FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

yeah Sarge, '98.

98...2000 for me.

[realistic]

ICBomber, not me.  I am very much looking forward to this game between the two programs that have played in more Stagg Bowls than any other, right?  This should be a great game between two great programs.

Ric - off of the top of my head, I would guess Dayton has a lot too but they are no longer D-III.

[JQV]

Ric we are all pretty excited.  It's hard to believe that the two teams have never played.

I think IC and MUC have to be 1 and 2 for Stagg appearances.  Although Linfield has a longer streak of winning seasons.

[Tags]

Yes, Ithaca 7 appearances, 3 Chamionships...Mount has 10 appearances and 9 National Championships.

How close was that St. John Fisher/Mount Union game last year?

26-14,

Fisher had a first and goal from the three with a few minutes left, down by 5. A field goal attempt was blocked, and MUC took the next drive down for a score.

Lets at least keep it accurate.  Not taking anything away from the game Fisher played with this comment but lets be correct in recounting the game.  Fisher got to Mount's 16, down 19-14.  They gained no yards on a run on 1st down, then had two incomplete passes.  On fourth down, from the 16, they attempted a 33-yard field goal that was blocked with 10:23 remaining in the game.  Not from the three and not in the final few minutes.  Mount Union then went 80 yards in nine plays to go up 12.  Fisher had the ball one more time, down 26-14, with 5:44 remaining but lost nine yards on three plays and punted the ball away.  You can see the boxscore of that game at the bottom of this page... http://www.mtunionfootball.com/2006season/06stjohnfisher.htm

Now that's accurate.

Clearly Fisher had no shot.

[union89]

ICBomber, not me.  I am very much looking forward to this game between the two programs that have played in more Stagg Bowls than any other, right?  This should be a great game between two great programs.

Ric - off of the top of my head, I would guess Dayton has a lot too but they are no longer D-III.

Augustana was the powerhouse back when I was in school.

[lewdogg11]

No team in the East has ANYTHING to lose against Mount Union this year.  

Total Points For:  542
Total Points Against:  24

Average Score:
MUC:  54.2
Opponent:  2.4

Average Margin of Victory:  51.8

Smallest Margin of Victory:  35
Largest Margin of Victory:  68

The bottom line is, this team has blown out EVERYONE they have faced this year.  All Ithaca, and/or anyone/everyone else they face can do, is go out and give them hell.  If the results are the same, they are no different than the vaunted OAC contenders.

[Senor RedTackle]

ICBomber, not me.  I am very much looking forward to this game between the two programs that have played in more Stagg Bowls than any other, right?  This should be a great game between two great programs.

Ric - off of the top of my head, I would guess Dayton has a lot too but they are no longer D-III.

Augustana was the powerhouse back when I was in school.

Yes, RT remembers that. RT also remembers a Wash & Jeff being in that mix and another school from Michigan..Albion maybe??

[realistic]

ICBomber, not me.  I am very much looking forward to this game between the two programs that have played in more Stagg Bowls than any other, right?  This should be a great game between two great programs.

Ric - off of the top of my head, I would guess Dayton has a lot too but they are no longer D-III.

Augustana was the powerhouse back when I was in school.

Yes, RT remembers that. RT also remembers a Wash & Jeff being in that mix and another school from Michigan..Albion maybe??

looks like Dayton didn't have as many as I thought, they just caught Ithaca a lot so I must have always seen the name.

all time results.

http://www.odaconline.com/staggbowl/history.htm

[union89]

ICBomber, not me.  I am very much looking forward to this game between the two programs that have played in more Stagg Bowls than any other, right?  This should be a great game between two great programs.

Ric - off of the top of my head, I would guess Dayton has a lot too but they are no longer D-III.

Augustana was the powerhouse back when I was in school.

Yes, RT remembers that. RT also remembers a Wash & Jeff being in that mix and another school from Michigan..Albion maybe??

looks like Dayton didn't have as many as I thought, they just caught Ithaca a lot so I must have always seen the name.

all time results.

http://www.odaconline.com/staggbowl/history.htm

Dayton beat Union in the 1989 Stagg Bowl, then soon moved up......

[Toph]

Yes, Ithaca 7 appearances, 3 Chamionships...Mount has 10 appearances and 9 National Championships.

How close was that St. John Fisher/Mount Union game last year?

26-14,

Fisher had a first and goal from the three with a few minutes left, down by 5. A field goal attempt was blocked, and MUC took the next drive down for a score.

That was a solid game from Fisher.  This Mount team, scary as it sounds, is better than last year.  It's going to take an unbelievable game to beat them.

I've been watching Mount since the 1997 season (ironically enough I graduated from John Carroll in '06), and this is the most complete team I've seen.  In years past the defense was prone to giving up big plays, or the offense was not as balanced, but this year I can't find a chink in the armor.

just out of curiosity, what was ironic about that statement?

I'm assuming the ironic part is that he followed Mount Union for a long time, that he went to Mount Union (OAC rival), instead.  

While I was at JCU it was still a rivalry...for the first two years anyway.

[Shark]

It is amazing how Mount fans get insulted anytime anyone says an East team has a shot against them.  I guess Ithaca should just forfeit and not bother taking the 400 mile trip.  Every legitimate post has recognized Mount as the favorite, but to deny Ithaca or any East team having a show to beat them is ignorant.

That's not really true. Most Mount fans respect the accomplishments of the Bombers past and present. SJF represented well last year and I expect nothing less from all the east region schools qualified for the playoffs. Great match-ups in the past with Rowan as well. Regular season means nothing now. The 32 teams that qualified wipe the slate clean, strap it on and go from there. History is just that. I for one am excited to see new teams and look forward to a great few weeks of playoff games against quality opponents. Mount Union Stadium is a great old venue to watch a game.....should be lots of fun.

[labart96]

Here's a hack at previewing the Bart-SJF game (homer alert!)  

NCAA Play-off Preview:   #5 Hobart vs. #2 St John Fisher

With RPI's (8-1, 5-1) 20-14 victory over Union College (5-4, 4-2), the Statesmen had to hope for a Pool C "at large" invitation.  Fortunately for Hobart, on Sunday morning the Selection Committee rewarded the Statesmen's efforts with a #5 seeding in the East Region Bracket.  For the second time in 2 weeks, Hobart will make the short drive to Rochester, but this time will head to the campus of the St John Fisher Cardinals (9-1, 5-1).  SJF also made the field of 32 as a Pool C entrant having lost earlier in the year to Hartwick (8-2, 6-1) who won the Empire 8 Conference's Pool A bid following a 72-70 4 OT victory over Utica.

Like Hobart (averaging nearly 39 pts a game), Fisher has a high powered offense.  SJF QB Rob Kramer has had a great season throwing 143-230-6 for 62.2% completions, 1894 yds and 25 TDs (162 QB efficiency - almost identical to Strom's rating.  In general Strom's stats are only slightly better in all categories except for yardage where he has thrown for over 600 yds more than Kramer).  Kramer can also tuck and run, having gained 162 yds and 3 rushing TDs (compared to Strom's 393 yds and 3 TDs).  SJF RB Ryan Hanson is the Cardinals leading rusher tallying 951 yds and 11 TDs.  RB James Reile is a good change of pace for SJF, adding 636 yds and 7 TDs.

Like Strom, Kramer also has a solid trio of WRs.  SJF WR Jimmy Smith is Kramer's favorite target with 39 catches for 653 yds and 12 TDs.  Smith was responsible for SJF's longest TD reception on the season, a 97 yarder that helped lead SJF over Brockport 45-7 back in October.

Looking at the big picture, for Hobart to beat SJF, they will need to figure out a way to solve for SJF's defense, while maitaining their own brand of "bend, don't break" defensive play that helped them into the play-offs.  

Hobart thrives on Strom's ability to move the chains and leverage off of deep threats LiDrazzah (56 catches, 821 yds, 9 TD) and Wright (55R-850YD-12TD) to stretch the field.  Since the Statesmen don't really have a primary back, expect Coach Cragg to continue the rotation of Hobaica (569 yds, 7 TD), Marlier (284 yds, 6 TD), and Gilardi (302 yds, 5 TD) to give SJF different looks.  A key match up will be how Hobart's FBs Rob Nieves and/or Dan Bittner help isolate the SJF LBs to give the Statesmen RB's a chance to gain some yards against their extremely stingy rush defense.

Aside from Hobart's slight advantage in total offense and SJF's scoring and rushing defense advantages, the match ups are pretty even across the board (sorry, but I couldn't get the damn numbers to line up).

   Hobart   SJF
Scoring Offense   38.3   39
Rushing Yds/Game   170.7   189.1
TDs Rushing   23   24
Passing Yds/Game   272.6   198.8
TDs Passing   28   25
Total Offense   443.3   387.9
TOP   33:20:00   30:13:00
INTs thrown   2   7
Fumbles lost   3   4
      
Scoring Defense   22.5   12.8
Rush Allowed   153.2   91.9
Rush TD Allowed   20   5
Pass Allowed   154.3   180.7
Pass TD Allowed   9   11
INTs   16   23
FR   6   8
      
Avg Penalties   39.5   44.5
Punting (Net Avg)   32.5   36.8
FGs   77%   69%
Long FG   41   40
PATs   92%   94%
Kick Return AVG   20.1   25.2
Punt Return AVG   6.2   13.8

For SJF to beat Hobart, they will need to get Strom to do something he rarely has done all season and that's to throw interceptions.  I expect SJF to blitz Strom a lot meaning the Statesmen will have opportunities to get the ball to LiDrazzah and Wright (possibly Vincent who has emerged as a strong possesion receiver in the last few games) since they'll be in single coverage.  TE Matt Duliba is also a viable option due to his size (6'1", 225) and speed.

Hobart's experienced secondary should be up to the task.  James Alexander leads the Statesmen D with 8 picks on the season.  Justin Hager (LB) leads the team in tackles (99), while Jim Drury (DL) and Kwame Lovell (OLB) lead the Statesmen with 4 and 3 sacks, respectively.  SJF's OL will need to account for Sr DL Ryan Aruck who's 3rd on the team in tackles (47) and often freeing up Hager to make tackles because he's drawing double teams from the opposition's line.

Although Hobart leads the all-time series 10-4, SJF has won the last 2 meetings (with 17-14 and 20-12 wins in 2002 and 2003, respectively).  Neither team has played the other since 2003.  This season the only common opponents between the 2 schools were Rochester; who Hobart beat last weekend and SJF defeated in Week 3 of the season by a score of 37-21 and Alfred; who Hobart beat in Week 8 41-22 and SJF beat last weekend 39-18.

For this weekend's game, I am going to bank on Andy Strom being the difference.  In fact, going into the Rochester game, Hobart lead the nation with fewest turnovers lost.  The ability to control TOP and not make drive killing mistakes, will be a key component to Hobart's success against SJF.

I believe The game will be more of defensive battle than both teams are used to playing with Hobart struggling to establish the run and SJF having success moving the chains but not scoring points.  In the end it will come down to which defense makes the big play (basically forcing the opposing offense to make a critical mistake).  My money is on Strom (and Ancona, Hobart's Sr PK and leading scorer with 77 pts on 10-13 FG and 47-51 PATs) to lead Hobart past the Cardinals by a FG.

TGP's Prediction:

Hobart 27 - St John Fisher 24

[fisheralum91]

As a homer myself is this where i make a smashing pumkins reference?
Perhaps this sat. will be FISHERS "today" and have Hobart score "zero"?

[maxpower]

Please tell me how you can regard this conference as "substantially overrated" given the outstanding playoff success of their teams other than Mount Union.

I'm sorry, how can I be the first to notice a current player that has posted an astonishing 19 times??



Andrew, the only thing "substantially overrated" is that tie. Also, You don't want the first comment on your year wrapups to be how many games you played in.


Back to the important stuff... about all this MUC-IC chatter: Look, literally everyone on this board knows that Ithaca has a one in a million chance of taking down Mount Union. But I'd be surprised if there is one IC fan that doesn't have in the back of their minds "Maybe, just maybe, with a little luck....." That's what being a sports fan is all about! Ask fans of the Rockies, GS Warriors, Stanford, etc. So, to all MUC fans, IC fans are not stupid, we know what you are all about and all of us have respect for it. But we're all fans and we all have hope that we can pull it out.

I'm loving all the IC love on the board, especially from the Fisher fans! But honestly, I'd like to hear more about Hartwick/Curry and SJF/Hobart. (What am I saying.) +k to TGP for the great preview. +k to whoever gets me the first info about a webcast for Saterday's game featuring the Purple-People Eaters!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE


(P.S.- I KNOW it's purple [people-eater], not [purple-people] eater. Ignore that. It's different this week.)

[Tags]

Please tell me how you can regard this conference as "substantially overrated" given the outstanding playoff success of their teams other than Mount Union.

I'm sorry, how can I be the first to notice a current player that has posted an astonishing 19 times??



Andrew, the only thing "substantially overrated" is that tie. Also, You don't want the first comment on your year wrapups to be how many games you played in.


Back to the important stuff... about all this MUC-IC chatter: Look, literally everyone on this board knows that Ithaca has a one in a million chance of taking down Mount Union. But I'd be surprised if there is one IC fan that doesn't have in the back of their minds "Maybe, just maybe, with a little luck....." That's what being a sports fan is all about! Ask fans of the Rockies, GS Warriors, Stanford, etc. So, to all MUC fans, IC fans are not stupid, we know what you are all about and all of us have respect for it. But we're all fans and we all have hope that we can pull it out.

I'm loving all the IC love on the board, especially from the Fisher fans! But honestly, I'd like to hear more about Hartwick/Curry and SJF/Hobart. (What am I saying.) +k to TGP for the great preview. +k to whoever gets me the first info about a webcast for Saterday's game featuring the Purple-People Eaters!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE


(P.S.- I KNOW it's purple [people-eater], not [purple-people] eater. Ignore that. It's different this week.)

BUSTED!