FB: Liberty League

[ITH radio]

FNL? Nice.

When did the Saxons add lights to Yunevich, Pep? I imagine it was some years ago (I know they used them for last year's scrimmage with Hobart) but for some reason I don't recall a specific regular season night game there in recent years...

[UfanBill]

All the BEST to your dad Pep.

I'm listening to this at least once a day. This Is It...Stand Up and Fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WflkuBweSYo

[AUPepBand]

FNL? Nice.

When did the Saxons add lights to Yunevich, Pep? I imagine it was some years ago (I know they used them for last year's scrimmage with Hobart) but for some reason I don't recall a specific regular season night game there in recent years...

There have been lights on Merrill Field since 1930. In deference to the Seventh Day Baptists' Sabbath (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday), the Saxons played their football games beginning at 8:15 p.m. Saturday nights. As the SDB influence waned over the years, Alfred moved to Saturday afternoon games (late 1950s or early 1960s). Pep still remembers playing some night games. Probably the most notable was the Saxons' 2002 opener. AU's Jesse Raynor did it all that game...and his versatility was noted on the former ESPN Thursday Night College Football Game halftime highlights with the game video capturing all of the moths gathered around the stadium lights.

Yunevich Stadium has new LED lighting, donated by an alum whose company now produces the more efficient stadium lights. I.e., there were three poles on the visitors' side in the past, with the center pole obstructing fans' view of the field. With the new LED lights, that pole was removed and the field is lighted with just two banks of lights on the visitors' side.

Saxons had a Saturday night game with Rochester last season. Pep noticed the students really came out for that one and it made for a fun evening. Pep is thinking they liked the results and are looking to schedule at least one home night game each season.

But Friday Night? That's got to be a first ever for Alfred! The Sabbath begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday. That's the reason AU played Saturday night games its first 60 seasons or so.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bartman]

Someone said we need to get rid of the Corona to play in the Fall, so I've been drinking as much as possible but, damn they keep restocking it. The sacrifices we make for football

Hey Bartman, hoping you'll have consumed all that Corona by pre-season...hoping to see you still standin' on Sept. 5 in Mayberry!

+K

Pep,
    I would love to be in Mayberry to start the season, but Bartman is concerned that social distancing and the six foot splits on the line and virtual tackling might take something away from the game, although I noticed that Allegany County only has 2 cases of Corona....you must have been drinking and partying so much in your county to only have 2 cases left.....so with such progress in fighting the virus in Mayberry, I think it is looking good for a real Saxon-Statesmen game if we stay focused....Only about 5 months to go, we can do this!....Keep drinking  to eliminate  Corona and play real football this Fall 

At last count, there are 9 cases of Corona in Allegany County, someone must have smuggled a few more cases over the Steuben County line...noticed that the Hobart-Alfred clash will be a Friday Night (under the) Lights event in Yunevich Stadium. Kickoff at 7 p.m....at the start of the Sabbath.

Told Pep's Pops of the night game, suggesting "like the good old days" but the 92-year-old youngster, a Saxon follower since September 1937, who was given six months to live by a VA Hospital ER doctor in March 2019, said he wasn't thrilled with a night game...means he'll need to stay up past his bedtime.

On Saxon Warriors!

God Bless Pep's Pops.....a secret weapon for the Saxon Warriors.....

[UfanBill]

UNION FOOTBALL coach Behrman has named his captains for the 2020 season. All 5 are seniors.
C-  Ryan Ehrets
S-  Mark Zazarro
DL- Daniel Gioioso
LB- Colin Lama
QB- Will Bellamy

All but the underappreciated Zazzaro have been First Team All Liberty League selections...Of note: Lama and Gioisso were high school teammates at Xaverian Brothers, Ct.(nice get by the Union staff)

Let's hope we see these five on the field this fall.

FIRE THE CANNON

[Jonny Utah]

UNION FOOTBALL coach Behrman has named his captains for the 2020 season. All 5 are seniors.
C-  Ryan Ehrets
S-  Mark Zazarro
DL- Daniel Gioioso
LB- Colin Lama
QB- Will Bellamy

All but the underappreciated Zazzaro have been First Team All Liberty League selections...Of note: Lama and Gioisso were high school teammates at Xaverian Brothers, Ct.(nice get by the Union staff)

Let's hope we see these five on the field this fall.

FIRE THE CANNON

Minor detail but Xaverian is in Massachusetts (less than a mile from my house in fact).

[UfanBill]

UNION FOOTBALL coach Behrman has named his captains for the 2020 season. All 5 are seniors.
C-  Ryan Ehrets
S-  Mark Zazarro
DL- Daniel Gioioso
LB- Colin Lama
QB- Will Bellamy

All but the underappreciated Zazzaro have been First Team All Liberty League selections...Of note: Lama and Gioisso were high school teammates at Xaverian Brothers, Ct.(nice get by the Union staff)

Let's hope we see these five on the field this fall.

FIRE THE CANNON

Minor detail but Xaverian is in Massachusetts (less than a mile from my house in fact).

Thanks Utah, my mistake. This gives me an opportunity to mention that Union RB Ike Irabor is yet another Xaverian,Mass product. Have the Bombers pulled any top recruits from your backyard recently?

[Ithaca798891]

Had heard that Joe G was considering playing overseas but that's likely scrapped given the current environment. Really not a lot of prospects in this senior class but I could see some in the Class of 2021 at a few of the LL schools.

He was signed by a team in Germany three weeks ago.

[Oline89]

Had heard that Joe G was considering playing overseas but that's likely scrapped given the current environment. Really not a lot of prospects in this senior class but I could see some in the Class of 2021 at a few of the LL schools.

He was signed by a team in Germany three weeks ago.

Found this:
http://www.gfl.info/?s=germinerio

[Caz Bombers]

more like German-erio amirite

[Jonny Utah]

UNION FOOTBALL coach Behrman has named his captains for the 2020 season. All 5 are seniors.
C-  Ryan Ehrets
S-  Mark Zazarro
DL- Daniel Gioioso
LB- Colin Lama
QB- Will Bellamy

All but the underappreciated Zazzaro have been First Team All Liberty League selections...Of note: Lama and Gioisso were high school teammates at Xaverian Brothers, Ct.(nice get by the Union staff)

Let's hope we see these five on the field this fall.

FIRE THE CANNON

Minor detail but Xaverian is in Massachusetts (less than a mile from my house in fact).

Thanks Utah, my mistake. This gives me an opportunity to mention that Union RB Ike Irabor is yet another Xaverian,Mass product. Have the Bombers pulled any top recruits from your backyard recently?

No for some reason Ithaca does not recruit as hard in MA as they used to.  Coach Butterfield himself would be responsible for recruiting New England Prep schools and private schools.  Although Ithaca had a kicker/punter from Xaverian (Brian Fallon) who has done well athletically and academically, IC has focused more on PA.

[UfanBill]

Just trying to keep something going on this board...Union College has launched a total redesign of it's athletic website. Go to www.unionathletics.com to check it out.

[ITH radio]

I'm not a fan of Sidearm. Their live stats are a PITA to view and get data from, but they're an Upstate based co so not surprised they got Union to sign up.

Hobart released it's schedule today. Basically same as last year / flipped of course, but with two new adds:

Wk 1 FNL game @ Alfred
Wk 2 vs. Morrisville
Wk 3 @ Rowan
Wk 4 vs. Keystone (Homecoming game)
Wk 5 vs. Union
Wk 6 @ RPI
Wk 7 vs. IC
Wk 8 BYE
Wk 9 @ SLU (this could be a sneaky great game)
Wk 10 @ Buff St
Wk 11 vs. UofR

[Oline89]

Great that Hobart was able to secure 10 games this year.  Keystone for Homecoming is a nice add, shouldn't be too challenging, but at least some fresh blood. 

So here is my poll to keep some interest alive, IF the 2020 season is  a go but with restrictions, what would you prefer?

Social distancing for all fans at games (no tailgating)?

No out of conference games?

Delay season to the Spring?

Start season when school starts, no preseason camp (whole season delayed by 3 weeks)?

[jknezek]

Great that Hobart was able to secure 10 games this year.  Keystone for Homecoming is a nice add, shouldn't be too challenging, but at least some fresh blood. 

So here is my poll to keep some interest alive, IF the 2020 season is  a go but with restrictions, what would you prefer?

Social distancing for all fans at games (no tailgating)?

No out of conference games?

Delay season to the Spring?

Start season when school starts, no preseason camp (whole season delayed by 3 weeks)?

I'd say the social distancing option. Though I think combining no OOC with the later start might also be a good idea just provide more time for things to die down. But if students can be in dorms, and eating in communal meal halls, both are just known places for viruses to spread, then I think they can play football.