Final D3football.com Poll Smacks Statesmen

The 2011 Liberty League co-champion Hobart Statesmen (7-2) gave #3 Wesley (12-2, losers by a touchdown to national runners up # 2 Mount Union, 14-1) one of their closest games of the NCAA playoffs, but was left out of the final Top 25 poll by the "panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country."

Saint John Fisher (10-3), who benefited from a better seeding from the NCAA Playoff Committee (in spite of a 36 point loss to Hobart back in September) finished the year with a #11 ranking.  That said the final placement of Johns Hopkins (#18, 10-1), Delaware Valley (#13, 11-1) and Baldwin-Wallace (#24, 8-2) really calls this group of pollsters into question. 

Although Hobart didn't do itself any favors with voters given their eight game schedule and the one point RPI loss; the Statesmen acquitted themselves very well taking the Wolverines to the brink with several key offensive players out of the line up.  Hobart proved with out a doubt they not only belonged in the tournament, but had they had Fisher or another team's (better) draw, they would have likely advanced a couple of rounds given how well they played against Wesley.

Still, the voters apparently took the view that Hobart was a two-loss team that exited the playoffs in the first round (even though they challenged the #3 team in the country as well, if not better than other higher ranked teams).  That said all the evidence shows they overlooked the fact that the Statesmen were clearly a Top 25 team. 

Hopefully the returning Hobart players will take this oversight by the D3football.com community as added fuel to push for another LL title and a better / longer playoff run in 2012.

Comin' Atcha hits 10,000!!!

Thanks to all the readers out there who helped get this blog to 10,000 views since going live back in August of 2009.  I appreciate the visits and interest in Division III and specifically Hobart football from all the fans, alumni and others out there!

See you in 2012 when I am sure to have a few updates on incoming recruits.

Happy holidays!

JB

Hobart lands four players on the D3football.com All-East Region Team

Hobart SR CB Drake Woodard was named to the D3football.com All-East Region first team today.

Statesmen SR OL Brendan Hatlee, SO OLB Devin Worthington and FY DE Tyre Coleman each received second team recognition as well. 

A copy of the press release is below:

http://static.psbin.com/f/3/f3e93d39hkcp7q/d3football-all-east-region-2011.pdf

While the Woodard selection isn't a surprise, Coleman's not making the first team can be thought of as an "upset" given his stats (e.g., second in DIII in sacks). Still it's extremely rare for a freshman to break through to a first team award, which tend to go to upperclassmen.

Still, it's quite an accomplishment for all the Hobart players selected.  Congratulations to Drake, Brendan, Devin and Tyre!