FB: Liberty League

[Jonny Utah]

Jonny U,
    You might want to adjust your forecast because Dr. Shirley has issued a new order that all visiting teams that have not quarantined for 14 days in the assigned locker room will have to wear an N95 surgical mask for the duration of their presence on the RPI campus, including the game itself. Those big beefy Bomber linemen may be fainting by the second quarter . The research and the recommendation from her "follow the science" staff is wholly supported by the RPI team to keep them safe from the Bombers.Good luck.

You joke but I'm sure people there (and elsewhere) wanted players to wear masks.  We had "spring" football in 2021 in Massachusetts and players had to wear masks under their helmets.  At some point everyone realized how ridiculous that was and stopped doing it.  In fact there were some places that wouldn't allow fans either and that got tossed in the trash pretty quick too. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

Jonny U,
    You might want to adjust your forecast because Dr. Shirley has issued a new order that all visiting teams that have not quarantined for 14 days in the assigned locker room will have to wear an N95 surgical mask for the duration of their presence on the RPI campus, including the game itself. Those big beefy Bomber linemen may be fainting by the second quarter . The research and the recommendation from her "follow the science" staff is wholly supported by the RPI team to keep them safe from the Bombers.Good luck.

This really makes my blood boil...I wish the LL had done something regarding this, maybe find a local H.S. stadium for games to be played or forced the games be away. In a way, I'm so happy that their final two games are away, because if I had a son/daughter playing a sport and their last collegiate game was on the road and I couldn't be able to attend, I'd be furious. I know it's beating a dead horse, but had to vent.

[Ice Bear]

Predictions:

Ithaca 30, RPI 17- Bombers get over the RPI mountain behind two TDs from Wingfield, three FGs from Bahamonde, and some opportunistic D

Union 27, Hobart 10- Bart hangs for a half, but can't make the plays in the passing game to keep up.

Ice Bear feels pretty much the same way. Again, he can see both of these games going the other way, but he doesn't think they will.

[unionpalooza]

Predictions:

Ithaca 30, RPI 17- Bombers get over the RPI mountain behind two TDs from Wingfield, three FGs from Bahamonde, and some opportunistic D

Union 27, Hobart 10- Bart hangs for a half, but can't make the plays in the passing game to keep up.

Ice Bear feels pretty much the same way. Again, he can see both of these games going the other way, but he doesn't think they will.

Me three, though I think the Union/Hobart will be a bit closer.  It will be interesting to see if Union introduces some wrinkles on offense tomorrow; in all of their games, they've put up large leads quickly and then just ran out the clock with a super basic ball control scheme, so I wonder if they have a lot more in the playbook then they've put on tape.  This game strikes me as all about the line of scrimmage all around - i.e., can Union slow down the run without crowding the box, and can Hobart get pressure on Bellamy to keep the top on the Union O?  Will be fun to watch in any event.

[Machiavelli]

RPI OWNS Ithika

RPI - 8
Ithika - 5

Expect fireworks. And the city of Troy will be exceptionally COVID-y come Tuesday...

[Jonny Utah]

RPI OWNS Ithika

RPI - 8
Ithika - 5

Expect fireworks. And the city of Troy will be exceptionally COVID-y come Tuesday...

It looks like heavy rain.  That does give the terds a chance.  Once Ithaca's masks get wet breathing will become very difficult.  Those RPI level 8 Hazmat suits are also slippery as all hell. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8P9owaiT0
Part two of the 2003 Ithaca/RPI game. 

Go to 02:00 of this clip.  What happens during that play?

[UfanBill]

MY 2 Cents...When Union and Hobart last met in 2019, also at Frank Bailey field , it was a week #5 match-up with both teams undefeated. Hobart at 4-0 and Union at 3-0 coming off a bye. Union got out to a 14-0 first quarter lead thanks to a Ike Irabor run and a pick-six thrown by Hobart QB Ryan Hofman. Hofman had a bad day and was soon replaced by David Krewson who ultimately also had a sub par day. Hobart scored in the 2nd thanks to a short field enabled by a muffed punt and Union got another Irabor TD following a Krewson interception. It was 20-7 at halftime.

Union spent the 3rd quarter in it's own end thanks to 2 excellent punts pinning them deep, and Hobart's best drive was thwarted by an interception of Krewson, which led to him being benched for Hofman. Union added a FG in the 4th and following an Irabor fumble Hobart's late drive ended with 4 Hofman incompletions from the Union 7 yard line. Final 23-7

The story of the game was the ineffectiveness of Hobart's Quarterbacks. Hofman ended 5 for 17 with a key pick and Krewson a little better 13-26 but threw 2 interceptions. For Union Will Bellamy was only 10-17 for 98 yards. Ike Irabor had a day, rushing 35 times for 191 yards and two scores.

What's that got to do with this year's game? Well Krewson is back with a bad taste in his mouth. I expect him to come out bent on playing a clean game...And Hobart which rushed for only 36 net yards in 2019 now has a much better ground game with Boswell and Denham.  From the Dutchmen perspective, Bellamy now has the full trust of the Union coaching staff and will definitely throw the ball more, regardless of the weather. Irabor is healthy and the Union rush attack is rolling, though I am concerned about the availability of hard running backup Jonathan Anderson who left last week's game with an apparent shoulder injury.

Defensively Union is well equipped to contain Hobart. The Statesmen have had a hard time scoring lately but I do see them getting out to the early lead. That's where the "ifs" come in. If the weather sucks and Bellamy has a hard time throwing the ball and if Anderson can't go and Irabor is contained and if Hobart can control the line of scrimmage then it will be a defensive, kicking game struggle. That's what happened in the second half last time and a late FG may decide it...BUT I don't think Hobart or the weather can stop Union. You're going to hear that cannon plenty come Saturday.

                                                                             FireTheCannon

[IC798891]

RPI OWNS Ithika

RPI - 8
Ithika - 5

Expect fireworks. And the city of Troy will be exceptionally COVID-y come Tuesday...

It looks like heavy rain.  That does give the terds a chance.  Once Ithaca's masks get wet breathing will become very difficult.  Those RPI level 8 Hazmat suits are also slippery as all hell. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8P9owaiT0
Part two of the 2003 Ithaca/RPI game. 

Go to 02:00 of this clip.  What happens during that play?

Looks like the refs thought the RB got the handoff, and then when he was tackled, they blew the play dead, at which point IC's other defenders stopped?

[Jonny Utah]

RPI OWNS Ithika

RPI - 8
Ithika - 5

Expect fireworks. And the city of Troy will be exceptionally COVID-y come Tuesday...

It looks like heavy rain.  That does give the terds a chance.  Once Ithaca's masks get wet breathing will become very difficult.  Those RPI level 8 Hazmat suits are also slippery as all hell. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8P9owaiT0
Part two of the 2003 Ithaca/RPI game. 

Go to 02:00 of this clip.  What happens during that play?

Looks like the refs thought the RB got the handoff, and then when he was tackled, they blew the play dead, at which point IC's other defenders stopped?

Ha oh right, I didn't even look that close.  Looks like 41 there for IC could have made the play.  Coach was PISSED as he should have been.

[Bartman]

MY 2 Cents...When Union and Hobart last met in 2019, also at Frank Bailey field , it was a week #5 match-up with both teams undefeated. Hobart at 4-0 and Union at 3-0 coming off a bye. Union got out to a 14-0 first quarter lead thanks to a Ike Irabor run and a pick-six thrown by Hobart QB Ryan Hofman. Hofman had a bad day and was soon replaced by David Krewson who ultimately also had a sub par day. Hobart scored in the 2nd thanks to a short field enabled by a muffed punt and Union got another Irabor TD following a Krewson interception. It was 20-7 at halftime.

Union spent the 3rd quarter in it's own end thanks to 2 excellent punts pinning them deep, and Hobart's best drive was thwarted by an interception of Krewson, which led to him being benched for Hofman. Union added a FG in the 4th and following an Irabor fumble Hobart's late drive ended with 4 Hofman incompletions from the Union 7 yard line. Final 23-7

The story of the game was the ineffectiveness of Hobart's Quarterbacks. Hofman ended 5 for 17 with a key pick and Krewson a little better 13-26 but threw 2 interceptions. For Union Will Bellamy was only 10-17 for 98 yards. Ike Irabor had a day, rushing 35 times for 191 yards and two scores.

What's that got to do with this year's game? Well Krewson is back with a bad taste in his mouth. I expect him to come out bent on playing a clean game...And Hobart which rushed for only 36 net yards in 2019 now has a much better ground game with Boswell and Denham.  From the Dutchmen perspective, Bellamy now has the full trust of the Union coaching staff and will definitely throw the ball more, regardless of the weather. Irabor is healthy and the Union rush attack is rolling, though I am concerned about the availability of hard running backup Jonathan Anderson who left last week's game with an apparent shoulder injury.

Defensively Union is well equipped to contain Hobart. The Statesmen have had a hard time scoring lately but I do see them getting out to the early lead. That's where the "ifs" come in. If the weather sucks and Bellamy has a hard time throwing the ball and if Anderson can't go and Irabor is contained and if Hobart can control the line of scrimmage then it will be a defensive, kicking game struggle. That's what happened in the second half last time and a late FG may decide it...BUT I don't think Hobart or the weather can stop Union. You're going to hear that cannon plenty come Saturday.

                                                                             FireTheCannon

UfanBill,
     Very good recap and analysis. I have already made my prediction and appear to be the only one picking both Hobart and RPI. It is lonely on the Island . That said, Bartman is having a very hard time deciding on whether to go into enemy territory on a horrible rainy day ....The worst would be the Dutchmen having their way with the boys and listening to the ****ing cannon multiple times, alternatively the absolute joy of beating Union with a defensive shutout(silence the cannon!) would be one of the highest points of my Statesmen fandom... winning 29-28 would be joyous as well. So, am I brave enough to enter the enemy camp and risk the  agony of defeat but possibly bask in the glory of an historic upset........or  wimp out and watch remotely in the comfort of my orange and purple painted man-cave sitting on my specially ordered tri-cornered couch as Ted Baker tells me how horrible the Schenectedy refs are . What to do, hmmmm.

[IC798891]

It looks like heavy rain.  That does give the terds a chance.  Once Ithaca's masks get wet breathing will become very difficult.  Those RPI level 8 Hazmat suits are also slippery as all hell. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba8P9owaiT0
Part two of the 2003 Ithaca/RPI game. 

Go to 02:00 of this clip.  What happens during that play?

Looks like the refs thought the RB got the handoff, and then when he was tackled, they blew the play dead, at which point IC's other defenders stopped?
[/quote]

Ha oh right, I didn't even look that close.  Looks like 41 there for IC could have made the play.  Coach was PISSED as he should have been.
[/quote]

I guess I can't blame the refs too much. There was a blizzard going on. I used to work for a trade magazine and we wrote a lot about state associations that were struggling with a shortage of officials. Now, any time I see someone complaining about an official's call*, I point out that their state association would almost certainly love to have more people in their ranks, so they can sign up.

*The lone exception is if officials fail to control cheap/dirty shots that can lead to player injury. I'm not going to get on you about a hold, but when it comes to player safety, you've got to be on the A game. Can't miss those calls

[Oline89]

  This is the best defensive team Hobart has put out on the field in 5 years.  The Hobart offense is very, very strong in the run game.  If you haven't watched Boswell play yet, you are in for a treat, he can be electric.  Although rain cleraly affects the passing game, there should be little affect on the rushing side. At some point, Union's 20 game regular season winning streak has to end.
Hobart wins 27-21 in 3 OT's.

[Bartman]

  This is the best defensive team Hobart has put out on the field in 5 years.  The Hobart offense is very, very strong in the run game.  If you haven't watched Boswell play yet, you are in for a treat, he can be electric.  Although rain cleraly affects the passing game, there should be little affect on the rushing side. At some point, Union's 20 game regular season winning streak has to end.
Hobart wins 27-21 in 3 OT's.

Oline....your best point...."At some point, Union's 20 game regular season winning streak has to end"..WHY NOT TOMORROW?
The B&D(Boswell&Denham) boys roll and Ford,etal befuddle Bellamy and friends...I like your analysis way better than the Unionites.

[unionpalooza]

RPI goes up 7-0 quick with a pick followed by a nice TD drive.

And I guess it's not enough for RPI to force their fans to watch on line.  They also give 'em terrible camera work where camera is zoomed up close on every play so you can only see half of what's happening.  Nice.  (Tho to be fair, this is a constant problem with Union's feed, too.)

[unionpalooza]

Predictions:

Ithaca 30, RPI 17- Bombers get over the RPI mountain behind two TDs from Wingfield, three FGs from Bahamonde, and some opportunistic D

Union 27, Hobart 10- Bart hangs for a half, but can't make the plays in the passing game to keep up.

Also I think it's pretty awesome IC has a 340-pound center name JoJo Puckey.  That's legit.