RFC Summer Semester--Liberty League Preview (NCAA Division III)

Liberty League (NCAA Division III)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: Hobart (12-1 overall) dominated the Liberty League en route to winning that conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2012, finishing unbeaten in league play at 7-0.  St. Thomas, though, stomped the Statesman, 47-7, in the quarterfinal round.

Looking ahead: Barring any losses due to serious injury, academic, or other issues, don't be surprised if Hobart ends up making another deep postseason run in 2013.
 
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Hobart (12-1):  The Statesmen won exactly 12 games in 2012, thanks to scoring an average of more than 36 points per game.  Still, the thumping they took at the hands of St. Thomas in the D-III playoffs has the Hobart faithful hoping for much more this season.  If they're to make it at least 13 wins in 2013, the Statesmen must overcome the loss of 13 seniors from that squad, including quarterback Nick Strang.

2. Springfield (8-3):  The Pride will look to mount a serious threat to the Statesmen's supremacy in the LL in 2013, under veteran head coach Mike DeLong.  But they must overcome an early season stretch of playing three home games in the season's first four weeks if they're to do just that.

3. Union (N.Y.)--(6-4):  The Dutchmen overcame an 0-3 start to finish strong, at 6-1 in Liberty League action in 2012.  That was good enough for a second place finish in the conference, with the only loss there coming to Hobart.  It'll be interesting to see if Union can make a serious run at the crown in 2013, as the Dutchmen will face the Statesmen at home on November 2.

4. Merchant Marine (5-5):  The Mariners defeated St. Lawrence, 33-12, to finish 3-4 in LL play in 2012.  That's something that the USMMA faithful hopes will carry over into 2013.

5. RPI (5-4):  A promising 5-1 start disintegrated into a disappointing three-game losing streak to end 2012 for the Engineers.  They hope that new Head Coach Ralph Isernia can get their program back to the days of when they won at least seven or more games seven times from 1999-2008. That stretch included a deep run in the D-III playoffs in 2003, when they fell to eventual national champion St. John's. 

6. Rochester (4-5):  The Yellowjackets were solid at home in 2012, going 3-1, but not so much on the road, finishing with a 1-4 mark in away games.  Winning those games in enemy territory just might be one of the keys to victory in 2013.

7. WPI (2-8):  Winning seasons have been few and far between for the Engineers, who have finished above. 500 just twice since 2000.  Their last winning campaign was in 2008, when they finished 7-3.

8. St. Lawrence (0-10):  What a difference two years makes? In 2010, the Saints were an NCAA playoff team, finishing 5-1 in conference games (5-6 overall).  But by the end of the 2012 season, they finished it without a single win.  They enter 2013 hoping to win their first contest since November 12, 2011, when they outlasted WPI, 21-14.

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