FB: Liberty League

[tecmobowler]

Will be interesting to see if Boyes from Cortland handles the stage better this year. I was all ready for him to carve us up for 500 yards and he missed wide open targets all day last year. Not sure if it was due to the stage, lack of competition leading up...... I'd appreciate another clunker though.

Hope IC has cleaned up their ability to contain QB runs. I think he converted multiple 3rd and 25s last year with his legs...

[XREDDRAGON77]

25,000 less fans this year...so I'm sure it should be less intimidating across the board! Should be a great game!

[unionpalooza]

Well, Union's Pool C chances take a major hit with the new regional rankings, as they got slotted behind Muhlenberg despite having an identical record and equal SOS but a ranked win that the Mules don't have.  Tons of inconsistencies across the regions, but generally themes are heavy emphasis on winning percentage over SOS, and very little regard for regionally ranked wins.

Given emphasis on winning percentage, also seems entirely possible the Cortaca loser will end up on the road for the opening round.  Seems wrong.

[IC798891]

Well, Union's Pool C chances take a major hit with the new regional rankings, as they got slotted behind Muhlenberg despite having an identical record and equal SOS but a ranked win that the Mules don't have.  Tons of inconsistencies across the regions, but generally themes are heavy emphasis on winning percentage over SOS, and very little regard for regionally ranked wins.

Given emphasis on winning percentage, also seems entirely possible the Cortaca loser will end up on the road for the opening round.  Seems wrong.

I mean, Cortland got sent on the road last year at 9-1.

But IC has the best SOS in the country, and could be 3-2 vs RR opponents even with the loss. That's a really strong resume. 8-2 Cortland is road bound for sure

[Machiavelli]

Well, Union's Pool C chances take a major hit with the new regional rankings, as they got slotted behind Muhlenberg despite having an identical record and equal SOS but a ranked win that the Mules don't have.  Tons of inconsistencies across the regions, but generally themes are heavy emphasis on winning percentage over SOS, and very little regard for regionally ranked wins.

Given emphasis on winning percentage, also seems entirely possible the Cortaca loser will end up on the road for the opening round.  Seems wrong.

I thought it was alphabetical order?

[XREDDRAGON77]

Hypothetical....if Cortland beats IC, do they jump Susquehanna? I would think the h2h would block them but the SOS would work in Cortland's favor. As is IC was over Sus for what I'm guessing is sos.

[Machiavelli]

Well, Union's Pool C chances take a major hit with the new regional rankings, as they got slotted behind Muhlenberg despite having an identical record and equal SOS but a ranked win that the Mules don't have.  Tons of inconsistencies across the regions, but generally themes are heavy emphasis on winning percentage over SOS, and very little regard for regionally ranked wins.

Given emphasis on winning percentage, also seems entirely possible the Cortaca loser will end up on the road for the opening round.  Seems wrong.

I thought it was alphabetical order?

Nevermind, I see the ranks on the NCAA website. How in the HELL is Endicott behind Delaware Valley and Springfield? The win over HSU trumps anything friggin Springfield or Delaware Valley has done. That's just gross. Springfield played 1 tough team all year and they got throttled. Hardin Simmons is ranked 3rd in Region 3 and lost to Endicott by 4 TDs. This entire thing is stupid.

But I digress, Springfield and DV are NCAA darlings.

[UfanBill]

It'll be close between Union and Muhlenberg for the higher ranking after this week's games. Can Union's .551 SOS improve enough to overcome Muhlenburg's .559? The Mules play a Union common opponent in Montclair St.

Here's the Region 2 committee that will make the determination.
Region II RAC:
Blaise Faggiano (Chair), Utica
Curt Fitzpatrick, Morrisville State
Devin DeWall, Hobart
Amanda DeMartino, TCNJ
Brad Fordyce, Dickinson
Geno Demarco, Geneva

[Bartman]

The LL has some very historic rivalries this weekend that have long rich histories .

THE SHOES: This rivalry goes back to the first game on November 20, 1886 when RPI beat Union 11-4. Since then the Dutchmen/now Chargers have amassed a 81-32-5 advantage. However in the last ten years RPI is 7-3 with the last 2 wins. This will be a very close game if you just look at stats ( RPI scores an average of 35 points(LL only) while Union gives up only 12.2 and Union scores  26.8 and RPI yields 19.2 points against the same competition). If I do the math the game should be a 23-23 tie, however since the game is at Union and RPI has a Freshman QB, I'm going with a narrow 27-24 win for the Charging Puppies.  Union will be the last pool C selection for the NCAAs.

CORTACA: This game started in 1930 with Cortland as the victor 12-0. Since then ,Ithaca has the overall edge 43-34-3 , but Cortland has won 6 of the last 10. It will be another awesome environment at Butterfield as the Bombers will host one of the biggest crowds in D3 sports. As far as the game, Cortland is a more offensively minded team while Ithaca excels at Defense, as evidenced by their only common opponents Alfred which lost to Cortland by 59-21 while the Bombers shut them out 22-0. IC will be without Wingfield, but they have been developing their freshman QB Colin Schumm over the last 3 games. This game should be very intense with turnovers determining the winner. I think the Bombers will take this at home 31-28.

The Centennial Cup; This rivalry began in 1892 with the Yellowjackets prevailing 40-0 over the Statesman. Over the next 3 centuries, Hobart holds a 59-48-7 advantage including winning the last 10 contests. Hobart is coming off their best win of the season over RPI, so a let down against a sneaky strong Rochester team could be a recipe for disaster. If the Hobart D shows up like they did last week, the Yellowjacket offense could struggle. The Hobart running game should be featured with an improving young Offensive line and a mobile Colombi rolling out and freezing the Yellowjacket defenders. Hobart should prevail , but Hobart alum and HC of the Yellowjackets , Todd Martinovich, will certainly be looking to get a nice top 4 LL scalp by beating the Statesmen. I think Hobart wins this one 31- 21 and gets to play one more week in an ECAC game.

The Mop Up Bowl: SLU and Buffalo ST have no special rivalry going here but they both have some very proud athletes that will want to end the season on a high note . I see Buffalo State with a bit more athletic talent and a 21-17 victory over the Saints to complete the LL season.

Good luck to all .

[Bartman]

It'll be close between Union and Muhlenberg for the higher ranking after this week's games. Can Union's .551 SOS improve enough to overcome Muhlenburg's .559? The Mules play a Union common opponent in Montclair St.

Here's the Region 2 committee that will make the determination.
Region II RAC:
Blaise Faggiano (Chair), Utica
Curt Fitzpatrick, Morrisville State
Devin DeWall, Hobart
Amanda DeMartino, TCNJ
Brad Fordyce, Dickinson
Geno Demarco, Geneva

Milne of Muhlenberg and Dewall were Statesman teammates back in 1999. I heard a truck just pulled up to Kevin's house delivering a dozen cases of Rolling Rock and Human Robot(local Philly beer) as a season ending celebration fuel. I'm sure it will have nothing to do with influencing the last regional rankings 

[Ice Bear]

Well, Union's Pool C chances take a major hit with the new regional rankings, as they got slotted behind Muhlenberg despite having an identical record and equal SOS but a ranked win that the Mules don't have.  Tons of inconsistencies across the regions, but generally themes are heavy emphasis on winning percentage over SOS, and very little regard for regionally ranked wins.

Given emphasis on winning percentage, also seems entirely possible the Cortaca loser will end up on the road for the opening round.  Seems wrong.

I just saw that and am less than pleased. With that said, if I'm being honest, I think the Mules beat Union head to head...pains me to say that. So maybe, at least in my crazy mind, this is correct. I don't know anymore 

[IC798891]

The problem for Union is simply this, the SOS/RR figures aside

If Union is about the same distance from IC that Muhlenberg is from Hopkins, based on the results of the in conference play (both 1 score games) but Hopkins is better than IC, how does Union vault the Mules?

What Union really needed was Muhlenberg to get stomped by Hopkins, to show that there's a bigger gap between 1-2 in the respective conferences.

But if I'm a voter, I'd have trouble looking at those three results and concluding Union was better.

What you have to hope for, more than a loss (which is unlikely) is that Muhlenberg has trouble with Montclair. Union blew their doors off, so if Montclair can keep it reasonably close (like, say, 10 points) maybe the committee says that's proof that Union is better.

[unionpalooza]

The problem for Union is simply this, the SOS/RR figures aside

If Union is about the same distance from IC that Muhlenberg is from Hopkins, based on the results of the in conference play (both 1 score games) but Hopkins is better than IC, how does Union vault the Mules?

What Union really needed was Muhlenberg to get stomped by Hopkins, to show that there's a bigger gap between 1-2 in the respective conferences.

But if I'm a voter, I'd have trouble looking at those three results and concluding Union was better.

What you have to hope for, more than a loss (which is unlikely) is that Muhlenberg has trouble with Montclair. Union blew their doors off, so if Montclair can keep it reasonably close (like, say, 10 points) maybe the committee says that's proof that Union is better.

I don't have any issues with that way if looking it, which is a reasonable view; it's just that none of that have anything to do with the actual ranking criteria. What I'm really hoping for is that RAC actually follows the criteria, or if doesn't, the national committee reranks them, as they did Utica and JHU last year. 

[unionpalooza]

Wow, NCAA has issued "corrected" rankings for R2, placing Union ahead of Muhlenberg.  I have to imagine the back story there is pretty good.

[Machiavelli]

Wow, NCAA has issued "corrected" rankings for R2, placing Union ahead of Muhlenberg.  I have to imagine the back story there is pretty good.

I'd imagine the Rolling Rock Bartman had delivered yesterday was extra cold and delicious.