The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
After five weeks of football, the Patriot League is 7-24 against independent teams. Of those seven wins, only two would be considered quality wins: Holy Cross over New Hampshire and Fordham over Richmond. The other five were not impressive, nor unexpected.
Three teams, Colgate, Lafayette, and Lehigh, who have won the most championships in Patriot League history (22) are collectively 1-13 after this past week. That one win was by Lehigh over Merrimack by a 10-3 score. Merrimack is not considered a football powerhouse by any stretch.
So what is wrong here? Since the advent of scholarships in the Patriot League in 2012, not much has improved. And, in fact, it could be argued that things have gotten much worse. That was certainly not the goal when the presidents allowed football scholarships.
I cannot say it better than an anonymous writer offered up in October, 2015, in a blog titled, “What’s Wrong with the Patriot League?” May I suggest you read the entire piece?
http://georgetownfootball.blogspot.com/2018/10/whats-wrong-with-patriot-league.html?m=1
The solutions offered are:
- Address the scholarship rules
- Revisit redshirting
- Look at scheduling and support
- Consider expansion
If you are at all interested, you should read the entire blog. It is lengthy, but it is clear, well-researched, and to the point. I cannot offer up a better conclusion than the author does:
“This isn’t the Ivy League. Either the PL must grow or it runs the risk of atrophy and a slow death.
Because in the end, what’s wrong with the Patriot League is almost entirely self-inflicted, which is both hopeful as well as challenging. Leadership, not platitudes, will set a course for its stability and future.”
I hope someone is listening.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Lafayette’s Joe Maddon is out of a job. After five seasons and leading the Cubs to the World Series Championship in 2016 (their first since 1908), Maddon was fired after the Cubs’ final game. He will be a valuable “free agent”, for sure (perhaps, Philadelphia?)
- There were plenty of other major league managers let go this past weekend – Clint Hurdle of the Pirates, Ned Yost of the Royals, Andy Green of the Padres, and Bruce Bochy of the Giants (retired). Will Gabe Kapler of the Phillies join the list shortly? It did not happen on Sunday so he might hang in there. I doubt it.
- Since the media isn’t often depicted favorably anymore, there was a good story out of St. Louis on Sunday. A videographer collapsed in the Chicago Cubs’ dugout and a St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer, Derrick Goold, performed CPR and, according to medical officials, saved his life. Goold was a former lifeguard and Eagle Scout.
- What a week in the NFL – there were upsets galore: Eagles, Tennessee, Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans. All in all nine underdogs won. I knew my picks were going along too nicely!
- The best of the Colonial League highlights our schedule this Friday night when once-beaten Northwestern takes on undefeated Southern Lehigh followed by once-beaten Freedom taking on undefeated Easton. The action starts at 7:00pm on RCN-TV.
GARY’GUESSES (LAST WEEK –8-7) (YEAR-TO-DATE – 42-20-1 68%)
