Empire 8

[FROMAFAR]

I am sorry to hear that as well....Hate to send of these guys get hurt...they have spent many hours on the court since they were 5 or 6 years old, then when they get to their last step, an injury like this is devestating...I hope we all have it wrong, and he just has a sprain of some sort ( wishful thinking maybe) but you never know. As far as Fisher goes, I'm sure they will adjust quickly.  yes LL next year for RIT, don't remind me, I am not happy about the move......

[fisheralum91]

almost time to make the transition from fb to bb.
looking forward to hearing about the fisher team this year--hoping for a better season.

[AUPepBand]

almost time to make the transition from fb to bb.
looking forward to hearing about the fisher team this year--hoping for a better season.

What's the hurry? 

Seriously, though, Pep is excited about basketball season as Coach Dale Wellman's got his first recruiting class on the roster, bringing in kids from Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania....in addition to Webster, Fairport, etc. Likewise, he's got some vets back who know his scheme and perhaps can take it to another level in 2009-2010.

Now if Pep can get the band on board for home games....On Saxon Warriors!

[fisheralum91]

killing me pep..
you must have a strong recruiter to get those guys up to mayberry!!

[sjfcards]

yes LL next year for RIT, don't remind me, I am not happy about the move......

Does anyone know the rationale for RIT leaving the E8 and going to the LL? Academically is makes some sense I guess, but I don't know what they gain?

Pep, I am interested in AU this year as well. They looked much improved last year, and I can remember some good AU teams a few years back. Not sure what their names were, but when I was a Freshman at Fisher they had a rediculously good point guard and a legit 6-10/6-11 center that was super athletic for DIII basketball.

[AUPepBand]

killing me pep..
you must have a strong recruiter to get those guys up to mayberry!!

Getting them to visit is the key. Once Wellman gets them on campus, his first stop is the library where he can introduce them to Pep. Once they've met Pep, they're sold on Alfred. 

[AUPepBand]

yes LL next year for RIT, don't remind me, I am not happy about the move......

Does anyone know the rationale for RIT leaving the E8 and going to the LL? Academically is makes some sense I guess, but I don't know what they gain?

Pep, I am interested in AU this year as well. They looked much improved last year, and I can remember some good AU teams a few years back. Not sure what their names were, but when I was a Freshman at Fisher they had a rediculously good point guard and a legit 6-10/6-11 center that was super athletic for DIII basketball.

RIT's forte is its hockey. LL has hockey. members have hockey programs in the ECAC. Any hockey in the E8? At least that's Pep's take.

Not sure of the point guard...could have been a guy named "Q" who actually transferred over from Alfred State. The tall dude, if Pep is correct, was likely a 6-9 Kareem McKinnon, who wasn't that great out of high school (from the city) but whose "Senior Day" game included at least five slams. He vastly improved during his time at AU and was just a great kid who did well in his business and marketing studies. Pep wonders what he's doing now....just a super individual. In fact, Pep thinks he went on the annual Florida Spring Break Habitat Trip the year before Pep started going....probably in 2002.

[tigerfan2]

When McKinnon was playing I thought the PG's at Alfred were Will Smith (hurt his Sr year) and Devin Downey.

Those teams at AU were loaded and its disappointing that Murphy could never get the best out of them. I know injuries played a part but they had more talent than anyone in the E8 for a couple years.

[fisheralum91]

ya had me at hello pep,

ya had me at hello

[owen]

Sounds right Pep, re RIT's reasons for the move... the hockey angle makes sense. LL has a number of decent D1 hockey schools like Clarkson, RPI, Union, and St. Lawrence. Although I don't think there is such a thing as 'Liberty League hockey.' They're in the ECAC, not the Liberty League, right? RIT sports program is similar to those four other colleges - D1 hockey and D3 pretty much everything else.

[owen]

And by "They're in the ECAC" I meant those four other Liberty League schools - not RIT which is in Atlantic Hockey. Sorry! Wonder if RIT hockey will wind up in the ECAC when it joins the LL? That's not a topic for this board though.

[sjfcards]

I think it has to be the hockey angle for RIT, but considering that the ECAC Hockey league is a DI league it doesn't make much sense to me. I know that RIT is D1 in hockey, but they are already in a conference, and the ECAC hockey league is loaded with good teams. I doubt they are interested in adding a sub par DI program. (No offense RIT fans, but compared to Cornell, Yale, Clarkson, SLU etc. RIT is just not there yet).

Maybe RIT is trying to make a run...

[sjfcards]

Do any of the E8 teams have a scrimmage coming up in the next week or two? I am assuming that all of the teams start roughly around the same date as Fisher (11/15). Fisher normally does play a Canadian team or some other small school, but I have not heard anything about a scrimmage this year.

[FROMAFAR]

sjfcards, RIT ...They scrimmaged on Holloween and beat Western Ontario on a last second shot. Turn overs were an issue.. Scoring spread out a bit... My contacts say Stevens scrimmaging Saturday against ( don't hold me to this) Montclare State.... also Mt. St. Vincent, but don't know when....

RIT opens in Plattsburg Tourney against Husson. ME... 11/21
Stevens has tough start... At NYU ...11/15 then host their own tourney 11/20

[fisheralum91]

Looking at Fishers OOC sched--they are going to have their hands full with C. Mellon and DeSales!
Im glad they have quality teams on the sched.
We will know pretty quickly how Fisher stacks up!