FB: Empire 8

[maxpower]

FA91-

you're a red sox fan, right? that's some pre-2004 talk.

I'm a Yankees fan. i was at game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. it sucked. but after it ended i turned around and shook the hand of the red sox fan sitting behind me and said:


"Now that you've won, does it make you care about winning any less?"

"No."

"Now you know how we feel."


I don't think a true sports fan's passion is determined by how likely his team is to win. I feel just as passionate about the Bills as I do about the Yankees and vice versa. What you're saying sounds like a big plate of sour grapes.

[fisheralum91]

max- you are correct.
tho i am also a bills fan and was passionate at one time-i dont know if it is age or what but my Monday mood has nothing to do with the outcome of the Bills game----It sure did 15 years ago tho

max its not sour grapes...if i had to define it---prolly jealousy

[Bombers798891]

Well, to weigh in, and speak from experience...you can state facts in an arrogant way...I don't think anyone doubts UMU is the better team, and no, I don't think the game will be the 31-20 score someone predicted.

But I remember the 2007 MUC defense that was supposed to be the next best thing since sliced bread and the Bombers basically equaled the entire season output for points by their opponents in one game. Things can change.

I do actually wonder though: What is the regular season like for you UM guys? I mean, obviously, you take the team seriously and want to see good performances, but I mean, what's it like knowing almost certainly that you're not going to lose, and that most likely, it's going to be a blowout? Yeah, we've all rooted for a team we knew was going to blow out the other, but not, it would appear, with the frequency you have.

I mean, no disrespect, but it's not like I get amped up when the Bombers play St. Lawrence. It's not that I don't root for them, but it...takes the edge off...knowing it's going to be a blowout.

[maxpower]

I'm trying to think of another team to compare UMU or UWW with; maybe it's my ignorance by I can't think of one. I can't think of an FBS team that no one even bothered speculating about until the postseason, nor can I think of an example in the Big Four pro sports.

Maybe it's like if you were a big Tiger Woods fan in his heyday? You root for him to win the Buick every year, and he does, but you root harder when it comes time for the majors?

[seventiesraider]

Mount's regular season is often a good deal more exciting than the first couple of playoff games are, with Ohio Northern, B-W some years, Capital most years and Otterbein every now and then. Plus of course, The Berg.

We discuss the usual, who's hurt, who's back, who's in the dog house and the things we don't dare discuss on-line. While we are bold on here, few of us dare jinx the Raider by making hotel reservations in Roanoke.

And yes, it was a little disappointing last week when Murray broke loose about the second play from scrimmage and put the game away before I got through the line at the gate.

Yet, we still draw an above average number of fans

[maxpower]

Unrelated, but love this:



"If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on? You talk about you don't want players to drink ... and all you see is beer commercials. You don't want us to gamble, but then there are [NFL-endorsed lottery scratch-off games]."
-Hines Ward

[HScoach]

Well, to weigh in, and speak from experience...you can state facts in an arrogant way...I don't think anyone doubts UMU is the better team, and no, I don't think the game will be the 31-20 score someone predicted.

But I remember the 2007 MUC defense that was supposed to be the next best thing since sliced bread and the Bombers basically equaled the entire season output for points by their opponents in one game. Things can change.

I do actually wonder though: What is the regular season like for you UM guys? I mean, obviously, you take the team seriously and want to see good performances, but I mean, what's it like knowing almost certainly that you're not going to lose, and that most likely, it's going to be a blowout? Yeah, we've all rooted for a team we knew was going to blow out the other, but not, it would appear, with the frequency you have.

I mean, no disrespect, but it's not like I get amped up when the Bombers play St. Lawrence. It's not that I don't root for them, but it...takes the edge off...knowing it's going to be a blowout.

What I sink my teeth into during the season is player growth and individual player execution.  I've been following Mount for 20+ years and I'm constantly evaluating every player and performance against the previous games, players and teams.  Which probably isn't fair to the current guys, but it's what I do.  I look for growth in young players and consistency in older players.  And I'm always looking for the next star to emerge.  The thing that I enjoy the most is watching the back-ups trying to judge and evaluate them, then making mental notes for later years, and comparing my evaluation from 2 years ago when the kid was a freshman versus what he is now.  Which is why I try to catch a few JV games each year too. 

Outside of a couple games a year, the only real question for the casual fan is what the final score is going to be and who is going to score the most.   However I think I'm a little different than most fans due to my time as a high school O and D line coach as I spend most of my time watching everything except where the ball is.  I watch a ton of line play looking for improper footwork, tactical errors in block schemes and blitz rotations, etc.    And defensively I alternate between watching the front seven and the secondary at the snap of the ball to evaluate their reads.

I was always one of the few guys in the stadium a couple hours before kickoff watching the opponent warm-up.  Watching the speed of the punt snaps, counting hang time and distance.   Same with kick-offs.  Judging the knee bend on the O-line, how quick was their first step? Was anybody limping or favoring something that could be exploited later?    Who had what taped up or was trying to hide a brace?  It's a hard habit to break, but I watch the pre-game exactly like I did when I was coaching, though it's been 10+ years since I left.  It's actually kind of annoying that it's hard for me to engage in any pre-game talks as I'm focused 2nd string QB going thru his throws.  It's something I really should get some help for.......

And now that I'm the color guy for the radio broadcasts, I really try to not watch the ball during the game.  I try to pick out the hidden things that caused the play to be a success or failure.  The play-by-play guy has described what happened.  I try to say why. 

[Doid23]

Unrelated, but love this:



"If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on? You talk about you don't want players to drink ... and all you see is beer commercials. You don't want us to gamble, but then there are [NFL-endorsed lottery scratch-off games]."
-Hines Ward

Agreed. +K

[AUKazooTwo]

If I had to put a spread on the AU/MUC game, I'd put it at MUC minus 13. I understand that MUC doesn't lose at home. And I understand that MUC has been crushing their opponents in the playoffs. But AU has a solid defensive squad, a strong quarterback, and a running back that is peaking at just the right moment.

AU plays its worst when they think they have the game in the bag. But when they're challenged, they seem to rise to the occassion. They will never own the game in Ohio this Saturday, thus I suspect they give MUC their toughtest fight of the playoffs.

My Prediction: Alfred 31 - Mount Union 30

What's the point of being a fan if you can't dream.

(If you're curious about the handle, I'm AUKazoo's old college roommate)

[maxpower]

Does UMU really have to go through and beat EVERY E8 team one by one until that team's fans will admit the lopsidedness of the contest?

In four years Utica will be up against Mount in the playoffs, and we're going to hear about how this will be Mount's toughest test so far.

I'm going to go through my posts from 07 and see if I suffered this same delusion....

[Jonny Utah]

Well, to weigh in, and speak from experience...you can state facts in an arrogant way...I don't think anyone doubts UMU is the better team, and no, I don't think the game will be the 31-20 score someone predicted.

But I remember the 2007 MUC defense that was supposed to be the next best thing since sliced bread and the Bombers basically equaled the entire season output for points by their opponents in one game. Things can change.

I do actually wonder though: What is the regular season like for you UM guys? I mean, obviously, you take the team seriously and want to see good performances, but I mean, what's it like knowing almost certainly that you're not going to lose, and that most likely, it's going to be a blowout? Yeah, we've all rooted for a team we knew was going to blow out the other, but not, it would appear, with the frequency you have.

I mean, no disrespect, but it's not like I get amped up when the Bombers play St. Lawrence. It's not that I don't root for them, but it...takes the edge off...knowing it's going to be a blowout.

What I sink my teeth into during the season is player growth and individual player execution.  I've been following Mount for 20+ years and I'm constantly evaluating every player and performance against the previous games, players and teams.  Which probably isn't fair to the current guys, but it's what I do.  I look for growth in young players and consistency in older players.  And I'm always looking for the next star to emerge.  The thing that I enjoy the most is watching the back-ups trying to judge and evaluate them, then making mental notes for later years, and comparing my evaluation from 2 years ago when the kid was a freshman versus what he is now.  Which is why I try to catch a few JV games each year too. 

Outside of a couple games a year, the only real question for the casual fan is what the final score is going to be and who is going to score the most.   However I think I'm a little different than most fans due to my time as a high school O and D line coach as I spend most of my time watching everything except where the ball is.  I watch a ton of line play looking for improper footwork, tactical errors in block schemes and blitz rotations, etc.    And defensively I alternate between watching the front seven and the secondary at the snap of the ball to evaluate their reads.

I was always one of the few guys in the stadium a couple hours before kickoff watching the opponent warm-up.  Watching the speed of the punt snaps, counting hang time and distance.   Same with kick-offs.  Judging the knee bend on the O-line, how quick was their first step? Was anybody limping or favoring something that could be exploited later?    Who had what taped up or was trying to hide a brace?  It's a hard habit to break, but I watch the pre-game exactly like I did when I was coaching, though it's been 10+ years since I left.  It's actually kind of annoying that it's hard for me to engage in any pre-game talks as I'm focused 2nd string QB going thru his throws.  It's something I really should get some help for.......

And now that I'm the color guy for the radio broadcasts, I really try to not watch the ball during the game.  I try to pick out the hidden things that caused the play to be a success or failure.  The play-by-play guy has described what happened.  I try to say why. 

HSCoach,

I know the "make MUC move up to d-1aa" is a dumb conversation,  but do you ever wish MUC would put Dayton or Youngstown on their schedule?

[maxpower]

I was pretty realistic (but minorly hopeful) for the UMU game in 07, but the real find was this:

Well I always read this board espically around this time of year but I never post because I get a kick out of others outside the OAC thinking they are better and they will be the ones to knock Mount off.    Lets face it Mount is the only team that can knock Mount off.  They have the BEST team to possibally ever come out of that school.  As a former player thats hard to admit being I played on 5 great teams but this team is dominating everyone in all the stat sheets.  Mount can beat who ever, when ever, by as many as they wish week in and week out. (DIII)  If they wanted to beat every team by 50 LK would call the game that way.  Mount has been so great on the ground throughout the years that a 21pt lead is almost like being ahead 50-0.  Since their D has given up a grand total of 49pts all year a game within 21 (which I dont think is close some do) if Mount scores 4 times its over.  Since teams have had trouble from keeping Mount out of the endzone 7 times a game it looks like Mount wins the Stagg by 20 or more.  The talk about Fisher Rbs running for a 100 or more is almost comical.  The Mount D has developed a "swagger" like the U of old.  When a team scores they take it as an insult and I know allowing a TEAM to run for a 100 would cause them to lose sleep.  So to all you Fisher fans good job making it this far see you in the opener next year.  Mount is and will be the most  DOMINANT program that we ever see and will stay that way untill they decide otherwise. 

Now THAT is some Mount Arrogance. Blackboard stuff, Alfred.

[AUPepBand]

Game notes for Saterday:

http://saxons.alfred.edu/football/docs/NCAA-MtUnionnotes.pdf

On Saxon Warriors!

[seventiesraider]

I know the "make MUC move up to d-1aa" is a dumb conversation,  but do you ever wish MUC would put Dayton or Youngstown on their schedule?

All the local NAIA/DII schools run like hell at the mention of playing Mount Union. When Mount was great in track we had a tri meet scheduled with Pitt and Penn  State. It was cancelled because "they had everything to lose and nothing to gain."
We could probably try to schedule Akron, as they were in the Ohio Conference till 1968, but as bad as they are, if we won we'd get beat up on for picking on poor Akron.
I think we'd all be excited to see the OAC and even the NCAC more competitive. Blow outs suck

[Jonny Utah]

I know the "make MUC move up to d-1aa" is a dumb conversation,  but do you ever wish MUC would put Dayton or Youngstown on their schedule?

All the local NAIA/DII schools run like hell at the mention of playing Mount Union. When Mount was great in track we had a tri meet scheduled with Pitt and Penn  State. It was cancelled because "they had everything to lose and nothing to gain."
We could probably try to schedule Akron, as they were in the Ohio Conference till 1968, but as bad as they are, if we won we'd get beat up on for picking on poor Akron.
I think we'd all be excited to see the OAC and even the NCAC more competitive. Blow outs suck

Well many d3 teams compete in the Penn Relays right?  I know the Ithaca wrestling team has a few d1 opponents.  And Cornell played Hobart and Ithaca in basketball a few times I believe.