Thoughts on RR SR1 after 5 weeks

[NewHaven Alum]

Think he meant they won 3-0 in this year's game... maybe read it twice before getting so upset lol

Personally, I read it many times and I also believe that poster meant for the first time ever and it was wrong.

[Ram040506]

Personally, I read it many times and I also believe that poster meant for the first time ever and it was wrong.

Well, you are still reading it wrong then.

"Bentley gets another game against St. Anselm (who they only beat 3-0 the first time)" Referring to their earlier meeting 2 weeks or so ago.

https://bentleyfalcons.com/sports/fo.../boxscore/6723

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, you are still reading it wrong then.

"Bentley gets another game against St. Anselm (who they only beat 3-0 the first time)" Referring to their earlier meeting 2 weeks or so ago.

https://bentleyfalcons.com/sports/fo.../boxscore/6723

The original post was edited hours later. I think he's referring to the original post?

[TheBigCat2192]

The original post was edited hours later. I think he's referring to the original post?

The edit I made was moving a comma. I had accidentally typed it after the word “and” rather than before. Touch screen typing is a miserable thing.

[ctrabs74]

KU, SRU, and IUP all look good. One of these three will probably end up PSAC champ and a high seed.

SRU-IUP basically has that "play-in" game feel even though we're in Week 5. Kutztown's only real "test" the rest of the way might be their Oct. 26 showdown against Shepherd, though we're not exactly seeing the high-powered Shepherd offense we're used to seeing. That said, their next two games - Bloomsburg and Lock Haven - have "trap game" written all over them. The way things are going in this region, the PSAC champ may end up as top-seed (almost by default).

Cal, ESU, and Shep have all taken losses that give them limited wiggle room. Shep and Cal might be able to get in with two losses because of their schedules. I don’t know if the same is true of ESU

If the rest of the region was even remotely as deep as the PSAC, then the winner of Shep-ESU on Nov. 9 (week before the State Game) and Cal would probably be in - though, I won't trust Cal unless and until they can beat IUP and/or Rock - if not both, and I don't see that happening. Cal has to run the table and win the West since they've already played one PSAC East SOS anchor (West Chester) and close out the season against another (Shippensburg, if/when Cal misses the State Game) otherwise, they'll be needing a boatload of help to offset that Charleston loss.

Findlay is undefeated but I don’t believe they’ve played either Tiffin or Ashland yet.

Findlay has played Truman, Wayne State (Mich.), Lake Erie and Hillsdale... Findlay hosts Ashland next week and closes the season at Tiffin on Nov. 16.

Tiffin and Ashland are both 2-2 but each have a loss outside the region. Their record against regional opponents could end with only 1 loss.

What actually hurts Ashland is that their loss to Ferris is "in-region" because of Northwood and Hillsdale being in the GMAC and SR1... hence, Michigan opponents are considered in-region, even if the team is part of the GLIAC and SR3. Tiffin's loss was to Lenoir-Rhyne is also "in-region" because UNC-Pembroke is part of SR1 via the MEC, hence Lenoir-Rhyne is considered "in-region" because the state of North Carolina is part of SR1, even though L-R and the SAC are in SR2. Now, that could've changed over the past few years, but those losses will bite Ashland and Tiffin right now, never mind down the road.

The NE-10 is a mess. I believe all of their teams have at least 1 D2 loss and none of their top contenders have any marquee non-conference wins.

New Haven's lone loss was on the road against Slippery Rock (22-7) in the season opener. Then again, we haven't really seen Rock turn the switch on offense just yet. Assumption and Bentley are the only other one-loss teams in the NE-10; Bentley lost last week to New Haven, but their non-conference win over West Chester is an SOS anchor (and I never thought I'd say that about a West Chester team). Assumption (2-1) only loss was at Kutztown to start the season, though the Greyhounds do get Bentley (Oct. 12) and Assumption (Oct. 26) at home.

Charleston looks like a solid contender but the rest of the MEC is underwhelming. Could a 1-loss FSU miss out behind a 2-loss team from a tougher league? Too soon to tell but worth keeping in the back of your mind as those two play through their conference schedules.

Frostburg and maybe WV State might be the only other solid teams in the MEC at this stage. If WVSU can beat Fairmont (which they have in three of the last four meetings), we could also put them on the watch list.

[TheBigCat2192]

SRU-IUP basically has that "play-in" game feel even though we're in Week 5. Kutztown's only real "test" the rest of the way might be their Oct. 26 showdown against Shepherd, though we're not exactly seeing the high-powered Shepherd offense we're used to seeing. That said, their next two games - Bloomsburg and Lock Haven - have "trap game" written all over them. The way things are going in this region, the PSAC champ may end up as top-seed (almost by default).


Findlay has played Truman, Wayne State (Mich.), Lake Erie and Hillsdale... Findlay hosts Ashland next week and closes the season at Tiffin on Nov. 16.



What actually hurts Ashland is that their loss to Ferris is "in-region" because of Northwood and Hillsdale being in the GMAC and SR1... hence, Michigan opponents are considered in-region, even if the team is part of the GLIAC and SR3. Tiffin's loss was to Lenoir-Rhyne is also "in-region" because UNC-Pembroke is part of SR1 via the MEC, hence Lenoir-Rhyne is considered "in-region" because the state of North Carolina is part of SR1, even though L-R and the SAC are in SR2. Now, that could've changed over the past few years, but those losses will bite Ashland and Tiffin right now, never mind down the road.

1. I don’t really see BU as a trap game for Kutztown. BU has two one score wins against uninspiring opponents. That 3-1 record is about as hollow as the average MEC team.

2. I forgot about in-region but not really rule. It’s never been an issue for BU since they’ve always been either firmly in or firmly out so it slipped my mind. Ashland v Ferris State I can get since Michigan borders Ohio but Tiffin is getting screwed by technicality in my eyes.

[ctrabs74]

1. I don’t really see BU as a trap game for Kutztown. BU has two one score wins against uninspiring opponents. That 3-1 record is about as hollow as the average MEC team.

I get it, especially since KUBs have won the last 7 in the series. But it still feels like a trap game because it's a division game and wouldn't you agree that Bloom has at least played better this season compared to recent years?

2. I forgot about in-region but not really rule. It’s never been an issue for BU since they’ve always been either firmly in or firmly out so it slipped my mind. Ashland v Ferris State I can get since Michigan borders Ohio but Tiffin is getting screwed by technicality in my eyes.

As for Tiffin: Yes, it's more of a technical thing because Pembroke is the only North Carolina team in SR1, but they are in SR1. Picture Bentley (hypothetically) taking on Saginaw Valley State; that matchup would be in-region, so Bentley would have a gripe if that affected their potential playoff standing.

[WarriorVoice]

"They had some really good crowds behind them at Hubert Jack in the losses"

FYI, The Jack holds 3,500. It's one of the smallest grandstands in the conference. I wonder if Coach Mulrooney will push for an expansion.

[Boro33]

My early prediction for how it shakes out ultimately:

1. Kutztown 11-0 beats Rock in the PSAC championship and takes the overall top seed.
2. Charleston 11-0 Their win against California helps with SOS and they go undefeated and MEC champs
3. Slippery Rock 10-1 They win the PSAC west but lose to Kutztown in the PSAC title game.
4. New Haven 9-1 Runs the table and wins the NE10
5. IUP 10-1- I see them losing to Rock but beating California.
6. East Stroudsburg 10-1- Only loss to Kutztown
7. Ashland 9-2 runs the table in the GMAC and gets EA over Frostburg State

8. Frostburg State 10-1 - SOS is terrible, they get bumped for the GMAC champ.

5-6-7 are not actually ranked in the RR so first round matchups end up like this:

ESU @ Charleston
Ashland @ Slippery Rock
IUP @ New Haven
Kutztown gets the bye.

No Shep?

[Ram040506]

No Shep?

I'm hopeful, but right now I don't think what I've seen through 4 weeks is going to get them into the playoffs. Best OL is out for the year, best DT had a pretty bad injury last week. 2 guys that were more of a loss than most would think (both senior 3/4 year starters). And to be fair, they've won 3 games against some pretty poor competition for the most part in the grand scheme here (SCSU, Clarion, Ship combined are 4-9). They hung tough against Slippery Rock, but if not for Lutz calling a bonehead fake punt inside his own 30 at the end of the 2nd quarter... I don't think the Rams score a TD in that game.

Kutztown is probably a loss, and the Rams can certainly win every other game on their schedule. ESU for whatever reason has not played well against the Rams since Shepherd joined the PSAC, so hopefully that continues. Just too much inconsistency to bank on them being one of the 7 at this point.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

"They had some really good crowds behind them at Hubert Jack in the losses"

FYI, The Jack holds 3,500. It's one of the smallest grandstands in the conference. I wonder if Coach Mulrooney will push for an expansion.

He'll be long gone before they could put in some more bleachers. They announced about 4,500 at the IUP game. As you said the bleacher is fairly small. They had people around the fences, up above standing behind the bleachers and then also seated on the grass behind the one end zone (on the walking path back down to civilization).

The locals were geared up the night of the IUP visit. For a D2 game it was an energetic bunch. And, 4,500 at Lock Haven ... compared to what they are used to ... probably felt like 20,000.

Our crowds, league-wide, pretty much suck so it doesn't take much noise to make an impact.

[Fightingscot82]

He'll be long gone before they could put in some more bleachers. They announced about 4,500 at the IUP game. As you said the bleacher is fairly small. They had people around the fences, up above standing behind the bleachers and then also seated on the grass behind the one end zone (on the walking path back down to civilization).

The locals were geared up the night of the IUP visit. For a D2 game it was an energetic bunch. And, 4,500 at Lock Haven ... compared to what they are used to ... probably felt like 20,000.

Our crowds, league-wide, pretty much suck so it doesn't take much noise to make an impact.

An away side would ruin the view. That's a strategic design, even if the size makes sense.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

An away side would ruin the view. That's a strategic design, even if the size makes sense.

Somebody was telling me that when I was there ... about ruining the view. I don't know. If they went 12 rows up ... I guess it would to an extent. But, do they want a football stadium or a photo op? The view is cool. No doubt. But ... bleachers on one side really has a high school vibe.

BTW, it may be possible to put them in over there but perhaps not. That is a steep cliff that transitions the football stadium down to the softball field. They could build enough structure, obviously, to support them but by doing so it would likely hinder the field below. That is one interesting set up there.

[WarriorVoice]

Somebody was telling me that when I was there ... about ruining the view. I don't know. If they went 12 rows up ... I guess it would to an extent. But, do they want a football stadium or a photo op? The view is cool. No doubt. But ... bleachers on one side really has a high school vibe.

BTW, it may be possible to put them in over there but perhaps not. That is a steep cliff that transitions the football stadium down to the softball field. They could build enough structure, obviously, to support them but by doing so it would likely hinder the field below. That is one interesting set up there.

There's no real way to put stands on the visitor side because of the fields below. Is it a great view, but that shouldn't be the biggest appeal of your football program...

[iupgroundhog]

There's no real way to put stands on the visitor side because of the fields below. Is it a great view, but that shouldn't be the biggest appeal of your football program...

I haven't been to that stadium in a really long time but they use that view in promotional literature and imagery for the school. You're right, it shouldn't be the biggest thing but they have it and it is unique so they want to leverage that.

Views are important and not just there. Recall when Pittsburgh was building PNC Park and the view of the skyline was a critical part of the design. Later, when the Phillies were building Citizen's Bank Park they insisted on there being a view of the Center City skyline, although it is pretty distant and, arguably, not as eye-catching as Pittsburgh's.

I am sure some people at LHU are entertaining the idea of expansion. Maybe there can be workarounds like having a visitor's side that is split and still allows for a nice view. Or, expansion of the current side capacity. Build an elevated concession area that takes in the view.

On the other hand, anything done to the men's sports side at LHU will have to be equaled on the women's side. Several years ago, LHU got a significant funding from the state to rehab the old LHHS building (now part of their East Campus) into a state-of-the-art wrestling complex. It would have been literally a world-class facility, enabling them to hold more and bigger tournaments on both the HS and college levels, as well as being utilized to upgrade their camps. It would have also been home to the Mat-Town Wrestling Club. But at LH the women's side is very powerful and they saw it as unfair, of course, and they could make a legitimate argument that it was. So, I'm not sure how they use that building now but it's not for the wrestling facility. This was stalled even after the state funds were specifically earmarked for the wrestling facility. Who knows how it would play out now since LH has a great women's wrestling program in addition to the men's.