FB: Empire 8

[pg04]

Brockport and Springfield played a game in the playoffs in the muck and ice several years ago (2002) that was interesting to watch.  I remember the bleachers being so icy that it was almost impossible to walk on them!  The game itself was interesting as the players tried to get traction on the field, meanwhile tearing it up...  The field was left in horrible condition and led to Brockport having to play their next home playoff game (2 weeks later) at the University of Rochester...  But the cold and the tough sledding just seemed perfect for a down and dirty football game.  

That Brockport-Springfield game I think was one of the worst Division III games I've seen and due mostly to the conditions. It wasn't anyone's fault that the field had turned into frozen slop and had absolutely no traction. I remember it being a bitter cold day and really windy. Springfield's triple option attack stalled out against a strong Brockport defense and the Pride just couldn't do anything. Brockport wasn't great offensively but strong enough to score at least one offensive touchdown that I remember. The worst part was broadcasting the game along with Gordon Mann from the auxiliary press box on top of the normal booth. There was a photographer in the wide area where we were between the coaches boxes that insisted on opening the window in the sub-zero temperatures. I think Gordon was typing with gloved hands and I don't think either of us took our gloves off longer than a few minutes.

The game against John Carroll on the astro turf at Rochester was much better and played at a high level on a clear surface.

You just made the case for why I liked it!  I like games that turn out more like blooper reels  

Why were you at the top?  I know (well, of course I do) that Brockport had a broadcast team there, but did Springfield?  I can't recall.  Sorry it turned into a bad time for you!  

Also I'm pretty sure the score was 16-0.   I think there was one offensive touchdown and a Jeremy Lynch Punt Return. 

[AUPepBand]

Empire 8 fans, while you think about coming down south for a game consider coming to the stadiums of the new Empire 8 teams to watch a game.  Salisbury is a nice place to watch a game (great campus) and is 30 minutes or less from the eastern shore so you can tie a visit to the beach into the trip.

I look forward to traveling to some of the stadiums/campuses in New York as Salisbury gets into a full Empire 8 schedule in 2011.  

Frostburg is also a nice place to watch a game, tucked into scenic western Maryland and not far from the Deep Creek lake tourist area.  

Pep made the trip to Salisbury back in 1999, riding a team bus at the invitation of Coach Dave Murray. Pep believes it was Coach Sherman Wood's inaugural game as Sea Gull mentor, with the Saxons holding on for a 20-13 hard-fought win.

Edit: Thanks to D3football.com, here's the story of that game: http://www.d3football.com/story.php?story=2716

Pep didn't get any time on the beach, but the trip gave Pep a first-hand look at the way Coach Murray runs the Saxon football program.

On Saxon Warriors!

[John McGraw]

Brockport and Springfield played a game in the playoffs in the muck and ice several years ago (2002) that was interesting to watch.  I remember the bleachers being so icy that it was almost impossible to walk on them!  The game itself was interesting as the players tried to get traction on the field, meanwhile tearing it up...  The field was left in horrible condition and led to Brockport having to play their next home playoff game (2 weeks later) at the University of Rochester...  But the cold and the tough sledding just seemed perfect for a down and dirty football game.  

That Brockport-Springfield game I think was one of the worst Division III games I've seen and due mostly to the conditions. It wasn't anyone's fault that the field had turned into frozen slop and had absolutely no traction. I remember it being a bitter cold day and really windy. Springfield's triple option attack stalled out against a strong Brockport defense and the Pride just couldn't do anything. Brockport wasn't great offensively but strong enough to score at least one offensive touchdown that I remember. The worst part was broadcasting the game along with Gordon Mann from the auxiliary press box on top of the normal booth. There was a photographer in the wide area where we were between the coaches boxes that insisted on opening the window in the sub-zero temperatures. I think Gordon was typing with gloved hands and I don't think either of us took our gloves off longer than a few minutes.

The game against John Carroll on the astro turf at Rochester was much better and played at a high level on a clear surface.

You just made the case for why I liked it!  I like games that turn out more like blooper reels  

Why were you at the top?  I know (well, of course I do) that Brockport had a broadcast team there, but did Springfield?  I can't recall.  Sorry it turned into a bad time for you!  

Also I'm pretty sure the score was 16-0.   I think there was one offensive touchdown and a Jeremy Lynch Punt Return. 

I believe Springfield had someone possibly calling the game for a student station so both radio booths were full. While I thought the game itself was a nightmare, the experience was invaluable and I think I tell the story of that game at least one per football season. If you can get through a game broadcast in that weather and can convey the situation, you can pretty much handle anything. Subsequent trips to Brockport were much more fun and included an Ithaca win over 'Port in the 2003 playoffs and the Hail Katherine game in 2004.

[pg04]

Brockport and Springfield played a game in the playoffs in the muck and ice several years ago (2002) that was interesting to watch.  I remember the bleachers being so icy that it was almost impossible to walk on them!  The game itself was interesting as the players tried to get traction on the field, meanwhile tearing it up...  The field was left in horrible condition and led to Brockport having to play their next home playoff game (2 weeks later) at the University of Rochester...  But the cold and the tough sledding just seemed perfect for a down and dirty football game.  

That Brockport-Springfield game I think was one of the worst Division III games I've seen and due mostly to the conditions. It wasn't anyone's fault that the field had turned into frozen slop and had absolutely no traction. I remember it being a bitter cold day and really windy. Springfield's triple option attack stalled out against a strong Brockport defense and the Pride just couldn't do anything. Brockport wasn't great offensively but strong enough to score at least one offensive touchdown that I remember. The worst part was broadcasting the game along with Gordon Mann from the auxiliary press box on top of the normal booth. There was a photographer in the wide area where we were between the coaches boxes that insisted on opening the window in the sub-zero temperatures. I think Gordon was typing with gloved hands and I don't think either of us took our gloves off longer than a few minutes.

The game against John Carroll on the astro turf at Rochester was much better and played at a high level on a clear surface.

You just made the case for why I liked it!  I like games that turn out more like blooper reels  

Why were you at the top?  I know (well, of course I do) that Brockport had a broadcast team there, but did Springfield?  I can't recall.  Sorry it turned into a bad time for you!  

Also I'm pretty sure the score was 16-0.   I think there was one offensive touchdown and a Jeremy Lynch Punt Return. 

I believe Springfield had someone possibly calling the game for a student station so both radio booths were full. While I thought the game itself was a nightmare, the experience was invaluable and I think I tell the story of that game at least one per football season. If you can get through a game broadcast in that weather and can convey the situation, you can pretty much handle anything. Subsequent trips to Brockport were much more fun and included an Ithaca win over 'Port in the 2003 playoffs and the Hail Katherine game in 2004.

I was in the booth for the Ithaca game and the weather was definitely much better for that game!!  Unfortunately Brockport lost both games you enjoyed 

[Bombers798891]

One thing I've always wondered: For Springfield, a team that plays a majority of their games in the Northeast, is it wise to run an offense that can be so easily derailed by bad weather? I'm sure they've had success in bad weather too, but that seems like an offense that, when slowed down, really lacks the diversity to adapt

I still remember the 2006 game where a decidedly average (for them) Ithaca team held Springfield to seven points and 241 rushing yards the week after they carved up that great Fisher team for 55 and and 493.

That game was played in terrible weather. I still remember hearing someone from the Springfield stands yelling out "It's not your fault! It's this lousy field!"

Of course, Jamie Donovan ran for 120 yards on 20 carries, so maybe it wasn't all the field's fault 

But IC's had problems in bad weather too. I still maintain that they lost the 2008 Curry game when Ruggerio slipped before getting the handoff on a 2nd-and-4 from the Curry 24 late in the game as IC was trying to run out the clock, setting up a 3rd and long the Bombers couldn't convert.

As far as the RPI-IC Blizzard game, didn't RPI hit two long TD's to go up 14-0 before the weather turned South? I could be wrong, but I thought they jumped out on IC and took advantage of the good weather

[John McGraw]

As long as Coach DeLong is at Springfield, I don't see the Pride changing up their offense much. They do have a carpet at home and most stadiums in the northeast have switched to over to field turf. The only exception in the Empire 8 is Ithaca.

Looking at SC's 2010 schedule, Ithaca and Wilkes are the only teams with natural grass, everyone else has turf.

When Springfield's offense gets going on turf, it's really something to watch and very hard for opposing defenses to stop.

[Jonny Utah]

As long as Coach DeLong is at Springfield, I don't see the Pride changing up their offense much. They do have a carpet at home and most stadiums in the northeast have switched to over to field turf. The only exception in the Empire 8 is Ithaca.

Looking at SC's 2010 schedule, Ithaca and Wilkes are the only teams with natural grass, everyone else has turf.

When Springfield's offense gets going on turf, it's really something to watch and very hard for opposing defenses to stop.

In 1994 Springfield came to Ithaca and beat us pretty bad on a very muddy field.  And I'm pretty sure Springfield was around .500 (d2 then) and I know Ithaca made the final 4.

[dlippiel]

As long as Coach DeLong is at Springfield, I don't see the Pride changing up their offense much. They do have a carpet at home and most stadiums in the northeast have switched to over to field turf. The only exception in the Empire 8 is Ithaca.

Looking at SC's 2010 schedule, Ithaca and Wilkes are the only teams with natural grass, everyone else has turf.

When Springfield's offense gets going on turf, it's really something to watch and very hard for opposing defenses to stop.

dlip has to say he loves the triple option and the way DeLong coaches that team. The first time dlip saw Sharpe, he instantly had a man crush on the Pride and has been high on them ever since. Also, from making trips out to Springfield (which is really just a bigger Shocktown) to watch the U open the season there was a lot of fun. dlip loved bantering with the drunk Pride fans partying directly behind the visiting bleachers. To dlip, that offense is a work of art when it's being run properly. Look out for the Pride in 10 with a more mature Josh Carter taking the snaps and running the O. dlip saw flashes of brilliance last season and feels, depending on many of the other returning players, the Pride will be one to be reckoned with this coming season.

[theoriginalupstate]

As long as Coach DeLong is at Springfield, I don't see the Pride changing up their offense much. They do have a carpet at home and most stadiums in the northeast have switched to over to field turf. The only exception in the Empire 8 is Ithaca.

Looking at SC's 2010 schedule, Ithaca and Wilkes are the only teams with natural grass, everyone else has turf.

When Springfield's offense gets going on turf, it's really something to watch and very hard for opposing defenses to stop.

I'm pretty sure SC got rid of the AstroTurf and went to the FieldTurf...

[AUPepBand]

As long as Coach DeLong is at Springfield, I don't see the Pride changing up their offense much. They do have a carpet at home and most stadiums in the northeast have switched to over to field turf. The only exception in the Empire 8 is Ithaca.

Looking at SC's 2010 schedule, Ithaca and Wilkes are the only teams with natural grass, everyone else has turf.

When Springfield's offense gets going on turf, it's really something to watch and very hard for opposing defenses to stop.

dlip has to say he loves the triple option and the way DeLong coaches that team. The first time dlip saw Sharpe, he instantly had a man crush on the Pride and has been high on them ever since. Also, from making trips out to Springfield (which is really just a bigger Shocktown) to watch the U open the season there was a lot of fun. dlip loved bantering with the drunk Pride fans partying directly behind the visiting bleachers. To dlip, that offense is a work of art when it's being run properly. Look out for the Pride in 10 with a more mature Josh Carter taking the snaps and running the O. dlip saw flashes of brilliance last season and feels, depending on many of the other returning players, the Pride will be one to be reckoned with this coming season.

Pep is certainly mindful of Carter's steady improvement in running Springfield's dangerous offense. Last year at Merrill Field, although the Saxons were up by two or three TDs, it seemed the result was still in question because of the Pride's quick-strike ability. And, Carter, like Sharpe, can also throw the ball... the Pride actually threw 9 times against AU, completing 4 with a TD and a pick.

It's always a struggle when AU goes to Springfield...the Saxons were lucky to come away with a 17-14 win the last time they visited Homer Simpson's hometown.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Gargantuan Gull]

Empire 8 fans, while you think about coming down south for a game consider coming to the stadiums of the new Empire 8 teams to watch a game.  Salisbury is a nice place to watch a game (great campus) and is 30 minutes or less from the eastern shore so you can tie a visit to the beach into the trip.

I look forward to traveling to some of the stadiums/campuses in New York as Salisbury gets into a full Empire 8 schedule in 2011.  

Frostburg is also a nice place to watch a game, tucked into scenic western Maryland and not far from the Deep Creek lake tourist area.  

Pep made the trip to Salisbury back in 1999, riding a team bus at the invitation of Coach Dave Murray. Pep believes it was Coach Sherman Wood's inaugural game as Sea Gull mentor, with the Saxons holding on for a 20-13 hard-fought win.

Edit: Thanks to D3football.com, here's the story of that game: http://www.d3football.com/story.php?story=2716

Pep didn't get any time on the beach, but the trip gave Pep a first-hand look at the way Coach Murray runs the Saxon football program.

On Saxon Warriors!

Pep, thanks for the link.  Good story especially since it covers the first game that Sherman Wood coached.  The campus has grown quite a bit since 1999, it's worth another trip...

[Yanks 99]

To my E8 bretheren...looks like one of our own is back in the coaching ranks.  Congrats to the new head coach of the Saint Lawrence Saints...Mark Raymond...and welcome back.

I think this is a great hire for the Saints...

http://www.stlawu.edu/athletics/saints/football/story/4630

Ironic that the Saints and Bombers open up the 2010 campaign at Butterfield this year...

[gordonmann]

Upstate New Yorkers may have already known this but Jason Boltus' brother is making noise in Division I Lax.

http://www.laxmagazine.com/college_men/DI/2009-10/news/051910_nuts_and_boltus_why_army_can_go_all_the_way

[AUPepBand]

Upstate New Yorkers may have already known this but Jason Boltus' brother is making noise in Division I Lax.

http://www.laxmagazine.com/college_men/DI/2009-10/news/051910_nuts_and_boltus_why_army_can_go_all_the_way

Pep happened to have caught some of a replay of an Army-Navy lax contest and figured that was Boltus' brother....who is, as a matter of fact, coached by none other than Alfred lacrosse great Joe Alberici! Way to go, Joe! Pep always enjoyed watching the Saxons when Alberici was on the turf.

Go Army!
(On Saxon Warriors!)


P.S. The Alfred fight song has the same starting melody line as the Army fight song. In the band's kazoo infancy, Pep had to drill the Alfred song into AUKaz00's head, as he was prone to wander back to his Army football days as a tot growing up in Goshen near West Point.

[Yanks 99]

Speaking of Boltus, he is now starting his second year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

http://www.ticats.ca/article/getting-to-know-jason-boltus