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Post by drjack on Nov 21, 2023 20:40:38 GMT -5
Hot take, but I like the Polar Park game. It was the only game I could with my entire family (1 year old) as it's just so much more family friendly.
I also don't think the game had as much effect on the guys as others here do. I personally think we got cocky and overlooked Harvard. That's neither here nor there.
I will say, I'm very excited for this freshmen class. WR Alijah Cason had 30!! receiving TDs this year alone. That's really just scratching the surface too. Lots of young kids to be excited about, including a now semi veteran young defensive backfield.
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 21, 2023 20:48:52 GMT -5
The Polar Park game has got to go..... Hey Ho, Got to Go!😎
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 21, 2023 20:58:36 GMT -5
Hot take, but I like the Polar Park game. It was the only game I could with my entire family (1 year old) as it's just so much more family friendly. I also don't think the game had as much effect on the guys as others here do. I personally think we got cocky and overlooked Harvard. That's neither here nor there. I will say, I'm very excited for this freshmen class. WR Alijah Cason had 30!! receiving TDs this year alone. That's really just scratching the surface too. Lots of young kids to be excited about, including a now semi veteran young defensive backfield. The other possibility is to convince Bryant to move the HC-Bryant game from 4400 seat Beirne Stadium a half hour up Rte. 146 to 9500 seat Polar Park, host HC there and have that meet our "obligation" for an annual Polar game without sacrificing a game at Fitton.
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Post by gks on Nov 21, 2023 21:15:55 GMT -5
Stop playing New England schools like Bryant and Merrimac and play teams that add value to SOS whether you win or lose With Bryant in CAA and Merrimack rising they will carry more weight nationally than the Ivies. People have to understand, whether true or not, the national perception of the ivy school is not good and hurts the PL.
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Post by efg72 on Nov 21, 2023 21:41:06 GMT -5
Did posting the same thing three times form some sort of spell? Internet Spins but I guess accepts and posts even when an old guy is unaware
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Post by hc87 on Nov 21, 2023 22:14:48 GMT -5
We are not going to stop playing Harvard and/or Yale to start playing Youngstown St and Weber St annually.....we just aren't for a host of reasons.
The prejudice against the Ivies in the FCS-universe is ridiculous....many of these people are just upset that the Ivies forego the FCS playoffs. They (being the Ivies) are probably right in this regard in a lot of ways. The FCS playoffs are fun to be a part of but ultimately hardly no one cares. Playing both BC and Army this year was much more enjoyable/exciting than being a part of the FCS playoffs. If those 2 losses cost us a playoff appearance....so be it...I'd take that all day, every day.
Playing the Ivies regularly is a part of HC's football legacy.....to not do so would lessen our football experience.....one man's opinion.
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 21, 2023 22:15:11 GMT -5
Stop playing New England schools like Bryant and Merrimac and play teams that add value to SOS whether you win or lose With Bryant in CAA and Merrimack rising they will carry more weight nationally than the Ivies. People have to understand, whether true or not, the national perception of the ivy school is not good and hurts the PL. With all the former D-2 and all the regional state schools that are not the Flagship State University of their state in FCS (of course several fabulous flagship/land grant State Universities of small states like Maine, New Hampshire, RI, Delaware etc, are in FCS also.) I have a hard time understanding how Harvard and Yale have a national perception of not good in FCS football or anything. Harvard received the 28th most votes in the final FCS Coaches Poll and Yale received the 31st most. Nationally they couldn't be perceived as not good because they received more votes than all of our other three 2024 FCS opponents, URI, Bryant and UNH who all are now in the CAA and all had winning seasons in 2023. (UNH received no votes in the final poll.) I think the IL should participate in the FCS playoffs but their non-partipation doesn't generate a national perception of not good.
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 21, 2023 22:22:07 GMT -5
We are not going to stop playing Harvard and/or Yale to start playing Youngstown St and Weber St annually.....we just aren't for a host of reasons. The prejudice against the Ivies in the FCS-universe is ridiculous....many of these people are just upset that the Ivies forego the FCS playoffs. They (being the Ivies) are probably right in this regard in a lot of ways. The FCS playoffs are fun to be a part of but ultimately hardly no one cares. Playing both BC and Army this year was much more enjoyable/exciting than being a part of the FCS playoffs. If those 2 losses cost us a playoff appearance....so be it...I'd take that all day, every day. Playing the Ivies regularly is a part of HC's football legacy.....to not do so would lessen our football experience.....one man's opinion. At HC we can "have it all" (both the FCS playoffs and regional FBS games against traditional rivals that get us pumped up) so there is no reason to choose one over the other.
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Post by hc87 on Nov 21, 2023 22:32:14 GMT -5
We are not going to stop playing Harvard and/or Yale to start playing Youngstown St and Weber St annually.....we just aren't for a host of reasons. The prejudice against the Ivies in the FCS-universe is ridiculous....many of these people are just upset that the Ivies forego the FCS playoffs. They (being the Ivies) are probably right in this regard in a lot of ways. The FCS playoffs are fun to be a part of but ultimately hardly no one cares. Playing both BC and Army this year was much more enjoyable/exciting than being a part of the FCS playoffs. If those 2 losses cost us a playoff appearance....so be it...I'd take that all day, every day. Playing the Ivies regularly is a part of HC's football legacy.....to not do so would lessen our football experience.....one man's opinion. At HC we can "have it all" (both the FCS playoffs and regional FBS games against traditional rivals that get us pumped up) so there is no reason to choose one over the other. I'm not saying we can't....but playing schools like Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth should not hurt HC's football brand but rather boost it. To stop scheduling these schools to qualify for the FCS playoffs would be "penny-wise and pound foolish."
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Post by classof83 on Nov 21, 2023 22:45:20 GMT -5
Not the only measure, but in 2022 the IVY league had 9 players that made NFL teams.
They are 4th in all FCS leagues behind MVFC, CAA and Big Sky.
The Ivies march to their own drummer, but we should not stop playing them.
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Post by longsuffering on Nov 21, 2023 22:49:47 GMT -5
At HC we can "have it all" (both the FCS playoffs and regional FBS games against traditional rivals that get us pumped up) so there is no reason to choose one over the other. I'm not saying we can't....but playing schools like Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth should not hurt HC's football brand but rather boost it. To stop scheduling these schools to qualify for the FCS playoffs would be "penny-wise and pound foolish." In reality the industry professionals who matter, the rotating members of the selection committee and voters in the Coaches Poll have the most accurate evaluation of Ivy FB and like any of us serving on a board or committee, take their responsibilities seriously. The selection process is not rigged. Commentators need hot takes and don't influence the professionals who use facts and statistics to make their votes.
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Post by cruskater31 on Nov 22, 2023 7:11:26 GMT -5
It is fascinating how on the one hand, some of the best Ivy players go to the NFL (and now the portal) and on the other, they get zero respect from the polls and selection committee (not for them since they eschew the postseason but rather their noble opponents). Perhaps this has something to do with their postseason ban? Or rather is it their depth (ie the best Ivies have a couple guys who could make it in the NFL but superstars and Payton winners are few and far between with worse depth than the CAA and PL?) Just spitballing here. Seems like it doesn't match up.
I believe we should play two types of OOC games, Ivies included: those we can easily win and those against an opponent who is so good we might not move down in the polls if we lose. I thought Harvard qualified for the latter but I guess BC was the only one. Why play a game against a team that only benefits the opponent. If we win the nation goes 🤷 and if we lose the committee drops us down.
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Post by gks on Nov 22, 2023 7:17:37 GMT -5
Every FCS commentator/pundit/whatever said Holy Cross had no 'signature' or big wins this season. HC destroyed the Ivy co-champs on the road in Yale and it didn't matter. That says it all about what the Ivy League is thought of nationally.
No one has ever said that the Ivies lack talent. They stockpile it like milk and bread before a blizzard. Yet they do nothing with it. They play in obscurity and never challenge themselves. It's boring and downright sad.
I find it very hypocritical that people here hate the FCS playoffs but have no problem with the NCAA hoop tourney. Any long run in March and you miss just as much class time. At least in the FCS football tourney HC can legitimately make a run.
Give me schools on the schedule that IMO actually care about winning football.
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Post by hcpride on Nov 22, 2023 7:32:40 GMT -5
Every FCS commentator/pundit/whatever said Holy Cross had no 'signature' or big wins this season. HC destroyed the Ivy co-champs on the road in Yale and it didn't matter. That says it all about what the Ivy League is thought of nationally… Sounds simplistic, but HC beating a team outside the top 30 (STATS) is just not a quality/signature HC win. Ivy Co-champ or NEC 2nd place or otherwise. Now, does Yale deserve its final 36-ish STATS ranking? They did lose to HC, Cornell, and Penn. And their quality/signature win was a 5-pointer v 35-ish STATS Harvard. So, that ranking seems pretty appropriate.
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Post by alum on Nov 22, 2023 8:11:55 GMT -5
We are going to play a few games every year against New England schools that, when they are away, require no more than one night in a hotel. The FCS schools which fit this bill are:
Harvard Yale Brown Dartmouth
UNH UMaine URI
CCSU Merrimack Stonehill Sacred Heart
Bryant
Maybe you can add easy drives to:
Albany Monmouth Stony Brook
If we are going to play at least three of these schools each year, my preference would be two Ivies and one of the three land grant state universities. If we are playing four, I would like to play a second land grant state university. After that, I would choose the from the out of New England but nearby CAA schools. If I still have to look for a game, choose from any of the others.
Of course, we have to remember that the other teams have to want to play us, too.
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Post by lou on Nov 22, 2023 8:15:44 GMT -5
Albany a v good choice from that list. Easy to get to from anywhere in Mass. And easy to get to from NYC/NJ area
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Post by hcpride on Nov 22, 2023 8:18:22 GMT -5
/\ Bryant is CAA (not sure if that is a grouping) and Merrimack should certainly be above the secular schools (land grant universities or otherwise).
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Post by football44 on Nov 22, 2023 8:41:12 GMT -5
Every FCS commentator/pundit/whatever said Holy Cross had no 'signature' or big wins this season. HC destroyed the Ivy co-champs on the road in Yale and it didn't matter. That says it all about what the Ivy League is thought of nationally. No one has ever said that the Ivies lack talent. They stockpile it like milk and bread before a blizzard. Yet they do nothing with it. They play in obscurity and never challenge themselves. It's boring and downright sad. I find it very hypocritical that people here hate the FCS playoffs but have no problem with the NCAA hoop tourney. Any long run in March and you miss just as much class time. At least in the FCS football tourney HC can legitimately make a run. Give me schools on the schedule that IMO actually care about winning football. I'm with gks! Get rid of the Ivy scheduled games. I played against them in the 70's but this is 2023. First off they cheat the system by having 150 kids playing football, most receiving free money because their parents only make a certain level of pay. They don't play in the FCS playoffs because they DON'T play by the rules of all the schools that play FCS football. As you saw this year playing and beating Yale did nothing for us and losing to Harvard really hurt our chances. I'm all for playing a tougher FCS schedule (Villanova, William and Mary etc) and get credit for playing a tough FCS opponent. Throw in a BC, Syracuse, UConn and the like. Play Bryant and Merrimack because beating them gives us more cred with the selection committee. We need to really ramp up even more our talent level. Recruit like we're an FBS school. You can believe me when i tell you that Lafayette, Colgate, Georgetown and for that matter even Bucknell is starting to do it. Just my opinion.
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Post by cruskater31 on Nov 22, 2023 8:42:52 GMT -5
I agree about the Ivies staying on the schedule and the NE land grant CAA but for prognosticators sake how about W&M or Richmond to draw the HC folks in the DC are? Or an eastern Valley school?
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Post by HC92 on Nov 22, 2023 8:51:25 GMT -5
Every FCS commentator/pundit/whatever said Holy Cross had no 'signature' or big wins this season. HC destroyed the Ivy co-champs on the road in Yale and it didn't matter. That says it all about what the Ivy League is thought of nationally. No one has ever said that the Ivies lack talent. They stockpile it like milk and bread before a blizzard. Yet they do nothing with it. They play in obscurity and never challenge themselves. It's boring and downright sad. I find it very hypocritical that people here hate the FCS playoffs but have no problem with the NCAA hoop tourney. Any long run in March and you miss just as much class time. At least in the FCS football tourney HC can legitimately make a run. Give me schools on the schedule that IMO actually care about winning football. If HC makes the Big Dance, we get selected on Sunday and are done by the following Sunday unless we advance to the Sweet 16. This happens mid-semester. FCS playoffs can drag on for weeks in the right year for us and happen during the final weeks of the semester. I’d say the academic impact is worse for football playoffs and for much less gain to the school in terms of positive publicity and name recognition.
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Post by drjack on Nov 22, 2023 8:53:45 GMT -5
Count me in for dropping the ivys, or at least capping it at 1 a season.
Too much risk, not enough reward playing them both.
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Post by hchoops on Nov 22, 2023 8:54:37 GMT -5
Every FCS commentator/pundit/whatever said Holy Cross had no 'signature' or big wins this season. HC destroyed the Ivy co-champs on the road in Yale and it didn't matter. That says it all about what the Ivy League is thought of nationally. No one has ever said that the Ivies lack talent. They stockpile it like milk and bread before a blizzard. Yet they do nothing with it. They play in obscurity and never challenge themselves. It's boring and downright sad. I find it very hypocritical that people here hate the FCS playoffs but have no problem with the NCAA hoop tourney. Any long run in March and you miss just as much class time. At least in the FCS football tourney HC can legitimately make a run. Give me schools on the schedule that IMO actually care about winning football. If HC makes the Big Dance, we get selected on Sunday and are done by the following Sunday unless we advance to the Sweet 16. This happens mid-semester. FCS playoffs can drag on for weeks in the right year for us and happen during the final weeks of the semester. I’d say the academic impact is worse for football playoffs and for much less gain to the school in terms of positive publicity and name recognition. And obviously there is far more national attention given to March Madness than the FCS playoffs,
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Post by timholycross on Nov 22, 2023 8:59:31 GMT -5
Definitely not marginal in other ways, that's for sure.
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 22, 2023 9:01:26 GMT -5
Let me respectfully disagree with the underlined comment. In the past, when the Crusaders got better and started beating them (not frequently but periodically), Yale dumped Holy Cross from their schedule. Harvard continued to play us frequently. Yet, as we ascended, both Harvard and Yale have a long-term contract to play us every year. They ARE challenging themselves, they play Holy Cross!! I also disagree with the implication by many that the Ivies are cakewalks. Yes we beat Yale but it took pretty late in the game to establish that superiority and, yes, we should have beaten Harvard but thanks to a multiple turnover debacle, we didn't and they are always tough every year. If you haven't figured it out, I'm a traditionalist. Some might call me "elitist," but I am foursquare for playing Ivy teams. Not loading up on them at the expense of others but playing 2-3 games against Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth even Brown. Would be nice to play Princeton too. Not only are they high academic (yeah, they could be a little more ethical in their roster size) but they are local. I like playing UNH, URI, UConn, UMass and those schools as well. I understand those who want to go well outside our geographic area in order to enhance our ranking. One game a year would be fine. I love playing Army, BC, Navy and maybe even Syracuse. As I write this, I'm thinking we need a 15 game schedule!! Those FBS games not only bring in needed revenue to keep our program going, they challenge our players and enhance our rankings. We absolutely HAVE to do one, preferably two a season. Also likely help on the recruiting front.
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Post by bigfan on Nov 22, 2023 9:32:19 GMT -5
Bryant & Merrimack should not be on our schedule. Ivy teams are fine, like Yale, Harvard & Dartmouth. Not a fan of Columbia, UPenn or Cornell or Brown.
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