FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Saterday weather update:

High of 37, 40% chance of snow with sustained winds of 25 MPH. 

If that's not epitomic football weather, then nothing is!

I'd like to nominate AUKaz00 as "E8PP Rookie Poster of the Year".

Look at his Karma/Post ratio....unsurpassed! We'll overlook his affiches that reveal he is a true aficionado of vintage urinal troughs dating back to his childhood experiences....about which we dare not ask.

[fisheralum91]

sounds a little nepotistic if ya ask me!

[JQV]

jose what do you think of the game on saterday

I have to admit, that I haven't really thought much about the specifics of the game so here are some general thoughts.

1) Rowan is the best team Fisher has played all season.  They may not be what they used to be but, I think all the close games they have played this season make them really good for a different reason.  In the past, they were so much more athletic than everyone they played that they never played a close game until the Semis/Stagg Bowl.  This year, they have played a few close games and know what it feels like to be down.  I always thought, with a team as dominant as Rowan, a good way to beat them was to get an early lead and watch their psyches crumble.  That may not work with this team.

2) Fisher is the best team Rowan has played all year.  I am still curious about what a Cortland-Fisher matchup would have looked like but, Fisher is better for a two reasons: 1) Cortland was down to a 3rd and 4th string QB, pressed into emergency duty (unlike Cortaca where they knew they were going to start and play) when they played Rowan, and 2) Cortland was in Glassboro, Rowan has to go to Fisher.  Not sure how much Growney gives SJF, but at the very least, it doesn't give Rowan the edge they have in Glassboro.

3) Rowan's coaches need to make a defensive adjustment.  Fisher's line is too talented to play them with only 3 upfront.  They consistently had linemen get to the second level against IC and blew us away in the second on simple run plays.  Once Robinson gets into the second level he is going to get at least 8.

4) Fisher's Defensive is either overrated or underrated.  I don't know what to think of them.  They go out and get shredded by IC for a half (even though we only had 12 points, I think we can all agree that we were moving the ball at will) and then come back out of the lockerroom and shut us down.  They go out and get stomped by Chris Sharpe.  Then come back and totally shut him out on the road in the playoffs (I told you that GIMMICK offense doesn't work in the postseason).  So, which defense is going to show up and when are they going to show up?  If the team that played IC in the first half comes out, Fisher could be so far behind at the half it won't matter who comes out of the lockerroom after the break.  (I guarantee Rowan turns similar opportunities into more than 12 points).

5) I think the weather is the real x-factor though.  From the few posts I read earlier, it sound like it is going to be icy.  Field turf is different than grass and I can imagine the surface getting really slick in the ice.  If the field gets slick and the weather gets sloppy, I have to think that plays into Fisher's hands because it negates any advantage Rowan has athletically.  (No matter how talented Fisher's kids are, Rowan's kids are better athletes.  Maybe not better football players, but better athletes for sure).

[AUPepBand]

sounds a little nepotistic if ya ask me!

Don't SIDs nominate their own institution's players?

[fisheralum91]

good observations jose-
the conditions MAY be a neutralizer.
not sure about home field adv. but at the very least Fisher doesnt have to travel.

[fisheralum91]

AUpep-
of course!
Since you mention it - you are now the AU D3.com poster ID.
Nominate at will!!!

[JQV]

Oh we will win it all one of these years...then you all will have one less thing to "talk about" about why you hate Rowan- maybe just the uniforms then.

CK

I'd rather be a buffalo bill or minnesota viking vs a team that never went to the bowl.

Who never went to the Stagg Bowl?

IC has been to 7 Stagg Bowls.  Also, you may not know this being a Rowan fan, but when you have more points than the other team in the Stagg Bowl, you get to come home with these:



IC is also the only team with titles in three different decades.

[superman57]

I think in the past growney has not played a role...but for fisher this is history and basically people are saying if you don't go to this game then you need to transfer to naz...so I think this could be the loudest growney has EVER BEEN

[fisheralum91]

Ick- transfer to naz----id rather be drawn and quartered   

[AUPepBand]

Rowan could serve as a good test for Fisher faithful to see if they can be supportive in adversity. Everyone cheers when things go your team's way...but with adversity comes grumbling, second-guessing, complaining, which do not make for a lot of positive noise in any stadium. (Through the years, Dallas Cowboys' fans were notorious for booing their own team.)

AU fans, or so it seemed, refused to lose to UR, even when the Saxon bench appeared listless. After awhile, AUPepBand believes, Saxons got new life from the believers in the stands who kept cheering, making noise, encouraging despite what the scoreboard said. No matter what happens Saterday, Fisher fans need to remain supportive.

[fisheralum91]

winning is new for this team.
Its new for the fans as well.
Im sure they will keep the energy no matter what, even if the scoreboard shows double zeros and they arent on the winning end.
I have faith in the fisher faithful!

[JQV]

winning is new for this team.
Its new for the fans as well.
Im sure they will keep the energy no matter what, even if the scoreboard shows double zeros and they arent on the winning end.
I have faith in the fisher faithful!

+k for your loyalty to your alma mater, I'd be saying the same thing, but history tells us that the fans that come to a game for the first time this time of year only expect one thing....Cortaca three years ago is a good example of how a fan base will abandon their team. 

[fisheralum91]

understood.
I am expecting a lot from the new fans..
They need to show that they can back ANY team - win or lose!

So, from a old Fisher alum---you newbies better not let me down!

[AUPepBand]

You might say that those who are last to hop aboard the (AUPep)Bandwagon are often the first to jump off.

[fisheralum91]

more than likely.
Ill just hope that Growney---still hard for me to say that- stadium will be loaded with fisher faithful!
the college itself has done a good job getting ou the word on the game- i just hope it works!