East Region Fan Poll

[lewdogg11]

The East will get a 1 seed.  It will just go to a more deserving conference like the LL or E8.  Not some chumpy PA conference.

[Frank Rossi]

The East will get a 1 seed.  It will just go to a more deserving conference like the LL or E8.  Not some chumpy PA conference.

...and all will be right in the kingdom again.

[Upstate]

The East will get a 1 seed.  It will just go to a more deserving conference like the LL or E8.  Not some chumpy PA conference.

And BOOOM goes the dynamite....

Just too bad that there is hardly any MAC posters to jaw back with...

[jknezek]

Nice dig. But with the youth Del Val has at their impact player positions, I think you'll be seeing them get stronger over the next 2 years. Or some injuries and a few key graduations could do them in. That's the great thing about having to play the games. Although I am thinking one of these years Salisbury will get over the Wesley hurdle again and run the table. If they stay in the E8 it could get harder as the teams get more used to seeing their offense, but they've excelled at it for years and even teams that see it year in and out struggle to contain it except at the very highest levels.

[Upstate]

Nice dig. But with the youth Del Val has at their impact player positions, I think you'll be seeing them get stronger over the next 2 years. Or some injuries and a few key graduations could do them in. That's the great thing about having to play the games. Although I am thinking one of these years Salisbury will get over the Wesley hurdle again and run the table. If they stay in the E8 it could get harder as the teams get more used to seeing their offense, but they've excelled at it for years and even teams that see it year in and out struggle to contain it except at the very highest levels.

Their QB was just a Freshman last year and he is going to be VERY good over the next three years, he's extremely athletic and has a cannon.  He had a couple throws get away from him and Fisher ran a lot of disguises in their secondary to bait him into throws.  He'll learn and get better...

I also think Fisher is in for a big year next year if their starting QB that didn't play this year comes back healthy.  I would have loved to see what he could do with Miller, Francis, Schmidt and Kramer this year on offense though...

[ExTartanPlayer]

The East will get a 1 seed.  It will just go to a more deserving conference like the LL or E8.  Not some chumpy PA conference.

Just for kicks, I decided to look up a couple of the results of MAC teams vs. LL, E8, and NJAC competition over the last couple years.  Not a complete list, but I think I got most of them.

2011:

Lycoming 8, Rowan 6
Cortland State 14, Albright 0
TCNJ 49, FDU-Florham 21
William Paterson 13, King's 6

Not much to go on here.  Beating King's and FDU-Florham doesn't mean that much.  Cortland beat Albright, but Albright was 4-4 and squarely in the middle of the MAC while Cortland narrowly lost a pair of NJAC games that cost them a share of the conference title.  Lyco beat Rowan, but Lyco finished 6-2 in the MAC and Rowan was 5-4 in NJAC play.

2010:
Springfield 44, Wilkes 7
Utica 24, Wilkes 10
Rowan 24, Lycoming 17
Lycoming 26, Ithaca 24
Ithaca 31, Widener 7
Alfred 37, Widener 0
Springfield 31, King's 7
FDU-Florham 24, TCNJ 23

Definitely a black eye for the MAC.  However, FDU-Florham (which finished last in the MAC that year) did beat a TCNJ team that finished 5-4 in the NJAC, and Lycoming scored a win over Ithaca.  Lycoming also pushed Rowan to the limit, and Rowan went 9-2.

2009:

Albright 35, Alfred 25 (PLAYOFFS)
Delaware Valley 30, Kean 17
Albright 48, Western Connecticut 7
Lebanon Valley 37, Salisbury 21 (yes, Salisbury was not in the E8 at the time)
Wilkes 37, Montclair State 10

By the way, Montclair State went undefeated in the NJAC that year.  Wilkes went 3-4 and finished tied for fourth in the MAC.  Moving on...

Rowan 29, Lycoming 7
Springfield 57, King's 30
William Paterson 20, King's 6
Ithaca 41, Widener 17
Widener 35, Frostburg State 16 (see Salisbury comment above)
Alfred 33, FDU-Florham 28

So 2009 was basically a wash.  The top of the MAC beat up on mediocre teams from the NJAC and E8, and vice versa.  It is notable that MAC #4 Wilkes blew out NJAC champion Montclair State.

Overall: it's hard to show that the MAC is notably weaker than the NJAC and E8, in my opinion, based on the last few years.  I suppose the biggest argument against the MAC is the fact that an undefeated MAC champ lost to the E8 runner-up in the playoffs at home this year.  That's it?  You're basing your opinion on that one game?

What about 2009, when Albright (MAC runner-up) beat E8 champion Alfred in the playoffs at home?  Whoops!

[wesleydad]

great conversation and +1 to jk for starting it so eloquently.  I was thinking the same thing but could have not said it that well.  The east got as far as it usually gets, the final 8, with both teams losing to 2 very good teams.  One did not lose to Mount but they did lose to UWW so that is a wash.  I am hoping that the gap is closing and I agree with Bombers, I want to see one or both of them lose.  I have gone to the last 5 Stagg bowls and although they are really nice people and both groups tailgate well, I would like to see 1 or 2 different teams.  Wesley has had their shot and they get one again this year, so hopefully they get it done and you guys get to cheer for someone else.

[Upstate]

Overall: it's hard to show that the MAC is notably weaker than the NJAC and E8, in my opinion, based on the last few years.  I suppose the biggest argument against the MAC is the fact that an undefeated MAC champ lost to the E8 runner-up in the playoffs at home this year.  That's it?  You're basing your opinion on that one game?

What about 2009, when Albright (MAC runner-up) beat E8 champion Alfred in the playoffs at home?  Whoops!

Did Albright do it with their 3rd string QB?

[pg04]

I need that beating of a dead horse picture again.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Besides beating a dead horse, ya s'pose Upstate is aware that Mount Union WON with their third string qb?

[pg04]

Of course sometimes I think Mount Union could win (except against UWW) playing 9 on 11

[Ralph Turner]

I need that beating of a dead horse picture again.

Here you go.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I need that beating of a dead horse picture again.

Here you go.

I like the one the MIAA guys use even better, but I can't locate it.

[pg04]

I need that beating of a dead horse picture again.

Here you go.

Thanks Ralph! +K

[Upstate]

Besides beating a dead horse, ya s'pose Upstate is aware that Mount Union WON with their third string qb?

Yes, I am...

However when UMU and UWW are no longer heads and shoulders above everyone else they're not even remotely comparable circumstances...

The 3rd string QB on UMU will likely start at the vast majority of Division III schools...