Quote from: ICGrad on November 13, 2025, 02:58:10 PM

Quote from: ICGrad on November 13, 2025, 02:54:06 PM

Quote from: Oline89 on November 13, 2025, 12:38:47 PMEnd of the season, time for an unpopular take.  Is there any other league in the country where the season ends with teams playing an OOC game?  I truly understand the popularity, history and nostalgia to Cortica, however, wouldn't it make sense if IC and Cortland were in the same league?  The game would actually have relevance to the other 7 teams in each league (LL/E8). 

Georgia (SEC) ends their season vs. Georgia Tech (ACC) every year. (Actually, Georgia's last two games this season are non-conference games)

Florida (SEC) ends their season vs. Florida State (ACC).

Oh, and Clemson plays South Carolina; Louisville plays Kentucky.

Interestingly, all of these are currently ACC/SEC games, but they didn't used to be. Florida State and Louisville only (relatively) recently joined the ACC.

I'm sure there are others; these are the ones that jumped to mind immediately.

Excellent examples, thanks!

End of the season, time for an unpopular take.  Is there any other league in the country where the season ends with teams playing an OOC game?  I truly understand the popularity, history and nostalgia to Cortica, however, wouldn't it make sense if IC and Cortland were in the same league?  The game would actually have relevance to the other 7 teams in each league (LL/E8). 

Quote from: unionpalooza on November 07, 2025, 06:20:07 PM

Quote from: Machiavelli on November 07, 2025, 01:31:30 PMI guess the national panel isn't as excited for the RPI/Ithaca game as I am. I get it's not gonna be the 'Game of the Week', but it didn't even get an 'under the radar' callout? Pssssh...Ya'll gonna miss a good one. Have fun with Alfred vs. Alfred St. and Coast Guard vs Springfield, though. I'm sure those will both be bangers. LOL.

Bring on some Ruck wings and Blue Cheeshhhh....

C'mon man. Everyone knows that the latest WIAC battle between UW-Bratwurst's 49-year old QB and the stifling defensive front of UW-Walleye is all that matters.

Winner. Post of the year......

So I have been lurking in the weeds all year watching the LL drama unfold.
Some entry level dipsh!t observations:

-Qbs win football games.Period. Hobart completely sh!t the bed by starting a rookie, while benching the presumed starter to begin the season. Patch dealt with a lot of crticism the past few years, I am happy he is breaking out this year.
-The Statesmen really took a royal screwing with the schedule this year.  No easy games from the E8 followed by the top 3 in the LL.  Now they play the creampuffs in the last 3.  Hobart AD has to help the boys a little more next year.
-Great to see RPI and Union at the top of LL board
-The LL proves to be one of the most competetive, fun and least predictable leagues in the nation. I will be sitting back and eating popcorn the rest of the way....
-Go Sports....

Quote from: stlawus on February 08, 2025, 07:33:40 PMBasketball is one of the last things on my mind right now with a death in family, however I did check the scores and was not entirely shocked to see the Statesmen get revenge on SLU.  Well played to Hobart.  SLU has put themselves in the danger zone now, but I have faith in them to dig deep.

I also see SLU is no longer the sole victim of a Garside buzzer beater. Good luck to all the final stretch.

So sorry for the death in your family, Stlawus.  I always enjoy your insightful basketball and football posts.  Deepest condolences

Quote from: Pat Coleman on December 18, 2024, 05:12:29 PM

Quote from: unionpalooza on December 18, 2024, 05:08:40 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on December 18, 2024, 11:33:44 AMIt would definitely put pressure on the roster limit, where I suspect 100 is more sustainable over a 10-plus game season rather than where it's at now.

Indeed.  Though a reasonable roster limit is not such a bad idea for all of D3.  (I'm looking at you, UMHB.)

UMHB is hardly the largest. Methodist typically has 200 or more. It's all about getting tuition-paying bodies.

Well just counted 200+ on the Mt Union team photo......

Finally the Ivies have agreed to postseason play in football.  It is strange, though, since 3 months ago the Ivy Presidents came out strongly denouncing NIL usage in the Ivies.  I am sure that some of the powerhouse Ivy programs will be playing on championship games very soon.

Would be fantastic if the NESCAC joins the playoff pool, and starts playing some OOC games.  Can only enhance the competition in the Northeast. 

Quote from: Jonny Utah on December 14, 2024, 04:08:09 PMIt is interesting as I've seen a few Hail Mary type plays at all levels of football the past few years where the refs are not calling any holding on 3 man rushes like the one in this game.  And this was a hold, but if he wasn't held he still was not making a play.  I think the refs could have let this one slide.

. 

True, but what a blatant hold, the DE's jersey was getting pulled off.  Just block your man!

Overall the talent in the LL seemed as good as any other other year, with the exception of QB.  No team had a dominant QB, like we have had in past years.  I can't name them all, and am too lazy to look them up...but from Herman to Sweeney to Germinierio to Marinopoulis to Nabi, we have had some great QB play.  Defenses were as good as ever and Taylor was as strong an RB as we have seen recently.  I do agree that we came up short in the OOC important games.  Hard to say that Hobart getting "bounced" first (in reality second) round was a surprise.  It wasn't your typical first round game against a more typical East Coast pushover.   

Quote from: Bartman on November 28, 2024, 08:45:32 AM

Quote from: IC798891 on November 27, 2024, 08:06:26 PM

Quote from: unionpalooza on November 27, 2024, 11:30:59 AMIf anyone ever wrote a book about Northeast college football coaching trees, I'd definitely read it.  Speaking of, I know there are big Bob Ford and Al Bagnoli coaching trees, but what about Jim Butterfield?  Does he have a similar coaching true?  (Given all his success, I have to imagine he does!)

I don't think Butterfield has a big one, beyond two obvious guys: Welch and Boyes. I guess it kind of depends how much a brief stopover counts. Dan Macneill at Cortland, for example, was a coach at IC for, a year. Dave Murray was a GA for a year and then had his career. But I don't think of them as IC guys

Mike Welch actually probably has the biggest branch, as his former OC Brian Angelichio, has been an HFL position coach forever.

Mike Cragg , HC for Hobart for 23 years had a 157-62 record for the Statesmen. His coaching offspring includes 3 current D3 head coaches..... Hobart HC Kevin Dewall (OC for the two final eight teams and recruited Ali Marpet), Scott Yoder current HC for Shenandoah(DC for 2012 Final 8 team) and Jon Drach current HC for Union( OC at Hobart before becoming HC at Wilkes).
Mike Cragg was just elected to the Hobart Hall of Fame and also coached the Hobart tennis team to three LL Championships.

Also worth including Nate Milne, head coach at Muhlenberg, who played under Coach Cragg for 4 seasons

Yellowjackets suprising a few people right now.  Lets see if the keep it up fot the whole game

Quote from: Machiavelli on November 20, 2024, 02:26:16 PM

Quote from: Ice Bear on November 20, 2024, 01:31:01 PM

Quote from: Jonny Utah on November 20, 2024, 12:59:48 PM

Quote from: JacketsPride on November 19, 2024, 10:24:06 AM"Congrats to the Yellowjackets on a fine season and selection for a bowl game. Tough injuries at the end of the year, but your Coach Chad can build on this. I heard Ted Baker accepted the announcing job for the game , so he will be a homer for the LL participant, no doubt "

Thanks Bartman!  Send Teddy over we will need all the help we can get!

I've always loved Ted Baker whether Hobart beats or loses to Ithaca. 

But the best thing about him JacketsPride, is when Hobart is losing and he goes nuts at the bad calls, the refs and everything else that goes wrong for Hobart that day. 

But seriously I like him no matter what.

Utah I couldn't agree more. I TOTALLY get it Jacketspride that he can certainly drive an opposing fan nuts. I think, maybe like wine, you'll grow to enjoy his absolute one sidedness as the years go on. Maybe it's just cause I'm older, in my late 40's now, but I have grown to absolutely love listening to this guy. Everything he says is ****ing art.

Utah is right, man when things go badly for the Statesmen he is at his absolute best. He laser focuses on anything "not for Hobart" and does not attempt in the slightest to hide his ire. Honestly, I respect that. Over the last couple of years I also watch some Hobart hockey games where I am treated to even more of him. As a former hockey player who has a much deeper knowledge of the game than I do of football, I just sit back and enjoy his homer perspective that is often the size of Alaska away from what actually happened.

In all honesty, the man absolutely loves and bleeds Hobart/William and Smith and I can do nothing but respect that. Especially the amount of time he gives the sports program. It's off the charts and earns every iota of my respect.

When Union's President announced he was leaving I had some high hopes Ted Baker was going to get the gig.
Ok...I'll stop now.

Sooooo....in fewer words, you could just say you'd love to swing from his nut sack?

Rumor has it, one nut is orange, the other purple....

Quote from: Bartman on November 19, 2024, 05:05:09 PM

Quote from: IC798891 on November 19, 2024, 04:07:22 PMRespectfully, I think Bartman was wrong about the LL awards being primarily based on LL play 

LL-only QB stats

2nd-teamer QB Jake Kazanowsky: 63.9% completion, 659 yards, 3 TD, 5 INT
HM QB Matthew Parker: 74.4% completion, 1,245 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT

I mean, it's closer if you look at the entire season (which FWIW, I would). But if you are looking at conference only stats, it's not even close.

I see your point IC. I was told in the past it was based on LL competition, but all I can say is the coaches vote and it looks like Parker certainly had the best stats no matter how you look at it. Not sure what other factors beyond stats went into it. I think Colombi was picked for his leadership , although his stats are decent, but Parker certainly looks good comparatively.

My assumption is Senior vs Sophomore.  I am sure the coaches are looking at the body of work, Parker will win when he is a senior.  Fair, probably not, but it's the LL....

How 'bout that?  Yellowjackets in a bowl game!! Congratulations, now go beat B'Port

Just saw the top 25.  When was the last time UW Whitewater and UMHB were both out of the top 25?