DFW HOYA
October 1st, 2016, 07:57 PM
The Patriot League would like to think of itself as en egalitarian football conference, but nearing the midway point of year four with scholarships, three tiers appear to have hardened for the foreseeable future:
1. The Contenders (Lehigh, Fordham, Colgate); No surprise, perhaps, that the school with the three largest budgets appear to be the three that will compete for the PL's playoff bid for the forseeable future. And given that the PL hasn't earned the reputation of being a multi-bid conference, that's likely to be a one or (occasionally) two bid conference going forward. Expect these schools' football budgets to top $6-7 million within a few years.
2. The Aspirants (Holy Cross, Lafayette, Bucknell): These schools are spending lots of money to finish 4-7 and 5-6 every year. Not enough strength in recruiting and head coaching concerns are keeping these schools a distinct step back of the other three.
3. The Third Wheel (Georgetown): After 16 years in the league, Georgetown is no closer to competing for the title than when they arrived and is resigned to the fact that they cannot do so, so why spend $3 million more just to finish sixth? Football at Georgetown is comparable to basketball at Army: good kids, 110% effort, but it can't recruit and is nowhere close to the talent level needed to contend. Absent a call from the Ivy League as a football-only affiliate, Georgetown seems content where they are and the PL has no leadership to force the issue either way.
1. The Contenders (Lehigh, Fordham, Colgate); No surprise, perhaps, that the school with the three largest budgets appear to be the three that will compete for the PL's playoff bid for the forseeable future. And given that the PL hasn't earned the reputation of being a multi-bid conference, that's likely to be a one or (occasionally) two bid conference going forward. Expect these schools' football budgets to top $6-7 million within a few years.
2. The Aspirants (Holy Cross, Lafayette, Bucknell): These schools are spending lots of money to finish 4-7 and 5-6 every year. Not enough strength in recruiting and head coaching concerns are keeping these schools a distinct step back of the other three.
3. The Third Wheel (Georgetown): After 16 years in the league, Georgetown is no closer to competing for the title than when they arrived and is resigned to the fact that they cannot do so, so why spend $3 million more just to finish sixth? Football at Georgetown is comparable to basketball at Army: good kids, 110% effort, but it can't recruit and is nowhere close to the talent level needed to contend. Absent a call from the Ivy League as a football-only affiliate, Georgetown seems content where they are and the PL has no leadership to force the issue either way.