FB: Empire 8

[PurpleReign]

Its official, Fisher will play St. Thomas Academy for the first half and then UST will come in the second half and clean up the leftovers.  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas fishers.  Provided that UST will play the entire game here is my prediction:

UST 54
SJF 3

This game will be over by half-time!!!

[fisheralum91]

Its official, Fisher will play St. Thomas Academy for the first half and then UST will come in the second half and clean up the leftovers.  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas fishers.  Provided that UST will play the entire game here is my prediction:

UST 54
SJF 3

This game will be over by half-time!!!

My case has been made for me

[218Tommie]

Fisher Alum,

Sorry you're not as thick skinned as us Minnesooooooootans and can't handle the little jabs we take. All we are is confident in our teams ability and are biased like any other fan. Another thing is I'm sorry, but you will not be playing STA, PurpleReign forgot that Hockey has started now out here West of Ohio, so thats the only HS sport that matters now to STA.

[fisheralum91]

Fisher Alum,

Sorry you're not as thick skinned as us Minnesooooooootans and can't handle the little jabs we take. All we are is confident in our teams ability and are biased like any other fan. Another thing is I'm sorry, but you will not be playing STA, PurpleReign forgot that Hockey has started now out here West of Ohio, so thats the only HS sport that matters now to STA.

I have no idea what you just said, but best of luck on Sat.
Ill let the football do the talking

[fisheralum91]

"Any more relevant that SJF winning f*** all?  You clowns come running in here throwing your 'legitimate football questions' like they are Mike Tyson right hooks and then go running back to mamma after one little smack from Bench (admittedly he carries their side).  Your players have the same attitude?  It's gonna be a long, painful Saturday for you if they do."

Quoted from a St. Johns fan on the Minn boards...
Look at why Boob, Upstate and I are bent!

[pg04]

It is weird to see them so confident when their team has as much of or less of a playoff history than Fisher.  It is also interesting that their head coach went to Ithaca.

[maxpower]

Can this conversation be moved to the "anything that's not politics" board?

[fisheralum91]

pg-god forbid you dont bash teams or talk crap over on that board.
If not then you are a pansy.
Screw that...

[sjfcards]

wow, wow, wow. I missed a day of posting and look at all of this.

I don't understand the "you can't take a little smack talk" attitude. Why do you need to smack talk at all? Can't we just discuss the game?

[fisheralum91]

Cards- I have no idea...
Dlip is over there now and he is getting ripped..

[sjfcards]

I am staying as far away from all of that as possible. Maybe I am just too sensitive 

So how about on this board? What are some honest thoughts on how Fisher can stay in the game this weekend? Obviously St. Thomas is a quality team (they have been ranked #3 all year), and Fisher will have to limit turnovers, etc. How does St Thomas compare to teams Fisher has seen? etc.

[fisheralum91]

Ive heard praise and overall good thoughts about Fisher's run/ chances this weekend.
That said I think that given the fact that its the playoffs, the only ppl on here are the extreme regulars and the Fisher faithful....

[wesleydad]

Fisher fans, looking at the St. Thomas schedule it does not look like they played more than 1 or 2 good teams.  Bethel is a solid program and that game looked rather even.  The usual MIAC power St. Johns is way off this year.  Fisher is likely the best team they have played all year.  I am not sure about Bethel's size or physicallity but they are not likely any bigger or more physical than Fisher.  Stats are easily misleading and I think that the Tommies' may be.  From an early, quick look at things I think Fisher has a good chance of winning this game.  The weather could always play a part in the game since it is in Minnesota.  Unless you guys are afraid to go play them based on their posters unbiased opinions about how good they are.

I wouldn't be so sure about talking down the St. Thomas schedule. With St. John's down, the conference was more balanced than ever ... and that balance limited the league to one playoff team as it usually does the powerful WIAC. IMO Bethel, which can be very physical, could probably beat half the playoff field. St. Olaf was ranking and headed for postseason until the rejuvenated Johnnies  took them out late in the year.

That said a team like SJF could wake up the echoes of that 12-7 loss to Bethel in last year's regional finals.

repete, I used Bethel in my post as likely the only good team they played.  Thanks for agreeing with me.  The rest of the schedule is not that good, St. Olaf is ok.  The balanced conference is the same explanation that the E8, NJAC, and MAC use for when they dont have an undefeated team which then limits their leagues to just one team.

[WashedUp]

I am staying as far away from all of that as possible. Maybe I am just too sensitive 

So how about on this board? What are some honest thoughts on how Fisher can stay in the game this weekend? Obviously St. Thomas is a quality team (they have been ranked #3 all year), and Fisher will have to limit turnovers, etc. How does St Thomas compare to teams Fisher has seen? etc.

First thing to do would be make sure that Fritz Waldvogel doesn't house any returns.  He's a Gagliargi Trophy finalist and has 10 career return TDs, including one last week.  The UST offense is very balanced(224r 210p), with Waldvogel being the main receiving threat and Tobin running.  The way I see SJF potentially slowing them down is by forcing turnovers.  I hear SJF has 27 picks and Tobin put it on the ground twice last week (in cold and rainy conditions).

The strong point of the UST team is their defense.  They have the number 3 overall and scoring defense, allowing 50r 159p and 9.27 ppg.  For SJF to win, they'll need to be able to convert red zone opportunities and turnovers into points, I don't see a team being successful trying to drive the length of the field against that defense.

So keys to the game (which boil down to the same as every football game):
-Stop the return game
-Force turnovers
-Convert red zone opportunities

[sjfcards]

I am staying as far away from all of that as possible. Maybe I am just too sensitive 

So how about on this board? What are some honest thoughts on how Fisher can stay in the game this weekend? Obviously St. Thomas is a quality team (they have been ranked #3 all year), and Fisher will have to limit turnovers, etc. How does St Thomas compare to teams Fisher has seen? etc.

First thing to do would be make sure that Fritz Waldvogel doesn't house any returns.  He's a Gagliargi Trophy finalist and has 10 career return TDs, including one last week.  The UST offense is very balanced(224r 210p), with Waldvogel being the main receiving threat and Tobin running.  The way I see SJF potentially slowing them down is by forcing turnovers.  I hear SJF has 27 picks and Tobin put it on the ground twice last week (in cold and rainy conditions).

The strong point of the UST team is their defense.  They have the number 3 overall and scoring defense, allowing 50r 159p and 9.27 ppg.  For SJF to win, they'll need to be able to convert red zone opportunities and turnovers into points, I don't see a team being successful trying to drive the length of the field against that defense.

So keys to the game (which boil down to the same as every football game):
-Stop the return game
-Force turnovers
-Convert red zone opportunities

Great info. Thank you.
I am a little worried about that St. Thomas D against the Fisher offense. Fisher has been improving and I like what we are seeing from the back up QB hassenien, but I think Kramer will need to be involved in some way to move the ball this week. I would like to see Kramer line up as a slash type player (much like he did last year) if he is available.

The Fisher D will need to take the ball away from UST if they will win this game.

All in all, I would say that Fisher is playing with house money at this point. They were a long shot to get into the tournament, they were not supposed to beat either team they have played in the NCAA's, and they are the underdog for sure this week.

Early prediction:

UST 34
SJFC 24