Gridiron Classic confirmed (2nd Place NEC vs. PFL Champ)

Post by **danefan** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:51 pm

Lee McElroy (Albany AD) just said in the halftime interview that the NEC will indeed be putting two teams in the post season - the NEC champ with the AQ and the 2nd place NEC team against the PFL Champ in the Gridiron Classic.

Surprising to say the least why the PFL would agree to that.

Post by **DSUrocks07** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:56 pm

Yeah the SWAC would have no part of that kind of offer on our end...

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:07 pm

danefan wrote:Surprising to say the least why the PFL would agree to that.

Why wouldn't they? To me, playing a game against a 2nd-place team is better than not playing at all.

blukeys · Post by **blukeys** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:52 pm

Glad to see the PFL has finally found its rightful place in playing the runner up of the NEC.

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:04 pm

blukeys wrote:Glad to see the PFL has finally found its rightful place in playing the runner up of the NEC.

the PFL is 3-1 all-time in the Gridiron Classic

Previous Gridiron Classic Results
Season PFL Team NEC Team Result
2006 San Diego @Monmouth USD, 27-7
2007 @Dayton Albany DAY, 42-21
2008 Jacksonville @Albany ALB, 28-0
2009 @Butler Central Connecticut BUT, 28-23

Post by **danefan** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:21 am

JayJ79 wrote:
danefan wrote:Surprising to say the least why the PFL would agree to that.
Why wouldn't they? To me, playing a game against a 2nd-place team is better than not playing at all.

Except its a little weird when you are also in the process of trying to get an AQ......"hey look at us we should have an AQ.......but we already think you're going to deny us so we'll just go play the 2nd best team from another league with an AQ instead...."

I hated the NEC champion participating in the GiC for the same reason.

DetroitFlyer · Post by **DetroitFlyer** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:26 am

At this point in the season, the NEC champion is looking like Robert Morris. One of the current first place teams in the PFL has already defeated Robert Morris. If you believe the polls, JU, who is tied with UD for the PFL lead at the moment, would probably also handle Robert Morris without too much trouble. So, there are at least two teams in the PFL that could defeat the top team in the NEC.... Why would either team want to play against the second place team? If UD and JU finish at 10-1, 9-1 FCS, they both deserve serious consideration for an at large bid. As I type this today, there is every reason to believe that either PFL team would fare as well if not better than the NEC AQ this year....

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:29 am

danefan wrote:
JayJ79 wrote: Why wouldn't they? To me, playing a game against a 2nd-place team is better than not playing at all.
Except its a little weird when you are also in the process of trying to get an AQ......"hey look at us we should have an AQ.......but we already think you're going to deny us so we'll just go play the 2nd best team from another league with an AQ instead...."

I hated the NEC champion participating in the GiC for the same reason.

They aren't going to get an AQ this year. so playing in the GIC isn't preventing them from that.

Plus, I'm pretty sure there has always been a clause in the GIC arrangement in that if any of the teams (PFL champ, or NEC runner-up, in this case) do end up getting selected for an at-large playoff bid, then the next team from that league gets the GIC spot.

aceinthehole · Post by **aceinthehole** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:31 am

First, I disagee with danefan - the GIC was great for the NEC when we didn't have the AQ. We had asked for the playoffs and were denied. The fact that the NEC got to play a postseason game was great. The NEC went 1-3, but that didn't hurt our chances to eventually get the AQ. We got the AQ due to the great work of our conference commissioner and the tough schedules the NEC played in non-conference.

Second, the PFL champ is going to be a very good team. Dayton has already beaten RMU in week 1 and Jacksonville has a win over a up-and-comming scholarship team in ODU and was respectable loss vs App State. One of these teams DESERVES a post season game. They don't have the AQ and likely won't get an at-large, so why shouldn't they play a post season game?

Flyer - you again make false assumptions. The PFL champ has proven to be the same caliber as the NEC champ for the last 4 years. I have no reason to think your champ still isn't the same caliber as the NEC champ. But assuming wins and guarnteeing a PFL win based on a week 1 result is silly - you know it and so does evyone on this board.

As usually this will play its way out. My biggest complaint is the PFL won't have a REAL CHAMP because Dayton and JU don't play each other. By avoiding this regular season game, you try to imply both teams are deserving of the playoffs/postr season. I leave you with one question:

If the PFL was granted an AQ this year, how would the PFL determine the league champ and representative in the FCS playoffs?

Post by **mlbowl** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:11 am

I want a front row seat to that pillow fight!

CoachL · Post by **CoachL** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:15 am

mlbowl wrote:I want a front row seat to that pillow fight!

That is the same things ignorant fans of FBS teams say about the FCS Championship game.

CoachL · Post by **CoachL** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:24 am

This rumor (and it is still just a RUMOR) is one of the more absurd things that I have heard in a long time.

Oh boy! We get to play another game!!! (That is totally meaningless.)

The reality is that even if Jacksonville and Dayton both finish the season with only one loss apiece, neither of them are going to be chosen for the playoffs. We can debate the merits of that ad nauseum, but that's the reality.

Personally, what I would like to see (given the above-stated reality) is a post-season Dayton vs. Jacksonville game to determine a "real" PFL champion. I don't see the PFL administration going for that, but one can dream!

Post by **mlbowl** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:29 am

CoachL wrote:
mlbowl wrote:I want a front row seat to that pillow fight!

That is the same things ignorant fans of FBS teams say about the FCS Championship game.

Lighten up Francis...it's a joke!

aceinthehole · Post by **aceinthehole** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:36 am

CoachL wrote:The reality is that even if Jacksonville and Dayton both finish the season with only one loss apiece, neither of them are going to be chosen for the playoffs. We can debate the merits of that ad nauseum, but that's the reality.

Personally, what I would like to see (given the above-stated reality) is a post-season Dayton vs. Jacksonville game to determine a "real" PFL champion. I don't see the PFL administration going for that, but one can dream!

I agree with you (I think).

1) The fact is neither Jacksonville or Dayton will make the playoffs this year. They don't have the AQ and their at-large resume is not strong enough. We can debate if that is fair (I think the PFL should have an AQ), but the REALITY is both of these teams won't be participating in the playoffs.

2) Because of the point made above, why shouldn't the PFL champ get to play a post season game? The conference champ should be rewarded with a bowl game.

Clearly, PFL fans have used the GIC as bragging rights over the NEC (and rightfuilly so), so why not put your champ against our #2, if another PFL win is "guaranteed?"

My issue with the PFL is the heavy non-DI schedule and the fact that JU and Dayton don't play in the regular season and we have no way to know who the real conference champ is. If JU lost to Dayton in the regular season, there would be no reason to put the Dolphins in any playoff discussions and Dayton could make its own very strong case for an at-large.

The PFL is the cause of most of their own problems.

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:40 am

aceinthehole wrote:As usually this will play its way out. My biggest complaint is the PFL won't have a REAL CHAMP because Dayton and JU don't play each other. By avoiding this regular season game, you try to imply both teams are deserving of the playoffs/postr season. I leave you with one question:

If the PFL was granted an AQ this year, how would the PFL determine the league champ and representative in the FCS playoffs?

I suppose they could use whatever tiebreaker procedure that the CAA does to determine their conference champ and AQ. *shrug*

Or whatever the Big Ten has done to determine it's "champion", since they don't have a round-robin schedule.

CoachL · Post by **CoachL** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:42 am

mlbowl wrote:Lighten up Francis...it's a joke!

I got it, Mary!

It's really funny that fans of FCS teams think that other FCS teams are "beneath" them.

The following is a joke...

Ohio State or Oregon or Texas or Oklahoma or Florida or Alabama or (name your Major College - FBS/BCS) football fan:

"Villanova is the Champion of WHAT? Does Villanova even have a football team? They beat WHO? Montana? WTF? The "Brokeback Mountain" boys play football???"

Just a joke!

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:43 am

CoachL wrote:Oh boy! We get to play another game!!! (That is totally meaningless.)

I dunno, there are plenty of FBS teams that get excited over getting to play another game that is just as meaningless as the GIC.

CoachL · Post by **CoachL** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:47 am

JayJ79 wrote:I dunno, there are plenty of FBS teams that get excited over getting to play another game that is just as meaningless as the GIC.

The GIC wasn't bad when it was between two champions.

Between a sort-of-champion and a #2?

Not so much.

Post by **mlbowl** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:56 am

CoachL wrote:
"Villanova is the Champion of WHAT? Does Villanova even have a football team? They beat WHO? Montana? WTF? The "Brokeback Mountain" boys play football???"[/i]

Just a joke!

Not very funny...but an E for effort

aceinthehole · Post by **aceinthehole** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:10 am

CoachL wrote:
JayJ79 wrote:I dunno, there are plenty of FBS teams that get excited over getting to play another game that is just as meaningless as the GIC.
The GIC wasn't bad when it was between two champions.

Between a sort-of-champion and a #2?

Not so much.

I understand your point, but I would note most FBS bowl games don't involve 2 conference champs against each other - the BCS championship and Rose Bowl matchup (Pac10/Big10) are the obvious exceptions. I get that at FCS its all about the national championship playoffs, but knowing the PFL won't be participating, isn't the GIC a way to get the PFL champ an extra game and some FCS bragging rights?

A PFL championship would be fine, but I think the GIC helps, not hurts, the conference reputation. Many on this board have opened up there eyes to the PFL champ, because of their impressive record vs. the NEC in the GIC. IMO, even though the NEC #2 is playing, it is a meaningful game for a league who doesn't play many regular season non-conference games vs. AQ opponents.

A PFL championship would appear that the PFL wants to remain very insular (like the Ivy and SWAC).

DetroitFlyer · Post by **DetroitFlyer** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:45 pm

When Marist joined the PFL, Dayton is reported to have voted for a full, round robin schedule.... Unfortunately, it is said that the majority of the league did not want it.... The UD players are bummed that we do not get JU this year. It will be odd if both programs go 10-1.... I do not know if the NCAA would even allow a defacto championship game.... Currently, JU has the edge in the polls. Not really sure why, other than losing to App State must look better than losing to Duquesne.... Personally, I would argue that beating RMU looks better than beating ODU.... I really do not understand the week one comment.... The last time I checked, the results from EVERY week count. I sure would like to ingnore that week two result my Flyers had at Duquesne....

JayJ79 · Post by **JayJ79** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:45 pm

siuham · Post by **siuham** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:04 pm

So CCU/RMU vs Jacksonville/Dayton

Dayton already lost one game to an NEC team.

aceinthehole · Post by **aceinthehole** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:20 am

siuham wrote:So CCU/RMU vs Jacksonville/Dayton

Dayton already lost one game to an NEC team.

CCSU - Central Connecticut State University
(CCU - Coastal Carolina Universty is in the Big South)

FYI - Dayton is 1-1 vs the NEC this year. They beat RMU, but lost to Duquesne.

Also, Monmouth is in the hunt for the NEC title or runner-up.

LastMinuteman · Post by **LastMinuteman** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:10 am

In true FBS bowl fashion, have the PFL champ play the #7 CAA team.

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