FB: Liberty League

[AUPepBand]

Here's hoping RT's pops dons the purple and gold...as he did with honor in the 50s!

[dlippiel]

Gotta pull big time for the Engineers here I am really hoping Robertson gets the sendoff he deserves on Saturday. I am so confused as to where I am going to go. Once I get the O.K. from the wife IO am looking at the following: 1.)NCAA Ly at Bart, probably my first choice because I really really want the Pumpkin heads to come out on top. I feel the LL needs a lot of support here because we ahve not had an NCAA win recently. 2.) I would like to see Brian Grassdorf (Niskayuna alum) kick the **** out of Curry in person to say it simply. 3.) I would like to see Boltus play again before maybe seeing some time in "the show." 4.) I really want RPI to win and would like to pay my respects to Robertson and root for him for once and see him go out the way he should, a winner (plus I want to support the LL over the E8 of course). Although Alfred posters are some of the most respectable on the PP. **** I am dazed and confused, help me fellas

[Senor RedTackle]

TGP....RT is on the Thruway heading to Buffalo for tonight's Bills/Browns. Passing by that fmailiar exit #42 (Geneva) as RT types this from his blackberry. My first reaction was to cringe as my intestines served up memories of the quagmire that was the Boz in early Nov circa the early 90's (and we see some things don't change). Then RT tipped his cap to the 2008 team. Damn pumpkin heads!!!

Classice NYS thruway weather. Hail between Amsterdam and Utica. Large flakes/white out between Utica and Syracuse. Clear as bell between Syr and Auburn. Now we're back into heavy snow. Wtf...upstate ny is so whacked out

[labart96]

TGP....RT is on the Thruway heading to Buffalo for tonight's Bills/Browns. Passing by that fmailiar exit #42 (Geneva) as RT types this from his blackberry. My first reaction was to cringe as my intestines served up memories of the quagmire that was the Boz in early Nov circa the early 90's (and we see some things don't change). Then RT tipped his cap to the 2008 team. Damn pumpkin heads!!!

Classice NYS thruway weather. Hail between Amsterdam and Utica. Large flakes/white out between Utica and Syracuse. Clear as bell between Syr and Auburn. Now we're back into heavy snow. Wtf...upstate ny is so whacked out

TGP hasn't rode on that strip of highway in over 10 years.  Central/West NY weather this time of year is about as random as it gets. 

Enjoy the game tonight (TGP will be rooting for the Bills Defense since he needs some insurance points in his West Coast FF league game).

[TheGrove]

Good luck Hobart - represent the LL well! Plus Lyco is Susquehanna's ancient rival, so kick their butts on our behalf. 

['gro]

Good luck Hobart - represent the LL well! Plus Lyco is Susquehanna's ancient rival, so kick their butts on our behalf. 

Susq did some things late in the year (Whopping WPI, dopping points like bird shizz), very impressive.  They may take over Rochesters spot for "is this their year?".

[labart96]

TGP's recap of the Centennial Cup game:

#24 Hobart 10 - Rochester 7

The Statesmen (8-1, 6-1) won the Liberty League Championship and the accompanying NCAA Pool A/Automatic Qualifier in dramatic fashion last Saturday against long-time rival Rochester (3-7, 3-4).  FY PK Conor Callahan once again kicked a game winning field goal (20 yards) with about one minute to play.  Hobart's defense which spent nearly 20 minutes on the field in the first half, never ran out of gas in the second.  JR DE Mike Arduini sealed the win for the Statesmen sacking Rochester QB Patrick Keegan to end the game and secure the Centennial Cup (Saturday was the 101st meeting of the two schools) for a second year in a row for Hobart.

On a cold and rain-soaked day, both teams struggled to move the ball.  The Rochester defense limited Hobart to a season worst 22 yards of total offense in the first half.  Hobart only gained nine first downs all afternoon (three rushing, five passing and one via penalty) and the Yellow Jackets didn't do much better (five rushing, four passing and two via penalties).  The terrible playing conditions negated the foot work of FY QB Doug Vella who started his first game on Hobart's Senior Day.  Vella (two for seven passing for 4 yards and one interception) was ineffective so Coach Cragg turned to SR QB and co-Captain Rich Doyle to lead the offense.  Playing with a separated shoulder, Doyle tied the game at 7-7 on a two yard QB keeper play with six minutes to play in the third quarter.

Following a huge interception return by FY DB Drake Woodard (LL leading seventh INT), Doyle lead the Statesmen on the game winning 14 play, 60 yard drive that ate up over six minutes and ended on Callahan's 20 yard kick.  Once again JR WR Tyler Vincent lead the Statesmen in receiving catching six passes - the most critical being a 22 yard completion on the final drive - for 60 yards.  Vincent was also busy punting mud soaked footballs averaging about 36 yards/punt with a long of 43 yards.

Both teams struggled with turnovers given the rain and mud.  Hobart ended the day with five turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions) and Rochester had four (two fumbles and two interceptions).  Rochester's SR RB Michael Sondericker (87 yards on 33 carries) was about the only offensive player with decent stats given the playing conditions, but even he struggled to gain 2.6 yards a carry.

Still, Senior Day for Hobart had some outstanding performances by several Hobart men playing in their final regular season game.  Defensively for the Statesmen, SR LB Jeff Sanders produced a game-high 15 tackles, while SR DT Ryan Aruck added 11 stops, including a sack.  SR FS Lance Boyington had three tackles and accounted for the Statesmen's two longest plays of the day—a 25-yard puntand a 24-yard interception return.  Not to overlook these performances, but SR QB Rich Doyle gets the game ball from this Statesmen.  To come in, play injured and keep Hobart in the game to win the League Championship and earn a fifth invitation to the NCAA tournament, was an incredible performance.

On Sunday, Sanders and Coach Cragg appeared on BlogTalk Radio's "In the Huddle" radio show.  An archive of the broadcast can be accessed at:

www.blogtalkradio.com/LLRecap

ONTO THE NCAAs

This Saturday at noon eastern, the quagmire more affectionately known as the "Boz" will host it's fifth opening round NCAA play-off game since 2000.  Hobart is 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA play-offs at home.

As everyone already knows, Hobart was awarded the fourth seed in the Mt Union bracket and will host the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) co-Champion and fifth seed Lycoming College Warriors (7-3, 5-2).  Lycoming won the MAC's Pool A bid by virtue of a tie-breaker (and the fact they defeated both co-champions Delaware Valley (7-3, 5-2) and Albright (7-3, 5-2) in head-to-head competition).

The only common opponent between the Warriors and the Statesmen this season was Susquehanna.  Lycoming defeated the Crusaders 28-16 at home on Sept. 20 and Hobart earned a 27-14 win against Susquehanna the following weekend (Sept. 27) in Geneva.

TGP will provide a look into the Lycoming-Hobart play-off match up later this week.

[JQV]

Bart-Lyco is going to be a very interesting game.  Lyco gave us a serious scare in week 1 and, at the time, I thought it was a sign of weakness in our secondary.  The QB and one WR (#9 maybe) must have connected 10-12 times in the second half (easily 7 times in the 4th) while Lyco nearly stole the home opener at Butterfield.

[AUPepBand]

Gotta pull big time for the Engineers here I am really hoping Robertson gets the sendoff he deserves on Saturday. I am so confused as to where I am going to go. Once I get the O.K. from the wife IO am looking at the following: 1.)NCAA Ly at Bart, probably my first choice because I really really want the Pumpkin heads to come out on top. I feel the LL needs a lot of support here because we ahve not had an NCAA win recently. 2.) I would like to see Brian Grassdorf (Niskayuna alum) kick the **** out of Curry in person to say it simply. 3.) I would like to see Boltus play again before maybe seeing some time in "the show." 4.) I really want RPI to win and would like to pay my respects to Robertson and root for him for once and see him go out the way he should, a winner (plus I want to support the LL over the E8 of course). Although Alfred posters are some of the most respectable on the PP. **** I am dazed and confused, help me fellas

Who are you kidding, dlippiel! +k for the respect....and Pep suggests you take in the RPI-Alfred contest.

[dlippiel]

Gotta pull big time for the Engineers here I am really hoping Robertson gets the sendoff he deserves on Saturday. I am so confused as to where I am going to go. Once I get the O.K. from the wife IO am looking at the following: 1.)NCAA Ly at Bart, probably my first choice because I really really want the Pumpkin heads to come out on top. I feel the LL needs a lot of support here because we ahve not had an NCAA win recently. 2.) I would like to see Brian Grassdorf (Niskayuna alum) kick the **** out of Curry in person to say it simply. 3.) I would like to see Boltus play again before maybe seeing some time in "the show." 4.) I really want RPI to win and would like to pay my respects to Robertson and root for him for once and see him go out the way he should, a winner (plus I want to support the LL over the E8 of course). Although Alfred posters are some of the most respectable on the PP. **** I am dazed and confused, help me fellas

Who are you kidding, dlippiel! +k for the respect....and Pep suggests you take in the RPI-Alfred contest.

You da man AUPep!

[labart96]

This just in:

1.  TGP already rankles folks on the DD

2.  If Boz not ready for NCAA game, Lyco and Bart to play on McCooey (turf):

"The 24th-ranked Statesmen earned an automatic bid as the Liberty League champion. They know they will face Lycoming at noon Saturday. Hobart also knows it will get a chance to play at home. The question that lingers is where on the Geneva campus the Statesmen will play.

Normally, it would be Boswell Field. However, the grass took a beating during Saturday's hard-fought, rain-soaked win over Rochester. Athletic Director Mike Hanna and members of the grounds crew will determine today if Boswell can be made playable by Saturday. If not, the game will take place on the artificial turf of McCooey Field.

Regardless of where it's played, home is still home for the Statesmen.  
 
"Just knowing we're going to play here is a great feeling," Hobart coach Mike Cragg said. "We'll be able to have the same routine, the same practice schedule, the same pregame preparations. I know the guys are very pumped to be playing at home. They can't wait to get going.""

Here's a pic of McCooey:

[union89]

This just in:

1.  TGP already rankles folks on the DD

2.  If Boz not ready for NCAA game, Lyco and Bart to play on McCooey (turf):

"The 24th-ranked Statesmen earned an automatic bid as the Liberty League champion. They know they will face Lycoming at noon Saturday. Hobart also knows it will get a chance to play at home. The question that lingers is where on the Geneva campus the Statesmen will play.

Normally, it would be Boswell Field. However, the grass took a beating during Saturday's hard-fought, rain-soaked win over Rochester. Athletic Director Mike Hanna and members of the grounds crew will determine today if Boswell can be made playable by Saturday. If not, the game will take place on the artificial turf of McCooey Field.

Regardless of where it's played, home is still home for the Statesmen.  
 
"Just knowing we're going to play here is a great feeling," Hobart coach Mike Cragg said. "We'll be able to have the same routine, the same practice schedule, the same pregame preparations. I know the guys are very pumped to be playing at home. They can't wait to get going.""

Here's a pic of McCooey:

TGP, have there been other football games played on that field?

[Caz Bombers]

if Hobart or Lyco cross the 50, will that count as a successful clear attempt?   

[labart96]

nope - only lax and other sports.  would be first ever football game on it if hanna and co decide that's the best plan of action.

here's the blurb from hwsathletics.com re: McCooey -

H.J. McCooey Memorial Field is a 1,500-seat artificial turf stadium. The facility was made possible by a lead naming gift from the family of Herbert J. McCooey Sr., a former Wall Street broker who sent five of his seven children to the Colleges.

The state-of-the-art AstroTurf 12 surface was completed during the fall of 2000. The Hobart-Army lacrosse game on March 10, 2001 (an 11-9 Hobart win), was the first intercollegiate game on the new surface. The $1.8 million facility includes lights and a press box. The stadium is the home of the William Smith field hockey and lacrosse teams, is a "prime-time" second home for the Hobart lacrosse team, and is an alternate site for the rest of the Colleges' athletic teams.

McCooey Field has hosted three NCAA Championships, the 2002 Division III Women's Soccer Championship, the 2006 Division III Field Hockey Championship, and the 2007 Women's Lacrosse Championship, which aired live on CSTV (now CBS College Sports Network).

[labart96]

if Hobart or Lyco cross the 50, will that count as a successful clear attempt?   

yep and hager will shift from playing ILB to being our FOGO guy