Thoughts on Playoff and ECAC Results

We've had a few days to digest the results from Saturday's playoff and ECAC results.

The biggest thing that comes to mind is the great job the NCAA committee did in 2011 by choosing a two-loss east region team (St. John Fisher) from a strong conference, over a one-loss team from a weaker conference. If you follow the D3Football boards as we do, you may have noticed some vocal disapproval of the committee's perceived snub of 9-1 Endicott from the NEFC.

We have been consistent in our belief that Endicott was not deserving of an at-large playoff selection. Endicott is a fine football program, and it had a great year. But Endicott racked up nine wins against NEFC competition which does not rank with that of the NJAC, Empire 8, and MAC.

Last Saturday's results proved we knew what we were talking about. NEFC champion Western New England (which defeated Endicott) was destroyed 62-24 by Empire 8 champion Salisbury. Empire 8 runner up St. John Fisher went on the road and beat previously undefeated Johns Hopkins. And the NJAC champion Kean, and MAC champion Delaware Valley, each won handily to advance in the playoffs.

One prediction from the Endicott faithful was that they would prove the NCAA made a mistake in passing them over, by winning their ECAC bowl by a large margin. But Endicott trailed a weak Mount Ida team for much of the game before rallying to win. Not much of a "statement" victory to beat the third place team from arguably the weakest football conference in Division 3, Mount Ida from the ECFC.

The NEFC also took it on the chin in the ECAC bowls when Alfred destroyed Bridgewater State 41-10. It is clear the NEFC did not deserve a second playoff bid. And it is arguable that their automatic bid, Western New England, was not ready for prime time either.

The solution for the NEFC is simple. It needs to start scheduling games against stronger competition during the season if it wants to gain the respect of pundits, and the NCAA committee. It would also behoove them to get their champion "playoff ready." The difference between the competition level of the average NEFC game and the NCAA playoffs is striking.

It is hard to believe Western New England adequately prepared its players for the size and speed of Salisbury by playing out of conference games against Massachusetts Maritime and Norwich. They should be following the lead of conference foe Salve Regina, which scheduled Montclair State and Union as their out of conference tests. Salve Regina blew out Worcester State 26-6 in their ECAC bowl. I would not be surprised if those out of conference tests had better prepared them for post season play.

Endicott simply did not deserve the at-large bid. There is no reason to believe the team which lost to Western New England would have fared better against Salisbury. For the growth of its own program, it needs to challenge itself on the field during the regular season. Until it does, there is no reason for the NCAA committee to give them the benefit of the doubt when their conference is 2-15 all time in the NCAA playoffs.

In other ECAC bowl competition, Cortland State shut out Albright 14-0, Lebanon Valley slipped by St. Vincent 23-15, Bethany beat up Kings 48-0, and Widener handled Waynesburg 48-27. Congratulations to the ECAC bowl winners, and to the seniors getting ready to graduate!

The second round of the NCAA playoffs kicks off this Saturday. Stay with us this week as we preview two huge games between east region teams.