Patriot League Pick 'em - Week 4

[Go...gate]

Georgetown: deservedly 2-1. Lehigh: deservedly 0-3. Congrats to the Hoyas. Should be a good one down in DC.


Yes, indeed. Congratulations to the Hoyas on a fine win!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lafayette playing really well against W&M. Reed has the short passing game working...

[bison137]

Bison D did a terrific job. They knew that SHU was going to plow #33 Keshaudas Spence straight at them and that Spence would get his yards no matter what. But Bucknell kept them in check inside to 20 and they had enough push to force the QB into errant throws. Not so sure that Bucknell wouldn't win 8 out of 10 over Sacred Heart.

spence ended up with 18 carries for 52 yards and Bell had 5 carries for 5 yards. Most of SHU's running came from QB draws and scrambles by Noel.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lafayette is dodging some big plays by W&M. The Tribe definitely have some athletes...

[bison137]

Agree to disagree.

SHU defense held Lafayette to 98 yards rushing, and the Bison ran for just 40 yards. Marist and Assuption had 47 and 45 yards rushing respectively. I would say that SHU has a very stout rushing defense, period.

Bucknell had 247 yards passing - a very successful day. Lafayette managed just 143 yards in the air 2 weeks ago. The Bison made some big plays, so give them credit.

SHU had an awful personal foul penalty when the Bision had 4th and 22 deep in their own end - were set to punt. That first down gave the Bison a huge gift and the momentum for the rest of the game.

It was a 1-point game at the half, and SHU made some big mistakes and couldn't get their own offense moving in the 2nd half to sustain a drive. I though the Bison defense was very good. Can't say the same thing about their Bucknell offense - I thought it was mediocre and I don't think they win 8 out of 10 in a rematch.

A good win for Bucknell, but a subpar offensive performance by the Pioneers.


1. SHU defense definitely did a very good job against the run, although the true rushing yards actually were 65 after netting out the sacks. One thing though is that SHU put a lot of players in the box and left their CBs with no help. That's one reason BU had 4 long TD passes.

2. yes the unsportsmanlike penalty on 4th down was horrible - but let's not forget that at that point Bucknell had a 3-score lead with 12 minutes left. After that, Susan took the air out of the ball and went full Frankosaurus. Had they needed more points they could have thrown the ball downfield again.

3. Someone mentioned CJ Williams getting hurt near the end. I think he'll be OK, but Bucknell also suffered two other injuries to very key players: Their best receiver, Josh Brake, missed a majority of the game with what I am hoping is a minor knee injury. Had he played more the Bison likely would have had more passing yards. And All-PL safety Matt Steinbeck suffered what could be a serious injury.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Pards with a really impressive TD drive. Good balance on offense....but the XP is blocked and returned by W&M for 2 points...

13-9 Lafayette 7:20 2Q....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lafayette has over 350 yards of in the first half against a really good W&M defense.....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

LC converts a 4th and 13 en route to a TD....'Pards look really good...but another missed XP

19-9 Lafayette....0:39 2Q...

[Go...gate]

What's up with the Leopards' kicking game?

[Franks Tanks]

What's up with the Leopards' kicking game?

Our starting kicker was suspended by our dip***** AD for wearing socks that didn't match or some such offense. Our AD may be the worst in America. He refuses to make coaching changes, provides zero leadership and acts like a middle school vice principal.

[Bogus Megapardus]

What's up with the Leopards' kicking game?

Junior kicker Ryan Gralish suspended before the start of the season for 4 games - "violation of team rules." He has one more game to serve. Starting WR Mike Duncan also suspended but for only 2 games, so he's playing tonight for the first time.

Pards leaving LOTS of points on the board tonight.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Our starting kicker was suspended by our dip***** AD for wearing socks that didn't match or some such offense. Our AD may be the worst in America. He refuses to make coaching changes, provides zero leadership and acts like a middle school vice principal.

Geez, Tanks - how do you really feel about it? :p




EDIT - I forgot to note that said AD is a William & Mary grad. xnodx

[blackbeard]

1. SHU defense definitely did a very good job against the run, although the true rushing yards actually were 65 after netting out the sacks. One thing though is that SHU put a lot of players in the box and left their CBs with no help. That's one reason BU had 4 long TD passes.

2. yes the unsportsmanlike penalty on 4th down was horrible - but let's not forget that at that point Bucknell had a 3-score lead with 12 minutes left. After that, Susan took the air out of the ball and went full Frankosaurus. Had they needed more points they could have thrown the ball downfield.

1. That's a regular pattern for the SHU defense, leave the CBs on an island a lot and bring a lot of pressure. But we had 3 safeties on the field most of the night also. Safety didn't get over in cover 2 on the first long pass, 2nd one the Bison WR got away with a push off when the CB had him well played.

2. Think that penalty was called on the SHU bench, not sure what happened but it was a back breaker. SHU got a big stop and sack and looked to have regained a little pep, still a long uphill battle but it was over after that penalty.

[Franks Tanks]

Geez, Tanks - how do you really feel about it? :p




EDIT - I forgot to note that said AD is a William & Mary grad. xnodx


Bruce has had 15 years to turn around moribound programs like volleyball, softball and swimming and has done nothing. He completely botched men's Lax as we sat back while our league rivals emerged as national powers. We missed the window I'm afraid. Just not sure what he does beside push papers and suspend athletes.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M QB takes the first play from scrimmage 60+ yards to the LC 5....W&M scores two plays later....

19-16 'Pards 13:40 3Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M has come out firing in the second half. The Tribe QB is killing Lafayette with his running....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M QB scores on another keeper.....

W&M 23-19 3:54 3Q.....

[Sader87]

This Laffy game reminds me a LOT of last night's HC-Harvard game.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M taking control of the game. The Lafayette DL can't stop the W&M QB....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M QB with another TD run! W&M was given a first down on defensive holding call the play before...

30-19 W&M 0:41 3Q

[Franks Tanks]

W&M QB with another TD run! W&M was given a first down on defensive holding call the play before...

30-19 W&M 0:41 3Q

Call was crap, but the Tribe is taking over. Lot's of positives tonight for the Leopards, but lots of mistakes and a circus in the kicking game. Can't beat a good team on the road like that.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Call was crap, but the Tribe is taking over. Lot's of positives tonight for the Leopards, but lots of mistakes and a circus in the kicking game. Can't beat a good team on the road like that.

The Lafayette LB definitely grabbed the W&M TE. The Lafayette announcers kept saying the pass wasn't catchable but it doesn't matter on defensive holding....

Lafayette has played well in the first half but the second half has been equally as bad....

[Franks Tanks]

The Lafayette LB definitely grabbed the W&M TE. The Lafayette announcers kept saying the pass wasn't catchable but it doesn't matter on defensive holding....

Lafayette has played well in the first half but the second half has been equally as bad....

W&M did nothing in the passing game. Mostly scrambles and draws by the QB killed us.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M did nothing in the passing game. Mostly scrambles and draws by the QB killed us.

The Tribe are averaging nearly 9 yards a carry in the second half. They haven't really had to pass. The QB is definitely dangerous on the run....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M with a 49 yard FG! wow...

33-19 Tribe 8:10 4Q

[Franks Tanks]

The Tribe are averaging nearly 9 yards a carry in the second half. They haven't really had to pass. The QB is definitely dangerous on the run....

Well we are wilting in the 2nd half, but at least we are not the dumpster fire that is Lehigh Football.

Tribe makes a 49 yard FG, we can't make an extra point.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Well we are wilting in the 2nd half, but at least we are not the dumpster fire that is Lehigh Football.

Tribe makes a 49 yard FG, we can't make an extra point.

Not sure if 1-2 is much better than 0-3 but it's all relative....xembarrassedx

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lafayette still has a chance with about 5:30 left...they have the ball but need 2 scores....

[Pard4Life]

Yeah Tanks at least Lehigh can score and kick XPs.

Lehigh may be a dumpster fire, but we are a flaming couch.

[Franks Tanks]

Yeah Tanks at least Lehigh can score and kick XPs.

Lehigh may be a dumpster fire, but we are a flaming couch.
Yale had 683 yards of offense! We have issues of course, but the core of a good team is here. Crappy punt by Forester. Not a good night for the young man.

[Sader87]

I triple dog dare you to rank the PL 2-7......

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I triple dog dare you to rank the PL 2-7......

The top 3 are Fordham, Bucknell and Colgate to this point. The rest are varying levels of dumpster fires imo....

[Sader87]

The top 3 are Fordham, Bucknell and Colgate to this point. The rest are varying levels of dumpster fires imo....

I think Lafayette is bettah than both Bucknell and Colgate

[Pard4Life]

I think Lafayette is bettah than both Bucknell and Colgate

You have not watched one of our games have you?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

W&M 33 Lafayette 19 Final....

Lafayette played really well in the first half but struggled mightily the final 30 minutes. I believe they had about 50 yards of offense in the second half.....

[aceinthehole]

Fordham
Bucknell
Colgate
Holy Cross
Lafayette - Lehigh
Georgetown

[Pard4Life]

W&M 33 Lafayette 19 Final....

Lafayette played really well in the first half but struggled mightily the final 30 minutes. I believe they had about 50 yards of offense in the second half.....

28

[Sader87]

Fordham
Bucknell
Colgate
Holy Cross
Lafayette - Lehigh
Georgetown

There's not a dime's worth of a difference between 2-6 and maybe 7 but I'd go:

Fordham
Lafayette
Bucknell
HC
Colgate
Lehigh
GTown

[Bogus Megapardus]

Lafayette will not win another game this season. Next week, Wagner should be favored by 10. I don't care. I won't be there and I won't be watching. There are better things to do.

Our defeat in #150 will be so spectacular, they'll bring in Uncle Artie and Kick-the-Can Dan to taunt "I-Told-You-So" in unison over the Yankee Stadium public address system. Lafayette football has become a total, colossal waste of everyone's time. I give up. I'm outta here. I wish I could say it's been fun, but . . . .

[Franks Tanks]

I think Lafayette is bettah than both Bucknell and Colgate

Owl will never compliment Lafayette. My take is below.

Fordham- Still the best, but not much separation.

Bucknell, Colgate and Lafayette. No order in particular.

Lehigh and Holy Cross. Lehigh D is terrible. HC has some tremendous players, but still are a bit lacking in overall talent.

Georgetown. They are still Georgetown.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Owl will never compliment Lafayette. My take is below.

Fordham- Still the best, but not much separation.

Bucknell, Colgate and Lafayette. No order in particular.

Lehigh and Holy Cross. Lehigh D is terrible. HC has some tremendous players, but still are a bit lacking in overall talent.

Georgetown. They are still Georgetown.

You clearly choose to read what you want. I was extremely complimentary of Lafayette in the first half and then when the wheels fell off I called it like I or anyone else who was watching it would.

"Lafayette playing really well against W&M. Reed has the short passing game working..."

"'Pards with a really impressive TD drive. Good balance on offense....but the XP is blocked and returned by W&M for 2 points.."

"Lafayette has over 350 yards of in the first half against a really good W&M defense....."

[Fordham]

That Bucknell win is impressive. On the road too. No other way to cut it.

[Sader87]

I just don't think it's that impressive. I think Laffy playing W&M tough tonight was more impressive....and yes, I know SHU beat Laffy earlier this year.

As I've said repeatedly here, throw LC, Gate, Buck, HC, Lehigh and even GU possibly together and anyone is beating anyone from my perspective so fah.

[Tribal]

The Lafayette LB definitely grabbed the W&M TE. The Lafayette announcers kept saying the pass wasn't catchable but it doesn't matter on defensive holding....

Lafayette coach lost his mind on that call. I was literally 8' from the hold. Proper call.

Lafayette played a great first half and W&M decided to show up the second half. I was not a happy camper at halftime but was pleased our guys showed some heart in bouncing back...something they didn't do against the Pards in '12. The score could have easily been 40-19 had we not sat on the ball at the end but Tribe, collectively, did not look that dominant.

Also, great to meet Carney tonight. Swell guy!



#RisingTribe

[Go...gate]

The top 3 are Fordham, Bucknell and Colgate to this point. The rest are varying levels of dumpster fires imo....

Colgate beat what looks like a dreadful Cornell team.

Three straight home games coming up and hopefully that will help this young club to continue to develop.

IMO, Fordham and Bucknell are the class of the conference.

Georgetown got a nice win today and may surprise.

Perplexed at Lehigh's 0-3 start.

[aceinthehole]

I just don't think it's that impressive. I think Laffy playing W&M tough tonight was more impressive....and yes, I know SHU beat Laffy earlier this year.

As I've said repeatedly here, throw LC, Gate, Buck, HC, Lehigh and even GU possibly together and anyone is beating anyone from my perspective so fah.

Let's tell the truth - SHU beat Lafayette 2 years in a row! Sacred Heart shutout the Bison last season in Lewisburg. Today was a good win for the Bison - give credit where credit is due.

Lafayette had a good half - that's it. In the 2nd half they only had one drive of more than 4 plays. W&M scored TDs on their first 3 dives of the 2nd half. The Leopards just aren't very good.

[Sader87]

And how did the Blue Devils fare in Hanovah ace?

The NEC has improved....it's still a pretty bad conference in general though. Do they beat the occasional Ivy and Patriot? Sure, but who hasn't since 1986?

[Franks Tanks]

Let's tell the truth - SHU beat Lafayette 2 years in a row! Sacred Heart shutout the Bison last season in Lewisburg. Today was a good win for the Bison - give credit where credit is due.

Lafayette had a good half - that's it. In the 2nd half they only had one drive of more than 4 plays. W&M scored TDs on their first 3 dives of the 2nd half. The Leopards just aren't very good.

Lafayette beat W&M in many statistical categories. You could also argue that W&M also just "had one good half" and their half was just better than ours.


I guess you are right through overall. Losing to Sacred Heart just shouldn't happen. The Pards have the making of a good team, but just too many mistakes. We can't call ourselves a quality team when losing to a member of the NEC.

[aceinthehole]

And how did the Blue Devils fare in Hanovah ace?

The NEC has improved....it's still a pretty bad conference in general though. Do they beat the occasional Ivy and Patriot? Sure, but who hasn't since 1986?

A better question is who does the PL and Ivy beat - other than each other?

Like HC, right now Dartmouth is the better team. CCSU can't finish in the RZ and our special teams is awful. We are certainly in the mix in the region, but aren't "very good" by any measure.

However, other than the pitiful performance against Albany, CCSU has moved the ball and played decent defense. We held both HC and Albany to less than 21 point - that's not too shabby.

CCSU vs.
Towson (W) - 465 yds offense, 76% completions, 192 yrds rushing, no turnovers
Holy Cross (L) - 392 yds offense, 66% completions, 123 yds rush, 3 turnovers
Dartmouth (L) -475 yds offense, 60% completions, 163 yds rush, 1 turnover

Central had 59 yds in penalties vs. HC and 50 yds vs. Dartmouth.

CCSU doesn't have a very good record, but they aren't very bad team as you might suggest.

But none of this changes the fact that the NEC/PL/Ivy are all at the same level. The superiority of the PL over either the NEC or Ivy is a pure fallacy today.

[Pard4Life]

I just don't think it's that impressive. I think Laffy playing W&M tough tonight was more impressive....and yes, I know SHU beat Laffy earlier this year.

As I've said repeatedly here, throw LC, Gate, Buck, HC, Lehigh and even GU possibly together and anyone is beating anyone from my perspective so fah.

Yeah it's not very impressive. Lafayette was in a position to blow out SHU but our offense sucks. It just says BU is a disciplined and quality football team.

[Pard4Life]

Lafayette coach lost his mind on that call. I was literally 8' from the hold. Proper call.

Lafayette played a great first half and W&M decided to show up the second half. I was not a happy camper at halftime but was pleased our guys showed some heart in bouncing back...something they didn't do against the Pards in '12. The score could have easily been 40-19 had we not sat on the ball at the end but Tribe, collectively, did not look that dominant.

Also, great to meet Carney tonight. Swell guy!

#RisingTribe

How about that personal foul penalty on the same drive?! The guy was never down FYI. Tavani probably lost his mind because it should have been a make up no call at least.

[Pard4Life]

Lafayette will not win another game this season. Next week, Wagner should be favored by 10. I don't care. I won't be there and I won't be watching. There are better things to do.

Our defeat in #150 will be so spectacular, they'll bring in Uncle Artie and Kick-the-Can Dan to taunt "I-Told-You-So" in unison over the Yankee Stadium public address system. Lafayette football has become a total, colossal waste of everyone's time. I give up. I'm outta here. I wish I could say it's been fun, but . . . .

And I thought I was the Debbie Downer tonight! Lol...

Few things though:

I am sick of moral victories and taking losses as a sign of good things in future.

I am tired of Lehigh being the only thing to look forward to.

We will pound Wagner if we show up. We will, but who really cares? If we win 60-6 like last week, what does it tell us? Nothing.

Lehigh is not good defensively but they can score. They will improve. At this point, it will be an interesting game: a comedy of errors. Think clown car traffic pile up.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

My only sliver of solace in this awful day of football is Lafayette fans trying to out-do Lehigh fans in a "we suck the most" contest.

[bison137]

Sacred Heart shutout the Bison last season in Lewisburg. Today was a good win for the Bison - give credit where credit is due.




The biggest difference from last year to this year is that last year Brandon Wesley had just gone down with an injury and BU had no QB. Their passing game actually produced negative yards over the 60 minutes of that game - which more than offset a good running game. This year CJ Nitti has a year under his belt and gave them the QB they didn't have last year when they meet SHU.

[Pard4Life]

My only sliver of solace in this awful day of football is Lafayette fans trying to out-do Lehigh fans in a "we suck the most" contest.

Don't get me wrong, any team that has brown as their color is the crappiest of all.

[Pard4Life]

At least there are moral victories today (says the guy who is tired of moral victories):

Citadel 18, Charleston Southern 20

Penn blows 12 point fourth quarter lead and loses to a Pioneer League team with worse facilities than your average Group 1 NJ high school.

Princeton of "losing is unacceptable we are going undefeated this year" fame loses by 10 on the road to a Pioneer League team.

Guess the Ivy has found the Pioneer to be tougher than expected.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The SoCon and PL are on equal footing, extremely blah. The OVC seems to trending upwards right now, as is the Big South....

[Sader87]

The PL is getting a lot bettah.....the scholarship kids are much bettah than the non-schollie kids in general....we're a couple years away.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The PL is getting a lot bettah.....the scholarship kids are much bettah than the non-schollie kids in general....we're a couple years away.

How can you honestly say the league is getting "a lot" better? The league has failed to notch any win of consequence. There were quality teams in the non-schollie era and there will be quality teams moving forward. However, right now, it's ugly. Fordham is carrying the torch and they lost 50-6 to only team they've played that has a pulse....

[Pard4Life]

That game is a mystery...

High point for PL was definitely 2000-2009 era (not 2006 though)

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

That game is a mystery...

High point for PL was definitely 2000-2009 era (not 2006 though)

Not to be a homer but it started in 1998. The PL got at large bids in 1998 and 1999 when the field was only 16 teams. They couldn't get a 10-1 team in a 24 team playoff 2 years ago....

[Sader87]

HC is a different animal in the PL, having been a schollie team before, I see our Frosh and Soph classes as clearly bettah than the upper-classmen in general. HC has recruited VERY well the last couple years at the FCS-level.

We're taking our lumps now but if Gilmore can coach the talent he brings to HC, the Saders are going to be very strong going forward.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

HC is a different animal in the PL, having been a schollie team before, I see our Frosh and Soph classes as clearly bettah than the upper-classmen in general. HC has recruited VERY well the last couple years at the FCS-level.

We're taking our lumps now but if Gilmore can coach the talent he brings to HC, the Saders are going to be very strong going forward.

If Holy Cross loses to Fordham next week, and they'll be sizeable underdogs, how much heat will Gilmore start to feel given the month long road trip? How many games does he have to win this year to keep his job?

[tribe_pride]

How about that personal foul penalty on the same drive?! The guy was never down FYI. Tavani probably lost his mind because it should have been a make up no call at least.

Each team had 1 good half. The Tribe was just able to survive the Lafayette half to be down by only 10.

I agree that that should not have been a penalty but in the 1st half with the score tied at 7, Lafayette slammed into our punter when he kicked a 40+ yard punt. A penalty should have been called which should have given us the ball 1st and 10 at the Lafayette 39. Instead, Lafayette got the ball and marched down the field for a TD and our punter who has averaged about 45 yards per punt for the season did not return to the game.

[Sader87]

I'm of the belief that Gilmore will be given a few more years due to the transition to schollies.....I don't think he is in trouble yet but in all honesty, I can't say he is the right guy for HC moving forward. I think he is too much an "Ivy guy" and not a "HC guy"....I really don't think he is a good fit at HC in the scholarship-era.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'm of the belief that Gilmore will be given a few more years due to the transition to schollies.....I don't think he is in trouble yet but in all honesty, I can't say he is the right guy for HC moving forward. I think he is too much an "Ivy guy" and not a "HC guy"....I really don't think he is a good fit at HC in the scholarship-era.

The Sportsnetwork had Gilmore as one of the hot seat coaches before the year started. Assuming they lose to Fordham they'll be 2-4 headed to Hamilton, NY. I have to think TG will start to feel serious pressure with another 20+ point loss next week. After two straight 3-9 seasons I don't think 5-7 year will go over very well. His 3-8 record against Harvard can't sit well either.

[Sader87]

The school will give him at least 2-3 more years working with schollies imo.....I'm on record (infamously) that he really isn't the guy to take us to the next level. He resurrected HC football in the 2000s but he just seems to lack that trait to take HC to that next level imo. He won't be fired this year barring a complete collapse imo.

[Tribal]

How about that personal foul penalty on the same drive?! The guy was never down FYI. Tavani probably lost his mind because it should have been a make up no call at least.
If you were there, you would have heard two officials blow the play dead on three occasions. And don't get me started on bad calls...your player nailed our punter well after the punt with no flag. Our All-CAA punter was unable to return.

All in all, I'd say the refs did a pretty good job with a few missed calls.

#RisingTribe

[Andy]

If you were there, you would have heard two officials blow the play dead on three occasions. And don't get me started on bad calls...your player nailed our punter well after the punt with no flag. Our All-CAA punter was unable to return.

All in all, I'd say the refs did a pretty good job with a few missed calls.

#RisingTribe

Was the punt tipped? Did #31 block the defender into the punter? Watch replay here:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/6846185/Lafayettefootball/videos/61965211

[Sitting Bull]

Who cares (other than the punter, hope its not serious).

W&M played an uninspired 1st Half and won the game going away.

I like the series. Maybe they will reset after next year - or add another PL team series.

[tribe_pride]

Was the punt tipped? Did #31 block the defender into the punter? Watch replay here:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/6846185/Lafayettefootball/videos/61965211

The W&M broadcast showed a different angle than the Lafayette video is showing and they showed there clearly was no tip which is what the refs ruled. Can't find the Tribe broadcast now though (not sure if they save full games). Also, Windmuller is good but he isn't kicking a 41 yard punt all in the air to the Lafayette 13 on a tipped ball.

[Andy]

OK, thanks t_p. I guess once tip is ruled they don't address the issue of being blocked into the punter. You took it to us in the 2nd half. Good luck the rest of the way.

[Tribal]

I really enjoy playing PL teams. For one, I like the Lehigh Valley through NY area. Secondly, I think W&M and PL fans have a lot in common...in other words, you don't have to worry about your kids hearing foul language, getting harassed, or having your car keyed because you're flying your team flag. I like playing Penn but don't like going to their place.

The game is over and it is what it is but W&M had 8 starters/2 deep players out (LT, LG, two WRs, RB, TE, and 2 OLBs). How we won from 10 down at the half with such a depleted roster speaks to what W&M can do if fully healthy.