FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

You are going to get there a bit early cards- but I like your spirit!
GO CARDS!

[skunks_sidekick]

Go get 'em SJF!

6.297 times out of 10 SJF wins this game!   

I am rooting for the Cards.

[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.

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.

Stingy is your description of Ithaca's defense, sloppy is the word I used to describe Wesley's offense at times.  We are talking about 2 different things.  I am well aware of how good the E8 is supposed to be, I have seen most of the teams play in the last 2 years.  I have also seen Wesley play and in my opinion the Ithaca team that I saw against Salisbury, a missed field goal away from Ithaca not making the playoffs, is not going to score enough to beat Wesley if Wesley does not turn the ball over.  You see it as Ithaca taking it away which makes sense since we are looking at it from opposite sides.  My definition of sloppy turnovers are poor, forced passes, or sloppy execution of hand offs which cause turnovers that the defense takes advantage of but are not caused by the play of the defense.

I expect this to be a good game, just think Wesley is better and will win.

[Bartman]

Go get 'em SJF!

6.297 times out of 10 SJF wins this game!   

I am rooting for the Cards.

Contrary to your mathematical models, I heard that some of the Episcopal Math majors have predicted a Hobart  win in a holy war 7.777 times out of ten

Good luck to all of the players today

[dlippiel]

Go get 'em SJF!

6.297 times out of 10 SJF wins this game!   

I am rooting for the Cards.

No **** skunks Dlip was thinking that maybe you would post something like this AFTER the game today . Well even though it's before +k for the awesome effort! Good luck to Mount today.

[Jonny Utah]

Go get 'em SJF!

6.297 times out of 10 SJF wins this game!   

I am rooting for the Cards.

No **** skunks Dlip was thinking that maybe you would post something like this AFTER the game today . Well even though it's before +k for the awesome effort! Good luck to Mount today.

60% chance that SJF wins this game every time.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Nice all around effort by Fisher today.  Running game was limited thanks to Hobart's very talented defensive line.  Feel's good to play against Hobart with a QB who can run through progressions and throw the ball downfield, a luxury we did not possess the last time out.

I thought we absolutely shut down Webb and Hobart's running game until garbage time in the 4th.  We forced their QB to throw and you know what...he had an arm.  I wasn't expecting that.  Not very accurate downfield though.  There were two opportunities I saw where a WR from Hobart was open downfield and he overthrew them by 5 yards both times. 

This game was a lot like the Buff State game to me.  Mobile QB who was a bit over zealous, shutout preserved until the last minute of the game, similar margin of victory.  That's what I was thinking throughout the second half at least. 

On to Texas!  Hopefully the Fisher players will get to enjoy some warm weather 

[fisheralum91]

A great all around effort by the alma mater!
Just shut down Webb and the offense looked very good!
Elite 8 AGAIN!!
This has gone from proving that we belonged in the tourney to representing the east very well!
I am so proud of these guys!

[wesleydad]

Nice effort by Ithaca today.  Strong defensive unit and special teams could not overcome the lack of offense.  Kudos to the fans who traveled very well to have a large cheering crowd for the bombers.  The game went as most of us expected, low scoring, defensive battle won by the better offense.  Nice season for the Bombers.

Congrats to Fisher with another big win today.  Good luck next week in Belton.

[D3MAFAN]

Nice effort by Ithaca today.  Strong defensive unit and special teams could not overcome the lack of offense.  Kudos to the fans who traveled very well to have a large cheering crowd for the bombers.  The game went as most of us expected, low scoring, defensive battle won by the better offense.  Nice season for the Bombers.

Congrats to Fisher with another big win today.  Good luck next week in Belton.

I guess that's the story of the season. But, they made it to the 'Sweet 16' of Division III football, it was a good game to watch.

[middlerelief]

A great all around effort by the alma mater!
Just shut down Webb and the offense looked very good!
Elite 8 AGAIN!!
This has gone from proving that we belonged in the tourney to representing the east very well!
I am so proud of these guys!

Feeling the same way. Was at the game, F'n cold. The game was not as close as the score -- SJF was really hitting them hard all game long.

Hobart's WRs were open at least a half dozen times but their QB couldn't hit the mark.  But that could also be due to the pressure D was just everywhere.

[middlerelief]

In every part of the country there seems to be a recognized dominant program.  I don't think the East has that because the conferences are so competitive, but SJF certainly made its case to be in the conversation.

UMHB -- probably the best program not to win a championship.  Last 10 seasons they are 103-16, with a visit to the Stagg Bowl, and are the only program that I am aware of to have beaten MUC in Alliance during the playoffs.  UMHB's season's have been brought to end most commonly by Wesley and Linfield, but also at the hands of UWW and MUC.  I'd like to point out a similar argument regarding Hobart's record on Strength of Schedule, but anyway you slice it, this is going to be a tremendous foe for the Cards.

Very happy for the program -- don't settle, win this week and get back to the final 4!!!

[HScoach]

Nice win for SJF.   Good luck next week in Texas.   

[umhb2001]

Well SJF fans, it's good to see you. Great game by both of our programs today. Wish I would be at the game next week, but I have a conference to go to. If any of you need suggestions on food and places to stay, let us know.

[boobyhasgameyo]

This isn't related to anything mentioned today, but it's sort of relevant.  I personally have a strong personal disdain for fan's taunting with their cheers at the end of the game.  Specifically the overrated chant.  Fisher fans were doing it with a minute left and Fisher up 27-0. 

Why say that?  Not only would you hate that to happen to you if the roles were reversed, but saying that actually undermines the effort that was just put forth.  Calling the other team overrated is saying they aren't really that great, so your smashing them in the mouth is therefore not as impressive. 

Having said that, technically I guess I do agree in this case, because as I said I believe Hobart wasn't truly a top 10 team.  But you get what I mean...