FB: Liberty League

[ITH radio]

Talked about this in Noonan's last pod. Basically he was of the opinion the NCAA could take the Ivies lead (which is basically what they did this spring, starting with MLAX). Their games start in what would be Week 3, the NESCAC starts the same wkd, so it could be possible for the first two weeks to be cancelled should things regress after the Open Up Again plan gets thru Phase 2 and/or 3.

[Bartman]

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

I really hope we can fiqure out a way to balance recovering from the pandemic and the strong mitigation we have endured with opening up the colleges and universities and getting back to playing sports. Attending college is only four wonderful years in your life and these poor student athletes have really been short changed and the next academic year will really be a challenge. I hope the administrators and trustees have the wisdom to establish the right balance of safety and activities  and undergrads have the discipline and maturity to keep the disease under wraps and make the best of their remaining years. We know the flu has been a serious problem at all colleges in recent years, so while this disease may not target this age group, I don't think you want to give it a chance. Colleges will really have to adopt new protocols for residences , classrooms , libraries and lockerrooms/practice for athletes. It will be a pain in the ass, but it will be necessary to make students and their parents comfortable this Fall. Football will be a particular challenge due to the intimacy of the competition(A new bubble helmet...a face shield like the hockey players have??). I would be interested to hear from some of the health care D3 fans and high school coaches that frequent the board what they think is possible. Is intense testing prior to games an answer and which test will work best, and is this really possible? I realize that it will also be a function of discovering more and better treatments when the disease rears its head(and it will, if only on an isolated basis) since having a vaccine is not imminent, and we can't wait for a vaccine to live our lives over the next 12-18 months(IMO). If a team has one case does that mean they cancel the next 2 weeks of practice and games?....I dunno , but we have to figure this out in the next 2-3 months so I can see Pep and his team under the lights in Mayberry for the first game of the year(with my special Bartman mask). I'd love to be totally pumped , but I am guarded due to the unknowns at present and don't want to get my hopes all the way up quite yet....but I am excited to think I have a chance to have my hopes elevated. I just want to hear the boys sing.... Raise the Orange and Purple High following the next win, hopefully against an old time rival under the lights in Mayberry on 9/4  !

[Jonny Utah]

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

I really hope we can fiqure out a way to balance recovering from the pandemic and the strong mitigation we have endured with opening up the colleges and universities and getting back to playing sports. Attending college is only four wonderful years in your life and these poor student athletes have really been short changed and the next academic year will really be a challenge. I hope the administrators and trustees have the wisdom to establish the right balance of safety and activities  and undergrads have the discipline and maturity to keep the disease under wraps and make the best of their remaining years. We know the flu has been a serious problem at all colleges in recent years, so while this disease may not target this age group, I don't think you want to give it a chance. Colleges will really have to adopt new protocols for residences , classrooms , libraries and lockerrooms/practice for athletes. It will be a pain in the ass, but it will be necessary to make students and their parents comfortable this Fall. Football will be a particular challenge due to the intimacy of the competition(A new bubble helmet...a face shield like the hockey players have??). I would be interested to hear from some of the health care D3 fans and high school coaches that frequent the board what they think is possible. Is intense testing prior to games an answer and which test will work best, and is this really possible? I realize that it will also be a function of discovering more and better treatments when the disease rears its head(and it will, if only on an isolated basis) since having a vaccine is not imminent, and we can't wait for a vaccine to live our lives over the next 12-18 months(IMO). If a team has one case does that mean they cancel the next 2 weeks of practice and games?....I dunno , but we have to figure this out in the next 2-3 months so I can see Pep and his team under the lights in Mayberry for the first game of the year(with my special Bartman mask). I'd love to be totally pumped , but I am guarded due to the unknowns at present and don't want to get my hopes all the way up quite yet....but I am excited to think I have a chance to have my hopes elevated. I just want to hear the boys sing.... Raise the Orange and Purple High following the next win, hopefully against an old time rival under the lights in Mayberry on 9/4  !

Well said Bartman.

I guess the question everyone is wondering is whether or not TOP numbers will be affected by this.  Could be a huge problem.

[Bartman]

Jonny U...lol and +k, awesome perspective  on the TOP....

In the meanwhile, I think based on some discussions I've had we will have a season, it will most likely start a couple of weeks later to allow for adjustments to on campus openings....a real setback for season total TOP statistics with fewer games......but great news for football in general....even with social distancing for fans or limiting games to parents and family only....still lots of details to work out, but where there is a will there is a way...unfortunately if we start 2 weeks later, they will probably cancel the Hobart-Alfred game and I will have to postpone a visit to Mayberry...unless it ends up being a scrimmage , then I'll still be there

[Oline89]

Jonny U...lol and +k, awesome perspective  on the TOP....

In the meanwhile, I think based on some discussions I've had we will have a season, it will most likely start a couple of weeks later to allow for adjustments to on campus openings....a real setback for season total TOP statistics with fewer games......but great news for football in general....even with social distancing for fans or limiting games to parents and family only....still lots of details to work out, but where there is a will there is a way...unfortunately if we start 2 weeks later, they will probably cancel the Hobart-Alfred game and I will have to postpone a visit to Mayberry...unless it ends up being a scrimmage , then I'll still be there

A two week later start is probably a good bet.  If we eliminate the bye week, and extend the season by a single week, then a 9-10 game season is still an option.  Testing players preseason, daily checks of every student's temperature, stringent hand washing, staggered weight room training (maybe 10 players at a time), maybe even separate practice between offense and defense to limit exposures...
I don't see how equipment changes (eye shields) could help much, since the virus is spread through respiratory droplets.  Most important precaution of all: IF YOU FEEL SICK REPORT IT, AND STAY HOME. 

[The Mole]

Wanted to get some thoughts on U of R as a program. I know it has a very good academic reputation. Team has seen to really hit the skids last 4 years. I know the new Coach did a great job at MIT and is only there 2 years, so it may take some time. I also know the conference is no cakewalk and is not very kind to a rebuild. Good friend of mine has a son considering the school and I wanted to get some opinions and insight. Pretty good mid size academic school with decent facilities that plays in a tough conference. They should be better, right? I recall reading about a bizarre incident a few years ago that may have caused some bad press? Please, weigh in here. Trying to gather some facts for a young man making a big decision. Thanks in advance.

[Jonny Utah]

Wanted to get some thoughts on U of R as a program. I know it has a very good academic reputation. Team has seen to really hit the skids last 4 years. I know the new Coach did a great job at MIT and is only there 2 years, so it may take some time. I also know the conference is no cakewalk and is not very kind to a rebuild. Good friend of mine has a son considering the school and I wanted to get some opinions and insight. Pretty good mid size academic school with decent facilities that plays in a tough conference. They should be better, right? I recall reading about a bizarre incident a few years ago that may have caused some bad press? Please, weigh in here. Trying to gather some facts for a young man making a big decision. Thanks in advance.

I don't know too much about the Rochester football program, but in general it is a great school that is very well respected nationally.  The football program has been mediocre for about 30 years now.  I don't know the old coach Scott Greene at all, but he was there for a long time (local upstate kid who played d1 ball at Michigan State) and didn't do much with the program in terms of W/L records.  The kidnapping incident happened a while ago and although it was horrific, I'm not sure that has any effect on the program today in any way.

[Oline89]

Wanted to get some thoughts on U of R as a program. I know it has a very good academic reputation. Team has seen to really hit the skids last 4 years. I know the new Coach did a great job at MIT and is only there 2 years, so it may take some time. I also know the conference is no cakewalk and is not very kind to a rebuild. Good friend of mine has a son considering the school and I wanted to get some opinions and insight. Pretty good mid size academic school with decent facilities that plays in a tough conference. They should be better, right? I recall reading about a bizarre incident a few years ago that may have caused some bad press? Please, weigh in here. Trying to gather some facts for a young man making a big decision. Thanks in advance.

As far as football goes, I don't see the team winning a league game in the next 2 years.  The players seem very dedicated to the program, and there is great fan support.  Student support, not so much.  At the Hobart-UR game last year, the library was full by 10 AM, the stands were basically empty the whole game.  The city has some really rough areas, that are relatively close to campus, but nothing more than all mid size US cities.

[Bartman]

Jonny U...lol and +k, awesome perspective  on the TOP....

In the meanwhile, I think based on some discussions I've had we will have a season, it will most likely start a couple of weeks later to allow for adjustments to on campus openings....a real setback for season total TOP statistics with fewer games......but great news for football in general....even with social distancing for fans or limiting games to parents and family only....still lots of details to work out, but where there is a will there is a way...unfortunately if we start 2 weeks later, they will probably cancel the Hobart-Alfred game and I will have to postpone a visit to Mayberry...unless it ends up being a scrimmage , then I'll still be there

A two week later start is probably a good bet.  If we eliminate the bye week, and extend the season by a single week, then a 9-10 game season is still an option.  Testing players preseason, daily checks of every student's temperature, stringent hand washing, staggered weight room training (maybe 10 players at a time), maybe even separate practice between offense and defense to limit exposures...
I don't see how equipment changes (eye shields) could help much, since the virus is spread through respiratory droplets.  Most important precaution of all: IF YOU FEEL SICK REPORT IT, AND STAY HOME.

+k and thanks Oline for your input...fingers crossed for everyone staying healthy and some football as part of moving on with life

[ITH radio]

The ESPN article on the kidnapping incident and the fallout (lawsuit, player sent to prison) from that was severe. It dropped the roster to around 50 kids and the program has been rebuilding ever since. Coach Martinovich has built a solid staff and is getting support from the administration. The recent recruiting announcements show they are getting back on track, but bc of COVID, the school is having to make cuts just like many others. 2 seasons ago they only had 75 kids, which is about 20 or more kids less than most of the other LL schools. It'll take a few more seasons, but the UofR will be more competitive sooner than some think.

Academically, UofR is hard to beat as far as East Region schools go. They do a great job especially in pre-med and science related majors.

[Bartman]

Wanted to get some thoughts on U of R as a program. I know it has a very good academic reputation. Team has seen to really hit the skids last 4 years. I know the new Coach did a great job at MIT and is only there 2 years, so it may take some time. I also know the conference is no cakewalk and is not very kind to a rebuild. Good friend of mine has a son considering the school and I wanted to get some opinions and insight. Pretty good mid size academic school with decent facilities that plays in a tough conference. They should be better, right? I recall reading about a bizarre incident a few years ago that may have caused some bad press? Please, weigh in here. Trying to gather some facts for a young man making a big decision. Thanks in advance.

Martinovich(Hobart 1994) specializes in coaching at high academic achievement programs(turned MIT around after 3 seasons) and Rochester is the cream of the crop in the Liberty League as the #33 ranked National University, a $2+ Billion Endowment and about 6000 undergraduates. Few students go to U of R  for sports(although basketball has always been good) , although this school has the resources to go Division I if  they wanted to. If the student is looking for a great research University environment with an intimate sports program supported by some loyal alums and parents with a coach that should turn it around eventually , it is a great school. Just understand that probably no other undergraduates will either know or care that you are on the football team. 

[Jonny Utah]

Jack Morse 1894 (1) 2-3-1 .417
Wallis 1895 (1) 3-6-2 .364
Lewis Saunders 1896 (1) 0-8-1 .056

Was just looking through the Rochester football history books, and noticed that in 1895, the coach was just some one named man called "Wallis". That is pretty bad ass if you ask me.  Might be time to start bringing back one named coaches for this program?!?!

[Ithaca798891]

I really hope I'm wrong but, I don't think we're getting football this year.

[Jonny Utah]

I really hope I'm wrong but, I don't think we're getting football this year.

I have that feeling as well, but I also can see some professional leagues starting up, and even if they are without fans, if we go 3-4 months in a row with low numbers of cases and deaths, especially among young people, I think their may be a chance at something.  But you would need a good 3-4 months of a semi-opened up economy before anything will happen I agree.

[Ithaca798891]

I really hope I'm wrong but, I don't think we're getting football this year.

I have that feeling as well, but I also can see some professional leagues starting up, and even if they are without fans, if we go 3-4 months in a row with low numbers of cases and deaths, especially among young people, I think their may be a chance at something.  But you would need a good 3-4 months of a semi-opened up economy before anything will happen I agree.

You're never going to have d3 football without fans.

If the college isn't open due to health risks of people congregating in large groups, you can't have 250+ football players, coaches, staff all mingling during a game. Conversely, if the college is open because those health risks are mitigated, what's the harm in having fans there? At most campuses, dining halls and central campus buildings are apt to be more crowded than the football stands.