East Region Fan Poll

[stimulator]

-Del Val proved something
-Union doesnt usually have more than 1-2 bad years in a row.  This could be year 1 of a 1-3 year nationally ranked team.
-Springfield is probably down this year with key losses on offense and a defense that has been questionable since 1977.
-SJF is young but still kept the MUC score under 77 points.
-Ithaca has not looked that impressive against unknown opponents, but Kings at least beat a real good 2007 team (Randloph-Macon) in week 1.
-RPI is unproven
-Mt. Ida should win the national championship this year.

As an RPI supporter.. I wholeheartedly agree.  They have not proven anything yet ...other than first games jitters/rustiness over.  Endicott was not a test.  But they played well enough to win easily.

Was fairly impressed with young O Line which will be the key to their success. 

Not sure where they rank so early.  Suppose these polls are fantasy until week 5 or so.

[pg04]

Still waiting for about half the polls.  If they don't come in by this evening, then the poll won't be released until tomorrow night, as was the case last week.

Thanks! Should be interesting! 

[Knightstalker]

Finally got my poll in.  Mine did not change, all my teams won or had byes.  Not enough games to really start seeing seperation at this point.

[AUPepBand]

to me this is tough... who do you put at #1 Ithaca is 2-0 but has not yet been impressive against average opponents , and Fisher is 1-1 but lacked the ability to put Buff State away....

and did auburn REALLY only beat Miss State 3-2.... are we playing hockey

That game would have been a delight for (legendary) Coach Alex Yunevich, whose Saxons upset the Saints on the arctic tundra of Weeks Field in Canton by the same score (3-2) back in 1976. AU got a first quarter field goal then held on for a 3-2 win (purposely taking a late game safety to get some space for a decent punt/kick). And AU is headed to Canton this weekend....

That same year, Coach Butterfield's Bombers hit a last minute field goal to tie Yuni's boys 3-3 on South Hill Field in another defensive tussle.

[pg04]

I have to say, some people's polls shock me a little bit...I won't elaborate quite yet since not all are in.  It looks like the poll won't be out until tomorrow. 

[theoriginalupstate]

I have to say, some people's polls shock me a little bit...I won't elaborate quite yet since not all are in.  It looks like the poll won't be out until tomorrow. 

Alot of teams are off to wierd starts, its pretty clear that there is no cut and dry #1.  Its going to be interesting to say the least. 

[superman57]

It was hard for me, as the bottom of the poll has yet to come out and say wow I am awesome vote for me... Del Valley got a significant bump from me...but no one has yet to step it up... the IC-Wick game and UofR-Fisher game will tell me more next week, as IC-Wick should be an explosive game and if Fisher does not come with their A game UofR might be too much trouble

[pg04]

I think a convincing IC win over Hartwick would solidify them in my mind (Finally).  Honestly, Every team still seems mediocre to me.  There is no power that I can see. 

[DanPadavona]

Mine is in.  I have to admit I consider about 4-5 teams in the first half of the poll to be almost inseparable.  And the same goes for teams 6 through 10, plus 2 more teams which I decided to leave out of the final ranking.

Del Valley moved up the most for obvious reasons.  I'm holding the loss to 1-AA Iona against them, but not to a large degree, even though I know Iona is hardly special. 

I also ranked Albright in the Top 10 based on a very close loss to a strong Salisbury team, and a quality road victory against the NJAC's Western Conn. 

Rowan took a step backward in my ranking based on a fairly competitive week 1 game against Bridgewater State, who lost in Week 2 at home to UM-Dartmouth.  Cortland also took a step backward as I continue to consider what giving up 37 to Morrisville portends.  If Morrisville thwacks Montclair next week, I will re-evaluate.

What to do with Kean?  They crushed Merchant Marine, who crushed Coast Guard.  Okay, so crushing Coast Guard doesn't mean anything.  But Kean was one of our dark horse picks in 2007 and they still have a lot of players from that team.  Moravian crushed McDaniel in a game they absolutely should have won, and at least are on my radar now.  Hartwick blew out a bad team too. 

I keep flip-flopping IC and SJF.  I'm not impressed by Fisher's win at home over Buffalo State.  IC is winning competitive games over above average teams.

As in usual years, I have no idea where to rank RPI.  They really love to front load the weak teams early in the schedule.  As usual we will find out how good they are when they play Union and Hobart.

[DanPadavona]

Week 3 has the potential to answer a lot of questions I currently have, and allow me to sort through the Top 10 more easily.

Muhlenberg at Union - Great early season game.  Muhlenberg beat a competitive Wilkes team and should compete for a playoff bid again.  A big Union win puts them in the Eastern elite in my opinion.

Hartwick at Ithaca - A strong showing by Hartwick will get them into my Top 10.  Ithaca needs a statement win to solidify a #1 ranking.

Western Conn at Kean - Kean can gain a lot of points with a convincing home victory.  Western Conn gave Albright a strong game, which gave Salisbury a strong game.

Cortland at Rowan -  Rowan needs to win to stay in my Top 10.  Cortland needs to win, or come very close on the road in a tough environment to remain high on my radar.

Montclair at Morrisville - This game interests me a lot.  My feeling is Morrisville is where Buffalo State was in the early 1990s just before they became a power house.  A blowout Montclair victory does not look good for Cortland.  A Morrisville win puts them on the map, probably for the long haul.  I smell an upset.

Shenandoah at Albright - Shenandoah lost to Catholic, then grabbed an impressive victory over Bridgewater VA.  Here is a chance for Albright to prove I am not over-ranking them.

SJ Fisher at Rochester - A good rivalry matchup.  But honestly, with Rochester getting blown out by Case Western, Fisher has to win big to make a bid for #1 again.

[dlippiel]

Not to sound stupid but what is the deal with the east region poll? I have been around the site for years now but only on PP (mostly LLPP) since the end of last year. Any way to get involved in the east poll situation? I would love to! I don't pretend to be the most knowledgable d3 fan but I am learning and usually am quite rational. I have watched D3 football for over 20 years and have been an avid spectator for at least 12. I feel like this is an interview...? Anyway I would love to contribute and be a part

[pg04]

The poll will be out by 9:30! Never you fear! lol

[pg04]

East Region Fan Poll - Week 2 (9/16/08)

#	School (1st votes)	Record	Pts	Prev.	This Week
1	Ithaca ( 5 )	2-0	93	1	vs. #8 Hartwick
2	St. John Fisher ( 2 )	1-1	85	2	at Rochester
3	Cortland State ( 1 )	1-0	74	3	at #9 Rowan
4	RPI ( 1 )	1-0	72	4	at Utica
5	Hobart	1-0	53	5	at Carnegie Mellon
6	Delaware Valley ( 1 )	1-1	47	NR	Open Date
7	Montclair State	1-0	43	6	at Morrisville State
8	Hartwick	1-0	23	T7	at #1 Ithaca
9	Rowan	1-0	20	T7	at #3 Cortland State
10	Albright	1-1	16	9	vs. Shenandoah

Others Receiving votes:      

Widener 11,
Union 9,
Curry 3,
Norwich 1 -- Yeah I'm not sure why, either!!!

Dropping out: #10 Widener


Voting Breakdown:

Ithaca (1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1)
St. John Fisher (3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4)
Cortland State (2, 5, 6, 1, 4, 3, 2, 6, 4, 3)
RPI (5, 4, 5, 6, 2, 4, 5, 4, 1, 2)
Hobart (7, -, 8, 4, 5, 6, 4, 2, 5, 5)
Delaware Valley (4, 3, 1, 5, -, 7, -, 5, 10, 6)
Montclair State (6, 6, 4, 7, 9, 5, 7, 8, 6, 9)
Hartwick (9, 8, 10, -, 6, 8, 6, -, 7, -)
Rowan (8, 7, 9, 8, 7, 10, -, 10, 9, -)
Albright (-, -, 7, -, -, 9, 9, 7, -, 7)
Widener (10, -, -, 10, -, -, 8, -, 8, 8 )
Union (-, 9, -, 9, 10, -, 10, 9, -, 10)
Curry (-, -, -, -, 8, -, -, -, -, -)
Norwich (-, 10, -, -, -, -, -, -, -, -)

[dlippiel]

I think Wick at Ithaca may be very interesting...

[theoriginalupstate]

Looks about right, alot of teams just hanging around right now.