Empire 8

[slickyquick]

It's all about packaging kids. If you have a high endowment then you can package kids better. I had a HS teammate that played football at UofR and his parents made more than enough money yet he got at least half off tuition. That's tough to turn down. To have a degree from that caliber of a school and pay a state school type tuition then it's a no brainer. That's basically what all the better private schools in the country do on a year to year basis. The problem usually is when the school decides that athletes don't get the great packages, then the sports suffer. I think Fisher is dealing with that right now a little.

By the way, the former UofR player that turned down a scholarship for football from Boston College was Seth Hauben. I didn't think that was much of a secret. I'm sure he got a pretty good "package" to play for the Yellow Jackets.

[Ethelred the Unready]

It's all about packaging kids. If you have a high endowment then you can package kids better. I had a HS teammate that played football at UofR and his parents made more than enough money yet he got at least half off tuition. That's tough to turn down. To have a degree from that caliber of a school and pay a state school type tuition then it's a no brainer. That's basically what all the better private schools in the country do on a year to year basis. The problem usually is when the school decides that athletes don't get the great packages, then the sports suffer. I think Fisher is dealing with that right now a little.

By the way, the former UofR player that turned down a scholarship for football from Boston College was Seth Hauben. I didn't think that was much of a secret. I'm sure he got a pretty good "package" to play for the Yellow Jackets.

He sure made an impact at UR

[GPT]

I would probably say he made out and the U of rR made out on that deal.

Also according to another Head Coach in the area, they said he ran into Hauben a few times during his senior year and had nothing but great things to say about the kid. He was nothing but a standup kid

Its just amazing that a kid pass's on a full ride to a Big East school and gos to the U of R if that doesn't tell you something....

[GPT]

Slick Quick you are dead on. I stated this before with Fishers Football program getting as good as it is.Basketball plays second fiddle

[sjfcards]

It's hard to imagine the Basketball team playing second fiddle to the Football team since Bob Ward, former Basketball coach, is the AD, but I guess it is the case. Football is where the money is, I guess. Fisher does a good job recruiting for the most part, but some extra packages would be great. 

[FROMAFAR]

This is all great stuff...... you guys are all on point...When the D3 school can package so the nut $$  is the same as a state school, they become competitive with the D2 school recruiting, and quite often the D3 schools are better academically... (not always, but generally).  So the student can now get a GREAT education.... PLAY the sport he/she loves....and not be too deep in tuition debt. when graduating....... The E-8 has some great schools academically, and a competitive athletic conference.  3 weeks to TIP......        

[Ethelred the Unready]

This is all great stuff...... you guys are all on point...When the D3 school can package so the nut $$  is the same as a state school, they become competitive with the D2 school recruiting, and quite often the D3 schools are better academically... (not always, but generally).  So the student can now get a GREAT education.... PLAY the sport he/she loves....and not be too deep in tuition debt. when graduating....... The E-8 has some great schools academically, and a competitive athletic conference.  3 weeks to TIP......        

One of the great disservices our "sports" culture perpetuates is that if you don't play DI, you're nothing more than a glorified intramural player.  Given how few DI players make it to the next level, I would argue that those who participate at DIII get more out of the experience.  Great education and more and more have the opportunity to play professionally overseas. 

[GPT]

I couldn't agree more with Fromafar. I was on of those people. I went to a BIG Basketball HS in NY and  I didn't play Basketball I played another sport. But all I new was D1D1D1. Which was was a a shame from a personal standpoint. Unfortunatley it still that way downthere. Its one of those if I new what I know now sort of things. I am going down to NYC this December and trying to p/u a alumni BB Game and I will talk to the Head Coach of m HS and let him know that about western NY D3 basketball and see if he even heard of the Fishers and the Ithacas and Elmiras. I will let you you know how it went

After talking to one E8 HC this might be the tightest E8 season in years with up to 5 to 6 teams having a shot at the auto bid

[FisherDynasty]

The large number of d3 colleges in NY does not help with recruiting, especially around the rochester NY area.  year in and year out Rochester has around 2 maybe even 3 schools in top 25 (Fisher, UofR recent years, and Bport and Naz in some years).  Recruiting wise, that makes it tough as the players get spread around.  UofR plays in a better league and flies to games and also is the best academically so can recruit players from other areas better.  Fisher started to recruit elsewhere, last years team had a number of out of staters, but that doesnt necessarily make you better. the previous fisher teams that went far in the ncaa were majority from NY and were better than UofR that had out of staters.  From a West region stand point there are less D2 schools  and there are fewer d3 schools and they are much larger, making recruiting better. 

From an earlier point on D8 teams beating each other, that is because there usually are not a lot of standout teams besides fisher in the past.  They were the best and beat everyone losing only a few games in a few years, thats what a top 25 team does in a weaker conference.  Teams like UofR and the teams in the Wisconsin league an lose more games and still be in as their conf. are much better.  The past years the E8 has not had many teams good enough to be in the top 25.  Fisher was, RIT was (low end of 25) the year murphy played, Naz the year they had jimmy evans, Utica during cichon and company, Bport and Potsdam the last few years, hamilton a year or two and thats about it.

[FROMAFAR]

GPT when you go down to the city in December try to catch a Stevens game. They are playing NYU at Stevens on Dec. 6. They don't play again until late DECEMBER.........If you haven't seen the campus it's nice, and the town is pretty hopping.........Alot to do.......... They play RIT late January and I have to work my schedule so I can be down there for that one... hopefully it means something to RIT.....

[GPT]

I will try, no promises. When I go down I have to do all the family and friends stuff. I am trying to get an updated schedule from from my HS so I can go to a boys game. if not I might have to go to a girls game they are are probably better anyway. I am usually in NYC Turkey Day weekend this year I'm going in Dec so the kids can see the tree. So un fortunatley stevens is probably last on the list.

Any other rosters available

[FROMAFAR]

GPT That's too bad, I think as an E-8 fan you would have enjoyed it...  I can't make it either, checked my schedule I'll be on the other end.... I'm going to try and make the Rochester and Nazareth games early Dec. But I try to watch as many e-8 games as I can on the video.

[Ethelred the Unready]

GPT That's too bad, I think as an E-8 fan you would have enjoyed it...  I can't make it either, checked my schedule I'll be on the other end.... I'm going to try and make the Rochester and Nazareth games early Dec. But I try to watch as many e-8 games as I can on the video.

We'll compare notes after the UR/RIT game.   

[FROMAFAR]

Get ready unready....... that game will tell alot about RIT.... it's a good test for them to see where we are.......I think our shooting is key ( like it's not for everyone) but with Carson it will make life a little easier if they have to respect us outside..... I'll tell you this is going to be some season... No easy games and while Ithaca should be most consistant, they are vulnerable at times. I can't see anyone with less than 4 lost conference games. The team that can win on the road consistantly will pressuer the rest of the league. ( another great revelation). Big factor to watch is injuries as well. Not many teams are deep this year. I'll list the players that I feel each team cannot afford to lose in a future e-mail..... I ahve to earn my paycheck now... 

[Ethelred the Unready]

Get ready unready....... that game will tell alot about RIT.... it's a good test for them to see where we are.......I think our shooting is key ( like it's not for everyone) but with Carson it will make life a little easier if they have to respect us outside..... I'll tell you this is going to be some season... No easy games and while Ithaca should be most consistant, they are vulnerable at times. I can't see anyone with less than 4 lost conference games. The team that can win on the road consistantly will pressuer the rest of the league. ( another great revelation). Big factor to watch is injuries as well. Not many teams are deep this year. I'll list the players that I feel each team cannot afford to lose in a future e-mail..... I ahve to earn my paycheck now... 

Didn't mean to mislead you, but while I have a nephew who is a track stud at RIT, I have closer ties to U of R basketball.