FB: Empire 8

[AlfredSaxon8]

Early picks:

Weather and field conditions lead to a sloppy game. Fisher pulls it out but close late.

Fisher: 17
Hobart: 13

Ithaca leads most of the game, Welsey scores late to make it interesting. IC defense stands tough.
Ithaca: 23
Wesley: 17

Notre Dame beats Stanford.

[Upstate]

The whole fake FG up by 3 scores is such a pussy move by any coach. Don't care what level you're at, if you don't have the balls to call it in a close game or when behind just quit your job. I gave PA a little grief about the fake punt Bart ran inside their own 20 in 2007 but I respect the hell out of a coach like Cragg for being aggressive and not hiding behind a huge lead when you make that kind of call.

Bethel did it last week and I don't think anyone thinks Steve Johnson is a bad guy. Welcome to the playoffs.

He may or may not be, I don't know...

That post wasn't intended on calling any one coach out, it goes for every coach at every level of play...

It doesn't matter when you pull the fake FG when you're up by 20+ points. Could be 1st game of the year or the title game and I'd feel the same way...

It's a gutless move by every coach that has a big lead and tries fake kicks...

[wesleydad]

Early picks:

Weather and field conditions lead to a sloppy game. Fisher pulls it out but close late.

Fisher: 17
Hobart: 13

Ithaca leads most of the game, Welsey scores late to make it interesting. IC defense stands tough.
Ithaca: 23
Wesley: 17

Notre Dame beats Stanford.

Alfred, if Ithaca gets in the 20's I will be surprised.  If they can keep Wesley under 20 I will also be surprised.  Only going by the Salisbury game that I saw.  The Gulls d is not as good as Wesley's and it took OT for Ithaca to get into the 20"s.  I don't think Ithaca's d is as good as the one I saw at Hopkins last week and Wesley got 29.  Clean game, Wesley wins, but Ithaca has made a living this year on games not being clean, so if they can do that again this week, and we who follow Wesley know that they can get sloppy on occasion, then they have a chance.

[sjfcards]

Early picks:

Weather and field conditions lead to a sloppy game. Fisher pulls it out but close late.

Fisher: 17
Hobart: 13

Ithaca leads most of the game, Welsey scores late to make it interesting. IC defense stands tough.
Ithaca: 23
Wesley: 17

Notre Dame beats Stanford.

I like this last one. Go Irish!

[fisheralum91]

Guys,
I took LOTS of heat after the STU game.
I got blasted for saying exactly what you are saying.
I even remember some of you giving me grief for being such a Fisher homer.
Revisionist history I guess.
Lets look forward and hope that we take care of biz against Hobart!
and btw....I still stand by the fact that the fake FG was a classless move...
smites be damned....

[Jonny Utah]

The whole fake FG up by 3 scores is such a pussy move by any coach. Don't care what level you're at, if you don't have the balls to call it in a close game or when behind just quit your job. I gave PA a little grief about the fake punt Bart ran inside their own 20 in 2007 but I respect the hell out of a coach like Cragg for being aggressive and not hiding behind a huge lead when you make that kind of call.

Bethel did it last week and I don't think anyone thinks Steve Johnson is a bad guy. Welcome to the playoffs.

He may or may not be, I don't know...

That post wasn't intended on calling any one coach out, it goes for every coach at every level of play...

It doesn't matter when you pull the fake FG when you're up by 20+ points. Could be 1st game of the year or the title game and I'd feel the same way...

It's a gutless move by every coach that has a big lead and tries fake kicks...

Why would you even want to try a fake FG then?  Wouldn't you want to save that?

I guess it can deflate a team though, and what better time to fake a FG than when you are up by 20 points? 

If the game is in hand it is one thing, if the other team is still playing their starters and trying to win the game then why not pull a fake FG.

[sjfcards]

Anyone going to the Fisher/Hobart game tomorrow? I am going with a group of friends from Fisher, and would love to say hi to anyone who may be there. Should be a lot of fun. Can't wait for tomorrow.

With where this Fisher team (and this Fisher Fan) was after the loss to IC, I don't even care about the score tomorrow. What a gritty and gutsy push to the playoffs.

[Bombers798891]

It's a different feeling rooting for a gritty team than a dominant one, that's for sure. It's strange, but the dominant ones seem to disappoint. And the wins feel like "well, yeah, so what?" The gritty ones? Every win feels good, and you can't be too let down by losses.

Still holding out for a fisher/Ithaca stagg bowl

[boobyhasgameyo]

It's a different feeling rooting for a gritty team than a dominant one, that's for sure. It's strange, but the dominant ones seem to disappoint. And the wins feel like "well, yeah, so what?" The gritty ones? Every win feels good, and you can't be too let down by losses.

Still holding out for a fisher/Ithaca stagg bowl

Wouldn't that be glorious.  What started out as a complete joke turns into the most unlikely Stagg Bowl of all time. 

[sjfcards]

It's a different feeling rooting for a gritty team than a dominant one, that's for sure. It's strange, but the dominant ones seem to disappoint. And the wins feel like "well, yeah, so what?" The gritty ones? Every win feels good, and you can't be too let down by losses.

Still holding out for a fisher/Ithaca stagg bowl

Wouldn't that be glorious.  What started out as a complete joke turns into the most unlikely Stagg Bowl of all time.

Imagine what this board would be like that week! Holy crap that would be awesome.

[Pat Coleman]

The whole fake FG up by 3 scores is such a pussy move by any coach. Don't care what level you're at, if you don't have the balls to call it in a close game or when behind just quit your job. I gave PA a little grief about the fake punt Bart ran inside their own 20 in 2007 but I respect the hell out of a coach like Cragg for being aggressive and not hiding behind a huge lead when you make that kind of call.

Bethel did it last week and I don't think anyone thinks Steve Johnson is a bad guy. Welcome to the playoffs.

He may or may not be, I don't know...

That post wasn't intended on calling any one coach out, it goes for every coach at every level of play...

It doesn't matter when you pull the fake FG when you're up by 20+ points. Could be 1st game of the year or the title game and I'd feel the same way...

It's a gutless move by every coach that has a big lead and tries fake kicks...

Why would you even want to try a fake FG then?  Wouldn't you want to save that?

I think the idea is to run one of your lesser ideas for a fake kick -- put something on tape that you'd never use in a big game just to make the other coaching staff game plan for it.

I think of it as similar to a pitcher throwing over to keep a runner close, but not using his best move until he absolutely needs the pickoff.

[Jonny Utah]

The whole fake FG up by 3 scores is such a pussy move by any coach. Don't care what level you're at, if you don't have the balls to call it in a close game or when behind just quit your job. I gave PA a little grief about the fake punt Bart ran inside their own 20 in 2007 but I respect the hell out of a coach like Cragg for being aggressive and not hiding behind a huge lead when you make that kind of call.

Bethel did it last week and I don't think anyone thinks Steve Johnson is a bad guy. Welcome to the playoffs.

He may or may not be, I don't know...

That post wasn't intended on calling any one coach out, it goes for every coach at every level of play...

It doesn't matter when you pull the fake FG when you're up by 20+ points. Could be 1st game of the year or the title game and I'd feel the same way...

It's a gutless move by every coach that has a big lead and tries fake kicks...

Why would you even want to try a fake FG then?  Wouldn't you want to save that?

I think the idea is to run one of your lesser ideas for a fake kick -- put something on tape that you'd never use in a big game just to make the other coaching staff game plan for it.

I think of it as similar to a pitcher throwing over to keep a runner close, but not using his best move until he absolutely needs the pickoff.

Yea maybe.  But a fake kick doesn't really take too much to prepare for imo.  Unless you do it all the time, or don't want the other team to attempt a block.  Even then, usually only 4-5 guys would be involved on FG blocks.  And FG fakes work when the other team isn't expecting it or going for the block and not respecting it.

Throwing in one of those swinging gate formations and going for two every once in a while can waste some practice time.

On another note, looks like longtime Ithaca equipment assistant/manager John Wallace is retiring and moving to Arizona.  Good man.

http://bombers.ithaca.edu/news/2013/7/26/MLAX_0726130133.aspx

[AlfredSaxon8]

Early picks:

Weather and field conditions lead to a sloppy game. Fisher pulls it out but close late.

Fisher: 17
Hobart: 13

Ithaca leads most of the game, Welsey scores late to make it interesting. IC defense stands tough.
Ithaca: 23
Wesley: 17

Notre Dame beats Stanford.

Alfred, if Ithaca gets in the 20's I will be surprised.  If they can keep Wesley under 20 I will also be surprised.  Only going by the Salisbury game that I saw.  The Gulls d is not as good as Wesley's and it took OT for Ithaca to get into the 20"s.  I don't think Ithaca's d is as good as the one I saw at Hopkins last week and Wesley got 29.  Clean game, Wesley wins, but Ithaca has made a living this year on games not being clean, so if they can do that again this week, and we who follow Wesley know that they can get sloppy on occasion, then they have a chance.

Haha so less than 20 for Ithaca and more than 20 for Wesley? Sounds like youre leaning towards a blowout win...

I think you are underestimating Ithaca's defense and the quality of teams in the E8 that Ithaca consistently shut down this year. You may call it "sloppy" but I call it stingy. "Sloppy" takes away from how good this defense is and implies it's not a good defense but a mistake filled offense that keeps them in games and I disagree with that notion. Im not saying they will dominate Wesley but I believe the E8 has provided formidable opponents and Ithaca has risen to the challenge each time. I dont think this game will be any different.

[AlfredSaxon8]

The whole fake FG up by 3 scores is such a pussy move by any coach. Don't care what level you're at, if you don't have the balls to call it in a close game or when behind just quit your job. I gave PA a little grief about the fake punt Bart ran inside their own 20 in 2007 but I respect the hell out of a coach like Cragg for being aggressive and not hiding behind a huge lead when you make that kind of call.

Bethel did it last week and I don't think anyone thinks Steve Johnson is a bad guy. Welcome to the playoffs.

He may or may not be, I don't know...

That post wasn't intended on calling any one coach out, it goes for every coach at every level of play...

It doesn't matter when you pull the fake FG when you're up by 20+ points. Could be 1st game of the year or the title game and I'd feel the same way...

It's a gutless move by every coach that has a big lead and tries fake kicks...

Why would you even want to try a fake FG then?  Wouldn't you want to save that?

I think the idea is to run one of your lesser ideas for a fake kick -- put something on tape that you'd never use in a big game just to make the other coaching staff game plan for it.

I think of it as similar to a pitcher throwing over to keep a runner close, but not using his best move until he absolutely needs the pickoff.

Yea maybe.  But a fake kick doesn't really take too much to prepare for imo.  Unless you do it all the time, or don't want the other team to attempt a block.  Even then, usually only 4-5 guys would be involved on FG blocks.  And FG fakes work when the other team isn't expecting it or going for the block and not respecting it.

Throwing in one of those swinging gate formations and going for two every once in a while can waste some practice time.

On another note, looks like longtime Ithaca equipment assistant/manager John Wallace is retiring and moving to Arizona.  Good man.

http://bombers.ithaca.edu/news/2013/7/26/MLAX_0726130133.aspx

Moving from Ithaca to Arizona? I'm in Arizona now and I cant wait to leave this place and get back to New York! Maybe he will want to do a house swap...

[sjfcards]

Headed to Geneva for the game. Enjoy game day everyone, and GO FISHER!