's not the type of opponent that will help your SOS (which btw was #12 nationally, behind #1 Hobart & #6 St. Lawrence).  My sources said they were hoping to keep Springfield and add MIT and Utica...we'll see.