East Region Fan Poll

[gordonmann]

Springfield seems to run in cycles with down years when they bring in a new quarterback.  One of the litmus tests for where the Pride is in the cycle is to look at the fumbles.  They usually have a lot of them when young guys are learning the system.  This year they have 17 (five lost) through for games.  Add in 6 interceptions and that's a lot of plays that are short circuiting drives, even if you're not turning the ball over.

[DanPadavona]

My rankings are in. 

I don't see this season ever sorting itself out.  There is more parity in Eastern Region this season than there has been in a decade.  I've been looking at various computer ratings systems on the net, as well as the rating system I've been running for the last 2 decades.  All confirm my belief that the difference between the top few teams and the rest of the pack is less than it has been in a long time.

Maybe we get a few "answers" this week when Cortland hosts Montclair and Albright travels to Lycoming.  But I guarantee there will be more questions posed as the season goes along.  I have a feeling Del Valley will get upset at Lycoming in a few short weeks.  Either TCNJ or West Conn, or both, could easily upset Cortland in the second half.  Alfred may be playing itself into the E8 Championship race and I don't have them in my Top 10 this week.  I'd like to, but I felt I had to re-introduce Hartwick after beating Fisher.  And it came down to Hobart and Montclair still being undefeated, even though neither has impressed yet.  I couldn't fit Rowan into the Top 10 this week either, and they looked a lot stronger against Brockport than did Montclair.  Who the heck knows.

This season is going to get crazier.  That's my only prediction.

['gro]

I considered a lot of teams for this weeks poll and tried to make the best of it, but I don't know enough about the MAC beyond DelVal so some of their 3-1 teams were passed over for E8/NJAC teams with similar records.

[DanPadavona]

Easy to do 'Gro.  I don't get a chance to see the MAC teams either (unless you count Wilkes in a scrimmage situation). 

I try to base it on historical power, and the MAC has been pretty good over the years producing strong regional teams.  Widener, Moravian (now southern region), and Lycoming come to mind immediately. 

Coming back around to what I was talking about last week - basing the rank on a team's body of work rather than 1 game - let's take a look at Lycoming:

Week 1 - A 1 point loss to Ithaca.  Our initial reaction was to downgrade IC rather than upgrade Lycoming.
Week 3 - Win over Susquehanna.
Week 4 - A 17 point win over traditional power Bridgewater VA.  Bridgewater is down this year, but that firmly puts Lycoming on my radar.
Week 5 - Win over a traditionally solid/strong Widener team.

Suddenly I'm looking at Lycoming and thinking these guys are 1 point away from being undefeated, and they have played a pretty good schedule to date. 

You could do that with a lot of teams this season which is why we are so confused.  But Lycoming, to me, has a one of the stronger bodies of work so far.

['gro]

I know of Lycoming, and went through the same steps you listed above before I did my ballot.  The week 4 win vs Bridgewater caught my eye until I saw their record this year which downgraded the win to "meh".  The one thing about the MAC so far is that none of the 3-1 teams have played each other yet.   D-Val/L-Val and Lycoming/Albright next week.  Cortland/Montclair will also clear the air.

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks, pg04.  Looking forward to this week's poll! +1! 

[labart96]

I know of Lycoming, and went through the same steps you listed above before I did my ballot.  The week 4 win vs Bridgewater caught my eye until I saw their record this year which downgraded the win to "meh".  The one thing about the MAC so far is that none of the 3-1 teams have played each other yet.   D-Val/L-Val and Lycoming/Albright next week.  Cortland/Montclair will also clear the air.

TGP struggled with the Lyco/Albright decision on his ballot, but gave the nod to Albright this week.  Per the other posts, we should have greater clarity in another week.

k+ pg for the effort to compile and post the weekly polls.

[Knightstalker]

KS has had Albright in his poll all along, KS also had Widener there for while, with Lyco and Del Val on the bubble at the beginning of the season.  Right now Widener has dropped off the radar but KS has Del Val and Albright in the poll, with Lyco and Leb Val on the bubble.  KS sees the NJAC shaping up with CS and MSU on top, this weekend could determine the conference.  Right below those two KS has Rowan, TCNJ and Kean as the next tier, West Conn is a question mark so far. 

The LL is RPI, Bart and then everyone else, Union could still cause damage, and KS is not sure about WPI and UofR yet.  E8 is any of half the teams and is the hardest for KS to call.

[dewcrew88]

PG... I will get my ballot to you after work this evening.
Thanks,
Mgmt

[pg04]

No problemo... I understand your issues  .  Anyway, not all 10 are in even with yours . 

[DanPadavona]

+K on the continued effort PG!

[dewcrew88]

No problemo... I understand your issues  .  Anyway, not all 10 are in even with yours . 

You have received my ballot, Obi wan.

[union89]

It seems to me that Kean is getting very little respect here.....a close loss to Cortland and pretty convincing wins over both WConn and TCNJ have forced me to put them at #5.....I know NOTHING about them outside of scores and what I've read though....

['gro]

It seems to me that Kean is getting very little respect here.....a close loss to Cortland and pretty convincing wins over both WConn and TCNJ have forced me to put them at #5.....I know NOTHING about them outside of scores and what I've read though....

whoa now, let's not go crazy with cougar love, unless its the kind of cougar that likes botox and lots of perfume    Kean is on my ballot (I can't call it a poll anymore) but not that high.

[labart96]

It seems to me that Kean is getting very little respect here.....a close loss to Cortland and pretty convincing wins over both WConn and TCNJ have forced me to put them at #5.....I know NOTHING about them outside of scores and what I've read though....

whoa now, let's not go crazy with cougar love, unless its the kind of cougar that likes botox and lots of perfume    Kean is on my ballot (I can't call it a poll anymore) but not that high.

tgp also has kean on the ballot but in the 8 range......