A couple of things
First - Mike Nunziatio had the block of the PAT vs. Colgate Saturday according to Monmouth. Colgate had listed Matt Hill and Bryan Bischoff.
Now - the biggie. What happens (and this remains a lonnnnnnnng shot) if the NEC regular season football champ (or the Pioneer League champ) receives an at large bid to the 1-AA playoffs?. As we know the NEC has a written agreement with the Pioneer League to play that league's champion in the Gridiron Classic Nov. 18 at the NEC champions' field.
After speaking with NEC associate commissioner Ron Ratner this morning....that agreement holds. Nothing has been decided or discussed in the event of a 1-AA berth.
HOWEVER..this is my gut feeling.. I find it inconceivable that after all these many years of seeking a playoff bid the NEC would turn one down. I think in that eventuality the two leagues (NEC and Pioneer) would work something out (second place team replaces first place team in the game, etc.) This is merely my opinion.
Also, in my opinion - Albany probably has the best shot (still a lonnnnng) shot of receiving an at large bid if it runs the table which would include a win over Cornell this week plus its wins over Lehigh and Delaware. The loss to Fordham might be overlooked in that instance. In the NEC it would have beaten CCSU and Monmouth.
Monmouth's chances of gaining an at large berth if it goes 11-0? Win over Colgate - I think - is significant but wins over St. Peter's, Morgan State, and Fordham carry less weight. Of course it would also have beaten CCSU and Albany. Sooo..I imagine it would rate some selection committee discussion.
But there are only eight 1-AA football at large berths and NEC has never gotten a whisper of a bid.. far as I know-- even when Sacred Heart and Robert Morris have been unbeaten in the past. I'm not saying it (a bid for MU) can't happen but I would be surprised.
Also..there is something to be said for playing in the Gridiron Classic. As with men's hoops last year, was meeting Hampton in the "play-in" round better for MU than going directly to the Field of 64 and getting Duke? You betcha.
Does MU benefit from getting UNH in a first round 1-AA playoff game? Maybe...but maybe not. Sometimes baby steps are the best strides.
Down the road the NEC feels the 1-AA football field will eventually expand as other football leagues become eligible for the 1-AA playoffs, but that could still be a few to more than a few years away.
Now - the biggie. What happens (and this remains a lonnnnnnnng shot) if the NEC regular season football champ (or the Pioneer League champ) receives an at large bid to the 1-AA playoffs?. As we know the NEC has a written agreement with the Pioneer League to play that league's champion in the Gridiron Classic Nov. 18 at the NEC champions' field.
After speaking with NEC associate commissioner Ron Ratner this morning....that agreement holds. Nothing has been decided or discussed in the event of a 1-AA berth.
HOWEVER..this is my gut feeling.. I find it inconceivable that after all these many years of seeking a playoff bid the NEC would turn one down. I think in that eventuality the two leagues (NEC and Pioneer) would work something out (second place team replaces first place team in the game, etc.) This is merely my opinion.
Also, in my opinion - Albany probably has the best shot (still a lonnnnng) shot of receiving an at large bid if it runs the table which would include a win over Cornell this week plus its wins over Lehigh and Delaware. The loss to Fordham might be overlooked in that instance. In the NEC it would have beaten CCSU and Monmouth.
Monmouth's chances of gaining an at large berth if it goes 11-0? Win over Colgate - I think - is significant but wins over St. Peter's, Morgan State, and Fordham carry less weight. Of course it would also have beaten CCSU and Albany. Sooo..I imagine it would rate some selection committee discussion.
But there are only eight 1-AA football at large berths and NEC has never gotten a whisper of a bid.. far as I know-- even when Sacred Heart and Robert Morris have been unbeaten in the past. I'm not saying it (a bid for MU) can't happen but I would be surprised.
Also..there is something to be said for playing in the Gridiron Classic. As with men's hoops last year, was meeting Hampton in the "play-in" round better for MU than going directly to the Field of 64 and getting Duke? You betcha.
Does MU benefit from getting UNH in a first round 1-AA playoff game? Maybe...but maybe not. Sometimes baby steps are the best strides.
Down the road the NEC feels the 1-AA football field will eventually expand as other football leagues become eligible for the 1-AA playoffs, but that could still be a few to more than a few years away.
posted by Tony Graham at 10:20 AM
2 Comments:
Boland in the NFL? Boland rules, any teams showing interest in any Hawks this year?
What kind of schedule does MU have for next season?
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