Very frustrating.....if we win just one of those 3 OOC losses I think we'd be a no-brainer at-large play-off team.
As I've said though, I'd much rather play the schedule we did this year (Army, BC, Harvard and Yale) and not make the playoffs than watering-down the schedule and eke into the FCS playoffs.
100%. Especially since we easily could've had our cake and ate it too. 3 point losses to BC and Army. 4 point loss to Lafayette. We win any of those 3 and we're dancing again.
As much as I've been a fan of FCS and actually enjoy the postseason, games against BC and Army are tough to top. The energy in the EZ during the 2 hour weather delay at BC could never be topped in the FCS playoff tournament -- not even an 8OT win over North Dakota State in Frisco.
Best chance of a Fitton sell out would be UConn in Worcester. Their fans travel really well. Although maybe not lately since they are so very bad. I doubt they'd come to Worcester though.
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
I would add a very out-of-market game to the "buy" list. Maybe Rice, San Diego State or how about Hawaii? If SD St., we can all stay with former HCQB Jay Rains '78!
Post by nycrusader2010 on Nov 14, 2023 15:17:30 GMT -5
UMASS and UCONN aren't coming to Worcester. In the last 25 years, there are maybe 5 examples of FCS teams hosting an FBS team, nationwide. Even if you include neutral site games, it's probably not much more than that.
That being said, I'd totally be down with playing either as a 2nd "buy" game whenever the opportunity is there.
Last Edit: Nov 14, 2023 15:19:20 GMT -5 by nycrusader2010
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
I would add a very out-of-market game to the "buy" list. Maybe Rice, San Diego State or how about Hawaii? If SD St., we can all stay with former HCQB Jay Rains '78!
Sign me up for Hawaii. We do have San Jose State in 2029. I'll have a 9 year old and a 5 year old at that point -- maybe a great time for our first full-fledged entire family HC Football long distance road trip?
Does San Diego State still play in the old Jack Murphy Stadium, former home of the Padres and Chargers?
Post by midwestsader05 on Nov 14, 2023 15:27:27 GMT -5
Bubble teams rooting for absolute chaos this weekend (HC if Laffy wins) will keep an eye on these games and be rooting for the following:
Big Sky: Sac State (7-3) AT UC Davis (6-4) = UC DAVIS to make both bubble teams at 7-4. Sac State 7-4 vs D1 but 6-4 v FCS with FBS Stanford win. UC Davis 7-3 v FCS w/ blow out loss to Oregon State.
Big South/OVC Charleston Southern (4-6) AT Gardner Webb (6-4) = CHAR SO. G-Webb wins auto bid with a W. UT Martin looks to be a near lock for an at large bid even with a loss this weekend so need them to be the auto bid with a G-Webb loss. G-Webb owns tiebreaker with head to head win but would be out with a L. EIU (7-3) AT Robert Morris (4-6) = ROBERT MORRIS. EIU could sneak in at 8-3 with enough upsets this weekend but is def out at 7-4 cause very weak schedule.
CAA: Richmond (7-3) AT William and Mary (6-4) = BILL AND MARY. Spiders likely in at 8-3. Both could be out at 7-4. CAA very similar to Big Sky heading into final week. Do they get 3 or 4 teams?
MEAC: Morgan State (4-5) at Howard (5-5) = MORGAN STATE. This game has everything to do with NC Central after Howard shook up the brackets last week by upsetting NC Central which means a Howard win sends them to the Celebration Bowl and NC Central eligible for FCS playoffs. NC Central will get an at large bid at 9-2 so need them in the Celebration bowl and not playoffs.
MVC: Illinois State (6-4) at UND (6-4) = ILLINOIS STATE is a longer shot out of the valley at 7-4. UND is in at 7-4 due to its win over NDSU. Youngstown State (6-4) AT Murray State (2-8) = MURRAY STATE. Not likely but worth rooting for as YSU will have be either a last two in our first two out at 7-4. NDSU (7-3) AT UNI (6-4). This one is very interesting as you could argue it both ways. NDSU wins and def in at 8-3. A loss puts both teams at 7-4. UNI would have the higher finish in the MVC and would be in at solo 3rd in the Valley (6-2). I’m inclined to say UNI as then you have a jumbled mess with multiple teams tied for 4th and 5th place in the conference.
So Con: Western Carolina (7-3) at VMI (4-6) = VMI. WCU likely in at 8-3. Out with a loss.
Southland: UIW (7-2) at Houston Christian (5-4) = HCU. Get ready for a robust debate if UIW wins and is on the bubble at 8-2 with an awful SOS. HCU can end that debate and has the talent to do so at home.
UAC: Central Arkansas (7-3) at Austin Peay (8-2) = APSU. Winner takes the auto bid. Need the Govs to finish off UCA and claim the auto bid cause a loss and they could claim an at large bid and make the conference a 2 bid league. UCA would be in the hunt but out IMO at 7-4. In case you didn’t see, they should have lost to Eastern KY last week. Won on a Hell Mary and the clock operator messed up giving them one final play. The UAC released a statement the next day that the game should have been over. Go check it out on You tube. Crazy stuff!
Regards of the PL games and bids, these games will be fun to watch just as a fan of FCS football.
Last Edit: Nov 14, 2023 15:36:31 GMT -5 by midwestsader05
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
Next year's schedule is a great one and not too far off.
12 game season.
We have the one buy game -- Syracuse
We have the two Ivies -- Harvard and Yale
Great local flavor with URI, UNH, and Bryant
It seems like what would make this perfect is swapping out Bryant for UMass or UConn. Unfortunately, just not realistic given that we can't have "annual" games with an FBS opponent, as they can only count one FCS game/team towards their bowl eligibility. Bearing that in mind, next year's schedule is damn near perfect in my eyes.
Post by Sons of Vaval on Nov 14, 2023 16:06:25 GMT -5
Love the breakdown, midwest. Thanks for doing the homework for me.
Even if everything breaks right, HC is still going to be on the wrong side of the bubble...BUT, we will at least be in the conversation on Sunday.
Who knows, maybe the committee really sees value in close losses to a P5 team that's going to a bowl and playing Army to a much more competitive game than top 25 Air Force did?
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
My ideal schedule is not much different. How about:
6 PL games One game against the Eastern BCS schools you mention and to which I might add a few others further south--Duke, UVA, Wake, for example. One game against what I would describe as second tier BCS schools--UConn, UMass, Buffalo, for example. I don't expect to get home and homes 2 Ivies One of the NE FCS state universities---UNH/UMaine/URI
An occasional HBCU would be fun as well as a once every four years trip to a national FCS power.
I see no reason not to play two FBS schools per year if possible. I think it would help with recruiting and I don't really have a problem making the players and coaches sing for their supper.
Best chance of a Fitton sell out would be UConn in Worcester. Their fans travel really well. Although maybe not lately since they are so very bad. I doubt they'd come to Worcester though.
The attendance for our game at Rentschler wouldn't have sold out Fitton Field. It actually drew less than one Holy Cross-Harvard game I've been to.
In a world where either would come to Worcester, the two local teams that sell out Fitton are BC and Army.
Best chance of a Fitton sell out would be UConn in Worcester. Their fans travel really well. Although maybe not lately since they are so very bad. I doubt they'd come to Worcester though.
The attendance for our game at Rentschler wouldn't have sold out Fitton Field. It actually drew less than one Holy Cross-Harvard game I've been to.
In a world where either would come to Worcester, the two local teams that sell out Fitton are BC and Army.
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
I like it. I also went back and changed my previous post from people "panting" to leave the PL to people "advocating" to leave the PL. Less snarky. Everyone wants the best for HC FB.👍
Love the breakdown, midwest. Thanks for doing the homework for me.
Even if everything breaks right, HC is still going to be on the wrong side of the bubble...BUT, we will at least be in the conversation on Sunday.
Who knows, maybe the committee really sees value in close losses to a P5 team that's going to a bowl and playing Army to a much more competitive game than top 25 Air Force did?
Glad you found it helpful. And again this was less about Holy Cross and more about bracketology. I put enough of those games breaking the right way and Holy Cross with a path around ~10%. Lehigh having odds of beating Lafayette between 20-25%. At least 2-2.5 times more likely in my opinion.
UMASS and UCONN aren't coming to Worcester. In the last 25 years, there are maybe 5 examples of FCS teams hosting an FBS team, nationwide. Even if you include neutral site games, it's probably not much more than that.
That being said, I'd totally be down with playing either as a 2nd "buy" game whenever the opportunity is there.
We will take, but no longer require the dollars from buy-games from below average football programs at UConn and UMass- neither team would beat Holy Cross today or tomorrow
My guess is there are Plenty of current academic programs/teacher salaries that are over funded where we can make up the difference. As a commercial guy there is no improved ROI or what I call EAI- equity after the investment - with Opex in the academic environment
We need to rethink our future and where we belong athletically
UMASS and UCONN aren't coming to Worcester. In the last 25 years, there are maybe 5 examples of FCS teams hosting an FBS team, nationwide. Even if you include neutral site games, it's probably not much more than that.
That being said, I'd totally be down with playing either as a 2nd "buy" game whenever the opportunity is there.
Drive an hour for $475 large? No brainer.
UConn, yes. UMass, that $$ is coming out of my taxes so no way. And I don't think it's out of the question that UMass will play at Fitton.
Post by Sons of Vaval on Nov 15, 2023 10:26:31 GMT -5
Getting back to "what we need" this weekend...seems like we just want total chaos and a ton of teams at 7-4. Then, we pray that the committee sees value in our close FBS losses.
Outside of bubble team outcomes (and Lehigh over Lafayette, of course), it would help to have Merrimack beat Duquesne (they'd be NEC champs) and Yale beating Harvard (co-Ivy champs with Harvard).
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
Not only will it not happen, but you're destroying your own credibility on other topics by suggesting "home games with UConn/Umass". That's literally "put down the pipe" level of fantasy.
This won't happen, but it would be a positive for the program.
Future schedules- given no changes in conference affiliation
PL 6 games (3 Home)
One Buy Games BC, Syracuse- Army- Navy- USAFA-Rutgers
Annual Games UConn and UMass- one home and one away- not a buy-game
Play two each year - one home and one away Harvard-Yale-Dartmouth- Princeton ( H/A)
12-game season, add one more buy-game
It gives us five home games each year and local flavor with 2 FBS programs- UConn and UMass.
Not only will it not happen, but you're destroying your own credibility on other topics by suggesting "home games with UConn/Umass". That's literally "put down the pipe" level of fantasy.
He did start the post with "this won't happen, but"
I wasn't looking to offer what you call a credible option but one that would benefit Holy Cross and its fans as we navigate the world of FCS football and the playoff system.
I would add a very out-of-market game to the "buy" list. Maybe Rice, San Diego State or how about Hawaii? If SD St., we can all stay with former HCQB Jay Rains '78!
Sign me up for Hawaii. We do have San Jose State in 2029. I'll have a 9 year old and a 5 year old at that point -- maybe a great time for our first full-fledged entire family HC Football long distance road trip?
Does San Diego State still play in the old Jack Murphy Stadium, former home of the Padres and Chargers?
San Diego State now plays in Snapdragon Stadium, which is on the site of the former Qualcomm Stadium. Qualcomm Stadium was demolished, and the entire area is now called the West campus of San Diego State.
I wasn't looking to offer what you call a credible option but one that would benefit Holy Cross and its fans as we navigate the world of FCS football and the playoff system.
Sorry, if it's not credible, what's the point of offering it?
What is unlikely to happen today can become reality in the future. If UConn and UMass continue to be unsuccessful football programs and drain the state resources, they might be forced to consider other options. Getting local FCS programs to play a home-and-home series and remove buy games from their schedule might be a part of a more significant solution for those schools. And it might never be an option.
Again, this scheduling approach is good for Holy Cross and, in my opinion, makes the PL tolerable.