FB: Liberty League

[stimulator]

Wow PA you and I do have something in common...  Huge UT fan since way back in the Condredge Holloway days.

Have bunch of relatives down Gro's way... and what I am hearing is that althought they were sick of Fulmer, they aren't quite yet sure what to make of Kiffin.  They do not have a QB or an SEC QB and need to sign one badly for '10.

Can't see them being very strong next year.  Although Kiffin is supposed to be a great recruiter, Stim figures that the alumni will give him three years max.

Per the Hobart discussion, I do expect them to be strong I know they have some players to reload and the Stim is worried about Utica!

[labart96]

TGP knows Stims heart is in the right place, but..... 

In 08 RPI had the #1 offense in the league (and btw were ranked #17 at the time - meaning Bart was the on-the-road underdog) and Hobart's D gave up an avg of nearly 300 yds a game last year.

Hobart was not a good rushing offense either (only avg about 115 yds per game - Bart really hasn't been a good running team since Blakowski left but TGP harbors hopes the Marlier might come into his own in 09 given how he played in the play-offs against very good defenses). 

Bart makes it's living offensively on the pass, so holding Bart to 47 yards rushing on a wet upstate NY field in late Nov isn't a great feat IMO.  Not to mention our FY back-up won the game over the SR RPI all-everything QB.

Ok so TGP took the bait.  Sorry.  Will crawl back into my cave.

[labart96]

On a separate note.  I'm a Tenn (Vols) fan for DI football.  I'm completely disgusted by this clown, Kiffin, whom they've hired.  I just moved to Atlanta and my father-in-law is a huge Georgia Tech alum and booster (with very good seats).  Should I throw my loyalties out the window to Knoxville and get on board with the Jackets or stick with my boys?  If I go the GT route, should it just be for the tenure (assumed to be no more than two seasons) of this clownshoe or go whole hog on the anti-bulldog engineers?

TGP attended USC for grad school during 02-04 and can attest it was by riding Chow's coat-tails (and play book) that got Kiffin the UT job.  With Kiff as OC, USC lost a bunch of Pac-10 games against weaker teams that ultimately killed their NC hopes (and left us SC fans watching lame Rose Bowl games against out-matched Big 10 squads instead of being in a bowl against a SEC team, but oh well) - mostly due to bad play calling by, guess who, LK. 

The guy can recruit, but TGP would be surprised if he's still at UT in more than 3 yrs.

[PBR...]

On a separate note.  I'm a Tenn (Vols) fan for DI football.  I'm completely disgusted by this clown, Kiffin, whom they've hired.  I just moved to Atlanta and my father-in-law is a huge Georgia Tech alum and booster (with very good seats).  Should I throw my loyalties out the window to Knoxville and get on board with the Jackets or stick with my boys?  If I go the GT route, should it just be for the tenure (assumed to be no more than two seasons) of this clownshoe or go whole hog on the anti-bulldog engineers?

TGP attended USC for grad school during 02-04 and can attest it was by riding Chow's coat-tails (and play book) that got Kiffin the UT job.  With Kiff as OC, USC lost a bunch of Pac-10 games against weaker teams that ultimately killed their NC hopes (and left us SC fans watching lame Rose Bowl games against out-matched Big 10 squads instead of being in a bowl against a SEC team, but oh well) - mostly due to bad play calling by, guess who, LK. 

The guy can recruit, but TGP would be surprised if he's still at UT in more than 3 yrs.

well when u pay players of course your going to beat most teams....

[pumkinattack]

The guy is such an egomaniac there are billboards around Atlanta for the upcoming UT season featruing Eric Berry (makes sense) and Kiffin.  A guy who made Al Davis look good is the feature?  I know UT isn't stocked, but put up Hardesty, Denarious Morre or somebody from the offense.  I'd rather struggle with Fulmer (thank you Freidgen and Mangino for making Fullmer not look like a complete slob) than go through what I think I'm about to go through with this guy.  

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

TGP attended USC for grad school during 02-04 and can attest it was by riding Chow's coat-tails (and play book) that got Kiffin the UT job.  With Kiff as OC, USC lost a bunch of Pac-10 games against weaker teams that ultimately killed their NC hopes (and left us SC fans watching lame Rose Bowl games against out-matched Big 10 squads instead of being in a bowl against a SEC team, but oh well) - mostly due to bad play calling by, guess who, LK. 

Lost a bunch of Pac-10 Games?

2002:  12-2  and lost to Kansas State and Washington State.  OC = Norm Chow
2003:  12-1  and lost to Cal.  OC = Norm Chow
2004:  13-0  National Champs  OC = Norm Chow
2005:  12-1  and lost to Texas in BCS Championship Game.  OC = Kiffin/Sarkisian
2006:  11-2  and lost to Oregeon St. and UCLA.  OC = Kiffin/Sarkisian

Looks like Norm Chow lost as many games as Kiffin/Sarkisian.  Now I am not defending Kiffin because I think he has made himself look like a JackA55 since coming to UT, but I don't see three losses as a "Bunch of Games" and I am a MUC fan (LOL).

I actually thought Al Davis was the villin when he fired Kiffin, but am now thinking that Davis was right.  I can't wait for the SEC to put the beat down on UT this year.

[pumkinattack]

Hey JU,

  I think you might get a buying dip today if you are so inclined. 

[PBR...]

The guy is such an egomaniac there are billboards around Atlanta for the upcoming UT season featruing Eric Berry (makes sense) and Kiffin.  A guy who made Al Davis look good is the feature?  I know UT isn't stocked, but put up Hardesty, Denarious Morre or somebody from the offense.  I'd rather struggle with Fulmer (thank you Freidgen and Mangino for making Fullmer not look like a complete slob) than go through what I think I'm about to go through with this guy.  

ahhhh not so fast...the fridge has lost almost 100 pounds he and eagles head coach andy reid are in a competition working w/ a diet food company and both of them have lost huge amounts of weight. granted both will always be big guys in general but both are looking much healthier this season and want both want to lose a lot more weight.

['gro]

Enough about the preseason polls.  RPI lost to MM, which is inexcusable, especially when hoping for pre-season votes the following year.  Hobart is putting a winning product on the field year in and year out, and they deserve any pre-season recognition that they get.

RPI will be listed on the Upstate poll and if they can manage to win the games they should, and win the few other tough games, they will get some votes in the big boy poll(yes I said big boy poll, and I didn't mean Gro's big boy poll) if/when the time is right.

Stop losing to St. Lawrence, Rochester, Utica and MM, and we can talk preseason rankings.

Word.

[stimulator]

TGP knows Stims heart is in the right place, but..... 

In 08 RPI had the #1 offense in the league (and btw were ranked #17 at the time - meaning Bart was the on-the-road underdog) and Hobart's D gave up an avg of nearly 300 yds a game last year.

Hobart was not a good rushing offense either (only avg about 115 yds per game - Bart really hasn't been a good running team since Blakowski left but TGP harbors hopes the Marlier might come into his own in 09 given how he played in the play-offs against very good defenses). 

Bart makes it's living offensively on the pass, so holding Bart to 47 yards rushing on a wet upstate NY field in late Nov isn't a great feat IMO.  Not to mention our FY back-up won the game over the SR RPI all-everything QB.

Ok so TGP took the bait.  Sorry.  Will crawl back into my cave.

OK last shot by the Stim ....promise..

Robertson by his own admission (and everyone who watched!) was horrible in that game. 

Yes Hobart was not a grind it out team.  However they had 40 or so total yards of offense and negative rushing yards at the half.  They ended up with 47 yards on 28 carries.  Not sure what you would consider "great feat"  - holding them to 20 rushing yards?   

In fact that number could have been really ugly if Vella had not come into the game and added 43 yards on scrambles and designed rushes late in the game.  Remember the biggest "offensive" play by Hobart was a 32 yd blocked FG returned for a TD. Marlier was 9 carries for a net 7 yards. .  I think they still had negative yards rushing until Vella came in. in the 4th.  RPI certainly was not a rushing team either (they threw it one less time than Hobart and had two more rushes) but RPI somehow managed 150 yards rushing on a "wet upstate NY field". 

Bottom line.. Hobart won.  Robertson had his worst game, Vella provided a spark, Hobart could not run the ball at all and the Stim will not offer any further comments on what was or might have been.. again Hobart did what it had to do.

I will be interested to see how they "reload" up the middle on D losing Hager, Sanders, and Aruck.    Hager and Aruck were exceptional.  In fact the Stim thinks they may miss Aruck more than Hager.

Given the last two games RPI has played RPI winning with 12 seconds left in '07 and Hobart winning as time expired last year, they have been two of the most gut wrenching games I have watched in person.  Can't wait for the next installment.  Hope it means something for both of them.

[PBR...]

pbr senses it in the air and can feel it...(no not a air biscuit)...the d3boards are slowly waking up and football is starting to make its appearance again....the last closing arguements about last season, and hopes abound for the new upcoming season. pro camps are open which means college camps are close behind and the anticipation is starting to build...such a great time of year

[dlippiel]

On a separate note.  I'm a Tenn (Vols) fan for DI football.  I'm completely disgusted by this clown, Kiffin, whom they've hired.  I just moved to Atlanta and my father-in-law is a huge Georgia Tech alum and booster (with very good seats).  Should I throw my loyalties out the window to Knoxville and get on board with the Jackets or stick with my boys?  If I go the GT route, should it just be for the tenure (assumed to be no more than two seasons) of this clownshoe or go whole hog on the anti-bulldog engineers?

dlippiel was recently turned onto Navy as a result of Paul Johnsons Triple Option (which for some reason dlippiel has been obsessed with since watching Chris Sharpe at Springfield). Now that Johnson is at GT you have got ****ing stallions running this offense, which to dlippiel is very exciting. Last season watching GT battle and defeat Georgia really has dlippiel rooting for the Yellow Jackets. dlippiel says give GT a chance he thinks you won't regret. Kiffin seems quite wild and dlippiel does not know what to expect from the Vols in 09'. dlippiel feels that many vols fans may be torn, he just thinks that it is important to either be on board or off board pre 09 campaign. No one wants to be the guy who says **** the Vols because of Kiffin but then when they are 7-0 mid season jump on board, ya know? Tough call pa

[stimulator]

Sorry meant blocked punt above.

Yeah FB around the corner.. Can't wait.  

Was going to "scout" the Endicott season opener but have been mandated to attend wedding by Ms. Stim.  Wondering if I should suggest I make an offer to meeting her at the reception so I could watch the first half?

After 29 years of marriage I pretty sure I know the answer to that potential question!  

[pumkinattack]

dlippiel was recently turned onto Navy as a result of Paul Johnsons Triple Option (which for some reason dlippiel has been obsessed with since watching Chris Sharpe at Springfield). Now that Johnson is at GT you have got ****ing stallions running this offense, which to dlippiel is very exciting. Last season watching GT battle and defeat Georgia really has dlippiel rooting for the Yellow Jackets. dlippiel says give GT a chance he thinks you won't regret. Kiffin seems quite wild and dlippiel does not know what to expect from the Vols in 09'. dlippiel feels that many vols fans may be torn, he just thinks that it is important to either be on board or off board pre 09 campaign. No one wants to be the guy who says **** the Vols because of Kiffin but then when they are 7-0 mid season jump on board, ya know? Tough call pa

I'm thinking splitting the baby and rooting for them while publicly expressing dismay with the coach (he has to win an SEC title to change my mind about him - not this year necessarily) until he changes my mind about him.

My in-laws nearly missed their flight out of NYC last year bc my father-in-law wouldn't leave our place until the end of that GT-UGA game.  Four years of watching reggie ball had left him believing they would never beat UGA again.  GT should be pretty good this year and they have one stud WR to go with the RB's, but I just don't know how they'll respond to the bowl game vs. LSU.  I'll go to a couple of games (they didn't get me season tickets bc they thought too many games would interfere with the Bart game webcasts, but can scratch up tickets anytime), but I also prefer SEC to ACC in football.

Stim, Aruck is a huge loss (the single biggest IMO), however, that position isn't necessarily a playmaker in Bart's system.  That guy just needs to clog the middle.  Nate Milne moved over from OL his FR year to DT and was as effective, not to mention Rich Barlette.  The LB's were good, but one is alrady replaced and there was depth there to begin with.  The running game sucked all year, but I still think it was by and large the playcalling.  I watched Marlier look good in a couple of games, but he needs at least 15 carriers, he get sstronger with work.  DeWall would get gunshy and go away from the run completely early and often.  I think having Strom two years ago was a mixed blessing because he's completely fallen in love with a more wide open offense.  Hopefully it'll be a little more balanced this year than the last two, but having four strong receivers return will make it tempting to air it out again.

[PBR...]

Sorry meant blocked punt above.

Yeah FB around the corner.. Can't wait.  

Was going to "scout" the Endicott season opener but have been mandated to attend wedding by Ms. Stim.  Wondering if I should suggest I make an offer to meeting her at the reception so I could watch the first half?

After 29 years of marriage I pretty sure I know the answer to that potential question!  

your in violation of LLPP rule# 1, 398 .....NEVER set a wedding date in the fall or allow friends or family to set wedding dates in the fall.  If they do attendance will be optional. Any violation of this rule will result in cancellation of your LLPP card.