East Region Playoff Discussion

[theoriginalupstate]

i feel the Curry vs ithaca will be similar to the SJF game of last year which would be good for the NEFC b/c ithaca of this year is better then the SJF team of last year

Id take Rob Kramer led SJF team over pretty much anyone in the east this year...

That being said Curry is not as good as they were last year and IC is damn near on Par with SJF from last year...

IC with a double monkey stomp...

[Pat Coleman]

I admit to not be a follower of the teams from other regions, but how does Mt. Union draw a 4 loss Randolph-Macon team in the first round.  Also, do they stand a snowballs chance in hell of pulling the upset?

I don't get the question.  How do they draw a 4 loss team???  Well, they moved Randolph-Macon to the East.  They were an automatic bid.  They got the 8 seed.  Mount Union was also moved to the East.  They are the best team ever assembled.  They got a 1 seed.  1 plays 8.  Cool?

And no, Randolph-Macon doesn't stand a snowball in hell's chance at pulling an upset.  They lost to MAC bottom Feeder King's...

OK, I didn't know they were an automatic bid, I saw they were in a four way tie in their conference and 2 of the teams were 8-2.  

How else would a 6-4 team get in?

[XDragon59]

I admit to not be a follower of the teams from other regions, but how does Mt. Union draw a 4 loss Randolph-Macon team in the first round.  Also, do they stand a snowballs chance in hell of pulling the upset?

I don't get the question.  How do they draw a 4 loss team???  Well, they moved Randolph-Macon to the East.  They were an automatic bid.  They got the 8 seed.  Mount Union was also moved to the East.  They are the best team ever assembled.  They got a 1 seed.  1 plays 8.  Cool?

And no, Randolph-Macon doesn't stand a snowball in hell's chance at pulling an upset.  They lost to MAC bottom Feeder King's...

OK, I didn't know they were an automatic bid, I saw they were in a four way tie in their conference and 2 of the teams were 8-2.  

How else would a 6-4 team get in?

That's why I asked, I didn't know how strong that conference was.

[Bombers798891]

i feel the Curry vs ithaca will be similar to the SJF game of last year which would be good for the NEFC b/c ithaca of this year is better then the SJF team of last year

Id take Rob Kramer led SJF team over pretty much anyone in the east this year...

That being said Curry is not as good as they were last year and IC is damn near on Par with SJF from last year...

IC with a double monkey stomp...

Here's a question: We're sitting here discussing how the NEFC is so terrible and saying Ithaca needs to not get caught napping. Is it possible Curry could be the one saying "Hey, we beat an E8 school last year no problem."?

I doubt it, but it's something to wonder. The bottom line is though, Ithaca is immensly more talented than Hartwick. They have good players at all positions (Minus maybe the front 4) CB, WR, TE, OL, QB, RB, LB...they're loaded. Hartwick was Boltus, Crea and Phelan. There's just too much talent, and Welch won't let these kids get caught napping. IC has gotten into some trap games, but always on the road, and usually on turf. At home, this team is always focused, always ready to go, and they just don't lose to teams that are less talented (Cortaca being an exception)

Prediction: Ithaca 41, Curry 17

[Knightstalker]

I don't think Ithaca will have too much of a problem.  I think they will be ready, I also think they would like another shot at MUC.  They played them tougher than anyone last year except UWW.  Ithaca seems to be a team that really does build during the season to be playing at their best come the playoffs and I think DSB may have a problem on their hands.

['gro]

Curry's probably still has that "Oh my God... Ithaca" feeling that teams that are not used to them get.  IC's got a great rep and resume (year after year) to back it up. But when it all comes down to it they are just another team. Don't get me wrong, IC is the favorite by far. Curry players need to learn to not believe the hype.  IC will probably win based on talent, coaching, etc... not because they are all mighty Ithaca.

[JQV]

Curry's probably still has that "Oh my God... Ithaca" feeling that teams that are not used to them get.  IC's got a great rep and resume (year after year) to back it up. But when it all comes down to it they are just another team. Don't get me wrong, IC is the favorite by far. Curry players need to learn to not believe the hype.  IC will probably win based on talent, coaching, etc... not because they are all mighty Ithaca.

Somehow, as I was reading this, I was picturing 'Gro as Christopher Walken in Catch me if You Can saying "You know why the Yankees win?  The other team can't stop looking at the pinstripes."

[AUPepBand]

I don't think Ithaca will have too much of a problem.  I think they will be ready, I also think they would like another shot at MUC.  They played them tougher than anyone last year except UWW.  Ithaca seems to be a team that really does build during the season to be playing at their best come the playoffs and I think DSB may have a problem on their hands.

The quality of coaching is evident as, through any given season, the Bombers in Week 11 are much better than the Bombers in Week 1. That's why Pep is excited about 2009 as the Saxons were within a yard and 2 pt conversion of taking the Bombers to OT in Week 10. Of course, AU will graduate some outstanding players, but Pep saw that happen last year as well.

Go Bombers!

and, of course, On Saxon Warriors!

[vttanker]

If you assume the kid is just looking at football programs, maybe.  But that is far from what really happens.

Below are some real numbers.  Mass had 20 schools that offer D3 football, but not near the population of a PA, IL, or OH.  Ah yes, but WI does good you ask??  Hey I didn't say it was the only reason.  Just one reason. 

State   #Schools   Population   Density
PA   24   12,432,792    518,033
IL   21   12,852,548    612,026
OH   21   11,466,917    546,044
MA   20   6,449,755    322,488
WI   18   5,601,640    311,202
NY   17   11,023,202    648,424
MN   15   5,197,621    346,508
IA   10   2,988,046    298,805
VA   10   7,712,091    771,209
CA   9   36,553,215    4,061,468

There are other factors as well.  Real world, my son plays D3 football and wouldn't go to WPI if he had the choice.  No Men's Lacrosse.  My son plays two sports, loves them both.  School had to offer both, plus an academic program that interested him.

Are you sure NY's population is less than OH's?

I took out the population of New York City, about 8.3 Million.  I'm not trying to manipulate the results, but given the city's close proximity to New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania it's fair to assume many of those kids could head to schools in those areas and not just New York schools.  So a piece of that 8.3M belongs to New York, but also all the surrounding states.  Just no good way to account for it so I took it out completely.

Population density is just one factor, but not the only one.  Otherwise California should be a D3 power house, but they're not.  Yet they have some great high school teams, so where do all those kids go?  D1, D2?

If you take a closer look at Mass.  Other than NESCAC and NEFC teams there are only four other teams from Mass not in those conferences.  Becker,2-7; Mt Ida,4-6; Springfield,4-6; and WPI,7-3.  Only WPI had a winning record, but inside the LL they're an average team.  Springfield 3 of the last 4 years has just been an average team.  You gotta wonder what's going on.

[fisheralum91]

viper-
2 mice were stuck in a vat of heavy cream..........................................

[JQV]

viper-
2 mice were stuck in a vat of heavy cream..........................................

Both mice were from the NEFC and recognized the cream as a main ingredient in their regular season schedules...

[Bombers798891]

Curry's probably still has that "Oh my God... Ithaca" feeling that teams that are not used to them get.  IC's got a great rep and resume (year after year) to back it up. But when it all comes down to it they are just another team. Don't get me wrong, IC is the favorite by far. Curry players need to learn to not believe the hype.  IC will probably win based on talent, coaching, etc... not because they are all mighty Ithaca.

I agree with you there. IC was able to--sort of---hang with MUC last year because they refused to get bowled over by going up to Alliance. Curry would be wise to adopt the same mindset--and if they're well coached, they will. Some teams (Springfield would be one) come in to Butterfield and just lay down. Two years ago, they came in unbeaten after hanging 55 on SJF and put up a big fat 7. In '04 they came in at 5-1 and lost 31-7. In '02 they made the NCAA's at 8-1 and the only loss was a 44-20 butt-kicking up here.

So if you're Curry, don't uh, be like Springfield. Be like Cortland is and Buff State was. Come in a little cocky, with just enough swagger. Play loose and easy. That's how you beat Ithaca at Butterfield

[SJFF82]

Curry's probably still has that "Oh my God... Ithaca" feeling that teams that are not used to them get.  IC's got a great rep and resume (year after year) to back it up. But when it all comes down to it they are just another team. Don't get me wrong, IC is the favorite by far. Curry players need to learn to not believe the hype.  IC will probably win based on talent, coaching, etc... not because they are all mighty Ithaca.

I agree with you there. IC was able to--sort of---hang with MUC last year because they refused to get bowled over by going up to Alliance. Curry would be wise to adopt the same mindset--and if they're well coached, they will. Some teams (Springfield would be one) come in to Butterfield and just lay down. Two years ago, they came in unbeaten after hanging 55 on SJF and put up a big fat 7. In '04 they came in at 5-1 and lost 31-7. In '02 they made the NCAA's at 8-1 and the only loss was a 44-20 butt-kicking up here.

So if you're Curry, don't uh, be like Springfield. Be like Cortland is and Buff State was. Come in a little cocky, with just enough swagger. Play loose and easy. That's how you beat Ithaca at Butterfield

...or be like SJF at Butterfield.   BTW, all year SJF fans were criticized for even suggesting that a 30 pt loss was an accomplishment in Alliance.  No brownie pts now for IC for last year's trip to Alliance and losing by alot.  A monkeystomp is a monkeystomp is a monkeystomp.  Other than UWW 2007 and Capital 2006, SJF 2006 is the only squad that "was able to hang with MUC" in recent play.

[realistic]

I think you need to check 'gro's signature for the take on Monkeystomps.

[JQV]

I just read Around the Northeast.  Three interesting points:

1. Dem Spicy Boyz only have one full-time coach.

2.  Somehow, the Head Coach is not the full-time coach.  WTF?

3.  Plymouth State lost to Mount Ida...at football.  WTF?

It just occurred to me that had the committee not moved Randolph Macon and taken someone other than Curry then Plymouth State would have likely been the 8 seed.  Then, they would have the opportunity to lose to Moutn Ida and beat Mount Union in the same season.  Obviously, following such a feat, the headline on D3Football would be: REPENT.  THE END IS NEAR.