East Region Fan Poll

[Ice Bear]

I wanna talk about the two voters who have Utica as the top team in the Empire 8.

Ice Bear wants to know what you have, at this point to disprove Utica being the top team in the E8 this season...at this point?

*Shrug* nothing. It's week 1. It's all gut feel. But I'm skeptical because we've seen this movie before with Utica. 2012, 2014, 2016, all years where we thought maybe they were finally going to turn a corner to be consistently a player in the conference. And in 2013, 2015, and 2017, it just doesn't happen.

Alfred and Cortland have simply been more consistent programs, and to me, that earns them the benefit of the doubt, considering none of them played an opponent of any real consequence last week, and all won impressively.

Ice Bear says this is a very true statement.

Ice Bear agrees this **** is really fun

[Caz Bombers]

Demetri Martin is playing a show next week in the area and my local radio station was interviewing him, specifically about the film Taking Woodstock he starred in (because the station is in the actual Woodstock) but all I could think was ASK HIM ABOUT ICE BEAR

[Ice Bear]

Demetri Martin is playing a show next week in the area and my local radio station was interviewing him, specifically about the film Taking Woodstock he starred in (because the station is in the actual Woodstock) but all I could think was ASK HIM ABOUT ICE BEAR

Ice Bear says Demetri, who is really Ice Bear, is hilarious and super talented. Ice Bear says those are both things that this current Ice Bear is not...

Ice Bear says +k Caz for the Demetri reference.

[wesleydad]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

[Bartman]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Wesleydad, Always great to get your perspective. Good luck against Delaware Valley. I am very interested to see this result as well as how Brockport progresses this year. The Brockport defense is still very good despite the score of the Hobart game....I wouldn't count them out yet, although their season will depend on the Oline development( they have some size , for sure) and whether Hellwig is healthy and can put the ball into the hands of some outstanding athletes in Hubbard and Ortiz.

[RowanPhan]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Good point here... and CNU is a very, very solid team. I think they will push for the top spot in the NJAC this season.

[CNU85]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Good point here... and CNU is a very, very solid team. I think they will push for stop spot in the NJAC this season.

[jmcozenlaw]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Welcome back Wesleydad. I hope that things are ok!

**********Below posted on June 12, 2019....................and my mind has not changed in the three months since:**********

DelVal will be in a massive rebuilding year this coming season so I don't see them as one of the better teams in the East.

The DelVal vs. Wesley game should be interesting. DelVal loses their four year starter at QB (Darden), their top three receivers (with all at least 6'4".......Ellis, Graham and Stewart), stud kick returner and punt returner Stewart (4 TD's last year), three of their five mulit-year starter offensive linemen and their all conference fullback/hback. I think they struggle mightily to move the ball against a loaded Wesley defense. And when they do, DelVal also loses their four year punter, All-American Steven Adams (currently in an NFL rookie camp, and getting CFL looks) who was an amazing weapon at the D3 level. Wesley knows first hand what it is like to be subpar at kicker and/or punter.

DelVal brings a lot back on defense, but Wesley does on offense, including a lightning quick back (Lee), big, fast WR's and a huge offensive line. After DelVal winning the first two and Wesley winning last year, I'll set the line at at Wesley -9.5. DelVal covers, but Wesley wins to tie the recent series (last four seasons) up at 2-2. No team, with the exception of Mount Union, Mary Hardin Baylor, Wisconsin Whitewater and maybe one or two I'm missing, beats Wesley 3 out of 4 games (this season's seniors were freshman during game one of the series).........certainly NOT DelVal.

I don't have a MAC prediction yet, but I don't see DelVal running the table, nor winning the MAC for a third straight year.

I think that Wesley, Salsbury and Rowan catch a huge break with the departure of Frostburg.

A little birdie also tells me that this season's game might be the end, for now, of the Wesley vs. DelVal series. I have no clue who Wesley replaces them with.

[wesleydad]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Welcome back Wesleydad. I hope that things are ok!

**********Below posted on June 12, 2019....................and my mind has not changed in the three months since:**********

DelVal will be in a massive rebuilding year this coming season so I don't see them as one of the better teams in the East.

The DelVal vs. Wesley game should be interesting. DelVal loses their four year starter at QB (Darden), their top three receivers (with all at least 6'4".......Ellis, Graham and Stewart), stud kick returner and punt returner Stewart (4 TD's last year), three of their five mulit-year starter offensive linemen and their all conference fullback/hback. I think they struggle mightily to move the ball against a loaded Wesley defense. And when they do, DelVal also loses their four year punter, All-American Steven Adams (currently in an NFL rookie camp, and getting CFL looks) who was an amazing weapon at the D3 level. Wesley knows first hand what it is like to be subpar at kicker and/or punter.

DelVal brings a lot back on defense, but Wesley does on offense, including a lightning quick back (Lee), big, fast WR's and a huge offensive line. After DelVal winning the first two and Wesley winning last year, I'll set the line at at Wesley -9.5. DelVal covers, but Wesley wins to tie the recent series (last four seasons) up at 2-2. No team, with the exception of Mount Union, Mary Hardin Baylor, Wisconsin Whitewater and maybe one or two I'm missing, beats Wesley 3 out of 4 games (this season's seniors were freshman during game one of the series).........certainly NOT DelVal.

I don't have a MAC prediction yet, but I don't see DelVal running the table, nor winning the MAC for a third straight year.

I think that Wesley, Salsbury and Rowan catch a huge break with the departure of Frostburg.

A little birdie also tells me that this season's game might be the end, for now, of the Wesley vs. DelVal series. I have no clue who Wesley replaces them with.

Things are good, just less time to do what I did in the past.

[jmcozenlaw]

I think the poll makes sense.  There are questions everywhere.  I would not have Wesley 1 if I was voting until I see how they deal with the new QB situation.  Ithaca and Hobart look really good, both on paper and on the field last week.  Del Val has to replace their offense, so who knows what they have.  This week will clear up the Wesley/Del Val debate, unless it is a barn burner.  I think the top 4 are clearly ahead of the rest, well if Del Val makes a good showing this week.  The top of the east could be very strong this year, not sure if it is the compete at the national championship level, but certainly the second tier.  CNU found out what it is like to play a national contender type team in NCC and the gap is large for most teams.

Welcome back Wesleydad. I hope that things are ok!

**********Below posted on June 12, 2019....................and my mind has not changed in the three months since:**********

DelVal will be in a massive rebuilding year this coming season so I don't see them as one of the better teams in the East.

The DelVal vs. Wesley game should be interesting. DelVal loses their four year starter at QB (Darden), their top three receivers (with all at least 6'4".......Ellis, Graham and Stewart), stud kick returner and punt returner Stewart (4 TD's last year), three of their five mulit-year starter offensive linemen and their all conference fullback/hback. I think they struggle mightily to move the ball against a loaded Wesley defense. And when they do, DelVal also loses their four year punter, All-American Steven Adams (currently in an NFL rookie camp, and getting CFL looks) who was an amazing weapon at the D3 level. Wesley knows first hand what it is like to be subpar at kicker and/or punter.

DelVal brings a lot back on defense, but Wesley does on offense, including a lightning quick back (Lee), big, fast WR's and a huge offensive line. After DelVal winning the first two and Wesley winning last year, I'll set the line at at Wesley -9.5. DelVal covers, but Wesley wins to tie the recent series (last four seasons) up at 2-2. No team, with the exception of Mount Union, Mary Hardin Baylor, Wisconsin Whitewater and maybe one or two I'm missing, beats Wesley 3 out of 4 games (this season's seniors were freshman during game one of the series).........certainly NOT DelVal.

I don't have a MAC prediction yet, but I don't see DelVal running the table, nor winning the MAC for a third straight year.

I think that Wesley, Salsbury and Rowan catch a huge break with the departure of Frostburg.

A little birdie also tells me that this season's game might be the end, for now, of the Wesley vs. DelVal series. I have no clue who Wesley replaces them with.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've never been one to pat myself on the back and I don't want to start now but damn, did I nail the Wesley vs. DelVal game down to a nanometer.

Wesley won. Check. DelVal covered. Check.

There are only 5 or 6 teams who beat Wesley 3 out of 4 years and DelVal is not of that ilk.

Neither of these teams has a prayer to be in the national conversation and would get monkey stomped by the likes of UMHB, Mount Union and Whitewater.

DelVal wins if their FG kicker hits his. Wesley wins of their FG kicker hits his.

They are two pretty evenly matched teams with brand new QB's. The difference was the sheer amount of newbies on DelVal's offense and it shows.

Wesley cakewalks through the Frostburgless NJAC.

The Aggies do NOT win the MAC.

Call we the swammy

[ITH radio]

I don't know - Salisbury beating UWO makes me think the Gulls could take down the Wolverines potentially. CNU and Montclair, who I was high on in the preseason, don't seem to have it, so the NJAcs a two team race imo.

[Pat Coleman]

Certainly possible. UWO hasn't been a world-beater the past year and a half, but it is a big win even if it is against the WIAC's No. 3 or No. 4 team.

[rams1102]

I don't know - Salisbury beating UWO makes me think the Gulls could take down the Wolverines potentially. CNU and Montclair, who I was high on in the preseason, don't seem to have it, so the NJAcs a two team race imo.

The key to the Montclair season will be how they re-tool during their week off. The SoVa game should have been a W but 3 picks and a blocked punt WTF. Not acceptable especially with close to 500 yards of O. How we play against Hobart next week will be the key to our season and how we do during the NJAC schedule. We will see.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Don't forget to turn in ballots! Still looking for a few more voters, would like for each conference to be represented.

[UfanBill]

Here's my "clueless" ERFP Week 2 effort 

1)  Wesley ...reluctantly BUT
2)  Ithaca   ...might have been #1 but they DNP
3)  Hobart  ...co team to beat in the LL
4)  Union    ...nothing to show me otherwise, so far
5)  Salisbury..best of the NJAC?
6)  DelVal    ...who else from the MAC?
7)  Alfred     ...solid OOR win
8)  Cortland...trending up quickly, always dangerous
9)  Utica      ...gotta give them some love
10) WNE    ...could have been Endicott (they play Wesley this week while WNE steps it up by playing D1 FCS Stetson)

The East is dominated by the LL and E8 so far... NJAC's best is always going to rank high; still time for CNU and Montclair to get back in it...The MAC, who knows?...Nice win for WPI but RPI is NOT the same team.