FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

Pat's take: Nobody. Unless you want to count No. 22 Concordia-Moorhead vs. Augsburg. That's the most likely one I can conceive of. Also possible that No. 24 Salisbury or No. 25 St. John Fisher lose, but not sure those would particularly be upsets.

Ok Pat- you didn't come out and say that Fisher would lose- but......................

And yes a loss to Ithaca is indeed an upset

[ExTartanPlayer]

"Possible that St. John Fisher could lose" /=/ picking Fisher to get upset.

And while it would be an upset in the sense that Fisher is ranked and Ithaca isn't, or in the sense that Fisher has owned Ithaca in more recent history, I agree with him that one 5-1 Empire 8 team knocking off another 5-1 Empire 8 team isn't exactly the sort of major upset that they're usually talking about in that category of Triple Take.  That's usually reserved for an upset that would make some national rumbles, like Rowan beating Wesley last weekend.  I doubt that many eyebrows would be raised nationally if Ithaca beats Fisher this week.

[fisheralum91]

Ex tartan .. I get that but pat did write that.
Albeit not a shocking upset, but one nonetheless

[sjfcards]

"Possible that St. John Fisher could lose" /=/ picking Fisher to get upset.

And while it would be an upset in the sense that Fisher is ranked and Ithaca isn't, or in the sense that Fisher has owned Ithaca in more recent history, I agree with him that one 5-1 Empire 8 team knocking off another 5-1 Empire 8 team isn't exactly the sort of major upset that they're usually talking about in that category of Triple Take.  That's usually reserved for an upset that would make some national rumbles, like Rowan beating Wesley last weekend.  I doubt that many eyebrows would be raised nationally if Ithaca beats Fisher this week.

Not all 5-1 records are created equal. Fisher has played teams with a combined record of 20-17. IC's opponents are a combined 16-21. Also, the one like opponent (Hartwick) beat IC 21-9 before being taken to the woodshed by Fisher a week later. If the schedules were reversed I would guess Fisher is 6-0 and I doubt IC is 5-1.

[pumkinattack]

I would generally agree, but it's not like IC is doing a Norwich/coast guard/w conn either.  Hart rock used to fatten up every year and be 4-0 on a bunch of girls volleyball teams.  I still don't think its so egregiously out of this world to think IC would win.  To someone else's point, Rowan over Wesley was a far, far bigger surprise.  With the what we know now, the Beockport smack down of Lyco is far more surprising than if IC pulled off a mild upset today.  Mild upsets aren't really surprised.

I still thin SJF wins by 14-17, but I wouldn't be shocked if IC won.  I'm more of a believer in what the mount folks were saying about Otte anemic offense, think the PAC is every bit as suspect (and then some) as the LL and i would expect IC to beat Cortland cleanly.  The only result that hurts IC is Hartwick, but fisher barely escaping Frostburg is equally surprising.

[fisheralum91]

Props to IC today.
Great game and solid D.
Special teams was deadly.
Well done.

[mattvsmith]

Fellas, what the heck is going on in the E8 this year? Reading the in-game updates is like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone after having missed the intro that sets up the whole premise. I can't make heads or tails of your conference this year. Weird stuff happens each week.

[middlerelief]

Nice win for IC over SJF -- unfortunately for both programs, I do not think either is in ascension mode for tops in NYS at this time though.

Watching the video of the game, it just seemed in slow mo and lethargic relative to some of the other non-E8 conference games I have watched this year. 

Even had SJF won out and finished 9-1, outside of winning the AQ, and same with IC, Pool C is not much of a probability for any team in the East in this season -- yet another year playing for the diminished in value ECACs.

[BomberJeff]

Well, assuming we don't get into a situation where 2 losses can win the conference (which is entirely possible) and with head to head as the first tiebreaker, we are down to 3 candidates for the conference automatic playoff bid, as technically all tied teams get co-champions status.  So what does everyone need?

Salisbury: beat Alfred and then Ithaca.  Game against Frostburg State will not matter as no one else will be on one E8 loss.
Ithaca: beat Frostburg State and then Salisbury.  Ithaca would hold the head to head advantage against either the Gulls or the Saxons in this scenario, so Salisbury-Alfred would not matter.
Alfred: win out against Salisbury, Utica and SJF AND THEN have Salisbury beat Ithaca.  Alfred would hold the H2H advantage over the Gulls.

Even as someone who went to Ithaca, I'm still expecting Salisbury to make it 3 in 3 at this point.  Really do wonder if everyone in the conference knew what they were getting when they added them to the mix.

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca's special teams wins the day. This had all the makings of another Fisher dominant 2nd half. Scoring right before the break, I just thought "Oh no, here it comes," but Ithaca's return units are just unstoppable. Completely changed the game.

Credit to Fisher for some tough drives down 12, and there were some tough breaks on a couple of the turnovers, but the Bombers displayed mental toughness in this game. While Fisher may still have the overall edge, there's no more of this "Fisher's in Ithaca's head". The Bombers led almost the entire second half, unheard of in recent years.

Also, while Salisbury is still the clear favorite to win the whole thing, Ithaca played them tough in 2011 (21-7 loss) and in 2012 (21-14) win. Ithaca's not a great (or even good) offensive team. But I'm not going to sit here and say that a team with this defense and this special teams unit can't beat Salisbury. Will they? Probably not. But they absolutely can.

This is a team that plays tough, with an edge, and they're not going to be intimidated. Let's go Bombers.

[middlerelief]

.

Even as someone who went to Ithaca, I'm still expecting Salisbury to make it 3 in 3 at this point.  Really do wonder if everyone in the conference knew what they were getting when they added them to the mix.

agree with this.  E8 was a highly respected conference, still is based on one of the rankings the boys did on D3, but still, Salisbury has run over this conference - 17-1 now and counting 3 1/2 seasons in.  A real eye opener.

[D3MAFAN]

.

Even as someone who went to Ithaca, I'm still expecting Salisbury to make it 3 in 3 at this point.  Really do wonder if everyone in the conference knew what they were getting when they added them to the mix.

agree with this.  E8 was a highly respected conference, still is based on one of the rankings the boys did on D3, but still, Salisbury has run over this conference - 17-1 now and counting 3 1/2 seasons in.  A real eye opener.

I think the E8 is a good conference and one of the top conference overall in the nation. I believe the addition of both Salisbury and Frostburg State has only strengthened the conference (but has weakened its Pool C). Salisbury has always been a good team, however they were in a non-AQ conference for a few years and played Wesley year in and year out. Looking at their history, they would lose to Wesley and to another good team occasionally. I think if the ACFC had an automatic bid some years ago, Salisbury would have been considered for a Pool C more often than not and you would think differently of the E8 and the addition of Salisbury and Frostburg State. I think adding a team like Salisbury to the E8 would be similar to adding a Franklin to the NCAC.

[D3MAFAN]

Ithaca's special teams wins the day. This had all the makings of another Fisher dominant 2nd half. Scoring right before the break, I just thought "Oh no, here it comes," but Ithaca's return units are just unstoppable. Completely changed the game.

Credit to Fisher for some tough drives down 12, and there were some tough breaks on a couple of the turnovers, but the Bombers displayed mental toughness in this game. While Fisher may still have the overall edge, there's no more of this "Fisher's in Ithaca's head". The Bombers led almost the entire second half, unheard of in recent years.

Also, while Salisbury is still the clear favorite to win the whole thing, Ithaca played them tough in 2011 (21-7 loss) and in 2012 (21-14) win. Ithaca's not a great (or even good) offensive team. But I'm not going to sit here and say that a team with this defense and this special teams unit can't beat Salisbury. Will they? Probably not. But they absolutely can.

This is a team that plays tough, with an edge, and they're not going to be intimidated. Let's go Bombers.

Watching both teams play a couple times, I think Ithaca will win this game, because of their Defense and Salisbury poor offensive display. Ithaca does enough offensively and has good special teams play and I think that will be enough to score a very good Salisbury Defense (Just don't throw to #2 side). However, watching Salisbury as of late, they seem stale offensively and are somewhat predictable, I think if Ithaca keeps 8/9 guys in the box and hold them to long third downs, which I think Salisbury struggles to pass block on those 3rd and short. I see Ithaca capitalizing on some fumbles as well. However, this matchup is not until a couple weeks, so I don't know which Ithaca team or Salisbury team is going to show up, if both Ithaca and Salisbury teams that played Hartwick show up, I'll give the edge to Salisbury, if the teams that played SJF, I give the edge to Ithaca. Again, Salisbury has a tough matchup againts Alfred and Ithaca has Frostburg State and they can't be looking ahead, because the Frostburg that played SJF close may show up.

[boobyhasgameyo]

It would be tremendous if Fisher players learn how to hold on to the ball.  They might find that to be a useful tactic.  What was it 5 turnovers today?  In a 3 point loss.  I'd say it was a product of an excellent Ithaca defense - they were good but not amazing.  Fisher has had a case of the fumbles for a while and it cost them a game today. 

Hats off to Ithaca.  It is nice to see them racking up the wins again.  I like the E8 more when they are an 8+ win team as opposed to the 6-4 type team they've been in recent times. 

The following isn't some knee jerk reaction to today's loss.  Rather it is something I've been thinking about for a while, even while we are winning:  I believe there should be a bit of a coaching overhaul on both sides of the ball.  I defer to posters like Upstate who have a more in depth understanding of the intricacies to the game - but my untrained eyes have been sore for a while.  On offense there is entirely too much side to side movement when we are very effective and potent playing downfield.  Teams have not been nearly as effective stopping us but yet we barely go to that well.  The players are undisciplined with the ball as I've previously mentioned and that is frustrating.  As for the defense - I don't know if it is a recruiting failure but there aren't many playmakers.  The front 7 are pretty good in my mind but the secondary is below average to put it mildly.  It's also embarrassing that the coaching staff let's the team chant whatever it is that they chant on a majority of third downs.  Yard sale maybe?  It just screams that you aren't a team that is going to reach that top level.  I highly doubt Mount Union would do something like that.  Plus it seems like whenever the defense chants that, the opposing offense converts.  Stop doing that!

In conclusion:  please return to the more pro style themed offense circa 2006.  It looks like we have the personnel for it.  Recruit more playmakers on defense if possible and cut the chanting crap.  Act like you've been there before.  K, rant is over.   

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca didn't have a great defensive game today, but

Fisher had scored 30+ five games in a row, and Ithaca held them to 22. Alfred has scored 30+ points in five of their last six games, and the exception was Ithaca, who held them to six. Buffalo State has scored 34 points against everyone they've played but Whitewater and Ithaca, who held them to 20. They're making plays.

I thought Fisher looked okay, but they didn't take many shots down field. But defensively, they have a very good defensive line. I think overall, however the E8 is down this year. I was talking with a friend of mine after the game, and we remarked that Ithaca doesn't really have any playmakers on offense...and they're 6-1 and control their own destiny for a conference title. It's a good Ithaca team, but I don't think anyone saw this coming.