FB: Liberty League

[Bartman]

Thanks to the Hobart Football team of 2022 for giving us another successful season ending with an ECAC Bowl game. While we had our chances to win a couple of more games, we found out that teams like Ithaca and W&J were just that much better. Thanks to the Seniors for the wins and successes( 2-1 in post season with the last NYS Bowl win over Cortland and an ECAC Bowl win last year) and for playing through the COVID environment. Now everyone returning needs to get better for 2023 and improve our imperfections....because the LL Title is our Goal every year.(It was in 2016 when we last won the LL and took the lead over Mount Union in the first round of the NCAAs at the BOZ late in the third quarter under the leadership of Shane Sweeney...yes the Mount rallied) Our rising Seniors need to set an example with leadership and our coaching staff  needs to compete and recruit the best student athletes and prepare our team to the best of your ability to out coach some great coaches in the LL. I can't wait for the 2023 version of the Statesmen.
  Good luck to Ithaca the rest of the way in the NCAAs, while I shift my fan support to the #! ranked team in D3 Hockey, the undefeated Hobart Statesmen

[Ice Bear]

Thanks to the Hobart Football team of 2022 for giving us another successful season ending with an ECAC Bowl game. While we had our chances to win a couple of more games, we found out that teams like Ithaca and W&J were just that much better. Thanks to the Seniors for the wins and successes( 2-1 in post season with the last NYS Bowl win over Cortland and an ECAC Bowl win last year) and for playing through the COVID environment. Now everyone returning needs to get better for 2023 and improve our imperfections....because the LL Title is our Goal every year.(It was in 2016 when we last won the LL and took the lead over Mount Union in the first round of the NCAAs at the BOZ late in the third quarter under the leadership of Shane Sweeney...yes the Mount rallied) Our rising Seniors need to set an example with leadership and our coaching staff  needs to compete and recruit the best student athletes and prepare our team to the best of your ability to out coach some great coaches in the LL. I can't wait for the 2023 version of the Statesmen.
  Good luck to Ithaca the rest of the way in the NCAAs, while I shift my fan support to the #! ranked team in D3 Hockey, the undefeated Hobart Statesmen [/u]

Ice watched them play and they are good Bartman. They have some very good team speed and move the puck well. Wishing them luck. Ice would love to see them keep this up!

[unionpalooza]

What's ironic is that Springfield may be better suited to winning at Butterfield than any IC opponent in a long time.

One of the reasons the grass/fields came into play so much was because Mike Welch's teams didn't emphasize speed the way this IC team does. So they didn't mind the long grass and mud in those games.

This IC team has several track sprinters in key roles, and a running QB. They need the fast track too. So it'll be interesting to see

I think that you'll find this Springfield team less focused on speed that in the past - over time they have seemed to shift towards a larger o-line and greater focus on the FB dive and QB off tackle than running the option on the outside.  (That may reflect the fact that it's been a while since they had a Chris Sharpe/Chad Shade type at QB.)  I think the Ithaca D-line and LBs will do well with their attack - Union pretty much kepy them in check this year, holding them to six points.  That said, they play incredibly hard, tough, and disciplined football, and their defense was probably as good as any Union faced this year other than RPI.  Having seen them both live against a common opponent, I'll take Ithaca by 17.

[hazzben]

Finding myself more and more intrigued by this Ithaca team. Best part of Bethel playing at Linfield is I get to watch games start to finish without having to log off after an hour. Hoping the Bombers can keep it rolling this weekend!

[IC798891]

Finding myself more and more intrigued by this Ithaca team. Best part of Bethel playing at Linfield is I get to watch games start to finish without having to log off after an hour. Hoping the Bombers can keep it rolling this weekend!

This is a really fun IC team to watch, especially on offense. Early on, it was a lot of WR screens in the flat, and the run game was a lot of the mesh point stuff you see, and they're just adding new wrinkles every week, and keeping things fresh.

This turned out, in a lot of ways, to be the season we *thought* we were getting in 2019 when they started 7-0.

One thing I loved is seeing the HS recruits at the game last Saturday. Those are those underrated things that grow a program. More chances for guys to see you — and be impressed by the results — is the kind of thing that can sway someone. And IC has the Yankee Stadium game — basically a 4-hour advertisement for the college that was broadcast on the YES Network — and an upgraded schedule as well. Big things seem to be on the horizon for the Bombers

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear wishes all here on the mighty LLPP and their loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ice has enjoyed another very entertaining season here in his beloved Liberty League and enjoyed all of the great posts from the LLPP faithful. Ice is grateful for all of you.

Gobble ****ing Gobble...Let's Mother****ing Go Bombers!

[Caz Bombers]

this is not going well

[Jonny Utah]

this is not going well

Mistakes like that are the only things that will kill the bombers.

[Caz Bombers]

It's going better now

That trick play Philly Special almost went wrong 3 different times

[Caz Bombers]

IAGDTBAMFB

Elite 8 let's goooooo

[Jonny Utah]

video feed froze of course on me with SC driving with 2:30 left.  Maybe the most frustrating experience I've had over the past 25 years....

Anyway when it unfroze IC had the ball.  Looks like they will be winning.

Not a pretty game and if Springfield didn't fumble all those times it is probably a different outcome.  And only one of those fumbles was your typical option style fumble.  Well I guess its good to make your mistakes in a game like this than next week.  Offense looked a little sloppy and that first pick 6 was very unlike Wingfield.  Hopefully this was just an option team running at their peak in week 12 and Ithaca can get it together.  Man those fullbacks were tough.  I don't think any of the slotbacks had any runs.  FB/QB combo was it. 

Love the option though damn.

[IC798891]

Quick thoughts:

This is a gutsy Bombers team that does not get fazed and plays better as the game goes on. They weren’t razor sharp today, made some big mistakes… and turned a 10-point deficit into an 11-point win

[XREDDRAGON77]

Looks like a good match up next week! Can’t believe I’m saying it, but good luck Bombers!

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says congrats to the Bombers on a big W today over a tough Springfield Pride team filled with athletes and a tough N/S triple option attack. Ice believes this Pride team came together and reached their peak this week. Ice expected IC to win by more but considering the way this Pride team has improved and really come into their own this was a tough well earned W. Ice says most really good teams don’t always play mistake free football and that was true for both sides today. Ice says the better team won and is moving on. Congrats to Ice’s second favorite out of conference team in Springfield on an incredible season and congrats to the Bombers on continuing their journey on what has been an amazing season that continues to make the LL faithful so incredibly proud!

[Jonny Utah]

Well said Icebear…

JU is taking a little vacation with the family this weekend.  But when he gets back there will be some serious TOP discussion regarding this game.  Some very interesting stuff there….