FB: Liberty League

[labart96]

Fair enough. +K for the mistake (I didn't -K before). While we're on the point, don't limit it to SLU, the whole damn LL is full of mixed signals. Hell, this may be like the NFC West, we may have a LL winner with a .500 record.

At the halfway point, the LL is pretty much up for grabs.  Only Rochester at 0-2 is really on the outside looking in at this point.

So far I'd grade Hobart a "C+".  They looked great in their first two OCC games and have some kids like Webb, Worthington and Strang really jump out and I would have guessed/hoped they'd be 4-1 at this point so 3-2 isn't too far off.  Otherwise the Barts' have played pretty poorly in the last three weeks - especially on offense.  SJFC definitely beat them but the Statesmen shouldn't have lost that game by 20 pts.  The 3 TOs and field position had a big hand in that loss.  The Union game was an offensive display but once again tons of penalties and turnovers (which ultimately cost them the SLU game) killed scoring chances.  Hobart needs to convert more third downs and stop killing drives and scoring chances (e.g., a team averaging over 400+ total YPG should be able to score more than ~27 PPG) with stupid penalties.  Hobart is also 1 of 5 in FGs (see not scoring enough) which is not encouraging either.

MMA gets a "D+" for the 4 game losing streak, including the Coast Guard (NEFC) loss and Springfield beat downs, but in their defense, MMA has struggled with key injuries (e.g., Heimbrock) and probably was thought of as a fourth or fifth place team coming into the season, so this grade is probably a little harsh.

RPI I'd grade a "C-".  They are passing, but generally underperforming to date.  The offense needs to get going in order to make a run and the jury's still out on whether or not this will be the year Hermann steps up?  RPI's D has been pretty solid and should give them at least a fighting chance vs. Alfred this weekend.  The LL is due for an OCC win and the Saxons have knocked off in the past by LL teams (but probably not this year).

Rochester gets a "D-".    They could easily be 3-1, but have managed to fall short in all of their games to date and are looking more like a last place LL team rather than one some of us thought would contend for the LL title.

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

I'd give Union a similar grade as Hobart - the U is doing pretty well on defense.  Giving up yards, but making plays and scoring points on D.  Offense can be shaky at times, but as long as Coney is healthy this team will be in the hunt.  Connolly has had an off year so far but he can make plays with his feet and his receivers are smart enough to improvise and come back to the ball when needed  - more than a couple of TDs vs. Hobart last Saturday occurred in this fashion.

WPI gets a B- - they went 0 fer last season and it looks like the Bizarroneers are much improved based on the Union game and the win over RPI.  That said, the loss to MMA was kind of a surprise - especially given how well the defense was playing prior to that game.

[Doid23]

Fair enough. +K for the mistake (I didn't -K before). While we're on the point, don't limit it to SLU, the whole damn LL is full of mixed signals. Hell, this may be like the NFC West, we may have a LL winner with a .500 record.

At the halfway point, the LL is pretty much up for grabs.  Only Rochester at 0-2 is really on the outside looking in at this point.

So far I'd grade Hobart a "C+".  They looked great in their first two OCC games and have some kids like Webb, Worthington and Strang really jump out and I would have guessed/hoped they'd be 4-1 at this point so 3-2 isn't too far off.  Otherwise the Barts' have played pretty poorly in the last three weeks - especially on offense.  SJFC definitely beat them but the Statesmen shouldn't have lost that game by 20 pts.  The 3 TOs and field position had a big hand in that loss.  The Union game was an offensive display but once again tons of penalties and turnovers (which ultimately cost them the SLU game) killed scoring chances.  Hobart needs to convert more third downs and stop killing drives and scoring chances (e.g., a team averaging over 400+ total YPG should be able to score more than ~27 PPG) with stupid penalties.  Hobart is also 1 of 5 in FGs (see not scoring enough) which is not encouraging either.

MMA gets a "D+" for the 4 game losing streak, including the Coast Guard (NEFC) loss and Springfield beat downs, but in their defense, MMA has struggled with key injuries (e.g., Heimbrock) and probably was thought of as a fourth or fifth place team coming into the season, so this grade is probably a little harsh.

RPI I'd grade a "C-".  They are passing, but generally underperforming to date.  The offense needs to get going in order to make a run and the jury's still out on whether or not this will be the year Hermann steps up?  RPI's D has been pretty solid and should give them at least a fighting chance vs. Alfred this weekend.  The LL is due for an OCC win and the Saxons have knocked off in the past by LL teams (but probably not this year).

Rochester gets a "D-".    They could easily be 3-1, but have managed to fall short in all of their games to date and are looking more like a last place LL team rather than one some of us thought would contend for the LL title.

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

I'd give Union a similar grade as Hobart - the U is doing pretty well on defense.  Giving up yards, but making plays and scoring points on D.  Offense can be shaky at times, but as long as Coney is healthy this team will be in the hunt.  Connolly has had an off year so far but he can make plays with his feet and his receivers are smart enough to improvise and come back to the ball when needed  - more than a couple of TDs vs. Hobart last Saturday occurred in this fashion.

WPI gets a B- - they went 0 fer last season and it looks like the Bizarroneers are much improved based on the Union game and the win over RPI.  That said, the loss to MMA was kind of a surprise - especially given how well the defense was playing prior to that game.

Good stuff, but can't agree with the WPI B-, especially if UColl and Bart are at C+. The loss to MMA can't be ignored. They've certainly exceeded expectations, but not as good as UColl (loss) and Bart. But if the rating is relative to expectations, then SLU has to be an A

[labart96]

Yeah, there was/is a "curve" (i.e., I am rating based on expectations prior to the season beginning), hence why I graded WPI "higher" than others.

[Jonny Utah]

if even 1/2 of this is true...pretty amazing stuff

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/10/12/agent/index.html?eref=sihp

That is pretty amazing.  I kind of wondered (maybe Frank Rossi can help us here) whether or not an attorney has the right to disclose money payments he makes or takes from a client?  Would you need to sign something first or would that all under a privilege where a client has the right to keep these deals quiet?

[dlippiel]

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

Yes, but they lost to Norwich, got smoked by starter-less IC, and got slightly vibrated by Utica (who is O.K.). So the fact that they are all alone in first place really makes the LL look poorus at best. Don't get dlip wrong, he is happy for SLU's early in league success, he always wants the so-called lower epichlon LL teams to get better, but at what expense? dlip just wants the LL to be respectable on a national level and is having trouble letting go of the obvious fact that we are slipping. The history of our teams is just too great....ahhhhh maybe he should just accept reality, enjoy the parity, and STFU?

[dlippiel]

RPI gives the LL a glimmer of hope when hosting the Saxons this weekend. dlip is rooting for the Engineers in a big way on Saturday and hopes Mike Hermann and Co. can make the LL look good for at least one week by defeating a top 25 team. RPI's blanking of U of R on the road shows dlip that this team can play ball this year and if the young defense can contain the Saxon's Secky and Hermann can find some of that special stuff he showed glimpses of last year the Engineers may pull the upset. Let's go RPI.

[dlippiel]

Let's go RPI.

Question: Did dlip just write this?

Answer: Yes he did.

[lewdogg11]

Let's go RPI.

Question: Did dlip just write this?

Answer: Yes he did.

I'm hoping for the best here...but I fear it could be very very ugly.

[Frank Rossi]

if even 1/2 of this is true...pretty amazing stuff

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/10/12/agent/index.html?eref=sihp

That is pretty amazing.  I kind of wondered (maybe Frank Rossi can help us here) whether or not an attorney has the right to disclose money payments he makes or takes from a client?  Would you need to sign something first or would that all under a privilege where a client has the right to keep these deals quiet?

It's my assumption here that sports agency isn't a true legal representation that would give you an attorney/client privilege.  The actual contract negotiations are the only part of the process that would hit me as being a protected legal transaction.  However, there is no prerequisite that I know of that an agent needs to be an attorney.

Whether or not Luchs displayed good form by doing what he did in this article is an entirely different story, though...

[Frank Rossi]

Let's go RPI.

Question: Did dlip just write this?

Answer: Yes he did.

I'm hoping for the best here...but I fear it could be very very ugly.

28-7 was my prediction on ITH Sunday because I think Alfred is better than Utica -- and we know what happened in that Utica game.  It also feels like home-field advantage has not fully panned out in the new CAV yet for RPI.  Perhaps Homecoming would be a driving force here for RPI, but I already shaved a touchdown off Alfred's tally based on that.  I just am not convinced yet about RPI this season.  I hope I'm proved wrong here.

[labart96]

Let's go RPI.

Question: Did dlip just write this?

Answer: Yes he did.

I'm hoping for the best here...but I fear it could be very very ugly.

28-7 was my prediction on ITH Sunday because I think Alfred is better than Utica -- and we know what happened in that Utica game.  It also feels like home-field advantage has not fully panned out in the new CAV yet for RPI.  Perhaps Homecoming would be a driving force here for RPI, but I already shaved a touchdown off Alfred's tally based on that.  I just am not convinced yet about RPI this season.  I hope I'm proved wrong here.

Me too.  Alfred, as a ranked team, has a recent history off getting knocked off by LL teams (see Hobart 2007), but this doesn't feel like one of those years....

[labart96]

Some Hobart-Union youtube highlights

[union89]

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

Yes, but they lost to Norwich, got smoked by starter-less IC, and got slightly vibrated by Utica (who is O.K.). So the fact that they are all alone in first place really makes the LL look poorus at best. Don't get dlip wrong, he is happy for SLU's early in league success, he always wants the so-called lower epichlon LL teams to get better, but at what expense? dlip just wants the LL to be respectable on a national level and is having trouble letting go of the obvious fact that we are slipping. The history of our teams is just too great....ahhhhh maybe he should just accept reality, enjoy the parity, and STFU?

Dlip,
That has been my problem with Union....The Dutchmen have obviously slipped over the years.  When I state that one game above or around .500 is unacceptable, I'm told, "Times are different so STFU."

If Union is going to continue to be mediocre over long spans, lets join the NESCAC.

[Frank Rossi]

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

Yes, but they lost to Norwich, got smoked by starter-less IC, and got slightly vibrated by Utica (who is O.K.). So the fact that they are all alone in first place really makes the LL look poorus at best. Don't get dlip wrong, he is happy for SLU's early in league success, he always wants the so-called lower epichlon LL teams to get better, but at what expense? dlip just wants the LL to be respectable on a national level and is having trouble letting go of the obvious fact that we are slipping. The history of our teams is just too great....ahhhhh maybe he should just accept reality, enjoy the parity, and STFU?

Dlip,
That has been my problem with Union....The Dutchmen have obviously slipped over the years.  When I state that one game above or around .500 is unacceptable, I'm told, "Times are different so STFU."

If Union is going to continue to be mediocre over long spans, lets join the NESCAC.

Division I Hockey won't allow that to happen.  See 1970s expulsion of Union from the NESCAC.

[lewdogg11]

SLU is a mixed bag.  They get an "A" for the Hobart upset and generally how they've stepped up to play better OOC teams, save for the Norwich game.  The OOC results give them a C- and I am thinking they fall back to Earth this weekend in Shocktown.  Otherwise probably a sold "B" overall - no one would have guessed at the mid point they would be solely in first place and able to hang well with teams like Alfred.

Yes, but they lost to Norwich, got smoked by starter-less IC, and got slightly vibrated by Utica (who is O.K.). So the fact that they are all alone in first place really makes the LL look poorus at best. Don't get dlip wrong, he is happy for SLU's early in league success, he always wants the so-called lower epichlon LL teams to get better, but at what expense? dlip just wants the LL to be respectable on a national level and is having trouble letting go of the obvious fact that we are slipping. The history of our teams is just too great....ahhhhh maybe he should just accept reality, enjoy the parity, and STFU?

Dlip,
That has been my problem with Union....The Dutchmen have obviously slipped over the years.  When I state that one game above or around .500 is unacceptable, I'm told, "Times are different so STFU."

If Union is going to continue to be mediocre over long spans, lets join the NESCAC.

Division I Hockey won't allow that to happen.  See 1970s expulsion of Union from the NESCAC.

Nothing like taking sarcasm literally.