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Post by trimster on Sept 26, 2023 15:31:55 GMT -5
I have been thinking along those lines minus Delaware, for some time. I’d gladly take the Blue Hens as an all-sport member. Scheduling non-con games in hoops is going to get more difficult so I wouldn’t mind more league games if the alternative is a bunch of low D1 opponents.
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Post by trimster on Sept 26, 2023 15:28:25 GMT -5
Here's some of my thoughts on making the PL a better conference, especially one that would be a better fit for Holy Cross. This is our message board after all. First, I think W&M, Richmond and Villanova are all great and everything, and would make the football conference stronger. However, I think the biggest problem with the PL from a HC perspective is that the basketball league flat out sucks. Let's remember that VIllanova and Richmond would be football-only members and do nothing for any of the other sports in the Patriot League. William & Mary basketball is nothing to get excited about at all, but at least they are strong in most Olympic sports and would be our top baseball program from Day 1, maybe soccer too. Here's my "dream scenario" for the Patriot League becoming a more attractive athletic home for Holy Cross. And it's unlikely to happen but you never know..... First, Delaware decides against FBS and then they decide along with William & Mary, Richmond and Villanova that they would like to pursue membership in a more stable conference as opposed to what the CAA has started to become. Let's face it, the CAA has done a great job scooping up "up and comers" over the past 2 decades to continue stability and competitiveness both at the FCS and mid-major hoops levels. Unfortunately, there are only so many Townson's, Albany's, Campbell's & Monmouth's left to backfill membership. Do pograms with a ton of long-standing tradition like W&M and UD really want to be in a league that in 5 years might include the likes of Bryant (likely next CAA all-sports member), Merrimack, Morgan State, Howard and Queens Univesity of Charlotte? So, I'm imagining the following: PL Football 1. Holy Cross 2. Fordham 3. Colgate 4. Lehigh 5. Lafayette 6. Bucknell 7. W&M 8. Richmond 9. Villanova 10. Delaware PL Basketball 1. Holy Cross 2. BU 3. Northeastern 4. Fairfield 5. W&M 6. Delaware 7. Loyola 8. American 9. Army 10. Navy 11. Colgate 12. Lehigh 13. Lafayette 14. Bucknell We'd have 20 conference games in basketball. Like many other conferences, we'd have a system of primary partners. We would play BU, Northeastern, Fairfield and Colgate home-and home and the other eight schools just once per year. And we'd have a legit season-ending conference tournament at one site. 4-day event at a neutral location. Nothing says "low-major" like a conference tourney held at home sites, mostly in the middle of nowhere, since that's where PL schools are located. Mohegan Sun, Worcester, Wilmington, DC, Scranton and Baltimore would all be options. In football, I parted ways with Georgetown who moves on to the NEC and becomes the next Sacred Heart. Win for all. 8 conference games, with every team playing 8 of the other 9. So OOC, we're looking at Harvard OR Dartmouth, one flex game and 1 FBS opponent. Again, one reason why I'm not meh about Richmond and Villanova is that a) they do nothing for the basketball conference and b) would definitely restrict our OOC scheduling flexibility when it comes to continuing series like UNH, Yale, Dartmouth and Brown. And I guess Merrimack too. So I’d be just as happy to bring in just W&M and Delaware in football (since I have them joining for all-sports) to go to an 8-team football league with 7 conference games and 4 OOC.
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Post by trimster on Sept 26, 2023 15:27:10 GMT -5
I can see it now…a 9 team league for Patriot League football: North Division Colgate Holy Cross Fordham Central Division Bucknell Lafayette Lehigh South Division Villanova Richmond W&M Georgetown is officially shown the exit and provided some nice parting gifts. Will my dream become a reality??? Here's some of my thoughts on making the PL a better conference, especially one that would be a better fit for Holy Cross. This is our message board after all. First, I think W&M, Richmond and Villanova are all great and everything, and would make the football conference stronger. However, I think the biggest problem with the PL from a HC perspective is that the basketball league flat out sucks. Let's remember that VIllanova and Richmond would be football-only members and do nothing for any of the other sports in the Patriot League. William & Mary basketball is nothing to get excited about at all, but at least they are strong in most Olympic sports and would be our top baseball program from Day 1, maybe soccer too. Here's my "dream scenario" for the Patriot League becoming a more attractive athletic home for Holy Cross. And it's unlikely to happen but you never know..... First, Delaware decides against FBS and then they decide along with William & Mary, Richmond and Villanova that they would like to pursue membership in a more stable conference as opposed to what the CAA has started to become. Let's face it, the CAA has done a great job scooping up "up and comers" over the past 2 decades to continue stability and competitiveness both at the FCS and mid-major hoops levels. Unfortunately, there are only so many Townson's, Albany's, Campbell's & Monmouth's left to backfill membership. Do pograms with a ton of long-standing tradition like W&M and UD really want to be in a league that in 5 years might include the likes of Bryant (likely next CAA all-sports member), Merrimack, Morgan State, Howard and Queens Univesity of Charlotte? So, I'm imagining the following: PL Football 1. Holy Cross 2. Fordham 3. Colgate 4. Lehigh 5. Lafayette 6. Bucknell 7. W&M 8. Richmond 9. Villanova 10. Delaware PL Basketball 1. Holy Cross 2. BU 3. Northeastern 4. Fairfield 5. W&M 6. Delaware 7. Loyola 8. American 9. Army 10. Navy 11. Colgate 12. Lehigh 13. Lafayette 14. Bucknell We'd have 20 conference games in basketball. Like many other conferences, we'd have a system of primary partners. We would play BU, Northeastern, Fairfield and Colgate home-and home and the other eight schools just once per year. And we'd have a legit season-ending conference tournament at one site. 4-day event at a neutral location. Nothing says "low-major" like a conference tourney held at home sites, mostly in the middle of nowhere, since that's where PL schools are located. Mohegan Sun, Worcester, Wilmington, DC, Scranton and Baltimore would all be options. In football, I parted ways with Georgetown who moves on to the NEC and becomes the next Sacred Heart. Win for all. 8 conference games, with every team playing 8 of the other 9. So OOC, we're looking at Harvard OR Dartmouth, one flex game and 1 FBS opponent. Again, one reason why I'm not meh about Richmond and Villanova is that a) they do nothing for the basketball conference and b) would definitely restrict our OOC scheduling flexibility when it comes to continuing series like UNH, Yale, Dartmouth and Brown. And I guess Merrimack too. So I’d be just as happy to bring in just W&M and Delaware in football (since I have them joining for all-sports) to go to an 8-team football league with 7 conference games and 4 OOC.
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Post by trimster on Sept 26, 2023 15:23:01 GMT -5
HC offeree Nick Coval commits to Davidson.
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Post by trimster on Sept 24, 2023 7:38:01 GMT -5
It’s so nice to have some optimism back.
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Post by trimster on Sept 24, 2023 7:24:08 GMT -5
BC got hammered. The situation at the Heights really concerns me due to its potential impact on HC. At first glance, the rest of their schedule doesn’t seem really daunting but who knows especially if they don’t beat 0-4 Virginia next Saturday.
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Post by trimster on Sept 24, 2023 7:18:41 GMT -5
Nice report NAD. Thank you.
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Post by trimster on Sept 23, 2023 9:29:52 GMT -5
Still seems like a real bargain to me.
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Post by trimster on Sept 22, 2023 7:43:06 GMT -5
Perhaps the best option for now might be to pressure the PL to do the following: Hire a proven and driven Administrative team Make significant investments to promote the league and maximize it's exposure Fix the basic program problems of the league- nonmedical 5th year etc. Require member schools to make real commitments to football and improve the bottom of the conference Phase Two Over the next 24 months make sure you can retain the current schools Using the campaign to promote the league add three quality schools- similar to the current PL football membership (CAA members or FBS schools that lose in the realignment). These additions can be football only if needed. Allows for two/three non conference games and include up to two buy games each year Thoughts for a Friday morning I couldn’t agree more. I have resigned myself to HC being in the PL for the duration. That being the case, the PL should do all it can to make the league stronger. I believe there are several schools in the CAA who aren’t happy with the direction the league has taken. These schools definitely fit the academic profile of the league and would give the PL a nice bump football-wise. I also would like to see a couple of New England schools join as all sports minus football, to give HC a couple of neighbors. They fit the academic profile of the league and I suspect they aren’t all that thrilled with the MAAC and the CAA.
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Post by trimster on Sept 21, 2023 13:59:56 GMT -5
Really, this again? Who did this? Nothing with the PL is changing for Olympic sports. We won’t leave as long as it exists. Please stop asking. PL and Ivy are possibly the two most stable conferences in all D1 right now. As for football, nothing will change unless the PL implodes for football alongside side northern CAA. No other conference is inviting Holy Cross to join for football. CAA just got Bryant as their 16th member and final northern spot. Can we stop this yet? Apparently we can’t.
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Post by trimster on Sept 21, 2023 7:32:28 GMT -5
Is there a maximum number of FBS games a FCS team can schedule? One positive of the PL is that it gives you at least 5 OOC games to schedule. To me, if you schedule up to the max OOC you are better off than being a non power FBS program. A poster on the William and Mary board said an FBS program is only allowed to count one FCS win towards bowl eligibility.
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Post by trimster on Sept 20, 2023 11:36:07 GMT -5
Perhaps Sydnor is one of those rare kids who doesn't post details about his life on social media sites. I assume those sites are the main source of Verbal Commit's info.
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Post by trimster on Sept 20, 2023 7:18:16 GMT -5
I couldn’t find an offer from any of the schools to Sydnor in Verbal Commits. It appears the word contacts would have been much more appropriate than offers in the graphic.
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Post by trimster on Sept 19, 2023 13:27:37 GMT -5
Speaking of schedules, per Dave Paulsen's email today, there will be an open practice this Saturday from 10-12 and another on 10-11 from 5-7. The latter will be a scrimmage.
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Post by trimster on Sept 19, 2023 11:10:34 GMT -5
According to an Adam Zagoria tweet on the URI board, HC is one of 15-20 schools showing interest in Will Sydnor, a 6’7” forward from NYC.
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Post by trimster on Sept 17, 2023 8:20:27 GMT -5
Quick observations: 1. Jake J did NOT return after his shoulder injury. On sideline in a sling and after game still in sling. Would be surprised if we see him again this year. 2. IMO, there were 4,000 +/- fans. May not look like it but that’s because the Bowl is huge. FWIW, younger son (Fairfield alum) said he was never there before and Fitton is “much better by far.” 😂 3. As for Patrick’s punt, wind shifted from visitor side left to right to across the field into visiting stands face and where his punt veered. We spoke to him after the game and when I explained to my grandson that he was also the holder, Patrick said “that’s the most important job” he has. Grandson tells me Haughney is his favorite player.😊 4. Kudos to Crucis for being there with his son!😊 5. Talked to Coker’s Mom and then when Jalen came over, told him “pretty good game, I’ll give you a B+.” He laughed and said “I’ll take it!” 😂 6. Jake Dobbs was pumped the entire game. Had a laugh with his Dad, Lou, about his name and any confusion about him and the Fox guy. He said, “yeah, I tell people I’m the nice one.”😊 7. Yale Bowl needs a complete makeover as it has for the last 40 years. Looks like the dumpy bathrooms are in process of being done so it’s all porta-potty all the time! And yes, Crucis, watch for splinters in the stadium seating. The Yale Bowl looked really “tired” on ESPN+. If only Yale had the funds to rehab it.
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Post by trimster on Sept 15, 2023 8:37:01 GMT -5
Be great to get Costello and Nairus Wouldn’t it. Sounds like both will be chased by many schools given their combination of size and skills.
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Post by trimster on Sept 15, 2023 7:19:13 GMT -5
Looks like Costello played for two years at BC High before transferring recently to Newman and reclassifying to the class of 2026.
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Post by trimster on Sept 15, 2023 7:15:11 GMT -5
HC has offered Quinn Costello, a 6’9” forward from the Newman School in Boston.
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Post by trimster on Sept 14, 2023 13:31:00 GMT -5
Athletically andI know there is more to it than just sports, neither the CAA nor the PL does much for me. The former has become too bloated and the latter has hardly ever piqued my interest.
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Post by trimster on Sept 14, 2023 6:52:59 GMT -5
Kind of an odd league schedule. HC plays 3 teams twice in 14 days and 3 others in 42, 45 and 48 days.
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Post by trimster on Sept 8, 2023 11:34:23 GMT -5
The only salvation in playing The Elms is they are no longer called "Our Lady of the Elms." I hope Assumption was busy.
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Post by trimster on Sept 8, 2023 7:19:10 GMT -5
For all you aficionados out there, the Blue Ribbon Yearbook is now available for 24.00 plus shipping. (27.00 if you prefer spiral bound).
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Post by trimster on Sept 6, 2023 19:10:43 GMT -5
I think TT and Glen Williams are two of the best PGs we have had after the mid 80s No doubt but I would add Jave Meade.
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Post by trimster on Sept 4, 2023 9:48:00 GMT -5
From the BC board Public transportation is a thing. You can park for free at Riverside MBTA, right off 95/90/128, and it's a 12 minute train ride and 10 minute walk. Thank you. Dumb question : Get off at chestnut hill ? 95/128 South off the Mass Pike. Riverside is one of the very early exits off that road.
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