FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

pleas dont lump all fisher ppl together
and also stop with generalizations---if you have a beef- point out who said what

[AUKaz00]

Man there is some discrimihating going on in the poll, apparently Fisher is an underdog despite the Saxons having accomplished less throughout the season.  They have no signature wins, but they do have a signature loss to a 3-6 Ursinus.   And before people go crazy and talk about Fisher winning close games against Springfield and Utica, look at the comparible scores...Neither were impressive.  I guess they could use the argument they beat U of R by a much wider margin than Fisher, but I think the margin between the Ithaca scores slightly tips in Fisher's favor.  I guess I just don't see why more people are drinking their kool-aid?  Maybe it's the Freshman QB who has steadily improved.  What do you guys who voted for Alfred think?  I'm not trying to be negative so don't paste me with -K, I just want to see what it is.  I feel like the general consensus from people will point out Fisher's struggles of late as their reason, but when looking at how Alfred compared to the same teams I'm just not seeing an advantage in their favor.   

I'll try to take a stab at this and hopefully without being too biased for my alma mater.

First off, yes I do believe that the Alfred team has progressed a lot since the beginning of the season.  The first 6 quarters of AU football in 2008 were simply atrocious.  At halftime against FDU I honestly thought we were looking at a 2-8 type season.  But the defense got together, the offense started to click and Alfred turned that game and the season around.  Since then, the offense and defense have progressively been getting better (though the kicking game has gotten markedly worse) and Hendrix has slowly been healing from his knee injury suffered during Alfred's scrimmage against Muhlenberg.

Now, before I get to my thoughts on comparative scores, I must say that looking over the entirety of the Fisher schedule it seems to me that the one score that is most unlike the others is the win over Ithaca.  And for Alfred, the one score most unlike the others was the opening loss to Ursinis where the Saxons turned the ball over 8 times and only lost by 7.  Both teams are 6-3 for a reason because neither of these teams is a powerhouse.

So, since I consider Fisher's win over IC a statistical anamoly, I will leave out the IC scores for comparison.  Against the other 5 teams that Fisher and Alfred shared as opponents, here is how they both faired.  Alfred beat Springfield away by 3; Fisher at home by 3.  Alfred beat Norwich at home by 42; Fisher away by 39.  Alfred lost to Wick away by 5; Fisher at home by 3.  Alfred beat Utica away by 17; Fisher away by 7.  And finally, Alfred beat Rochester away by 29; Fisher away by 7.

Now, there is an assumption that playing at home gives an advantage and in the NFL that comes out to somewhere between 3 and 4 points.  If that is the case in D3, then the only game between the above 5 that would comparatively favor Fisher would be Norwich.  And the trending would also favor Alfred.  For instance, Alfred beat Springfield by 3 in week 4, but beat Rochester by 29 in week 9 while Fisher beat Rochester by 7 in week 2, but only equalled Alfred's margin of victory over Springfield in week 8.  I know that teams are not static, so these comparisons may very well be all bunk.

And my final thought is that the argument "Fisher will now be motivated" is a little silly since weren't they motivated to beat Wick?  Or Salisbury?  Regardless of any of this analysis, going into the last two games I felt that Alfred would be a 14 point dog to Ithaca and a pick 'em against Fisher.  The Saxons showed me a little heart last week in getting back into the game and so I still think this week's game is a toss up, but I'd give the slight edge to Alfred playing at home.

[Bombers798891]

and bombers do me a favor and go back and read just about all of Upstate's posts and JohnnyUtahs, Fisher fans have been the harder on this team and coaches than ANYONE...

When SJF gets beat im hard on them, when they win im even harder on them because I expect alot from the players and coaching staff.  This team has the makings of being a regional power for years (good recruiting base, good coaching, good facilities) and when they slip up it should be pointed out not just brushed under the rug and hope that they dont make the same mistake next time.

I root hard for this team every week to come out on top but I have never blindly backed this team for no reason like other teams homers do.  The SJF posters on here have been hard on the team because they had high expectations from the team just like the players and coaches did.  I have defended them on other boards when they are bashed on other boards for "ducking" teams from other regions so its not like I am rooting against the team.

Bombers123456789 you need to get past your double standards...

I simply asked where this idea of "Bias" or "Discrimihating" against SJF comes in.

My post was in a specific response to Booby's that said "Man there is some discrimihating going on against SJF". I don't think there's "discrimihating" going on.

This is a game played between two good teams. They are very close in Point differential, Yardage differential, offensive red zone percentage, penalties, 3rd down conversion percentage, etc. They're very close in a lot of things actually. The only big differences I can see is that SJF has a solid advantage in turnovers, +4 to -5, but Alfred has a big advantage in Red Zone defense 58% to 79%. But the two teams are pretty even. SJF wants to make the playoffs, but they will be playing on the road. I don't see how any one team could be largely favored to win the game, so I don't see how any team being picked to win shows bias

It's not the picking for or against Fisher I have a problem with. It's when people are accused of being biased when they are picking against Fisher. I think Fisher will win this game. Something like 27-16 seems about right. But if Alfred were to win, say, 23-20, I wouldn't be stunned

[Bombers798891]

pleas dont lump all fisher ppl together
and also stop with generalizations---if you have a beef- point out who said what

My beef was with what Booby said about "Discrimihating" going on against Fisher. I don't like how it implies that people picking against Fisher are doing so because we hate them

[theoriginalupstate]

pleas dont lump all fisher ppl together
and also stop with generalizations---if you have a beef- point out who said what

My beef was with what Booby said about "Discrimihating" going on against Fisher. I don't like how it implies that people picking against Fisher are doing so because we hate them

you completely missed Boobys whole argument...

Its not about discriminating, its about you railing on SJF fans when they're trying to defend their team and then railing on us for critizing them...

[Bombers798891]

pleas dont lump all fisher ppl together
and also stop with generalizations---if you have a beef- point out who said what

My beef was with what Booby said about "Discrimihating" going on against Fisher. I don't like how it implies that people picking against Fisher are doing so because we hate them

you completely missed Boobys whole argument...

Its not about discriminating, its about you railing on SJF fans when they're trying to defend their team and then railing on us for critizing them...

Booby made that point in reference to SJF being predicted to lose against Alfred...

"Man there is some discrimihating going on in the poll, apparently Fisher is an underdog despite the Saxons having accomplished less throughout the season. "

That is what I was refering to. That entire post discussed Alfred and Fisher

[Bombers798891]

Also, Upstate, we all do the same thing. I do criticize Fisher, and sometimes Fisher fans. But, some Fisher fans criticize their team, and then criticize fans who do the same. Both sides are, in a sense, holding double standards

[sjfcards]

I think the idea of a discussion about who is respecting who is like a dog chasing his tail. What would he do if he got it?

In these fan polls it is always going to be a predictable vote in games that seem close on paper. Fisher fans will vote for Fisher. AU fans will vote for AU. IC fans will vote for AU, because they need AU to win. Other teams fans will split based on which team they want to win. I don't think very much analysis is going on before we all click one button over another. I will be the first to admit that I voted for Fisher, because if they lose the season is basically over. The bottom line is that it has very little to do with who wins on Saterday.

I get why some Fisher fans think we are being "hated" on. I also get why other teams fans this that is rediculous. The only thing we need to be worried about right now is: what is this major announcement that the Fisher Athletics program is having a press conference for today (according to the website)?

NO, I am jus kidding, but if anyone knows that would be great.

[theoriginalupstate]

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Per the SJF athletics web page, they are holding a press conference today at 4pm regarding SJF athletics...

According to them its HUGE!!!

My inside sources have confirmed, and Pep will undoubtedly be thrilled with this, that they are installing bathrooms at Growney...

[sjfcards]

that is big news...I will finally be able to squat at halftime.

[theoriginalupstate]

I have no clue on what the announcement is...

Just messin around...

[pg04]

I have no clue on what the announcement is...

Just messin around...

Fisher, after a 6-3 start, has decided to hang it up and drop football.  Reasons given include:  Critical fan base and discrimihating from outside parties.

[Bombers798891]

I think the idea of a discussion about who is respecting who is like a dog chasing his tail. What would he do if he got it?

In these fan polls it is always going to be a predictable vote in games that seem close on paper. Fisher fans will vote for Fisher. AU fans will vote for AU. IC fans will vote for AU, because they need AU to win. Other teams fans will split based on which team they want to win. I don't think very much analysis is going on before we all click one button over another. I will be the first to admit that I voted for Fisher, because if they lose the season is basically over. The bottom line is that it has very little to do with who wins on Saterday.

I get why some Fisher fans think we are being "hated" on. I also get why other teams fans this that is rediculous. The only thing we need to be worried about right now is: what is this major announcement that the Fisher Athletics program is having a press conference for today (according to the website)?

NO, I am jus kidding, but if anyone knows that would be great.

Cards--

Very well put...

I hope the announcement is that IC will play all their home games at SJF so I can have a comfortable seat at a Bomber game for once....

[sjfcards]

I have no clue on what the announcement is...

Just messin around...

Fisher, after a 6-3 start, has decided to hang it up and drop football.  Reasons given include:  Critical fan base and discrimihating from outside parties.

I don't know the exact definition, but this seems like discrimihating to me.

[theoriginalupstate]

Is it just me or did we just get bitchslapped by the LL with regards to posts...

We went from +5 to -37 in about 2 weeks...

A 42 post swing could be a double monkey stomp...