FB: Empire 8

[D3MAFAN]

Luther is Wartburg's rival, for what it's worth.

Agreed -- with so few losses, the voters are still taking the opportunity to re-evaluate teams even if they haven't lost. So things are shifting where they haven't in other years. For example, getting passed by Platteville? Who cares? Platteville and Stevens Point play on Saturday, so someone will probably fall.

It may also reflect general disagreement as to who the best team in the E8 is.

And as wesleydad noted, Ithaca had climbed, a lot. 23 preseason, 19 in Week 1 and Week 2, 17 in Week 3, 15 in Week 4 and 13 in Week 6. Pretty good climb and time for a correction, perhaps. But yeah, since nobody else lost, Ithaca fell a little more than the typical 12 spots for a loss to a team that hadn't gotten any votes.

Didn't take them to the woodshed but it was 38-19 until that garbage time TD.

It always amuses me when fans say something like "what, beating this team by 50 wasn't enough?" The voters aren't impressed with beating bad teams by 40, 50, 69 or whatever. As long as it's more than a couple scores, I doubt we have any voters who care about the margin.

Yes, I believe everything that you and wesleydad noted is true regarding dropping out, which I also mentioned in my post, however I do believe that voters look at score differential sometimes, it is human nature, but to solely decide on that, I think the voters use other information when voting.

[AUPepBand]

FWIW, it's been a long time coming, but the Empire 8 has finally surpassed the Liberty League in pages of posts on this Forum. Pep would like to celebrate this moment in history, along with Christopher Columbus' Day, with a round of +K for all.....

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

So a note on the IC game...

We had this debate a couple years ago, I think about a Wesley game, centered on the role turnovers plays in whether a team's win or loss was a good/bad as it looked. But this takes it another direction, because not only was Buffalo State a +5 in turnovers, those turnovers directly resulted in probably a 20-25 point swing in the game.

To me, Buffalo State deserves credit for the way they played, and for the win. If you force six turnovers, you're doing a lot of things right. At the same time, if you think Ithaca got taken to the woodshed, you didn't watch the game at all.

With 4:42 to go in the second quarter, the Bombers were up 17-7, and they had the ball on the Buff State 8-yard line. At that point in the game, Ithaca's offense had possessed the ball four times, and had gained 247 yards and 12 first downs with one turnover. Buffalo State's offense had possessed the ball four times, and gained 17 yards with one turnover. Watching the first 25 minutes of that game, the only team being taken to the woodshed was Buffalo State.

And that's, as they say, why the games are 60 minutes. And again, Buffalo State absolutely deserves credit for the win. I didn't see anything that really changes my opinion of the Bengals, however. They're still a bad defensive team with a good offense, although it's worth noting they changed QBs after Hoppy was dreadful against Ithaca. I don't think they're a legitimate threat to knock off Fisher, or win a playoff game, mainly because they have yet to stop anyone but Frostburg on defense

But this might just be one of those years that teams have. You make opportunistic plays, you steal a game or two, and you wind up 8-2 and in the NCAAs. Ithaca did the exact same thing last year several times, (including against Buffalo State). Wins are wins, and Buff State is racking them up.

[dewcrew88]

I said this last week and I repeat myself: Utica will not make the next step until they can start beating good conference teams. I was busy covering a HS game on Saturday so I didn't watch the whole game, but I saw UC had the lead early in the second half but when I looked again, it was 36-19 Salisbury.
They absolutely can beat Fisher, it's homecoming, should have a raucous crowd at Gaetano Stadium. They just need to get over the E* conference hump, with Buff St, Alfred and Wick still on the schedule.

[Bombers798891]

I'm also okay with Ithaca falling out of the polls completely. They won a ton of games last year by the skin of their teeth, and were just okay early on this year despite the 4-0 record. You could tell by the product on the field they were not anywhere close to the 13th ranked team in the country.

I say this not to diminish Buffalo State's win. In fact, I remember asking a few weeks ago if the Bombers were due for a huge drop when they lost their first game. Ithaca's still probably overrated being on the cusp of the Top 25.

With that, my E8 rankings:

1. Fisher— The top dog in the conference and it isn't close. They've scored at least 34 points in all five of their games, and unless someone else runs the triple option, they're not going to give that up defensively.

2. Buff State— Man, this feels like a magical season. The miracle win at Cortland, the stunning, gutsy comeback against Salisbury, and refusing to get knocked out by the defending conference champs, on the road, and ripping off 31 straight points. Also dominated the special teams aspect, something that should not be overlooked. I don't think they beat Fisher, but 8-2 is looking really good right now. Maybe a Pool C contender, but worth keeping an eye on that QB change.

3. Ithaca— The Bombers were in complete control of their game, but Buff State showed a lot more toughness and fight. Six turnovers doomed their offense, which moved the ball well, and the defense was just okay, not great.

4. Salisbury— Honestly, I think they're going to go 8-2. The defense still has some question marks though, as Utica had four drives of 66 or more yards. Don't expect a playoff run from them if they win the conference.

5. Utica— They've got some really good pieces in place, but they just can't get over the hump.

6. Alfred— Allowing 34 points to a Hartwick team that was blown out by Ithaca and Fisher? Sorry, that's going to keep you down here.

7. Brockport— That was an impressive win. They're still hard to get a handle on, but they're closer to the five spot here than the eight.

8. Hartwick— Still no defense, and it's another offensive no-show against elite defenses.

9. Frostburg— Man, they are just dreadful on offense. I don't see them

[boobyhasgameyo]

I said this last week and I repeat myself: Utica will not make the next step until they can start beating good conference teams. I was busy covering a HS game on Saturday so I didn't watch the whole game, but I saw UC had the lead early in the second half but when I looked again, it was 36-19 Salisbury.
They absolutely can beat Fisher, it's homecoming, should have a raucous crowd at Gaetano Stadium. They just need to get over the E* conference hump, with Buff St, Alfred and Wick still on the schedule.

I'm interested in what makes you feel this way?  It's as if you are implying while Utica may not be the favorite, they are close enough if they get over some mental hurdle they'll be coming up aces.  I see a team that beat winless Union by 7, that beat Frostburg by 8 points and that lost to Ithaca and Salisbury.  Really the only noteworthy showing is the game against Brockport.  Maybe it's not a mental hump to get over.  Maybe they're just an ok team. 

[sjfcards]

I said this last week and I repeat myself: Utica will not make the next step until they can start beating good conference teams. I was busy covering a HS game on Saturday so I didn't watch the whole game, but I saw UC had the lead early in the second half but when I looked again, it was 36-19 Salisbury.
They absolutely can beat Fisher, it's homecoming, should have a raucous crowd at Gaetano Stadium. They just need to get over the E* conference hump, with Buff St, Alfred and Wick still on the schedule.

I'm interested in what makes you feel this way?  It's as if you are implying while Utica may not be the favorite, they are close enough if they get over some mental hurdle they'll be coming up aces.  I see a team that beat winless Union by 7, that beat Frostburg by 8 points and that lost to Ithaca and Salisbury.  Really the only noteworthy showing is the game against Brockport.  Maybe it's not a mental hump to get over.  Maybe they're just an ok team.

I am guessing that he is basing his comments on the way UC looked at home against Brockport. They have some talent, and if they are well prepared and play well they can pull an upset.

As a Fisher fan I feel better about this game after seeing what IC and SU were able to do against UC. Not sure I agree that UC can beat Fisher, but I get where a UC fan has room to hope. Coach Vos said this past week that everything Fisher want to accomplish is still in front of them. If he can get the team to buy into that ans Fisher takes UC seriously on SatERday I think they will be fine.

[Bombers798891]

I think Fisher beats Utica pretty easily, personally, but I'm going to say this in Utica's defense:

Will Kassar started the first three games of the season, and was dreadful. He was 9-of-24 with two picks against Union, and threw for all of 65  yards against Frostburg. Acevedo, who might be the best receiver in the E8, missed the Ithaca game. Trying to use too much information from those games is essentially meaningless because Fisher won't be facing Kassar and Utica will likely have Acevedo.

Butkiewicz and Acevedo have played in two games together this season, and in those games, Utica's offense has produced yardage totals of 473 and 452. In those two games, Acevedo alone has 20 catches for 371 yards.

If I had to guess, I'd say Fisher takes care of Utica by 15-20 points, because they're pretty unstoppable on offense. And although Butkiewicz is better than Kassar, he's not exactly Josh Felliceti, or even Andrew Benkwitt. But it's clear the offense is a lot better when he's throwing it Acevedo, so those are the best games to look at

[Bengalsrule]

Buffalo State's upset of Ithaca gets them a little front page news on D3Football.

Magic mans - Front page....http://www.d3football.com/notables/2014/10/roundup-top25-week6

Magicman...good to see you travel over to the football boards before the balls hit the court on weds.!

  BENGAL faithful are slowly starting to believe that this years team could have the makings of something real special! Backup q.b. comes in and gets 31 unanswered points against #13 Ithaca?! Too bad that the boys are off until the 25th visit from 4-2 Utica. I know coach Boyes will be keeping the team focused. 5-1 record is nice and this is the earliest that we have hit the 5 wins mark in the last 9 years (2013 hit 5 at 11/2, 2012 10/27 and 2011 11/5. No time to get comfortable.

   Fisher at Utica  this weekend should have many of the BENGAL faithfuls undivided attention this weekend. Dare I say " 4 in a row"

At 5-1, 3-1 in one of the better conferences in the country, and a win in the road against a top 15 team I think it's time everyone start to believe in the Bengals. I watched a large portion of the game against IC and they look like a team with as much of a shot as anyone else. They have the loss to AU and probably should have lost to Cortland, but overall the resume is impressive. The game against Fisher is a huge one but the Bengals already have SU and IC in the rear view mirror so they will have a shot to win the league this year.

I like this guy!!!!!!!

[Bengalsrule]

dont push it

..... a lot more than this guy!

[fisheralum91]

cmon- Columbus day fun

[Bengalsrule]

No problem.....we're good!!!

[Bengalsrule]

   This may be a question for Magicman or pat Coleman......What is it about the NESCAC that allows them to have the top 3 ranked teams in the Northeast (according to Massey)? Plus they have the top ranked conference (also according to Massey) in the country while the E8 is ranked #2?  http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cf2014&sub=11620&c=1   They don't play any teams out of conference and their top ranked team, Wesleyan - Ranked 38th,  ( with 6 votes in O.R.V. category). I'm not "hating" on the conference and I know that their basketball teams  are always in the dance, but I'm having a hard time figuring this 1 out!

[Pat Coleman]

Any mathematical formula that ranks the NESCAC should be ignored. The data can't be connected to the rest of Division III because they don't play anyone in D-III.

[boobyhasgameyo]

So, I'm a little late to the party since there are already over 300,000 views since Saturday.  But the ending to the Morrisville State vs Kean game was pretty nasty. 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oX2LjcdWkQI