Quote from: IC798891 on November 21, 2023, 11:25:50 am

One of my friends described that IC-Wesley games thusly:

"Bombers bow out with dignity against a better team"

It really sums that up well. The Bombers weren't blown out, but they didn't leave a winnable game on the field. They made some nice plays, hung with Wesley, but just didn't have the talent.

Agree there and we had two KORs inside the Wes 20 and left with maybe 3 points. That was our big struggle in those years final Welch years, we struggled to finish in the redzone because of what he wanted to run. We had an elite defense and some underrated playmakers on offense but our scheme offensively was too predictable and better suited for the late 90s and early 2000s. We also even almost had one last chance but the onside kick went right through the hand of one of our LBs.

This current Bomber team has a lot of similarities to that 2013 team.

Thanks for these remembrances, IC definitely hung in there with a great Wesley team led by Joe Callahan in 2013. Hobart ran into Wesley the following year with a 12-0 record and didn't fair as well. Probably one of Hobart's greatest teams with Ali Marpet and Tyre Coleman . Our QB Pat Conlan(son of Buffalo Bill LB Shane Conlan) was all heart but not a very strong arm and couldn't compete with a Joe Callahan offense. Good luck to Ithaca this week , I think your team needs to overachieve to move on, but I  think this team has the perseverance and focus to win.

It is strange with the many Union and Ithaca fans and the NCAA games tomorrow. , no chatter.  I think  both Union and Ithaca  win tomorrow and possibly the next round, but first things first. It will be interesting to see how Ithaca's Frosh QB handles an away NCCA playoff game. I also think Hobart and RPI will win their ECAC games, but Hobart could be in a dogfight. Cortland, I think could be playing the Raiders in a couple of weeks. We'll see if my optimism becomes reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ttGusOyco&list=PLn5YNtMeVB4fbWItX2j2nDoXjF4ICttak&index=8

The ceremony was last night.  This is the video introduction.

Thanks Garnet for posting this recognition for Ali Marpet to the Westchester County, NY Hall of Fame. I watched Ali play against my High School(Bronxville) and he was pancaking guys who ended up playing for Yale and Boston College. I couldn't believe he came to Hobart. He grew from a 245 pound Freshman to the best lineman (if not player ) in the history of D3Football. He ate everything that wasn't nailed down to get to 305 pounds.At the same time he was always working out in the weight room and playing basketball to keep his agility. He was a leader and NEVER gave up a sack but was an even better run blocker. I attended his PRO day held at the BOZ and the 10 scouts that showed up couldn't believe his speed and agility for a 300+ lineman. He could have lost 50 pounds and been a great TE, great hands, agility and would have been the best TE blocker in the league. Ali visited the team before the RPI game this year and provided his typical low key intensity telling them that focus and drive will get you to your goals and win in the game today and in life. He left the pro game because he accomplished everything he wanted to Super Bowl and ProBowl starter. Hobart was so lucky he chose the school and he is THE example of what D3 sports can produce a great student athlete that will keep contributing and giving back to all of the communities he is a part of. One of his communities is the Jewish community that I'm sure he will support in any way he can in these troubling times.Congratulations and Thumbs UP Ali.

Just happy to have a home post season game. That hasn't happened since 2016 when Mount Union traveled to Geneva for a first round game(yup, you read that right). Hobart had it tied 21-21 late in the third quarter until the Raiders pulled away winning by 38-21. That was our last NCAA appearance . Bowl games since then:

   2019 NY State Bowl.....Hobart 30.    Cortland  10
   2021 ECAC Bowl.         Hobart 21.    Westminster 3
   2022 ECAC Bowl.         W&J.   35.     Hobart 18

I would have loved to have another crack at W&J, a Carnegie Mellon challenge, or a Widener matchup, but hunting for Moose from the home platform will do just fine this year.

Just gave +k to everyone today ....let's have a great week and go 4-0 in the post season this weekend. I'll also include Cortland and Brockport....but I gotta go against the Moose. I'll tally up the regular season pick records and report soon . Let's have a playoff picks weekend for any LL/E8 teams.

Quote from: Ice Bear on November 13, 2023, 11:42:09 am

Quote from: Machiavelli on November 13, 2023, 10:39:34 am

Ok, before the postseason officially starts, a few final thoughts from the RPI/Union game this past weekend:

1. Whoever is saying not having Kazanowsky wouldn't have mattered is crazy. McCormack was very good, but there were some VERY critical mistakes made at very critical times. Mistakes of a Freshman playing his second game. Those INTs were rough, bad throws, bad decisions, and the timing could not have been worse. I felt RPI did not have the same energy the last 2 weeks and got pushed around. My gut tells me missing their leader had something to do with that. But I know many will focus on the stats and a few big plays.

2. RPI gave Union every chance under the sun to run away with this game and they couldn't do it. Now I totally credit RPIs defense there, but I'll just say it out loud, I was not super impressed with Union, at least last week. They did what they needed to do, they won, they move on, but they will need to play a heck of a lot better than that and take advantage of those opportunities if they want to beat Delaware Valley.

3. Speaking of Delaware Valley, in theory, I think Union should mop the floor with them IF they execute better than last week. I liked their energy against RPI, but execution wasn't nearly as good as it needs to be.

4. I'll still go to my grave thinking RPI missed a huge opportunity this year. I think they were the better overall team than both Hobart and Union, but some spark was missing, and I think the QB situation, whatever it was, was a factor and it's a disappointing way to close out the year. Add in blowing the game against Ithaca when it was all but over...HUGE missed opportunity and a possible postseason run was lost.


Additional thoughts, postseason related:

1. The comment above that 'Cortland's going to roll Endicott'...I agree Cortland is pretty good, but I'd be very careful about writing off Endicott. They are no longer new to this level of competition and while I think Cortland will ultimately win, I think they are going to have to earn it and I wouldn't be surprised if Endicott wins either.

2. I'm thinking and hoping Ithaca has their way with Springfield. I think Springfield is vastly overrated as is their SOS. They played 1 and a half good/decent teams this year(Union and WNE) and Union treated them like they are on par with St. Lawrence. Playing High School level teams that beat Pop Warner level teams makes their SOS an entire sham. And don't come in and say Salve Regina. Salve lost to Rochester, which also puts them on a similar level with St. Lawrence.

3. I already mentioned Union/Del Valley. Union SHOULD beat them by 2+ TDs. If they don't, it's a black eye on the LL. I don't like routing for Union, but will this week so the NCAA darlings can get exposed. Hopefully Union cleans it up, shows up to play, and puts the boots to them.

4. And lastly, my Ithaca/Cortland rematch prediciton looks a lot less likely with how the brackets shook out. I don't think it's entirely impossible to see an Ithaca/Union rematch, though I think there's a higher likelihood we'll see Ithaca vs. Johnny Hopkins.


Good luck to all the NY teams. This is the time when you gain or lose respect outside of the LL/E8. Hopefully all 3 get it done next weekend.

I don't think I'm crazy per se for feeling this way, or at least having this perspective,  but I will certainly take your word for it, especially in regard to your knowledge of the intricacies of football and the RPI team as a whole. Maybe what I should have said was that I was very impressed with McCormack as a freshman and think he is going to be a star for RPI behind center moving forward. Honestly, I really like Kazanowsky and the year he has had. It is absolutely fair to say that the game could have gone the other way if Jake was behind center. He showed that this season and deserves that nod.

Union's lack of passing game once again really bothered me. We had a few moments on Saturday, but not enough to create any separation. Listen, I love Pacatte, but Union's ability to really create separation on the score board when playing tough defenses is impacted by his inconsistent accuracy. He has shown he can throw some really accurate passes, and against Hobart brought a short passing game that was incredibly effective. Yet Saturday Union's O just couldn't get that passing game going enough to open up the game and relied heavily on its run game to kill clock and it's defense to hold off a hungry RPI time and again. Who knows, maybe its timing with his receivers, play calling, etc. and not all on Donavon. I'm curious which Union we'll get on Saturday. I hope the offensive game plan is balanced and these guys can execute. We can't afford to miss opportunities against the Aggies. If we do we'll be one and done.

I totally get it. The kid looks like he has a ton of potential and a bright future, but something just felt off overall from an energy and confidence standpoint plus the timing of the mistakes were all super critical. The fumble from Walker-Sutton before the half was an absolute backbreaker as well. Could have changed the feel of the game entirely, even if they settled for a field goal. There was a lot of QB pressure for sure, but there were a few Mac Jones like passes into windows that didn't exist and it bit RPI in the a$$. I'm just disappointed that RPI finished the way they did and how they did it. It wasn't RPI-like at all.

The big reason that RPI did not win the last two weeks was their total inability to run the ball AND turnovers:

HOBART: RPI 18 yards on 23 attempts with 3 turnovers(zero TOs for Hobart) and Total yards 368 v 230(RPI Defense?)

Union : RPI 29 yards on 28 attempts with 2 turnovers(zero TOs for Union)and Total yards 363 v 304(RPI Defense)

I had high expectations for RPI after the Ithaca game, which I think they should have won. But the last 2 weeks, it's amazing the games were even close with those numbers. MacCormack passed well but something was missing from the same offensive line...I think Kazanowsky could have made a leadership difference and he is more of a running threat. McCormack played extremely well for a Freshman, and he will be great going forward....but the RPI Oline is usually stout.

I'm thinking Cortland deserved a home game, but hey what do I know. Good luck to the Red Dragons on Saturday. If Ithaca beat Endicott, I'm sure Cortland will.