FB: Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference

[D3MAFAN]

I hope the MASCAC gets better quickly...I seriously do.  Someone will have to correct me, but I believe that the MASCAC does not get a Pool A bid this year...but that they will starting next year.  You cannot have a league where a team like West Conn can win all of 5 games over a five year period in one league, move to another league, and immedaitely win more games in one season than they did over the last half decade, while becoming a major player for the league title.  Not at the expense of other Pool C contenders throughout D3. 

I mean you can...looking at you Norwich/ECFC...but it just waters down the whole product and leaves a bad taste in almost everyone's mouth...

I also have been having problems at my computer, something about the video is making my adobe script run slower. However, the MASCAC does not get an automatic bid this year, they are in Pool B with a good amount of other teams. I believe they will only receive one bid and that team has to be 9-1, so I think this week game that has Bridgewater St. vs. Western Connecticut is a good game to watch. If Western Connecticut beats Bridgewater State and runs the rest of the table, I think they have a slim chance at making the playoffs. On the otherhand if Bridgewater State beats West Conn, then we may be looking at a de facto conference championship between Framingham State and Bridgewater on November 9th.

I think there is a 2 year waiting period to get a Pool A.  And there are no guarantees of a conference getting a Pool B.  The committee will pick the best 3 Pool B schools.  So, Wesley will presumably get one.  Then the MASCAC champ (and perhaps runner-up), will be compared against all other Pool B teams including Chicago (4-0) and the winner (and perhaps runner-up) of the SAA - Birmingham-Southern, Centre, Millsaps, Rhodes.  An undefeated team should get the nod like SUNY-Maritime in 2010, but a one-loss team faces more dodgy prospects.

I don't think there is a chance in hell a one loss MASCAC team sniffs a Pool B...not after SUNY Maritime's performance against Alfred a few years back.

I think a 9-1 Framingham State or Bridgewater State may sneak in. Framingham State performed well against Cortland St last year and Bridgewater State played a good first half against an explosive Widener team last year. Also, SUNY-Maritime is in the ECFC and that was a bad loss for them. However, sometimes scores can get skewed a bit, I am not saying that Alfred would not have one the game, but sometimes blowouts like that happen. Remember that following year Salisbury beat Alfred by a considerable amount.

[Yanks 99]

I hope the MASCAC gets better quickly...I seriously do.  Someone will have to correct me, but I believe that the MASCAC does not get a Pool A bid this year...but that they will starting next year.  You cannot have a league where a team like West Conn can win all of 5 games over a five year period in one league, move to another league, and immedaitely win more games in one season than they did over the last half decade, while becoming a major player for the league title.  Not at the expense of other Pool C contenders throughout D3. 

I mean you can...looking at you Norwich/ECFC...but it just waters down the whole product and leaves a bad taste in almost everyone's mouth...

I also have been having problems at my computer, something about the video is making my adobe script run slower. However, the MASCAC does not get an automatic bid this year, they are in Pool B with a good amount of other teams. I believe they will only receive one bid and that team has to be 9-1, so I think this week game that has Bridgewater St. vs. Western Connecticut is a good game to watch. If Western Connecticut beats Bridgewater State and runs the rest of the table, I think they have a slim chance at making the playoffs. On the otherhand if Bridgewater State beats West Conn, then we may be looking at a de facto conference championship between Framingham State and Bridgewater on November 9th.

I think there is a 2 year waiting period to get a Pool A.  And there are no guarantees of a conference getting a Pool B.  The committee will pick the best 3 Pool B schools.  So, Wesley will presumably get one.  Then the MASCAC champ (and perhaps runner-up), will be compared against all other Pool B teams including Chicago (4-0) and the winner (and perhaps runner-up) of the SAA - Birmingham-Southern, Centre, Millsaps, Rhodes.  An undefeated team should get the nod like SUNY-Maritime in 2010, but a one-loss team faces more dodgy prospects.

I don't think there is a chance in hell a one loss MASCAC team sniffs a Pool B...not after SUNY Maritime's performance against Alfred a few years back.

I think a 9-1 Framingham State or Bridgewater State may sneak in. Framingham State performed well against Cortland St last year and Bridgewater State played a good first half against an explosive Widener team last year. Also, SUNY-Maritime is in the ECFC and that was a bad loss for them. However, sometimes scores can get skewed a bit, I am not saying that Alfred would not have one the game, but sometimes blowouts like that happen. Remember that following year Salisbury beat Alfred by a considerable amount.

No chance...

Bridgewater lost to Widener 44-14.  You can try to put lipstick on a 30 point drubbing...but it is still a beat down.  Framingham's "almost" win against Cortland was more likely an aberration than anything else.  Besides...even a 9-1 Framingham team shouldn't get a Pool B bid while losing to Rowan, especially if Rowan isn't the champion of the NJAC.

The Alfred-SUNY Maritime game was an all time beat down.  I watched the first half...and SUNY-Maritime had literally about 10 yards.  Alfred could have put 100 up on them easily.  My point is simply these new leagues that are formed from other conference bottom feeders to get Pool A bids should not even get an entertaining thought for a Pool B bid...not unless they want another Alfred-SUNY Maritime game.

[D3MAFAN]

I hope the MASCAC gets better quickly...I seriously do.  Someone will have to correct me, but I believe that the MASCAC does not get a Pool A bid this year...but that they will starting next year.  You cannot have a league where a team like West Conn can win all of 5 games over a five year period in one league, move to another league, and immedaitely win more games in one season than they did over the last half decade, while becoming a major player for the league title.  Not at the expense of other Pool C contenders throughout D3. 

I mean you can...looking at you Norwich/ECFC...but it just waters down the whole product and leaves a bad taste in almost everyone's mouth...

I also have been having problems at my computer, something about the video is making my adobe script run slower. However, the MASCAC does not get an automatic bid this year, they are in Pool B with a good amount of other teams. I believe they will only receive one bid and that team has to be 9-1, so I think this week game that has Bridgewater St. vs. Western Connecticut is a good game to watch. If Western Connecticut beats Bridgewater State and runs the rest of the table, I think they have a slim chance at making the playoffs. On the otherhand if Bridgewater State beats West Conn, then we may be looking at a de facto conference championship between Framingham State and Bridgewater on November 9th.

I think there is a 2 year waiting period to get a Pool A.  And there are no guarantees of a conference getting a Pool B.  The committee will pick the best 3 Pool B schools.  So, Wesley will presumably get one.  Then the MASCAC champ (and perhaps runner-up), will be compared against all other Pool B teams including Chicago (4-0) and the winner (and perhaps runner-up) of the SAA - Birmingham-Southern, Centre, Millsaps, Rhodes.  An undefeated team should get the nod like SUNY-Maritime in 2010, but a one-loss team faces more dodgy prospects.

I don't think there is a chance in hell a one loss MASCAC team sniffs a Pool B...not after SUNY Maritime's performance against Alfred a few years back.

I think a 9-1 Framingham State or Bridgewater State may sneak in. Framingham State performed well against Cortland St last year and Bridgewater State played a good first half against an explosive Widener team last year. Also, SUNY-Maritime is in the ECFC and that was a bad loss for them. However, sometimes scores can get skewed a bit, I am not saying that Alfred would not have one the game, but sometimes blowouts like that happen. Remember that following year Salisbury beat Alfred by a considerable amount.

No chance...

Bridgewater lost to Widener 44-14.  You can try to put lipstick on a 30 point drubbing...but it is still a beat down.  Framingham's "almost" win against Cortland was more likely an aberration than anything else.  Besides...even a 9-1 Framingham team shouldn't get a Pool B bid while losing to Rowan, especially if Rowan isn't the champion of the NJAC.

The Alfred-SUNY Maritime game was an all time beat down.  I watched the first half...and SUNY-Maritime had literally about 10 yards.  Alfred could have put 100 up on them easily.  My point is simply these new leagues that are formed from other conference bottom feeders to get Pool A bids should not even get an entertaining thought for a Pool B bid...not unless they want another Alfred-SUNY Maritime game.

I understand your points, but if Framigham State continues to schedule tough opponents year in and year out, I wouldn't hold their conference membership against them, they may eventually become a good team within the region, for example if you look at Franklin in the HCAC, their conference is not the best within the North region, but over the year's they have become a good team and has gained respect, I am not saying that Framingham State is there, but at least they are trying and it is kind of showing within their conference.

[ECoastFootball]

No chance...

Bridgewater lost to Widener 44-14.  You can try to put lipstick on a 30 point drubbing...but it is still a beat down.  Framingham's "almost" win against Cortland was more likely an aberration than anything else.  Besides...even a 9-1 Framingham team shouldn't get a Pool B bid while losing to Rowan, especially if Rowan isn't the champion of the NJAC.

The Alfred-SUNY Maritime game was an all time beat down.  I watched the first half...and SUNY-Maritime had literally about 10 yards.  Alfred could have put 100 up on them easily.  My point is simply these new leagues that are formed from other conference bottom feeders to get Pool A bids should not even get an entertaining thought for a Pool B bid...not unless they want another Alfred-SUNY Maritime game.


1. SUNY-Maritime is a team from another conference, and one MUCH WORSE than both the NEFC and MASCAC. Their top teams win/lose competitive games with the other New England bottom feeders  every year.

2. Call the Widener game whatever you want, but BSU was close at the half and also beat Springfield (a team that spanked Alfred in the ECAC game that same year) at Springfield. Salisbury lost to widener by 21 the next weekend... should Salisbury not get in?

3. Bad conferences can have good team. It can happen. Framingham's game was an aberration? That's what everyone said when Curry smacked Hartwick in the NCAAs and then came back the next year and beat Ithaca in the NCAAs as well. Not to mention if you watched the Rowan-Fram game you would know FSU controlled the game until the 4th quarter when the Profs had the big drive to take the lead with 6 min left. They may have lost by 2 scores, but that's because Rowan punched one in with no time left to make their # look pretty.

4. Bad Conferences can have a good team. Is Framingham going to win the Title? No, but neither is anyone in the E8, LL or NJAC. If they go 9-1 and run the table the sky will not fall if they get a bid. If they lose to Bridgewater it's moot because then no one will be going to the NCAA anyways.

[boobyhasgameyo]

No chance...

Bridgewater lost to Widener 44-14.  You can try to put lipstick on a 30 point drubbing...but it is still a beat down.  Framingham's "almost" win against Cortland was more likely an aberration than anything else.  Besides...even a 9-1 Framingham team shouldn't get a Pool B bid while losing to Rowan, especially if Rowan isn't the champion of the NJAC.

The Alfred-SUNY Maritime game was an all time beat down.  I watched the first half...and SUNY-Maritime had literally about 10 yards.  Alfred could have put 100 up on them easily.  My point is simply these new leagues that are formed from other conference bottom feeders to get Pool A bids should not even get an entertaining thought for a Pool B bid...not unless they want another Alfred-SUNY Maritime game.


1. SUNY-Maritime is a team from another conference, and one MUCH WORSE than both the NEFC and MASCAC. Their top teams win/lose competitive games with the other New England bottom feeders  every year.

2. Call the Widener game whatever you want, but BSU was close at the half and also beat Springfield (a team that spanked Alfred in the ECAC game that same year) at Springfield. Salisbury lost to widener by 21 the next weekend... should Salisbury not get in?

3. Bad conferences can have good team. It can happen. Framingham's game was an aberration? That's what everyone said when Curry smacked Hartwick in the NCAAs and then came back the next year and beat Ithaca in the NCAAs as well. Not to mention if you watched the Rowan-Fram game you would know FSU controlled the game until the 4th quarter when the Profs had the big drive to take the lead with 6 min left. They may have lost by 2 scores, but that's because Rowan punched one in with no time left to make their # look pretty.

4. Bad Conferences can have a good team. Is Framingham going to win the Title? No, but neither is anyone in the E8, LL or NJAC. If they go 9-1 and run the table the sky will not fall if they get a bid. If they lose to Bridgewater it's moot because then no one will be going to the NCAA anyways.

My favorite part to those Curry stories are what happened to them the very next week both of those years.  A 31 point loss to Fisher in 2007 (from the same conference as Hartwick) and a 42 point loss to Cortland. 

Also I am pretty sure that a team in the E8, LL, or NJAC is leaps and bounds ahead of the MASCAC when it comes to chances to winning the title.  We've all proven the ability to defeat the top representatives from other conferences on a consistent basis.  Rowan had a series of great playoff runs in the late 90's and early 2000's.  RPI and more recently Hobart have made some considerable noise from the LL.  Fisher and Salisbury have also proven they can win multiple games in the playoffs.  Leaps and bounds closer. 

 

[ECoastFootball]

My favorite part to those Curry stories are what happened to them the very next week both of those years.  A 31 point loss to Fisher in 2007 (from the same conference as Hartwick) and a 42 point loss to Cortland. 

Also I am pretty sure that a team in the E8, LL, or NJAC is leaps and bounds ahead of the MASCAC when it comes to chances to winning the title.  We've all proven the ability to defeat the top representatives from other conferences on a consistent basis.  Rowan had a series of great playoff runs in the late 90's and early 2000's.  RPI and more recently Hobart have made some considerable noise from the LL.  Fisher and Salisbury have also proven they can win multiple games in the playoffs.  Leaps and bounds closer. 

I think you're missing the argument. It has been had here 100 times. No one is saying that the MASCAC is anywhere near what those leagues are. We all understand that. All we are saying is that our top teams can compete. Not win titles, not earn at-large bids at 8-2, not get a 2nd bid for the league. Compete. That is all. I talked to people going into this season that thought that Willy Friggin P was going to go up and stomp Bridgewater. Were not saying we are a top tier conference, just that we have teams who can compete with the other leagues. 10 years ago I do not think that was the case.

[ECoastFootball]

Week 5 Picks

UMass Dartmouth (1-2, 1-1) - 20
@ FRAMINGHAM STATE (3-1, 2-1) - 35
Melikke Van Alstyne rushes for north of 200 yards and 3 scores as he leaves his stamp all over this one. Close early until the Rams wear out the young Corsairs. On the other side of the ball, while the Corsairs showed some speed last week, this week the FSU defense will show them what real team speed looks like.

West Conn (2-1, 1-1) - 14
@ BRIDGEWATER STATE (3-1, 2-0) - 28
Colonials may prove me wrong, but I think this week Bridgewater does what Framingham fails to do, puts West Conn in its place. The McCarthy to Green connection continues on, and the defense clamps down on McKoy. West Conn will compete and win some MASCAC titles in the near future, but not this year.

Fitchburg State (1-3, 0-2) - 28
@ MASS MARITIME (2-1, 0-1) - 60
Fitchburg showed last week they can score a few points, and this MMA unit is nowhere near what the Bears D they saw last week was. The issue here is, the Bucs may run 120 plays in this one. I'm looking for Stanton, Gustafson and Bennett to all have career days for the Bucs Homecoming Game.

WESTFIELD STATE (2-1, 1-0) - 21
@ Plymouth State (1-3, 0-1) - 14
Closer than you may think. I think the perennially well-coached Panthers re-group at home and give the Owls all they can handle. That being said, I don't think Plymouth will actually threaten Westfield in this game. Plymouth is going to try to pound the rock as always, and Westfield's strength 3 games into the season has undoubtedly been their Defense.

[Bombers798891]

2. Salisbury lost to widener by 21 the next weekend... should Salisbury not get in?

3. That's what everyone said when Curry smacked Hartwick in the NCAAs and then came back the next year and beat Ithaca in the NCAAs as well.

To point #2 -- When Bridgewater plays a regular-season schedule even remotely as tough as Salisbury, then we can play the score comparison game. But considering the Gulls played in (and won, which sort of invalidates the whole "should they get in" question) one of the best conferences in the country AND played the team that finished 6th in the polls, I'm pretty sure that comparison is not even remotely applicable.

To point #3 -- As an Ithaca fan, I'm the first to give credit to Curry for beating the Bombers and Wick. But here's something people should probably realize: Those game were five and six years ago. I don't see Yanks on the E8 board bringing up 2007 when complaining that people are underestimating the Hawks, and I'm sure not bringing up what happened in 2008 to dispute Ithaca being considered a middle-of-the-pack team. But people keep dragging these Curry games out of the attic, year after year as if they're somehow relevant to things occurring now. They're not. Find some new data.

[Yanks 99]

1. SUNY-Maritime is a team from another conference, and one MUCH WORSE than both the NEFC and MASCAC. Their top teams win/lose competitive games with the other New England bottom feeders  every year.

Really?  Is the ECFC really "MUCH WORSE" than the MASCAC and the NEFC?  Based on what?

I think pretty much everyone can fully agree that the NEFC, ECFC, and MASCAC are...at absolute best...3 of the five worst conferences in the country.

[MMBucs]

Yanks 99

Why always the negative comments?
Have you read Pat Coleman's latest article on ranking the Nation Conferences this season.
I think his assessment on the quality of the MASCAC is a move in the right direction.

[AUPepBand]

No chance...

Bridgewater lost to Widener 44-14.  You can try to put lipstick on a 30 point drubbing...but it is still a beat down.  Framingham's "almost" win against Cortland was more likely an aberration than anything else.  Besides...even a 9-1 Framingham team shouldn't get a Pool B bid while losing to Rowan, especially if Rowan isn't the champion of the NJAC.

The Alfred-SUNY Maritime game was an all time beat down.  I watched the first half...and SUNY-Maritime had literally about 10 yards.  Alfred could have put 100 up on them easily.  My point is simply these new leagues that are formed from other conference bottom feeders to get Pool A bids should not even get an entertaining thought for a Pool B bid...not unless they want another Alfred-SUNY Maritime game.


1. SUNY-Maritime is a team from another conference, and one MUCH WORSE than both the NEFC and MASCAC. Their top teams win/lose competitive games with the other New England bottom feeders  every year.

2. Call the Widener game whatever you want, but BSU was close at the half and also beat Springfield (a team that spanked Alfred in the ECAC game that same year) at Springfield. Salisbury lost to widener by 21 the next weekend... should Salisbury not get in?

3. Bad conferences can have good team. It can happen. Framingham's game was an aberration? That's what everyone said when Curry smacked Hartwick in the NCAAs and then came back the next year and beat Ithaca in the NCAAs as well. Not to mention if you watched the Rowan-Fram game you would know FSU controlled the game until the 4th quarter when the Profs had the big drive to take the lead with 6 min left. They may have lost by 2 scores, but that's because Rowan punched one in with no time left to make their # look pretty.

4. Bad Conferences can have a good team. Is Framingham going to win the Title? No, but neither is anyone in the E8, LL or NJAC. If they go 9-1 and run the table the sky will not fall if they get a bid. If they lose to Bridgewater it's moot because then no one will be going to the NCAA anyways.

Funny how we pick and choose games to justify our position. Almost like picking out scriptures to justify our sin, while ignoring the scriptures that expose it.
The 2012 Alfred football season was marred by SIX overnight road trips, the last of which (and AU fans will argue was undeserved) was an ECAC trip to Springfield six hours away and COUNTLESS INJURIES. AU was playing at Springfield with its third string QB and JV running backs (who Pep might add, performed admirably considering the homestanding Pride was peaking). Funny you should ignore the head-to-head ECAC Bowl hosted by Bridgewater State in 2011 when the AU Pep Band rallied the Saxons, who trailed 10-0 early, to a 41-10 monkey stomp.

[Pat Coleman]

Yanks 99

Why always the negative comments?
Have you read Pat Coleman's latest article on ranking the Nation Conferences this season.
I think his assessment on the quality of the MASCAC is a move in the right direction.

This is Keith McMillan's piece, just for clarity.

[Yanks 99]

Yanks 99

Why always the negative comments?
Have you read Pat Coleman's latest article on ranking the Nation Conferences this season.
I think his assessment on the quality of the MASCAC is a move in the right direction.

In all honesty, it is not about the negative comments.  At this point, most of us have made our peace with the way the MASCAC and ECFC were formed...and know that for the foreseeable future (probably 5-10 years) will have two Pool A more champions in the NCAA tournament (beyond an already weak NEFC conference champion) that will be overwhelmed by their first round opponent...while other deserving one loss teams from around the country that lost one game in a much tougher conference will stay home.

I get it...the ECFC, MASCAC, and NEFC Pool A bids are here to stay.

But when the ECFC and now the MASCAC run are three years in (for the MASCAC, obviously one year in) and there are already conversations about Pool B and Pool C bids...I think it is a joke.  Maybe the MASCAC teams will do a better job of scheduling non-conference games against non-ECFC or non-NEFC opponents.  But I doubt it.  There will be the occasional team that ventures out with some consistency (Salve from the NEFC has), and maybe Framingham will do the same.  But it is certainly not happening on a consistent basis.

I watch a lot of D3 football...like a lot of us do on here.  I want "our product"...D3 football...to be as great as it can.  And I just don't see it being great when a Pool B or Pool C bid gets thrown towards one of these conferences, while other deserving teams get left home. 

But there is no way I am going to take a comment seriously about how good the MASCAC is, or how they are "moving in the right direction" after one year of existence.  What data am I going off of?  How about the fact that Western Connecticut goes from 5-44 over the past 5 years in the NJAC, to in all likelihood a 3rd place finish at worst in the MASCAC...with more wins in their first season in the MASCAC than all of the previous five seasons combined?  Do you really think that West Conn all of a sudden "got good"?  It was just like when Norwich left the E8 for the ECFC.  Their conference record for the last few years before they left the E-8 was 4-26...four seasons into the ECFC and their record was 26-4.  Pathetic...

I have said it a million times on here before...I would LOVE these conferences to become good/competitive...and the sooner the better.  But when you start talking about the second place teams from these weak conferences acting like they deserve to be in the conversation for a Pool B or Pool C look...all while almost exclusively isolating themselves against only NEFC/ECFC/MASCAC opponents...I just think it's crazy. 

[Yanks 99]

3. Bad conferences can have good team. It can happen. Framingham's game was an aberration? That's what everyone said when Curry smacked Hartwick in the NCAAs and then came back the next year and beat Ithaca in the NCAAs as well. Not to mention if you watched the Rowan-Fram game you would know FSU controlled the game until the 4th quarter when the Profs had the big drive to take the lead with 6 min left. They may have lost by 2 scores, but that's because Rowan punched one in with no time left to make their # look pretty.

I missed this earlier. 

Be careful when using this example.  You aren't factually incorrect in this particular case...but that certainly works both ways.  As an example, the NEFC is 2-16 all-time in the NCAA tournament as a conference, losing on average by almost 3 x TD's per game.  How much worse would some of those beat downs have been if the other team didn't call the dogs off?  How much worse would some of these scores be if the NEFC that was getting beaten pretty bad hadn't punched one or two meaningless scores in at the very end of the game to take a score from 45-7 with six minutes to go to 45-21 (as an example).  The Cortland vs. Endicott game a few years back is a good example of this.

[Jonny Utah]

Yanks 99

Why always the negative comments?
Have you read Pat Coleman's latest article on ranking the Nation Conferences this season.
I think his assessment on the quality of the MASCAC is a move in the right direction.

Yanks does love to hate on the New England football schools.