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Teams of some interest in the poll conducted by The Sports Network:
9. Fordham 8-0
10. Maine 7-1
16. New Hampshire 4-3
22. Lehigh 6-2
32. Princeton 5-1
34. Harvard 5-1
From the FCS Coaches poll:
8. Fordham 8-0
11. Maine 7-1
17. New Hampshire 4-3
21. Villanova 4-4
28. Princeton 5-1
32. Harvard 5-1
The Lambert Meadowlands football poll of Eastern FCS teams:
1. Fordham 8-0
2. (Tie) Towson 8-1
2. (Tie) Maine 7-1
4. New Hampshire 4-3
5. Princeton 5-1
6. Delaware 6-2
7. William & Mary 5-3
8. Villanova 4-4
9. (Tie) Harvard 5-1
9. (Tie) James Madison 5-3
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Princeton quarterback Quinn Epperly has been named the national offensive player of the week by The Sports Network. From TSN:Epperly finished with 321 passing yards and six touchdowns on 37-of-50 passing. He set school records in both single-game completions and touchdown passes, and had the game-winning toss to Roman Wilson in the third overtime period. He also led his team in carries, rushing 19 times for 86 yards, as the Tigers ended Harvard's 15-game home winning streak. Epperly's six touchdown passes match an Ivy League record first established in 1997 by current Princeton offensive coordinator James Perry.Green Alert Take: Congratulations to Epperly for a well-deserved award but it brings up something that has bugged me since the NCAA instituted overtime in 1996. I find it troublesome that artificially inflated statistics compiled in overtime should be included in game and season stats.
Consider that Dartmouth has allowed 121 points this year but 16 of them came in overtime when the ball was handed to the other team on the 25. The official stats show the Big Green allowing 20.2 points per game. But take away those 16 points and the number drops to 17.5.
Harvard has played six overtimes over two games this fall. That is almost another half game – but a half game conducted from the 25. The Crimson is giving up 28.2 points per game according to the official stats. In reality, they are giving up 22.7 points per game. Someone with more time than I am willing to waste would have to dig through the box scores to find out how many extra touchdown passes Harvard has thrown or allowed but suffice it to say it makes comparing stats between teams and individuals from other teams apples and oranges.
Baseball earned run average is determined by earned runs allowed per nine innings. The only fair way to include overtime stats for football would be to prorate them somehow, but even that wouldn't really be fair because, again, the ball is set up on the 25.
Old friend Tiger Blog notes that, "Princeton gave up 48 points against Harvard, or more points in a game it won than it ever has in the history of the program." But the Tigers allowed only 35 points in regulation. They previously won games allowing 36 and 37 points. In regulation. Apples and oranges.
In 2003 Arkansas and Kentucky were tied at the end of regulation, 24-24. Arkansas ended up winning, 71-63, in seven overtimes. The addition of all those points completely distorted statistics both for the teams and the individuals involved, and not just for one game. For the season.
End of rant.
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It got down to 19 degrees here on the mountain last night. It's coming ;-)
