FB: Liberty League

[labart96]

Speaking of all this concussion discussion....

We at "In the HuddLLe" (www.inthehuddLLe.com) are very excited to announce a very special guest coming onto the show this Sunday at 7:30 PM ET!!!

We will be welcoming Dr. Tony Strickland of the David Geffenn School of Medicine at UCLA and the Sports Concussion Institute (http://www.concussiontreatment.com/). 

Dr Strickland has recently appearred on both ESPN's Outside the Lines and the NFL Network to discuss concussions and the work SCI has done in the diagnosis and treatment of the same.

Dr. Strickland has requested we encourage fans, players and otherwise interested parties to please dial into the show to ask their questions.  That said we would like to solicit you to call in and drive the dialogue with Dr. Strickland given the prominence of this topic in the national headlines.

Again the date of his appearance will be this Sunday, Oct 24 at 7:30 PM ET. 

One minor programming note is that we will kick off ITH an hour earlier than usual, beginning at 6:30 PM, to review this Saturday's games on our Around the League segment as well as preview the annual Dutchman Shoes Game.

Thanks in advance your assistance in making this special opportunity to get a refreshing and informed perspective on this nationally relevant topic!

[union89]

Dlip,
Do you know much about the Union QB situation?  With the extremely sad situation which forced Connolly out of the game vs. the Larries, Union started WR Connor Gallo in his place.  I understand Gallo was a good high school QB, but he has been playing & practicing at WR for Union the past couple years.  Understandably, Gallo struggled a bit under center on Saturday.  Union has a couple soph.'s at QB, but also has a JR named Pfeiffer who has been practicing at the position for 3 years.

I know this is a Monday morning QB type question, but do you think Union would have been better off weakened at 1 position instead of 2?  I ask you this because I know nothing about the depth Union has at the position.  I also feel that you have probably lost the backups confidence levels by leapfrogging them with Gallo.

Thoughts??

[Jonny Utah]

Dlip,
Do you know much about the Union QB situation?  With the extremely sad situation which forced Connolly out of the game vs. the Larries, Union started WR Connor Gallo in his place.  I understand Gallo was a good high school QB, but he has been playing & practicing at WR for Union the past couple years.  Understandably, Gallo struggled a bit under center on Saturday.  Union has a couple soph.'s at QB, but also has a JR named Pfeiffer who has been practicing at the position for 3 years.

I know this is a Monday morning QB type question, but do you think Union would have been better off weakened at 1 position instead of 2?  I ask you this because I know nothing about the depth Union has at the position.  I also feel that you have probably lost the backups confidence levels by leapfrogging them with Gallo.

Thoughts??

I was kind of thinking the same thing.  Union did run some Wildcat formations against Ithaca 2 years ago with their receiver at QB (the kid from NO).  I thought they might do some of the same on just a few series with Gallo, but I kind of thought missing out on thousands of reps at QB in practice is going to hurt you for a one or two game thing.

[lewdogg11]

Dlip,
Do you know much about the Union QB situation?  With the extremely sad situation which forced Connolly out of the game vs. the Larries, Union started WR Connor Gallo in his place.  I understand Gallo was a good high school QB, but he has been playing & practicing at WR for Union the past couple years.  Understandably, Gallo struggled a bit under center on Saturday.  Union has a couple soph.'s at QB, but also has a JR named Pfeiffer who has been practicing at the position for 3 years.

I know this is a Monday morning QB type question, but do you think Union would have been better off weakened at 1 position instead of 2?  I ask you this because I know nothing about the depth Union has at the position.  I also feel that you have probably lost the backups confidence levels by leapfrogging them with Gallo.

Thoughts??

There is really only 1 legitimate reason for the coaching staff making this move, and that would be that the backups royally suck and do not put the team in a position to win whatsoever.  Otherwise, in my mind, it would be highly considered a poor coaching decision.

[SaintsFAN]

LD --- Thomas More plays your boy, Grimard this weekend at Bethany... some are giving them a good shot at beating Thomas More..

[lewdogg11]

LD --- Thomas More plays your boy, Grimard this weekend at Bethany... some are giving them a good shot at beating Thomas More..

The kid is definitely a game changer at QB at this level.  He's basically a DIII Tebow that can't really wing it, but is a strong runner.  Should be an interesting one.

[labart96]

Dlip,
Do you know much about the Union QB situation?  With the extremely sad situation which forced Connolly out of the game vs. the Larries, Union started WR Connor Gallo in his place.  I understand Gallo was a good high school QB, but he has been playing & practicing at WR for Union the past couple years.  Understandably, Gallo struggled a bit under center on Saturday.  Union has a couple soph.'s at QB, but also has a JR named Pfeiffer who has been practicing at the position for 3 years.

I know this is a Monday morning QB type question, but do you think Union would have been better off weakened at 1 position instead of 2?  I ask you this because I know nothing about the depth Union has at the position.  I also feel that you have probably lost the backups confidence levels by leapfrogging them with Gallo.

Thoughts??

There is really only 1 legitimate reason for the coaching staff making this move, and that would be that the backups royally suck and do not put the team in a position to win whatsoever.  Otherwise, in my mind, it would be highly considered a poor coaching decision.

I thought the Union backup left the team, hence the need for Gallo to start....

[Frank Rossi]

Dlip,
Do you know much about the Union QB situation?  With the extremely sad situation which forced Connolly out of the game vs. the Larries, Union started WR Connor Gallo in his place.  I understand Gallo was a good high school QB, but he has been playing & practicing at WR for Union the past couple years.  Understandably, Gallo struggled a bit under center on Saturday.  Union has a couple soph.'s at QB, but also has a JR named Pfeiffer who has been practicing at the position for 3 years.

I know this is a Monday morning QB type question, but do you think Union would have been better off weakened at 1 position instead of 2?  I ask you this because I know nothing about the depth Union has at the position.  I also feel that you have probably lost the backups confidence levels by leapfrogging them with Gallo.

Thoughts??

There is really only 1 legitimate reason for the coaching staff making this move, and that would be that the backups royally suck and do not put the team in a position to win whatsoever.  Otherwise, in my mind, it would be highly considered a poor coaching decision.

I thought the Union backup left the team, hence the need for Gallo to start....

Yes, a week before Mr. Connolly's passing.

[SaintsFAN]

LD --- Thomas More plays your boy, Grimard this weekend at Bethany... some are giving them a good shot at beating Thomas More..

The kid is definitely a game changer at QB at this level.  He's basically a DIII Tebow that can't really wing it, but is a strong runner.  Should be an interesting one.

The TMC defensive ends are studs and the defense will give the blocking schemes fits because of the speed... he's going to get battered.

[labart96]

A bit later than usual given TGP had a road trip for work this week but the Hobart-MMA Game Notes are up

A few interesting observations based on the 2 deep are as follows:

•It appears as though Doug Vella's knee still has not healed (he's not listed on the travel roster) so it appears as though SO QB Nick Strang is set for his second straight start
•SR Co-captain and FS John Kelliher is also not in the line up for the defensive backfield. FY Chad Dorrance will start at FS as will FY CB Connor Garrett.
•SR Kyle O'Laughlin will stay at OLB and SO LB Andrew Klindera will remain as the starting ILB.

[lewdogg11]

LD --- Thomas More plays your boy, Grimard this weekend at Bethany... some are giving them a good shot at beating Thomas More..

The kid is definitely a game changer at QB at this level.  He's basically a DIII Tebow that can't really wing it, but is a strong runner.  Should be an interesting one.

The TMC defensive ends are studs and the defense will give the blocking schemes fits because of the speed... he's going to get battered.

He's really big.  He doesn't get battered.  He's probably got 20-30 lbs on your d-ends.  Not that i'm routing for him.  Just sayin;.

[mattvsmith]

Although Hobart won 40-33, their performance in the 2nd half was hideous.

11 pentalies, including 2 delay of game in the last couple minutes.  90 yards worth of penalties.  Coach Cragg is probably not too happy with that.  Still, the rev is glad Hobart won, but it's all for naught if Rocho or WPI cannot stop the SLU juggernaut.

[Doid23]

I've been focused on Union's inability to win close LL games, and their now evaporated chances to win the title this year (insert Jim Mora's "Playoffs? Are you kidding me?!" speech here). But when I looked at their record this morning, I realized that I had lost sight of the bigger picture, Union's streak of winning seasons.  Union is 2-4, with remaining games against RPI (toss up, depending on which RPI teams shows up for The Shoes), Merchant Marine (normally a UColl win, but this year somewhat in doubt), and Springfield (Union will clearly be underdogs).

But I don't think this is a bad team, just a confusing one. They don't get blown out (Salisbury thumping notwithstanding), and they don't blow people out. They just play close games. I could see them winning the remaining three and ending up 5-4, and just as easily losing all three and going 2-7, neither would surprise me. But a 2-7 record with the team they had returning, just doesn't cut it in Shocktown.

On another note, when did they stop calling Merchant Marine Kings Point?

[Pat Coleman]

I would say fans of the school still do call it Kings Point. Here we stopped calling it Kings Point when the athletic department finally showed some commitment to one of the games, a few years ago.

[dlippiel]

I've been focused on Union's inability to win close LL games, and their now evaporated chances to win the title this year (insert Jim Mora's "Playoffs? Are you kidding me?!" speech here). But when I looked at their record this morning, I realized that I had lost sight of the bigger picture, Union's streak of winning seasons.  Union is 2-4, with remaining games against RPI (toss up, depending on which RPI teams shows up for The Shoes), Merchant Marine (normally a UColl win, but this year somewhat in doubt), and Springfield (Union will clearly be underdogs).

But I don't think this is a bad team, just a confusing one. They don't get blown out (Salisbury thumping notwithstanding), and they don't blow people out. They just play close games. I could see them winning the remaining three and ending up 5-4, and just as easily losing all three and going 2-7, neither would surprise me. But a 2-7 record with the team they had returning, just doesn't cut it in Shocktown.

On another note, when did they stop calling Merchant Marine Kings Point?

Good post Doid.

It has been a trying season for the U here in 2010 with injuries galore (as usual), personal losses, and some overall frustration across the board. dlip has been struggling to put a finger on the season as a whole thus far and really has come to a mid/late-season conclusion; The Dutchmen are not a bad team, but they definitely aren't a very good team either. The program has been floating in some uncharted territory off and on for the past 5-7 seasons if you ask dlip.

Outwardly this program battles a very successful and rich history (from the mid 80's through the early 2000's), one that many current fans and alum remember and even grew up knowing. Now what we see is alot of inconsistency and really a program that is, to some degree, living off it's past accomplishments. Times have changed and continue to change at the U regarding the college's support and attention to the sport. In lamence terms the priorities of the athletic department are not the same.

Initially dlip was in a tizzy about this, being a local yocal who grew up watching Dan Stewart (sporting his beard) leading the U to victory, Union appear in two Stagg Bowls, and Union dominate RPI and Albany (local rivals) like rented mules, he simply couldn't stomach the lack of success. Yet as dlip has gotton closer to the program his perspective has changed a great deal to what he feels is one that is very realistic and current.

To dlip, the program, it's coach, and it's players, carry themselves with nothing but the utmost class. They work tirelessley to meet the high expectations that are upon them year in and year out. They make tremendous commitments to the classroom and the football field as well as to their community. This is no different then any Union teams dlip has known with the only difference being this team is the one we have today, right now. Regardless of the results on the field each member of this team represents everything that dlip hopes his own daughter will represent someday, and for that he is so grateful and will always be as supportive as possible to what we have here and now.

Yet, if dlip is also being honest and objective, like he tries to be as a D3 football fan, he can honestly say: "the times have changed friends, they sure have changed."