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

[JT]

I can certainly see valid arguements for Springfield 03 and Ithaca 01.  Also, RPI 99 might have gone on a run had they not faced Rowan in round one.  

I would enter these honorable mentions in no particular order:

Ithaca 2001 - could be considered top 10 over Ithaca 2003

Springfield 2003 - could also be considered top 10

RPI 1999 - Hung with a DI transfer laden Rowan team, including a DE taken in the 6th round by the Seahawks.  He was on his way to making the team before a freak accident with a blocking sled ruined his knee (Phat insurance settlement)

Union 2005 - Late comeback by Rowan prevented an Aggie/Dutchman regional final

Wilkes 2006 - Toppled Del Val to take MAC.  Turnovers cost them an opportunity to upset Rowan

Rowan 2002 - 10-0 regular season.  Had no answer for Brockport's DE's.  In the Rowan backfield most of the day.

Union 2000 - came back from a 26-0, losing to Widener 33-26 in the regional finals.

['gro]

2005 Union and Hobart could make their case for a spot or at least an honorable mention Union went undefeated in a year where the Big 3 were all good. Then they beat Ithaca in the playoffs. Hobart beat a tough cortland team in the 1st round.

Both teams lost close 2nd round games (union to a depleated rowan squad, which they could have won I was there and hobart to del val)

[JT]

JT,

What were the Rowan OC and DC teaching in 1999?  I mean even Coach Welch teaches at IC even now.  I mean he isn't setting up Chem Labs or anything but he is still teaching classes along with the rest of the IC staff I believe.....

Not sure.  But player alumni still grouse about defensive and offensive games plans not being set until Wednesday or Thursday.

For the longest time I wondered why Rowan looked so out of synch at the Stagg.  A few years ago some former players gave me the 411.  Even so, I think the Profs could have made better in game adjustments then they did.

Profs were bigger and stronger trying to play finesse with a great finesse team.  Rowan played smash mouth with Mount Union, they should have played smash mouth with PLU. 

[Jonny Utah]

JT,

What were the Rowan OC and DC teaching in 1999?  I mean even Coach Welch teaches at IC even now.  I mean he isn't setting up Chem Labs or anything but he is still teaching classes along with the rest of the IC staff I believe.....

Not sure.  But player alumni still grouse about defensive and offensive games plans not being set until Wednesday or Thursday.

For the longest time I wondered why Rowan looked so out of synch at the Stagg.  A few years ago some former players gave me the 411.  Even so, I think the Profs could have made better in game adjustments then they did.

Profs were bigger and stronger trying to play finesse with a great finesse team.  Rowan played smash mouth with Mount Union, they should have played smash mouth with PLU. 

I dunno, that sounds like a horrible excuse to me.  Therese always time (even in college classes) for a video in class!

[JT]

JT,

What were the Rowan OC and DC teaching in 1999?  I mean even Coach Welch teaches at IC even now.  I mean he isn't setting up Chem Labs or anything but he is still teaching classes along with the rest of the IC staff I believe.....

Not sure.  But player alumni still grouse about defensive and offensive games plans not being set until Wednesday or Thursday.

For the longest time I wondered why Rowan looked so out of synch at the Stagg.  A few years ago some former players gave me the 411.  Even so, I think the Profs could have made better in game adjustments then they did.

Profs were bigger and stronger trying to play finesse with a great finesse team.  Rowan played smash mouth with Mount Union, they should have played smash mouth with PLU. 

I dunno, that sounds like a horrible excuse to me.  Therese always time (even in college classes) for a video in class!

Remember it was finals or pre-finals prep. They played the game.  This didn't come from a fan.  Personally I couldn't see PLU being able to hang, let alone put the smackdown on Rowan. The Profs pushed Mount Union around then all of sudden they forgot what brung 'em to the dance.

[pg04]

I love all the input, this is what I was hoping for!! 

To Refresh, 10-7 are as follows:

10.  2006 Wilkes
9.   2003 Springfield
8.  2005 Delaware Valley
7.  2001 Ithaca (I also believe this team is better than the 2003 one)

[theoriginalupstate]

Upstate's top 10: Mulligan Style!

1) 1999 Rowan Profs: 12-2
2) 2006 St. John Fisher Cardinals: 12-2
3) 2001 Rowan Profs: 11-2
4) 2003 RPI Engineers: 11-2
5) 2001 Ithaca Bombers: 11-2
6) 2002 Brockport State Golden Eagles: 10-3
7) 2000 Springfield Pride: 11-2
8) 2005 Delaware Valley Aggies: 12-1
9) 2005 Union Dutchmen: 11-1
10) 2003 Lycoming Warriors 9-2

[Jonny Utah]

Allright, it had to be done.  JU's top ten eastern region teams of the d3football.com era......

1) 2003 Ithaca Bombers
2) 2006 St. John Fisher Cardinals: 12-2
3) 2001 Rowan Profs: 11-2
4) 2003 blizzard over Troy County, New York
5) 2001 Ithaca Bombers: 11-2
6) 2002 Brockport State Golden Eagles: 10-3
7) 2000 Springfield Pride: 11-2 8
8) 2005 Delaware Valley Aggies: 12-1
9) 2005 Union Dutchmen: 11-1
10) 2003 Lycoming Warriors 9-2

[pg04]

# 6:  2002 Brockport State Golden Eagles

The Basics:

Overall Record:  10-3
End Result: Eliminated by John Carroll in Regional Final
Key Regular Season Win:  vs. Ithaca 21-0, @ Wesley  17-6
Key Regular Season Losses: @ Cortland State 12-21, vs. TCNJ 7-21
Points For: 21.9
Points Against: 9.4

Key Strength:

Well Anyone who saw this team knows what the answer is.  The stellar defense stood far above the offense on this Regional finalist team.  The team only allowed 122 points on the season, and  allowed less than 3000 total yards on the season. Overall they had 44 sacks on the season. Although the offense sputtered at times, the defense made up for it big time.

Key Players:

Offense:

Adam Webster, RB: 344 attempts for 1473 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Defense: 

Mike Condello: 18 sacks and 66 tackles (33 solo)
Matt Walther: 6 Interceptions, 1 touchdown, 80 tackles (44 solo)
Jeremy Lynch: 5 interceptions and 33 tackles; 2 punt return touchdowns and 1 kick return touchdown.


Eventual cause of demise (because let's face it, the Eastern teams always have a demise) :

A heartbreaking 16-10 overtime loss to John Carroll @ Rochester's Fauver Stadium.  This one is hard to talk about!  Brockport had lost it's top 2 quarterbacks (Including Starter Bob Darnley) and were led by Chet Holcomb. The Golden Eagles lost their last regular season game due to the lack of chemistry, but came into the playoffs and was able to shut out Springfield then upset #1 seed Rowan in an improbable game.  The defense had led them to the finals.  However an impostor to the Eastern Region would take the region.  The dagger came on two different occasions: First, after causing a fumble late in the game, they had their last second winning FG attempt blocked.  Then, on 4th and Inches in overtime, Brockport inexplicably ran Billy Spalik and NOT their workhorse Adam Webster, and was stopped for no gain.  The defense did all it could, but it wasn't enough on this day.


Why did they make the list?:

They made it farther than any other Eastern Team of that year, and even though they really had trouble on offense a lot of times, their defense was one of the best of the era, if not the best.  Without Darnley, many people (including myself at times) wrote off this team but they showed a tad bit of Cinderella.  Condello had the best year of anyone I had seen at Brockport.  I flip flopped on this team and the Ithaca 2001 team, but decided to put Brockport ahead.  The two teams were really close, however in my book.

Thoughts???

Next up, the #5 team, tomorrow night. 

[pg04]

2005 Union and Hobart could make their case for a spot or at least an honorable mention Union went undefeated in a year where the Big 3 were all good. Then they beat Ithaca in the playoffs. Hobart beat a tough cortland team in the 1st round.

Both teams lost close 2nd round games (union to a depleated rowan squad, which they could have won I was there and hobart to del val)

Union is definitely an honorable mention, I think I stated much farther back that they were the last team out.  It was very hard to exclude them. 

[dewcrew88]

PG: Check your PMs.

[rams1102]

# 6:  2002 Brockport State Golden Eagles

The Basics:

Overall Record:  10-3
End Result: Eliminated by John Carroll in Regional Final
Key Regular Season Win:  vs. Ithaca 21-0, @ Wesley  17-6
Key Regular Season Losses: @ Cortland State 12-21, vs. TCNJ 7-21
Points For: 21.9
Points Against: 9.4

Key Strength:

Well Anyone who saw this team knows what the answer is.  The stellar defense stood far above the offense on this Regional finalist team.  The team only allowed 122 points on the season, and  allowed less than 3000 total yards on the season. Overall they had 44 sacks on the season. Although the offense sputtered at times, the defense made up for it big time.

Key Players:

Offense:

Adam Webster, RB: 344 attempts for 1473 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Defense: 

Mike Condello: 18 sacks and 66 tackles (33 solo)
Matt Walther: 6 Interceptions, 1 touchdown, 80 tackles (44 solo)
Jeremy Lynch: 5 interceptions and 33 tackles; 2 punt return touchdowns and 1 kick return touchdown.


Eventual cause of demise (because let's face it, the Eastern teams always have a demise) :

A heartbreaking 16-10 overtime loss to John Carroll @ Rochester's Fauver Stadium.  This one is hard to talk about!  Brockport had lost it's top 2 quarterbacks (Including Starter Bob Darnley) and were led by Chet Holcomb. The Golden Eagles lost their last regular season game due to the lack of chemistry, but came into the playoffs and was able to shut out Springfield then upset #1 seed Rowan in an improbable game.  The defense had led them to the finals.  However an impostor to the Eastern Region would take the region.  The dagger came on two different occasions: First, after causing a fumble late in the game, they had their last second winning FG attempt blocked.  Then, on 4th and Inches in overtime, Brockport inexplicably ran Billy Spalik and NOT their workhorse Adam Webster, and was stopped for no gain.  The defense did all it could, but it wasn't enough on this day.


Why did they make the list?:

They made it farther than any other Eastern Team of that year, and even though they really had trouble on offense a lot of times, their defense was one of the best of the era, if not the best.  Without Darnley, many people (including myself at times) wrote off this team but they showed a tad bit of Cinderella.  Condello had the best year of anyone I had seen at Brockport.  I flip flopped on this team and the Ithaca 2001 team, but decided to put Brockport ahead.  The two teams were really close, however in my book.

Thoughts???

Next up, the #5 team, tomorrow night. 

We finaly agreed on one. This is a lot of fun, and the post's from everyone are great !!!!!!!!

[pg04]

It's odd.... Several people had Brockport at #6.  I guess they fit perfectly in that position. 

[Reno Hightower]

Reno is baffled to see a few of these top 10 having both the 2005 Union and Del Val squads in there but not the 2005 Rowan Profs.....who beat BOTH those teams!!!!!

[superman57]

well I hope that we limit it too a max of 3 teams....if not you could make a list and have 1-4or 5 be all rowan.... how much fun is that...I think 06 springfield should get some consideration...they ran over everybody but ithaca...and just ran in to a team of destiny in SJFC