FB: Liberty League

[Machiavelli]

Damn! Ithaca didn't even lose yet this weekend and people be quitting the boards? Clearly I've misread or skimmed through the majority of posts lately. I have no idea what is going on. But sad to lose key members and contributors. Hope it's not permanent. Utah on the other hand...I haven't seen **** on TOP this season. What good does he bring without TOP? Pssshhhhh. Beat it, pal.

[Bartman]

IC7, I hope you are OK, seriously. Your insights were/are valuable . I get it, I've had a few episodes where I take things a bit too personally/seriously, but that has mostly been with with old Union posters , years back. Ithaca is a fine college and we are lucky to have it in the LL( Ouch that really hurt to be serious and admit that).We only have a few contributors and I hope you will reconsider if you so choose. Heck, Mach has been on his best behavior and he was just warming up for some spicy Ithaca Bombers comments  . Cheers and hope to see you back

[Caz Bombers]

Congrats to ol' buddy for quitting LLPP for like the 9th time. Hey, one more and you get a free sub from Shortstop Deli.

My dude loves deleting his account like Bolsonaro loves getting strapped to a hospital bed with Covid.

Ah I'm just f'in witcha. Take care of yourself.

Offering a burnt sacrifice of Dinosaur BBQ to the Ooga Booga Man Upstairs to overcome Magical RPI Bullsh*t on Saterday.

[unionpalooza]

So, this is a bit of an overshare, but here we go.

Long story short, I'm dealing with some extremely difficult personal challenges. I thought I'd be able to compartmentalize my emotions in this regard, but it's very obvious I cannot.

This is, of course, not an excuse. It is the reason, however, for the tone in my recent posts, as well as their combative nature. Which is not what this board, or its members, deserve. So I'm going to take some time away from...all this...in order to get myself in a better state. That will likely not be until next season, at the earliest.

But, I do apologize, publicly and honestly, to all the people I've mistreated on the boards, and in the comment section, the last few weeks.

Unionpalooza, UfanBill, Bartman, Pat Coleman, and Ice Bear: I'm sorry for the way I've spoken to all of you. None of you did anything to deserve any of my comments, karma snipes, pretty much everything. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the season, and wish your teams the best of luck.

Take care and be well, all.

Zero worries man - I don't think anyone here takes things on the board too seriously, nor should you.  Best of luck working through things and hop to see you back here soon. 

[Jonny Utah]

NCAA TOP Leaders for Week 5

1   Rhodes
2   Susquehanna
3   Huntingdon
4   Hamline
5   Springfield
6   Muskingum
7   Wesleyan (CT)
8   Randolph-Macon
9   FDU-Florham
10   Trinity (CT)
11   Bowdoin
12   Wis.-La Crosse
13   McMurry
14   Trinity (TX)
15   Wash. & Lee
16   Wheaton (IL)
17   Marietta
18   John Carroll
19   Bethel (MN)
20   Denison
21   Wabash
22   Neb. Wesleyan
23   Kenyon
24   Thiel
25   Wis.-Whitewater

[Jonny Utah]

In other NCAA stats, Union has blocked 4 punts and 5 kicks, putting them in the top nationally in both. 

[Jonny Utah]

Damn! Ithaca didn't even lose yet this weekend and people be quitting the boards? Clearly I've misread or skimmed through the majority of posts lately. I have no idea what is going on. But sad to lose key members and contributors. Hope it's not permanent. Utah on the other hand...I haven't seen **** on TOP this season. What good does he bring without TOP? Pssshhhhh. Beat it, pal.

Ha I have to admit I am doing four things in my life right now:

1. Working
2. Coaching HS Football
3. Coaching Jonny Utah Jr. with his youth football team (I am basically on the field from 3-8pm during the week)
4. Keeping track of TOP stats for ESPN, Reuters, and the d3sports world.
5. Mackin hoes....er I mean being a good father and family man.  (Sorry the old Jonny U. came out there for a sec)

The sad part is I miss a few bomber games with Jonny U Jr. playing on Saturdays when he plays at home. 

Anyway what else did I miss here? 

[unionpalooza]

In other NCAA stats, Union has blocked 4 punts and 5 kicks, putting them in the top nationally in both.

Poppe coaches special teams himself, and that's his background - had tremendous success at Harvard in that area.  The upgrade to special teams across the board has been amazing this year, especially since that has been an Achilles heel weakness in recent years.

Union also continues to lead the nation in both total defense and scoring defense, along with a top 10 scoring offense and rushing offense.

[Ice Bear]

NCAA TOP Leaders for Week 5

1   Rhodes
2   Susquehanna
3   Huntingdon
4   Hamline
5   Springfield
6   Muskingum
7   Wesleyan (CT)
8   Randolph-Macon
9   FDU-Florham
10   Trinity (CT)
11   Bowdoin
12   Wis.-La Crosse
13   McMurry
14   Trinity (TX)
15   Wash. & Lee
16   Wheaton (IL)
17   Marietta
18   John Carroll
19   Bethel (MN)
20   Denison
21   Wabash
22   Neb. Wesleyan
23   Kenyon
24   Thiel
25   Wis.-Whitewater

I truly appreciate the time and effort you put into this Utah. I was quite perplexed by Cortland's loss to Susquehanna. I am no longer perplexed and I appreciate you presenting this valuable information that has made things so very clear. Deep down I'll admit that if I don't see Springfield on top of this list soon, I will be very disappointed (I can say with confidence that I also speak for Chris Sharpe here).

[Machiavelli]

NCAA TOP Leaders for Week 5

1   Rhodes
2   Susquehanna
3   Huntingdon
4   Hamline
5   Springfield
6   Muskingum
7   Wesleyan (CT)
8   Randolph-Macon
9   FDU-Florham
10   Trinity (CT)
11   Bowdoin
12   Wis.-La Crosse
13   McMurry
14   Trinity (TX)
15   Wash. & Lee
16   Wheaton (IL)
17   Marietta
18   John Carroll
19   Bethel (MN)
20   Denison
21   Wabash
22   Neb. Wesleyan
23   Kenyon
24   Thiel
25   Wis.-Whitewater

1. About time you contributed something worthwhile.
2. I'm perplexed how Delaware Valley isn't on this list 6 times.

That is all. Much appreciated. These TOP stats are EYE OPENING!!!

[Machiavelli]

IC7, I hope you are OK, seriously. Your insights were/are valuable . I get it, I've had a few episodes where I take things a bit too personally/seriously, but that has mostly been with with old Union posters , years back. Ithaca is a fine college and we are lucky to have it in the LL( Ouch that really hurt to be serious and admit that).We only have a few contributors and I hope you will reconsider if you so choose. Heck, Mach has been on his best behavior and he was just warming up for some spicy Ithaca Bombers comments  . Cheers and hope to see you back

No idea which old Union poster(s) you are referencing... Please elaborate...


(Please don't)

[Machiavelli]

Damn! Ithaca didn't even lose yet this weekend and people be quitting the boards? Clearly I've misread or skimmed through the majority of posts lately. I have no idea what is going on. But sad to lose key members and contributors. Hope it's not permanent. Utah on the other hand...I haven't seen **** on TOP this season. What good does he bring without TOP? Pssshhhhh. Beat it, pal.

Ha I have to admit I am doing four things in my life right now:

1. Working
2. Coaching HS Football
3. Coaching Jonny Utah Jr. with his youth football team (I am basically on the field from 3-8pm during the week)
4. Keeping track of TOP stats for ESPN, Reuters, and the d3sports world.
5. Mackin hoes....er I mean being a good father and family man.  (Sorry the old Jonny U. came out there for a sec)

The sad part is I miss a few bomber games with Jonny U Jr. playing on Saturdays when he plays at home. 

Anyway what else did I miss here?

I wish you didn't strike through Mackin' Hoes. That is the only valid excuse here.

And you haven't missed much.

[Jonny Utah]

In other NCAA stats, Union has blocked 4 punts and 5 kicks, putting them in the top nationally in both.

Poppe coaches special teams himself, and that's his background - had tremendous success at Harvard in that area.  The upgrade to special teams across the board has been amazing this year, especially since that has been an Achilles heel weakness in recent years.

Union also continues to lead the nation in both total defense and scoring defense, along with a top 10 scoring offense and rushing offense.

So Harvard has their Spring practices at 6am during the Spring season.  Their practices are open and I was able to get up close on the field a few times luckily enough as a buddy of mine coaches there.  Their special teams periods were always great to watch because every coach and every player (quarterbacks included) would be involved in some facet of the special teams period.  The OC and QB coach would be coaching FG blocks or Punt return blocking, while Poppe (ST coach) had his own group.  I always learned a lot from these special teams periods that Harvard would run (Poppe being in charge as well).

[UfanBill]

In other NCAA stats, Union has blocked 4 punts and 5 kicks, putting them in the top nationally in both.

Poppe coaches special teams himself, and that's his background - had tremendous success at Harvard in that area.  The upgrade to special teams across the board has been amazing this year, especially since that has been an Achilles heel weakness in recent years.

Union also continues to lead the nation in both total defense and scoring defense, along with a top 10 scoring offense and rushing offense.

So Harvard has their Spring practices at 6am during the Spring season.  Their practices are open and I was able to get up close on the field a few times luckily enough as a buddy of mine coaches there.  Their special teams periods were always great to watch because every coach and every player (quarterbacks included) would be involved in some facet of the special teams period.  The OC and QB coach would be coaching FG blocks or Punt return blocking, while Poppe (ST coach) had his own group.  I always learned a lot from these special teams periods that Harvard would run (Poppe being in charge as well)

I have not been there to witness it but apparently coach Poppe still has a 6 am practice on Tuesdays with his Union Garnet. Not sure if it's strictly special teams but that would figure.

[Jonny Utah]

Ice Bear and Mach,

Simple copy and paste for the d3 TOP rankings, but I'll dive a little deeper with some d1 stuff. 

So here is the AP top 25 rankings for specific teams, and their TOP ranking (of of 131 FBS teams)  The AP ranking is on the Left and the TOP ranking on the right.  (These are the only teams in the AP top 25 who are in the top 25 or bottom 25 of TOP in the country)

AP Rank   Team   TOP Rank
1        Georgia   25
2        Michigan   16
4        Ohio St.   111
6        Penn St.   1
9        USC           114
16        Ole Miss   125
20        Kentucky   107
22        Tenn           129
24        Fresno St.   10


So I found this interesting.  Still early in the season I guess, with some blowouts against some FCS competition, but it still strikes me as a strange stat.  Some of the top teams in the country dominate in TOP, while other top teams lag at the bottom.  Make it make sense.  I'm thinking the no huddle impacts this?  Spread offenses?  Running games?  4th quarter drives stalling the clock?  Either way we need to keep this TOP analysis going.