FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

I guess the difficulty is figuring out where Fisher lies on the big spectrum. According to the D3.com poll voters and the AFCA voters, the four best teams on SJF's schedule were:
MUC, Salisbury, IC and Hartwick. Fisher went 1-3 in those games. And they got three of them at home. They've beaten everyone else, but some of those wins (Springfield, Rochester, Buffalo State) were against bad teams. To me, that's the toughest thing. Even though Fisher scheduled two tough OOC games, they didn't win either of them.

To me, that sounds like a good, not great team. They've beaten the teams they were supposed to beat, lost the games they were supposed to lose. The Ithaca game is the lone game where you could say SJF beat a better team.

I'm very torn on the subject of SJF's OOC schedule...

I applaud teams who take on challanges and don't schedule a bunch of cupcakes. I think, all things being equal, teams with tougher schedules should get some benefit of the doubt.

On the other hand...

Beating good teams is what great teams are supposed to do.

I mean look, Salisbury is good, but they;re not unbeatable like MUC. They're 16th in the country, but they're not a great, great team. They're very good, so SJF's inability to beat them, regardless of how close it was, has to raise questions about how good SJF is. Because if SJF were that good, they'd beat a good team Salisbury.

Another way to look at it, since we're discussing playoff implications, would be "Salisbury is good, but they're probably the same or worse than a lot of teams who will make the NCAA's." MUC is the standard-bearer, but there are probably going to be a dozen plus teams in the NCAA's equal or better than Salisbury. So again, does Fisher's loss to them show that they aren't as good as that quality of opponent? Some people could see it that way.

[dlippiel]

I guess the difficulty is figuring out where Fisher lies on the big spectrum. According to the D3.com poll voters and the AFCA voters, the four best teams on SJF's schedule were:
MUC, Salisbury, IC and Hartwick. Fisher went 1-3 in those games. And they got three of them at home. They've beaten everyone else, but some of those wins (Springfield, Rochester, Buffalo State) were against bad teams. To me, that's the toughest thing. Even though Fisher scheduled two tough OOC games, they didn't win either of them.

To me, that sounds like a good, not great team. They've beaten the teams they were supposed to beat, lost the games they were supposed to lose. The Ithaca game is the lone game where you could say SJF beat a better team.

I'm very torn on the subject of SJF's OOC schedule...

I applaud teams who take on challanges and don't schedule a bunch of cupcakes. I think, all things being equal, teams with tougher schedules should get some benefit of the doubt.

On the other hand...

Beating good teams is what great teams are supposed to do.

I mean look, Salisbury is good, but they;re not unbeatable like MUC. They're 16th in the country, but they're not a great, great team. They're very good, so SJF's inability to beat them, regardless of how close it was, has to raise questions about how good SJF is. Because if SJF were that good, they'd beat a good team Salisbury.

Another way to look at it, since we're discussing playoff implications, would be "Salisbury is good, but they're probably the same or worse than a lot of teams who will make the NCAA's." MUC is the standard-bearer, but there are probably going to be a dozen plus teams in the NCAA's equal or better than Salisbury. So again, does Fisher's loss to them show that they aren't as good as that quality of opponent? Some people could see it that way.

I don't care what anyone says, I think SJF made a great choice in their OOC. Granted it may not have worked out for them this year but in the long run I think it will prove to be a very good idea. If I am a kid playing HS ball in the east and am being looked at and looking into d3 football at all, I am looking at SJF. If they continue to schedule aggressively they will continue to attract solid football players to play for them. I even think next year they may, may have a shot at MUC. **** I know I will be there to see it! I give SJF a lot of credit. They have had some great success recently and instead of packing it in and scheduling Endicott and Utica (I know UC is in their conference just making a point) to start each year they step up and bring in the big boys. Thats why they don't lose first round NCAA games to a poor TCNJ team with NO offense. The shoes game baby I am takin shots all the way to kickoff!

[sjfcards]

I like the idea of scheduling one tough OOC game, but scheduling a high quality opponent after the Hartwick game was a big mistake. I know that the school usually does not have much say in that, but for anyone that watched all three games, Fisher was way up for Ithaca (destroyed them), way down for Hartwick (played very badly, could not tackle, and made a ton of bad mistakes), and then the Salisbury game Fisher was ready, but just looked like they were beat by the schedule.
Playing Hartwick when Fisher did is the definition of a trap game. They played well two of the three weeks, just did not have enough to beat a good Salisbury team. Fisher is probably two really bad turnovers away from having just one loss, and all of us talking about them taking another shot at MUC.

I think that Fisher is the best team talent wise in the conference. They are just too young and inexperienced for a schedule like the one they played this year.

[AUPepBand]

The only time I find the overrated chant entertaining is when it's directed at a unranked, mediocre team that performs terribly.  Now that's good stuff.

That is good funny stuff! +K

[Findtheball]

PRE-POST DISCLAIMER:  WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ CONTAINS SUBJECTIVE AND AT TIMES DOWNRIGHT BIASED OPINIONS ABOUT MY LOYALTIES TO ST JOHN FISHER FOOTBALL.  IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO 'HEAR' IT THEN SKIP PAST THIS POST, AND GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR 'SMITE' KEY WHICH I AM SURE YOU WILL BE INCLINED TO DO ANYWAY AFTER HAVING READ THIS FAR.  DISCLAIMER....DONE


Certainly SJF is not a power to be reckoned with this year.  Even had they played King's and 'Port instead of MUC and Salisbury and had a 7-1 record at this point instead of a 5-3 record, it does not change the fact that they have failed to dominate teams they way teams expecting deep play-off runs dominate.  They have muddled through their schedule like certain IC posters muddle through my posts looking for a reason to smite me. 

Yet can anyone provide us with any objective justification for Husson's and Plymouth State's regional rankings?   A  2 loss Husson over a 3 loss SJF?  Is somebody joking?  Plymouth lost to Mt. Ida....Mt Ida.  I dont care if SJF lost to Mt Rushmore, You do not lose to Mt Ida and make the East rankings.  This is a blemish for the East as a whole!!!    This regional ranking should be given as much credit as the Coaches' Poll so often gets....NONE.  This isnt the NFL Pro Bowl is it, where every team has to have a representative?  Does every conference, including the Independents, have to be represented in the Regional Rankings? 

The rest of the rankings seem right...and even close in line to 'our' Fan Poll.  If I was AU, I would be almost as confused by these 2 inclusions. 

Does anyone doubt that had Fisher been 7-1 right now, with even 1 point wins against King's and 'Port instead of their losses to #1 and #16, that they would be in the top 5?  So unless the Committee thinks that they are not good enough to beat King's and Port by 1 (which if so  then so be it) then how do they explain the rankings?  I do think that SJF is not a powerful 7-1 team had they played last year's schedule with this year's performance, but they would be highly ranked nonetheless. 

On a positive note...I feel good that 'Wick has 3 more chances to slip up in conference and hand us the AQ...as long as we take care of business.  SJF has done nothing to help themselves this season, so why change now....'Wick help us...so we can play MUC in Round 1 and......OUCH!

oops did you drop this ?
why thankyou, I was wondering where my crying towel was

[Jonny Utah]

look at nolinenoglory getting some stones and talking smack across the east region boards!

[Findtheball]

 Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

[theoriginalupstate]

Unless SJF gets a game breaking RB in next year they should just scrap the spread.  Their numbers in the run game have been horrific this year, 134yds on the ground per game is pedestrian at best.  Their leading rusher is only getting 75yds a game and the person with the most rushing TD's is the QB with 3.  Its not because of a lack of talent either, I like their RB's but they are not suited for this type of offense.  They're not game breakers in their current role. When all three are healthy; Carlton would be better suited for 3rd downs, Biehl should be getting the majority of the carries and Brown should be playing in the slot and would be awesome getting those bubble screens that Noah killed teams with!

[theoriginalupstate]

Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

As long as you realize that every team from your conference is a joke and wouldn't stand a chance in the MAC, LL or E8 we shouldn't have a problem....

[dlippiel]

Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

As long as you realize that every team from your conference is a joke and wouldn't stand a chance in the MAC, LL or E8 we shouldn't have a problem....

What conference are you referring to?? If it is the one I am thinking of I would love to join in on the banter!

[theoriginalupstate]

Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

As long as you realize that every team from your conference is a joke and wouldn't stand a chance in the MAC, LL or E8 we shouldn't have a problem....

What conference are you referring to?? If it is the one I am thinking of I would love to join in on the banter!

The rice and rock conference in new england....

[Findtheball]

Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

As long as you realize that every team from your conference is a joke and wouldn't stand a chance in the MAC, LL or E8 we shouldn't have a problem....

Oh OK Mr Buffalo State

[theoriginalupstate]

Large ones at that ....... no problem is it?

As long as you realize that every team from your conference is a joke and wouldn't stand a chance in the MAC, LL or E8 we shouldn't have a problem....

Oh OK Mr Buffalo State

buff state??

[Findtheball]

 so sorry I studdered

[theoriginalupstate]

Buff state is in the NJAC and probably would  win 6-7 games in your conference...