FB: Empire 8

[superman57]

Yeah all of this talk is going on a little early, God bless Fisher but they could lose out and finish 3-7...that would put an end to the playoff scenarios. 

I still think that a 3-7 fisher deserves a playoff spot

Does a 9-1 IC team get in over a 3-7 SJF team?

$#IT an 0-10 fisher squad gets in before a 10-0 Ithaca team

[AUPepBand]

Sure...why not! Heck, the team deserves something for playing the games. And why should all the winning teams always get all the glory? Pep was grateful, in his Gus Macker experience, for the Toilet Bowl to give "us losers" a "playoff."

Pep thinks, in fact, that perhaps a 3-7 Fisher squad could arrange to play somebody from the NEFC like Fitchburg. Yeah! They could call it the Fi(t)sh Bowl. 

[JQV]

Heck, the team deserves something for playing the games.

Ironically, this is the negotiating position during settlement that I hear from Plaintiffs' lawyers on a weekly basis when they realize their complaint are frivolous.

[theoriginalupstate]

Does SJF have enough fire power on offense to keep up with a team like Salisbury?  Salisbury is averaging close to 40pts a game while SJF is only averaging 22pts a game.

Since Parks took over for Foster the scoring average has dropped year after year.

Fosters last season, 2005: 40.2 ppg

Parks first season, 2006, offensive scheme basically the same: 37.8 ppg

2nd season, 2007, tweeked run game to more zone reads: 35.5 ppg

This season, 2008, full out florida type offense: 22.4 ppg

The closer they get to the redzone the cuter they get with formations/playcalling and personnel.  This team, once again, has a massive O-line why they have yet to take advantage of that i dont know.  Instead of getting these guys on the move upfield and getting the backs in the creases. Instead with this zone read offense it has the backs run lateral to the LOS and then making a move upfield when they get outside the box and near the sidelines totally killing any chances of cutbacks.  

Line up under center and hand the ball off to the RB, boot off of it to get the ball to the TE like they used to do with Harmon and Fez to get that backside contain to open up that cutback lane.  This running game is fooling no one and its cuteness has already cost them points by having WR's take the shotgun snaps near the goal line and fumble it twice.  

Carlton would be much better served running out of formations with Bailey under center.  It would be almost impossible for the LBers to key on him and then try to find him after he gets the ball, especially if the backside has to honor bootlegs by a pretty athletic Bailey.  

This defense is so good it would be a shame not to see this unit in the playoffs.  They held IC to 6pts, held Wick to 20 pts below their season average and hung tough with MUC despite a lackluster performance by the offense.

[fisheralum91]

wow a whole lot of talk about things that will work themsevles out in a few weeks.
Face it fellow fisher fans---lose to salisbury and the season is done barring incredible circumstances.

[Pat Coleman]

Would SJF winning out and Hartwick losing to Alfred be considered an incredible circumstance? I don't get it -- SJF is still well in line for the automatic bid.

[theoriginalupstate]

Would SJF winning out and Hartwick losing to Alfred be considered an incredible circumstance? I don't get it -- SJF is still well in line for the automatic bid.

Its possible, but I just dont see anyone stopping Boltus.  He is by far the best player in this conference.  What he's done at Wick considering his surrounding cast is just amazing, his defense sucks (for the most part) yet he goes out every week and wins for them. 

[Bombers798891]

Would SJF winning out and Hartwick losing to Alfred be considered an incredible circumstance? I don't get it -- SJF is still well in line for the automatic bid.

Pat--you're right of course, but the last few pages of posts have been speculation on what Fisher's Pool C chances would be if they lost to Salisbury this week, which is probably what the poster meant

[fisheralum91]

thanks b798891.
that was where i was going -i should have made it more clear about pool c
sure pat---fisher could run the table and au could certainly beat wick--im not counting on it- and there is a lot of season to play so there is plenty to settle.

[pg04]

Would SJF winning out and Hartwick losing to Alfred be considered an incredible circumstance? I don't get it -- SJF is still well in line for the automatic bid.

Its possible, but I just dont see anyone stopping Boltus.  He is by far the best player in this conference.  What he's done at Wick considering his surrounding cast is just amazing, his defense sucks (for the most part) yet he goes out every week and wins for them. 

Do you really need to stop him?  Maybe one drive.  IC did score 69 on them.  How Fisher was held to 28 is unfathomable. 

[fisheralum91]

pg- thats what happens when you botch plays in the red zone.

[HHawks]

Would SJF winning out and Hartwick losing to Alfred be considered an incredible circumstance? I don't get it -- SJF is still well in line for the automatic bid.

Its possible, but I just dont see anyone stopping Boltus.  He is by far the best player in this conference.  What he's done at Wick considering his surrounding cast is just amazing, his defense sucks (for the most part) yet he goes out every week and wins for them. 

Do you really need to stop him?  Maybe one drive.  IC did score 69 on them.  How Fisher was held to 28 is unfathomable. 

There defense isn't that good. there a bend but don't break defense.  There not gonna give up 69 every week, but they will score 35+ almost every week so you better be prepared to score at least that.

[Bombers798891]

pg- thats what happens when you botch plays in the red zone.

Well, yeah. Hartwick's like those old Texas Tech/Hawaii teams before Tech got a defense and Hawaii got Colt Brennan (and a defense). Fun to watch, always good for lighting up the stiffs they play out of conference, maybe good for a upset or two every now and them, but really, any complete football team will have no trouble beating them unless they shoot themselves in the foot--like Fisher did.

Honestly, I think Alfred gets too litte credit when it comes to elite E8 teams. They haven't had a dominating year like SJF, and maybe they don't have the niche fascination that we've developed with Hartwick's offense, but...

Since 2004:

Alfred: 37-12, 18-8 in Conference play, 0 NCAA Playoff wins, 4-0 in ECAC playoff games
Ithaca: 35-12, 20-6 in Conference play, 0 NCAA Playoff wins, 1-0 in ECAC playoff games

What's the difference other than 2 conference wins and the Bombers exiting uncerimoniusly in two NCAA playoff appearances? Basically, name recognition and history.

Alfred's built a heck of a program and deserve more credit than they get

[fisheralum91]

Here is to a Hartwick education

the first word you mean is "their" and the second and third case "they're"

[saxondeuce]

pg- thats what happens when you botch plays in the red zone.

Well, yeah. Hartwick's like those old Texas Tech/Hawaii teams before Tech got a defense and Hawaii got Colt Brennan (and a defense). Fun to watch, always good for lighting up the stiffs they play out of conference, maybe good for a upset or two every now and them, but really, any complete football team will have no trouble beating them unless they shoot themselves in the foot--like Fisher did.

Honestly, I think Alfred gets too litte credit when it comes to elite E8 teams. They haven't had a dominating year like SJF, and maybe they don't have the niche fascination that we've developed with Hartwick's offense, but...

Since 2004:

Alfred: 37-12, 18-8 in Conference play, 0 NCAA Playoff wins, 4-0 in ECAC playoff games
Ithaca: 35-12, 20-6 in Conference play, 0 NCAA Playoff wins, 1-0 in ECAC playoff games

What's the difference other than 2 conference wins and the Bombers exiting uncerimoniusly in two NCAA playoff appearances? Basically, name recognition and history.

Alfred's built a heck of a program and deserve more credit than they get

Coach Murray has always been a defensive genius and knows how to get the most out of his players.  You IC guys might remember his days as Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach at Cortland.  He has always had a good defense at AU, but you are right bombers79, they have become a much better team and more complete since 2004.  I personally believe that has a lot to do with the hiring of Puccio.  He is an excellent coach and prepares the offense every week for every possible scenario they might see versus the opposing defense.  While, AU hasn't put together an NCAA season in recent memory, they have proved that they are capable of beating elite programs like Ithaca and SJF.