Patriot League Pick 'em - Week 1

[carney2]

We're starting early this year with two games on Thursday. Same “rules” as last year: no one is keeping score so if you are picking a lot of winners, you will have to blow your own horn. Also, this is probably the only place you will see Fordham included in the standings.

Thursday, September 1st
FORDHAM @ Connecticut

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS

Saturday, September 3rd
LEHIGH @ Monmouth

Duquesne @ BUCKNELL

Davidson @ GEORGETOWN

Albany @ COLGATE

LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State

Has this been the longest off season ever or what?!!

[DFW HOYA]

UConn 38, Fordham 14
UMass 31, Holy Cross 17
Lehigh 21, Monmouth 10
Duquesne 16, Bucknell 13
Georgetown 17, Davidson 10
Colgate 24, Albany 17
North Dakota St 27, Lafayette 14

[ngineer]

As Johann said, "Great to be bach!"

UConn 38 Fordham 10
UMass 24 Holy Cross 14
Lehigh 27 Monmouth 14
Duquesne 24 Bucknell 21
Georgetown 21 Davidson 17
Colgate 31 Albany 28
North Dakota St. 28 Lafayette 14

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

I usually like to wait but i'm so giddy....

Uconn 30 Fordham 17 - This won't be the epic beatdown some are fearing, the Huskies are going to be dreadful this year.
Umass 42 Holy Cross 24 - Umass leaves the Crusaders in their dust, en route to FBS
Duquesne 31 Bucknell 14 - It's going to be a looong year for the Bison
Georgetown 20 Davidson 10 - Hoyas start the season undefeated for the second straight year.
Colgate 34 Albany 21 - I expect Raiders to be very solid this year
North Dakota State 28 Lafayette 16 - This game is extremely interesting imo.
Lehigh 31 Monmouth 10 - Monmouth hangs around for awhile but ultimately LU pulls away.

[GeauxLions94]

OK, I'll play ...

FORDHAM @ Connecticut
Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS
LEHIGH @ Monmouth
Duquesne @ BUCKNELL
Davidson @ GEORGETOWN
Albany @ COLGATE
LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State

[RattlerFan70]

FORDHAM @ Connecticut
Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS
LEHIGH @ Monmouth
Duquesne @ BUCKNELL
Davidson @ GEORGETOWN
Albany @ COLGATE
LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State

[carney2]

Not a difficult week.

FORDHAM @ Connecticut
The Rams are one year away from being darn near unbeatable by mere Patriot League teams. Unfortunately, they are not at the point where they can cope with even a bad Big Least team.

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS
The Crossers are in over their heads.

LEHIGH @ Monmouth
It feels like herd mentality, but I'm with the crowd that thinks that this Hawks 'n Squawks battle will be competitive for a while, but that the dungclads will have too much fire power in the end.

Duquesne @ BUCKNELL
It's difficult to find anything positive to say about the Buffalo. The coaching change has had little visible impact and there seems to be no discernible end to the futility. It would be tough to pick this team over the Little Sisters of the Poor JVs.

Davidson @ GEORGETOWN
Picking the home team over a glorified D-3 opponent.

Albany @ COLGATE
I toyed with picking the Danes because of Biddle's traditional first game problems...Then I remembered Eachus.

LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State
By my count, Lafayette's Tavani is 3-4 in his battles with ranked scholarship programs - and he's only been blown out once. Make that twice.

[LUHawker]

UConn - Rams think this should be their regular competition, but they really just have a case of too big for their britches. Won't even be close.

UMass - Don't you know the Crusaders coulda been in the Big East? Well, they are not and UMass shows why they are moving up.

Duquense - Tough to pick Bucknell, even in a game where they have a shot.

G'town - The Hoyas extend their opening game winning streak to 2 giving tortured GU fans a glimmer of false hope, once again.

Albany - Albany tends to start strong and Colgate doesn't. While Eachus will carry the team, the Red Raiders will be breaking in a new QB and may not offer enough relief to give Eachus some breathing room.

Lehigh. Mountain Hawks over shore Hawks. LU has a veteran team and I think they come out fast.

North Dakota State - The Pards will be better than last year and will show ok in this game, but ultimately fall, upping their opening game loss streak to 2.

[HensRock]

UConn - Rams think this should be their regular competition, but they really just have a case of too big for their britches. Won't even be close.

UMass - Don't you know the Crusaders coulda been in the Big East? Well, they are not and UMass shows why they are moving up.

Duquense - Tough to pick Bucknell, even in a game where they have a shot.

G'town - The Hoyas extend their opening game winning streak to 2 giving tortured GU fans a glimmer of false hope, once again.

Albany - Albany tends to start strong and Colgate doesn't. While Eachus will carry the team, the Red Raiders will be breaking in a new QB and may not offer enough relief to give Eachus some breathing room.

Lehigh. Mountain Hawks over shore Hawks. LU has a veteran team and I think they come out fast.

North Dakota State - The Pards will be better than last year and will show ok in this game, but ultimately fall, upping their opening game loss streak to 2.

What he said. I too will go against the grain with Albany.

[colorless raider]

We're starting early this year with two games on Thursday. Same “rules” as last year: no one is keeping score so if you are picking a lot of winners, you will have to blow your own horn. Also, this is probably the only place you will see Fordham included in the standings.

Thursday, September 1st
FORDHAM @ Connecticut

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS

Saturday, September 3rd
LEHIGH @ Monmouth

Duquesne @ BUCKNELL

Davidson @ GEORGETOWN

Albany @ COLGATE

LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State

Has this been the longest off season ever or what?!!

Made so by your president who screwed up the scholarship vote with his big mouth. Nice going .

[Bogus Megapardus]

Made so by your president who screwed up the scholarship vote with his big mouth. Nice going.

Again - I must have missed the press release reporting that Colgate voted in favor of scholarships at the meeting.

Could you provide a link for us, please? Otherwise we'll just have to keep relying on the common notion that Colgate voted in favor of the two year delay, just as everyone else.

[RichH2]

Thank God, the summer is gone .

UConn 35-17 Rams not quite there

UMASS 28 -14 Cross not bad anywhere but not good enuf

LU 28-7 Slow start with banged up OL but D will pull this one out

Bucknell 21-20 My upset special. Otherwise a really long season for Bison

Hoyas 28-14 Still fresh and a team they can beat

Gate 28-27 Tough pick given that Danes are good and Raiders tend to start slow

NDSU 35-14 Pards will be solid this season but ND too much too early

[carney2]

Made so by your president who screwed up the scholarship vote with his big mouth. Nice going .

Weiss speaks. Six gutless weasels fold up like a 6th grader's attempt at origami. Tell me again how all of this is one man's fault.

[colorless raider]

Again - I must have missed the press release reporting that Colgate voted in favor of scholarships at the meeting.

Could you provide a link for us, please? Otherwise we'll just have to keep relying on the common notion that Colgate voted in favor of the two year delay, just as everyone else.

Bogie: you are totally in the dark. Our president has supported scholarships in large meetings. Are there reporters there, "no" as there are no papers there. Your guy is a schmuck and you know it. Bourger knows it, you should.

[DC 'gater]

UConn 38, Fordham 10
UMass 35, Holy Cross 7
Monmouth 17, Lehigh 10
Duquesne 20, Bucknell 10
Georgetown 24, Davidson 13
Colgate 20, Albany 3
North Dakota St 30, Lafayette 10

[crusader11]

FORDHAM @ Connecticut I don't care how weak UConn may be this year. A team who advanced to a BCS Bowl game last year will not be losing to Fordham (or any other PL team for that matter).

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS First night game in Fitton history, the second class of the "Ring of Fame" is inducted, students are back on campus...the night will be electric and magic in the air. Hey, I can dream, right?

LEHIGH @ Monmouth This game will be much closer than people expect though.

Duquesne @ BUCKNELL You'd have to pay me to watch this one.

Davidson @ GEORGETOWN Hoyas are above .500, even though it may not remain this way for long.

Albany @ COLGATE Eachus will be on a mission this year. It wouldn't shock me if Albany won though.

LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State Love Lafayette for getting this game on the schedule, but they'll come up a bit short to NDSU.

[wemissELLERSON]

Where is Fordham compared to last season? Obviously the gap between any Big East school and Patriot League is enormous, but is this year's version of Fordham much improved?

[crusader11]

Where is Fordham compared to last season? Obviously the gap between any Big East school and Patriot League is enormous, but is this year's version of Fordham much improved?

Well, they don't really have a quarterback...

[LUHawker]

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS First night game in Fitton history, the second class of the "Ring of Fame" is inducted, students are back on campus...the night will be electric and magic in the air. Hey, I can dream, right?

Tough to take you seriously given that last comment. Your picks should be based on what you THINK the outcome will be, not what you'd LIKE the outcome to be. Root with your heart, but pick with your head.

[Franks Tanks]

Where is Fordham compared to last season? Obviously the gap between any Big East school and Patriot League is enormous, but is this year's version of Fordham much improved?

They weren't very good last year even by PL standards.

[Bogus Megapardus]

I don't yet have the Vegas lines on the PL games, but I'll resume posting them here (along with Ivy lines) this season once they are up (assuming that folks still find them amusing and/or informative).

As for my picks, I am envisioning a near-sweep over the PL in its initial games, unfortunately, with the exception of (gulp!) Lehigh. Colgate - Albany really is a toss-up, and the Hoyas' incredibly shrinking roster could well fold like a pair of threes in a faux-Indian casino. I had high hopes for Bucknell last season, but no more. Fordham, the Pards and the Shoulda-Beens are out-classed and out-scholarshipped. Lehigh over Monmouth by double digits, though.

[Sader87]

Tough to take you seriously given that last comment. Your picks should be based on what you THINK the outcome will be, not what you'd LIKE the outcome to be. Root with your heart, but pick with your head.

Spoken like a true engineer/techie....we at Holy Cross live by the credo: "Some men see things as they are and ask why? We dream things that never were and ask why not?"

[crusader11]

Your picks should be based on what you THINK the outcome will be, not what you'd LIKE the outcome to be. Root with your heart, but pick with your head.

Thanks much for the advice! Sticking with the pick though. You'd be foolish to think that the abstract and seemingly meaningless intangibles I mentioned will not factor into the game...

[wemissELLERSON]

They weren't very good last year even by PL standards.

I understand that, I was just curious if anyone who followed them or the PL more closely thought about their improvement...

[M Ruler]

UCONN: By a whole bunch, could get really ugly!!! 52-13

UMASS: Morris's last season 24-13

Lehigh: Monmouth is better than you think. 27-24

Duquesne: For the same reasons as everyone else

Georgetown: Man, I hope so!!

Albany: 17-13 Could be a homer pick but not in this case. UA will be very tough on D and Gate is one dimensional. Can you say 9 in the box?

North Dakota; Long way from home in a hostile environment

[Franks Tanks]

I understand that, I was just curious if anyone who followed them or the PL more closely thought about their improvement...

I would expect marginal improvement. They have a relatively athletic defense, but they don't have a QB. I expect them to have a very difficult scoring points against UCONN.

[Bogus Megapardus]

I understand that, I was just curious if anyone who followed them or the PL more closely thought about their improvement...

Fordham definitely has some newly-scholarshipped playmakers, for sure - especially on defense. But they haven't replaced John Skelton at QB (who is playing very well for the AZ Cardinals) nor his little brother TE Steve Skelton (John's favorite target, who now is with the Cardinals as well). With all the new scholarship talent, Fordham still plays Patriot/Ivy style football. They ought to think bigger, with all they've put into the decision to part ways with the PL. They're not quite ready to dominate, but I think they will be in 2-3 years.

I've wished for some time that Lafayette could schedule a game with Cal Poly. I'd definitely fly out to San Luis Obispo for that one - as I'm sure many others would.

[Bogus Megapardus]

We at Holy Cross live by the credo: "Some men see things as they are and ask why? We dream things that never were and ask why not?"

We at Lafayette, on the other hand, throw back a cold Yuengling and ask, "who cares?"

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Lehigh: Monmouth is better than you think. 27-24



Not sure what this means. MU was picked 6th in the NEC preseason poll and from what i gather no one is really expecting them to seriously compete for the title this year. If Lehigh really struggles with Monmouth for 4 quarters or loses i can't help but think it could be a long year. Lehigh after all has been pretty much a concensus Top 15 squad.

[wemissELLERSON]

Fordham definitely has some newly-scholarshipped playmakers, for sure - especially on defense. But they haven't replaced John Skelton at QB (who is playing very well for the AZ Cardinals) nor his little brother TE Steve Skelton (John's favorite target, who now is with the Cardinals as well). With all the new scholarship talent, Fordham still plays Patriot/Ivy style football. They ought to think bigger, with all they've put into the decision to part ways with the PL. They're not quite ready to dominate, but I think they will be in 2-3 years.

I've wished for some time that Lafayette could schedule a game with Cal Poly. I'd definitely fly out to San Luis Obispo for that one - as I'm sure many others would.

Not easy to fly right to Cal Poly, but yeah they just re-did the stadium and facilities recently and its a nice of a place as you would want to live. Small quiet college town mostly right on the Central California coast

[LUHawker]

Spoken like a true engineer/techie....we at Holy Cross live by the credo: "Some men see things as they are and ask why? We dream things that never were and ask why not?"

I am neither an engineer nor a techie. I think the HC credo is great and no reason for you not to ask, why not us? However, there was no reasoned explanation as to WHY one would pick HC over Umass, other than wishful thinking. Sounded more like voting for Hope and Change to me.

Do you Sader87 actually THINK that HC will win that game? Besides you living in 1983 with all the Big East comments, are you saying that HC wins this one? If yes, then those of us outside Worcester would love to get the inside scoop.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Not easy to fly right to Cal Poly, but yeah they just re-did the stadium and facilities recently and its a nice of a place as you would want to live. Small quiet college town mostly right on the Central California coast

Actually, I've been through there, driving up 101 to Salinas. Landing in Burbank (if you can) makes it a LOT easier. You guys really ought to play a few games against the northeastern engineering schools - Lafayette, Penn, Lehigh, Yale, Columbia, Bucknell, etc. We also have some of the nicest FCS stadia you've ever seen, all with 15,000 +/- capacity.

Our fans lean more toward the "golf-clap" variety than the rabble-rousers of the CAA and the SoCon, but our truly historic (yet completely updated and beautifully-maintained) facilities represent the quintessential college football experience.

Just envision a crisp, colorful fall afternoon in the Yale Bowl - or even at our place:

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9116/154lafayette4702010smal.jpg

I think you'd like it as much as we'd enjoy the beautiful California coastline.

[LUHawker]

Thanks much for the advice! Sticking with the pick though. You'd be foolish to think that the abstract and seemingly meaningless intangibles I mentioned will not factor into the game...

Your original quote: First night game in Fitton history, the second class of the "Ring of Fame" is inducted, students are back on campus...the night will be electric and magic in the air. Hey, I can dream, right?

So, just to make sure I have it right in my head, lights, an induction and students are the intangibles? Yes. Ok, got it. UMass plays under lights regularly, so probably not a big advantage. Will anyone on the UMass team or HC team be humbled or motivated by the induction? Possibly, but not likely. And students in the stands - now that should really put HC over the top since Umass never has students in the stands.

Look, I think it will be a great football night for HC and I intend to watch the game on the big screen, but none of those intangibles are going to cut it. Now, if HC rolls out a Dom Randolph surprise QB type, then I could buy into your thesis.

At the end of the day, I really do hope HC beats the pants off of UMass; I just don't think this is likely.

[crusader11]

I really think you are looking into one of my "PL Pick 'em" picks a bit too far. Isn't this all for fun? Guess not...

[breezy]

I agree it is not likely. It was not likely that HC would defeat Army in the opening game of the 2002 [?] season either, but HC won due to several Army turnovers and a big kickoff return by Ari Confesor.

On the other hand, I think many posters here are underestimating the HC team this year. I think the game will be closer than many here believe, and with some favorable bounces and opportune takeaways, an HC victory is a possibility.

[Neighbor2]

I see it like this . . .

Uconn 31 Fordham 10
Umass 28 Holy Cross 17
Lehigh 37 Monmouth 17
Duquesne 21 Bucknell 20
Gtown 23 Davidson 10
Colgate 24 Albany 21
ND State 41 Lafayette 14

[Sader87]

I really think you are looking into one of my "PL Pick 'em" picks a bit too far. Isn't this all for fun? Guess not...

Have you forgotten? In the immortal words of one of our former Presidents at HC: "We are not in the entertainment business."

[Bogus Megapardus]

Have you forgotten? In the immortal words of one of our former Presidents at HC: "We are not in the entertainment business."

I think that Father Brooks' sentiments remain correct, Sader87. If, like some other colleges, Holy Cross truly were in the entertainment business, you'd know it. It's in the education business, not the entertainment business. The historically high quality of athletic entertainment that Holy Cross provides to its fans is a direct result of the quality of its ongoing academic initiatives, not the other way around.

You went to Holy Cross for its education - you had choices. Educational success invariably begets athletic prowess at Holy Cross. Would you really want it to be the other way around? Does Holy Cross really want to sift though its athletic roster as an afterthought and pray to Mount St. James that a few there might eventually bring a semblance of scholastic notoriety to Worcester?

Father Brooks' oft-quoted sentiments might well have been phrased in inartfully (and subsequently been badly misconstrued), but the essence of his vision remains intact.

[Sader87]

The two (education and entertainment) are not mutually exclusive. See: Boston College, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Villanova et. al.

[LUHawker]

I really think you are looking into one of my "PL Pick 'em" picks a bit too far. Isn't this all for fun? Guess not...

I thought bantering with you was fun!

[RichH2]

We Lehigh fans spent many a season filled with dreams and lots of close losses. I will not begrudge that dream. Heck, there were many weeks made my picks based on them. I'll root for all of us to win, yup even Pards, HC unfortunately must hope UMASS looking past them , otherwise way too much talent .

Fordham has brought in 2 full classes now. Would not be surprised if frosh recruit at qb very soon. Talent level surely higher. D ahtletic but unless fixed from last yr, totally disorganized. Like watching a chinese fire drill. My surprise really has been the mediocre classes for full schollies.

[Ivytalk]

UConn
UMass
Lehigh
Georgetown
Colgate
Bucknell (what the heck!)
NDSU

[RichH2]

Thanks Ivytalk, I thought I might be the only one going for the Bison. Too bad we cant get odds on that one. Also glad we are not playing you this year. Figure we'll have a better shot at beating Yale

[Bogus Megapardus]

The two (education and entertainment) are not mutually exclusive. See: Boston College, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Villanova et. al.

Why not pretend that Fr. Brook's infamous quote simply was a regrettable overgeneralization? To the extent that Holy Cross fills two seats at a women's pre-season volleyball scrimmage, it's in the entertainment business. You know that as well as I do.

The Red Sox principally are in the entertainment business, and secondarily they're in the marketing, employment and charitable giving business. Holy Cross, Boston College and Harvard principally are in the education business. Secondarily, they're in the civic arts, publishing and sports entertainment business.

You might even say that Holy Cross mainly is in the business of ecumenical proselytization, I don't know. But sports entertainment certainly is a side job, and it always has been.

You're beating a dead Crusader, '87.

[carney2]

Fordham is on the rise. By my count, three people have stated that the Rams don't have a QB. Perhaps. Consider though that they have Peter Maetzold, a freshman from Texas who the Houston Chronicle called the best passer in south Texas last year. One of the things that made John Skelton so good was that he was a four year starter. I'm betting that we are looking at that scenario again in the Bronx.

[Sader87]

The Patriot League plays football against one another? Do they give scholarships? Are the games on radio???

[carney2]

The Patriot League plays football against one another? Do they give scholarships? Are the games on radio???

Yes.

One member does.

Radio - and TV - where I live.

[Pard4Life]

Lafayette is not on the radio. The signal gets lost as soon as you reach 78 from 22 in Phillipsburg. Have they tried using coat hangers?

[Franks Tanks]

Lafayette is not on the radio. The signal gets lost as soon as you reach 78 from 22 in Phillipsburg. Have they tried using coat hangers?

Unfortunantly we are not on the radio. The venerable Dick Hammer is only heard over the campus radio station. I believe the station that used to carry the games was sold, and the new owners do not want the games. It is a shame we can't find a radio home at this time.

We do have incredible TV coverage however, and about half of our games were on ESPN3 last year.

[Pard4Life]

Yet Lehigh hogs two radio stations. Of course.

[Franks Tanks]

Yet Lehigh hogs two radio stations. Of course.

Both stations are actually the same- ESPN radio of the Lehigh Valley. Both stations have the exact same programming on at all times. I believe one signal originates out of Easton, and I assume the other provides better coverage to the western edge of the valley.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Fordham is on the rise. By my count, three people have stated that the Rams don't have a QB. Perhaps. Consider though that they have Peter Maetzold, a freshman from Texas who the Houston Chronicle called the best passer in south Texas last year. One of the things that made John Skelton so good was that he was a four year starter. I'm betting that we are looking at that scenario again in the Bronx.

I just finished my analysis of Fordham, and boy is carney right:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2011/08/know-your-2011-opponents-fordham.html

Calling the Fordham QB situation as "they don't have a QB" couldn't be further from the truth. They have Higgins, their starter for the last four games of 2010 (where they won three of four games, lest we forget), and by many accounts a pair of stud quarterbacks in Murphy and Maetzold competing for the starting position. I think every other school in the PL would love to have the Rams' "problem" at QB.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Both stations are actually the same- ESPN radio of the Lehigh Valley. Both stations have the exact same programming on at all times. I believe one signal originates out of Easton, and I assume the other provides better coverage to the western edge of the valley.

Bethlehem Jane: "Give up your Leopards! Lehigh will forever prevail! Give up your spots!" xlolx

[DFW HOYA]

Radio stations by team:

Bucknell: WEGH-FM (107.3)
Colgate: WKXZ-FM (93.9)
Georgetown: None
Holy Cross: WTAG-AM (580)
Lafayette: WJRH-FM, campus station (104.9)
Lehigh: WEEX-AM (1230)

[carney2]

boy is carney right

No comment. I just like to see those words.

[carney2]

I just finished my analysis of Fordham, and boy is carney right:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2011/08/know-your-2011-opponents-fordham.html

Calling the Fordham QB situation as "they don't have a QB" couldn't be further from the truth. They have Higgins, their starter for the last four games of 2010 (where they won three of four games, lest we forget), and by many accounts a pair of stud quarterbacks in Murphy and Maetzold competing for the starting position. I think every other school in the PL would love to have the Rams' "problem" at QB.

Sorry, LFN, but it is really a lot of aggravation to post a comment to your blog so I'll respond here.

From Lafayette's Frank Tavani, when asked what he most liked and disliked about the decision to delay the vote on football scholarships:

"What I dislike the most is that Fordham is getting away from us. By the time a decision is made they will have four full scholarship recruiting classes on the field."

I agree. I think that Fordham is about one year away from being darn near unbeatable by mere Patriot League teams.

[ngineer]

Yet Lehigh hogs two radio stations. Of course.

Not so. It's the same station but with two frequencies: 1470 AM and 1320 AM. 1320 is stronger at the western end of the Lehigh Valley, 1470 the eastern end and western NJ. Yes, I miss Dick Hammer. Would listen to him on 1400 AM WEST on my way home from Goodman as LC's games usually started 1/2 hour later. The station was sold and they changed their entire programing--no sports. If the Leopards had a market, I'm sure there'd be a station interested. WGPA Bethlehem covers Moravian College.

[ngineer]

Sorry, LFN, but it is really a lot of aggravation to post a comment to your blog so I'll respond here.

From Lafayette's Frank Tavani, when asked what he most liked and disliked about the decision to delay the vote on football scholarships:

"What I dislike the most is that Fordham is getting away from us. By the time a decision is made they will have four full scholarship recruiting classes on the field."

I agree. I think that Fordham is about one year away from being darn near unbeatable by mere Patriot League teams.

No question, we'll be in a similar situation to Holy Cross in the late 1980's early 90's when they still had their scholarship players. The brainiacs need to get off the pot (and I don't mean weed).

[colorless raider]

/they will just call another meeting and hem and haw. Meanwhile a college president in the PL are very well paid now(thanks to outrageous tuition increased over the last 15 years). Its really disgusting.

[Franks Tanks]

Not so. It's the same station but with two frequencies: 1470 AM and 1320 AM. 1320 is stronger at the western end of the Lehigh Valley, 1470 the eastern end and western NJ. Yes, I miss Dick Hammer. Would listen to him on 1400 AM WEST on my way home from Goodman as LC's games usually started 1/2 hour later. The station was sold and they changed their entire programing--no sports. If the Leopards had a market, I'm sure there'd be a station interested. WGPA Bethlehem covers Moravian College.

Since the Leopards attendance has been better than Lehigh for I believe the last 3 years (even in 09 when the game wasn't at home) we have the market for AM radio. I don't know why the Moravian games are on the radio.

[carney2]

Since the Leopards attendance has been better than Lehigh for I believe the last 3 years (even in 09 when the game wasn't at home) we have the market for AM radio. I don't know why the Moravian games are on the radio.

Even the old radio coverage was crap. I'm less than 20 miles away as the crow flies and could rarely get audible reception.

[RichH2]

Fordham's main issue is not at qb, altho what they have there now is not that good. The texas kid will take the spot IMHO before the season is out. Rams have not yet been very successful recruiting up. Each of their last 2 classes has a couple of recruits only to be gotten by schollie but much of their class are the same kids we all recruit. Neither of those classes was near the best of PL. If Tx kid pans out team should improve record . Very tough schedule OOC will hurt them this yr but should help improve their recruiting. No matter how you sceme it 4 yrs of schollie players will make them a formidable squad even with their current staff

[sikolec]

UConn 49, Fordham 14
UMass 24, Holy Cross 10
Lehigh 31, Monmouth 10
Duquesne 20, Bucknell 14
Davidson 14, Georgetown 10
Colgate 28, Albany 17
North Dakota St 24, Lafayette 14

[Bogus Megapardus]

Fordham -40 at Connecticut is up.

No line yet on UMass at Holy Cross

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Fordham -40 at Connecticut is up.

No line yet on UMass ay Holy Cross

Saw that. That line seems insanely high unless i'm missing something with Uconn. Coach P will do a good job in Storrs but things could get ugly this year. Fordham is by no means a great FCS team but they should have enough talent/athletes to save face against a bad FBS squad.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Saw that. That line seems insanely high unless i'm missing something with Uconn. Coach P will do a good job in Storrs but things could get ugly this year. Fordham is by no means a great FCS team but they should have enough talent/athletes to save face against a bad FBS squad.

Yeah, I'd take Fordham and the points here.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Fordham -40 at Connecticut is up.

No line yet on UMass ay Holy Cross

Why, why, why am I not a bettin' man?!?!?! xlolx

Seriously, this line is way out of whack.

[jayhawkdaddy]

UCONN
UMASS
LEHIGH
BUCKNELL
DAVIDSON
COLGATE
ND STATE

[van]

UCONN - might be closer than some think

UMASS - think this could be very competitive

LEHIGH - can our O get it going, can't see the mouth putting much up against our D

BUCKNELL - I think the buffs may be better than last year

G'TOWN - I know they will be better than last year

COLGATE - ground control to Major Eachus

ND STATE - Pards are a mess, what else is new

[Go...gate]

Connecticut 44, Fordham 16

Massachusetts 27, Holy Cross 7

Lehigh 31, Monmouth 14

Duquesne 27, Bucknell 13

Georgetown 16, Davidson 14

Colgate 24, Albany 22

North Dakota St 33, Lafayette 17

[PAllen]

FORDHAM @ Connecticut
Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS
LEHIGH @ Monmouth
Duquesne @ BUCKNELL
Davidson @ GEORGETOWN
Albany @ COLGATE
LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State

[Pard4Life]

The most ridiculous line I can remember was USC over Stanford +60, and I think that was the game Stanford pulled the upset. College football lines for the most part are way off base.

[Fordhamanhattan]

Let's not forget the 50,000 watt station in the Bronx that has nurtured Vince Scully, Mike Breen, Bob Papa, Tony Reali, Charlie Slowes et al which broadcasts all Ram games with a reach far beyond any other college station; WFUV:o

[RichH2]

PAllen,
Great to have you back.

[carney2]

By my count we have exactly one post so far to this thread from a Fordham supporter - and that post has nothing to do with the subject matter. Fr. McShane and Coach Masella may still have one foot inside the Patriot League door, but the rest of the Rams community does not appear to have let the door hit them in the backside on the way out.

[danefan]

Anybody know who Biddle plans to start at QB against Albany? You can bet we will have 8+ in the box. I think Colgate will need to throw to win.

[ngineer]

Anybody know who Biddle plans to start at QB against Albany? You can bet we will have 8+ in the box. I think Colgate will need to throw to win.

Without a decent QB, they'll be facing and 8 front all year. I would suspect their starter will be named today or tomorrow.

[ngineer]

Weather forecast for the coming week looks great. Sunny and low 80's so teams should have plenty of time to prep for their openers. Any of you 'pards attending the ND State game? I would think that would be great time. I went with the team last year out to Drake and it was very worthwhile. Very interesting getting to meet fans from other conferences, on their turf, that we don't meet, usually.

[colorless raider]

Anybody know who Biddle plans to start at QB against Albany? You can bet we will have 8+ in the box. I think Colgate will need to throw to win.

probably Nate at qb.

[TheValleyRaider]

Anybody know who Biddle plans to start at QB against Albany? You can bet we will have 8+ in the box. I think Colgate will need to throw to win.


Without a decent QB, they'll be facing and 8 front all year. I would suspect their starter will be named today or tomorrow.

xlolx xlolx Biddle will have a starter listed in the Game Notes out on Tuesday, but you won't know for sure who's starting until they take the field on Saturday. Close to the vest, like always

The limited info I've had suggests that Gavin McCarney (rFr) has been getting most of the 1st team snaps in camp, but it wouldn't surprise me if the more experienced Rizzo starts. We'll see at around 5:30 on Satuday, I guess

[danefan]

probably Nate at qb.


Not a bad idea. If you are going to run 90% of the time and everyone in the stadium knows it, why not put an extra blocker in and direct snap?

[carney2]

The weather in Fargo is not an issue with the game being played in a dome, but what the hey...

Partly cloudy with a high of 74 and a 10% chance of precipitation.

[Bogus Megapardus]

The weather in Fargo is not an issue with the game being played in a dome, but what the hey...

Partly cloudy with a high of 74 and a 10% chance of precipitation.

I've heard that the current forecast for Fargo is loud, with a 20% chance of bedlam (should the Pards inexplicably gain a lead). Vertical compressive impact conditions are projected to be 20 MPa (megapascals) or better. Linear surface friction coefficients for the antique AstroTurf surface currently are under secret study by Lafayette engineering students (who have been dispatched to Fargo under faux bovine cover) and will be reported in a timely fashion prior to the game.

[carney2]

I've heard that the current forecast for Fargo is loud, with a 20% chance of bedlam (should the Pards inexplicably gain a lead). Vertical compressive impact conditions are projected to be 20 MPa (megapascals) or better. Linear surface friction coefficients for the antique AstroTurf surface currently are under secret study by Lafayette engineering students (who have been dispatched to Fargo under faux bovine cover) and will be reported in a timely fashion prior to the game.

Glad I could be Bud Abbott to your Lou Costello.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Glad I could be Bud Abbott to your Lou Costello.

Initial reports from the Lafayette engineering crew are that they had to return their rented jackhammer to the 17th Avenue Home Depot because preliminary borings in the FargoDome subsurface shattered the tungsten carbide spade bit. No word yet on actual human test trials.

More to follow . . .

[TheValleyRaider]

The season is here come Thursday night xhurrayx xhurrayx xhurrayx

Fordham at Connecticut Connecticut Going in the favor of the Rams is that they continue to ramp up scholarships, improving their athlete pool, and the Huskies are in a state of flux with graduated players and a new coaching staff. Of course, UConn still has the extra scholarships, and Coach P isn't likely to do anything other than run-run-run again, which if last year's game against Colgate is any indication, the Rams may be in trouble. Huskies win, but Fordham gets a good experience moving forward

Massachusetts at Holy Cross Massachusetts This one was tough, and I very nearly picked the Cross. Night game, national TV, opening day, UMass isn't looking like a CAA contender this year (spoiler, maybe), I could easily see the Crusaders keeping this one interesting down to the wire. Minutemen pull it out in the end, but I think HC will be able to make an early statement for the rest of the League that they are in this title race

Lehigh at Monmouth Lehigh Opening day always brings a few surprises, and there's nothing easy about going on the road to start the season. That being said, Lehigh has ambitions of a playoff run, while Monmouth looks like a middle tier team in the NEC. Unless the NEC has far surpassed the PL (which it hasn't), then a top team from one league should be able to beat a middle-tier team from the other

Duquesne at Bucknell Bucknell Truth is, I should know better. Bucknell hasn't looked threatening for several years, and Duquesne looks like an above average team for the NEC. But, their games have been close the last couple of years, and with a new season comes new hope. I'll go homer for the PL this time, Bison win on their home turf to get some good feelings going

Davidson at Georgetown Georgetown Fresh off their first multi-win PL campaign since 2005, the Hoyas don't strike this observer as a team hoping to avoid the big 0 in the win column. Coach Kelly has some talent coming back, and while I won't venture a guess that the Hoyas will challenge for the League crown, I do see them taking care of business at home against the Wildcats

Albany at Colgate Colgate This is going to be a close one. From the Raider perspective, much depends on the abilities of whomever is taking the snaps. Can they recreate the magic of Sullivan and Eachus (or at least produce a reasonable facsimile thereof), as well as maintain enough of a passing game to keep the Danes from stuffing 8 in the box? There is a lot of optimism in Hamilton this year, much of it surrounding Nate Eachus. A typical poor Colgate start (especially against a good Albany team) wouldn't hurt the season in the long run, but it's never bad to get off to a strong start

Lafayette at North Dakota State North Dakota State Kudos to the Leopards for scheduling a very challenging road game. It might not go very well, though visions of Lehigh's upset of NDSU conference-mate UNI on the road last year prevent me from fulling buying on a rout. Still, NDSU is a strong team, perhaps better than last year, while the Leopards don't appear to be in the class of their rival's 2010 edition

[alvinkayak6]

Fordham at Connecticut Connecticut Going in the favor of the Rams is that they continue to ramp up scholarships, improving their athlete pool, and the Huskies are in a state of flux with graduated players and a new coaching staff. Of course, UConn still has the extra scholarships, and Coach P isn't likely to do anything other than run-run-run again, which if last year's game against Colgate is any indication, the Rams may be in trouble. Huskies win, but Fordham gets a good experience moving forward

Massachusetts at Holy Cross Massachusetts This one was tough, and I very nearly picked the Cross. Night game, national TV, opening day, UMass isn't looking like a CAA contender this year (spoiler, maybe), I could easily see the Crusaders keeping this one interesting down to the wire. Minutemen pull it out in the end, but I think HC will be able to make an early statement for the rest of the League that they are in this title race

Lehigh at Monmouth Lehigh Opening day always brings a few surprises, and there's nothing easy about going on the road to start the season. That being said, Lehigh has ambitions of a playoff run, while Monmouth looks like a middle tier team in the NEC. Unless the NEC has far surpassed the PL (which it hasn't), then a top team from one league should be able to beat a middle-tier team from the other

Duquesne at Bucknell Bucknell Truth is, I should know better. Bucknell hasn't looked threatening for several years, and Duquesne looks like an above average team for the NEC. But, their games have been close the last couple of years, and with a new season comes new hope. I'll go homer for the PL this time, Bison win on their home turf to get some good feelings going

Davidson at Georgetown Georgetown Fresh off their first multi-win PL campaign since 2005, the Hoyas don't strike this observer as a team hoping to avoid the big 0 in the win column. Coach Kelly has some talent coming back, and while I won't venture a guess that the Hoyas will challenge for the League crown, I do see them taking care of business at home against the Wildcats

Albany at Colgate Colgate This is going to be a close one. From the Raider perspective, much depends on the abilities of whomever is taking the snaps. Can they recreate the magic of Sullivan and Eachus (or at least produce a reasonable facsimile thereof), as well as maintain enough of a passing game to keep the Danes from stuffing 8 in the box? There is a lot of optimism in Hamilton this year, much of it surrounding Nate Eachus. A typical poor Colgate start (especially against a good Albany team) wouldn't hurt the season in the long run, but it's never bad to get off to a strong start

Lafayette at North Dakota State North Dakota State Kudos to the Leopards for scheduling a very challenging road game. It might not go very well, though visions of Lehigh's upset of NDSU conference-mate UNI on the road last year prevent me from fulling buying on a rout. Still, NDSU is a strong team, perhaps better than last year, while the Leopards don't appear to be in the class of their rival's 2010 edition

I agree with on every pick and your reasoning except for Duquesne. I like the Dukes in a somewhat low scoring game. 24-21 Dukes.

[TheValleyRaider]

I agree with on every pick and your reasoning except for Duquesne. I like the Dukes in a somewhat low scoring game. 24-21 Dukes.

I'll admit to being a PL homer for the Bison. It's too early in the season to pick on them, and chances are it'll happen plenty this year

[alvinkayak6]

I'll admit to being a PL homer for the Bison. It's too early in the season to pick on them, and chances are it'll happen plenty this year

Haha good to know. Well, Lehigh really did wonders for the conference by beating a MVFC power. Let's see if Colgate or Georgetown can knock off the M. hawks this yr

[alvinkayak6]

Fordham is on the rise. By my count, three people have stated that the Rams don't have a QB. Perhaps. Consider though that they have Peter Maetzold, a freshman from Texas who the Houston Chronicle called the best passer in south Texas last year. One of the things that made John Skelton so good was that he was a four year starter. I'm betting that we are looking at that scenario again in the Bronx.

Yeah, Fordham is doing new facilities, too. They're on the up and up.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Fordham is doing new facilities

They are? I mean, besides the new locker facilities?

[alvinkayak6]

Yeah, well, I mean...those are facilities, right?xcoffeex

[carney2]

Yeah, well, I mean...those are facilities, right?xcoffeex

But still a one sided high school field, right?

[Pard4Life]

UConn 42, Fordham 14... one team has scholarships, the other has more and better scholarship players.
UMass 28, Holy Cross 17... HC keeps this close, but UMass pulls it out at the end.
Lehigh 24, Monmouth 14... much closer than everyone thinks it will be.
Duquesne 28, Bucknell 24... Bucknell will be better, but not today.
Georgetown 21, Davidson 10... Hoyas get off to a good start again.
Albany 27, Colgate 14... Colgate always starts slow, and the QB question needs to be answered.
North Dakota State 31, Lafayette 21... it will be closer than everyone thinks. I usually have a feel for Lafayette games, but I have none here. We have never played such a powerful team to start the season in years, let alone coming off a season that was an utter disaster. Our attitude and grit will carry us for awhile in this game as NDSU might be caught off guard at first by our play and talent. However, the Bison offense looks much too powerful for our untested, reconstructed defense.

[Pard4Life]

Well... Columbia had decided to take their OOC games to the NEC... instead of us, they are playing Sacred Heart, Marist, and Monmouth in 2012-2014. They also have Albany. Only PL games are Fordham and Lehigh once. The other Ivys are getting in games against Pioneer teams... Dartmouth against Butler, Penn against Jacksonville, (though W&M in 2012), San Diego. Here are the future Ivy schedules, page 3...

http://static.psbin.com/n/g/kz3n2dwo6o70x2/11fbguide-Intro.pdf

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Noone has brought this up, but I thought I'd broach the subject.

Suppose... gasp... Lafayette wins.

What would happen?

Would the "mystique" of the Missouri Valley be punctured for good?

Would Mr. Chicken wear his "East Coast Bias" coat to the Tub the following week?

Would MplsBison's head explode?

Would the dairy industry ever recover?

Would Lehigh fans even (gasp) root for "that school in Easton", even for a week?

[Pard4Life]

Noone has brought this up, but I thought I'd broach the subject.

Suppose... gasp... Lafayette wins.

What would happen?

Would the "mystique" of the Missouri Valley be punctured for good?

Would Mr. Chicken wear his "East Coast Bias" coat to the Tub the following week?

Would MplsBison's head explode?

Would the dairy industry ever recover?

Would Lehigh fans even (gasp) root for "that school in Easton", even for a week?

You are very cruel and I look forward to hurling chicken hawk eggs at the press box on November 19.

[DFW HOYA]

Yes, Lafayette is capable of playing with ND State, but the worst case scenario is that it gets beaten up to the point where it is staring at 0-4 for the home opener.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

I'd like to see Lafayette do well against MVFC and i believe they will. It's my belief that outside of the CAA and a couple teams from the SoCon and Big Sky the PL is on par with everyone else.

Pardlife your hatred for Lehigh is well known but i think you're selling them and the league short. This is the best the league has been since 2005 imo. If you think Lafayette, a team that was picked 4th in the PL, can go into Fargo and battle the Bison for 4 quarters that should tell you something. Lehigh deserves to be in the preseason Top 25 and i believe Colgate will ultimately be there as well. Lafayette and HC could/should be Top 40 teams this year.

[DFW HOYA]

Pardlife your hatred for Lehigh is well known but i think you're selling them and the league short. This is the best the league has been since 2005 imo. If you think Lafayette, a team that was picked 4th in the PL, can go into Fargo and battle the Bison for 4 quarters that should tell you something. Lehigh deserves to be in the preseason Top 25 and i believe Colgate will ultimately be there as well. Lafayette and HC could/should be Top 40 teams this year.

Same four teams. Any hope for the other two, or is an underclass taking root in the PL?

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Same four teams. Any hope for the other two, or is an underclass taking root in the PL?

I've said all spring that i think Georgetown will take another step. Their defense was very solid last year and return just about everyone. The D alone should allow the Hoyas to be in most games. The problem lies within the offense.

Why do you believe it's those same four teams? The answer is pretty simple, it's not a conspiracy.

[Pard4Life]

I'd like to see Lafayette do well against MVFC and i believe they will. It's my belief that outside of the CAA and a couple teams from the SoCon and Big Sky the PL is on par with everyone else.

Pardlife your hatred for Lehigh is well known but i think you're selling them and the league short. This is the best the league has been since 2005 imo. If you think Lafayette, a team that was picked 4th in the PL, can go into Fargo and battle the Bison for 4 quarters that should tell you something. Lehigh deserves to be in the preseason Top 25 and i believe Colgate will ultimately be there as well. Lafayette and HC could/should be Top 40 teams this year.

Better than 2009? Three of our teams were ranked in the final top 25, with two high-profile QBs, one being an NFL draft pick. Lehigh is the only clear-cut "good" team in the PL right now. Colgate has too many questions, along with HC and the Pards. In 2009, we knew that the Pards, HC, and Colgate were going to win some games. HC and Lafayette were a few plays away from meeting as undefeated teams.

I have no doubt that we will battle NDSU, but I think we will come up short in the end due to size, speed.

Don't look now, but I think the PL might have a winning mark vs. the MVC.

[Pard4Life]

I've said all spring that i think Georgetown will take another step. Their defense was very solid last year and return just about everyone. The D alone should allow the Hoyas to be in most games. The problem lies within the offense.

Why do you believe it's those same four teams? The answer is pretty simple, it's not a conspiracy.

Georgetown has yet to beat Colgate and Lehigh... we are still waiting for that step. It would make everyone else happy for a change...

[Sader87]

I've said all spring that i think Georgetown will take another step. Their defense was very solid last year and return just about everyone. The D alone should allow the Hoyas to be in most games. The problem lies within the offense.

Why do you believe it's those same four teams? The answer is pretty simple, it's not a conspiracy.

I'm going with the conspiracy theory....

[Pard4Life]

I'm going with the conspiracy theory....


It is a conspiracy... Colgate did not play Georgetown in 2008 and the PL did not force them to make-up the game, yet Colgate is till crowned "champion." Meanwhile, Georgetown is 0-19 against Colgate and Lehigh all-time in PL play.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Better than 2009? Three of our teams were ranked in the final top 25, with two high-profile QBs, one being an NFL draft pick. Lehigh is the only clear-cut "good" team in the PL right now. Colgate has too many questions, along with HC and the Pards. In 2009, we knew that the Pards, HC, and Colgate were going to win some games. HC and Lafayette were a few plays away from meeting as undefeated teams.

I have no doubt that we will battle NDSU, but I think we will come up short in the end due to size, speed.

Don't look now, but I think the PL might have a winning mark vs. the MVC.

2005 the league was better. Lehigh and Lafayette were darn good. I know Colgate got the bid and Lehigh got Hurt but the Hawks were quite a bit better than the Raiders. They clobbered them Hamilton. Lehigh's 3 losses were by 1 to Delaware in OT on a missed XP, the monsoon against HC and LC.

Lafayette lost to App State in very close game in Boone beat Richmond and Lehigh. They also had an easy win over HC. The 'Pards were legit.

[danefan]

Albany vs Colgate Game Notes up
http://www.ualbanysports.com/attachments1/112227.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=15800

Gavin McCarney named QB.

Never attempted a collegiate pass. xcoffeex

10 in the box.

[colorless raider]

It is a conspiracy... Colgate did not play Georgetown in 2008 and the PL did not force them to make-up the game, yet Colgate is till crowned "champion." Meanwhile, Georgetown is 0-19 against Colgate and Lehigh all-time in PL play.

Hey, they wimped out with the flu.

[Pard4Life]

Hey, they wimped out with the flu.

I'm sure you didn't mind... free bye-week.

[Sam]

Funny but I guess you have a point make him throw the ball I am interested to see what happens. Oh if I rember correctly Cornell played 10 in the box last year and Eachus ran for over 200 yards. Good luck and time to see if the rookie can cut the pressure?

Gavin McCarney named QB.

Never attempted a collegiate pass.
:D

[Franks Tanks]

What is the over/under for total passes in the Albany/Colgate game? 25?

[Pard4Life]

His name is carney? Oh boy... carney from Lafayette and carney from Colgate... bad enough Lafayette is haunted by its own carney; now we need a Colgate edition?

[UAalum72]

Oh if I rember correctly Cornell played 10 in the box last year and Eachus ran for over 200 yards
Who didn't? Cornell gave up 246 ypg rushing last year, including 325 to Wagner.

[carney2]

Same four teams. Any hope for the other two, or is an underclass taking root in the PL?

Ah yes, "the other two."

Your Hoyas, DFW, finally appear to be on the move. Was last year a break out season or just an unexplained blip on the radar screen? Frankly, I think that 2011 will be a step backwards, but the 2011 recruiting class provides some hope for succeeding years. All is now in the hands of Coach Kelly and I'm not sure that is good news.

As for the Buffalo of Buffalo, PA, I take issue with my old friend P4L because I see no good news here. It may be a bit garish, but the Patriot League will have an orange and blue doormat into the foreseeable future.

Cutting to the chase however, there is no obvious reason to deal either one of these programs into a "top 4" game in 2011.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/welcoming-monks-and-wild-horses-in-north-dakota/?partner=rss&emc=rss

We have found MplsBison... I repeat... we have FOUND MplsBison.


As it turned out, no one was hanging out in the gas station, except the owner, Rick Olson, who is also the mayor. We sat at a card table inside the station, enjoying the air-conditioning on a hot day. A voluble fellow (maybe you’d be, too, if you lived there), he explained the the town was flush even though its property taxes amounted to less than $2,000 a year — “Not even enough to pay the electric bill,” he said — because it sells water to the oil companies that are exploring much of western North Dakota these days. Right on cue, two huge tankers rolled past the station, full, on their way out of town.

Mr. Olson had grown up in Sentinel Butte. He remembered when it was a bigger town — more than 200 inhabitants back in the 1960s, he said — and he was hoping it would grow to be about that size again. The population is 55, at last count, down from 94 in 2000.

Suddenly, he went on a wild tangent - muttering about Leopards, full rides, how offering financial aid was discrimination, and the merits of artifical turf. I got out of there faster than a Pacific Northwester out of a Krispy Kreme store.

[alvinkayak6]

Georgetown is #3 or #4 in PL. Lehigh & Colgate battle for #1. Rest are spoilers.

[Fordham]

Thursday, September 1st
FORDHAM @ Connecticut - shocker but I'm going with the home team.

Massachusetts @ HOLY CROSS - tough to pick HC here but I hope the 1st time lights and home field advantage win out. Hope aside, I'm expecting a Minuteman win.

Saturday, September 3rd
LEHIGH @ Monmouth - they'd better win

Duquesne @ BUCKNELL - This one has the potential to get ugly imo, as I expect Duquesne to be pretty good. Is that OSU transfer LBer able to start? I assume so. He's going to be a terror. A slow start by Bucknell could really hurt their confidence heading into these first few games.

Davidson @ GEORGETOWN - let's go Hoyas!

Albany @ COLGATE - Colgate typically starts slow but then is always in the mix for the title. Plus, I rarely pick against Albany.

LAFAYETTE @ North Dakota State - not too hopeful on this one.

[jimbo65]

UCONN over FU 42-17

UMASS over HC 49-28

LEHIGH over MONMOUTH 28-14

DUQUENSE over BUCKNELL 21-20

GTOWN over DAVIDSON 17-10

COLGATE over ALBANY 28-27

NDSU over LAFAYETTE 45-14

[PAllen]

Thanks Rich. New job, new house, new kid, all kind of pulled me away. Been semi lurking when I could. We'll see how much time I get this season. Heck, I might even get to catch a game in person.

[Sam]

True! We are all interested to see how this game goes. QB needs to prove he can hang with the big boys...
GO GATE!!!!!!!

[carney2]

Georgetown is #3 or #4 in PL.

That would be a surprise to most.

[crusader11]

Georgetown is #3 or #4 in PL. Lehigh & Colgate battle for #1. Rest are spoilers.

I'll go on record saying that Georgetown will have a better PL record than Bucknell, but that's it. Hoyas #6 and Bison #7.

[RichH2]

Thanks Rich. New job, new house, new kid, all kind of pulled me away. Been semi lurking when I could. We'll see how much time I get this season. Heck, I might even get to catch a game in person.

Congratulations on all. You 're young enuf to skip a few months sleep. You have 3 of the top 5 traumatic life events ( Reader's Digest). Season should provide some solace.

[Bogus Megapardus]

New line is up -

UMass (-13) at Holy Cross

[thewholebit]

There are two teams on this list that are, in my opinion, fighting for their football lives this season - Bucknell and Davidson. Failure this year for these two teams may very well lead to the end. So, I am picking both to win this week, and Davidson by a large margin.

[Bogus Megapardus]

There are two teams on this list that are, in my opinion, fighting for their football lives this season - Bucknell and Davidson. Failure this year for these two teams may very well lead to the end. So, I am picking both to win this week, and Davidson by a large margin.

I don't know about Davidson, but Bucknell football is staying put.

[thewholebit]

I don't know about Davidson, but Bucknell football is staying put.




Given the level of support described on this forum, how long can they go on? I actually went to a Davidson game last year - the crowd, all things considered, wasn't that bad. Believe me, I hope you're right, but from an outsider's perspective, I'm left wondering.

[DFW HOYA]

There are two teams on this list that are, in my opinion, fighting for their football lives this season - Bucknell and Davidson. Failure this year for these two teams may very well lead to the end. So, I am picking both to win this week, and Davidson by a large margin.

2010 attendance for these schools were pretty good despite going winless at home for both:

Bucknell 3,793
Davidson 3,608

By contrast, Fordham averaged just 3,772 per game and the end isn't near for them either.

[Franks Tanks]

Given the level of support described on this forum, how long can they go on? I actually went to a Davidson game last year - the crowd, all things considered, wasn't that bad. Believe me, I hope you're right, but from an outsider's perspective, I'm left wondering.

If Davidson wanted to drop football they could've easily done it years ago when they left the Patriot League (then Colonial). They seem very happy in the Pioneer, and have a new local rival in Campbell.

Bucknell is not going anywhere.

[Sader87]

3,000+ attendence is "pretty good"...ugh, all you really have to say about the PL.

Tropical Storm Irene 1 Fordham/UConn 0.....an act of God vis a vis the scholarship question?

Duquense 17 Bucknell 13......the only people that care are members of the Rooney family.

Lehigh 31 Monmouth 21.....is Monmouth a 4 year school?

Colgate 30 Albany 20....somewhere both Mark van Eeghan and Mark Murphy are puking their guts out.

GTown 69 Davidson 67 (OT).....oh, you meant football....do these schools have football teams?

ND State 41 Lafayette 14.....geez louise, there's not much more to do in Fargo than Bison football right Norm? That's right Margie.

Holy Cross 33 UMass 27....Ryan Taggert walks away with maybe the last ever Dr Eddie Anderson Award.

[Pard4Life]

Gee sader you sound like Michele Bachmann with the Fordham line, but you went to HC so what am I thinking!

[Pard4Life]

Given the level of support described on this forum, how long can they go on? I actually went to a Davidson game last year - the crowd, all things considered, wasn't that bad. Believe me, I hope you're right, but from an outsider's perspective, I'm left wondering.

Bucknell has two posters on here, but there is a very large BU forum on another board. No way they cancel football. They are not Lafayette... they respect athletics and have a great tradition. BU can rake in 12,000 for big games and special days, but when you stink nobody cares.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Bucknell has two posters on here, but there is a very large BU forum on another board. No way they cancel football. They are not Lafayette... they respect athletics and have a great tradition. BU can rake in 12,000 for big games and special days, but when you stink nobody cares.

Bucknell has struggled with attendance for the last 20+ years. I've been out there several times since 1989 and never once was the homeside more than 60-70% full. Bison football is an extremely tough sell because of how close they are to PSU.

[kDex86]

Fordham at UConn
UMass at Holy Cross
Lehigh at Monmouth
Duquesne at Bucknell
Davidson at Georgetown
Albany at Colgate
Lafayette at North Dakota St.

Winners are in bold.

[CrusaderBob]

Bucknell has two posters on here, but there is a very large BU forum on another board. No way they cancel football. They are not Lafayette... they respect athletics and have a great tradition. BU can rake in 12,000 for big games and special days, but when you stink nobody cares.

That very large forum on another board, has three threads out of the last 40 started that have anything related to football. And the last post in any of them was exactly one month ago today.

I don't think Bucknell is even considering dropping football, but even when HC stunk for 10+ years until Gilmore was hired, we talked about it on our board. They just don't seem to care.

[Pard4Life]

Not one person has picked Lafayette... I like it!

[RichH2]

Not one person has picked Lafayette... I like it!

Ok, picked Lafayette for what? Pards will be better than many think and certainly better than last yr but hard to pick them vs NDSU out there

[Bogus Megapardus]

Not one person has picked Lafayette... I like it!

The odds really seem against it. Then again, the Pards have defeated top 15 teams before, so who knows? The thing that I find somewhat curious is the belief held by some NDSU fans that NDSU will "hurt," "pound" or "punish" Lafayette, and thereby win the game through overwhelming hard hitting and brute physicality.

I'm sure NDSU hits hard, and perhaps causing injury is part of its game plan, I don't know. But I've never known a Lafayette team that couldn't take a hit or be able to dish it out in return. As I keep saying, those guys from Penn and Harvard that we see year after year are hardly lightweights. The best Ivy teams cherry pick the strongest, fastest and most athletic guys from every corner of America. The Pards are used to that.

If NDSU wins (which everyone predicts it will) it be be because it it faster, stronger, and more skilled than Lafayette. I doubt it will be because it is better coached, and I'm certain it won't be because the Pards can't take a hit and hit back.

[Fordhamanhattan]

UConn upsets Fordham
UMass over the Crusaders
Monmouth upends the former Engineers
The Pittsburgh club over Bucknell
The Hoyas over Brian Adrian's old school
Colgate over their worthy opponent
North Dakota State over the spotted ones
xeyebrowx

[carney2]

Not one person has picked Lafayette... I like it!

Tough to pick Lafayette at this time against a ranked team. Consider:

NDSU will run on 1st down, run on 2nd, and then run on 3rd. Lafayette needs to stop the run and force them to do other things - which apparently they don't do all that well (lack of practice?). The Pards were ineffective against the run in 2010 so the question will be "What's changed except the calendar?"

On the other side of the ball, Lafayette needs to establish some offensive consistency, something that they didn't do all that well in 2010. The biggest problem last year was an offensive line that wasn't worth a small bag of warm dog doo. Tavani is trying to solve that problem by going large. His starting OL is averaging something like 312. Are they players or merely cheeseburger munchers? We won't know until October. In the meantime same question, "What's changed except the calendar?"

[Ken_Z]

FORDHAM 14 @ Connecticut 35: Ram fans expect to see the benefits of scholarships, but not today, err not this Saturday

Massachusetts 42 @ HOLY CROSS 21: per Sader87, the PL sucks. per the PL website, HC is in the PL. therefore, HC sucks. okay, the logic is flawed, but S87 cannot really hold me up to high standards re logic.

LEHIGH 24 @ Monmouth 17: LFN counts this as a PL win for the Engineers

Duquesne 24 @ BUCKNELL 14: the massive gathering (read hundreds) of Bison faithful start the safety school chant (which makes us feel so good about ourselves) in the third quarter. on a positive note, we have already had a chance to practice this cheer this year when the soccer team crapped the bed against BingU.

Davidson 10 @ GEORGETOWN 28: a Hoya juggernaut in the making, just ask Andy Coen. he would never talk up another team to shift the focus from the pre-season favorites would he?

Albany 28 @ COLGATE 31: cow tipping and football, the two sports they care about and do well in Hamilton

LAFAYETTE 20 @ North Dakota State 31: the other Bison end the Spots winning streak against bovinae. just foreshadowing what is to come later this year.

[Leopard Loyalist]

There is not a whole lot of variation among everybody's picks this week, and I am going to join the majority:

Connecticut over Fordham
Massachusetts over Holy Cross
Lehigh over Monmouth
Duquesne over Bucknell
Georgetown over Davidson
Colgate over Albany (close)
North Dakota State over Lafayette

[Bogus Megapardus]

FORDHAM 14 @ Connecticut 35: Ram fans expect to see the benefits of scholarships, but not today, err not this Saturday

Massachusetts 42 @ HOLY CROSS 21: per Sader87, the PL sucks. per the PL website, HC is in the PL. therefore, HC sucks. okay, the logic is flawed, but S87 cannot really hold me up to high standards re logic.

LEHIGH 24 @ Monmouth 17: LFN counts this as a PL win for the Engineers

Duquesne 24 @ BUCKNELL 14: the massive gathering (read hundreds) of Bison faithful start the safety school chant (which makes us feel so good about ourselves) in the third quarter. on a positive note, we have already had a chance to practice this cheer this year when the soccer team crapped the bed against BingU.

Davidson 10 @ GEORGETOWN 28: a Hoya juggernaut in the making, just ask Andy Coen. he would never talk up another team to shift the focus from the pre-season favorites would he?

Albany 28 @ COLGATE 31: cow tipping and football, the two sports they care about and do well in Hamilton

LAFAYETTE 20 @ North Dakota State 31: the other Bison end the Spots winning streak against bovinae. just foreshadowing what is to come later this year.

Best pick 'em yet. Bonus points for use of the plural bovinae.

[danefan]

I'm withdrawing my previous comments about Albany vs. Colgate. Despite showing some ridiculous potential and talent and leading Albany to 3 straight wins to close the season, Buddy Leathley will not start at QB for Albany. Instead, Dan DiLella will start. Di Lella started the first few games last year and at some points looked great and others looked downright terrible. He's a big 6'5" pocket passer and can't move anywhere near as well as Leathley.

I'm disappointed, but I hope I'm wrong.

[CrusaderBob]

Alright. As kickoff approaches in Worceter, where I will be tonight right in front of Sader87, here are my picks. And yes my purple colored glasses are in mid-season form, so you can guess where I'm going with that pick!

UConn over FORDHAM - a nod to Big East which Holy Cross could have been in, but NEVER could have been in for FB

LEHIGH over Monmouth - Bet you didn't know there's a Monmouth College in Illinois. I did because a former Chemistry Professor of mine from Holy Cross is now its President. Still not enough to give a nod to the Hawks

Duquesne over BUCKNELL - A nod to the Dukes as the Buffalos still haven't realized it's Footabll season.

GEORGETOWN over Davidson - A nod to the Hoyas for Continual Improvement

COLGATE over Albany - My son will be applying to colleges later this year, so we took a trip to Hamilton last April 18. Honest truth, on the way out of town, it started snowing. Snow holds off on Sept. 3 so the dentifrice gets the nod over the Scooby Doos.

North Dakota State over LAFAYETTE - a nod to my grandmother who was from Fargo


HOLY CROSS over Massachusetts - a nod to all who put tremendous effort into Filling Fitton Field and making this game an event. Been a while since the Crusaders scored a really big upset. Tonight's the night!

[TheValleyRaider]

COLGATE over Albany - My son will be applying to colleges later this year, so we took a trip to Hamilton last April 18. Honest truth, on the way out of town, it started snowing. Snow holds off on Sept. 3 so the dentifrice gets the nod over the Scooby Doos.

Big whoop. The year before I graduated, it snowed at commencement. In late May xcoffeex xlolx

[bison137]

Bucknell has struggled with attendance for the last 20+ years. I've been out there several times since 1989 and never once was the homeside more than 60-70% full. Bison football is an extremely tough sell because of how close they are to PSU.



I think that's a bit of an overstatement. For much of that time period, BU has "struggled with attendance" the same way Colgate and LC (other than when they play LU) have struggled when they did not have strong teams. From the PL's inception through the mid-2000's, BU had a higher average attendance than CU and was not far behind LC (excepting the LU games). It was not uncommon for BU to draw over 6000 - with some games over 8000.

Unfortunately the product on the field went down precipitously after Tom Gadd came down with brain cancer. (For the previous decade, BU's PL winning pct was about the same as CU and better than LC.) Average attendance held up for awhile - 5500 in 2002 and 2003; 6400 in 2004 - but then started to slide. If Susan gets the program righted again, attendance will eventually rise to normal PL levels.

[bison137]

UConn by 34
UMass by 10
LU by 10
BU by 3
Georgetown by 1
Colgate by 4
NDSU by 13

[DFW HOYA]

None of the PL schools have a monopoly on fan loyalty. Drop Lehigh or Lafayette to one and two-win teams for three or four years, and the sub-4K crowds would follow.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

My picks for the week:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2011/09/patriot-league-picks-week-one.html

(And yes, I picks the Holy Cross game right. :D )

[BucBisonAtLarge]

I didnt get my picks in before the Holy Cross game, so I just have to ask about the near consensusfor sinking trhe Bison. Bucknell lost by 4 at Duquesne last season, Coach Susan's first game after ytaking the reins a bit later than the average new coach. Aside from a wandering Buckeye in the Dukes' secondary, no compelling argument has been made for why Bucknell cannot win in Lewisburg, a place they have never lost to Duquesne. I will be happy to have the Dukes arrive a bit cocky-- Lord knows the Bison won't be.

And check the attendance for the first few games in the horseshoe from last season-- attendance started fine but then it went predictably the way of the record. As Bucknell picks up the Presidents Cup for the 17th time in 21 years tomorrow, you could say that this atheletic department can and does perform well. The kids will be fine. You just keep lowering exzpectations.

[Pard4Life]

Bucknell has had great football in the recent past... maybe until 2005. Many of us have not forgotten. If Holy Cros made a resurgence, BU is more than capable of doing the same thing, where they actually care and emphasize athletics.

All-sports trophy blah blah blah... all you need to do is recruit great runners and swimmers and thing is yours.

[RichH2]

My picks for the week:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2011/09/patriot-league-picks-week-one.html

(And yes, I picks the Holy Cross game right. :D )

OK, love the new batch of nicknames

[bison137]

I just have to ask about the near consensusfor sinking trhe Bison. Bucknell lost by 4 at Duquesne last season, Coach Susan's first game after ytaking the reins a bit later than the average new coach. Aside from a wandering Buckeye in the Dukes' secondary, no compelling argument has been made for why Bucknell cannot win in Lewisburg, a place they have never lost to Duquesne. I will be happy to have the Dukes arrive a bit cocky-- Lord knows the Bison won't be.



You ask a good question - and there's not a real good answer for it. Part of it may be that Duquesne returned 15 starters (about the same as BU) and is now up to 40 scholarships. However Bucknell would have beaten Duquesne last year (on the road) if they had the same Brandon Wesley who emerged later in the year at QB. Many of those picking against BU may not have factored in Wesley's improvement (he wasn't even a QB his senior year in HS) plus the adjustment to Susan's season. This game probably figured to be a pick-em game.

[bison137]

B

All-sports trophy blah blah blah... all you need to do is recruit great runners and swimmers and thing is yours.


If you ignore swimming, track and field, and cross country, Bucknell still has the best all-sports record in the PL over the years - and by a fairly significant margin.

BTW, when you say "runners" I assume you really mean all T&F athletes. BU has generally dominated most PL seasons in jumps/weights/hurdles.

[danefan]

PL owned the NEC this week! Congrats.

Lookin forward to many more Albany vs Colgate battles to come!

[thewholebit]

You ask a good question - and there's not a real good answer for it. Part of it may be that Duquesne returned 15 starters (about the same as BU) and is now up to 40 scholarships. However Bucknell would have beaten Duquesne last year (on the road) if they had the same Brandon Wesley who emerged later in the year at QB. Many of those picking against BU may not have factored in Wesley's improvement (he wasn't even a QB his senior year in HS) plus the adjustment to Susan's season. This game probably figured to be a pick-em game.


I'll go on record early as predicting them to have a winning conference record.

[ngineer]

6-1 this week. Only toe stub was the Bucknell game, which may cause a few people to re-calibrate their prognostications for the PL. Good confidence building win for the Bison.

[TheValleyRaider]

Fordham at Connecticut Connecticut
Massachusetts at Holy Cross Massachusetts
Lehigh at Monmouth Lehigh
Duquesne at Bucknell Bucknell
Davidson at Georgetown Georgetown
Albany at Colgate Colgate
Lafayette at North Dakota State North Dakota State

Some of you need to have a little more confidence in some of your League brethren xrulesx xsmiley_wix xlolx xnodx

[bison137]

6-1 this week. Only toe stub was the Bucknell game, which may cause a few people to re-calibrate their prognostications for the PL. Good confidence building win for the Bison.


7-0 here. No toe stub on the Bucknell game. :)

[ngineer]

7-0 here. No toe stub on the Bucknell game. :)

I would hope so! My pick was correct as being a close game. Glad to see the Bison can now win a close one against a good team.

[Pard4Life]

5-2... missed Bucknell and Colgate... would have had it if not for that comeback! Wow...

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

6-1, missed on the Bison! I really think the league is up this year!

[RichH2]

7-0 BUT i PROBABLY WASTED good start with week 2 picks. Had to go with Lehigh over UNH

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Like many others, 6-1, only missing Bucknell. Overall, a fabulous start for the league as a whole, with a couple blowout wins (Georgetown and Lehigh), two losses against tough competition (Lafayette, Fordham), a strong showing against an almost-FBS team (Holy Cross), and two wins over two upper-echelon NEC teams. I bet the folks in the league office are quite elated with the results.

[Go...gate]

I haven't checked my picks but I'm sure I missed the boat on several. Nice wins by Bucknell and Georgetown.

[van]

7-0, and the Cross game was closer than most thought.

[crusader11]

I agree with what some others have said that this is an "up" year for the PL. Lehigh is just as strong, if not stronger, than the 2009 Holy Cross team with Dom Randolph. And, I believe Colgate and Holy Cross will both do well for themselves. Georgetown is clearly making strides, and Bucknell may be further along than some have thought. Now, what is going on in Easton?

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

If Jeremiah Young is healthy and ready to go Bucknell could pose problems. He was an awesome talent at SHHS and could be a tremendous talent at the FCS level.

The PL is very fortunate to have Eachus, Young and Barkett. They are three of the most highly decorated running backs in state history.

[Sader87]

Who cares the league sucks....basically D2 football masquerading as D1 football.

[crusader11]

Don't take the bait, fellas.....

[ngineer]

Who cares the league sucks....basically D2 football masquerading as D1 football.

Then why waste your time with us? Go where you can enjoy your whine.

[RichH2]

If Jeremiah Young is healthy and ready to go Bucknell could pose problems. He was an awesome talent at SHHS and could be a tremendous talent at the FCS level.

The PL is very fortunate to have Eachus, Young and Barkett. They are three of the most highly decorated running backs in state history.
Agree about Young, injuries have derailed what promised to be a sterling college football career.

[Pard4Life]

I agree with what some others have said that this is an "up" year for the PL. Lehigh is just as strong, if not stronger, than the 2009 Holy Cross team with Dom Randolph. And, I believe Colgate and Holy Cross will both do well for themselves. Georgetown is clearly making strides, and Bucknell may be further along than some have thought. Now, what is going on in Easton?

An up year for the PL?? Do we have three top-25 teams and an NFL quarterback? No...

Lehigh stronger than Holy Cross 2009? With that quarterback? Sure...

[Lafalumni29]

Now, what is going on in Easton?

We'll find out for sure against Gtown. The consensus is that we were overpowered by NDSU, but I disagree. Our D held them pretty well in the 1st quarter. But, we just went 3 and out too many times and the D was left on the field for a majority of the game. Our 2 top RB''s are out indefinitely so we have no one who can make things happen except for maybe the freshman, Sheuerman. As you all know, our offense will be non existent if the we can't run the ball.

[CFBfan]

We'll find out for sure against Gtown. The consensus is that we were overpowered by NDSU, but I disagree. Our D held them pretty well in the 1st quarter. But, we just went 3 and out too many times and the D was left on the field for a majority of the game. Our 2 top RB''s are out indefinitely so we have no one who can make things happen except for maybe the freshman, Sheuerman. As you all know, our offense will be non existent if the we can't run the ball.

I don't mean to sound like a smart _ _ _, but that means that you did NOT hold them for 3 quarters.....

[Pard4Life]

We held them for the first half, but when your offense goes three and out 8 of 11 times you have the ball and the defense is always on the field, bad things will happen.

[Franks Tanks]

It has been 10 years since the leopards lost a game by such a large margin, and I was very surprised we were not more competitive. Elder is a good young man, but he is not a game breaker, and did virtually nothing on Saturday. Tavani noted in the Call that he wished he used Ross Scheurman more on Saturday. I believe he will start against Georgetown and begin his rise as one of the best backs in Lafayette history. Mputu is very talented, but he was already being pushed by Scheurman before the suspension. I think the Scheurminator will be on the loose this week. Rudolph's career is most likely over according to Frank as well, and Scheurm is our best option at this point.

Our D did look more agressive and faster than last year, but they were on the field most of the game and it started to show by the 3rd quarter.

[bison137]

If Jeremiah Young is healthy and ready to go Bucknell could pose problems. He was an awesome talent at SHHS and could be a tremendous talent at the FCS level.



I doubt Young will ever fully get back to his extraordinary HS level. As you know, he tore apart everything in his knee in the East-West game and has taken two years just to get back to a solid level. Entering the Bison opener, he was only 3rd on the depth chart - which tells me he had not been overly impressive in practices. Still, he looked good vs Duquesne, rushing for 105 yards on 19 carries. All BU fans are hoping that is just the start of a trend, although it will get more difficult down the road as the OL is not overwhelming.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

We held them for the first half, but when your offense goes three and out 8 of 11 times you have the ball and the defense is always on the field, bad things will happen.


14-0 in the 1st half. I don't think it was "holding us" as much as our offense trying to execute.

Those 3 and outs were because of our very good defensive play. The Pards only had 50 yds of offense and only moved the ball in the 4th quarter when our 2nd/3rd stringers were in.

There are 4 quarters in a FB game and the Bison dominated this game. If the starters played the whole game it would have been 60-0.

[Digby]

So far the PL is exceeding expectations against D1.
How did Nebraska ever fall so far? Not today but for years. Awful.