Congrats to Widener, now pulling for you guys to win it all!

   I appreciate SUADC's passion, and it hurts like hell when you feel like you had a team that at least had the ability to (maybe) give Mount a game next week, but we obviously didn't. I don't know if they were looking past Widener, but we played poorly, and yes 15 penalties for 170 yards is huge-but the refs didn't lose the game for SU- SU lost the game for SU. All bear responsibility in the loss, offense, defense, coaches, game plan. And most importantly; you absolutely cannot turn the ball over, especially on your side of the 50.
   But let's give Widener credit- they were the better team and they deserved the win. Now I am pulling for them to go all the way, best of luck and give them hell in Alliance!
   And as always I love my Gulls win or lose! Go Gulls!

 WesleyDad ... good point on turnovers, obviously the game can change if SU or WU give away possesions....I think special teams are a critical part of playoff games as well...big games can turn on a special teams play...I don't know WU's kicking game, but I know that SU has the special teams player of the year in the E8 in their punter and a accurate placekicker as well and a good kick return game...have you seen WU's kicker(s)?

 This year's SU team is not as prolific on the offensive side of the ball, but they are capable of being scary good at times. The defense appears to be be getting healthy at the right time at the end of the year. SU being in the playoffs a bunch of times in recent years, getting to the quarter finals last year, and playing what looks like a little tougher schedule than WU, will be the difference in this game. Gulls in a close game-Go Gulls!

I am a Salisbury fan, but wanted to throw some congrats to a very good Rowan team...you guys were the real deal, and I know your future is bright with the QB Hamersma (sp?)...that kid is good and the rest of your squad is as well

Hi bman...I wish I could, but the wife agreed to a wedding invite for a friend's daughter...she said "I just looked at the regular schedule and forgot about the playoffs"...oh well, the wedding isn't until 3 so I should be able to watch the first half on the stream...a few years ago SU played Widener there and I went to the game...nice facility and some tailgating!...If my memory serves you guys used to fire a cannon after a TD?...or am I thinking of somewhere else?...either way I think this should a good game...and if I am right on that cannon I hope the guns are silent this weekend!

Obviously Widener is undefeated for a reason-they are a good football team...but that said SU is a good team as well and I feel a bit more battle tested as far as this year's schedule goes...I feel that is the difference and SU wins this one in a close game...in their snazzy away maroon, gold and white unis to boot!

and bman....I have yet to see a blue and white lion as well!

SUADC...I will always be a SU fan ...I was with Joe at the game, not sure if he had a chance to see all the old gang or not...I love your quote " when up, stay up and show no mercy"....that has to be from Coach Wood!...but if the tables are turned and the shoe is on the other foot so to speak, he doesn't complain, just says "hey we just gotta play/coach better!"...that is one of the reasons I really like the guy...
I feel good heading into Widener...not that it is going to be easy by any means, but the triple option can be tough to prepare for in 1 week of practice...and I think the defense is getting better each week
Go Gulls!

 Haven't been on in a while...but I have been lurking and watching the boards and my Salisbury Gulls...Went to Saturday's game and came away impressed with both teams' play. I will make no apologies/excuses for beating Rowan without their starter. The backup QB for Rowan is the real deal. I read up on him, coming out of Tenafly HS in NJ he was a well thought of recruit for some FCS teams before breaking his leg in a game about mid way through his senior season. He wound up as a preferred walk on at Rutgers, but landed at Rowan after a period at RU. The future for Rowan with this young man looks very bright indeed-watch out NJAC over the next 3 years. With that said my Gulls earned the win with their own outstanding play!...The game was not high scoring but was very exciting as both defenses played very well. Salisbury played as good a game as I have seen them play this year, save for 1 special teams miscue that could have been huge (muffed punt catch), but that player more than excelled on the next series of defense. The SU superback, Benedetti, was terrific and "pounded the rock" all day. The SU O-line was really good and got off the ball hard all day. #9 on defense for SU was a difference maker and after struggling early the d-backs clicked and starting getting in the passing lanes and disrupting the Rowan passing game....soo with all that said....even though Widener is at home and undefeated SU will be moving on to Alliance....Go GULLS!

Quote from: middlerelief on December 06, 2011, 08:49:38 PM
Here's a question (and go easy on me if you've already covered this!)

How does the E8 - and to a larger extent, NY STate/The East close the gap?

The E8 is a great conference in that it is competitive. The last 7 seasons it has sent 6 different teams to the NCAAs. Most of the time it seems the teams do well in getting past the first 2 rounds, but our out of region record not so well.

Salisbury for example, while an E8 team, is really a South team and cut through the league like nobody's business, still got beat by UWW handily. MUC has beaten up SJF, IC, Alfred, Cortland, Hobart, Montclaire et al. and St. Thomas as you all know beat SJF like few teams have.

So, is it players, coaching,, play calling - what is it in your opinion that has such a big gap it seems between us (E8 schools) and say the top 4 to 5 programs that we see in D3's top 25 every year??

hi middle...it isn't that it is just the "east" that hasn't closed the gap......nobody in the east, west, north or south has really been able to challenge MU and UWW over almost the entire last decade...SJF and SU were beaten by better teams, but it isn't like they are light years away either, keep the faith!

 I am going to jump into this fray with my .02 ...This is COLLEGE football. Salisbury has appeared to "run it up" on teams and had it "run up" on them. (Wesleydad - I remember '05  a 63-19 Wesley win over SU -I spoke to coach Wood after that game and he said-"We need to play and coach better, simple as that". Now I am sure he hated losing to Wesley as much or more than anyone, but he didn't fault them for scoring every chance they got. You can bet if the tables were turned he would have had that foot on the throttle too. Ask college coaches and they will tell you that all you can do is coach your team and  other side coaches theirs. Most have a "give no quarter and expect no quarter" mentality. They also know that what goes around usually comes around. It irks us as fans when the team we love is smacked hard and that is understandable, but most players understand that at this level it is what it is. With that said coaches have very long memories and if UST and SJF cross paths again, I'm sure the SJF coaches will remind the players of this game!
Go Gulls!

I missed SU's very first offensive posession, but watched the rest of the game and did not see #12 Ross Flanigan play for Salisbury. He shows in the participation report as playing, but no carries etc. Not that I feel SU wins with Flanigan, but he is one of, if not their best, offensive weapons. He was missed and it was very apparent in SU's inability to get outside that his speed was lacking in the offense. He is only a junior so I am looking forward to seeing Ross back next year. Pat? SUADC? Anyone know the story with Flanigan today?
thanks....and skunks_ -SU may have a little something to say about who the favorite is next year in the E8 
Go Gulls! 

 Great season Salisbury, thank you players, coaches and staff! Take it as a learning experience and come back next year and win it all!
Go Gulls!

UWW-Good luck the rest of the way, since my Gulls are done, hope you all get the trophy. Hopefully we have learned where we need to get to for another run and make it back next year.
Go Gulls!

Damn....good luck UWW-go win it all!