FB: Liberty League

[Bombers798891]

Stray thought:

Outside of their own losses, IC's Pool C chances were really undone by Alfred, who managed to beat Cortland, thus ensuing the Red Dragons would not be RR, before then losing to Utica and Fisher, ensuring they wouldn't be either

[Bartman]

Stray thought:

Outside of their own losses, IC's Pool C chances were really undone by Alfred, who managed to beat Cortland, thus ensuing the Red Dragons would not be RR, before then losing to Utica and Fisher, ensuring they wouldn't be either

Pep should at least offer the support of the Alfred Pep band for the ECAC Bowl the Bombers play in. It would only be right. Can't wait to play the Bombers next year at Butterfield with all of the young talent on both sides growing one year older. can the streak be broken. Good luck to the Bombers this weekend, you have had a great season .

[Ice Bear]

First things first: Ithaca won Cortaca. Cortland did not

It was a strange game though. In the first half, Cortland played some of the worst, most undisciplined football I've ever seen. Ithaca could (and probably should) have led 31-0 at the half. But credit the Red Dragons for fighting back, and nearly pulling off the comeback. It was a messy game, filled with mistakes on both sides. Glad IC won.

Overall, the LL was kind of odd. It reminds me a lot of the 2013 E8, where IC won it, but you never really got the sense that they were the best team in the conference. Indeed, you could probably make convincing cases for IC or Union this year.

But RPI is where they want to be, in the NCAAs, and with a pretty favorable first round matchup, given what we've been told all year about NE football. Of course, the two teams have a common opponent who waxed both of them, so...

Good thoughts here bombers. Congrats to IC on a solid season and Bartman congrats to Hobart on a solid season which gives the Statesmen much promise heading into next season.

RPI is capable of taking care of Husson but this won't be easy for the Engineers. Dlip is rooting for them big time but they must limit there mistakes on O against Husson in order to win. It's a nice matchup and should be a good game. Husson has really grown as a program in the past 5 years and is certainly one of the toughest outs in NE.

[Oline89]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this LL season.  As predicted by all of you gurus out there, almost every game (respectfully excluding U of R)was hotly contested and could have gone either way.  Fully behind RPI, and look forward to a first round win against the best of NE.  I will hold off on commenting on next year, until the year is officially over for the LL, hopefully not for a few more weeks....
I also left my strong opinions on LL participation in NY Bowl on another post, no need to repeat here.

[UfanBill]

Alright, ready for the playoffs! However, I feel I must do my due diligence and give my $.02 on the RPI/Union game since I actually made the trip out to Troy to see it. RPI is 0-1 with me in attendance this year if anyone's keeping track.

First off, lots of respect to Union. They came to play, they were fired up, and had some pretty darn good athletes. None of those things are unexpected and the first 2 certainly gave Union an advantage and you saw it right from the first whistle. The Union WR #2 is a total stud. I was very impressed by him. Needs to work on his body language a bit when things aren't going his way, but i'd say he was the best athlete on the field and will be a force for years to come. Union's QB, he was fine. I wasn't overly impressed, but it's tough to judge a QB when you are stuck thinking he looks like a D-Tackle. He threw the ball pretty well.. Made some pretty good decisions. But on a few scrambles, he was a few Doritos Locos Tacos short of some backbreaking first downs. If Union nips that in the bud for next year, they will have a pretty slick QB/WR duo. Union's Defense was tough, however, for me, it comes with a 'but' which i'll hit on below. Congrats to Union, it was a big win, and you have the shoes back after a long departure. Like I said to some of their less than stellar fans telling me to check the scoreboard...Good luck at your game next week...

So over to RPI. SO i'll openly admit, i've watched about a half of RPI football this year on stream. I've listened to every game though. I don't know if this 3-4 yard crossing route  junk was their offense all year, but if it was, i'm very clear now why their offense was struggling. Union clearly was expecting this ALL day, so they did what any smart team would do and they jammed 9 guys inside the hashes and made it congested. A throw being a little off or a hand getting in there somewhere is almost an automatic INT. Felt like it happened about 6 times in the first half. So as any good coaching staff should do, they would adjust for half 2 right? Wrong. It was like that definition of 'insanity' where you do the same things over and over hoping for a different result. The deep 3rd was clearly wide open and Union was giving it away. RPI went there maybe 2-3 times and had success but that was it. By the end of the game, I was disgusted by the offensive game plan, the play calling and the coaching from the Offensive side.

The Defense was tough. Most of Unions points were on turnover scores or turnover short fields. The offense just kept giving it back and giving it back and giving it back. And then, the play of the game, with 6 and a half minutes to play, 4th and 4 on your own 6 down by 10....There is one choice...To punt and hope for a stop. Plenty of time for a 10 point deficit. But no, RPI goes for it, runs another garbage crossing route that wasn't even close and Union scores one play later. It was embarrassing and a let down.

Moving to the final touchdown, and something the artist formerly known as DLIP might have called classless a year ago if the shoes were on different feet...The RPI QB throws yet another INT with minutes to go, Union intercepts, runs it back for a TD and the dude chucked the ball up and over the field house. People in the stands were yelling and screaming and all that jazz. While I didn't like the end result(7 points and a W for Union), I smilled(sp) and said to my man Krazy Krazy, 'That sucked, but tossing the ball over the field house was pretty awesome. I woulda totally done that.'  In this rivalry, stuff like that should be expected and absorbed. In this case, well done to that dude. I hope you got a flat tire on the way back to the Schenecta-ghetto, but well done.

I've been saying for weeks that for RPI, nothing good could come from the Union game. This is a game that RPI traditionally loses this time of year and they followed suit. I hope the Offensive Coordinator was trying to hide stuff from Husson or something. There HAS to be a rhyme or reason for that right? It was atrocious. But I hope they can get it together for next week.

Last thought, I figured RPI losing to Union would hurt them for playoff seedings. Realistically, based on how the 'East' bracket played out, I don't think it would have been much different at all. RPI hosts Husson, which was the guess a week ago. Winner gets Brockport. Winner would've likely gotten Brockport or Frosty either way most likely.

After last week, Husson scares me much more and I hope RPI puts it together and takes care of business.

    Mach, Dlip apparently has taken the high road and will not respond to your nonsense. I will. Thanks for your $.02 worth of opinion. For someone who admittedly has watched virtually no D3 football this year in my opinion, your opinion is worthless.  I have watched a ton of football this year, as I have every year. Those crossing patterns you're referring to have worked well against Union this season. I suspect the RPI staff watched video of Ithaca using them to defeat the Dutchman.  That's what a good coaching staff does. Instead of bemoaning your teams inability to make it work in the Shoes game how about giving Union credit for preparation to defend them. 
    As for the Union QB being slow and "looking like a D-Tackle"...that's #15 Will Bellamy. He's listed at 5'11'' 200#, hardly D-Tackle size. He may not be the fastest guy out there but he was quick enough to avoid the RPI pass rush(0 sacks) and deliver the ball great in the swirling, gusty wind. I'm unsure if he likes tacos but he is from Louisiana, so I'd go cajun. WR#2 is Andre Ross Jr. who will not only be the LL rookie of the year but leads the league in receptions, yards and TDs. Yes that freshman is a STUD. You didn't mention #20 RB Ike' Irabor. If Ross Jr. doesn't win rookie of the year Irabor will...AND that "Dude" that "chucked the ball" up on the roof. That's LL 1st team LB #7 Jack Reilly who has endured an 0-10 season and 3 previous Shoes losses. His pick 6 to end his college career was EPIC. I'm sure he would have jumped up on the roof if he could have... and on the Union side we all smiled too.
   Good luck to the Engineers next week against Husson...a game I'll be watching and you probably won't. The Dutchmen beat Husson 30-7 in their opener this year. I'm sure the "insane" RPI coaching staff will watch video of that game to prepare.
   

[Bombers798891]

Weighing in on the RPI-Union thing:

1. I'd have to agree with Mach on the RPI offensive gameplan stuff. I remember thinking the same thing when I watched them against IC (whose defense is, granted, elite). The Engineers weren't even trying to get the ball down the field. Also, as he says, part of the issue isn't that Union came prepared, but that RPI didn't adjust in the 2nd half.

2. I'm torn on the idea of going for it/punting at the end. My gut says that Mach's answer of "Punt and hope for a stop" actually doesn't help RPI at all. Unless Union botches the return (as I saw Cortland do against IC) or RPI gets a turnover/block, given the field position, I don't see how RPI comes out better. You might gain 15-20 yards of field position, but at the expense of two minutes. I'd have gone for it, but I'd have said "screw it" and tried to go downfield for a big gain. Running something short, as Mach says, isn't going to do anything

[south hill observer]

I would of loved to see Ithaca play Wesley in ECAC rather than the familiar Utica.

[Machiavelli]

Alright, ready for the playoffs! However, I feel I must do my due diligence and give my $.02 on the RPI/Union game since I actually made the trip out to Troy to see it. RPI is 0-1 with me in attendance this year if anyone's keeping track.

First off, lots of respect to Union. They came to play, they were fired up, and had some pretty darn good athletes. None of those things are unexpected and the first 2 certainly gave Union an advantage and you saw it right from the first whistle. The Union WR #2 is a total stud. I was very impressed by him. Needs to work on his body language a bit when things aren't going his way, but i'd say he was the best athlete on the field and will be a force for years to come. Union's QB, he was fine. I wasn't overly impressed, but it's tough to judge a QB when you are stuck thinking he looks like a D-Tackle. He threw the ball pretty well.. Made some pretty good decisions. But on a few scrambles, he was a few Doritos Locos Tacos short of some backbreaking first downs. If Union nips that in the bud for next year, they will have a pretty slick QB/WR duo. Union's Defense was tough, however, for me, it comes with a 'but' which i'll hit on below. Congrats to Union, it was a big win, and you have the shoes back after a long departure. Like I said to some of their less than stellar fans telling me to check the scoreboard...Good luck at your game next week...

So over to RPI. SO i'll openly admit, i've watched about a half of RPI football this year on stream. I've listened to every game though. I don't know if this 3-4 yard crossing route  junk was their offense all year, but if it was, i'm very clear now why their offense was struggling. Union clearly was expecting this ALL day, so they did what any smart team would do and they jammed 9 guys inside the hashes and made it congested. A throw being a little off or a hand getting in there somewhere is almost an automatic INT. Felt like it happened about 6 times in the first half. So as any good coaching staff should do, they would adjust for half 2 right? Wrong. It was like that definition of 'insanity' where you do the same things over and over hoping for a different result. The deep 3rd was clearly wide open and Union was giving it away. RPI went there maybe 2-3 times and had success but that was it. By the end of the game, I was disgusted by the offensive game plan, the play calling and the coaching from the Offensive side.

The Defense was tough. Most of Unions points were on turnover scores or turnover short fields. The offense just kept giving it back and giving it back and giving it back. And then, the play of the game, with 6 and a half minutes to play, 4th and 4 on your own 6 down by 10....There is one choice...To punt and hope for a stop. Plenty of time for a 10 point deficit. But no, RPI goes for it, runs another garbage crossing route that wasn't even close and Union scores one play later. It was embarrassing and a let down.

Moving to the final touchdown, and something the artist formerly known as DLIP might have called classless a year ago if the shoes were on different feet...The RPI QB throws yet another INT with minutes to go, Union intercepts, runs it back for a TD and the dude chucked the ball up and over the field house. People in the stands were yelling and screaming and all that jazz. While I didn't like the end result(7 points and a W for Union), I smilled(sp) and said to my man Krazy Krazy, 'That sucked, but tossing the ball over the field house was pretty awesome. I woulda totally done that.'  In this rivalry, stuff like that should be expected and absorbed. In this case, well done to that dude. I hope you got a flat tire on the way back to the Schenecta-ghetto, but well done.

I've been saying for weeks that for RPI, nothing good could come from the Union game. This is a game that RPI traditionally loses this time of year and they followed suit. I hope the Offensive Coordinator was trying to hide stuff from Husson or something. There HAS to be a rhyme or reason for that right? It was atrocious. But I hope they can get it together for next week.

Last thought, I figured RPI losing to Union would hurt them for playoff seedings. Realistically, based on how the 'East' bracket played out, I don't think it would have been much different at all. RPI hosts Husson, which was the guess a week ago. Winner gets Brockport. Winner would've likely gotten Brockport or Frosty either way most likely.

After last week, Husson scares me much more and I hope RPI puts it together and takes care of business.

    Mach, Dlip apparently has taken the high road and will not respond to your nonsense. I will. Thanks for your $.02 worth of opinion. For someone who admittedly has watched virtually no D3 football this year in my opinion, your opinion is worthless.  I have watched a ton of football this year, as I have every year. Those crossing patterns you're referring to have worked well against Union this season. I suspect the RPI staff watched video of Ithaca using them to defeat the Dutchman.  That's what a good coaching staff does. Instead of bemoaning your teams inability to make it work in the Shoes game how about giving Union credit for preparation to defend them. 
    As for the Union QB being slow and "looking like a D-Tackle"...that's #15 Will Bellamy. He's listed at 5'11'' 200#, hardly D-Tackle size. He may not be the fastest guy out there but he was quick enough to avoid the RPI pass rush(0 sacks) and deliver the ball great in the swirling, gusty wind. I'm unsure if he likes tacos but he is from Louisiana, so I'd go cajun. WR#2 is Andre Ross Jr. who will not only be the LL rookie of the year but leads the league in receptions, yards and TDs. Yes that freshman is a STUD. You didn't mention #20 RB Ike' Irabor. If Ross Jr. doesn't win rookie of the year Irabor will...AND that "Dude" that "chucked the ball" up on the roof. That's LL 1st team LB #7 Jack Reilly who has endured an 0-10 season and 3 previous Shoes losses. His pick 6 to end his college career was EPIC. I'm sure he would have jumped up on the roof if he could have... and on the Union side we all smiled too.
   Good luck to the Engineers next week against Husson...a game I'll be watching and you probably won't. The Dutchmen beat Husson 30-7 in their opener this year. I'm sure the "insane" RPI coaching staff will watch video of that game to prepare.
   

UFanBill, i've commented about your comprehension(or extreme lack thereof) in the past, and it still holds true. While it pains me to the core, I was actually being quite complimentary to Union. They came out ready to play, were very well coached, and had a ton of talent. I might start a new movement and called #BillToo for every time someone gets overly sensitive(sp. butt hurt?). Oh you're a Cortland grad and are upset that Ithaca beat you yesterday and probably laughed at your fandom? #BillToo. Oh, Western CT is upset because they lost to powerhouse Westfield St and didn't get a Pool C bid? #BillToo

Anyway, DB/Dlip doesn't have a 'high road' to take. At least I don't think so. Last year he got overly emotional about something that happened at the game. Then he realized this is what the rivalry is all about and retracted it. I was in the crowd with a bunch of RPI fans pissed off cause a dude threw the ball over the field house. I am giving him props. I genuinely liked his moves. I think DB/Dlip would appreciate that sentiment. We've come a long way in a year(some of us). I apologize for calling him a 'dude' and not knowing his entire life story. But for real, I don't care if he's a 4th year senior that was on an 0-10 team or was playing his first game this past week after quitting the Union soccer team. I give credit to the gesture. Whether it was 'epic' or not, that's your call. I thought it was pretty dope though.

Moving on, if the Union QB is 5'11" 200lbs in the program, then i'm sure the kicker/punter is listed at 6'5" 185 lbs. The QB seems pretty good. Maybe if he gets a little more serious he could be great. But I know nothing about the kid. Maybe he totally breaks his balls and is big boned or has a thyroid issue or something. I don't know. But if I were a Union fan, i'd want the coaches to work him hard and micromanage his every move all offseason so he is GREAT next year, rather than simply making excuses. But as an RPI fan, maybe next year he'll be 5'11" 205 in the program.

Next, i'm currently in the middle of being Dad to 2 young children and my football fandom has taken a back seat and has only allowed me to listen to games on Saturdays while playing Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. Clearly, this takes away any credibility that I have though, right? Well, genius, feel free to check my history, but most of what I say, that isn't pure sarcasm, is spot on most of the time. I've forgotten more about football than most superfans, like yourself, have any ability to absorb. Honestly, it's a curse as I can't watch a game in person and entirely enjoy it, because I over analyze every single aspect of the game. I'll cheer for my team, but i'll criticize both teams and coaches equally as I see fit. I'm sure you enjoy wearing your stupid maroon turtle neck and shaking the f'ing Union cowbell though.

And finally, to put this year's Dutchmen Shoes game to rest, from what I know, Union has decided NOT to make itself available for any postseason play. I have 2 feelings about this:

1. I think Union would have been a great representative of the LL for a postseason game, and it's a shame they will not get that opportunity.
2. With a young, up and coming team and coaching staff, I think an additional game would be very beneficial to them in the longer term, and unfortunately they won't get the chance.

I'm sure the Union Administration has valid reasons for this decision, but in the interest of the LL getting better year over year, I think that isn't a step in the right direction. As an RPI fan, i'm fine with it.

This concludes the LL regular season for me. Writing this made my feelings hurt a bit. #BillToo

[Bartman]

Mach,
     Whew, way too long a post. Good luck to RPI and I hope as the LL rep  you will triumph, however methinks Mach may have jinxed the Engineers by trashing the New Englanders. Husson 20, RPI 17
Oh, and I thought the football throw up on the roof by Union was some kind of Shoes tradition...like when you are kids and you want the game to end because you are ahead and you throw the ball away...at least they didn't hang a slide rule in effigy......uncouth Dutchmen they are.

[UfanBill]

Mach...As to my "comprehension" like I've said to you in the past your sacastic way of complementing someone while throwing derogatory jabs is not to my liking. If that's how you always roll I'll continue to refute you. Of course you were complementary to the Union team. They just dominated your Engineers. I admit I wear a Union cap but have never wrung a cowbell in my life but I'll defend the Union parents who do. As for being "sensitive", yeah I get offended when someone like you wants to come back on this board and thinks your opinion should dominate the conversation. You want your opinion to be valued?  Try not being a pompous ass. Be like Bartman who's informed, concise and unbiased. Values you can pass on in your parenting.

[Machiavelli]

Mach...As to my "comprehension" like I've said to you in the past your sacastic way of complementing someone while throwing derogatory jabs is not to my liking. If that's how you always roll I'll continue to refute you. Of course you were complementary to the Union team. They just dominated your Engineers. I admit I wear a Union cap but have never wrung a cowbell in my life but I'll defend the Union parents who do. As for being "sensitive", yeah I get offended when someone like you wants to come back on this board and thinks your opinion should dominate the conversation. You want your opinion to be valued?  Try not being a pompous ass. Be like Bartman who's informed, concise and unbiased. Values you can pass on in your parenting.

#BillToo

[Machiavelli]

Mach,
     Whew, way too long a post. Good luck to RPI and I hope as the LL rep  you will triumph, however methinks Mach may have jinxed the Engineers by trashing the New Englanders. Husson 20, RPI 17
Oh, and I thought the football throw up on the roof by Union was some kind of Shoes tradition...like when you are kids and you want the game to end because you are ahead and you throw the ball away...at least they didn't hang a slide rule in effigy......uncouth Dutchmen they are.

BM, after last week, that is my fear as well and I won't live it down. That said, RPI wins next week by double digits.

[Bartman]

Mach...As to my "comprehension" like I've said to you in the past your sacastic way of complementing someone while throwing derogatory jabs is not to my liking. If that's how you always roll I'll continue to refute you. Of course you were complementary to the Union team. They just dominated your Engineers. I admit I wear a Union cap but have never wrung a cowbell in my life but I'll defend the Union parents who do. As for being "sensitive", yeah I get offended when someone like you wants to come back on this board and thinks your opinion should dominate the conversation. You want your opinion to be valued?  Try not being a pompous ass. Be like Bartman who's informed, concise and unbiased. Values you can pass on in your parenting.

Ufan, I appreciate the complement(+k)....but I think before any comparison, you need to understand the complexities of the Machmind. He roots out all  mushyness on earth and is uncompromisingly sarcastic, yet quite informed, as he admits. You need to feel his pain after such a lashing at the hands of the hated rival and the spoiling of an undefeated season. I think Mach just needs a safe space in Candyland before the Hussies game (+k for Mach's pain) . Mach predicts a double digit win......the team may need a gumdrops high to get there...for the LL sake I hope it is true 

[Caz Bombers]

I would of loved to see Ithaca play Wesley in ECAC rather than the familiar Utica.

Caz totally agrees, assuming we had to play an ECAC WGAF Bowl (would rather just not have). Caz does not approve of any arrangement that might let Utica think it's people.

[Oline89]

Amazing to me how the LL gets such little respect in the national top 25 poll.  RPI just got dumped from 14 to off the poll, Ithaca (top ranked team in the East, not getting auto bid to NCAA) gets a smattering of votes.  Muhlenberg goes 9-1, but plays a slew of noncompetitive teams in the CC, same argument for Del Vall.  Linfield goes 7-2, no real impressive wins but still makes the top 25.  The CCIW actually places 3 teams in the top 25 (North Central, Wheaton  and Il Wes), SAA also with two (Centre and Berry), the NCAC places 2 (Wabash and Wittenberg) not including Dennison who actually won the league.  It just doesn't seem that there is consistency, are they going for the best 25 teams, or the 25 teams most likely to make the playoffs?  I hope it is the former, in which case RPI and/or Ithaca deserves a spot.