FB: Liberty League

[Pat Coleman]

Also starting to get that slighted feel with Hobart losing 3 votes in the poll while Alfred (yes, they lost 13 points) remains in the same slot after losing by two TD's to a team Bart demolished the week before on the road, then going to OT to beat a Hartwick team who probably fought really hard, but is still likely to have a losing record this year.  It seems to me that Bart is being punished for having the 8 game schedule because at this point in the season they should be getting more recognition on a national stage. 

If you think that's bad, have you looked at the coaches' poll? They have 17 more voters and only give Hobart nine points. And this is the poll that continually overrates unbeaten teams in mid-to-low level conferences, so why the hate for Hobart?

I really don't think anyone should get upset over a few points either way. Hobart had a good week, no doubt, but other teams had better weeks and there are going to be instances where Hobart gets passed on voters' ballots. Every vote that goes to someone like Huntingdon and Birmingham-Southern and UW-Oshkosh has to come from someone else in a similar area on a voter's ballot.

That's a little over-simplified, though, Guru.  It's not just a few points at play -- it's actually 50+a few points.  The idea here is that there were two teams in the 14/15 region that lost.  If both teams were to simply fall below a team based on the losses, the team rising up would receive a 50-point bounce solely based on that drop (assuming all voters didn't have the lower team above the losing team in the first place).  I'd venture to guess that Keith was the only voter with Hobart higher than the national 14/15 teams.  The questions that remain are whether or not a team like Wittenberg would drop far enough on most ballots to give a team like Hobart a benefit.  If voters didn't drop Cortland (two losses) below Hobart, I'd question their sanity right now.  I'm not even going to entertain the "look who Cortland lost to" speech because my response is "who did they beat so far?"  Rowan isn't a world-beater so far this year.  And this guy was one of the guys highest on Cortland heading into this season.

So, for me and others, it's not a focus of a few points -- if nobody in the Top 25 lost, nobody would really be saying much.  It's the idea that teams are leapfrogging after seemingly equivalent performances and when there were up to 50 points at play.  Birmingham-Southern beat a winless team Saturday.  So did Oshkosh.  I don't necessarily buy the "Birmingham-S bootstrap by Huntingdon" based on the Wittenberg win by Huntingdon the further away we get from the Birmingham-S/Huntingdon game, but I understand some voters do that even 3 or 4 weeks later.  However, with all the points that were seemingly up for grabs, it's why people are a little wry about it, I think.  Losing points made it even more painful.

Neither of those teams that lost were in position to automatically fall below Hobart, though, Frank, so your 50 isn't valid. If they were ranked 19 and 20, yes.

I wonder if the AFCA voters are giving a referendum on the Hobart sanctions by giving them just nine points from 42 voters.

[Pat Coleman]

Video of Steven Webb's big run in the Hobart/Union game -- a real game-changer since Hobart's offense had been sputtering prior to the play, and it seemed to finally lift Hobart emotionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62EBsub1jY

Should have been Play of the Week.

Zzzzzzz.

It was really close, obviously. Good thing Frank put it up for nomination.

[Jonny Utah]

Video of Steven Webb's big run in the Hobart/Union game -- a real game-changer since Hobart's offense had been sputtering prior to the play, and it seemed to finally lift Hobart emotionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62EBsub1jY

Should have been Play of the Week.

Zzzzzzz.

It was really close, obviously. Good thing Frank put it up for nomination.

I think a better play was Hobarts left guard and fullback crushing Unions linebacker left inside backer.  Hobart also had 2-3 guys blocking to the whistle which helped this run make it.  I love that stuff.

[Frank Rossi]

Video of Steven Webb's big run in the Hobart/Union game -- a real game-changer since Hobart's offense had been sputtering prior to the play, and it seemed to finally lift Hobart emotionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62EBsub1jY

Should have been Play of the Week.

Zzzzzzz.

Rev, you were missed last weekend at the Hobart/Union game.  Was thinking of you on my way to the field and how you were a great halftime guest last year at Hobart.  Hope all is well around the world -- looks like you have a great family from what I saw on FB.

[mattvsmith]

Video of Steven Webb's big run in the Hobart/Union game -- a real game-changer since Hobart's offense had been sputtering prior to the play, and it seemed to finally lift Hobart emotionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62EBsub1jY

Should have been Play of the Week.

Zzzzzzz.

It was really close, obviously. Good thing Frank put it up for nomination.

I will admit that the Maryville play was pretty damn good.

[mattvsmith]

Video of Steven Webb's big run in the Hobart/Union game -- a real game-changer since Hobart's offense had been sputtering prior to the play, and it seemed to finally lift Hobart emotionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62EBsub1jY

Should have been Play of the Week.

Zzzzzzz.

Rev, you were missed last weekend at the Hobart/Union game.  Was thinking of you on my way to the field and how you were a great halftime guest last year at Hobart.  Hope all is well around the world -- looks like you have a great family from what I saw on FB.

Thanks, Frank. It was a lot of fun speaking on the radio last year. I wish I could go home every fall to see games. I just told an old Hobart teammate the other day that I really miss fall in Central New York. I heard this fall is absolutely the best in years. Would love to be there sporting one of my numerous Hobart shirts. (You may have seen that Mrs. & Baby Rev have their official gear already.)

Looks like my next trip home will be in July. The Rev is fixing to bring the family home to introduce to everybody. Should be a good time. If we have some kind of shindig at Dear ol' Daddy's house, you will get an invite.

[mattvsmith]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

[lewdogg11]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room?

[Frank Rossi]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room?

No, that's Alone... Listless... The geek has to correct your poor Pearl Jam references?!  That's gotta hurt.

In all seriousness, though, something's just wrong with this fact -- after this weekend, the number of games each team will have played:

Union 7
Hobart 4

One thing I've noted, as a fan of thoroughbred handicapping, is the layoff factor with Nick Strang.  Whenever Strang has had more than one week prior to a start to rest, his numbers have been outstanding (averaging a total of 5 TDs per game).  Whenever he has played consecutive games following the layoff, the second and third games have been mediocre statistically (and honestly, he wasn't tremendously sharp most of the day against Union by most people's accounts).  If this is a trend, then he should tear apart Merchant Marine on 10/22 and struggle a bit against WPI on 10/29 and beyond (again, this is just trend watching and not a statement of what I honestly believe will happen).  It will be interesting to see how he plays since this is Hobart's first stint of four consecutive games coming up after the week off.

[lewdogg11]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room?

No, that's Alone... Listless... The geek has to correct your poor Pearl Jam references?!  That's gotta hurt.

In all seriousness, though, something's just wrong with this fact -- after this weekend, the number of games each team will have played:

Union 7
Hobart 4

One thing I've noted, as a fan of thoroughbred handicapping, is the layoff factor with Nick Strang.  Whenever Strang has had more than one week prior to a start to rest, his numbers have been outstanding (averaging a total of 5 TDs per game).  Whenever he has played consecutive games following the layoff, the second and third games have been mediocre statistically (and honestly, he wasn't tremendously sharp most of the day against Union by most people's accounts).  If this is a trend, then he should tear apart Merchant Marine on 10/22 and struggle a bit against WPI on 10/29 and beyond (again, this is just trend watching and not a statement of what I honestly believe will happen).  It will be interesting to see how he plays since this is Hobart's first stint of four consecutive games coming up after the week off.

Dude, LD11 knows his Pearl Jam.  It just seemed to make sense at the time. 

[Frank Rossi]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room?

No, that's Alone... Listless... The geek has to correct your poor Pearl Jam references?!  That's gotta hurt.

In all seriousness, though, something's just wrong with this fact -- after this weekend, the number of games each team will have played:

Union 7
Hobart 4

One thing I've noted, as a fan of thoroughbred handicapping, is the layoff factor with Nick Strang.  Whenever Strang has had more than one week prior to a start to rest, his numbers have been outstanding (averaging a total of 5 TDs per game).  Whenever he has played consecutive games following the layoff, the second and third games have been mediocre statistically (and honestly, he wasn't tremendously sharp most of the day against Union by most people's accounts).  If this is a trend, then he should tear apart Merchant Marine on 10/22 and struggle a bit against WPI on 10/29 and beyond (again, this is just trend watching and not a statement of what I honestly believe will happen).  It will be interesting to see how he plays since this is Hobart's first stint of four consecutive games coming up after the week off.

Dude, LD11 knows his Pearl Jam.  It just seemed to make sense at the time. 

I KID, I KID, LD!  You catch any RPI grid action in person yet this season?

[lewdogg11]

So bummed Hobart has a bye week again. The Rev feels lost...listless...

Breakfast table in an otherwise empty room?

No, that's Alone... Listless... The geek has to correct your poor Pearl Jam references?!  That's gotta hurt.

In all seriousness, though, something's just wrong with this fact -- after this weekend, the number of games each team will have played:

Union 7
Hobart 4

One thing I've noted, as a fan of thoroughbred handicapping, is the layoff factor with Nick Strang.  Whenever Strang has had more than one week prior to a start to rest, his numbers have been outstanding (averaging a total of 5 TDs per game).  Whenever he has played consecutive games following the layoff, the second and third games have been mediocre statistically (and honestly, he wasn't tremendously sharp most of the day against Union by most people's accounts).  If this is a trend, then he should tear apart Merchant Marine on 10/22 and struggle a bit against WPI on 10/29 and beyond (again, this is just trend watching and not a statement of what I honestly believe will happen).  It will be interesting to see how he plays since this is Hobart's first stint of four consecutive games coming up after the week off.

Dude, LD11 knows his Pearl Jam.  It just seemed to make sense at the time. 

I KID, I KID, LD!  You catch any RPI grid action in person yet this season?

Negative.  I had planned to go out next weekend but my schedule won't allow for it.

[Frank Rossi]

Come out for The Shoes.  Should be a good 55-54 affair at this pace...

[lewdogg11]

Come out for The Shoes.  Should be a good 55-54 affair at this pace...

I would but Paulie would probably call the cops on us again for drinking beer in a bar.

[pumkinattack]

I don't think you can do a statistical analysis on 5 starts, one a year ago as a fill in, on a 20yr old.  Strang will throw well most of the time and then every so often make a poor throw (int's vs. Union and SLU specifically).  He's 9 TD's, 3 Int's againt the tougher half of the schedule.  I'm not saying he makes Swanson/Mizro/Strom look like chumps or anything, but my guess is he should improve with 3 of 4 at home vs. Merchant Marine, WPI, RPI and UofR - most of whom have "challenged" defenses this year.  Even the Union game it sounded like (and you were there, so you should know) the dbacks played as well as they can and got a hand on many balls that might've otherwise been caught. 

I think the real answer is that he's still feeling his way around the position as a starter.  He didn't have a mentor the way Strom and Mizro did with their predecessors.  He's also hardly been touched all year.  The more interesting thing to see is how he'll do under pressure.  Vella would flee like it was the scene of a crime. 

Also, here's a great link a colleague sent me:  http://occupyherbstreit.tumblr.com/