East Region Fan Poll

[bman]

Oh what a hot mess this weeks pool will be...

[NED3Guy]

Quick look at records shows only Stevenson, Albright, Cortland, Wesley, Rowan and Western New England as the unbeaten teams left in the region (NESCAC excluded). Pretty easy to assume 5 of those 6 will make up top half of most pollsters lists. WNE did nothing to move up this week, and only has two teams who currently have winning records remaining on their schedule....even winning out may not impress pollsters enough. I guess if the E8 teams keep beating each other pollsters may have no choice but to include an undefeated new England team.....?

There are tons of good one loss teams who have appeared in the poll at various points in time this fall who could make up the bottom 5.  I think the liberty league teams suffer the most this week due to the top three LL teams each having losses to E8 teams with losses.

[AUPepBand]

Quick look at records shows only Stevenson, Albright, Cortland, Wesley, Rowan and Western New England as the unbeaten teams left in the region (NESCAC excluded). Pretty easy to assume 5 of those 6 will make up top half of most pollsters lists. WNE did nothing to move up this week, and only has two teams who currently have winning records remaining on their schedule....even winning out may not impress pollsters enough. I guess if the E8 teams keep beating each other pollsters may have no choice but to include an undefeated new England team.....?

There are tons of good one loss teams who have appeared in the poll at various points in time this fall who could make up the bottom 5.  I think the liberty league teams suffer the most this week due to the top three LL teams each having losses to E8 teams with losses.

After what Hartwick did with Cortland yesterday, Pep would simply rank Wesley #1 followed by all nine Empire 8 teams...and that's probably why Pep is NOT a pollster. But seriously, there are no cupcakes in the Empire 8.

[wesleydad]

Quick look at records shows only Stevenson, Albright, Cortland, Wesley, Rowan and Western New England as the unbeaten teams left in the region (NESCAC excluded). Pretty easy to assume 5 of those 6 will make up top half of most pollsters lists. WNE did nothing to move up this week, and only has two teams who currently have winning records remaining on their schedule....even winning out may not impress pollsters enough. I guess if the E8 teams keep beating each other pollsters may have no choice but to include an undefeated new England team.....?

There are tons of good one loss teams who have appeared in the poll at various points in time this fall who could make up the bottom 5.  I think the liberty league teams suffer the most this week due to the top three LL teams each having losses to E8 teams with losses.

I voted for Framingham and WNE because no one stands out as that good so why not.  We can argue all we want about level of play and such, but no one else has stepped up and shown they are a lock for the top 10.  In the end it is the 9 and 10 spots, why not someone other than the top conferences in the region.  I don't think any conference should have 4 or 5 teams in the top 10.

[Jonny Utah]

Quick look at records shows only Stevenson, Albright, Cortland, Wesley, Rowan and Western New England as the unbeaten teams left in the region (NESCAC excluded). Pretty easy to assume 5 of those 6 will make up top half of most pollsters lists. WNE did nothing to move up this week, and only has two teams who currently have winning records remaining on their schedule....even winning out may not impress pollsters enough. I guess if the E8 teams keep beating each other pollsters may have no choice but to include an undefeated new England team.....?

There are tons of good one loss teams who have appeared in the poll at various points in time this fall who could make up the bottom 5.  I think the liberty league teams suffer the most this week due to the top three LL teams each having losses to E8 teams with losses.

I voted for Framingham and WNE because no one stands out as that good so why not.  We can argue all we want about level of play and such, but no one else has stepped up and shown they are a lock for the top 10.  In the end it is the 9 and 10 spots, why not someone other than the top conferences in the region.  I don't think any conference should have 4 or 5 teams in the top 10.

I agree although I'm going to bet the E8 is simply better than any NE conference.  Like we joked about on another thread, the E8 is really like the SEC, with Hartwick and maybe only Brockport being like Vanderbilt and Kentucky.  Everyone else is solid and no joke.  (and Kentucky and Vanderbilt are not jokes)

[D3MAFAN]

This week was really tough, I was torn between head to head results, conference strength, program history  , quality wins, and quality losses.

[Boxer7806]

Quick look at records shows only Stevenson, Albright, Cortland, Wesley, Rowan and Western New England as the unbeaten teams left in the region (NESCAC excluded). Pretty easy to assume 5 of those 6 will make up top half of most pollsters lists. WNE did nothing to move up this week, and only has two teams who currently have winning records remaining on their schedule....even winning out may not impress pollsters enough. I guess if the E8 teams keep beating each other pollsters may have no choice but to include an undefeated new England team.....?

There are tons of good one loss teams who have appeared in the poll at various points in time this fall who could make up the bottom 5.  I think the liberty league teams suffer the most this week due to the top three LL teams each having losses to E8 teams with losses.

I voted for Framingham and WNE because no one stands out as that good so why not.  We can argue all we want about level of play and such, but no one else has stepped up and shown they are a lock for the top 10.  In the end it is the 9 and 10 spots, why not someone other than the top conferences in the region.  I don't think any conference should have 4 or 5 teams in the top 10.

The E8 is fun to follow, plain and simple. It truly is like the SEC of Division 3 football. Other conferences might have stronger teams at the top, but simply from top to bottom, it might be the best conference in Division 3. Granted I don't have the best national perspective here but the only other conference that I can see that is similar is the WIAC? But still they have Whitewater at the top. It would be nice though for the E8 to get a team to the National Semi's and even win one, so then the comparison can be complete.

I agree although I'm going to bet the E8 is simply better than any NE conference.  Like we joked about on another thread, the E8 is really like the SEC, with Hartwick and maybe only Brockport being like Vanderbilt and Kentucky.  Everyone else is solid and no joke.  (and Kentucky and Vanderbilt are not jokes)

[AUKaz00]

Week 5 Fan Poll

Team	Record	Points	Last Rating	Next Week
1   Wesley ( 7 )	4-0	70	1	at New Jersey
2   Rowan	4-0	57	3	at #8 Salisbury
3   Cortland State	5-0	55	4	at Buffalo State
4   Albright	4-0	39	6t	vs. Wilkes
5   Ithaca	3-1	35	2	at Hartwick
6   Hobart	4-1	34	6t	at Springfield
7   Stevenson	5-0	29	6t	at Delaware Valley
8   Salisbury	2-1	27	8	vs. #2 Rowan
9   Alfred	4-1	11	9	Open Date
10t Framingham State	4-1	7	NR	at Westfield State
10t Utica	3-2	7	NR	at Brockport State

Dropping Out:
Brockport State
Western New England


Also Receiving votes:               
Western New England 5
Brockport 3
RPI 2
St. Lawrence 2
Christopher Newport 1
Delaware Valley 1
                     
            
Voting Distribution:            

Wesley (1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
Rowan (2,5,3,2,4,2,2)
Cortland State (5,2,2,4,3,3,3)
Albright (6,3,5,3,9,7,5)
Ithaca (3,9,NR,6,2,5,6)
Hobart (4,10,4,7,5,6,7)
Stevenson (7,NR,7,8,7,4,4)
Salisbury (NR,4,6,5,8,8,8)
Alfred (8,NR,8,NR,6,NR,NR)
Framingham State (NR,6,NR,9,NR,NR,NR)
Utica (NR,7,10,NR,NR,9,NR)
Western New England (NR,9,NR,10,NR,NR,NR)
Brockport State (NR,NR,9,NR,10,NR,NR)
RPI (9,NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,NR)
St. Lawrence (NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,9)
Christopher Newport (NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,10,NR)
Delaware Valley (10,NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,NR)


Key Matchups:
#2 Rowan at #8 Salisbury

[jknezek]

Not often you see 17 teams in a 10 team poll...

[AUKaz00]

Not often you see 17 teams in a 10 team poll...

When we started in the preseason, there were 20 teams that received votes so this is actually progress!

[jknezek]

Not often you see 17 teams in a 10 team poll...

When we started in the preseason, there were 20 teams that received votes so this is actually progress!

Fair enough. Didn't know that. Nice job whittling the list down guys!

[lewdogg11]

I'd have to say RPI/SLU is a 'Key Matchup' this week.  I'm guessing if one team wins convincingly, they will start to make some progress on this poll.

[D3MAFAN]

I kind of figured it was going to look like this. Honestly, outside of Wesley, I just have no clue, I feel that on any give day, someone can knock another team off. However, as the season continues, it will clear out (Hopefully  ).

[lewdogg11]

I think of all the teams that are getting votes, the one that confuses me the most is Cortland.  My ranking(5) is not quite in line with what everyone else has.  I just have a hard time being confident in a team that's given up 40+ in 3 of 5 games, despite their record.  Looking at Cortland's schedule(I'm not saying this will happen), it's crazy to think that it's possible that they finish 5-5.  They probably won't but it's certainly possible.  (Buff St, Alfred, Brockport, MoVille, Ithaca)  Tough schedule there.  I think if they can maybe get the next 2 games in the W column, I would put them up to # 2.  Which leads to Rowan....

The other one that is getting big votes is Rowan, that opposite Cortland, has won in a not exciting fashion.  They've played some great defense so far, and haven't put a ton of points up.  I think a great defense gives them more staying power, but i could see them possibly losing 3 games of what is left. 

That's why it's tough to sit on the overall records at this point in the season.  Some of these 'top' teams could get bounced from the rankings altogether in a matter of weeks.

On the other end, we have Salisbury.  Salisbury is getting votes as high as 4 and to as low as no vote.  A cancelled game doesn't help their cause at this point in time, but they are a complete anomaly right now.  They lost to what looks like a good Albright team and then they've beaten 2 not so good teams.(Montclair is probably slightly above average)  Like everyone else, Salisbury could excel, only losing to Wesley, or they could lose 3-4.  We don't quite know.  Even though I don't have them ranked yet, mostly because of a lack of data, Salisbury may be the team to end up ahead of one or both of the teams above. 

Weird year.  I like it.

[bman]

I think of all the teams that are getting votes, the one that confuses me the most is Cortland.  My ranking(5) is not quite in line with what everyone else has.  I just have a hard time being confident in a team that's given up 40+ in 3 of 5 games, despite their record.  Looking at Cortland's schedule(I'm not saying this will happen), it's crazy to think that it's possible that they finish 5-5.  They probably won't but it's certainly possible.  (Buff St, Alfred, Brockport, MoVille, Ithaca)  Tough schedule there.  I think if they can maybe get the next 2 games in the W column, I would put them up to # 2.  Which leads to Rowan....

The other one that is getting big votes is Rowan, that opposite Cortland, has won in a not exciting fashion.  They've played some great defense so far, and haven't put a ton of points up.  I think a great defense gives them more staying power, but i could see them possibly losing 3 games of what is left. 

That's why it's tough to sit on the overall records at this point in the season.  Some of these 'top' teams could get bounced from the rankings altogether in a matter of weeks.

On the other end, we have Salisbury.  Salisbury is getting votes as high as 4 and to as low as no vote.  A cancelled game doesn't help their cause at this point in time, but they are a complete anomaly right now.  They lost to what looks like a good Albright team and then they've beaten 2 not so good teams.(Montclair is probably slightly above average)  Like everyone else, Salisbury could excel, only losing to Wesley, or they could lose 3-4.  We don't quite know.  Even though I don't have them ranked yet, mostly because of a lack of data, Salisbury may be the team to end up ahead of one or both of the teams above. 

Weird year.  I like it.

I know I mentioned that I saw (in person) Cortland play this year, and I wasn't overly impressed.  The problem is...who do you place ahead of them?...Rowan? (nope...not impressed), Ithaca? I saw them (get dominated at times) on Saturday by Utica...
Albright?...no way    So who?  I'm befuddled enough, that although I adjusted my pool somewhat this week, not enough to let some of the fringe 11-13 teams in...