FB: Empire 8

[truebluefan05]

dawg,

I guess I have a slightly different view of Ithaca's defense than Jonny.

The defensive backs have been plagued with injury this year and it has shown. They have been continually out of position and this has cost them many times. It is not uncommon to see the d-backs realizing they need to change their coverage due to motion on the offense after the play has already started resulting in 3 d-backs on one side of the field and 1 on the other. I must say, the d-backs are coming together as a unit though as the season has continued. napoleone is back and bloomenhower (spelled wrong no doubt) has stepped up huge for the bombers (a linebacker moved to safety).  I'd say the key for them this week is no big plays.

The linebackers... they are the heart of this defense... period.

The d-line is very young, but after a full season with these guys I guess you can't really call them young anymore. They looked shaky at the beginning of the season but have improved. I'd say one of ithaca's biggest weeknesses on defense is it's outside contain and noone ever seems to be responsible for the quarterback.

Offense,

ditto on the runningbacks. Donovan just hasn't seemed to be the same back this year as he was last year. He just runs much more timid. This is not to say he isn't still a great back, he was just amazing last year. Baez is just plain exciting to watch, you will see the spark he brings to the offense when he comes into the game.

WR's - the strength of this offense, they are nasty, and with canestrari back for 2 games now, look for him to be a big impact player.

TE's- you will no doubt see a few quick passes up the seems to the te's. they are a good bunch and they really open it up for the wr's

O-line- banged up with injuries. The strength definately seems to be the left side of the line.

Felecetti- if he only makes his one bonehead play of the game, he'll be ok. He seems to have some trouble knowing when to throw the ball away under pressure, tries to make things happen too much. Which he does, he makes thing s happen. You will see big numbers from him.

sorry this was so long

[truebluefan05]

Upstate,

Your support of E8 teams is appreciated, logical and sensible.  However, the incident that I have referred to involved an individual player, not directed at the team.  No, it wasn't Gatto, but worse it pertained to an injured player as I gather you were not at the game.

gatto was injured??? does this mean we can't count on him for the first annual coleman cup?

ona more serious note, anyone out for alfred this upcoming game?

dawg, any big injuries for union???

[AUPepBand]

truebluefan05,

Concerning your being glad Ithaca is in the E8 due to teams and fans being respectful, you would have been quite dissapointed if you had attended the AU v SJF game.

Saxon73:
I know I was irked by Fisher fans cheering when they saw that Keeley was injured. Granted, they applauded when he got up, but the initial reaction of seeing him injured was distasteful, but understandable. Was glad to see him back. He did a great job keeping to the game plan. AU played keepaway. AU possession 34:42, Fisher 25:12. The kid definitely rose to the occasion while playing his former school, especially after Fisher took the lead on the last play of the third. He led a 12-play, 74-yard drive culminated in a 23-yard TD pass to Reger, taking 5:50 off the clock. THEN, after Fisher's drive stalled at the AU 36 (and they punted into the end zone on a 4th and 4 on AU's 36), he took them on another long drive, getting another Reynolds FG with 2:00 remaining!

The game certainly had emotion and AUPepBand did what it could to keep the AU crowd in its vicinity on the Fisher side in a positive mode. A couple times, some got carried away in the moment, but stopped when told AU needs to show some class. The Alfred side was packed and made a lot of noise. I was pleased with the crowd.

Sitting on the Fisher side, AUPepBand can say there was no animosity shown to our group by the Fisher fans. Overall, I thought there was a great deal of sportsmanship exhibited from both sides.

[AUPepBand]

gatto was injured??? does this mean we can't count on him for the first annual coleman cup?
ona more serious note, anyone out for alfred this upcoming game?
dawg, any big injuries for union???

I have not heard of any injuries. AU has had a pretty healthy season. I was exited to see Reynolds kicking field goals again. He had been limited by injury but was on the mark, as usual, in the Fisher game (2-for-2). He was a key on Saterday. Fisher was 0-for-1 on field goals.

[TheICdubbz]

Tecmobowler,
I was wondering if you want ot ride up to Union with me?
MIOH isnt going.  But perhaps Geads will want to go, if we tell him the game is at 6AM he should be up in time to leave.  I think MIYH is making the trip.  jk.   Rowdy is going along with 3 or 4 other FDCers. Let me know if you are up for it. 

Dubbzzzz out!

[Saxon73]

AuPepBand,

Distastefull at least.  Having been on the side opposite the cheering, we on the visitors side heard the cheering coming directly across the field.  More than a few of us found it hard to distinguish whether the cheering of the sack was as loud or louder than the cheering when it was realized Alfred's QB was not getting up.  Case closed.

[AUPepBand]

Saxon73,
You would have heard it better than I, since I was on the far end on the same side. But there wouldn't have been any cheering other than his injury because he released the ball....and was not sacked. Case reopened. And closed again.

[er1948]

Saxon 73
                I'm sure you know it is hard to control the emotion of the student population, and I can assure you as a SJF parent that there was not any jeering from the stands around me from loyal fisher fans- by the way we were subject to a lot of crap from your student body last year in the parking lot after our victory, so realize the wind blows both ways

[bomber27]

We will play the Coleman Cup after this round because then Big Bobby can play and it will make it fair because Union and RPI can combine for PUnion because the players will be done and at least they won't cry when the E 8 alums woop up on them with the help of Brenton, Bobby and "the best linebackers he has ever seen", lol.  Also, it will be a good time because we will have halftime keg stands and I know the whole Hat family will be there.  Dubbz will supply the trash talk, won't ya bud. 

[Saxon73]

er1948,

Your point is well taken.  I have seen many ayouthfull indiscretion over a period of 38 years while attending college and professional sporting events all over the country.  The worst behavior may have been some adult behavior at a baseballgame in Montreal.  However the event last Saturday was the only time I have witnessed said behavior during a game directed towards an injured player. I have no doubt there are many mature, adult SJF fans.  It would appear Keeley's transfer made him a target of some of the less experienced fans.

[Saxon73]

AUPepBand,

OK, he wasn't "sacked" but hit very hard - a legitimate cause for cheering.

[Marty McFly]

Union is actually pretty healthy for being the 11th week of the season. There other receiver Twichell is finally healthy and making plays. With him back the U's offense has alot of playmakers. They have a top 5 running back in rushing yards per game and a top 5 receiver in rec yards per game (arcidiacono and angiletta).

[Pat Coleman]

Twitchell is not 100% -- at least, he wasn't on Saturday.

[gobombers]

Pat, what are your thoughts on JU's Karma synopsis?

[TheICdubbz]

We will play the Coleman Cup after this round because then Big Bobby can play and it will make it fair because Union and RPI can combine for PUnion because the players will be done and at least they won't cry when the E 8 alums woop up on them with the help of Brenton, Bobby and "the best linebackers he has ever seen", lol.  Also, it will be a good time because we will have halftime keg stands and I know the whole Hat family will be there.  Dubbz will supply the trash talk, won't ya bud. 

It is indeed what i do best!  I'll play Right Guard too.  With the recent decline of Steroids in Major League Baseball the demand went significantly down and i was able to purchase the "Giambi Juice" at dirt cheap!