From week to week there are many factors that build up to every Saturday. The most essential component leading up to a game has to be preparation. A good week of practice is imperative to the success a team earns, and that goes for the whole team, not just the guys who step on the field on Saturdays.
The guys who give the first and second string teams a look everyday are often overlooked and taken for granted. The harder they work, the better they are making their teammates and team. It’s a hard role for many guys to accept considering many of them were the go-to-guys on their high school team.
Going into week ten and our conference championship game we knew we had to have a good hard week of practice as we faced North Central College. Led by the self- proclaimed “Hit Squad†(defensive scout team) and senior Bill Smigiel, our offense was provided with great looks all week which we greatly benefited from. The intensity and concentration of each practice was higher than usual as our setback last year in Naperville, IL was still instilled in our heads.
We had been waiting for November 5th for 364 days and the seniors had been waiting four years for a conference championship. It is always a thrill when two highly touted teams meet head-to-head because there is usually a lot on the line. Last Saturday was no exception. As time ran out Josh Patterson booted a 22 yard field goal giving us a 20-17 victory and conference championship.
It was a hard fought battle, filled with plenty of emotion and good football, the way a game should be played by two playoff caliber teams. No matter what outsiders may have seen during and after the game and what they had to say about it, the players on both sides of the ball played their hearts out for 60 minutes. Both teams came ready to play and went after it the entire game, garnering nothing but respect for the players on the field.
Coming off last weeks victory, we head into another battle that bears a great challenge steeped in tradition. This Saturday we head to Wheaton, Illinois to take on Wheaton College. This senior class has yet to walk away from this game with a ‘W’. This game has come down to the last minute with potential to win on the last play the past two years and we walked away empty handed both times. Anyone who follows CCIW football knows that this game breeds great football and this Augustana squad comes into this game recalling the anguish of too many recent setbacks to Wheaton.
It started in 1886. Union has won 75% of the games but RPI has won three of the last six. This Saturday they are playing for a league title and an automatic bid to the national playoffs. No other Union-RPI game has ever held as much significance. Both teams will be sky high. RPI put up big points in a close loss to Hobart, the league big dog until last week. Union seems to have polished their game after one of the craziest runs of victories in their long history. Whatever doubts persisted about Union’s proficiency were allayed last weekend against Hobart. We have said all along that these three teams are the essence of the Liberty League in terms of horsepower. Can the Union magic continue its reign? With a perfect weather forecast, live television coverage, and probably a record crowd, the Capital District is in for a treat!
My dad played for Union, was known as “Nails North” in the 20s… He took us to RPI games, sometimes when neither team was so hot. BUT it was always a highlight, bang-up affair, a rivalry few teams can approach.
But my own college, W & J, is certainly deserving of playoff status, with a 9-1 record (only loss was in OT, 38-35), so I feel that the Union-RPI winner should get in, but the loser, if RPI, should be out — then Union will still be undefeated. Note too that W & J reached the Final Eight in Div III last year and is a better team this year.
I would say that even if Union loses they should get in. I feel with last weeks effort defeating Hobart they proved they deserve to be in the NCAA tourney. Many of us hope that they will win and finish the season undefeated with the title. RPI is a really strong team with unlimited potential. It is going to be a great matchup to say the least. The duke says it best,”…the capital district is in for a treat!”
Question for J.J: How much time elapsed from the time the first field goal attempt was blocked and the referee got his flag out of his back pocket?The play reminded me of the 2003 National Championship game between Ohio State and Miami!!! Home call!!!
Ah Palermo. Somebody speaking my language. You must have been at the game. I wouldn’t count on JJ responding here. He’s gonna have his hands full this weekend with Wheaton.
what chance does Alfred have to make the playoffs if they beat Fisher this week?
Considering that Fisher is not even a lock if they win, I cannot imagine that Alfred would make it even if they win…unless by blow-out (assuming “blow-outs” even make a difference)
What I do not understand is how Fisher is consistently ranked by all the polls as the 2nd or 3rd team in the ‘East’ (only Del Val is ahead in D3’S Poll and only Rowan and Del Val in coaches…i think) yet the NCAA Regional Rankings have kept them 7 behing Hobart, Union etc…????
Fisher has one loss…an OT loss AT ITHACA and they made it to the final 16 last year (last sec. loss at Del Val in a game that they led by 12 with 1:08 left)
Prediction: SJF 38 Alfred 17
Should then make it is at least a 5 seed in East.