The Top 10 Eastern Region teams of the D3football.com Era

[@d3jason]

@d3jason

I agree with you on the 2001 Rowan team. The semifinal with Bridgewater had a strange final minute to end the game. That'll be talked about in Glassboro for a long time. Instead, BC had to play Mount Union in the Stagg instead of Rowan. Close game, 30-27, won by the Raiders. If Rowan had played, who knows the outcome.
Hope you don't mind an old Mount guy jumping in on your board. Just wanted to agree with you. I'm sure that made your day.
Good luck to all your teams in the fall. There are some really good teams in the East. Hopefully they'll get the recognition they deserve. ☠🏈

I coached against both versions. The '01 team just seemed so much more explosive on offense. It was the first time they went to the spread and Scott Lipford was a handful at receiver. The '99 team was probably better defensively and they did beat Mount.

[Machiavelli]

I know everyone will resonate to more recent success, but for anyone who was around, this list cannot start without these teams from the earlier(<2005) years:

Rowan 1999, 2001 and 2005
Widener 2000 and 2001
RPI 2003
Brockport 2002
Del Valley 2005

I'm sure I left one or 2 out, but these ones are memorable. Ranking these alone, i'd put them:

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Widener 2000
3 - Brockport 2002
4 - Rowan 2001
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

I would put the '01 Rowan up higher, they may have been the best team in D-III that year, but for the longest second ever at Bridgewater during the semifinals.

I definitely hear you. Those 2 years for Widener were sick and the '02 Brockport team was one of those 'special' teams, probably the way 2017 will be looked at if they aren't as good this year.  I think those Widener teams get lost in the shuffle sometimes because they weren't considered 'East' back then, but they were awesome. But those Rowan teams through 2002 were so good every year. Athletically they were probably most dominant teams in the country for that stretch, but one of the most undisciplined teams to boot. Those teams could have and should have won 5-6 National titles from like 1993 through 2002 instead of losing 5 or whatever. The '99 team was pretty much just a D1 transfer team, so big, so fast. But, I suppose I can adjust... :-)

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Rowan 2001
3 - Widener 2000
4 - Brockport 2002
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

[@d3jason]

I know everyone will resonate to more recent success, but for anyone who was around, this list cannot start without these teams from the earlier(<2005) years:

Rowan 1999, 2001 and 2005
Widener 2000 and 2001
RPI 2003
Brockport 2002
Del Valley 2005

I'm sure I left one or 2 out, but these ones are memorable. Ranking these alone, i'd put them:

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Widener 2000
3 - Brockport 2002
4 - Rowan 2001
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

I would put the '01 Rowan up higher, they may have been the best team in D-III that year, but for the longest second ever at Bridgewater during the semifinals.

I definitely hear you. Those 2 years for Widener were sick and the '02 Brockport team was one of those 'special' teams, probably the way 2017 will be looked at if they aren't as good this year.  I think those Widener teams get lost in the shuffle sometimes because they weren't considered 'East' back then, but they were awesome. But those Rowan teams through 2002 were so good every year. Athletically they were probably most dominant teams in the country for that stretch, but one of the most undisciplined teams to boot. Those teams could have and should have won 5-6 National titles from like 1993 through 2002 instead of losing 5 or whatever. The '99 team was pretty much just a D1 transfer team, so big, so fast. But, I suppose I can adjust... :-)

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Rowan 2001
3 - Widener 2000
4 - Brockport 2002
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

The '02 Brockport team had an incredible defensive unit. I didn't see the Widener teams or RPI. It would have been interesting to see how the '05 Wesley team fared against Del Val and Rowan teams. The Wolverines were crushed by Brockport and then UWW in the semifinals, but did beat a UMHB team in Belton that had been to the Stagg Bowl the previous year.

[bman]

I know everyone will resonate to more recent success, but for anyone who was around, this list cannot start without these teams from the earlier(<2005) years:

Rowan 1999, 2001 and 2005
Widener 2000 and 2001
RPI 2003
Brockport 2002
Del Valley 2005

I'm sure I left one or 2 out, but these ones are memorable. Ranking these alone, i'd put them:

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Widener 2000
3 - Brockport 2002
4 - Rowan 2001
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

I would put the '01 Rowan up higher, they may have been the best team in D-III that year, but for the longest second ever at Bridgewater during the semifinals.

I definitely hear you. Those 2 years for Widener were sick and the '02 Brockport team was one of those 'special' teams, probably the way 2017 will be looked at if they aren't as good this year.  I think those Widener teams get lost in the shuffle sometimes because they weren't considered 'East' back then, but they were awesome. But those Rowan teams through 2002 were so good every year. Athletically they were probably most dominant teams in the country for that stretch, but one of the most undisciplined teams to boot. Those teams could have and should have won 5-6 National titles from like 1993 through 2002 instead of losing 5 or whatever. The '99 team was pretty much just a D1 transfer team, so big, so fast. But, I suppose I can adjust... :-)

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Rowan 2001
3 - Widener 2000
4 - Brockport 2002
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

The '02 Brockport team had an incredible defensive unit. I didn't see the Widener teams or RPI. It would have been interesting to see how the '05 Wesley team fared against Del Val and Rowan teams. The Wolverines were crushed by Brockport and then UWW in the semifinals, but did beat a UMHB team in Belton that had been to the Stagg Bowl the previous year.

Was Widener in the East back then?  I feel like they may have been in the South...I could be(probably am) wrong annnd I know its semantics...

I also feel like maybe a (Ali Marpet) Hobart team should be in here somewhere...

[ITH radio]

Ironically the 2005 Hobart team, which was a big underdog at the time, nearly beat that 2005 DVC team. Came down to a final play in a 21-14 loss.

One caveat re the 2012 and 2014 Statesmen (both ended up 12-1) would be they bowed out in the quarterfinals, in a 47-7 blowout to UST and what was a close game with Wesley until the Wolverines pulled away late, 41-13.

Not sure that makes the Top 10...

[Machiavelli]

I know everyone will resonate to more recent success, but for anyone who was around, this list cannot start without these teams from the earlier(<2005) years:

Rowan 1999, 2001 and 2005
Widener 2000 and 2001
RPI 2003
Brockport 2002
Del Valley 2005

I'm sure I left one or 2 out, but these ones are memorable. Ranking these alone, i'd put them:

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Widener 2000
3 - Brockport 2002
4 - Rowan 2001
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

I would put the '01 Rowan up higher, they may have been the best team in D-III that year, but for the longest second ever at Bridgewater during the semifinals.

I definitely hear you. Those 2 years for Widener were sick and the '02 Brockport team was one of those 'special' teams, probably the way 2017 will be looked at if they aren't as good this year.  I think those Widener teams get lost in the shuffle sometimes because they weren't considered 'East' back then, but they were awesome. But those Rowan teams through 2002 were so good every year. Athletically they were probably most dominant teams in the country for that stretch, but one of the most undisciplined teams to boot. Those teams could have and should have won 5-6 National titles from like 1993 through 2002 instead of losing 5 or whatever. The '99 team was pretty much just a D1 transfer team, so big, so fast. But, I suppose I can adjust... :-)

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Rowan 2001
3 - Widener 2000
4 - Brockport 2002
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

The '02 Brockport team had an incredible defensive unit. I didn't see the Widener teams or RPI. It would have been interesting to see how the '05 Wesley team fared against Del Val and Rowan teams. The Wolverines were crushed by Brockport and then UWW in the semifinals, but did beat a UMHB team in Belton that had been to the Stagg Bowl the previous year.

Was Widener in the East back then?  I feel like they may have been in the South...I could be(probably am) wrong annnd I know its semantics...

I also feel like maybe a (Ali Marpet) Hobart team should be in here somewhere...

I was only using 1999-2005 teams since they can be forgotten. That said, I think the teams back then across the board were better than they are now. Everyone was just bigger and faster. Maybe dumber too, but definitely bigger and faster.

As far as Widener's region, I guess we'd need someone to define the ground rules because it's correct that Widener, Wesley, Delaware Valley etc were all 'South' before a few years ago.

[@d3jason]

I know everyone will resonate to more recent success, but for anyone who was around, this list cannot start without these teams from the earlier(<2005) years:

Rowan 1999, 2001 and 2005
Widener 2000 and 2001
RPI 2003
Brockport 2002
Del Valley 2005

I'm sure I left one or 2 out, but these ones are memorable. Ranking these alone, i'd put them:

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Widener 2000
3 - Brockport 2002
4 - Rowan 2001
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

I would put the '01 Rowan up higher, they may have been the best team in D-III that year, but for the longest second ever at Bridgewater during the semifinals.

I definitely hear you. Those 2 years for Widener were sick and the '02 Brockport team was one of those 'special' teams, probably the way 2017 will be looked at if they aren't as good this year.  I think those Widener teams get lost in the shuffle sometimes because they weren't considered 'East' back then, but they were awesome. But those Rowan teams through 2002 were so good every year. Athletically they were probably most dominant teams in the country for that stretch, but one of the most undisciplined teams to boot. Those teams could have and should have won 5-6 National titles from like 1993 through 2002 instead of losing 5 or whatever. The '99 team was pretty much just a D1 transfer team, so big, so fast. But, I suppose I can adjust... :-)

1 - Rowan 1999
2 - Rowan 2001
3 - Widener 2000
4 - Brockport 2002
5 - Widener 2001
6 - RPI 2003
7 - Rowan 2005
8 -  Del Valley 2005

The '02 Brockport team had an incredible defensive unit. I didn't see the Widener teams or RPI. It would have been interesting to see how the '05 Wesley team fared against Del Val and Rowan teams. The Wolverines were crushed by Brockport and then UWW in the semifinals, but did beat a UMHB team in Belton that had been to the Stagg Bowl the previous year.

Was Widener in the East back then?  I feel like they may have been in the South...I could be(probably am) wrong annnd I know its semantics...

I also feel like maybe a (Ali Marpet) Hobart team should be in here somewhere...

I was only using 1999-2005 teams since they can be forgotten. That said, I think the teams back then across the board were better than they are now. Everyone was just bigger and faster. Maybe dumber too, but definitely bigger and faster.

As far as Widener's region, I guess we'd need someone to define the ground rules because it's correct that Widener, Wesley, Delaware Valley etc were all 'South' before a few years ago.

Maybe bigger, I don't necessarily think faster. Football has changed a lot since then. It's really hard to compare eras. There is more of an emphasis on getting players in space and spreading the field horizontally now. I think the coaches are better at teaching it now too. More players have specialized roles, defenses rotate a lot players in and out especially along the defensive line.

I sometimes wonder how the teams at Wesley in the mid-90's when I was on the coaching staff would match-up with more recent editions. There were some great players there then too. For most of that time, it was harder to get into the playoffs with only 16 invites. A lot of good teams stayed home. Just rambling now....

[dlippiel]

RPI team of 2003 was damn good! Was Cole the QB? Team went the the semi's dlip believes with a loss to St. Johns.  Also a tough loss to Hobart during the regular season. Regardless dlip remembers watching them and really noting how ****ing good they were.

[Machiavelli]

RPI team of 2003 was damn good! Was Cole the QB? Team went the the semi's dlip believes with a loss to St. Johns.  Also a tough loss to Hobart during the regular season. Regardless dlip remembers watching them and really noting how ****ing good they were.

RPI 2003 was very very good, but more of a finesse team that had a couple bounces in the right direction in the playoffs. Curry was excellent that year, but still is a good first round draw(and they should've been home but their field wasn't cleared by the NCAA to host so it was in Troy). Springfield probably could've had a crack at the National Championship that year, legitimately, but RPI got a lead and that Triple Option doesn't bode well when time isn't on your side. I remember Springfield still running option plays down by 14 with like a minute to go because they couldn't throw. And then there was the infamous Snow Bowl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxCKwxwoRc) game against Ithaca. Ithaca had gotten smoked by Springfield that year but was still really friggin good nonetheless. They were a lighter lift on paper than Springfield, but in clean weather it could've gone either way.

Then of course was the St. John's game which was tied toward the end of the 3rd quarter. They eventually won 38-10 then blew out Mt. Union the following week. So reliving this a bit, maybe RPI should probably be in that 3-5 range.

[Ralph Turner]

As far as Widener's region, I guess we'd need someone to define the ground rules because it's correct that Widener, Wesley, Delaware Valley etc were all 'South' before a few years ago.

Yes.  And now CNU and Salisbury...

[Bartman]

RPI team of 2003 was damn good! Was Cole the QB? Team went the the semi's dlip believes with a loss to St. Johns.  Also a tough loss to Hobart during the regular season. Regardless dlip remembers watching them and really noting how ****ing good they were.

Some good football back in 2003. Watched parts of the Snowball film of win by RPI over IC, pretty intense win by the Engineers. Hobart beat RPI that year by 43-25 by putting up 28 in the fourth quarter in Troy.(Hobart team matured the next year and went 7-0 in the first year of the LL in 2004).St. Johns did the same 4th quarter thing to them in the NCAA, but despite that RPI was solid in 2003 by getting to the semis for one of the top teams of the last 15 years.

[fisheralum91]

Nice to see action on the boards!
Obviously Im a homer and I have to say that the 2006 Fisher team was one of the best I saw.
07 was amazing as well minus the hiccup down in Oneonta (god I hate Hartwick)......The 06 team was special- and when I traveled out to watch the Rowan game- I didnt quite know what to expect.  What I got was a total beat down of the beast from the east.  The Mount loss hurt but from all accounts- even from Mount fans themselves - there was a point in that game where it could have gone either way.

Oh to be back in those years......

Lets hope Vos rights the ship!

[Bartman]

Ironically the 2005 Hobart team, which was a big underdog at the time, nearly beat that 2005 DVC team. Came down to a final play in a 21-14 loss.

One caveat re the 2012 and 2014 Statesmen (both ended up 12-1) would be they bowed out in the quarterfinals, in a 47-7 blowout to UST and what was a close game with Wesley until the Wolverines pulled away late, 41-13.

Not sure that makes the Top 10...

ITH, if the Lambert Cup Hobart team of 2012(only Hobart team to win one) was not a top ten team in the East of the D3.com era(last 15 years) then no Hobart team is worthy of consideration. They dominated the regular season and had two one sided wins in the Playoffs against W&L and a strong Wittenberg team. I attended all of the playoff games and Hobart was dominant until the trip to Minnesota. The Tommies game was their best opponent and worst played game. Worthington was injured on the first series after a blocked punt by the Tommies. Nick Strang was throwing high all game (2 Ints) and should have been pulled early. We could run the ball but , the play calling was not the best by DeWall . St. Thomas had an unbelievable Oline that just wore us down and the Tommies went on to play in the Stagg bowl, losing to MUC. If you want to eliminate this team from consideration based on the St. Thomas playoff game, that is your opinion, but based on my live observations of this team and the teams in the last 15 years they could have played with any of the top teams in the East during this period and won their fair share.

[ITH radio]

That's fair, and I agree bc of the Lambert designation.

Btw - Devin wasn't injured on the punt. He was taken out by a Tommie OL chop block from my recollection of watching the game. Maybe not a dirty play, intentionally, but it was a big blow. I had also forgotten UST went on to the Stagg, so it does put that in context.

[Bartman]

ITH, 
   Yes,Devin went down on the first defensive series after the blocked punt. It was a big loss against a team that we needed everyone on the field. Only Hobart score was a 66 yard run by Steven Webb that was a beauty I think sprung by Marpet. Tommies were the better team, for sure, but just wasn't our day either.