FB: Liberty League

[D3pc]

Looking forward to the broadcast tonight regarding the Hobart/SLU matchup this week. Even with a loss, the saints could still beat USMMA in the finale to win the league, and i don't see them losing that one regardless. I worry about the matchup with Hobart for the Larries this week. It is one of those situations where Hobart may have a little bit more 'fire' playing at home, on senior day, to avoid a fourth loss on the season, etc. Also, is it better for the league to have the saints win out? Or to finish 8-2, with RPI also 8-2, and Hobart 7-3?

[Bartman]

Dlip, good point on Halloween effect .....maybe that was another team in Pumpkinhead helmets???....this is the execution on the passing game that they have been seeking all season and Sweeney is now finally healthy....and Shed is a beast when he holds on to the ball. The Oline also seems to be in sync, and the defense performed well after the first quarter. Unfortunately , too late for this year unless there are some crazy surprises in the remaining LL games. Hopefully the team continues the momentum against St. Lawrence so the Statesman can at least get a win for pride at the Boz.
Regrets on the Union season to date. The Dutchmen were very competitive in their other LL games but they just ran into a really pissed off Statesman team after last week, and Cragg got the boys focused instead of feeling sorry for themselves. Looking forward to Union and Hobart playing more meaningful games in future seasons.....the world does not seem right without it

[Bartman]

Looking forward to the broadcast tonight regarding the Hobart/SLU matchup this week. Even with a loss, the saints could still beat USMMA in the finale to win the league, and i don't see them losing that one regardless. I worry about the matchup with Hobart for the Larries this week. It is one of those situations where Hobart may have a little bit more 'fire' playing at home, on senior day, to avoid a fourth loss on the season, etc. Also, is it better for the league to have the saints win out? Or to finish 8-2, with RPI also 8-2, and Hobart 7-3?

Probably better for the league to have  the Larries winning out and then winning at least a first round game. Looks like both the Statesmen and Larries are peaking, at least offensively , it should be a good game...I hope...will be there. I think the league is now stronger than the OOC record showed earlier in the season, but we'll never convince anyone unless we get another decent run in the playoffs...Larries are getting no love from the pollsters based on weak perception of LL this year.  If it is the Larries, I will be rooting for them,  almost as hard as I will be rooting against them next Saturday

[D3pc]

Looking forward to the broadcast tonight regarding the Hobart/SLU matchup this week. Even with a loss, the saints could still beat USMMA in the finale to win the league, and i don't see them losing that one regardless. I worry about the matchup with Hobart for the Larries this week. It is one of those situations where Hobart may have a little bit more 'fire' playing at home, on senior day, to avoid a fourth loss on the season, etc. Also, is it better for the league to have the saints win out? Or to finish 8-2, with RPI also 8-2, and Hobart 7-3?

Probably better for the league to have  the Larries winning out and then winning at least a first round game. Looks like both the Statesmen and Larries are peaking, at least offensively , it should be a good game...I hope...will be there. I think the league is now stronger than the OOC record showed earlier in the season, but we'll never convince anyone unless we get another decent run in the playoffs...Larries are getting no love from the pollsters based on weak perception of LL this year.  If it is the Larries, I will be rooting for them,  almost as hard as I will be rooting against them next Saturday

Which is why it was nice to see Morrisville with the win over cortland yesterday. If they can win their next 2 games (Alfred State, Brockport) a loss to a 7-3 E8 team in week 1 won't be looked at as bad. No doubt in my mind if they were to play again SLU would have the upper hand, but that's just speculation that means nothing.

Interested to see how the regional rankings shake out this week. I assume SLU will be somewhere in the 4-6 range with Wesley at the top.

[Bartman]

Looking forward to the broadcast tonight regarding the Hobart/SLU matchup this week. Even with a loss, the saints could still beat USMMA in the finale to win the league, and i don't see them losing that one regardless. I worry about the matchup with Hobart for the Larries this week. It is one of those situations where Hobart may have a little bit more 'fire' playing at home, on senior day, to avoid a fourth loss on the season, etc. Also, is it better for the league to have the saints win out? Or to finish 8-2, with RPI also 8-2, and Hobart 7-3?

Probably better for the league to have  the Larries winning out and then winning at least a first round game. Looks like both the Statesmen and Larries are peaking, at least offensively , it should be a good game...I hope...will be there. I think the league is now stronger than the OOC record showed earlier in the season, but we'll never convince anyone unless we get another decent run in the playoffs...Larries are getting no love from the pollsters based on weak perception of LL this year.  If it is the Larries, I will be rooting for them,  almost as hard as I will be rooting against them next Saturday

Which is why it was nice to see Morrisville with the win over cortland yesterday. If they can win their next 2 games (Alfred State, Brockport) a loss to a 7-3 E8 team in week 1 won't be looked at as bad. No doubt in my mind if they were to play again SLU would have the upper hand, but that's just speculation that means nothing.

Interested to see how the regional rankings shake out this week. I assume SLU will be somewhere in the 4-6 range with Wesley at the top.

Congrats to the Larries on finally getting recognized in the last Top 25 poll. Agree their one loss to Morrisville looks different now that they beat Cortland. Other than Wesley(awesome offense but defense not as good as last year), I don't really see anyone else in the East that stands out over the Larries. I personally think the MAC is down this year, the runners-up to Wesley in the NJAC are no better than SLU and the E8 is inconsistent but certainly have a stable of very competitive teams( but not necessarily better than the Larries) and the New England teams still need to prove themselves in the playoffs. This Saturday's game in Geneva is critical for SLU regional rankings and it should be interesting , as the reinvigorated Hobart offense will provide a good test for the SLU defense in preparation for the playoffs. If the Larries defense is stingy with the Statesmen, I think it bodes well for the rankings and the playoffs.

[ITH radio]

Here's this week's podcast:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2015/11/02/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

[Bartman]

OK, I have not been too good at predictions this year, but maybe I'll get lucky...for the last 2 weeks....

1. RPI loses to a Springfield by 7 as RPI still stays in hunt for the crown only to have them crushed in a Shoes loss next week

2. Merchant Marine slugs it out with Union and wins by 7. They are just warming up for the big upset of the Larries ...and  Union salvages the season with a Shoes win next week.

3.Yellowjackets sting WPI by 10. Rochester hopes are still alive until next week when the Statesmen finish strong against the Yellowjackets with a Cenntenial game win.

4. Hobart Seniors play for pride and beat the Larries  on another last minute field goal 31-28 while the Larries are sunk by the Mariners next week in the upset of the year while the Pumpkinheads snip the stinger off the Yellowjackets

The mathematical probability for all of these events happening are about 1 in 100, which is why these predictions are SO AWESOME(and totally unbiased) and Hobart wins another Liberty League title having beaten the Larries on the h2h after RPI is shocked by Union to drop to 3 losses in the league. Halloween continues into November............

N.B. These Bartman predictions are totally unsanctioned by any knowledgeable D3 football prognosticator services...anyone betting on these forecasts assumes all financial loss as Bartman cannot be held liable for the reckless judgement of others...GO BART

[Pat Coleman]

Put a story together on the continuing conference shuffle in the East Region and might be of interest here:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2015/11/the-race-to-seven

[dlippiel]

After watching Bart this past weekend dlip would not be surprised at all if they defeat SLU. They looked very athletic and fluid on both sides of the football this past weekend. Sweeney is a very talented QB and Brandon Shed is fantastic. Union could do nothing to contain him. This team may be finding itself at the right time Bartman. Best of luck to Coach Cragg and the Pumpkins!

[D3pc]

Put a story together on the continuing conference shuffle in the East Region and might be of interest here:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2015/11/the-race-to-seven

Good Read. I am interested to see what happens, but given the academic integrity of the LL (I know its not quote up to the nescac-posting standards) they won't just admit anybody.

I cannot reveal my source, so take it with a grain of salt, but there is a small rumor that an addition to the LL could be by way of a plane trip (or really long bus ride). That's is all I know and all I will say. Could be the furthest thing from the truth but does add some intrigue.

[Saxon73]

Put a story together on the continuing conference shuffle in the East Region and might be of interest here:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2015/11/the-race-to-seven

Good Read. I am interested to see what happens, but given the academic integrity of the LL (I know its not quote up to the nescac-posting standards) they won't just admit anybody.

I cannot reveal my source, so take it with a grain of salt, but there is a small rumor that an addition to the LL could be by way of a plane trip (or really long bus ride). That's is all I know and all I will say. Could be the furthest thing from the truth but does add some intrigue.

Hard to imagine.  Susquehanna tried it for three years, 2007 - 2009 and left.  It was 350 miles and 6 hours to get to St Lawrence.  The effects of expenses and/or fatigue of flights or long trips must be prohibitive. Four trips per year seems exhausting, even though Susquehanna went 6-1 in the LL their last year losing at Merch Marine who was 2-5 in LL. 

[Pat Coleman]

Finlandia? The entire SCAC? Oof.

[D3pc]

I agree and I'm not in favor of it. The locations of SLU and Hobart make for extremely long trips. And again could just be smoke and mirrors.

I would like to see a league with 2 divisions and a championship game. Would make for a much more exciting regular season. I think I've said this awhile ago, but a New York State League with an empire and liberty division would be AWESOME. Wishful thinking.

[ITH radio]

CMU or CWRU could / would be good adds from the overcrowded PAC. Both are reasonably close (4-5 hrs) from schools like UofR and/or HOB and both fit the academic profile (including the RPI overlap).

Long shot but fun to guess.

[Bartman]

How about Tom Coughlin "bookending" his career and coming back to RIT to solve the problem and restart football(http://blogs.democratandchronicle.com/rochistory/2013/09/25/sept-25-rit-football-opens-2nd-season-under-tom-coughlin/) ? Or maybe his son-in-law, ex-Giant Chris Snee?
Come on Tigers , it would be great!