|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 16, 2022 12:24:21 GMT -5
Don't disagree with the numerous factors in scheduling and even SOS, but looking at programs over time does give some predictability and to a degree influences SOS rankings going into a season. I don't disagree with your point here, but I think overall you're conflating SOS at the start of the season with SOS at NCAA Selections or at least not making enough of a differentiation between the two. They're not the same and can mean two very different things by the time the season plays out. The selection committee wasn't looking at Harvard's track record the last 5 years when they looked at HC's schedule and were determining seeds. They saw that Harvard was 6-4 this year. The criteria for selections and seeding doesn't look at years beyond the current competitive one. There is, however, a very important distinction to be made between a top-flight non-con schedule for competitive purposes and a schedule that might excite the older alumni. Playing Dartmouth/Yale/Harvard probably ignites the nostalgic juices a bit more and generates interest with that demo. But is that the best non-con schedule HC can put together for postseason access and success? It'll vary from year to year, but lately the answer would have to be no. Like I mentioned in another post, scheduling requires two to tango. I think playing Harvard annually makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons - competitively, geographically, budgetarily. The same can be said about UNH. I do think that it's a great disservice to the Ivy League players that they don't get to play in the FCS postseason. There's been plenty of years where the Ivy champion would've made a significant amount of noise in the playoffs. I think that holds the league back in terms of how the rest of the country perceives them and how all of us can attempt to analyze the competitiveness of the Ivy vs. the rest of FCS.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 16, 2022 9:50:21 GMT -5
They have no reputation for SOS If we remain in the PL we need to have a top 20 SOS for the playoffs, as not every regular season will we be 11-0 Reputation means very, very little for SOS except for a place like a message board. Many on this board (myself included) looked at the schedule at the start of the season and figured beating Harvard and Yale would be helpful for our SOS. That was an assertion based on reputation and how those teams had fared the last few years. As luck would have it, while beating Harvard and Yale was certainly something that pumped up the alumni, it really didn't matter much for SOS. Yale wound up having a very good season, won the Ivy League and finished 8-2. Harvard was down, finished 4-3 in the Ivy and 6-4 overall. The win didn't look as impressive as the season went on, even though to us as alums it meant a lot more. Meanwhile, for those of you clamoring to see Dartmouth on the schedule, they finished 3-7 overall, 2-5 in the Ivy. Merrimack went 8-3 and 6-1 in the NEC. The challenge with building an effective non-con schedule is it's all an attempt at being predictive. A slate that looks really good in August in terms of quality might look completely different by the time NCAA selections come. There's also an art to non-con scheduling that I think many of you are missing. There's benefits to playing teams like Bryant or Merrimack or whomever for a variety of reasons. It could be the opponent's style of play, their packages, their athleticism, their combinations, their play calling, etc. etc. that can give HC different looks during the season and better prepare them for those types of opponents in the postseason. In short, while you might have some issues with the construction of the non-con schedule, it's done with a level of thought and discernment by Coach and the administration for reasons that you probably aren't recognizing. The schedule they put together on a year-to-year basis is a reflection of the competition they want (hope) to get that will make the team better as the year goes on. Simple as that. The thinking behind schedule creation in the 2020s has to go beyond "We played a team a lot 60 years ago and because of that we should play them again." Would it be nice to see Dartmouth on the schedule again? Sure, why not. But does playing them when they're 2-5 in the Ivy help Holy Cross? Well, would it have helped them more than playing a good Merrimack team that lost to Harvard by a TD (Harvard beat Dartmouth by 2 scores)? Would it have been better than Bryant? Buffalo?
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 15, 2022 9:19:59 GMT -5
And go where?
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 13, 2022 15:55:46 GMT -5
Back when I was in school, I always heard that the academically most challenging Ivy undergrad was Cornell. Which was also at the time (and may still be) the "easiest" Ivy to get into. Heard the same about Cornell when I was in HS 25 years ago. And no, I didn't get in.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 13, 2022 9:26:47 GMT -5
Who do u think will fill in when sluka leaves? Mark Forcucci freshman from Chicago. I've heard nothing but rave reviews from coaches. The main reason why the lefty QB from PA who's a freshman as well is playing wide receiver now. I watched this kid out here in Chicago and he is the real deal. With him and Frattura coming in we are great shape QB wise. Frattura is the real deal and comes from a great program in NJ. Always thought there were some really solid players from N/W Jersey who would look in an HC uniform.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 11, 2022 22:18:19 GMT -5
I suspect we will owe Bryant a return game at their place -- but it may not be in 2023. Assuming Harvard is going off the schedule for the next few years, Brown or Dartmouth are potential replacements. Can we please forget about schools like Bryant once and for all? I'm not sure why Harvard might disappear from the schedule, but Brown and Dartmouth...especially Dartmouth, a school I believe we've played more often than any other but BC and Colgate (with Harvard slowly closing the gap)...are much superior alternatives. We've got a football tradition that goes back to the late 1890's and the fourth oldest football stadium in Division 1. That's a huge amount of football history. Think of the many. many important games we've played over the last century, whether at Fitton or elsewhere. We should be playing schools with comparable histories, not Johnny-come-lately second tier football outfits trying to use us to raise their profiles. They may need us, but we most assuredly don't need them. It takes two to tango. If the other schools don't want to play, you have to find opponents who do. If Brown and Dartmouth don't want to play, you can't simply will them onto the schedule because those teams were played annually in the first half of the 20th century. Gotta move on. Bryant is not a bad game to have on the schedule. They play in a respectable FCS league. It's a bus trip. Playing them is probably better for the team and gives the HC coaches a better gauge of how the team is doing than playing Brown or Dartmouth. Top to bottom, the Big South in a given year is going to be better than the Ivies. The opponents the next few years takes a step up. URI. UNH. More FBS games. There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to the non-conference opponents. But if you thumb your nose at the likes of Bryant and Merrimack and Central Conn., you're just confirming the elitist notions people have about HC (and showing you don't understand the reality of the world in which HC plays right now). Probably best to get over it and realize where things stand for non-con games in the future. Hop on board or don't.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 11, 2022 20:07:02 GMT -5
So, while waiting for the plane at PVD last night and chatting it up with the Silver Fox bus driver, we got to talking about NEXT season and while I check on the HC website for future game schedules and can't find it, he asks Siri and gets a site he said was on the HC athletics website, which I still can't bring up but found this: 2023 Holy Cross Football Schedule Sep. 9 Boston College Football Schedule at Boston College Eagles Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA Time TBA ET TV TBA Sep. 16 Yale Football Schedule at Yale Bulldogs Yale Bowl, New Haven, CT Time TBA ET TV TBA Sep. 23 Colgate Raiders Football Schedule Colgate Raiders Fitton Field, Worcester, MA Time TBA ET TV TBA Oct. 21 Lafayette Football Schedule Lafayette Leopards Fitton Field, Worcester, MA Time TBA ET TV TBA Oct. 28 Fordham Rams Football Schedule at Fordham Rams Coffey Field, Bronx, NY Time TBA ET TV TBA Nov. 4 Lehigh Mountain Hawks Football Schedule at Lehigh Mountain Hawks Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, PA Time TBA ET TV TBA Nov. 11 Army Football Schedule at Army Black Knights Michie Stadium, West Point, NY Time TBA ET TV TBA Nov. 18 Georgetown Hoyas Football Schedule Georgetown Hoyas Fitton Field, Worcester, MA Time TBA ET TV TBA So, that's 8 games and looks like it's got all PL games except Bucknell but open spots on 9/30 10/7 10/14 Now, we can assume that one of those dates is Bucknell which, since we played them at Polar Park this past season, assume is an away game. We can also probably assume that we are committed to a game at Polar park but if this schedule is to be believed, all of the above home games are scheduled to be played at Fitton. So, anyone have any insights as to who we play for the EBW game? UNH? URI? Speculation? Nice to get semi-confirmed that we play both BC and Army. Total guess but since the PL schedule looks like a reciprocal flip from last year, Oct 7 is probably at Bucknell. That being said, nothing is stopping them from moving the game so long as both agreed.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 10, 2022 17:07:44 GMT -5
And just to add, going into this game I thought HC was going to have to be damn near perfect to be in it late, let alone win. And HC wasn't close to perfect and they were still in it, and then some miscues late sealed the game the other way. Had HC played a perfect game, they would've won by at least two TDs. In short, they didn't play their best game of the year and they were still in it.
If at the end of the 2017 season someone told you in five years HC would be playing in a quarterfinal playoff game at the #1 seed and would be tied going into the fourth quarter, you wouldn't have believed them.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 10, 2022 17:02:30 GMT -5
Great season by a great team. What a tremendous ride.
Team was right there with the #1 squad in the country for a wide swath of the game. Couple of defensive breakdowns late were backbreakers (e.g., if you have two guys there to tackle the TE, you better bring him down).
Kinda thought the last SDSU TD was unnecessary but that was all set up by Chesney taking those two TOs to stop the clock. Whatever - kind of crying over spilled milk a little bit. If the shoe is on the other foot and we're up 2 TDs with less than 2:00 left and the other team is taking TOs to try to get the ball back, then we'd want the offense to put the game away too. It is what it is.
Thought that SDSU's size finally caught up to us in the 4th quarter. Before that that though, no real issues overall with the way both the O- and D-lines played. The whole team played their hearts out.
On to next year.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 8, 2022 10:48:34 GMT -5
Question: do the participating schools in the FCS playoffs get money for each round like they do in the NCAA basketball tournament? Nope.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 7, 2022 20:34:43 GMT -5
I am afraid DeGrom will never stay healthy. Verlander is clearly a stud. If I were a Mets fan, my only objection to this deal would be the no trade clause. If the team is doing poorly in year 2, they won't be able to use him to get prospects at the trade deadline. You have to take some chances in order to win. Bravo to teams willing to do so. Verlander can always waive the NTC if it gets him a chance to pitch for another winner in the scenario you described.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 7, 2022 13:27:17 GMT -5
DeGrom to the Rangers. Not ideal for the Mets. He was looking for an excuse to leave and the Mets didn't want him longer than three years. Based on his health the last few seasons, I can't blame them for only offering three years. I think the Verlander deal is a really good one and it could look great based on how he performs. We'll see. Like most teams, the Mets will be an injury or two away to their pitching staff between competing for at least a wild card and being sellers at the deadline. Best case scenario for the Mets was deGrom going to the AL West so there's that. Now that Tijuan Walker signed with the Phillies, I expect he'll pitch extensively against the Mets this year and go unbeaten with a sub-2.00 ERA in those games.
|
|
|
UNH
Dec 5, 2022 13:38:09 GMT -5
Chu Chu likes this
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 5, 2022 13:38:09 GMT -5
Saturday was a Quadfecta…. Men’s Hockey also won at Air Force. Great and successful day to root for the Purple. It was Purple People Eater day, for those over 60, you may remember the song. You're absolutely right, totally overlooked this win. Congrats to men's pucks as well. Never easy winning at AFA.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 5, 2022 12:58:54 GMT -5
Was a great trip to Worcester this weekend to visit with some old college friends, tailgate on Freshman Field and watch a victory in some pretty crazy conditions. It was sinking in yesterday morning on the drive home that everybody there witnessed something nobody had ever seen before in the program's history (a 12th win).
I was impressed with the UNH crowd on the opposite side of the stadium and those on Freshman Field seemed to be of a friendlier disposition than Mr. Foley. I was even more impressed with the showing on the HC side. Seemed like a strong crowd despite the elements. The small throng of shirtless students in the endzone was a nice touch and I sincerely hope none of them have pneumonia today.
I'm wondering how many two-wheel drive vehicles are still stuck on Freshman Field right now. It was a shallow pond when we left after the game.
We didn't stay to watch the MBB live, but we caught it from the warm confines of a friend's house on ESPN+. The FB/MBB/WBB trifecta win on Saturday made for a most happy weekend back in central Mass.
|
|
|
UNH
Dec 2, 2022 21:33:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 2, 2022 21:33:15 GMT -5
I think I was at that game with your father, Oct. 22, 1966. SU had Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. The first half was close. Final score 28-6, but Howard Cosell said on the TV sports news that the game was closer than the score indicated. Don’t remember any snow that week. Do remember it was a little chilly, beautiful October day. We threw oranges on the field when we scored the first time, but I think the TD was recalled or flagged so then we attempted a field goal. This was in the first half. It was actually before you were both students. 1962 homecoming game, a 30-20 loss. Both my grandfather (class of 32) and his brother (class of 27?) were also HC grads and they both took my dad up to the game. My dad likes to remind me of the days before I-84 was a thing.
|
|
|
UNH
Dec 2, 2022 20:45:03 GMT -5
via mobile
sader1970 likes this
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 2, 2022 20:45:03 GMT -5
I have waterproof boots, pants and jacket ready to go. I’d rather be warm and wet than cold and wet. Have a feeling some pregame beverages will help fend off the cold as well.
My dad (class of 70) was telling me this week about seeing a game in the 60s at Fitton against Syracuse in October after a snowfall. They were prepared with pieces of cardboard to sit on the old wooden bleachers to keep their butts dry.
Have to figure the waterproof clothing technology has advanced far enough that tomorrow will be a piece of cake for those who are well prepared.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 2, 2022 20:16:48 GMT -5
Leaving NJ at 6 a.m. tomorrow to make the drive up, meet up pregame with some old HC friends and hopefully enjoy a victory, wind and rain be damned. If the players have to play in it, then let's sit in it too. Haven't been this jonesed for an HC sports event pregame since driving up to campus for the HC/Bucknell PL MBB title game in '05. Hopefully the end result is different!
I went to the Villanova game in '09 and while I was cautiously optimistic going into it, I didn't have the same level of anticipation.
Hope those of you who are on the fence about going ultimately decide to go. This is a special team. As we know 11-0 doesn't happen often. This is a seeded team playing a second round playoff game at home. This is not the norm for HC. If you can get there safely, let's take advantage and give the team a home field advantage they deserve.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Dec 2, 2022 16:20:13 GMT -5
Unless we get a nice check from the Cuse, why are we subjecting our kids to the kind of shellacking we receive vs them ? Our OOC schedule should have more MAAC schools which is a lower level than the PL Non-con scheduling in men's lacrosse has become especially cumbersome the last few years across D1 - realignment has added to the heartburn surrounding it. The PL schools have more limited options given the last 9 weekends are committed to conference play. You have to find opponents who are a) available and b) interested. Unless both line up, you run the risk of not finding an opponent. With the MAAC expanding now to 10 teams when they absorbed three affiliates from the NEC, their conference schedule is even longer than the PL's but it looks like they're doing 7 Saturdays and two midweeks to get 9 games in, which keeps 4 or 5 Saturdays available at the start of the season for non-cons. If given the option of either playing an ACC team or not playing at all, teams will take playing an ACC team 100 out of 100 times.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 29, 2022 20:13:27 GMT -5
UNH fan. Could use one if not sacrilege. I'm sure if you brought some libations to be shared pregame, it might help your cause...
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 22, 2022 11:19:32 GMT -5
Would that be the same NCAA that has such a clear double standard when it comes to punishments for rule violations? I have no direct knowledge of that level of seeding, but I have seen it done at conference levels and down in secondary schools. You need to separate the two. While both are obviously under the NCAA banner, how postseason fields are seeded and how violations are handled are two entirely different things. Not a comparison that's even remotely in the same ballpark. Same with how these types of things are handled in high school. With all of the shortcomings the NCAA has, comparing it to the NJSIAA is grossly unfair to the NCAA. Sometimes the answer is really the easiest, simplest explanation on the page. HC was seeded where it was not because of a fairy tale axe to grind or because of a quid pro quo. The answer is the committee believed HC wasn't deserving of being seeded any higher than 8th, and so that's where they put them. And why was that? It honestly likely came down to strength of schedule.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 22, 2022 10:19:20 GMT -5
I can see it...in informal" talks he could opine that the PL would like to see 2 teams selected and if HC were to drop a bit in seeding at the same time, that would be fine. I know it makes for an interesting narrative but those types of backroom political deals are not part of the discussion when it comes to NCAA selections. There's no quid pro quo. And you'd have other committee members from other conferences who would pitch a fit.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 22, 2022 10:06:04 GMT -5
Some of the conspiracy theories are getting pretty creative here. Going to be awhile before Dec. 3 - I suggest many of you pace yourselves.
The "Bucknell AD conspired against HC's seed" argument doesn't hold any water given that he's one of 12 people on the selection committee and his team got pasted by HC. What's he going to say, that his team lost by almost 60 on the road to another team that's not really that good so they should be seeder lower? Makes absolutely zero sense.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 21, 2022 11:40:02 GMT -5
The problem with your niche idea is that it is not allowed by the NCAA. If a conference offers baseball, then as a conference member you are required to play baseball in the conference. The conference that you play basketball in is the conference you play all other sports in. If the conference doesn't offer football, then you can be independent or play in another conference. There must be a list of other sports in additon to football where schools are allowed to play in different conferences. Example: Fairfield lax has played in the ECAC and then more recently the CAA even though the MAAC has continued to sponsor Men's Lax. You need the primary league to allow a school to affiliate a sport with another league - that flexibility has to be in their bylaws somewhere. In the vast majority of cases, the conference bylaws will require that if it sponsors a championship in that sport, that all conference members must compete within the conference in said sport.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 20, 2022 21:53:14 GMT -5
I don’t see HC being the leader in starting a new northern-based FCS conference with a few private schools and a few state schools. Isn’t happening. Would have to be all sports and it’s just not in the cards. Its called America East. Partially. If we’re taking football, it’s half the AE - Maine, UNH, Bryant, Albany. Those are not schools HC admin/TPTB wants to be tied to academically, which is still the reason the PL exists. Fordham and Richmond are not leaving the A10. I doubt you can get W&M to leave the CAA. However, if it was me, a league of all 7 of those plus Colgate as a pretty strong 8 team league would be outstanding, and bring along BU and Vermont as members 9 and 10 for all sports (obviously no football) would be great. Travel would be an issue though since Richmond and W&M would be outliers so they’d be doing the bulk of the traveling so another hurdle to reality. But on paper, would be a pretty fun league and an interesting mix of state and private schools.
|
|
|
Post by JRGNYR on Nov 20, 2022 21:37:39 GMT -5
I don’t see HC being the leader in starting a new northern-based FCS conference with a few private schools and a few state schools. Isn’t happening. Would have to be all sports and it’s just not in the cards.
|
|