Thanks Lc and best wishes to you.

Lc,

There are many high schools in NY.  Alfred, although in perhaps sort of a wilderness area itself, is a convenient drive from Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse and points in between.  However, a fair amount of recruits also come from the Albany and Long Island (350 mi) areas plus some counties just north of NY City.  So, in state trips can cover some distance and time.

When going south from Alfred you quickly enter rural PA.  A number of standout players have come from there over the years but not so many all at once.  Our 6'6" So. QB (Kane, PA) might develop into something special if he continues to improve as he did last year becoming 3rd team E8 as a FY. Also three other players are from PA.

Additionally, I notice individuals from CA, MA, FL-2 and a LB from Switzerland.

Generally, I would say a good number of players on the roster are standouts and/or multi sport athletes from smaller high schools as well as urban area larger schools. 

Alfred University - Outside of Ordinary

 I think Alfred University is hitting a lot of home runs.  The recruiting strategy has resulted in back to back E8 Softball Championships.  I don't know any specifics of that strategy, however it brings players from across the nation, although mostly from one state.  Since 2019 through the 2023 recruiting class, the roster has 8,9,12,14 and 11 players from California.  I guess Mayberry has some allure. 

Good call Pep !  I was there at that time and never would have remembered.

UfanBill - Best of luck !  I visited with my brother over the holidays and he is excited also.  However, he may be tied up come gametime.  He is receiving some award from work and obviously the employer doesn't want to use time during the week.  He was studying Pol Sci there in the 80's.  Again good luck !

Quote from: Jonny Utah on November 15, 2019, 12:17:07 PM

Quote from: Oline89 on November 15, 2019, 11:47:15 AM
I have wondered about this as well.  Seems like SJF, Hartwick or Alfred would have been a better "general" fit for the league?  Keep the Empire 8 primarily state schools/ LL more private liberal arts schools.

Not to be picky but including Utica College makes the E8 primarily a private school league, 4-3

To be picky, the ratio may be consider 4-4 or 4-3.5  This would account for the SUNY College of Ceramics at Alfred University.  Just another unique aspect, as the College of Ceramics is a statutory college of SUNY with associated NYS costs, located at a private university.

Similar institutions are at Cornell -Veterinary Medicine, and Syracuse - College of Forestry.   Who would of thunk 

Quote from: Ice Bear on November 08, 2019, 12:17:09 PM

Quote from: wally_wabash on November 07, 2019, 09:12:14 PM
Didn't mean any disrespect to IWU or North Central or the CCIW in general.  Let's distill what I meant into simple, easy to digest fragments:

- North Central is the best non-champion in the North region
- North Central is demonstrably better than Illinois Wesleyan and should beat them, probably comfortably, on Saturday
- If North Central is looking ahead to the tournament or otherwise not focused singularly on this game, Illinois Wesleyan- while not as good as North Central- is good enough to beat the Cardinals if the Cardinals don't have their act together.  For precedent, please refer to Concordia-Moorhead v. St. John's (2019). 

I apologize to any other Trap Game Strict Constructionists out there that I may have offended with my careless and irresponsible use of that particular colloquialism.

Ice Bear says this impressive word play is only expected from the NESCAC board. Wally, Ice says you should repost this over there to remind "those people" that there are some bright spots outside of the NESCAC world. That was some Wu-tang swordsmen type **** right there.

Ice gives a +K to WW!

Saxon73 ((and this is my first and probably last ever third person post)) appreciates this verbal exchange.  There have been comments in the past that the Alfred posters were prone to unusually precise and accurate grammar and spelling.  This may be attributed to the general aged wisdom of the three usual suspects or their background.  Pep of course has confessed many times to his journalism background; SaxonTad's profession involves word smithing, ((he can divulge if he so desires)) and Saxon73 has the coveted Glass Science degree in which most posters would likely recognize the inherent technical precision and accuracy therein.  I believe no one of us three were football players, ((although Saxon73 was all conference in a different sport,)) Saxon73 is in wonderment as to why, with the distinguished history of Alfred football, there are not posts from actual former players.

Saxon73 feels akin to Ice Bear and Union College although he decided to choose the Alfred program, however his younger brother did go to Union and went on to the local word smith college minutes from Shocktown.  To add a little background in the spirit of Pep's historical magnificence, the first instructors for what became Alfred University were Union College graduates.

By coincidence, Saxon73 worked in Indiana for some time in a town on the Wabash river, not far from Wabash College and Saxon73 experienced the supreme hospitality of the people of the the Midwest. Saxon73 can compare this to his life experience having grown up near Utica NY and after college lived also in Myrtle Beach SC, State College PA, Albuquerque NM and Milford Ct.

Approaching 69 years of age, Saxon73 hopes the younger, more exuberant posters will continue to enjoy the opportunity Pat Coleman has established, which enables such an opportunity to meet and share thoughts, feelings and experience of D3 sports.

May each and all posters relish today's experience and carry on.

The Saxons host the Utica Pioneers in their last scheduled home game.  It is likely that most posters on this board give Alfred the edge.  Having not lost on Merrill Field this year, it is in contrast to losses at Ithaca and Cortland.  With trips yet to go to Brockport and Fisher, it is a really tough away schedule.  Hopefully with perhaps one more loss in the worst case, under normal circumstances we can look forward to an ECAC game.

However with the possibilities of a mix of results possible including Brockport, Cortland, Ithaca and Union the NYS Bowl is a slim but actual possibility.  Without repeating any match up I guess it could only be Alfred and Union if the other three teams got into the playoffs.  If Union got into the playoffs also, would it come down to Alfred v Hobart?

I kind of would like to see an ECAC v Grove City or Wilkes from the declared list.  A Hobart game for the Saxons would be great but I am looking at the exposure for recruiting purposes.  Ithaca and Cortland have pulled off quite a good move with their Met Life game.

I'm thinking that the Brockport v Utica game could be very interesting.  Having lost to Hobart, Brockport has met only limited adversity to Framingham on their schedule.  Utica is the type of team that can really reach out and bite your favorite team.  Wilcox can score quickly with his arm and Buffalo St. was able to show some ability there against Brockport.

Closer than some might think or surprise upset

Quote from: AUPepBand on October 19, 2019, 03:57:54 PM
Final from Cortland: Red Dragons 31, Alfred 21.

Two special teams score carry the home team to victory...kickoff return for TD on a reverse after Alfred's first score, then a blocked punt scoop and score. AU battled and dominated on the ground....but too much to overcome.

Curious to see the final box score. Thinking that looking at the stats, one might conclude AU won the game, but those two special team scores too much to overcome.

On Saxon Warriors!

Quote from: XREDDRAGON77 on October 19, 2019, 04:17:48 PM
Alfred won in the stat column.  Not a convincing showing by the Red Dragons, but there was a lot of grit and fight in that Alfred team!

It's a little spooky that last year these tables were turned.  At Yunevich Stadium Cortland won the stats by far, although the Saxons won by 38 - 33.  On special teams Kevin Bragaglia returned a punt 92 yards for the decisive score.  It didn't hurt that AU's defense intercepted five passes by five different players.   

Quote from: Inkblot on October 21, 2019, 06:20:09 PM
Does anyone know the MAC tiebreaking rules? What happens if Delaware Valley and Misericordia both go 8-0?

Amazing conundrum seeing as Misericordia plays neither Del Valley or Stevenson.  Lovin' how this might work out.   

Quote from: ITH radio on October 18, 2019, 01:43:21 PM
In our picks show today at 11 I went with Cortland exactly bc of what you stated. I'm not sold the Saxons offense is two dimensional enough to keep the Dragons at bay.

Quote from: Bombers798891 on October 18, 2019, 12:58:10 PM
Couple people picking Alfred to possibly upset Cortland in the quick picks, though I'm not sure I agree.

Alfred's inability to pass the ball against Ithaca (14-for-34, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) is troubling, considering how the IC pass defense had issues against St. John Fisher, Buff State, and St. Vincent. Even St. Lawrence was able to hit several big plays.

The Saxon defense held up okay, but 27 points and 370 yards isn't especially encouraging given that IC ran out the last 9:30 and how the Red Dragons can score.

I think this is going to go a bit like the IC game, where the Saxons will hold up for a bit, but eventually just be outgunned. Cortland 31-13.

Understandable thoughts.   From the glass half full viewpoint, consider this:   1)  The QB riddle looks to be answered.  Casey Boston led the last two games (U of R and Mo'ville) with 70% completion rate in both.  The caveat being only 20 and 17 attempts therein.   2)  As mentioned in Quick Hits, the Saxons have sacked opponents 21 times this year.   3)  Some changes and experience on defense may show improvement versus the Dragons well balanced attack, although there is question as to how much they have been tested to date.   4) A fumble here or an INT there can change things by the physical Saxons.  I try to keep an eye on Greer and Milgate.   5)  Cortland is not Ithaca.  Could be a really exciting game.  Maybe the glass is more than half full.   

No issue here. Pep was flattered that anyone even noticed the kazoo, trumpet and drum and the frozen musicians that day.
[/quote]


I was there Pep and I noticed the Pep Band and it was cold (the weather).

 Alfred - 35   Thiel - 0     at the half

I am not sure if he played football at Alfred University in the 30's, (Pep may be able to verify) but Dr Norm Schachter refereed the first Super Bowl and two others (V and X) plus the first Monday Night Game and a number of conference championship games. Clearly he was at the top of said profession.