East Region Fan Poll

[Knightstalker]

knightstalker, i think your a little harsh on Curry this year...once the playoffs come i think they will prove to be a lot tougher game than you think ...im not saying they are going to win since they will most likely play the top seed in the east, but i think they are better than what your giving them credit for

Possibly, but I have heard the same story in other years and usually the NEFC champ gets handled fairly easily, the only close game I can remember is from several years ago, when West Conn barely won, then proceded to get blown out in the next round.

I voted for what I believe to be the ten best teams in the region.  Once I get to 8 on it gets very tough.  This week I had teams ranked all the way to 14, and Curry was still on the outside looking in.  There are several 2 and 3 loss teams that I feel are better than Curry.   I would actually like to see a couple of NEFC teams become strong programs, it only helps the entire region.

[DanPadavona]

I've long wondered why they (the NEFC) can't get it together.  I mean, they do play high school ball, right?  And don't say "high academic requirements."  There are plenty of schools with high academic requirements which play darn good football. 

Maybe the NESCAC, and Springfield, hog all of the good D3 talent?

[Jonny Utah]

I've long wondered why they (the NEFC) can't get it together.  I mean, they do play high school ball, right?  And don't say "high academic requirements."  There are plenty of schools with high academic requirements which play darn good football. 

Maybe the NESCAC, and Springfield, hog all of the good D3 talent?

Well two schools do have the "high academic requirement" (CGA and MIT), but the rest of them I would say have two major factors

1) They dont have the full time or part time opportunities for coaches.  So while a Cortland can spend millions of dollars on a new stadium and have 10-12 coaches that get some kind of benefit (free school, salaries, room and board), the NEFC teams dont get anything

2) NEFC schools are still academically ranked lower than most upstate teams.  Kids from MA are going to go to Nescac, LL, d2, or other private schools.  d3 ma state schools still get a poor reputation for academics in the real world....

[Boxer7806]

jonny is right, there is not enough money for the NEFC school to compete with the likes of the LL and NESCAC schools... but i still think Curry is better than some of you might think... but we will see once the playoffs come around... hopefully this year they can put something together and make the conference respectable

[Knightstalker]

I thought Stevens Tech would get blown out in their first NCAA game last season in basketball, but they broke from tradition and proved me wrong, possibly Curry will, but until they do I have my doubts.

[FisherAlum05]

I watched some of the D3Cast between Curry and Endicott.  Honestly, Curry looked pretty good to me.  I don't think they are at the level of Alfred, Fisher, or RPI.  But I do think they will be more competitive than in the past.  We'll see in a few weeks. 

[Jonny Utah]

I watched some of the D3Cast between Curry and Endicott.  Honestly, Curry looked pretty good to me.  I don't think they are at the level of Alfred, Fisher, or RPI.  But I do think they will be more competitive than in the past.  We'll see in a few weeks. 

Yea and I can speak personally and say that Curry has a great head coach in Bandini, and the DC is Ithaca grad Todd Nestor...

[Boxer7806]

the most notable reason i believe it will be tough for the NEFC to get its first win in the NCAA is bases on thier pairings, if every year they are paired up against the number 1 seed in the east it will be alot tougher for them to get the win,

none the less in years pass the NEFC has gotten some favorable pairings and lost as Westfield did and Bridgewater to Ursinus in 1999 who got blown out 55-0 or something the next week... but if somehow this year Curry gets a favorable pairing not against a top seed like Alfred, Fisher, or RPI, i think they stand a good chance at winning one for the NEFC

['gro]

the most notable reason i believe it will be tough for the NEFC to get its first win in the NCAA is bases on thier pairings, if every year they are paired up against the number 1 seed in the east it will be alot tougher for them to get the win,

none the less in years pass the NEFC has gotten some favorable pairings and lost as Westfield did and Bridgewater to Ursinus in 1999 who got blown out 55-0 or something the next week... but if somehow this year Curry gets a favorable pairing not against a top seed like Alfred, Fisher, or RPI, i think they stand a good chance at winning one for the NEFC

Curry was the #4 seed in 2003, but had to play at #5 RPI and lost 34-20.   Curry did put up a good showing against #1 Del Val in 2005.

[Frank Rossi]

the most notable reason i believe it will be tough for the NEFC to get its first win in the NCAA is bases on thier pairings, if every year they are paired up against the number 1 seed in the east it will be alot tougher for them to get the win,

none the less in years pass the NEFC has gotten some favorable pairings and lost as Westfield did and Bridgewater to Ursinus in 1999 who got blown out 55-0 or something the next week... but if somehow this year Curry gets a favorable pairing not against a top seed like Alfred, Fisher, or RPI, i think they stand a good chance at winning one for the NEFC

Curry was the #4 seed in 2003, but had to play at #5 RPI and lost 34-20.   Curry did put up a good showing against #1 Del Val in 2005.

Was the field 28 or 32 then?

[Ralph Turner]

the most notable reason i believe it will be tough for the NEFC to get its first win in the NCAA is bases on thier pairings, if every year they are paired up against the number 1 seed in the east it will be alot tougher for them to get the win,

none the less in years pass the NEFC has gotten some favorable pairings and lost as Westfield did and Bridgewater to Ursinus in 1999 who got blown out 55-0 or something the next week... but if somehow this year Curry gets a favorable pairing not against a top seed like Alfred, Fisher, or RPI, i think they stand a good chance at winning one for the NEFC

Curry was the #4 seed in 2003, but had to play at #5 RPI and lost 34-20.   Curry did put up a good showing against #1 Del Val in 2005.

Was the field 28 or 32 then?

It was 28 bids from 1999 to 2004.

[redswarm81]

This World Series conditioning program is working well so far.  I should have no trouble staying up for the ninth inning tonight.

[DanPadavona]

1) They dont have the full time or part time opportunities for coaches.  So while a Cortland can spend millions of dollars on a new stadium and have 10-12 coaches that get some kind of benefit (free school, salaries, room and board), the NEFC teams dont get anything

Trust me Jonny, Cortland cannot spend millions of dollars on anything.  That was a one-time grant deal, one we are very fortunate to have gotten from the state.  Cortland was chosen for its central location.  You can hold everything there from the state lacrosse championships to events from the Empire and Senior Games.  If Brockport or Geneseo had been dead center in the state, they would have gotten it.

As far as paying coaches goes, Cortland is very lucky to have someone like Dan MacNeill who wants to be there.  I seriously doubt he is there for the money.  A SUNY school cannot afford to hire top coaches or outbid a private school, so let's be realistic here.  You are certainly aware of what went down with our head lacrosse coaching position recently.  We couldn't afford to pay Barnes a salary which would justify his giving up a teaching job, and hence he went to LeMoyne and we started searching all over again.  Can you imagine that happening at Ithaca?  You win the national championship in lacrosse, and the head coach leaves because he cannot afford to give up his day job?

When I was at Cortland, and a few years later at Oneonta finishing up a dual major, there was non-stop talk about programs being cut, aid being cut, etc.  SUNY schools don't have money to throw around.  Never have, and never will.  Or at least not for anything as trivial as athletics.

[Jonny Utah]

1) They dont have the full time or part time opportunities for coaches.  So while a Cortland can spend millions of dollars on a new stadium and have 10-12 coaches that get some kind of benefit (free school, salaries, room and board), the NEFC teams dont get anything

Trust me Jonny, Cortland cannot spend millions of dollars on anything.  That was a one-time grant deal, one we are very fortunate to have gotten from the state.  Cortland was chosen for its central location.  You can hold everything there from the state lacrosse championships to events from the Empire and Senior Games.  If Brockport or Geneseo had been dead center in the state, they would have gotten it.

As far as paying coaches goes, Cortland is very lucky to have someone like Dan MacNeill who wants to be there.  I seriously doubt he is there for the money.  A SUNY school cannot afford to hire top coaches or outbid a private school, so let's be realistic here.  You are certainly aware of what went down with our head lacrosse coaching position recently.  We couldn't afford to pay Barnes a salary which would justify his giving up a teaching job, and hence he went to LeMoyne and we started searching all over again.  Can you imagine that happening at Ithaca?  You win the national championship in lacrosse, and the head coach leaves because he cannot afford to give up his day job?

When I was at Cortland, and a few years later at Oneonta finishing up a dual major, there was non-stop talk about programs being cut, aid being cut, etc.  SUNY schools don't have money to throw around.  Never have, and never will.  Or at least not for anything as trivial as athletics.

You are still talking about a state school getting a state grant on a football stadium that even a Umass Amherst doesnt see....

And in terms of the lax job, Im assuming most d3 schools are in the same boat as the Cortland coach was.  The head lax coach at Ithaca, is the assistant womens soccer coach and has to teach a bunch of sports classes as well.  Some coaches want to keep that high school teachers salary and benefits, while others choose to coach 2 sports and teach a few phys ed classes as well.  Im sure a full time teacher wanting to coach a sport at a school is making more then the coach that is at the school assisting another team.  That is the coaches choice.  I mean, Ive seen many coaches have to coach sports theyve never played or coached before, just to take the other full time position....

But I was comparing them more to MA stated schools anyway, who dont get the amount of benefits for the entire coaching staff that Cortland does.  And that includes recruiting nights, scouting, traveling for recruiting, room and board, grad assistance etc....Cortland has that advantage over the MA schools. 

[DanPadavona]

You're probably right about that Jonny.  Honestly I don't know what the NEFC schools are up against, which is why I asked.  I wasn't calling them out, just curious.

Ironically from a strict scoring comparison's sake, and from perusing the various D3 computer rating models, I think Curry has a legitimate shot at winning a playoff game.  A lot will depend on seeding, and if they get to host.  If they are #8 and headed to Fisher or Alfred in week 1, it's over.

Lucky for them there is no super power in the #3 or #4 spot, like a Rowan, waiting to eat them alive.  The region seems a lot more balanced this season.  They could end up hosting.

It's too bad Springfield is having such a bad year.  Can you imagine Springfield at Curry in round 1?  That would be off the charts.