FB: Liberty League

[Bartman]

UFanBill,
     Bombers and I tie again, but , must admit the RPI game Call was awesomely accurate ,I am a bit worried that Saints are a threat on Senior Day for the Statesmen next week.

[Bartman]

LAST WEEK:

Ithaca        24(14)              Utica     17(0)       Nabi pulls it out in the end, another LL win over E8 CHECK
RPI            21(21)              SLU       17(17)     Saints almost catch Engineers overlooking the game CHECK
   Nice Week

THIS WEEK:

Rochester    10              RPI       35        RPI keeps serve and looking to wear the Shoes next week
SLU             17             Hobart   42       Hobart Seniors play with intensity in last Home game
Union          24             Ithaca    23       Something strange will happen in this game as Union wins in Bomberville

This sets up a Shoes game for all the marbles....

On Senior Day this Saturday HWS will give thanks to all the Statesmen seniors for 2 LL titles, 33-9 four year record (and hopefully 3 more wins), 2 NCAA appearances and 2-2 Playoff  record, many passing and receiving records broken thanks to Sweeney , Shed and your brothers on Offense ..... Geneva youth /community volunteer activities and academic successes(including contributing to the overall Statesmen athlete's GPA which exceeds the average GPA for all Hobart men).  Hip Hobart

[Bombers798891]

The IC Union games have almost all been fantastic recently. The difference has been big defensive plays by Ithaca and mistakes by Union.

2010: Bombers leading 28-20, Spence White seals game with INT
2011: Union turns ball over 5 times, sets up IC with several short fields
2012: IC gets on board with fumble return for TD, rallies thanks to a botched punt snap
2015: Malik Morris seals game with pick 6
2016: IC wins 14-9 with, fumble return for TD the difference.

Union could have won several of these games, and should have won in 2012. They've just been snakebit. It's a little like Cortaca for IC. Yes, they have lost seven in a row, but the games have been essentially toss ups

[Bartman]

The IC Union games have almost all been fantastic recently. The difference has been big defensive plays by Ithaca and mistakes by Union.

2010: Bombers leading 28-20, Spence White seals game with INT
2011: Union turns ball over 5 times, sets up IC with several short fields
2012: IC gets on board with fumble return for TD, rallies thanks to a botched punt snap
2015: Malik Morris seals game with pick 6
2016: IC wins 14-9 with, fumble return for TD the difference.

Union could have won several of these games, and should have won in 2012. They've just been snakebit. It's a little like Cortaca for IC. Yes, they have lost seven in a row, but the games have been essentially toss ups

Bombers +k for this color..... seems to be a more disciplined Union team this year...... impressed with Ithaca defense and the Nabi-Gladney connection. Both young coaching staffs have made their mark this year ....should be a great game...good luck

[UfanBill]

The IC Union games have almost all been fantastic recently. The difference has been big defensive plays by Ithaca and mistakes by Union.

2010: Bombers leading 28-20, Spence White seals game with INT
2011: Union turns ball over 5 times, sets up IC with several short fields
2012: IC gets on board with fumble return for TD, rallies thanks to a botched punt snap
2015: Malik Morris seals game with pick 6
2016: IC wins 14-9 with, fumble return for TD the difference.

Union could have won several of these games, and should have won in 2012. They've just been snakebit. It's a little like Cortaca for IC. Yes, they have lost seven in a row, but the games have been essentially toss ups

Bombers, I have a lot of respect for you for admitting that Union "could" have won two or more of the Ithaca games played in recent years. I got a lot of flack last year for repeating Union "should" have won so I let that lie. Those Union teams played the Bombers very even but just didn't have the one thing that usually makes the difference when two teams are closely matched...the ability to seal the deal. This year under coach Jeff Berhrman, the Dutchmen have been able to finish. This includes keeping penalties and turnovers to a minimum. I think they'll do well if they don't shoot themselves in the foot. Butterfield usually is a very, very tough place to play mistake free football however.

[@d3jason]

Has anyone noticed that the NCAA stats still have Springfield in the Liberty League?

[Bombers798891]

Bombers, I have a lot of respect for you for admitting that Union "could" have won two or more of the Ithaca games played in recent years. I got a lot of flack last year for repeating Union "should" have won so I let that lie. Those Union teams played the Bombers very even but just didn't have the one thing that usually makes the difference when two teams are closely matched...the ability to seal the deal. This year under coach Jeff Berhrman, the Dutchmen have been able to finish. This includes keeping penalties and turnovers to a minimum. I think they'll do well if they don't shoot themselves in the foot. Butterfield usually is a very, very tough place to play mistake free football however.

There's a small, but important distinction between "could have" won, and "should have." Nearly every close game could be won by either team. But not every close game is a game a team "should" have won. Turnovers happen, teams stall in the red zone all the time.

The difference in the 2012 game was that Union had a 14-point lead with 6:40 to go, and had not allowed Ithaca's offense to do anything. But they give up the long drive for a TD, go nowhere on offense, and just botch a punt snap. They had that game sewn up, and didn't finish.

[UfanBill]

Bombers, I have a lot of respect for you for admitting that Union "could" have won two or more of the Ithaca games played in recent years. I got a lot of flack last year for repeating Union "should" have won so I let that lie. Those Union teams played the Bombers very even but just didn't have the one thing that usually makes the difference when two teams are closely matched...the ability to seal the deal This year under coach Jeff Berhrman, the Dutchmen have been able to finish. This includes keeping penalties and turnovers to a minimum. I think they'll do well if they don't shoot themselves in the foot. Butterfield usually is a very, very tough place to play mistake free football however.

There's a small, but important distinction between "could have" won, and "should have." Nearly every close game could be won by either team. But not every close game is a game a team "should" have won. Turnovers happen, teams stall in the red zone all the time.

The difference in the 2012 game was that Union had a 14-point lead with 6:40 to go, and had not allowed Ithaca's offense to do anything. But they give up the long drive for a TD, go nowhere on offense, and just botch a punt snap. They had that game sewn up, and didn't finish.

Bombers, we agree 100% about "should" and "would". I said Union has a hard time finishing. I've either attended or watched online EVERY Ithaca/Union game starting with the two NCAA games in the early '90s. I was there when the Bombers executed the 2 minute offense to perfection to overcome a late Union lead in the first one and when Ithaca outscored Union in overtime in the second. Both excruciating losses that Union could have won. I also saw the 2005 tourney game where the "U" offense was unstoppable in a game Union should have and did win. I've been to Butterfield and saw Union find ways to lose games that IMO they not only could have but should have won. Fact is Union's NEVER won at Butterfield and this year's team will need to play mistake free and finish to change that.

[Bartman]

I have calculated the statistical chances of 2 good LL teams that have NEVER won at Butterfield and both losing in the same year to be a low probability. Hobart has already continued that losing string for one of the 2 teams....so the chance of Union also losing at Butterfield this Saturday is very improbable.....now go out and win the game ....and may the godds be with you.

[AUPepBand]

I have calculated the statistical chances of 2 good LL teams that have NEVER won at Butterfield and both losing in the same year to be a low probability. Hobart has already continued that losing string for one of the 2 teams....so the chance of Union also losing at Butterfield this Saturday is very improbable.....now go out and win the game ....and may the godds be with you.

Hey, the Saxons won there this year (quite remarkably!)....and back in 2011, but then it was all losses going back to 1982!

[Bartman]

I have calculated the statistical chances of 2 good LL teams that have NEVER won at Butterfield and both losing in the same year to be a low probability. Hobart has already continued that losing string for one of the 2 teams....so the chance of Union also losing at Butterfield this Saturday is very improbable.....now go out and win the game ....and may the godds be with you.

Hey, the Saxons won there this year (quite remarkably!)....and back in 2011, but then it was all losses going back to 1982!

Way to rub it in Pep ....now that IC is in the LL, at least we get a shot every 2 years....still agonizing over the Union and Ithaca losses this year......best of luck to the Saxon Warriors Saturday

[Garnet]

https://www.unionathletics.com/news/2017/11/2/football-leagues-top-two-set-to-clash-in-ithaca.aspx

[wally_wabash]

Well done in the Quick Hits, Bombers!  +1

[dlippiel]

Indeed a +k to bombers for Quickhits!!! It's about time we get a celebrity here on the ****ing LLPP!

[UfanBill]

https://www.unionathletics.com/news/2017/11/2/football-leagues-top-two-set-to-clash-in-ithaca.aspx

Thanks Garnet, Unfortunately when going to this page and clicking on the link to Union Game Notes it took me to the HOCKEY game notes, NOT Football. I'm not sure if that's a function of Union's recent turnover at SID or further indication of how hockey has supplanted football in importance at the school. . I contacted the school to inform them of this SNAFU. Hopefully the Football Game Notes will appear soon....a big - k to the Union SID staff.