Eastern Collegiate Football Conference

[Steve Wiitala]

Norwich ended up in the ECFC not so much because the were looking for a league that made more sense for them than the Empire "8" (leagues with numbers in their name should have that many schools as far as I'm concerned), because they weren't really a very good geographic fit with all those Western NY schools.  The only reason NU went to the E8 in the first place was because the FFC folded, and they needed somewhere to go.  Then there was kind of a confluence of events.  Castleton decided to add football, and the NAC announced that they would start a football league by taking on Associate members for football, and NU signed on, because of the better geographic fit.  The the NAC backed out, but the schools that announced an interest formed a single sport conference.  As I said, considering the struggle that the MCHA had getting approved as a single sport conference with Pool A status for hockey, I was shocked that the ECFC got Pool A status.  It wasn't a case of a bunch of "loser" schools getting together to steal an AQ from anybody - it was a case of schools trying to form a league that made geographic and competitive sense.  The AQ thing shocked me when I heard it was approved.

[Pat Coleman]

I think it's a matter of timing. They loosened up the regulations on single-sport conferences a couple years ago, after more than a decade of not allowing new single-sport conferences to qualify for automatic bids.

[AUKaz00]

leagues with numbers in their name should have that many schools as far as I'm concerned.

The Empire 8 is not just a football conference, so the name made sense for the eight New York schools that formed an all-sports conference.  Elmira, Nazareth and RIT don't field football teams, so there was a need for associate members in football and since the minimum for the AQ is 7 that's certainly why the conference landed on that number in football.  Now, with Stevens added and RIT leaving, it's still 8 schools just not all in the Empire State...

[Bombers798891]

Just because the ECFC schools weren't actively looking for a way to game the system and earn a Pool A bid doesn't mean that the end result is any less of an embarrassment to the playoff system. Every one of those teams would be at (or near) the bottom of any other conference in the East (well, maybe not the LL. I could see middle of the pack there)

[Frank Rossi]

leagues with numbers in their name should have that many schools as far as I'm concerned.

The Empire 8 is not just a football conference, so the name made sense for the eight New York schools that formed an all-sports conference.  Elmira, Nazareth and RIT don't field football teams, so there was a need for associate members in football and since the minimum for the AQ is 7 that's certainly why the conference landed on that number in football.  Now, with Stevens added and RIT leaving, it's still 8 schools just not all in the Empire State...

Well, the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) changed to the Liberty League when it added teams for Pool A purposes.  Maybe it's time for the Empire 8 to change its name... I vote for the Eastern Time Zone Conference (ETZC)

[SUADC]

leagues with numbers in their name should have that many schools as far as I'm concerned.

The Empire 8 is not just a football conference, so the name made sense for the eight New York schools that formed an all-sports conference.  Elmira, Nazareth and RIT don't field football teams, so there was a need for associate members in football and since the minimum for the AQ is 7 that's certainly why the conference landed on that number in football.  Now, with Stevens added and RIT leaving, it's still 8 schools just not all in the Empire State...

Well, the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) changed to the Liberty League when it added teams for Pool A purposes.  Maybe it's time for the Empire 8 to change its name... I vote for the Eastern Time Zone Conference (ETZC)

Rossi, that's a good one.

[Steve Wiitala]

Just because the ECFC schools weren't actively looking for a way to game the system and earn a Pool A bid doesn't mean that the end result is any less of an embarrassment to the playoff system. Every one of those teams would be at (or near) the bottom of any other conference in the East (well, maybe not the LL. I could see middle of the pack there)

Same thing goes on in hockey, there are a couple of leagues that are much weaker than the others, including one that just got Pool A status this year, eating the last Pool B slot in the process.  The ECAC NE was a pretty weak league in the first place, and then the MASCAC started sponsoring hockey, which meant that the public schools in the ECAC NE left the ECAC NE, and where there was one Pool A slot for a 12 team league, there were now two Pool A slots two seven team leagues. (Salem State had been in  a different league, and they added a start up program.)  While they were transitioning, there was a pool C slot that went away.  I'm seeing the same kind of thing going on in football the hockey fans have seen.  Everybody wants to get a Pool A bid, and leagues all sit with 7 teams, so there's little excess to pad out Pool C spots.

[Ralph Turner]

Congratulations, Norwich!

[02 Warhawk]

Are there any ECFC schools in or around the Boston area?

I'm trying to collect something from each DIII football program. My wife might be headed out that way next weekend, and I might have her stop and pick something up for me?

Much appreicated!!

[skratch29]

i know this is late but the closest school in the ECFC to Boston is Mt. Ida which is in Newton.

[Upstate]

i know this is late but the closest school in the ECFC to Boston is Mt. Ida which is in Newton.

Yes, just don't walk on their field...

It's littered with goose crap, nothing like playing a football game on a bed of geese droppings...

[skratch29]

Any one hear of any good recruits coming into the conference, especially for Castleton or Norwich?

[dlippiel]

Dlip wanted to mention that he was very impressed with a freshman QB on Castleton from the scrimmage yesterday. dlip does not know his name but he was the second QB to play. Kid seemed very poised and relaxed in the pocket. He threw a very nice ball and he really seemed to let the game come to him. He should develop into a very good player. Congrats to him and good luck to Castleton St on their 2012 football season! By the way, does anyone from CS know his name?

[skratch29]

Dlip wanted to mention that he was very impressed with a freshman QB on Castleton from the scrimmage yesterday. dlip does not know his name but he was the second QB to play. Kid seemed very poised and relaxed in the pocket. He threw a very nice ball and he really seemed to let the game come to him. He should develop into a very good player. Congrats to him and good luck to Castleton St on their 2012 football season! By the way, does anyone from CS know his name?

From what i have been hearing it should be a kid named George Busharis. Hes from Mansfield, Mass and is suppose to be the Heir- Apparent to their Star Qb Shane Brozowski (Sr.) I Would Love to hear more on how you thought Castleton held up against a usually very good Union team. I went to the Scrimmage last year and Union out played them pretty easily.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE 2012 TOP 25 FAN POLL:
Please send me a PM with your ballot. I'd like to get a preseason poll up by Thursday night.

During the season ballots shall be due by Tuesdays so I can get them up Tuesday night.

Remember, this is just fun and we aren't part of the BCS Formula... yet