FB: Empire 8

[Ralph Turner]

But how far off is the actual SUNY league? Sure, it'd be nice to win a SUNY league and get an auto bid into the playoffs but what if that league never comes to pass?

In theory, you have five SUNY schools with football now, what two others are going to pony up to the bar and start football?

Sure Morrisville and Maritime and the two newest but I can't see for example, Oswego, Fredonia, Geneseo, Plattsburgh or any of the other SUNYAC schools starting up a program.

John has a very good point.  What two or three "affiliates" in that part of the country want to join the SUNYAC in football?  Maritime has an affiliate relationship with the NAC.  Morrisville is going to the NJAC which also needs affiliates for its Pool A bid.

I see the dance that is being done in that part of the country is:
-- balancing Pool A access,
-- having enough teams to fill a 10-game schedule (and 9 conference games does that well),
-- keeping an eye on fuel costs.

SUNYAC core teams (4) -- Brock, Buff, Cort, Morris
NJAC core teams (5) -- Kean, Montclair State, Rowan, TCNJ, Wm Pat.
E8 core teams (5) -- Alfred, Hartwick, Ithaca, SJF, Utica

Available affiliates (12) -- Western Connecticut, Springfield, the ACFC 3 (Wesley, Salisbury, and Frostburg), the North Atlantic 6 (Becker, Castleton State, Gallaudet, Husson,  Mount Ida, Norwich, and SUNY-Maritime).

NEFC - 16
MAC - 8

That is all that there is to shuffle.  (Unless the Centennial, USA South or ODAC reconfigure).

Buffalo and Brockport have much to gain for the sake of travel.

[Jonny Utah]

I guess the real question now that Cortland DID say NO, is who is it going to be?
Travel is an issue----and it certainly would be a good thing to get another upstate college- but that doesnt seem like it is going to pan out.
Other thoughts?

Im not sure the e8 HAS to pick anyone.  Or they could wait for Cortland to see what they want to do.  Im sure (looks like Dan knows) that some people must know what is happening with the whole situation.

And Im still not too sure that the e8 teams NEED a pool A bid.  As long as the NCAA keeps a few spots open, and schools like IC and SJF play decent out of conference schools, I don't see teams that deserve it getting skipped for a playoff spot.

-Wilkes and Kings are two schools that arent too far (from Ithaca anyway).  Would they leave the MAC?

-Oneonta is another possiblity.

[JQV]

John,  I agree that a SUNYAC Football Conference is far off.  But if the SUNY people are calling the shots (as oppossed to Cortland itself) they might have an incentive to keep everyone's options open if they do intend to pursue one.

JU,  Kings was my first thought after Cortland too.  They already play two E8 schools regularly anyway...

[John McGraw]

King's and Wilkes have long been rumored to be joining the Empire 8, not only in football but other sports as well. I think Lycoming may have been mentioned at points also because of its proximity to some of the southern-most schools in the Empire 8 like Alfred and Ithaca.

Fisher has played King's regularly and Ithaca has had Lycoming and Wilkes on the schedule over the last 6-7 years. Lycoming more recently than Wilkes though.

I can see any of those three bolting from the MAC and joining up with the Empire 8. After all, Susquehanna is an affiliate member of the Liberty League in football and they aren't really located that close to anyone in the conference.

[Ralph Turner]

There will be a Pool B bid allocated as a certain percentage of the 32 bids.  The question is whether those schools want to chance not getting a Pool B bid.

Of course, those of us who can configure an eastern bias into any random assortment of outcomes (e.g., Whitworth's snub in 2007) will construe the E8 getting a Pool B bid over a Carnegie Mellon/UAA as just another case of that.

All that the E8 must do is make sure that there are enough teams like the UMAC-5 and the NAC-7 remain in Pool B that guarantee a second or a third Pool B bid.

[Ralph Turner]

King's and Wilkes have long been rumored to be joining the Empire 8, not only in football but other sports as well. I think Lycoming may have been mentioned at points also because of its proximity to some of the southern-most schools in the Empire 8 like Alfred and Ithaca.

Fisher has played King's regularly and Ithaca has had Lycoming and Wilkes on the schedule over the last 6-7 years. Lycoming more recently than Wilkes though.

I can see any of those three bolting from the MAC and joining up with the Empire 8. After all, Susquehanna is an affiliate member of the Liberty League in football and they aren't really located that close to anyone in the conference.

Please remember what Susquehanna burned its bridges when it went with the Landmark Conference.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think John is saying Susquehanna would go back, Ralph.

[Ralph Turner]

I don't think John is saying Susquehanna would go back, Ralph.

I didn't think so.  Thanks.

Then are there some in that region who would not be surprised to see one of "those three" leave the MAC to go to the E8?  A travel partner for Stevens in the other sports?

(The shuffling in the mid-Atlantic seems to have more components to each move than  meets the eyes!)

[DanPadavona]

Im not sure the e8 HAS to pick anyone.  Or they could wait for Cortland to see what they want to do.  Im sure (looks like Dan knows) that some people must know what is happening with the whole situation.

I think you are right about this Jonny.  With the possible exception of Brockport, I don't think the E8 will pick any SUNY but Cortland.  Nobody came right out and said it, but I got the impression the E8 considered Cortland to meet academic requirements.  Morrisville, maybe not so much.  During their big run in the early-mid 90s, Buff State was notorious for bringing in kids who only stayed in school for 1 year or maybe 2.  I don't think they run that kind of program anymore, but I'm sure the E8 members have not forgotten what it was like 10 years ago.

Now I cannot see a SUNY-only conference being formed.  First off, there aren't enough teams presently to fill a schedule let alone auto-qualify for the NCAA's.  The buzz I have heard is SUNY Maritime wants to play in that newly formed New England league with Husson.  I don't think their program is serious enough to want to have to compete with Brockport and Cortland every year.  So the only way this works is if the SUNY's can grab a few teams.  Maybe somebody like West Conn, or if the MAC starts to lose members maybe convince Wilkes and/or Kings.  All conjecture, I really have no idea.  But for the first time, it sounds like the hope is real.

[DanPadavona]

Jose,

Have you made it out for either of the first 2 Rays-Cubs games?  30000+ rocking the Trop.  You gotta love it, even if a lot of them are Cubs fans.  Longoria is already on Rolen's level defensively, and his power is immense.   He just needs a little more seasoning, and he's going to be a 290/35HR guy every season with a high OBP.  I'd like to see the Rays with a little more power protecting Longo in the batting order.

[fisheralum91]

Out of conference sched. for the e8 will be important if nobody comes aboard after norwich leaves--but holy crap----it looks like Fisher is taking on the world and making up for some of the cupcake games of years past!

[Ralph Turner]

...Maybe somebody like West Conn, or if the MAC starts to lose members maybe convince Wilkes and/or Kings.  All conjecture, I really have no idea.  But for the first time, it sounds like the hope is real. -- Cortland Football

CF, I do not understand what you mean by "hope".  Hope for "what"?

Thanks

[JQV]

Jose,

Have you made it out for either of the first 2 Rays-Cubs games?  30000+ rocking the Trop.  You gotta love it, even if a lot of them are Cubs fans.  Longoria is already on Rolen's level defensively, and his power is immense.   He just needs a little more seasoning, and he's going to be a 290/35HR guy every season with a high OBP.  I'd like to see the Rays with a little more power protecting Longo in the batting order.

I was out for the game with Florida on Friday and have been to about 10 games this year.  Mrs. JQV and I have a month-old Bomber at home that is requiring some of my attention lately so I haven't been out to the park yet for the Cubs series.  Probably be back out Sat. for Houston.  It has been a fun series.  I have been rooting for the Cubs all year though as two of the skippers I worked for are in their dugout.

[AUPepBand]

E8 Question of the Day: Does Jose change diapers?

[JQV]

I will leave Pep's question open for discussion but I will share that I went to the trouble of having little miss jqv's diapers custom ordered.