FB: Liberty League

[ICGrad]

This seems like much ado about next to nothing.

Sure, there's a chance the NESCAC gets 3 bids this year, but this year seems like a significant outlier. Looking back 10 years, this is the only season I see with the potential (hasn't happened yet) of 3 1-loss teams.

Of the two one-loss teams, one sits in the 11th (and last) at-large spot; the other sits @ #14, below 2 two-loss teams.

Worst case scenario, they get 3 teams in. It certainly shouldn't be an annual occurrence, and there's still a decent chance they end up with one bid.

I'm intrigued to see how the NESCAC does in the playoffs. Not too long ago, NESCAC teams didn't participate in any postseason tourneys; on balance, they seem to have acquitted themselves pretty well in most sports, and I see no reason to think they won't in football as well.

[Machiavelli]

6 teams in the top 40 in the Massey Ratings doesn't jump off the page at you?

5. Trinity(8-0)
13. Wesleyan(7-1)
16. Amherst(7-1)
31. Williams(5-3)
34. Tufts(5-3)
39. Middlebury(4-4)

In comparison, the LL has 1(Ithaca(40)), the E8 has 2(Cortland(7) and Utica(22)), the NJAC has 1(CNU(18)), the MASCAC has 1(Springfield(37)) and the CNE has 1(Endicott(22)).

My issue isn't that they can't compete, but their closed conference pumps up the algorithm for their teams, and that is 100% an issue.

[Patrick Coleman]

It definitely pumps up Massey.

Middlebury is 131 in NPI.

[ICGrad]

6 teams in the top 40 in the Massey Ratings doesn't jump off the page at you?

If Massey were used for tourney selection? Absolutely!

But it's not. The only three teams they have that are sniffing the tourney have each lost one or fewer games; that's in keeping with other top-20 conferences, so I can't be too upset about it. (For example, if Ithaca had beaten JHU, I imagine that @ 8-1, they'd be in the tourney if they won next week, even if they weren't playing a top 10 team).

[Machiavelli]

6 teams in the top 40 in the Massey Ratings doesn't jump off the page at you?

If Massey were used for tourney selection? Absolutely!

But it's not. The only three teams they have that are sniffing the tourney have each lost one or fewer games; that's in keeping with other top-20 conferences, so I can't be too upset about it. (For example, if Ithaca had beaten JHU, I imagine that @ 8-1, they'd be in the tourney if they won next week, even if they weren't playing a top 10 team).

Yeah but if both or either played Brockport and Utica and lost, they'd be outcasts. But the incest runs thick. If that happened and they'd beaten those teams, I'd feel differently. Endicott's schedule blows overall. They are an AQ but their big win changes the entire dynamic to me. Ithaca beating Cortland should 100% put them in the mix. But it doesn't.

[Machiavelli]

How in the world can there be a section about 'Rivalry Games' in this weeks 'Quick Hits' article with no mention of the Dutchman Shoes Game? Feels like a big miss to me. It's only the 123rd meeting between the 2. Anyway...

[Ice Bear]

How in the world can there be a section about 'Rivalry Games' in this weeks 'Quick Hits' article with no mention of the Dutchman Shoes Game? Feels like a big miss to me. It's only the 123rd meeting between the 2. Anyway...

Rarely am I critical anymore, mostly I'm just super grateful for all the coverage in here...but with that being said, I am incredibly disappointed that in any mention of D3 rivalry games, which this is one, there isn't any mention of The Shoes. Couldn't agree more Mach...even as the falling snowflake I am, this here is some Buford T Justice, BS.

[Ice Bear]

"There's no way, no way, that you could come from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo' momma in da mouth!"

Obviously I want Union to win tomorrow. Yet, I also REALLY want to see RPI do well in the tourney. A loss to Union could be very deflating and take the wind and momentum from the Engineers sails heading into the following week. As much as I absolutely love Union Football, the more I'm around the more I feel a real loyalty to the LL and want to see teams from our league be successful on national level. My respect has grown for RPI, Hobart, and Ithaca each season. This is probably because I was never a player. As a matter of fact, aside from my father you'd be hard pressed to find another non alumni that is as much of a fan of Union College as me...as pathetic as that may seem. Anyway, I lost my train of thought. Hoping for an injury free competitive and exciting Shoes game. What a great football rivalry.

[Machiavelli]

No matter what happens tomorrow, it's all but inevitable that RPI will play away against an all-star cast from Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams, Colby, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Tufts, Bates and Middlebury. Trinity gets an automatic bid to the finals. Just like Daniel Larusso in Karate Kid III.

Heading out to Troy bright and early. Am already drooling about some wings and blue cheesh. LFG!!!

[Patrick Coleman]

How in the world can there be a section about 'Rivalry Games' in this weeks 'Quick Hits' article with no mention of the Dutchman Shoes Game? Feels like a big miss to me. It's only the 123rd meeting between the 2. Anyway...

Rarely am I critical anymore, mostly I'm just super grateful for all the coverage in here...but with that being said, I am incredibly disappointed that in any mention of D3 rivalry games, which this is one, there isn't any mention of The Shoes. Couldn't agree more Mach...even as the falling snowflake I am, this here is some Buford T Justice, BS.

We also don't even mention the Monon Bell -- there's a lot of rivalry games.

[Bartman]

Well, the LL season comes to an end , and the last picks, as I am one game behind the mighty and awesome Machievelli. My picks follow:

The D3football's invisible Shoes Game:I have always been jealous that the RPI-Union game has such tradition. But frankly, since the Dutchmen became the Garnet Chargers it makes no sense to fight for possession of shoes with only Engineers and phone chargers battling it out, so maybe I'm not as jealous as I used to be.
RPI  31.     Union   17.    RPI will represent the LL in the Dance.

I'm really not so much jealous of CORTACA, but impressed that these two teams have taken their traditional drunken fans to Yankee Stadium. The Red Dragons should prevail but you never know who will rise and who will choke on such a massive stage Good luck to the Bombers and hopefully they can cause some chaos.

Cortland.   27.     Ithaca     21.    Red Dragons hold on

The Saintly Larries and the Yellowjackets have seen better days , but this should be a hard fought contest for the best of the second half of the Liberty League. I am picking the Yellowjackets because I think they have a decent defense, but also because Mach picked the Saints.

SLU.     17.      Uof R.     20        Turnover in last quarter wins it for Jackets 

Hobart concludes the season by traveling to Buffalo. Buffalo has some skillful dudes but the Hobart lines will dominate as the second and third strings smell more action.If Hobart wins they await their ECAC bowl game.

Hobart.        52.        Buffalo State.       14

Last week I mentioned the young Hilbert player who was injured and the 30 minute delay. Evidently it was not as serious as it seemed as he has recovered and avoided any permanent injury as the medical staff was taking a very conservative and cautious approach to the injury. The Coaches spoke and decided on 10 minute running clock for the remaining quarters. The final decision was the Hilbert coach's. I wish those young Hilbert men luck in the game against Hartwick today. 
 
Hartwick.    42.        Hilbert.                14