FB: Liberty League

[IC798891]

I think any non-fluke Cortland talk will star next year.

I've argued in other places with NCC supporters, but I truly believe he's the best QB in the country. It'll be interesting to see what Cortland does when they don't have a 1 of 1 at the most important position in football

[wally_wabash]

I think any non-fluke Cortland talk will star next year.

I've argued in other places with NCC supporters, but I truly believe he's the best QB in the country. It'll be interesting to see what Cortland does when they don't have a 1 of 1 at the most important position in football

They're both phenomenal.  They play different styles which makes them hard to compare.  I get backing your guy, but any non-partisan should be able to watch those two guys ball out and just enjoy their brilliance. 

[IC798891]

Well, Boyes is literally the exact opposite of my guy, so...

But yes, both are great. My point remains, is Cortland a very good program turned champion by one of the best QBs in D3 history, or is this the start of something bigger?

[UfanBill]

Week #11 picks...after a 3-0 week I'm 35-9...Thank U

Ithaca 34 - Cortland 31 in OT...No particular reason but I'll go there.

Buffalo St. 17 - St. Lawrence 10...the Saints struggle to score again.

Hobart 27 - Rochester 16...Statesmen just have more of everything.

Union 31 - RPI 30...Patch throws it 40 times. Garnet D does just enough. 

[XREDDRAGON77]

In response to IC...
Good question about Cortland! Boyes is about as good as they get at this level! RPOs, zone reads, 3/5 step type passing, and as a straight up RB...he gets it done and makes the offensive tick! He's had weapons all around him, and a scheme that's difficult to stop. Last year was an enigmatic group!

This year his receiving crew may have taken a step down, but are getting it done! Compared to most other programs, they are still a cut above! A sophomore RB stepped in and seamlessly replaced an All American! Is there talent, yes...does Zack B bring out the best in them? Probably! Maybe it's symbiotic and they just compliment each other due to the programs culture?

I guess we will have a better idea next fall, as Zack has remained the lone constant these past few years.

Before Boyes, Brees Segala ran a Cortland offense that was pretty sharp! That was Fitzpatricks first year as HC and it took RPI in the 2nd round to end their undefeated season. Before him, it was a different era! Cortland has been relatively solid going back to 1988. I'd like to think the program is in great hands with Coach Fitz and his guys! He took a pretty good product and made it great!

[Jonny Utah]

There was some talk here about NYS d3 football teams and how they stack up nationally and what does the future look like.  Checking out some Cortland football stuff this week and it looks like pretty much 4/5 of their top players are from Long Island.  No secret formula there.  No Florida kids, no ISL/Prep kids from New England and no Central PA or Ohio players.  Just Strong Island kids with a few upstate players sprinkled in. 

Looks like a "if you build it they will come" situation if you ask me.  (A top QB in the nation doesn't hurt either)

[Jonny Utah]

There was some talk here about NYS d3 football teams and how they stack up nationally and what does the future look like.  Checking out some Cortland football stuff this week and it looks like pretty much 4/5 of their top players are from Long Island.  No secret formula there.  No Florida kids, no NJ kids, no ISL/Prep kids from New England and no Central PA or Ohio players.  Just Strong Island kids with a few upstate players sprinkled in. 

Looks like a "if you build it they will come" situation if you ask me.  (A top QB in the nation doesn't hurt either)

[IC798891]

There was some talk here about NYS d3 football teams and how they stack up nationally and what does the future look like.  Checking out some Cortland football stuff this week and it looks like pretty much 4/5 of their top players are from Long Island.  No secret formula there.  No Florida kids, no NJ kids, no ISL/Prep kids from New England and no Central PA or Ohio players.  Just Strong Island kids with a few upstate players sprinkled in. 

I think the biggest truth is simply academic offerings vs. cost, at least at IC.

Ithaca's truly standout areas* tend to be in majors you don't draw a lot of football players to because of the sheer time commitment : Music, PT/OT/ATC, Film and broadcasting within the Comms school.

*I'm not denigrating other programs at IC, because it's an excellent school all around. But I think if you were to just ask people what academic areas IC is most known for, you're going to get the ones I listed above.


But other schools are good too. Can you imagine the uphill battle trying to convince a kid to get a Sport Management or teaching degree at IC rather than Cortland, which has excellent programs for those careers, or trying to sell them on spending six figures on a journalism degree, given the state of the industry?

I bleed blue, but if I didn't work at IC, and my kids wanted to stay local and become teachers, I'm about to be dressed in red for 4 years

[Jonny Utah]

There was some talk here about NYS d3 football teams and how they stack up nationally and what does the future look like.  Checking out some Cortland football stuff this week and it looks like pretty much 4/5 of their top players are from Long Island.  No secret formula there.  No Florida kids, no NJ kids, no ISL/Prep kids from New England and no Central PA or Ohio players.  Just Strong Island kids with a few upstate players sprinkled in. 

I think the biggest truth is simply academic offerings vs. cost, at least at IC.

Ithaca's truly standout areas* tend to be in majors you don't draw a lot of football players to because of the sheer time commitment : Music, PT/OT/ATC, Film and broadcasting within the Comms school.

*I'm not denigrating other programs at IC, because it's an excellent school all around. But I think if you were to just ask people what academic areas IC is most known for, you're going to get the ones I listed above.


But other schools are good too. Can you imagine the uphill battle trying to convince a kid to get a Sport Management or teaching degree at IC rather than Cortland, which has excellent programs for those careers, or trying to sell them on spending six figures on a journalism degree, given the state of the industry?

I bleed blue, but if I didn't work at IC, and my kids wanted to stay local and become teachers, I'm about to be dressed in red for 4 years

All true, but Ithaca can recruit an area 2-4 times the size that Cortland can.  And many of these are wealthy areas as well. 

[JacketsPride]

Re: Paps, What I meant was a compliment that sorta came across as a criticism.

You know what his career sorta reminds me of? ICs Jamie Donovan.

As a freshman, Donovan became the starter midway through the year, and did this:

Brockport: 218
Utica: 170
Springfield: 140
Alfred: 39
Cortland: 203
UMass-Dartmouth: 165

His career numbers by year

Freshman: 1,224 yards, 6.0 YPC
Sophomore: 736 yards, 4.9 YPC
Junior: 779 yards, 5.0 YPC
Senior: 1,085 yards, 5.3 YPC

Donovan was a great, great, back. He's the program's all-time leading rusher and scorer, and he's in the IC Hall of Fame. (He's also a super nice guy) But I remember thinking in 2004 that he was going to be one of the best backs in the country. When Paps went off in 2022, I kind of had a similar thought — don't forget he threw up 172 on Ithaca that year.

It's not that he wasn't still a good back. But I thought we'd be looking at 1,500 yard seasons from him. And it just didn't materialize. Again, not really a criticism.

Fair enough...makes sense.  Appreciate the follow up.

[XREDDRAGON77]

In the early 90s when I was looking into schools, I was only looking at the schools offer what I wanted. Ithaca, Cortland, Springfield, and Brockport were a few on my list. Springfield was an immediate scratch due to the nature of education programs. Most schools gear their teaching programs to their local state's learning standards and trends. Ithaca was my first choice due to their football history! Cortland at the time was less then 10 years into their relevance! Brockport was the emergency parachute! In the end, the financial aspect drove me to Cortland. It all worked out in the end.

Ithaca may very well draw from a national landscape, but Cortland has its claws deep into NY, especially the Westchester/ LI region. Apples to oranges in that regard...but it's working as it should for a small state school. As a HS teacher, we've had many kids get excited about going to Cortland. Many even know the Cortland name as if it were a bigger school.  This isn't really so when it comes to some of the other SUNYs.

[Jonny Utah]

In the early 90s when I was looking into schools, I was only looking at the schools offer what I wanted. Ithaca, Cortland, Springfield, and Brockport were a few on my list. Springfield was an immediate scratch due to the nature of education programs. Most schools gear their teaching programs to their local state's learning standards and trends. Ithaca was my first choice due to their football history! Cortland at the time was less then 10 years into their relevance! Brockport was the emergency parachute! In the end, the financial aspect drove me to Cortland. It all worked out in the end.

Ithaca may very well draw from a national landscape, but Cortland has its claws deep into NY, especially the Westchester/ LI region. Apples to oranges in that regard...but it's working as it should for a small state school. As a HS teacher, we've had many kids get excited about going to Cortland. Many even know the Cortland name as if it were a bigger school.  This isn't really so when it comes to some of the other SUNYs.

Yea and I think getting a teaching job is much easier today than it was 25 years ago.  I would not spend 50k a year anywhere if I knew I wanted to be a teacher.

[XREDDRAGON77]

Cost benefit analysis! Spot on!

[NEd3ALUM]

I think any non-fluke Cortland talk will star next year.

I've argued in other places with NCC supporters, but I truly believe he's the best QB in the country. It'll be interesting to see what Cortland does when they don't have a 1 of 1 at the most important position in football

Boyes is good...Lehnen is better.  Cortland offense is a juggernaut, but the playoffs will reveal that it is not the same Juggernaut without the speed of Laap and Burgess on the outside.

[IC798891]

Boyes is good...Lehnen is better. 

No he isn't.

Glad to have cleared that up