FB: Liberty League

[Bartman]

Sad day for me and thousands of other Union fans...Today I just became aware of something that has changed the look of Union football. No, not another coaching change. Nor a player transferring in or out. Not an injury...The iconic"frat house" which has stood proudly for over 100 years and graced the 50 yard line at Frank Bailey Field is gone. Torn down yesterday due to reported irreparable structural damage. During it's heyday the frat boys would bring couches out and sit directly behind the opponents bench. Their razing and chanting would often disrupt the sideline plans of opposing coaches. Back awhile when beer was allowed at games the boys and fans alike would sometimes get a little rowdy. That all changed about 20 years ago when alcohol was banned and the area was roped off from fans. The frat house closed and in recent years die hard fans such as Ice Bear, IB Dad, Super fan Bob and myself have been allowed into the area. It's become mostly a senior citizen space with a convenient restroom tucked just inside the front door.

The house itself had a deck roof that was used by coaches of both teams to film and relay info from above. If you've attended or watched a Union game on Frank Bailey field a part of your memories is no more. There's no immediate word on what the school plans on doing with the space but I hope they make it fan friendly. It will never look the same. 

Sad news for the Union fans, it was such an iconic view from the sidelines for the games to see that classic old frat in the background as I watched and rooted for the traveling Statesmen against the villainous Dutchmen.The old days ....ahhh the old days.

[Bartman]

Just checked out the new Statesmen roster....plenty of promising youngins , a few transfers(one is 5'10" 275 pound Sophomore scholarship ex-wrestler from Drexel that could fill one of the holes on the Dline). We have about half of the starters back on both Offense and Defense, so plenty of opportunities for everyone . The boys start practicing on August 14th and two weeks later they get a real test by scrimmaging the National Champion Cortland Red Dragons on 8/28 at the Boz. I can't wait to see some real football in 19 days followed by Opening with our old friends the Saxon Warriors on 9/6. Get ready, as it gets real.

[Jersey42]

I took a look at the RPI roster to get a sense of what they have coming back and what they have lost. Unfortunately I have no direct knowledge and everything here is based on published info.

Offense Returnees
7/11 first team
8/11 second team

Defense Returnees
8/11 first team
9/11 second team

Special Teams
Lost LL special teams player of the year
Lost 2023 kicker but return their 2022 kicker

2023 All Liberty League Honorees
Return 2/2 first team offense
Return 1/1 second team offense
Return 0/1 honorable mention offense

Return 1/2 first team defense
Return 1/2 second team defense
Return 2/3 honorable mention defense

Return 0/1 first team specialists

Other notes

• Return LL rookie of the year
• QB Jake Kazanowsky returns. Their backup QB who played well last season as a freshman is not on the roster.
• One incoming transfer is an OL from Fordham.  In 2022 he was first team class AA all NY State.  Dad is an RPI grad.
• As mentioned in another post, RPI lost defensive coordinator Jeff Dittman to Cornell.

[Bartman]

I took a look at the RPI roster to get a sense of what they have coming back and what they have lost. Unfortunately I have no direct knowledge and everything here is based on published info.

Offense Returnees
6/11 first team
9/11 second team

Defense Returnees
8/11 first team
9/11 second team

Special Teams
Lost LL special teams player of the year
Lost 2023 kicker but return their 2022 kicker

2023 All Liberty League Honorees
Return 2/2 first team offense
Return 1/1 second team offense
Return 0/1 honorable mention offense

Return 1/2 first team defense
Return 0/1 second team defense
Return 2/3 honorable mention defense

Return 0/1 first team specialists

Other notes

• Return LL rookie of the year
• QB Jake Kazanowsky returns. Their backup QB who played well last season as a freshman is not on the roster.
• One incoming transfer is an OL from Fordham.  In 2022 he was first team class AA all NY State.  Dad is an RPI grad.
• As mentioned in another post, RPI lost defensive coordinator Jeff Dittman to Cornell.

Thanks for doing the research. This looks pretty solid for the Engineers. I'm not sure the DC will make that much of a difference, RPI always seems to field a contender, this season should be no different.

[Ice Bear]

Sad day for me and thousands of other Union fans...Today I just became aware of something that has changed the look of Union football. No, not another coaching change. Nor a player transferring in or out. Not an injury...The iconic"frat house" which has stood proudly for over 100 years and graced the 50 yard line at Frank Bailey Field is gone. Torn down yesterday due to reported irreparable structural damage. During it's heyday the frat boys would bring couches out and sit directly behind the opponents bench. Their razzing and chanting would often disrupt the sideline plans of opposing coaches. Back awhile when beer was allowed at games the boys and fans alike would sometimes get a little rowdy. That all changed about 20 years ago when alcohol was banned and the area was roped off from fans. The frat house closed and in recent years die hard fans such as Ice Bear, IB Dad, Super fan Bob and myself have been allowed into the area. It's become mostly a senior citizen space with a convenient restroom tucked just inside the front door.

The house itself had a deck roof that was used by coaches of both teams to film and relay info from above. If you've attended or watched a Union game on Frank Bailey field a part of your memories is no more. There's no immediate word on what the school plans on doing with the space but I hope they make it fan friendly. It will never look the same. 

Yeah, I will certainly miss that building. I have so many great memories sitting right there. I really do hope whatever the plan is for that space that it is fan friendly.

I remember well as a youngster attending games with my father and sitting right behind the couches. Man those kids were relentless on the opposing team and coaches. God forbid you came off the field upset/yelling/etc after a mistake, you were marked for the remainder of the afternoon. This was certainly an advantage for the U until one game I was at the Rochester coach (the year escapes me) pulled his team right off the field. That was the proverbial end of the "student frat house fan section." Like my friend Bill said, us elders were eventually allowed to sit back there again under the strict watchful eye of Union security. It has certainly chilled out over the past decade or so. I think they realized that we were harmless lol.

[Pat Coleman]

I'm a few days late in reading that news, but also sorry to see that go. Really added to the character of the stadium.

[Bartman]

Caught J.J. Lapp(Cortland) in the preseason game, he was targeted on one pass by ex Bulldog  Bennett IV, and made a couple of blocks.He is still hanging in on the roster.

[IC798891]

Bout the same on Slywka. Targeted once, no catches

[Bartman]

Bout the same on Slywka. Targeted once, no catches

He is a nice size at 6'3, 215, and they must have seen great hands at the Colts tryout to switch him to WR. How fast is he?

[IC798891]

He is a nice size at 6'3, 215, and they must have seen great hands at the Colts tryout to switch him to WR. How fast is he?

I saw a 4.55 listed for his 40 time

[AUPepBand]

Reading that the "frat house" is gone at Union...reminds me of when the green cedar shingled fieldhouse that sat just beyond the north endzone was removed from Merrill Field.

But still alive are the memories...when at halftime of the 1964 Susquehanna game, with the Saxons trailing just 8-6, a large group of students formed a funnel from the fieldhouse to the sideline and cheered on the boys as they entered for the second half of that 18-16 win in the "Miracle at Merrill"....and when my Morrisville roommate and I walked out onto the 50-yard-line (to show him the perfect natural turf) and were abruptly interrupted by a bear of a man who emerged from said fieldhouse and yelled, "Get the hell off the field!"

Cherish the memories!

[IC798891]

Derek Slywka had two catches for 27 yards for the Colts last night.

[Ice Bear]

Looks like Union will be returning two key fifth year seniors in LB Cole DeSilva and Liberty League RB Michael Fiore. I am very glad to hear this especially considering the Union defensive front seven is thinned out from graduation.

Hopefully Union's line, a mix of veteran and maybe 1 or 2 Freshmen, will step up and continue the solid play from the last two seasons. With consistent line play and a running game featuring two 1,000 yard rushers from last season in the already mentioned Michael Fiore and Sr RB Jonathan Anderson, the Garnet rushing attack may be potent once again. They'll need to be with the loss of Donovan Pacatte at QB.
I'm also looking for returning WR Robbie Tolbert to return to form and hopefully provide the new QB Patch Flanagan some "flavor," bringing a much needed second dimension to the offense.

By the way I've basically regurgitated the article I read from the Shocktown Gazette the other day. Like I said, I'm as out of the loop as I've been in some time regarding the specifics of this year's team. I hope to get more dialed in over the next couple of weeks as I watch a couple of practices and get to know the players.

[Bartman]

Derek Slywka had two catches for 27 yards for the Colts last night.

he is definitely getting a good look. JJ Lapp (Rams) also had 2 catches for 50 yards and a TD. With all of the WR talent in the NFL it would be amazing if these guys can make the roster.

[unionpalooza]

Wow, Mary Hardin Baylor is breaking camp with 245 players.  I know it's all about tuition checks in the end, but at a certain point these roster numbers get skeevy.