FB: Liberty League

[Pat Coleman]

Not that UfanBill in any way assorted they are - but thanks for the Captain Obvious clarification, I guess?

Not only do the Dutchman face a NCAA playoff team but they must travel to Maine for the privilege.

The champion of the second-worst conference in Division III. Not all NCAA playoff teams are the same.

Hmm -- don't you think that when coachspeak like that is used, it's meant to imply that an NCAA playoff team is an extreme challenge? I've listened to a lot of coachspeak and that's exactly the implication.

However, the fact that not all playoff teams are alike is the reason why the championships committees removed "record against teams already in the playoff field" from all Division III selection criteria once they started handing out automatic bids to every group of seven teams.

[Bartman]

Not that UfanBill in any way assorted they are - but thanks for the Captain Obvious clarification, I guess?

Not only do the Dutchman face a NCAA playoff team but they must travel to Maine for the privilege.

The champion of the second-worst conference in Division III. Not all NCAA playoff teams are the same.

Hmm -- don't you think that when coachspeak like that is used, it's meant to imply that an NCAA playoff team is an extreme challenge? I've listened to a lot of coachspeak and that's exactly the implication.

However, the fact that not all playoff teams are alike is the reason why the championships committees removed "record against teams already in the playoff field" from all Division III selection criteria once they started handing out automatic bids to every group of seven teams.

This all may be true concerning Husson and their weak league, but they looked pretty good in the playoff loss to a WNE team that scared the hell out of Alfred in the playoffs....but that was last year and who knows what the new squads bring this year.....at any rate ,I will still be impressed if the Dutchmen travel to Maine and squeeze the Mooseturds out of Husson....GO LL!

[unionpalooza]

I took it as a rough but by no my means precise indicator of quality. I mean, I guess "final 2016 East regional rankings top 10 team" is probably more accurate (and, of Husson, also true), but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue (or keyboard).

Not that UfanBill in any way assorted they are - but thanks for the Captain Obvious clarification, I guess?

Not only do the Dutchman face a NCAA playoff team but they must travel to Maine for the privilege.

The champion of the second-worst conference in Division III. Not all NCAA playoff teams are the same.

Hmm -- don't you think that when coachspeak like that is used, it's meant to imply that an NCAA playoff team is an extreme challenge? I've listened to a lot of coachspeak and that's exactly the implication.

However, the fact that not all playoff teams are alike is the reason why the championships committees removed "record against teams already in the playoff field" from all Division III selection criteria once they started handing out automatic bids to every group of seven teams.

[Pat Coleman]

What you describe is totally more precise and I wouldn't object to someone referencing a team as regionally ranked, for sure.

[UfanBill]

Jeeze. I make a seemingly innocent comment about Union's opener and it somehow raises the eyebrows of our esteemed administrator. My description of Husson as a playoff team is of course accurate and was made in the context of my previous posts about Union's "weak" OOC schedule. ANY game against a 9-2 league champion on the road after a LONG road trip is a "serious test". Games against Coast Guard, Gallaudet, Curry and Morrisville...well, let's just admit they are looked at as program rebuilders.

[Pat Coleman]

My description of Husson as a playoff team is of course accurate and was made in the context of my previous posts about Union's "weak" OOC schedule. ANY game against a 9-2 league champion on the road after a LONG road trip is a "serious test".

I mean, again ... not really. I don't agree here. Champ of that league has lost 66-0 in the first round, for example. The map has given Husson some matchups that it didn't deserve by seeding, and so it has had a couple of close games, but the ECFC champ has also lost 49-0, 34-7 and 73-14 in the past five years, too.

Equating the ECFC champ to even the average playoff team is really and truly coachspeak and I would always challenge that.

[UfanBill]

Well I guess this "coach" is giving Husson too much respect. Union should not take this game seriously because, by your assessment, they're a champion and a playoff team only because they're from an inferior league??? PLEASE...

[Pat Coleman]

You're not really properly stating what I said, but that's OK. Enjoy the game.

[dlippiel]

How soon we all forget Union's abysmal fall from being a respected D3 program, even a power? 5 straight years of losing OOC games and hitting rock bottom at 0-10. UfanBill could not be more correct here Pat. People don't seem to want to be realistic regarding the challenges that face any program that basically has to not only rebuild, but pretty much restart. No one has come on here claiming that Union will be back in the NCAA's or in the Stagg Bowl. That thinking, at least right now sits with those who have their noses turned up and are sitting on a pole...the Dutchmen are working to grow and improve as a program. They are working to build something that was broken. UfanBill and dlip have come on here and been very clear about our patience for growth and realistic expectations. Husson plays is an incredibly weak conference. However, they have developed into a program that dlip guesses is respected by all east region coaches. Dlip challenges Pat to find any successful coach of an east region program who would point their nose down at Husson and not consider a win over them a decent win. For a team coming off of an 0-10 season and the a season where 3-7 was a HUGE improvement, dlip would argue a win over Husson, an NCAA participant last season, a team with a respected coaching staff that is becoming on of the top programs in NE, for a team in Union's position, would be an excellent excellent win to start the season.

So please Pat let's stop being an agitator and taking pot shots at a Union program that is doing what is has to, with no claims of grandeur or outrageous goals (at least for now), to improve and take steps to get itself relevant again in a region where they fell so very far. For saying UfanBill's claims that a Dutchmen win, or even a great showing against Husson at this point in their drive for improvement would not be a solid early season accomplishment is simply short sighted and snobbish.

[dlippiel]

 Best of luck to dlip's beloved Dutchmen today!

[unionpalooza]

Second that! And to the rest of our LL brothers, too. Here's to hoping that Gusson's video feed is up to snuff!  I guess we shouldn't expect anything like the mighty video feeds of the North region and it's serious leagues...   

Best of luck to dlip's beloved Dutchmen today!

[Pat Coleman]

So please Pat let's stop being an agitator and taking pot shots at a Union program that is doing what is has to, with no claims of grandeur or outrageous goals (at least for now), to improve and take steps to get itself relevant again ...

Do please understand, people -- my issue has never been the fact that Union chose to take a couple of weaker non-conference games in order to pad its record. Especially when forced to schedule five in the East Region, that's hard to avoid. What stands out is the fact that Union chose to take five of those games (four if you're trying to be nice). When No. 107 Husson is the game that you can point to with pride on your non-conference schedule, that should really say it all. (No. 193 Coast Guard, No. 240 Gallaudet, No. 205 Curry, No. 167 Morrisville State are the rest.)

[Bartman]

GO Liberty league today ...winning outside the conference is key to our strength this year! Beautiful day in Geneva...Crisp sunny morning...Can't wait to year the thud of the pads!

[wesleydad]

Hobart getting dominated early, but avoid being down 14 when Brockport fumbles and then drive stalls and they miss the field goal.  Brockport offense looks pretty good.

[UfanBill]

First...It is so GREAT to have D3 football back...best time of the year. Union lost to a solid Husson team 20-7 but played extremely hard; the game was very even statistically. They're going to be challenged to score points offensively like today. The rebuilt OL looked OK, they made few glaring mistakes and will only get better. QB Nick Cascione will be fine and backup FY Will Bellamy has talent. RB Connor Kinzelman ran hard while finding little space early. The WRs were a surprising strength.  The defense showed that it can be counted on to stand strong. The deciding factors in the loss were turnovers, penalties and a missed field goal. These can be corrected. The long road trip may have been a factor but they better get used to it since they have more to come. Union needs to regain the ability to win close games like this, something that's been lacking. Overall while I was disappointed in the loss (I expected a Union win as always) the team looked like it has all the pieces needed to be successful.