FB: Liberty League

[dlippiel]

New column is up!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/east/2009/Parity+has+already+hit+some+contenders

Thanks for picking against Union again.....here's to you being 0 'fer 2 in those prognostications.

Yup

[redswarm81]

Isn't that what parity is all about? I think I did pretty good getting many teams involved.

Frank, if you stopped reading Around the East after the 2d Utica mention, you missed the best part:

Predictions are back!

I wish there were a better word than parity for what I think you described pretty well, DC--a lot of East teams are comparably competitive, and will likely wind up beating the snot out of each other in the regular season.  I need to get out a map and figure out where these Albright, Wilkes, Lebanon Valley and Delaware Valley types are.

I should mention this on the ATE board, but I though you did a really good job of talking about a wide range of teams, and not just what they've done, but what lies ahead--such as Hobart having 5 of its 6 remaining games against teams with winning records.

Should be a wild ride.

[pumkinattack]

I think Frank's got a valid point.  JT was also a little (dirty) NJAC centric too, in fairness, but I generally check the midatlantic and one or two others and there is much more blinders on here.  I think Dew's a good dood, and have no doubt this is on a subconscious level, but it's fair to point out in general.  I can recall in prior years Utica games being listed as a game to watch when, in reality (and this is meant with the utmost respect) there hasn't been a Utica game that's really relevant yet.  They simply haven't competed for the E8 or East region relevance yet, so having them regularly discussed is a bit of overkill.  They may in the future and a story here or there about a scare, near upset or something, but there's still nothing to suggest that Utica will come in above 4th place in the E8 this year (while they may be better this year, that was my point with respect to the RPI game, it's not one to tout, but the WPI win was a better win). 

RS,  This may be the hater in me coming out because Bart is looking likely to not get back to the NCAA's for a sixth straight year (I'm just hoping for a winning record), but I feel like the parity isn't because all the teams are improved, but rather that all have similar levels of deficiencies.  Be it injuries, too many new guy starting, or just geneal positional weakness, I don't see a team that could beat any of the top 7 - 10 teams in the country right now (obviously the top 2-3 are in their own class).  That being said, I give more lip service to the MAC and (to a lesser extent) the NJAC than I really know about them.  If Del Valley wins the MAC, that may prove the point since we have the Wesley game (A very fine team) as maybe the toughest out of conference game (sans SJF's beatdown from MUC).

['gro]

It's safe to say that the core of the LL: RPI, Union, Hobart, Rochester, and St. Lawrence (the old UCAA) is basically an ongoing rivalry.

100%. 

Bart has played these guys 52, 92, 101 and 81 times, respectively; so yeah, ongoing is pretty much right on.

RPI games played vs.

Union - 106
WPI - 103
Rochester - 67
St. Lawrence - 54
Hobart - 52

unfortunetly Coast Guard didn't want to hang in the LL (they are better off in the NEFC) RPI has played them over 60 times.

[PBR...]

Isn't that what parity is all about? I think I did pretty good getting many teams involved.

Frank, if you stopped reading Around the East after the 2d Utica mention, you missed the best part:

Predictions are back!

I wish there were a better word than parity for what I think you described pretty well, DC--a lot of East teams are comparably competitive, and will likely wind up beating the snot out of each other in the regular season.  I need to get out a map and figure out where these Albright, Wilkes, Lebanon Valley and Delaware Valley types are.

I should mention this on the ATE board, but I though you did a really good job of talking about a wide range of teams, and not just what they've done, but what lies ahead--such as Hobart having 5 of its 6 remaining games against teams with winning records.

Should be a wild ride.

2 are close to pbr's crib...other 2 are a little bit of a drive (especially leb val)...if your going to make it down to DVC or Albright ever let pbr know will meet up for some cold sudsy beverages...

[TheGrove]

New column is up!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/east/2009/Parity+has+already+hit+some+contenders

I like the Susquehanna love. 

[AUPepBand]

New column is up!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/east/2009/Parity+has+already+hit+some+contenders

I like the Susquehanna love. 

Pep likes the Crusaders' digs. Pep took a 3-hour drive in the rain to see his Saxons scrimmage Susquehanna on August 28. Rain ceased in time for kickoff, picked up again after the game and the 3-hour trip back to Mayberry. The dome over Nicholas Lopardo Stadium wasn't even visible. Nice!

Seriously....Pep would like to see something similar built for Merrill Field. Perhaps AU would get some financial backing (from multiple sources) for a new grandstand/facelift at Merrill Field were they to rename it Yunevich Stadium. Just a thought.

[Doid23]

Prior to 2003, the last night game in which Union participated was in 1994 at SUNY-Albany.

dlip used to love back in the day when U used to annually take out Albany ST. He actually thinks he may have detested Albany (at the time) more that RPI (Albany was much more competitive during those years than RPI) which may be hard to believe. dlip will never forget or forgive the Danes for running up the score against Union in their last meeting. Sporting a D1/2 size roster in November of 1997 Albany 54 Union 0. Ford was classless running up the score and passing all over the Dutch to their 8 foot TE. dlip never walked away from a Union game so pissed in his life. If Bob Ford was in front of him after that game that stupid hat he wears would have been properly placed! As dlip recalls Albany starters never left the field. All kidding aside that was a rivalry to remember.

Dlip, No doubt, Union-Albany was a ridiculously intense rivalry. Most of the games were night games, and some pretty intense crowds. The fact that many of the Union Coaches (Bagnoli, Audino, Priore, Toop, Fogerty, etc.) coached at Albany before coming to Union in the early 80's (turning the program around), it basically took it to a whole new level.  Add onto that the state school-private school factor, the fact that a lot of the kids played against each other (or on the same team) in high school, proximity, etc, and it was a perfect brew for a rivalry. I agree with Frank, Bob Ford was as classy as they come, but had started to become "Bobby Bowden" by the late 90's, but still a bitter pill when I heard about them running up the score. Too much mutual respect for that to ever happen in the '80's.

As for RPI-Union, The Shoes Game was basically a non event, just wasn't competitive. I remember when I was coaching, was scouting another game so missed the game (1987 or 1988), and called in to find out that Union had lost to RPI, was absolutely stunned, couldn't even comprehend that it was a possibility. Obviously a lot has changed, and very glad to see over the past twenty years that it has regained it's relevance, especially given the history.

Doid is wise......Doid is also very old, is very hairy and has a giant head, but.....

Doid is wise...........

All true, very old, hairy (well, in certain areas), and a giant head. As to the head, I wonder who got my enormous size 8 helmet when I left UColl.....hmmm, who could that be...thinking, thinking...oh, I remember, that would be the one and only U89.

Stuart Mackenzie: Look at the size of that boy's heed.
Tony Giardino: Shhh!
Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick.
Tony Giardino: Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex.
Stuart Mackenzie: Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.
Tony Giardino: Shh!
Stuart Mackenzie: Has it's own weather system.
Tony Giardino: Sh, sh, shh.
Stuart Mackenzie: HEAD! MOVE!

Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offside, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.

[maxpower]

Max needs FF advice....

Should he start his traditionally strong PIT defense against his own QB Philip Rivers and RB Darren Sproles? OR Should he start his upstart-strong New Orleans defense against Mark Sanchez and the Jets?

[labart96]

unfortunetly Coast Guard didn't want to hang in the LL (they are better off in the NEFC) RPI has played them over 60 times.

Coast Guard?

Sorry, TGP couldn't resist.

[TheGrove]

New column is up!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/east/2009/Parity+has+already+hit+some+contenders

I like the Susquehanna love. 

Pep likes the Crusaders' digs. Pep took a 3-hour drive in the rain to see his Saxons scrimmage Susquehanna on August 28. Rain ceased in time for kickoff, picked up again after the game and the 3-hour trip back to Mayberry. The dome over Nicholas Lopardo Stadium wasn't even visible. Nice!

Can I convince you to come back for a few more games? 'Cause last week the rain was miserable.

[AUPepBand]

New column is up!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/east/2009/Parity+has+already+hit+some+contenders

I like the Susquehanna love.  

Pep likes the Crusaders' digs. Pep took a 3-hour drive in the rain to see his Saxons scrimmage Susquehanna on August 28. Rain ceased in time for kickoff, picked up again after the game and the 3-hour trip back to Mayberry. The dome over Nicholas Lopardo Stadium wasn't even visible. Nice!

Can I convince you to come back for a few more games? 'Cause last week the rain was miserable.

Pep has openings on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17....got games?

[TheGrove]

Pep has openings on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17....got games?

Yup, Oct. 17 vs. RPI. Saturday we're at USMMA. If the dome follows you wherever you go, perhaps you could come out to King's Point? Forecast is for scattered thunderstorms. 

[dewcrew88]

I think Frank's got a valid point.  JT was also a little (dirty) NJAC centric too, in fairness, but I generally check the midatlantic and one or two others and there is much more blinders on here.  I think Dew's a good dood, and have no doubt this is on a subconscious level, but it's fair to point out in general.  I can recall in prior years Utica games being listed as a game to watch when, in reality (and this is meant with the utmost respect) there hasn't been a Utica game that's really relevant yet.  They simply haven't competed for the E8 or East region relevance yet, so having them regularly discussed is a bit of overkill.  They may in the future and a story here or there about a scare, near upset or something, but there's still nothing to suggest that Utica will come in above 4th place in the E8 this year (while they may be better this year, that was my point with respect to the RPI game, it's not one to tout, but the WPI win was a better win). 

RS,  This may be the hater in me coming out because Bart is looking likely to not get back to the NCAA's for a sixth straight year (I'm just hoping for a winning record), but I feel like the parity isn't because all the teams are improved, but rather that all have similar levels of deficiencies.  Be it injuries, too many new guy starting, or just geneal positional weakness, I don't see a team that could beat any of the top 7 - 10 teams in the country right now (obviously the top 2-3 are in their own class).  That being said, I give more lip service to the MAC and (to a lesser extent) the NJAC than I really know about them.  If Del Valley wins the MAC, that may prove the point since we have the Wesley game (A very fine team) as maybe the toughest out of conference game (sans SJF's beatdown from MUC).

i will admit to being a little homerish, but i'm pretty good about letting people know when i do it. And I think I have a pretty fair column overall... I don't think the Guru would let me do it if I was over the top ridiculous about it.

[PBR...]

great article on a player at wvu....

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09274/1002202-144.stm