FB: Liberty League

[Frank Rossi]

The East Regional Rankings seem to show the belief that the LL is way down in '09.

The entire rankings seem to show that this year's Committee is basing everything on pure numbers.  It's not a subjective belief system at work.  We had an in-depth conversation about this earlier today, and this was pretty much the only conclusion that could be drawn.  Note that all In-Region W/L records are in order.  And then note that short of a direct head-to-head comparison, OW% is the next sorting device.  If the Committee looked at the OOW%, they would get a wake-up call regarding their ordering of some teams (i.e., Curry and Maine Maritime ahead of Union).

[EDIT: When I say "in order," I mean from a loss perspective.  Out-of-region games are being ignored to this point.]

[redswarm81]

I was kind of surprised but Pat went through rough details on in the HuddLLe and a home game costs nearly as much or more than a road game and there are next to no revenues in Geneva (parents, students and former alums don't pay-at least I don't), which comprises 90+% of the attendance at Hobart home games.  Don't recall all the details but field maintenance, security, staffing, etc. 

Former alums?

Because no matter when they play whom, 32 teams get a crack at winning the National Championship.  Are the best 4 teams ALWAYS in the the final 4?  No.  Are the best 2 teams ALWAYS in the final 2?  No.  Does the best team usually win?  Yes.

Why is 32 teams, cramming meaningful games in over a couple of weeks at the end of the season better than the FBS system where they play meaningful games throughout the season?

And, more importantly, does the best team have an opportunity to play for the title?

In D-III this is undoubtedly the case. In the BCS ... well, you know the rest.

Why is that "undoubtedly" the case?  If the NCAA and the schools won't spring for inter-regional competition, how do we know?  How is that any more exact than the BCS?

Because the BCS is an equation and a theory.  Truth is, 4-6 teams were qualified to play in the National Championship in D1 last year.  2 got the chance.  It looks like things might be similar this year.

JQV raises some good points, but there might be issues that are even more basic.  Football cannot be played more often than once a week--it's just too physically demanding, the risk of injury would be too high.  Thus, a single elimination tournament of 32 teams requires 5 weeks--more than "a couple of weeks."  But over the course of 5 weeks, all teams change.  By the end of a 5 week tournament, a football team might be very different than it was at the start of the season, for better or for worse.

Occasionally, someone might ask "it's college athletics--why do we need a national champion?"

[dewcrew88]

The Around the Region column is up, a good story on Susquehanna maybe taking the LL title in its last year with the league. 

(I can't not take a chance to pimp my work -- ever.)

[Frank Rossi]

The Around the Region column is up, a good story on Susquehanna maybe taking the LL title in its last year with the league. 

(I can't not take a chance to pimp my work -- ever.)

And who suggested a big Mike Toop interview... COUGH... COUGH... :-)

[redswarm81]

The East Regional Rankings seem to show the belief that the LL is way down in '09.

The entire rankings seem to show that this year's Committee is basing everything on pure numbers.  It's not a subjective belief system at work.  We had an in-depth conversation about this earlier today, and this was pretty much the only conclusion that could be drawn.  Note that all In-Region W/L records are in order.  And then note that short of a direct head-to-head comparison, OW% is the next sorting device.  If the Committee looked at the OOW%, they would get a wake-up call regarding their ordering of some teams (i.e., Curry and Maine Maritime ahead of Union).

The NCAA Seeding Criteria demand that everything be based on pure numbers.  There is no subjectivity permitted in seeding and/or selecting, as near as I can tell.

I've never understood how OWP and OOWP ought to be used relative to winning percentage.  Logically, winning percentage HAS to be considered ahead of OWP/OOWP, since an 0-10 team would have a .900 OWP if it lost to ten teams with 9-1 records.  Despite this fact, the Ratings Performance Index used by the NCAA basketball Selection Committee places more weight on OWP/OOWP than it places on winning percentage.  (D1 basketball teams play a lot more OoC games than DIII football teams play, so the illogic might be mitigated in that case)

[redswarm81]

The Around the Region column is up, a good story on Susquehanna maybe taking the LL title in its last year with the league. 

(I can't not take a chance to pimp my work -- ever.)

And who suggested a big Mike Toop interview... COUGH... COUGH... :-)

Wasn't it Mike Toop who gave a GREAT interview on an early "In the HuddLLe?"

[Frank Rossi]

The Around the Region column is up, a good story on Susquehanna maybe taking the LL title in its last year with the league.  

(I can't not take a chance to pimp my work -- ever.)

And who suggested a big Mike Toop interview... COUGH... COUGH... :-)

Wasn't it Mike Toop who gave a GREAT interview on an early "In the HuddLLe?"

Both in 2008 and 2009, indeed.

[dewcrew88]

The Around the Region column is up, a good story on Susquehanna maybe taking the LL title in its last year with the league. 

(I can't not take a chance to pimp my work -- ever.)

And who suggested a big Mike Toop interview... COUGH... COUGH... :-)

I believe that was one Frank Rossi, Esq. Thanks for the help.

[bman]

Susquehanna?

Oh how the LL has fallen...

[Frank Rossi]

Susquehanna?

Oh how the LL has fallen...

Please go get a history lesson concerning the past and present teams of Susquehanna, and then post your negativity.  Susquehanna has a richer history of success then most teams, and its recruiting base is extremely good.  There were 124 players in camp this year -- most of any LL team.

[pumkinattack]

Susquehanna?

Oh how the LL has fallen...

http://hwsathletics.com/custompages/Hobart%20Football/2008/20081122.htm

[JQV]

JQV raises some good points, but there might be issues that are even more basic.  Football cannot be played more often than once a week--it's just too physically demanding, the risk of injury would be too high.  Thus, a single elimination tournament of 32 teams requires 5 weeks--more than "a couple of weeks."  But over the course of 5 weeks, all teams change.  By the end of a 5 week tournament, a football team might be very different than it was at the start of the season, for better or for worse.

Occasionally, someone might ask "it's college athletics--why do we need a national champion?"

Good point RS.  You actually crystallized what I was pointing towards but clearly did not say.

The argument that seeds don't matter because "eventually you are going to have to beat ____ anyway" is a red herring.  In fact, it is disproven by the committee that creates the tournament because they seed it.  If seeds didn't matter, then we could just have a regional tournament and not worry about moving around 1 seeds to make sure everyone that deserves a 1 seed gets one.

[AUPepBand]

Susquehanna?

Oh how the LL has fallen...

Please go get a history lesson concerning the past and present teams of Susquehanna, and then post your negativity.  Susquehanna has a richer history of success then most teams, and its recruiting base is extremely good.  There were 124 players in camp this year -- most of any LL team.

1963: Susquehanna 68, Alfred 0
1964: Alfred 18, Susquehanna 16

Susquehanna made it in Alfred's football history.....
http://www.herrick.alfred.edu/special/archives/stud_life/football.cfm

[JT]

JT is happy but tired and hurtin' puppy.  Two straight nights of partying on school nights. Couldn't bag work either yesterday or today.  Supposed to go to a charity function at BB King's in the city tonight, but there's no way.  The donation has already been ponied up by JT... he's going home at the end of the day and going to bed. Going to be much fresher for the ticker tape parade tomorrow.

[lewdogg11]

JT is happy but tired and hurtin' puppy.  Two straight nights of partying on school nights. Couldn't bag work either yesterday or today.  Supposed to go to a charity function at BB King's in the city tonight, but there's no way.  The donation has already been ponied up by JT... he's going home at the end of the day and going to bed. Going to be much fresher for the ticker tape parade tomorrow.

Sorry JT -K