FB: Empire 8

[JQV]

Just noticed that Pat is showing the Bomber faithful a little love on the front page.

"Fans of 180 schools have ordered [the Kickoff] so far, and we thank you for that! It might not surprise you that Mount Union, Linfield, Wabash, St. John's and Ithaca are in the top six"

[theicdubbz]

Wo, lots of talk about kicking this year with the Bombers.  From the info I know personally and that in which I have read on the boards here my thought toward the bomber kicking game is this.  With the big leg from our goalie transfer, who has 4 years of elegibility, should kick the kickoff and the long kicks, 40 yards and more.  I think the Kitenplan kick last year at Cortaca that he missed was from about 36 yards.  So our new leg could put that through with ease. A lot of NFL teams have a big leg kicker and a short range kicker. It will be nice for the bombers to have that option.  Problem is this kicker is a goalie and it will take time for him to transition to the pressure and having big 250 lb guys running at him to block it.  Soccer guys are not quite that big.

Kit came from Florida to be a Bomber kicker so he has earned his stripes for the last four years.  Last year the scrimmage against Cornell was the best I have seen him.  He struck one from around 45 and on the left hash mark that sailed through with about 15 yards to spare.  My theory on that is the conditions were perfect.  Right now I am pretty sure Kit will remain the kicker, he earned it. 

Cornell vs. Bombers @ 1:00 pm ?

[Rowdy Rowdy Bomber]

Dubbz,

Good points.  even though Kit has put in the time... and has been consistent in the long run, i am still concerned with this younger group of bombers that we have as a team this year, who will have some pretty close games againts some very tough teams, will have to go to Kit for big, clutch plays.. i havent seen it thus far, but i suppose we out to give everyone a second, .. or third chance. 

for the rest of the crew headed to Butterfield this weekend, good luck- be loud, ... GO BOMBERS!

[gobombers15]

my last question... i hear BK earned pre-season honors... HOW!  he's missed so many clutch kicks .. just in the last 2 years alone, why does he deserve more praise?!...  doesnt Beecher have any more eligibility?

to back  up my question:
2003
-Cortland extra point (L 15-16)

2004
-St. John Fisher extra point (L 38-45OT)
-Brockport 42yd FG (L 20-21)

2005
-Cortland extra point (L 30-37)

Dont forget the missed FG in the closing seconds of the 05 SJF game....

One of the worst kicks I've ever seen. Like a shanked lob wedge.

[JQV]

i suppose we out to give everyone a second, .. or third chance. 

I actually do not think Kit is that bad.  I think he seems worse since we were spoiled before he got there (especially with Steinburg who never missed...ever).  That said, I say to hell with second and third chances.  Saint Bobby (Bowden) has learned the hard way that this strategy doesn't work.

[gobombers15]

Jose, don't forget Chris Pride who came in the year after Steinburg and never seemed to miss, either. Unfortunately, he left the school for personal reasons.

Also, does anyone know why Ferguson (the former keeper on the soccer team) switched sports??I know football can be more glamorous in some respects, but not in this instance. Essentially, he is going to be a kickoff specialist this year. Last year, he was a stud goalkeeper as a sophomore and word on the streets was that he was going to be a pre-season ALL-AMERICAN this year. He was probably doing pretty well for himself with the ladies considering he is also a very good baseball player.

Who knows, maybe he thinks he has a career in the NFL with his huge leg. I just hope he's doing this for the right reasons and not to prove to himself and others that he's a great athlete, competing in three sports at IC. If I were on the soccer team I'd be pretty pissed.

[JQV]

...and word on the streets was that he was going to be a pre-season ALL-AMERICAN this year.

I know it is just an expression but there is something hilarious about people huddled in a dark alley in the streets talking about D-III soccer all americans.

[AUPepBand]

my last question... i hear BK earned pre-season honors... HOW!  he's missed so many clutch kicks .. just in the last 2 years alone, why does he deserve more praise?!...  doesnt Beecher have any more eligibility?

to back  up my question:
2003
-Cortland extra point (L 15-16)

2004
-St. John Fisher extra point (L 38-45OT)
-Brockport 42yd FG (L 20-21)

2005
-Cortland extra point (L 30-37)

Dont forget the missed FG in the closing seconds of the 05 SJF game....

One of the worst kicks I've ever seen. Like a shanked lob wedge.

BK: "It was Felicetti's fault. The laces were in." (breaking down)...
"They were IN!!!"

[frank uible]

Lou Groza used to claim that if the holder could get the ball on the ground in any form, shape, fashion, condition or attitude, then he (Groza) would kick the extra point.

[theicdubbz]

gobombers,

you're correct.  I would guarentee he is going to play football because he thinks he can go somewhere doing it.  Also, Byrne, the soccer coach at IC, may have the worst relationships with his players out of all the coaches within the Bomber staff.  He has players, GOOD PLAYERS, leave every year because of it.  A lot of his recruits leave in the middle of camp.

I know a lot of soccer players with big legs dream and think about kicking in football.  its more respected.  you could be the best goalie in the world but in the states an average kicker playing for the Patriots is known more than you are.

[tecmobowler]

Heard from my friend in alumni today... and it's good news.

They will be broadcasting the games once again this year. It will not, however, be through xmi, as they have gone out of business. 

[gobombers15]

With the big leg from our goalie transfer, who has 4 years of elegibility, should kick the kickoff and the long kicks, 40 yards and more. 

Cornell vs. Bombers @ 1:00 pm ?

Dubbz, he only has two years of eligibility. It's NCAA eligibility, not "football' and "soccer" and "baseball" eligibility. Hypothetically, if that were the case, a very good athlete could stay in college for 12 years if he was good at three different sports. Personally, I think that'd be great for a multitude of reasons, but it's also impractical.

This is another reason why I really wonder about his decision. He's going to spend one year as the kickoff specialist/long FG kicker and one year as the full-time kicker. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a pretty important position and all...but it's the kicker. Unless your name is Adam Vinatieri, if you're talking about the kicker it's probably not a good thing.

Again, maybe he is trying to parlay this into a career. Though, if that were the case, given his considerable leg strength, why didn't he try to transfer to a D1 school to give himself more of the notoriety that we're talking about? I mean, SU's kickers have been atrocious since Olindo Mare, why not just transfer there where you can kick in a controlled, Dome environment?

I know Byrne does not have the best relationships with his players. I was friends with several of his former players and they weren't fans of him. That said, with a player as talented Ferguson, I almost think he has a duty to his teammates to return and help the team. Should he forego the chance at a career for the reason of not letting friends down? That's a pretty obvious answer. I guess my argument is basically saying he doesn't have a shot to be in the NFL. The percentages are stacked against him. I don't think there's one kicker in the NFL that went to a D3 school, though I could be wrong.

[tecmobowler]

Here's a nice article on DT/NT Phil Byers from a few years back.  His injury in week one last year happened without much noise, but if he's healthy this year, he could be a great force for the Ithaca defensive line.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/sports/high/forprint/1219C12MVQA_sports.shtml

[TecmoYellowHat]

Wo, lots of talk about kicking this year with the Bombers.  From the info I know personally and that in which I have read on the boards here my thought toward the bomber kicking game is this.  With the big leg from our goalie transfer, who has 4 years of elegibility, should kick the kickoff and the long kicks, 40 yards and more.  I think the Kitenplan kick last year at Cortaca that he missed was from about 36 yards.  So our new leg could put that through with ease. A lot of NFL teams have a big leg kicker and a short range kicker. It will be nice for the bombers to have that option.  Problem is this kicker is a goalie and it will take time for him to transition to the pressure and having big 250 lb guys running at him to block it.  Soccer guys are not quite that big.

Kit came from Florida to be a Bomber kicker so he has earned his stripes for the last four years.  Last year the scrimmage against Cornell was the best I have seen him.  He struck one from around 45 and on the left hash mark that sailed through with about 15 yards to spare.  My theory on that is the conditions were perfect.  Right now I am pretty sure Kit will remain the kicker, he earned it. 

Cornell vs. Bombers @ 1:00 pm ?

I think Ithaca should have a kicker who will make most, if not all of his extra points.  It is rough when you have a kicker who can't kick a field goal and misses at least one extra point a game.  I don't care about a short range and long range kicker.  They just need someone who will consistently give you those very important extra points and field goals.

[BobNapoleone]

With the big leg from our goalie transfer, who has 4 years of elegibility, should kick the kickoff and the long kicks, 40 yards and more. 

Cornell vs. Bombers @ 1:00 pm ?

Dubbz, he only has two years of eligibility. It's NCAA eligibility, not "football' and "soccer" and "baseball" eligibility. Hypothetically, if that were the case, a very good athlete could stay in college for 12 years if he was good at three different sports. Personally, I think that'd be great for a multitude of reasons, but it's also impractical.

This is another reason why I really wonder about his decision. He's going to spend one year as the kickoff specialist/long FG kicker and one year as the full-time kicker. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a pretty important position and all...but it's the kicker. Unless your name is Adam Vinatieri, if you're talking about the kicker it's probably not a good thing.

Again, maybe he is trying to parlay this into a career. Though, if that were the case, given his considerable leg strength, why didn't he try to transfer to a D1 school to give himself more of the notoriety that we're talking about? I mean, SU's kickers have been atrocious since Olindo Mare, why not just transfer there where you can kick in a controlled, Dome environment?

I know Byrne does not have the best relationships with his players. I was friends with several of his former players and they weren't fans of him. That said, with a player as talented Ferguson, I almost think he has a duty to his teammates to return and help the team. Should he forego the chance at a career for the reason of not letting friends down? That's a pretty obvious answer. I guess my argument is basically saying he doesn't have a shot to be in the NFL. The percentages are stacked against him. I don't think there's one kicker in the NFL that went to a D3 school, though I could be wrong.

Cornell scrimmage at noon Saturday.....