East Region Playoff Discussion

[Upstate]

I know that, but we are talking about an All American, top 3 player on the team.  If you don't think that changes the complexion of game, that's fine, but I know what he means to that defense and I've watched at least 5 intermediate pass plays where the QB had all day.  Hobart's been able to protect their secondary by getting pressure and they can't now. 

Game was over in the first 5 minutes.  Bad snap leads to blocked punt, DW goes down on next play, they score from 4 yards, stuff us (their D looks great, closes fast) and then we give them the ball on the 32 after the 15yd penalty.  Boom, they're up 15-0 with an average field position of the Hobart 18 and our co-best defensive player is out. 

I'm not taking anything away from UST here, but who loses that caliber of player immediately on the road against a top 4 team and can stay in it?  I'd submit maybe UMHB, MUC, maybe Wesley, Linfield and one or two others?

If it was the QB I could see the argument but just don't see his injury being a major factor today.

[pg04]

The injury seems to be being used way too much here. The game is 40-7. I can see it being a factor but St. Thomas just looks loads better.

[Upstate]

The injury seems to be being used way too much here. The game is 40-7. I can see it being a factor but St. Thomas just looks loads better.

Fisher was playing with Safeties at LBer last year vs STU and the results were similar to today...

Moral of the story...

The STU squad is just too damn good...

[pg04]

And I don't want to mean the injury wasn't a big loss for Hobart, but I am just amazed at how well the Tommies have played and they deserve the full credit for winning the game.

[pg04]

As I said earlier in the posts but probably lost in the diatribe about the region's weakness as a whole, Hobart has a lot to be proud of for their season this year. Reaching the final 8 is a great accomplishment and for that they should feel very good!

[pumkinattack]

UST rolled us and deserve all the credit in the world.  Their secondary closes fast as s**t and they have big, athletic receivers.  But I still say the game was over in that first few series.  Elmhurst jumped out on then 14-0 and lose 24-17.  We needed to get up first, but instead, bad snap leads to a blocked punt they get the ball at the 4 and DW goes out.  8-0 on the fake xp, we don't move the ball (their D stuffed our O, Strang looked tight and tenative - even when he had time he was throwing high and the running game couldn't get going as we couldn't string any first downs together in the first half), they get the ball after punt and 15yd penalty on Klindera and score.  Can't come back once you're down.  Their D stopped us early and the D was on the field the entire first half - TC had his hands on his hips in the first half - I haven't seen that since he hit campus.  We do that to other teams, just wear them down. 

Nonetheless, this is the best Hobart team in history, best team in the East this year (IMO) and will return a ton on D.  Cleared out the ODAC and NCAC champs (if you want to question the East, question the North as well outside MUC).  The big questions are:  Will Devin be back healthy?  And what happens at DT since Troy Johnson is off the team (he was the starter until two weeks ago) as we graduate Auriemma (an FY and Soph played in his place the past two weeks, both played pretty well).

[dlippiel]

Congrats Hobart on a great season. Dlip just didn't think the East was this far off the mark compared to the top 4. Or at least #'s 3 and 4 of the top 4. ****!

[pg04]

Nonetheless, this is the best Hobart team in history, best team in the East this year (IMO) and will return a ton on D.  Cleared out the ODAC and NCAC champs (if you want to question the East, question the North as well outside MUC). 

I definitely think Hobart was the best team in the East this year. I also agree that The North (The ODAC is in the south, though) outside of the CCIW and Mount Union weren't that strong this year either.

[dlippiel]

pg04...hold dlip

[pg04]

pg04...hold dlip

LOL! Oh dlip, It will be all right, we'll be back next season to try it all again (well hopefully we are!). I'm hoping PA is right and Hobart will be a power again next year.

[repete]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

Where did I say it was rosy?  Read everything I wrote.  I'm saying the big picture refutes this idea that the East pays some sort of price for today's results.  The teams that polled #7 and #9 are losing to the teams that polled #4 and #1.  Again, no verdict can be drawn if #1 and #4 meet in the Stagg Bowl.  Two other teams from other regions will lose today, too.  That's not going to hurt the reputations of the South or the West at all since -- wait for it -- they were basically guaranteed teams in the Semis after last weekend's results.  It's not rosy, but it's far from a death penalty.

So the manner in which they are losing means nothing? Both East teams are being rolled. The South teams are at a 17-12 score, both teams rolled their opponents in the previous rounds, with one rolling two eastern teams. At some point maybe the East needs to be punished a little bit more.

I think it may be the number of schools within the east region, there is so much parity, you'll luckily find a team in the east that has depth to go year in and year out these days...the east regional teams fight over players year in and year out. I think Wesley has done a great job grabbing top talent from states like PA, NJ, MD, etc...and you see why the talent from teams in PA, NJ, MD has drop off. However, that is no excuse for teams to be getting dig in the dirt right now. Coaches may have to do better with what they have and game plan better. IDK...

Interesting approach, SUADC, but that's a tough theory to push without a lot of deep research.

Gotta disagree on at least one level ...

It's not like there is this huge crowd of talented players just begging for a chance to play in the WIAC or MIAC. Do you really think teams like UST, SJU, Bethel, Concordia .... don't "fight over players year in or year out"?

On one, very basic level, let's compare Maryland (population 5,773,552) vs. Minnesota (5,303,925)

Minnesota has 14 d3 foot-playing schools.  Maryland has what 4? 5? And Minnesota also has 9 d2 football schools, which certainly taps the fringes of the d3 talent pool. Maryland has how many d2?

Even so, this is only one small piece of the puzzle and I sure don't pretend to have the answer.

A cultural thing maybe?  You get outside the urban areas in the Midwest and football is a lot bigger than it is in much of the East. Those rural schools in Minny or Wis. aren't putting out many soccer or lacrosse players.

Even so, here in Md., I've got neighbor kid who lives three doors down (and across the street from a Hobart alum)  who was a regular for the tremendous Good Counsel program. He's at your old school now, but is there for the education (and, perhaps, the beach). In Minny and Wisc., there aren't many beaches and schools would be fighting like crazy over this kid. One example doesn't  make a trend, but -- as someone who has lived all across the country -- the football culture just doesn't seem as strong or dominant here IMO.

Not bashing ... just observations.

[mattvsmith]

I'm happy with Hobart this year. Who wouldn't be? Undefeated in regular season. Liberty league champs. Made it the the Quarterfinals. This was the best Hobart team ever!

The Rev also prefers being blown out. I know it is counter-intuitive but here's my rationale: If Hobart had lost a close one there would be a boatload of bitter recriminations, second-guessing, self-doubt, mental anguish, "If only I'd have done this," or "We would have won if so and so had done that." Coulda shoulda woulda questions that eat a Man's soul.

This way Hobart players and fans can just say,"Look, we did our best, but our opponent is clearly on another plane." The problem them belongs to President Gearen and the Trustees: "Do we want to commit the resources necessary to become a true national con trendier or are we happy being the best of the East?"  If this were a war, this is not a tactical level decision a player can make. This is not even a strategic decision a coach can make. This is a campaign-level decision that can only be made by the president and his advisors. Then the coach will enact strategies and players engage in tactics.

To The Rev the result of this game does not cause any existential problems. Who are we? What do we do now? That's easy. You're a championship team: build upon success and take it higher.

[HScoach]

Not a good showing in my opinion.  What signature win did the east win?  And against the #1 seeds then best of the east were not competitive.

Not saying region isn't solid overall, but it severely lacks elite teams.

[skunks_sidekick]

If this sounds condescening, I apologize up front.  I have had more than a few cocktails today. 

First....I had caramel vodka & apple cider.  Can you say caramel apple.....yah.....I said it.

Then......my beautiful wife and I went out and did a bit of Christmas shopping, and then went to a killer wine tasting (I know.....annoys all the beer drinkers), ate a great dinner, and I had a few.  Mrs. drove home...and here I am.

I wanted and hoped Hobart (especially), and Widener would have put on a great performance today.  It just didn't happen.  Widener was very weak.  I believe Hobart had a really bad day, and UST is better than we all believed.  Eh......no big deal in the grand scheme of all that is D-III. 

I truly believe Mount could be "that team", and I think we will find out next week.  Anyone that wants to come to Alliance/Stark County, you can bunk at my place if you need a cheap place to crash.

This is SS...and I am OUT!

[wesleydad]

skunks, if i did not have a prior commitment with some really good friends i would surely take you up on that offer.  i think you will have a game next week.  mount looked bored early, not so next week i figure.  bailey is really goood, but wesley had many chances to win the game.  with oshkosh beating linfield, looks like the winner next week wins it.  i will be at the stagg, you making it this year if mount does?