FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

And, playing these days in what I consider the toughest conference in the East Region, it is really a feather in their cap.

This is one of the main reasons I wish there was more E8-LL interaction in the regular season.... or even E8-NJAC.

I think it is a great idea, and I think teams should really consider moving in that direction. There can be some great matchups in their if SJF played Cortland, or Hobart every year. How about a IC or AU vs Rowan or a Keane. Those are compelling games with inter-regional bragging rights.

[maxpower]

I also think that generally too much is made of the whole strength of schedule thing. We talk about certain teams playing "up" or "down" to their opponents, but what team really doesn't? What team doesn't have expectations entering a game that affect their play somehow?

Yeah, if the E8/LL/NJAC interacted more regularly, it would be a tougher schedule. But I think certain teams would respond, and this is the point of the AQ: Maybe a two-loss East Region team poses a greater threat to Mount because of the experience, than an undefeated team does in our current climate.

[theoriginalupstate]

And, playing these days in what I consider the toughest conference in the East Region, it is really a feather in their cap.

This is one of the main reasons I wish there was more E8-LL interaction in the regular season.... or even E8-NJAC.

I think it is a great idea, and I think teams should really consider moving in that direction. There can be some great matchups in their if SJF played Cortland, or Hobart every year. How about a IC or AU vs Rowan or a Keane. Those are compelling games with inter-regional bragging rights.

I do know that SJF has a home and home with Hobart starting next season...

Gives SJF two games vs the LL...

[sjfcards]

I remember some fun games against Hobart when I was in school. It was a game that the Fisher players got up for, with the sharing of a recruiting area, and a proximity of the schools, abilityof fans to travel and such. It will be fun to see that rivalry start up again starting next year.

I think games like that just add more to the College football experience, for fans, players, coaches, students, etc. It ust makes for fun football.

On a side note; did anyone catch the comments by Bob Ward during halftime of the Fisher radio broadcast about improvements to Growney, and the strength of the Empire 8 as a conference? It sounded like an interesting interview, but the wife and some friends we had over would not stop talking and it made it hard to hear. I am interested if anyone heard it.

[SJFF82]

I remember some fun games against Hobart when I was in school. It was a game that the Fisher players got up for, with the sharing of a recruiting area, and a proximity of the schools, abilityof fans to travel and such. It will be fun to see that rivalry start up again starting next year.

I think games like that just add more to the College football experience, for fans, players, coaches, students, etc. It ust makes for fun football.

On a side note; did anyone catch the comments by Bob Ward during halftime of the Fisher radio broadcast about improvements to Growney, and the strength of the Empire 8 as a conference? It sounded like an interesting interview, but the wife and some friends we had over would not stop talking and it made it hard to hear. I am interested if anyone heard it.

Heard that...pretty encouraging....everything moves slow though....the real question is did you hear the plug I got in the 4th quarter:  shout out to the former wr at home in Roch raking leaves and listening to us on espn 950 

[Yanks 99]

So Yanks, in all seriousness, with the results of the games today, does your argument about this NOT being a down year for the E8 change at all?

Max...not at all.  I think it shows unbelievable balance.  I mean, you do have to remember that AU was without their starting QB, who I think few would argue is the best QB in the league (not that it would have made any difference as IC did put up 31 on the day).

The arguement can go both ways I guess...what is the stronger league...one where everyone is average to below average with one top team...or a league where every team is good, but the top team may have a loss...or even two...because everyone is so equal in talent?

[Bombers798891]

I also think that generally too much is made of the whole strength of schedule thing. We talk about certain teams playing "up" or "down" to their opponents, but what team really doesn't? What team doesn't have expectations entering a game that affect their play somehow?

Yeah, if the E8/LL/NJAC interacted more regularly, it would be a tougher schedule. But I think certain teams would respond, and this is the point of the AQ: Maybe a two-loss East Region team poses a greater threat to Mount because of the experience, than an undefeated team does in our current climate.

I think an E8/LL challenge would be a great idea. (Sort of like the Big-10/ACC Challenge, but hopefully minus the one-sidedness.) It's be tough to get the NJAC involved because they play nine conf games, but who knows?

[Bombers798891]

So Yanks, in all seriousness, with the results of the games today, does your argument about this NOT being a down year for the E8 change at all?

Max...not at all.  I think it shows unbelievable balance.  I mean, you do have to remember that AU was without their starting QB, who I think few would argue is the best QB in the league (not that it would have made any difference as IC did put up 31 on the day).

The arguement can go both ways I guess...what is the stronger league...one where everyone is average to below average with one top team...or a league where every team is good, but the top team may have a loss...or even two...because everyone is so equal in talent?

Incorrect. Secky played. And Ithaca was missing their best defensive player, no less.

Here's the thing that disturbed me about this week. So many games were blowouts. Ithaca gets destroyed by Springfield and Fisher but then beats Alfred handily? Springfield takes care of everyone but Alfred easily, then Fisher runs them off the field? If Springfield had put up some fight, that's one thing, but 34-7? From a team averaging 40 PPG?

I guess my thinking is, suppose any other E8 team besides Alfred were to make the playoffs. Would they be a threat to win some games? Maybe Sprigfield because the triple option can be such a pain to defend if you're not used to it.

After that, I'm thinking no-one else is any kind of threat. Most of the conferences OOC wins have come over teams that won't make the NCAA's (or even come close)

[Yanks 99]

So Yanks, in all seriousness, with the results of the games today, does your argument about this NOT being a down year for the E8 change at all?

Max...not at all.  I think it shows unbelievable balance.  I mean, you do have to remember that AU was without their starting QB, who I think few would argue is the best QB in the league (not that it would have made any difference as IC did put up 31 on the day).

The arguement can go both ways I guess...what is the stronger league...one where everyone is average to below average with one top team...or a league where every team is good, but the top team may have a loss...or even two...because everyone is so equal in talent?

Incorrect. Secky played. And Ithaca was missing their best defensive player, no less.

Here's the thing that disturbed me about this week. So many games were blowouts. Ithaca gets destroyed by Springfield and Fisher but then beats Alfred handily? Springfield takes care of everyone but Alfred easily, then Fisher runs them off the field? If Springfield had put up some fight, that's one thing, but 34-7? From a team averaging 40 PPG?

I guess my thinking is, suppose any other E8 team besides Alfred were to make the playoffs. Would they be a threat to win some games? Maybe Sprigfield because the triple option can be such a pain to defend if you're not used to it.

After that, I'm thinking no-one else is any kind of threat. Most of the conferences OOC wins have come over teams that won't make the NCAA's (or even come close)

Wow...I had heard wrong then about Secky...my bad.

It was definitely a weird weekend of football...

[AUKaz00]

Ugh, what a weekend.  Just got internet back, so I haven't had the chance to read posts since Friday but thought I'd post my thoughts before going back.

Friday night Alfred-Almond lost in the 105th minute of the Section V finals on an own goal, then the Saxons decided to recycle the turd that Burnett left on the mound during Game 5.  I got home from Ithaca to find out that my 19 month old has come down with swine flu.

I did however come up with a parallel between the Yankees and Saxons yesterday in that the Yanks had a chance to clinch in both the ALCS and World Series on the road only to lose and come home to win it.  Here's hoping the Saxons can continue that streak.  However, when I told MKaz about my theory her reply was, "Oh, I thought they lost because they always suck this time of year."  Ouch.

Congrats Ithaca on making me abhor going to Butterfield yet again and On Saxon Warriors!

[Yanks 99]

Ugh, what a weekend.  Just got internet back, so I haven't had the chance to read posts since Friday but thought I'd post my thoughts before going back.

Friday night Alfred-Almond lost in the 105th minute of the Section V finals on an own goal, then the Saxons decided to recycle the turd that Burnett left on the mound during Game 5.  I got home from Ithaca to find out that my 19 month old has come down with swine flu.

I did however come up with a parallel between the Yankees and Saxons yesterday in that the Yanks had a chance to clinch in both the ALCS and World Series on the road only to lose and come home to win it.  Here's hoping the Saxons can continue that streak.  However, when I told MKaz about my theory her reply was, "Oh, I thought they lost because they always suck this time of year."  Ouch.

Congrats Ithaca on making me abhor going to Butterfield yet again and On Saxon Warriors!

I think Alfred will be fine...again, if anyone were to ask you in August if you would be in position to win your first E8 title ever and go the the NCAA's for the first time ever, and the only thing you had to do was beat Utica in the last game of the year, at home...you would take it one million times out of one million.

Good luck Saxons...

[Yanks 99]

WTF happened to Sammy Sosa...maybe he should have laid off the steroids a bit sooner...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Not-to-worry-Sammy-Sosa-is-just-rejuvenating-hi?urn=mlb,201086

[AUKaz00]

Ugh, what a weekend.  Just got internet back, so I haven't had the chance to read posts since Friday but thought I'd post my thoughts before going back.

Friday night Alfred-Almond lost in the 105th minute of the Section V finals on an own goal, then the Saxons decided to recycle the turd that Burnett left on the mound during Game 5.  I got home from Ithaca to find out that my 19 month old has come down with swine flu.

I did however come up with a parallel between the Yankees and Saxons yesterday in that the Yanks had a chance to clinch in both the ALCS and World Series on the road only to lose and come home to win it.  Here's hoping the Saxons can continue that streak.  However, when I told MKaz about my theory her reply was, "Oh, I thought they lost because they always suck this time of year."  Ouch.

Congrats Ithaca on making me abhor going to Butterfield yet again and On Saxon Warriors!

I think Alfred will be fine...again, if anyone were to ask you in August if you would be in position to win your first E8 title ever and go the the NCAA's for the first time ever, and the only thing you had to do was beat Utica in the last game of the year, at home...you would take it one million times out of one million.

Good luck Saxons...

True, but Wick knows more than anyone what playing Utica in week 11 with the AQ on the line can mean.  I'm just hoping the Saxons come out on top (even if it takes 4 OTs).

[Yanks 99]

Ugh, what a weekend.  Just got internet back, so I haven't had the chance to read posts since Friday but thought I'd post my thoughts before going back.

Friday night Alfred-Almond lost in the 105th minute of the Section V finals on an own goal, then the Saxons decided to recycle the turd that Burnett left on the mound during Game 5.  I got home from Ithaca to find out that my 19 month old has come down with swine flu.

I did however come up with a parallel between the Yankees and Saxons yesterday in that the Yanks had a chance to clinch in both the ALCS and World Series on the road only to lose and come home to win it.  Here's hoping the Saxons can continue that streak.  However, when I told MKaz about my theory her reply was, "Oh, I thought they lost because they always suck this time of year."  Ouch.

Congrats Ithaca on making me abhor going to Butterfield yet again and On Saxon Warriors!

I think Alfred will be fine...again, if anyone were to ask you in August if you would be in position to win your first E8 title ever and go the the NCAA's for the first time ever, and the only thing you had to do was beat Utica in the last game of the year, at home...you would take it one million times out of one million.

Good luck Saxons...

True, but Wick knows more than anyone what playing Utica in week 11 with the AQ on the line can mean.  I'm just hoping the Saxons come out on top (even if it takes 4 OTs).

Hahaha...very true...but I will tell you what...will anyone involved in that game ever forget it and what it meant to get to the NCAA's for the first time?  Like I said before...good luck this weekend, and I hope you guys represent the E8 well...

[Doid23]

WTF happened to Sammy Sosa...maybe he should have laid off the steroids a bit sooner...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Not-to-worry-Sammy-Sosa-is-just-rejuvenating-hi?urn=mlb,201086

Truly frightening.