FB: Empire 8

[Frank Rossi]

Here's an interesting scenario to ponder for this November. 

Whitewater loses gain in conference and falls into Pool C consideration.  SJF goes 10-0 and narrowly beats Buff St which dumps them into Pool C too.  Now it obviously depends on the overall nation, but historically Pool C has been almost always 9-1 teams only.  And when an 8-2 makes it, it's quite a shock.  What are odds that Pool C includes two 8-2 teams?  Whitewater has the street cred, but Buffy has the win.

A few multi-loss E8 teams have gotten pool c bids in recent years I believe.  I would suspect the WIAC could also get one.

Historically, it is fairly rare for even one 2-loss team to get in.  I'm pretty sure that 2 from the same conference would be unprecedented.

Happened in the E8 in 2007.

But back in the day that there were 22 Pool A conferences and about 20 Pool B teams fighting for 7 Pool C slots.  The additional teams in the mix leading to additional conferences and the one less Pool C slot makes the odds of this a helluva lot lower in 2012 compared to 2007.

[Jonny Utah]

Here's an interesting scenario to ponder for this November. 

Whitewater loses gain in conference and falls into Pool C consideration.  SJF goes 10-0 and narrowly beats Buff St which dumps them into Pool C too.  Now it obviously depends on the overall nation, but historically Pool C has been almost always 9-1 teams only.  And when an 8-2 makes it, it's quite a shock.  What are odds that Pool C includes two 8-2 teams?  Whitewater has the street cred, but Buffy has the win.

A few multi-loss E8 teams have gotten pool c bids in recent years I believe.  I would suspect the WIAC could also get one.

Historically, it is fairly rare for even one 2-loss team to get in.  I'm pretty sure that 2 from the same conference would be unprecedented.

Happened in the E8 in 2007.

But back in the day that there were 22 Pool A conferences and about 20 Pool B teams fighting for 7 Pool C slots.  The additional teams in the mix leading to additional conferences and the one less Pool C slot makes the odds of this a helluva lot lower in 2012 compared to 2007.

Yea but we are posibbly talking about choosing between an 8-2 UWW going vs a 9-1 Endicott for the pool c bid.  Only Charles would have a hard time figuring that one out.  The odds are lower, but I wouldn't say they are a helluva lot lower.

[fisheralum91]

My gut tells me that this (SJF v Wick) SHOULD be the game that we see what Fisher's offense can do.
I think the D has proven itself.
Beating up on historically bad programs is no way to judge Wick....
I look for Fisher to roll this week.

[Yanks 99]

My gut tells me that this (SJF v Wick) SHOULD be the game that we see what Fisher's offense can do.
I think the D has proven itself.
Beating up on historically bad programs is no way to judge Wick....
I look for Fisher to roll this week.

I think this will be a big test for the Wick defense (as usual).  If they can keep the game close on defense, we have a shot...though we will have to play awfully well, especially considering the game is at Fisher.

Can the defense keep up?  I have no idea.  After giving up 41 to Becker last week...it is definitely an uneasy feeling heading into Saturday.  However...if I were to tell you that Buff State was going to hold UWW to 6 points after giving up 31 and 38 to Cortland and Brockport, respectively, I would have been laughed off the boards.

[sjfcards]

My gut tells me that this (SJF v Wick) SHOULD be the game that we see what Fisher's offense can do.
I think the D has proven itself.
Beating up on historically bad programs is no way to judge Wick....
I look for Fisher to roll this week.

I think this will be a big test for the Wick defense (as usual).  If they can keep the game close on defense, we have a shot...though we will have to play awfully well, especially considering the game is at Fisher.

Can the defense keep up?  I have no idea.  After giving up 41 to Becker last week...it is definitely an uneasy feeling heading into Saturday.  However...if I were to tell you that Buff State was going to hold UWW to 6 points after giving up 31 and 38 to Cortland and Brockport, respectively, I would have been laughed off the boards.

A solid point. If Fisher can not move the ball against Hartwick, then I don't hold out a lot of hope for games against Salisbury and Buff State. My fear is more based on Hartwick scoring, say, 28 or 34 points, and Fisher having to score to keep up. That has me really worried...

[fisheralum91]

Cards, Maybe I am way off here, but havent you seen the Fisher D?
They are a solid squad.
I dont see Wick running buckshot.
I could be all wet here.
Perhaps wishful thinking and a complete Fisher homer,
I just dont see them losing SatErday.

[Yanks 99]

No question that Wick will have to play very, very well to have a chance at winning...and that Fisher is absolutely, and enormously, favored to win this game.  What scares the hell out of me is a repeat of last year at the Cage.  Wick up 20-3 late second quarter...Fisher goes for a FG with under two minutes to go and it gets blocked.  Wick player pulls a Leon Lett, and Fisher gets a TD on the play to make it 20-10 Wick at halftime.  Then the third quarter...5 straight Fisher TD's...

[pg04]

I had watched the Buffalo State defense and never expected them to be able to hold UWW to 6 points but they did. 

Given what I have seen from Fisher on offense, despite their defense, I would not actually be shocked if Fisher lost to any team.

[fisheralum91]

Yanks-best of luck....It will be intersting- thats a fact.
Every year it is something new.

[Bengalsrule]

As a complete outsider to the E-8, I'm curious to here what the consensus is for Buff State's expectation for this season.  Or is this a team that is expected to compete for the E-8 title or a Pool C bid?   Their 2011 season looks like a bunch of close, almost wins.  What's making them better this time around besides another year?  Was the UWW win a highpoint that will be wasted on a 6-4/7-3 season? 

If I'm a Whitewater fan, which I'm anything but, they better hope the latter if they slip up again in conference play.  8-2 against with losses to only playoff teams gets you in the show with a pedigree like theirs.  But a non-conference loss, even out of region, against a middle of the road team could hurt their Pool C chances.  Regardless of their name & history.

Thanks

HScoach...The expectation at Buffalo State this season was that we could compete for the E8 championship and the dance invite that, hopefully, goes with it. Coach Boyes instilled a belief in his BENGALS last year that they could compete with any D3 team. Finishing the last 4 games of 2011 with a 3-1 record, helped generate an off-season enthusiasm amongest returning players that hasnt been seen in years. A weight room that stayed packed during the summer, with dozens of football players, was a sight rarely seen in the past on Elmwood Ave.

    As far as the Brockport game? Some on campus have said that our kids were looking forward to the WW game and looked past Brockport. I personally don't buy that but it has been said!

    This Saturday should be a strong indicator of what my beloved BENGALS look like! Coach Boyes is no stranger to D3 success and neither is the athletic dept. Buff State basketball made it to the "sweet 16" in 2011, and the womens lacrosse team made it to the 2nd round of the NCAA's last season. The BENGALS track team has had at least 2 all-americans in the each of the past 2 seasons! And SUNYAC titles to boot!

   Boyes is also the Athletic Director and his "no 1 is better than us" attitude is slowly seeping into all the sports programs at Buff State. Something special is definlty going on at 1300 Elmwood and, win or lose, it's great to be around to see it first hand!

[SUADC]

     As far as the Brockport game? Some on campus have said that our kids were looking forward to the WW game and looked past Brockport. I personally don't buy that but it has been said!

Hopefully, they're not looking ahead to the Salisbury game, they may be thinking, we can knock off two top 10 teams in less than three weeks (if so, they definitely move into the top 8), which may result in them taking another "L" to a Alfred team based on the last three weeks, they should beat. Speaking of Alred, hopefully they show up to this years Empire 8 newcomer, because last year against Salisbury, I was expecting way way way more from them.

[AUKaz00]

Speaking of Alred, hopefully they show up to this years Empire 8 newcomer, because last year against Salisbury, I was expecting way way way more from them.

I expected a lot more out of Alred last year too...

[pg04]

    As far as the Brockport game? Some on campus have said that our kids were looking forward to the WW game and looked past Brockport. I personally don't buy that but it has been said!

I definitely don't think this is true. I've watched both teams' games and it seemed like Buffalo was putting their full effort in. I'm not saying Brockport is great and think they could very easily get beaten this week by Kean, it's just that sort of attitude is kind of a slap in the face of the efforts of the Golden Eagles early in the season.

[dlippiel]

    As far as the Brockport game? Some on campus have said that our kids were looking forward to the WW game and looked past Brockport. I personally don't buy that but it has been said!

I definitely don't think this is true. I've watched both teams' games and it seemed like Buffalo was putting their full effort in. I'm not saying Brockport is great and think they could very easily get beaten this week by Kean, it's just that sort of attitude is kind of a slap in the face of the efforts of the Golden Eagles early in the season.

dlip is REALLY hoping B-Port takes care of buisness this week against Kean.

[sjfcards]

Cards, Maybe I am way off here, but havent you seen the Fisher D?
They are a solid squad.
I dont see Wick running buckshot.
I could be all wet here.
Perhaps wishful thinking and a complete Fisher homer,
I just dont see them losing SatErday.

I know the D is really good, and expect Hartwick to have more struggles than they have been having, but the fact is that some teams are going to score points. I am just worried that with this Offense Fisher isn't going to keep up. I felt the same way last year after 4 games and that changed, but Fisher is a few Defensive plays away from being 0-3. They did what they had to like good teams do, but I am more worried about Hartwick than I thought I would be.