FB: Empire 8

[SJF Fan]

Just like the Hatwick game, the game against Salisbury was a players loss.

I'm not sure I agree totally with this. Yes, the players have to execute as always, and frankly, at SJF right now, there's a lot of questions on the players. The lack of consistency, lack of fire on the sidelines, players quiting on and on and on.   

However, something should be said and done about the D-Cord.

In the loss against Hartwick, no adjustments made, Wick ran the exact same pass route like 20 times and without being stopped.  IN this game, the Guls running an option formation of all things and could not be stopped.  ** No apparent adjustments were made.  Clearly the D-Cord. needs a little bit more seasoning as he seems paralyzed and unwilling to be aggressive when times call for it.  Players do not appear to know their assignments either - both are an indictment on coaching.

He's in over his head IMHO.

[AUPepBand]

Pep...not sure if this is true or not, but I actually have a few sources that tell me that 'Wick's pep band was better yesterday...is there any validity to that rumor?

Pep would agree. Pep would even go as far as to say that 'Wick's band was MUCH better yesterday than some years ago, the last time Pep had heard it.   

Happy to see Hartwick got a band together!

[fishfan]

There is a lack of passion from the Fisher sideline, but this has to start from the top. Both Off/Def coor need to on the sidelines, the Def coor was up in the box yesterday. As far as adjustments that is where Vosburg needs to take command.
By the way his son played an excellent game, left it all on the field.

[Saxon73]

I'm amused with the conversation that says Hartwick would be nothing without Boltus.  There's no conversation necessary, he's there.  Is he ever!  He took some serious thumps today and led his team to a win.  He's going to be awfully sore tomorrow.  As far as clock management for AU in the final drive, it was EXCELLENT!  They didn't need to be in a hurry.  They had a 2nd down at the 9with 27(?) seconds and 3 time-outs.  A score would leave Hartwick with practically no time left.  The sack on 2nd down putting them at the 17 changed things considerably.  The QB for AU will learn to throw the ball away when he's a junior and senior.  As a freshman, he tried to do too much.  He did an excellent taking his team down the field on the last drive though.  What a great game though.

Can't agree with you more, Sarge. Pep admittedly was a bit panicky as the seconds ticked away, but realized, too, that giving Boltus the ball with any ticks on the clock, even had AU scored to take the lead, would leave the result in doubt. Certainly the 99-yard drive was an indicator....on third-and-long, he scrambled for a first down, then threw an 85-yard TD pass.

'Tis a shame anyone had to lose. The game was that well played by both sides. And when Boltus didn't get up that one time...Pep was hoping the best for him, and glad he went right back out there.

A half dozen Hartwick guys were standing on the hillside behind AU Pep Band's Drumline and declared, "Boltus, you're a freak!" Pep turned around, gave them a "thumbs up" and said, "He's good...but he's gonna need a couple days in a hot tub after today!"

Hats off to our Saxons on a game well played.

On Saxon Warriors!

Pep and msarge7,

I understand the concept of the time management and you both know more about playing the game than I.  What entered my mind was doing something a bit more "out of the box"  Perhaps some "no huddle" plays or whatever to catch 'Wick off guard.  Just a fan thinking to surprise them with something unexpected.

Ironically I also noted today that Phelan was the name of Doug Flutie's hail mary pass receiver. 

[msarge7]

It's much easier to watch a game now with no sons playing.  I was laughing to myself in the stands as everyone was going nuts as the clock was ticking down.  Everyone was screaming for the coaches to take a time out.  I was impressed as the AU offense seemed very poised with such a pressure situation, especially with a freshman at the controls.  AU demonstrated a tremendous amount patience.  What a great game to watch.  I talked to 2 of the AU coaches after the game who said "It was GOOD game, it would've been GREAT if we'd won".  I was SO impressed with Boltus.  He took a beating!  I would dare say he was hit anywhere between 10-15 times during the game.  He is one helluva tough kid!  Like I said earlier, I have no one playing, I drove 4 hours to get to the game, and it was worth every bit of the 8 hours round trip!

[superman57]

anyone else watching the Cowboys-Cardinals game... talk about amatuer hour... this is hilarious....

Romo makes nice pass to the TE... TE goes down, Arizona defender is down in the backfield does not get off the field and he gets charged with offsides.. after about 10 minutes of discussion, after they  finally talk it over dallas gets the ball on the 35... Folks field goal gets blocked.... but wait, Wisenhunt calls time out... so therefore Folk gets one more chance and nails it...

[AUKaz00]

Kaz00 was at a family party in Jersey getting updates from Pep and the final drive coincided with dessert.  So, while everyone was singing "Happy Birthday" I had my head tucked down at the table listening to play-by-play.  It seemed like Alfred's running had worn down Wick's D with the two plays previous to the first-and-goal from the 9 going for 7 and 4 yards, respectively.  I would have preferred that Alfred ran the ball 4 times, but it is what it is.  I felt that Wick was a better team than Alfred, so to have the chance to win it at the end was the kind of development I was hpoing for from this team. 

Congrats o the Saxon D!  24 will likely be the fewest points that Boltus and Co will be held to this year.

[Frank Rossi]

anyone else watching the Cowboys-Cardinals game... talk about amatuer hour... this is hilarious....

Romo makes nice pass to the TE... TE goes down, Arizona defender is down in the backfield does not get off the field and he gets charged with offsides.. after about 10 minutes of discussion, after they  finally talk it over dallas gets the ball on the 35... Folks field goal gets blocked.... but wait, Wisenhunt calls time out... so therefore Folk gets one more chance and nails it...

In that situation, the player hurt should've been afforded an injury time out -- and since the Cards were in the lead, there wouldn't have been a 10-second tickoff.  The officials should've called a nullity in that situation since it was their own mistake that allowed the spike play to happen.  If that happened, Folk's field goal would've been short, ironically.  But the Cards won anyway on the blocked punt returned for TD.

[PA_wesleyfan]

The player in question did not go to one knee so the refs couldn't assume he had an injury. Ironic that it was another blocked kick that one the game.

[Frank Rossi]

The player in question did not go to one knee so the refs couldn't assume he had an injury. Ironic that it was another blocked kick that one the game.

The refs didn't see him until after the fact, period.  They don't know if he was on a knee at any point or not.  Hence why no flag was thrown initially.

[superman57]

The player in question did not go to one knee so the refs couldn't assume he had an injury. Ironic that it was another blocked kick that one the game.

The refs didn't see him until after the fact, period.  They don't know if he was on a knee at any point or not.  Hence why no flag was thrown initially.

it was replayed... the fact is.. the coaches should of made the refs aware of the player... but by the looks of it he was standing and not taking a knee.. in which case it doesn't matter if your gonna be hurt you gotta make it known if not get your @$$ of the field

[skunks_sidekick]

I am going to get blistered for this....but here goes.  Regardless of how the (now three) Mount-SJF games have turned out to date, I really thought SJF had turned the corner and entered the "elite zone" of D-III.  Good numbers, big lineman, solid skill players, etc... 

However, upon further review........not so good.  The defense steps up one week while the offense struggles, and then the offense answers the challenge the defense is basically non-existent.  That does not happen if you are truly to the "next level". 

I DO have to say it must be exciting not knowing who is going to win your conference, and the fact that it might be between 2-4 teams. 

[superman57]

skunks... this year is obviously a rebuilding season for fisher... Tim Bailey has been incredibly impresive at times... and next year will be intersesting to see how the d comes back... but it is too hard to lose as much as Fisher did... am I disapointed and was I hoping to see a better season... yes.. but lets hope that it happens every 3rd year as in 02 05 and now 08 then next year we will win the national championship... hopefully...

[pg04]

The player in question did not go to one knee so the refs couldn't assume he had an injury. Ironic that it was another blocked kick that one the game.

The refs didn't see him until after the fact, period.  They don't know if he was on a knee at any point or not.  Hence why no flag was thrown initially.

it was replayed... the fact is.. the coaches should of made the refs aware of the player... but by the looks of it he was standing and not taking a knee.. in which case it doesn't matter if your gonna be hurt you gotta make it known if not get your @$$ of the field

It's OK, the cowboys lost anyway which is all that truly matters...

[salisburye]

good point dewcrew but...This is an SJF team that came into the year ranked 10th right? or at least somewhere in that area. They have had two solid (in my view) showings against MUC in the past two games out of three (in comparison to other MUC opponents) which gave the east some overall confidence. This year they were again tabbed "the team" by most and have struggled. Their only convincing W came against IC (which did impress me) but then they proceeded to lose to freakin Hartwick and again today to the 17th ranked team in the nation having 5 key players suspended and I believe missing two others to injury. I know that their two LBS were benched but I think with all the expectations and hopes for the Cardinals this year many, including myself are very disappointed in their play. I really wanted them to win today. They in my mind should not go the the NCAAs this year.

They didn't lose 5 key players, they lost 5 players.  One  never played, one was a backup, and 3 started.  Hartwick isn't the worst team in the world.  Fisher has been failing their expectations.  

What are you talking about? Salisbury lost 7 starters on defense for that game; the 5 that were suspended, one from an injury last week and one went down in the 1Q. They were very depleted on defense but the younger guys stepped up.