FB: Liberty League

[ITH radio]

It will be a focus of ours this season on ITH. In speaking with the coaches they are frustrated but know it's "above their pay grade". Ultimately Tracy King needs to persuade a school / AD / prez to come over.

Selfishly I'd pick Alfred given the history of the Saxons playing teams like Hobart, SLU, etc.

[UfanBill]

Dlip...I'm planning on going. By the way, do you know who, where and when for Union's scrimmage?

[Bartman]

It will be a focus of ours this season on ITH. In speaking with the coaches they are frustrated but know it's "above their pay grade". Ultimately Tracy King needs to persuade a school / AD / prez to come over.

Selfishly I'd pick Alfred given the history of the Saxons playing teams like Hobart, SLU, etc.

No problem with Alfred...had some great games in the old days...

[Bartman]

Nice game by Dolphin and RPI alum Franks against the Giants last night...looks like he will secure his PK position for good. 

[D3pc]

Any camp updates from any one yet??

Sounds like every team has reported already.

[AUPepBand]

It will be a focus of ours this season on ITH. In speaking with the coaches they are frustrated but know it's "above their pay grade". Ultimately Tracy King needs to persuade a school / AD / prez to come over.

Selfishly I'd pick Alfred given the history of the Saxons playing teams like Hobart, SLU, etc.

No problem with Alfred...had some great games in the old days...

Pep doesn't know how AU would respond to an invitation to the LL but there IS a new president on board, Mark Zupan, so who knows? Not sure how AD Paul Vecchio would weigh in on a switch to the LL as it would involve changing up the entire athletic program.
Pep would love to see a reunion of the old Independent College Athletic Conference that included Alfred, Hobart, SLU, Union, RPI, Ithaca, RIT and Clarkson, which the LL would essentially become plus some more non-football members.

Alfred vs. Hobart was always a well-attended game!

[Bartman]

It will be a focus of ours this season on ITH. In speaking with the coaches they are frustrated but know it's "above their pay grade". Ultimately Tracy King needs to persuade a school / AD / prez to come over.

Selfishly I'd pick Alfred given the history of the Saxons playing teams like Hobart, SLU, etc.

No problem with Alfred...had some great games in the old days...

Pep doesn't know how AU would respond to an invitation to the LL but there IS a new president on board, Mark Zupan, so who knows? Not sure how AD Paul Vecchio would weigh in on a switch to the LL as it would involve changing up the entire athletic program.
Pep would love to see a reunion of the old Independent College Athletic Conference that included Alfred, Hobart, SLU, Union, RPI, Ithaca, RIT and Clarkson, which the LL would essentially become plus some more non-football members.

Alfred vs. Hobart was always a well-attended game!

I think the potential entry of Alfred into the LL could really start a resurgence of Pep Bands throughout the league.....I know Hobart could use a bit more musical spirit.....the Parents are our best fans and know how to spell H O  B  A  R  T after every score but reviving the old Hobart Pep Band would add to the festive atmosphere

[Upstate]

If you guys could take Hartwick instead that'd be great!

[ITH radio]

If you guys could take Hartwick instead that'd be great!

That'll never happen as long as Bassett is AD at IC.

[Bombers798891]

If you guys could take Hartwick instead that'd be great!

That'll never happen as long as Bassett is AD at IC.

What do you mean? What's Bassett's connection/opposition to Hartwick

[dlippiel]

Dlip doesn't know but whatever problem it is he likes it. Dlip would really prefer to not have to
visit that ****ing cage every other year. No offense...

[ITH radio]

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2016/aug/17/unionfb_817/?dgzrg

[ITH radio]

If you guys could take Hartwick instead that'd be great!

That'll never happen as long as Bassett is AD at IC.

What do you mean? What's Bassett's connection/opposition to Hartwick

One coach I interviewed during this off-season made that comment. I think its the opinion, not just of Bassett, but others that Hartwick, although private, just isn't viewed as the same "league" (pun sort of intended) as other LL school's like Bard, Skidmore, Union, etc. I don't know the profile or admissions stats, but I'm guessing they don't cross over. I mean if you look across the LL, it's kind of (or trying to become) like a NESCAC type of conference, save for NCAA playoff participation in football.

Ithaca moving over was an intentional thing for them to pair up with better academic schools and away from the SUNY's / "commuter privates" of the E8. That said the "like institution" thing doesn't do much help for programs really trying to go to that next level. Causes scheduling and other problems, but once again, it's more about how the institution's want to be portrayed via their "peer group" which is dictated at AD and school president / BOT people, not us fans or alums.

[Bartman]

To further reinforce ITH, all of the LL are ranked at least "more competitive" academically by USNews rankings( RPI and U of R are " most competitive" and well endowed) . Ithaca met the academic criteria . Not that USNews is the bible but HS GPA, 4 year retention rate, admit% ,and # of Fulbrights,etc are important criteria to LL Presidents.I think the Presidents care more about the "almost NESCAC" image and not giving us another football team just to get an NCAA berth, so  convincing other LL members to start a program may be best hope. Having a strong OOC schedule will be very important if one more team is not added, like scheduling top E8 teams .

[Jonny Utah]

To further reinforce ITH, all of the LL are ranked at least "more competitive" academically by USNews rankings( RPI and U of R are " most competitive" and well endowed) . Ithaca met the academic criteria . Not that USNews is the bible but HS GPA, 4 year retention rate, admit% ,and # of Fulbrights,etc are important criteria to LL Presidents.I think the Presidents care more about the "almost NESCAC" image and not giving us another football team just to get an NCAA berth, so  convincing other LL members to start a program may be best hope. Having a strong OOC schedule will be very important if one more team is not added, like scheduling top E8 teams .

I was told a few years ago unofficially that Ithaca needed to be more selective with admissions, and that was especially important with athletics, where back in the day, even mopes like myself could get in.  Most LL teams have an acceptance rate under 50%, with most nescac schools under 30%.  Ithaca just got under 60% recently (which then bumped back up to almost 70% after a drop in applications) and I believe would be still be the highest in the LL by far.  In the same conversation, the person told me that Ithaca has been hitting fundraising hard, and the school has had some recent higher end donations (nothing like Ivy and Nescac schools get), and the endowment has been steady in a down market as well compared to many other national universities.  This is a sign that they may be able to restrict admissions even further in the future, although a school the size of Ithaca (almost 7K now), still depends on tuition to make the school function on a year to year basis.