FB: Empire 8

[skunks_sidekick]

Hello my East red-headed step children!  

Jose.....IF Mount and your Bombers can hold up their end of the deal, it looks like I will be in Chicago for the Raider/Bomber regional final.  I don't know WHY she always plans a Chicago trip in December???  If you happen to be that way, we can go find a place to listen/watch/compute the game while eating some deep dish.

Sincerely,

MUC fan (AKA "your daddy")

[wickfan]

Oh dear god?  Is Brockport that good?  Didn't the new DC at Hartwick used to coach at Brockport?

[AUPepBand]

Best of luck, E8 also-rans in your ECAC matchups, and best of luck, Ithaca, in the NCAAs!

Now that the backyard brawls are over for 2008, let's represent the E8 well!

Predictions with E8 bias assumed:
NCAA
Ithaca 42, Curry 19

ECAC
St. John Fisher 31, Husson 23
Hartwick 41, Brockport 28
Alfred 28, RPI 24

[pg04]

Oh dear god?  Is Brockport that good?  Didn't the new DC at Hartwick used to coach at Brockport?

No, I actually fear that Boltus could have a field day!

[pg04]

Although I do like the matchup, as it's one that wouldn't occur in the regular season, most likely. 

[theicdubbz]

HEY BOMBERS! Poor Curry, they wont know what hit them!  I love that Ithaca has a great QB debate.  And not only that but possibly a RB debate!  I dont think Ithaca has ever had a team with BOTH positions having great battles for starters.  I dont think I would pull Grastorff after Saturday.  But, JUVON IS GOOD!  

can't wait for Cortland Rnd 2!

Fisher....... I guess you can hang your hats on the fact you beat the #2 team in the region at home.   It will be interesting to see the Bomber recruiting class next year with the 35 million dollar athletic center being built as a type. That should compete some what with the Bills money.  

dubbz

[realistic]

it's a tough call, I think.....but history says backup QB's can make NCAA runs too.

[pg04]

it's a tough call, I think.....but history says backup QB's can make NCAA runs too.

I believe Brockport's 3rd string QB led them to the Regional finals in 2002 (including a win at Rowan) -- I don't Believe Bob Darnley ever had a playoff win of his own. 

[AUPepBand]

HEY BOMBERS! Poor Curry, they wont know what hit them!  I love that Ithaca has a great QB debate.  And not only that but possibly a RB debate!  I dont think Ithaca has ever had a team with BOTH positions having great battles for starters.  I dont think I would pull Grastorff after Saturday.  But, JUVON IS GOOD! 

can't wait for Cortland Rnd 2!

Fisher....... I guess you can hang your hats on the fact you beat the #2 team in the region at home.   It will be interesting to see the Bomber recruiting class next year with the 35 million dollar athletic center being built as a type. That should compete some what with the Bills money. 

dubbz

Pep would like to hint that a heretofore unannounced bubblegum plan may keep Mayberry in the mix in the E8 Recruiting Wars. The plan is to replace ye olde Davis Gym (scheduled for demolition) with a Guinness World Record wad of bubble gum, to be blown up over the McLane Parking Lot, thus providing a BubbleGumDome under which AU students will enjoy the finest of recreational facilities including a NATURAL climbing wall (more fun for visiting fans who must "climb a mountain" out of Merrill), basketball courts, fitness equipment and indoor track. Pep will be passing a hat at the ECAC game at RPI to assist with the mass purchase of bubblegum. Chew on that one, E8 rivals.

['gro]

Pep, if this Alfred/RPI game is true, you know what that means... battle of the pep bands.

[fisheralum91]

pep- shouldnt they start out small and take care of more important things like.......um............. i dunno...............the knee ripping turf?

[AUPepBand]

Pep, if this Alfred/RPI game is true, you know what that means... battle of the pep bands.

Oh yeah! Pep has a great deal of respect for the RPI Pep Band, which probably has more playing time with RPI Hockey. Hope they will be out to play despite the weather! Pep is proud of the band for Saterday's performance in the rain. Someone snarfed the band's EZ-Up, so we got wet.....but we went wild!

[Bombers798891]

HEY BOMBERS! Poor Curry, they wont know what hit them!  I love that Ithaca has a great QB debate.  And not only that but possibly a RB debate!  I dont think Ithaca has ever had a team with BOTH positions having great battles for starters.  I dont think I would pull Grastorff after Saturday.  But, JUVON IS GOOD!  

can't wait for Cortland Rnd 2!

Fisher....... I guess you can hang your hats on the fact you beat the #2 team in the region at home.   It will be interesting to see the Bomber recruiting class next year with the 35 million dollar athletic center being built as a type. That should compete some what with the Bills money.  

dubbz

Technically, IC is the best team in the "East" if we're discussing geography. The NCAA's need to move teams around nonwithstanding, Ithaca would appear to be the class of the region...

Regarding the whole Grastorf/Juvan debate, knowing that Dan has been banged up all season, I don't have a problem going with Brian. You need to play the hot hand in this scenario. Last week was, for all intents and purposes, a playoff game, and frankly, a tougher game to win than Curry should be. If they had the confidence for Brian to beat their archrival on the road to put them in the playoffs, they've got to have the confidence for him to win at home against Curry.

Grastorf has run the offense very well, and other than the one bad decision leading to the pick last week, he played a flawless game at Cortland. Also, I think his mobility will be a huge plus for the Bombers. He ran for three first downs Saturday and that can't be discounted.

The Bergerstock/Ruggerio debate isn't as big. I'd suspect that, if healthy, Tom would be the guy to get the start, but Dan would be able to spell him, come in if Tom's ankle acts up on him, or just give Ithaca a different look and Curry someone different to prepare for. There's no reason to think these guys couldn't/shouldn't split time.

On a related note, who else is coughing up the 8/4 bucks for the Curry game on Saturday?

[JQV]

it's a tough call, I think.....but history says backup QB's can make NCAA runs too.

PG, I suspect realistic was making a tongue-in-cheek reference to IC's run to the East Finals under backup Greg Sheeler who had to take the helm when BY got his head scrambled on the first play at Montclair in the first round.

I am also not concerned about the RB situation.  IC is at its best when it has two great backs.

See, e.g., Nick Dibble-Ryan Carpenter, Tommy Giorgio-Dave Maddi, Alex Baez-Jamie Donovan.

[AUPepBand]

When Bergerstock and Juvan went out at Merrill Field, Ruggiero and Grastorf rallied the Bombers to a 30-0 scoring spree, taking Ithaca from a 21-13 deficit to a commanding 43-21 lead. Pep had hoped the Saxons could get to Grastorf and try to ruffle his feathers but it wasn't to be. To the Saxons credit, they fought back just the same to make it interesting.

The Bombers are in good hands with either Juvan or Grastorf....and Bergerstock or Ruggiero. Go Bombers!

Pep has often wished he could see a Cortaca just because Pep enjoys the big crowd atmosphere at a D3 game. Pep would like to see Cortaca II....time will tell.