FB: Liberty League

[Jonny Utah]

Those are two overnight trips too I assume, which would be a little odd considering the reasoning by some that cost was an issue for these games. 

Maybe they were simply the only teams available within 5-6 hours?

[jknezek]

Using Hobart's site they have opened with Dickinson every year since 1992. I don't really consider 20 straight years a huge tradition, but it's certainly building. That has been through ups and downs in both programs, so they seem to both like playing each other regardless of relative strength. Seems to me like that game might be for the long run and not worth complaining about.

As for the other two, I don't have a clue other than sometimes you play who will play you when you have openings. Kudos to Curry and Endicott for scheduling a game that will help them determine where they are at and where they need to be to represent the East well in the playoffs.

[ITH radio]

Dickinson vs. Hobart has a decent history as a series and has been pretty competitive overall.  Not that it had anything to do with the initial scheduling, but Coach Cragg's first HC job was in W PA at Corry HS (85-86) and his family still has roots out there (his nephew played at Corry and came to Hobart as a FY DB and ST player).  In 86 Cragg moved to Geneva to become the OL coach and has been in NYS ever since.

Dickinson and Hobart initially started playing each other back in 1992.  Back then, the Devils (or "Dickerson" as the late, great Coach Max called them) were top dogs and Hobart were doormats.  Bart lost the initial meeting then the next four in a row to go 0-5 vs. the D's.  Hobart finally got a W in 97 but then lost in 98 an 99.  The series was pretty even in the 2000's and there were a lot of close games btw the two teams.

Anyway, now the Statesmen lead the all time series 12-10-1 (the tie happened all the way back in 1934 so you can kind of throw that out).  The issue with the Dicks is they've really fallen off from their 8 win 2009 season.  They beat Hobart 26-3 that year, which was the Statesmen's lowest offensive scoring game since the 91 season, if memory serves. 

Anyway, since 09 the D's have gone 3-7, 4-6, 4-6 and 3-7.  During this four year trough they've lost Bart by a combined 132-23.

My guess is the AD's like the pairing for the NYS/PA recruiting reasons, the road trip isn't that far (i.e., low cost) and the fact both schools have overlap admissions wise.  The question is whether or not DC breaks the series if they continue to get monkey-stomped and their program doesn't turn around?

Anyway, just a little background on the DC-HC series. 

[ITH radio]

Those are two overnight trips too I assume, which would be a little odd considering the reasoning by some that cost was an issue for these games. 

Maybe they were simply the only teams available within 5-6 hours?

The Curry game may be a night one.  No time has been released but that field does have lights and the Colonels did have a night game around that same weekend this season.  Maybe that was part of it?

[Frank Rossi]

Those are two overnight trips too I assume, which would be a little odd considering the reasoning by some that cost was an issue for these games. 

Maybe they were simply the only teams available within 5-6 hours?

The Curry game may be a night one.  No time has been released but that field does have lights and the Colonels did have a night game around that same weekend this season.  Maybe that was part of it?

Still doesn't answer the reason for 3 eastern MA road trips.  And honestly, as a Union guy who has experienced the New England phenomenon, in which the scheduling of such opponents can do more harm than good (close games or losses are viewed as a major problem, and large wins are no cause for excitement), this just confounds me.  James, you said it Sunday night -- Hobart seems content to not play outside it's comfort zone, and the further we see this type of scheduling, the more it confirms Ted Baker's point: Hobart doesn't care about or doesn't think it's possible to reach the #5 zone or above nationally.  Kudos on 10 games, but the Widener/Challenge issue from 2011 is no longer to blame for these trends.  Spend a little more money and travel somewhere that has a challenging opponent, as LD has suggested recently on another message board here.  I'll keep playing our 2010 Vosburgh interview until someone in Geneva begins to get the gist.  Until then, this is not helping the LL.  Stevenson had openings as of last year, and that's a legitimate up-and-coming program.  Why didn't someone jump on that opponent -- a MAC school with bar none facilities and a lot of excitement?

[Upstate]

Dickinson vs. Hobart has a decent history as a series and has been pretty competitive overall.  Not that it had anything to do with the initial scheduling, but Coach Cragg's first HC job was in W PA at Corry HS (85-86) and his family still has roots out there (his nephew played at Corry and came to Hobart as a FY DB and ST player).  In 86 Cragg moved to Geneva to become the OL coach and has been in NYS ever since.

Dickinson and Hobart initially started playing each other back in 1992.  Back then, the Devils (or "Dickerson" as the late, great Coach Max called them) were top dogs and Hobart were doormats.  Bart lost the initial meeting then the next four in a row to go 0-5 vs. the D's.  Hobart finally got a W in 97 but then lost in 98 an 99.  The series was pretty even in the 2000's and there were a lot of close games btw the two teams.

Anyway, now the Statesmen lead the all time series 12-10-1 (the tie happened all the way back in 1934 so you can kind of throw that out).  The issue with the Dicks is they've really fallen off from their 8 win 2009 season.  They beat Hobart 26-3 that year, which was the Statesmen's lowest offensive scoring game since the 91 season, if memory serves. 

Anyway, since 09 the D's have gone 3-7, 4-6, 4-6 and 3-7.  During this four year trough they've lost Bart by a combined 132-23.

My guess is the AD's like the pairing for the NYS/PA recruiting reasons, the road trip isn't that far (i.e., low cost) and the fact both schools have overlap admissions wise.  The question is whether or not DC breaks the series if they continue to get monkey-stomped and their program doesn't turn around?

Anyway, just a little background on the DC-HC series.

Thank you, just my opinion but if it's just because of the NY/PA recruiting thing then it's time to scrap it...

[Frank Rossi]

Here's a reminder to Hobart as to how this scheduling can begin to backfire on you:

http://youtu.be/TTJZPwP1uMI

[Upstate]

Fisher schedules a home and home with John Carroll...

Hobart schedules flipping Curry & Endicott...

Anyone see a difference here???

Honestly if Hobart scheduled a top MAC, NJAC, PAC or CC team it wouldn't be a conversation and they'd get credit for challenging themselves...

No one is saying go schedule UMU, UWW, UMHB, or a top MIAC team but the NEFC???

You're just playing right into the hands of those that criticize your schedule...

Ever since Bart backed out of a game with Wesley their scheduling should come under scrutiny!!!

Oh and SJF is 5-0 vs Hobart since 2002 when a RB doesn't play QB!!!

Man I have to stop drinking on my lunch breaks...

[AUPepBand]

+K This reminds Pep of a recent (and first ever) visit to a dog park in Arlington, VA with Pep Jr., his bride and their adorable mutt Zoey....told Mrs. Pep to watch her step but, fortunately, never encountered a mess. Pep can only assume all the dogs were trained as well as the one pictured!

On Saxon Warriors!

[Jonny Utah]

Dickinson vs. Hobart has a decent history as a series and has been pretty competitive overall.  Not that it had anything to do with the initial scheduling, but Coach Cragg's first HC job was in W PA at Corry HS (85-86) and his family still has roots out there (his nephew played at Corry and came to Hobart as a FY DB and ST player).  In 86 Cragg moved to Geneva to become the OL coach and has been in NYS ever since.

Dickinson and Hobart initially started playing each other back in 1992.  Back then, the Devils (or "Dickerson" as the late, great Coach Max called them) were top dogs and Hobart were doormats.  Bart lost the initial meeting then the next four in a row to go 0-5 vs. the D's.  Hobart finally got a W in 97 but then lost in 98 an 99.  The series was pretty even in the 2000's and there were a lot of close games btw the two teams.

Anyway, now the Statesmen lead the all time series 12-10-1 (the tie happened all the way back in 1934 so you can kind of throw that out).  The issue with the Dicks is they've really fallen off from their 8 win 2009 season.  They beat Hobart 26-3 that year, which was the Statesmen's lowest offensive scoring game since the 91 season, if memory serves. 

Anyway, since 09 the D's have gone 3-7, 4-6, 4-6 and 3-7.  During this four year trough they've lost Bart by a combined 132-23.

My guess is the AD's like the pairing for the NYS/PA recruiting reasons, the road trip isn't that far (i.e., low cost) and the fact both schools have overlap admissions wise.  The question is whether or not DC breaks the series if they continue to get monkey-stomped and their program doesn't turn around?

Anyway, just a little background on the DC-HC series.

I was just snooping around the Hobart media guide and I never knew Dave Urick was the head football coach at Hobart for a few years.  Interesting.

[dlippiel]

Hobart to play Curry and Endicott in 2014:

http://www.hwsathletics.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=958&path=football

WTF??? IDHO this is just ****ing stupid. What are they thinking? Shame...

[Upstate]

Hobart to play Curry and Endicott in 2014:

http://www.hwsathletics.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=958&path=football

WTF??? IDHO this is just ****ing stupid. What are they thinking? Shame...

Hey they're playing 10 games at least so that's a start...

[Mr. Ypsi]

+K This reminds Pep of a recent (and first ever) visit to a dog park in Arlington, VA with Pep Jr., his bride and their adorable mutt Zoey....told Mrs. Pep to watch her step but, fortunately, never encountered a mess. Pep can only assume all the dogs were trained as well as the one pictured!

On Saxon Warriors!

Our Bluetick Coon Hound, Shelby, and I go to an Ann Arbor dog park 3-4 times a week year round.  Only once (in over three years) have I ever stepped in sh*t, and I'm not particularly careful.  I've never seen a dog this well trained, but the owners are!  A person would get seriously hostile looks if they didn't clean up (the park provides 'poop bags').  Occasionally Shelby will poop so far away from me (the park is over 14 acres), that trying to find her poop is a pretty hopeless quest; I'll still head that direction and at least pick up SOMEONE's poop.

[Upstate]

HWS AD: I really think the football team should play 10 games next year...

Coach Cragg: It's about time!!!

HWS AD: Glad to see you're on board, I scheduled two of the top teams from a conference. One of those teams beat an Empire 8 playoff team in back to back years!!!

Coach Cragg:Awesome, sounds like a challenge (Coach Cragg is thinking of someone like UMU)!!!

HWS AD: So starting in 2014 we are going to start playing Curry and Endicott, exciting isn't it? I believe Curry has a catchy nickname on that D3 football message board place. I think one gentlemen labeled them "Dem Spicy Boyz"...

Coach Cragg:

[Jonny Utah]

Those are two overnight trips too I assume, which would be a little odd considering the reasoning by some that cost was an issue for these games. 

Maybe they were simply the only teams available within 5-6 hours?

The Curry game may be a night one.  No time has been released but that field does have lights and the Colonels did have a night game around that same weekend this season.  Maybe that was part of it?

It does have lights and they do have night games.  Do teams travel 5-6 hours and play a night game on the travel day though?