East Region Fan Poll

[Bombers798891]

Even the best of them end up losing to E8/NJAC/LL/MAC schools.

You're missing the point here, Dlip. They do lose to them. They also beat them, and (this is key) even in losses, play them competitively frequently enough, that I disagree with what I believe to be the blanket dismissal of their credentials against the NY teams based on conference affiliation alone.

[Ice Bear]

Even the best of them end up losing to E8/NJAC/LL/MAC schools.

You're missing the point here, Dlip. They do lose to them. They also beat them, and (this is key) even in losses, play them competitively frequently enough, that I disagree with what I believe to be the blanket dismissal of their credentials against the NY teams based on conference affiliation alone.

Good point Bombers and dlip gets your perspective man.

[UfanBill]

Every year we get into a discussion of the relative strength of New England teams. When it comes to NCAA Regional rankings you have to consider the criteria. The RR are compiled to rank the teams that will participate in the NCAA tournament. That means New England teams will be ranked if they win their conference's automatic qualifier... the CCC, ECFC and MASCAC champs. The NEWMAC champ will probably earn a Pool B bid. Right now W. Conn., USMMA and WNE are all ranked because they are presumed conference winners. Last year the first week of the NCAA rankings included Union, W, Conn and Curry but none of them made the field. .  The point is that the first week Regional Rankings are only an indication of who the NCAA have on their radar. Much can and will happen in the next two weeks.

As for voting for any New England team in the ERFP,,,I've taken a stand from week #1 that undefeated teams will get my support over two or three loss teams every week. I do so without speculation about how a head to head match-up might play out. Since W.Conn. is 8-0 they get my vote and by my own criteria I should have them ranked above two loss Ithaca.

[ITH radio]

Well, interesting wrinkle in this year's NeWMAC is MIT could win the title but Usmma gets the ncaa bid.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, interesting wrinkle in this year's NeWMAC is MIT could win the title but Usmma gets the ncaa bid.

With no automatic bid to award, there's no need for the NEWMAC to have a tiebreaker. Surely MIT and Merchant Marine would share the conference title. Tiebreakers generally exist solely for the purpose of awarding an AQ.

[rams1102]

Any thoughts on what the Regional Rankings will look like? I believe its going to be:

1.   Brockport (8-0)
2.   Frostburg (8-0)
3.   RPI (8-0)
4.   Salisbury (8-0)
5.   Delaware Valley (7-1)
6.   Cortland State (7-1)
7.   Western Conn (8-0)
8.   Merchant Marine (7-1)
9.   Misericordia (7-1)
10.   Montclair State (6-2)/Western New England (7-1)

Rankings are out:

1. BP
2. FSU
3. RPI
4. DVC
5. CORT
6. SALS
7. WCT
8. USMMA
9. IC
10. WNE

Ditto!

Megga Ditto's. I agree with #1, #2 and #3. The rest make no sense.

[Machiavelli]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

[Oline89]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
Just to BS a little.  Let's start with just the East.  If you were to design an 8 team bracket, entering the "best teams".  Which conferences would you remove from automatic bid (pool A) and place in the Pool C.  It seems this scheme would get rid of automatic bids to lesser conferences, but if a team really did shine (wins their conference, plus has nice win/good loss in OOC) they have a chance to compete in NCAA.  Winning the conference is still a great acheivement, but getting your teeth kicked in the next week by Mt Union/Brock/UWW ain't much fun .

[Bartman]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
     Your theory will meet reality this weekend as Endicott plays WNE and WestConn plays Framingham

[Ice Bear]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

A very even keeled response from Mach. Dlip was certainly overdoing it (insert snowflake) with his repetition of his earlier point, which he firmly believes in. However, with that being said it certainly is true that a blanket statement including all NE teams is not fair and accurate and there certainly are NE teams that can win and have won. They are in the minority though and that has to be accounted for when creating the ERFP IDLHO.

Dlip digs on bombers and always feels that dude brings strong and objective thoughts to the table.

[Machiavelli]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
     Your theory will meet reality this weekend as Endicott plays WNE and WestConn plays Framingham

In theory, yes. Endicott and WNE could be close against one another. i think Endicott is better prepared to play out of conference though. They've been doing it competitively for several years now.

Framingham will destroy WConn.

[Machiavelli]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
Just to BS a little.  Let's start with just the East.  If you were to design an 8 team bracket, entering the "best teams".  Which conferences would you remove from automatic bid (pool A) and place in the Pool C.  It seems this scheme would get rid of automatic bids to lesser conferences, but if a team really did shine (wins their conference, plus has nice win/good loss in OOC) they have a chance to compete in NCAA.  Winning the conference is still a great acheivement, but getting your teeth kicked in the next week by Mt Union/Brock/UWW ain't much fun .

Tough question because CCC and MASCAC have a lot of former NEFC teams, all which I think have paid their dues, but that doesn't mean they deserve anything. NEWMAC is a lot of E8/LL defectors or Independents. ECFC should NOT get an AQ for sure. CCC would be next out based on how I think they would fare. NEWMAC has some historically strong programs there that just aren't that good anymore. I'd rank them like this:

1. NEWMAC
2. MASCAC (mostly because of Framingham and Bridgewater's relatively recent history and proof of competitive competence - NOT because of WConn)
3. CCC
4. ECFC

[Bombers798891]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

This is fair, and I would agree overall.

It really does depend who we're talking about

[MRMIKESMITH]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
Just to BS a little.  Let's start with just the East.  If you were to design an 8 team bracket, entering the "best teams".  Which conferences would you remove from automatic bid (pool A) and place in the Pool C.  It seems this scheme would get rid of automatic bids to lesser conferences, but if a team really did shine (wins their conference, plus has nice win/good loss in OOC) they have a chance to compete in NCAA.  Winning the conference is still a great acheivement, but getting your teeth kicked in the next week by Mt Union/Brock/UWW ain't much fun .

Tough question because CCC and MASCAC have a lot of former NEFC teams, all which I think have paid their dues, but that doesn't mean they deserve anything. NEWMAC is a lot of E8/LL defectors or Independents. ECFC should NOT get an AQ for sure. CCC would be next out based on how I think they would fare. NEWMAC has some historically strong programs there that just aren't that good anymore. I'd rank them like this:

1. NEWMAC
2. MASCAC (mostly because of Framingham and Bridgewater's relatively recent history and proof of competitive competence - NOT because of WConn)
3. CCC
4. ECFC

I pretty sure you know this, but taking away a bid from an eligible conference wouldn't guarantee another at-large bid to another ER team.

[Machiavelli]

This Bombers/DB battle is a little off kilter. It all depends who we're talking about from New England here. Who in New England do I think can give a good game in the playoffs this year?

-Framingham St.
-Endicott

Who will get blown out if they make it?

-Western CT
-MIT
-Western NE
-MMA
-Springfield
-Husson
-Suny-Maritime
-Galaudet

Some teams have had the taste, more than once, of competing and sometimes being successful against good competition. Others either aren't there yet, or have no idea what they are in for. Others are just not that good but find themselves in conferences where it's harder to not be successful than it is to lose. Is it possible for the bottom list to make a game competitive in the postseason? Sure, I guess it could happen. But I don't anticipate it and I wouldn't put my money on it.

Mach,
Just to BS a little.  Let's start with just the East.  If you were to design an 8 team bracket, entering the "best teams".  Which conferences would you remove from automatic bid (pool A) and place in the Pool C.  It seems this scheme would get rid of automatic bids to lesser conferences, but if a team really did shine (wins their conference, plus has nice win/good loss in OOC) they have a chance to compete in NCAA.  Winning the conference is still a great acheivement, but getting your teeth kicked in the next week by Mt Union/Brock/UWW ain't much fun .

Tough question because CCC and MASCAC have a lot of former NEFC teams, all which I think have paid their dues, but that doesn't mean they deserve anything. NEWMAC is a lot of E8/LL defectors or Independents. ECFC should NOT get an AQ for sure. CCC would be next out based on how I think they would fare. NEWMAC has some historically strong programs there that just aren't that good anymore. I'd rank them like this:

1. NEWMAC
2. MASCAC (mostly because of Framingham and Bridgewater's relatively recent history and proof of competitive competence - NOT because of WConn)
3. CCC
4. ECFC

I pretty sure you know this, but taking away a bid from an eligible conference wouldn't guarantee another at-large bid to another ER team.

That wasn't the question though. :-)