FB: Liberty League

[Ice Bear]

I posted on the OAC board that I see both sides of this. Those fans are used to a culture and process that's changing  and I'm sure that would bother any of us. I mean I almost lost my **** when Union struggled and I was a kid for both of their Stagg Bowls. So I do understand their frustration from their point of view/experience as everything is relative. I honestly haven't been on that board enough over the years to know if they are being too dramatic and complaining too much. If you guys say they are I'll take your word for it.

With that said, I've thought a little, very little about this and I do see IC's point more and more. I would never fault a kid for wanting to go play immediately and for a full four years as opposed to practicing for two/three to only play one/two at the most. I do feel their used to be more of mystique/draw to playing at the highest level possible and sacrificing how ever you had to in order to make that happen.

[IC798891]

To clarify, I think it's 100% fair to be frustrated that Mount Union isn't MOUNT UNION like they used to be.

What bothered me is this idea that kids are somehow spoiled or entitled simply because they want to play football right away and not just stand on the sidelines for years waiting for the coaches at Mount to bestow upon them the honor of playing for the Purple Raiders.

College is expensive, football is time-consuming and I'm not going to fault anyone for wanting to get into games.

If that means that Mount has to go a few years merely getting to the semis or losing in the Stagg, well, it's fine to be bummed by the general state of things. But if you're a grown adult getting angry at a 17-year old kid for his college choices, you need to reprioritize things

[Bartman]

Congratulations to Coach Drach for being selected to the D3 Football Region 2 Coach of the Year. I found it interesting that Coach Drach's best coaching job for an individual player, Patch Flanagan didn't make the team, although the QBs in Region 2 were outstanding this year.
Perhaps they needed the "Athlete" category for Patch.
I'm happy that Statesmen Vicente Lyon(Punter ,first Team), EJ Taylor(RB 2nd Team) and DL Billy Brosco(2nd Team) were named and EJ and Billy will be back next year.

[IC798891]

I mean, Flanagan was really good, but not the caliber of player these other QBs were.

He had ~3,000 yards, 29 TD and 10 INT

Barry had ~ 3,000 yards, 46 TD, 6 INT
Ehrlich had ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 2 INT
Harvey has about ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 4 INT

Yeah, different number of games, and I don't know when they did the voting, but these aren't especially close

[unionpalooza]

It's an interesting list; Union and Ithaca with one guy each; Hobart with three and RPI with five.  Utica with five, too.

It also demonstrates the extent to which JHU is a total outlier in terms of recruiting footprint.  Nearly all the players listed for other schools are in the R2 footprint or eastern OH.  Of JHU's seven guys on the list, they have players from Switzerland, Illinois, Michigan, California, and Texas. 

[Bartman]

It's an interesting list; Union and Ithaca with one guy each; Hobart with three and RPI with five.  Utica with five, too.

It also demonstrates the extent to which JHU is a total outlier in terms of recruiting footprint.  Nearly all the players listed for other schools are in the R2 footprint or eastern OH.  Of JHU's seven guys on the list, they have players from Switzerland, Illinois, Michigan, California, and Texas. 

If you pass the academic admissions at JHU and then look at their awesome facilities, I totally understand their geographic reach and their attraction to very good D3 players. In addition, they have free tuition and room and board for families making less than 100k, that increases to 200k in 2026.....it helps to have wealthy alums and high endowments.

[Bartman]

I mean, Flanagan was really good, but not the caliber of player these other QBs were.

He had ~3,000 yards, 29 TD and 10 INT

Barry had ~ 3,000 yards, 46 TD, 6 INT
Ehrlich had ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 2 INT
Harvey has about ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 4 INT

Yeah, different number of games, and I don't know when they did the voting, but these aren't especially close

No argument, that's why I said the QB talent was so good in Region 2, I think Drach really improved his numbers and performance from last year, I guess that's why Drach is the COY with only one player selected for the list. He get a great result from the players he had.

[ICGrad]

Coaches are adults -- and not just in the 18-year old legal sense, as in the fully developed brain sense-- they make more money than (most) of us to do what they do, and I think this makes them fair game for reasonable criticisms of performance.

I doubt this is true at the D3 level, but agree with everything else you said. Spot on.

[Machiavelli]

My AI friends say:

Division 3 (D3) football head coaching salaries vary significantly but generally fall in the $70k to $120k+ range, often bundled with teaching or other university roles, with top coaches at major D3 programs potentially earning more, though far below D1 figures; expect lower salaries at smaller schools and higher pay at private institutions with better funding, sometimes including housing or benefits, but rarely reaching the millions like their D1 counterparts.

[Ice Bear]

Curious what an average D3 football salary would be. I'm guessing maybe between 60-90k?

[Pat Coleman]

I mean, Flanagan was really good, but not the caliber of player these other QBs were.

He had ~3,000 yards, 29 TD and 10 INT

Barry had ~ 3,000 yards, 46 TD, 6 INT
Ehrlich had ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 2 INT
Harvey has about ~ 3,400 yards, 39 TD, 4 INT

Yeah, different number of games, and I don't know when they did the voting, but these aren't especially close

Voting is done based on regular season stats, but it did take place between the second and third round games, so a voter could certainly be influenced.

In addition to those three, plus Flanagan, you have to think of Utica's Tyler Szalkowski and W&J's Kellan Stahl as All-Region quality as well. That's why I made reference of Flanagan specifically in our podcast (397) because I was looking at the tea leaves and it didn't seem like the odds were very high of him getting on this team.

[CNU85]

Curious what an average D3 football salary would be. I'm guessing maybe between 60-90k?

The 20% that are public schools, probably have the salary information available on line. I know Virginia has all of the salaries for employees of state entities, including universities posted as of 2024.

[ICAlum16]

I am hearing that the winds of change are swirling on the South Hill of Ithaca, NY. I don't know anything for certain but I would not be shocked if by next week big changes are announced.

[Caz Bombers]

I am hearing that the winds of change are swirling on the South Hill of Ithaca, NY. I don't know anything for certain but I would not be shocked if by next week big changes are announced.

Toerper going to East Hill to be Swanstrom's new DC, I suppose.

https://footballscoop.com/2025/12/10/sources-ivy-league-school-parting-ways-with-defensive-coordinator

[IC798891]

Coaches are adults -- and not just in the 18-year old legal sense, as in the fully developed brain sense-- they make more money than (most) of us to do what they do, and I think this makes them fair game for reasonable criticisms of performance.

I doubt this is true at the D3 level, but agree with everything else you said. Spot on.

Well, I know Toerper makes more than me, Fitzpatrick too, that's for sure. You fellas may be backing up the old Brinks trucks to the house, but I'm sure not, haha