FB: Liberty League

[ICGrad]

... as the E8 finishes their domination of the LL this season going 5-1 this weekend( 11-5 overall). Thankfully ,the LL season starts next week.

There's still one eensy-weensy LL/E8 matchup to go, but yeah, it's been a bloodbath.

[Bartman]

... as the E8 finishes their domination of the LL this season going 5-1 this weekend( 11-5 overall). Thankfully ,the LL season starts next week.

There's still one eensy-weensy LL/E8 matchup to go, but yeah, it's been a bloodbath.

Oh that game.

[IC798891]

The LL has no leg to stand on blaming a lack of at-large bids on Buff State or Hilbert.

They've done nothing but lay eggs throughout the non-conference schedule. Even Ithaca's loss to Hopkins sure doesn't feel like it was some impossible to overcome inevitability, given that Hopkins is 1-2.

Instead the Bombers, like the Statesmen and Chargers yesterday, just largely no showed in the first half. (Union was lucky enough to play a lousy team, which helps facilitate completing the rally).

Meanwhile, RPI allowed almost 600 yards of offense to Brockport, who was the 4th place finisher in the E8 last year *before* their best player transferred

The Bombers, should they lose to someone in the LL, can salvage some hopes in Week 10 by beating Cortland.

[ICGrad]

The LL has no leg to stand on blaming a lack of at-large bids on Buff State or Hilbert.

Agreed. What seemed like a cyclical downturn of an "off" season last year has turned into a downright flameout a year later.

According to Massey, the LL has gone from the 7th ranked conference in 2024 to 19th last year and 22nd this season. Yes, Hilbert certainly isn't helping there, but they alone aren't responsible for that precipitous drop.

The LL has traditionally been the stronger of the two conferences when compared to the E8 (again, according to Massey, though I would say it passes the eye test over the past decade as well), but since signing that scheduling agreement two years ago. it's been overwhelmingly the E8.

Here's hoping it's just a blip...

[Ice Bear]

I am very happy for Union's W yesterday and the possibility that they may have found their QB and RB. Union has some very talented receivers and when the Garnet can get them the ball, combined with some decent running, good things can happen (I guess that isn't necessarily unique to Union as that's a winning recipe for any football team). While I am in full agreement with IC regarding the significance of this win in regard to any type of national picture or even a lowly E8/LL comparison, it was much needed for the U in order to find some type of offensive identity and gain some positive momentum moving forward into league play.

I hate seeing the LL so down on a national level. With that said I'm just going to focus in on our league play and enjoy the battles between our traditional rivals.

By the way, congratulations to Endicott on their W over MHB. I know Endicott has arrived and been a strong program for some time now but that W is impressive to me.

[Bartman]

Ok, I know the Ll has issues now, both real and perceived , but while Cortland and Utica deserve Top 25 spots, St John Fisher is getting more votes than Ithaca in the poll today. Hobart scrimmaged Cortland and played Utica close and I think we are very close to these teams, but they are better at this point in the season, but Fisher? Well, we need to get a LL Champion , and we'll probably get NCC in the first round, so I'm gonna enjoy the string of RPI, Ithaca and Union games and if by skill and luck we win the LL, that would be awesome . The first step is beating RPI in Troy, and I don't care what the record is that is always tough. GoBart

[IC798891]

LL Power Rankings, Week 3

1. Hobart - I might be overrating Utica, but I think they have a shot at the E8 title this year, and Hobart really almost pulled off a stunning comeback. Could have tucked tail at 29-6 and bailed.

2. Ithaca - Come at me, haters. Call me soft. Tell me that it's not Ithaca's job to stop scoring. Tell me that it's a big deal for bench players to get good reps. I don't care. This wasn't typical blowout management, IMO. Throwing the ball up 69-6 with two minutes to go against a program that's barely functional like Hilbert ain't it.

Want a football justification? The Hopkins loss doesn't look as good as it did in Week 1.

3. Union - Shouldn't have needed 60 minutes to beat 0-10 Morrisville. But on the flip side of Ithaca, the Susquehanna loss looks a lot better each week.

4. Rochester - They fought for 60 minutes, I'll give them that. Tough loss.

5. RPI- An absolute no-show performance against Brockport.

6. St. Lawrence - Man, that was a bad loss to Alfred.

7. Buffalo State - If I thought Hilbert would have more than 40 healthy players by the Buff State game, I'd pick them to win it.

8. Hilbert - Nothing new can be said.

[Bartman]

LL Power Rankings, Week 3

1. Hobart - I might be overrating Utica, but I think they have a shot at the E8 title this year, and Hobart really almost pulled off a stunning comeback. Could have tucked tail at 29-6 and bailed.

2. Ithaca - Come at me, haters. Call me soft. Tell me that it's not Ithaca's job to stop scoring. Tell me that it's a big deal for bench players to get good reps. I don't care. This wasn't typical blowout management, IMO. Throwing the ball up 69-6 with two minutes to go against a program that's barely functional like Hilbert ain't it.

Want a football justification? The Hopkins loss doesn't look as good as it did in Week 1.

3. Union - Shouldn't have needed 60 minutes to beat 0-10 Morrisville. But on the flip side of Ithaca, the Susquehanna loss looks a lot better each week.

4. Rochester - They fought for 60 minutes, I'll give them that. Tough loss.

5. RPI- An absolute no-show performance against Brockport.

6. St. Lawrence - Man, that was a bad loss to Alfred.

7. Buffalo State - If I thought Hilbert would have more than 40 healthy players by the Buff State game, I'd pick them to win it.

8. Hilbert - Nothing new can be said.

IC,
  While I usually refrain from early season rankings, I mostly agree with your assessment, but I would still keep Ithaca at No.1 based on the only comp data you have, a common opponent in Alfred and a meaningful point differential. The Hobart loss against Utica may be a "good loss" but I still think the Alfred comparison is the tie breaker .Ranking RPI below Rochester is appropriate given the Yellowjackets "good loss" performance against SJF. Now, I also agree that thumping the poor Hilbert team is a bit tasteless, but, heck if you are a Bomber player with only 2 games you might play in(also Buffalo State) , you understand their desire to play football and get some stats.
 
 

[IC798891]

Yeah, admittedly, I believe that Ithaca is probably *better* than Hobart given the Alfred game. But I definitely dinged the Bombers a bit for throwing up 63 points.

Like, even if it were against Buffalo State, I probably would have agreed with you. Let those kids who rarely seen the field get theirs. But as tough as it is to describe and as much as I'm not denigrating the players and coaches themselves (who I praised in an earlier post)... Hilbert just doesn't feel like it should be a varsity program right now.

I need to correct myself. The play yesterday I had a problem with was actually not at 69-6.

It was this play here at the 2:43:12 mark, at 63-6, with about 10 minutes to go in the game, IC taking a deep shot on 3rd down. IDK, again call me soft. I just don't like it. If the other team can't stop a short pass, like the final touchdown, or one here at the 2:54:04 mark that was essentially a long handoff, whatever.

But I don't think you need to be taking downfield shots at that stage, against that opponent.

Re: RPI being behind Rochester. There are three things I generally ding teams for. The first is discussed above. The second is getting shut out, especially at home. (Hi, Union in Week 2). And the third is just looking like you no-showed.

Brockport had 87 turnovers against Hobart, and then turned around and had 87 plays of 30 yards or more against RPI*.

*All numbers approximate, math and engineering nerds.

Meanwhile, Rochester showed gumption in playing for the win at the end against Fisher. In my rankings, I adopt a Ferris Bueller mentality. "Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive."

[ICGrad]

I think you linked the wrong play. It's actually here: https://youtu.be/aLwqFc_M-dE?t=9796

I don't have much of a problem with that play. It was a shot 25 yards downfield in a game with 10+ minutes left from an nth string qb to an nth string receiver.

Ithaca led this game 49-0 after 20 minutes. They absolutely called the dogs off. No huge issue with letting the bench players get some reps. I mean, I see your point, but don't feel this is all that egregious.

[UfanBill]

A few years back Union was widely criticized for scheduling cupcakes to begin their season. Wins over Anna Maria, Westfield St and at that time first year Hilbert were monkey stomps What did they accomplish you asked. I justified it by pointing out that coming off an 0-10 2015 season the Dutchmen needed to figure out how to win again and gain some confidence. Winning by a large margin allowed the coaching staff to play the whole roster. Something that was difficult to do when you're losing big. Union had also dropped their JV program so these walk overs allowed First Years game experience...The entire Liberty League subsequently dropped their JV programs, including Ithaca. Last week the Bombers reaped the benefits of playing a cupcake. They played the whole roster. It will pay benefits...What Union did paid benefits back in the seasons after the 0-10 debacle as evidenced by them getting back into the NCAA tournament in 2019, 2023 and 2025. Now their scheduling has changed. No more OOC cupcakes so they've now reconstituted their JV program... BTW the Union JV are 2-0 playing E8 foes Utica and Hartwick. Consider this... All the E8 schools have JV programs and that added experience could be why they're kicking the Liberty League's ass in matchups.