FB: Empire 8

[Bengalsrule]

Knew Buff State's third and fourth down conversions would be eye-popping ......as in 11x18 on third downs .....2x3 on fourth. Cortland unable to get a stop when needed .....but kudus to the Bengals' clutch play, and with a No. 2 QB at that!

Along with Buffs' 36:10 time of possession .....

Wow. Thank god I'm playing poker at the Orleans in Las Vegas and a Cortland grad starts talking about his alma mater ( I have my Buffalo Bills gear on).  Low and behold I look up d3 football and Bengals have won again, over the Red Dragons!!!  Best news of the of the day especially after I got riveted by a runner runner heart draw😁

Go BENGALS!  ( now back to my poker game 👍🏼)

[sjfcards]

I think with the uncertainty of Fisher, the Board has been down.

It kills me to say it, but with Fisher off to such a bad start it is hard to get into the season (for me at least). With some other commitments on Saturday's I have just sort of lost track of the season overall. Normally I find a way to make Fisher games a priority during the fall, but I find myself looking for basketball info more than anything else.

I still check in, but it is hard to have much to say when I am only half interested. I hate to be this way too, since I genuinely like D3 football. It is what it is I guess.

[AUPepBand]

I think with the uncertainty of Fisher, the Board has been down.

It kills me to say it, but with Fisher off to such a bad start it is hard to get into the season (for me at least). With some other commitments on Saturday's I have just sort of lost track of the season overall. Normally I find a way to make Fisher games a priority during the fall, but I find myself looking for basketball info more than anything else.

I still check in, but it is hard to have much to say when I am only half interested. I hate to be this way too, since I genuinely like D3 football. It is what it is I guess.

Pep knows how you feel. Pep goes back more than a half century of being an Alfred football fan and has seen the programs ups and downs. The pep band was formed at a time when the Saxons were doing well to break .500 and, therefore, the band didn't carry high expectations. Then when AU grabbed a share of the Empire 8 title in 2009 and took it outright in 2010, it was awesome. With expectations through the roof in 2011, there was a letdown. But every step along the way--win or lose--has been fun and so it continues. After a 5-5 season last year, really didn't have high expectations for 2015 but the team is playing pretty well and is guaranteed to finish at least 4-6 this year! 

A large part of the joy of following the Saxons is the opportunities for interaction with the players in the library. (Yes, AU football players visit the library!) And Pep can go way back and still enjoy friendships with former Saxons. Went to the Caledonia-Mumford vs. LeRoy rivalry football game Friday night, the 50th straight year the two schools (just a few miles from each other) have met on the gridiron. We've had Cal-Mum grads and LeRoy grads at AU.

While there, Pep had the privilege of chatting with AU grad Bill McAlee of the 1955-56 undefeated Saxon squads that were named "Best Small College Football Team in the Nation" by the Washington Touchdown Club in 1956. McAlee won a few state titles while coaching the Cal-Mum Red Raiders. Pep's Pops had him working in the hayfields on the farm at least one summer. He and his wife taught at Alfred-Almond for several years before going elsewhere. He boasted that he had shot his age for 18 holes that week....an 82! Pep recalls he shot his age when he was 52....for 9 holes!

On Saxon Warriors!

[dlippiel]

I think with the uncertainty of Fisher, the Board has been down.

It kills me to say it, but with Fisher off to such a bad start it is hard to get into the season (for me at least). With some other commitments on Saturday's I have just sort of lost track of the season overall. Normally I find a way to make Fisher games a priority during the fall, but I find myself looking for basketball info more than anything else.

I still check in, but it is hard to have much to say when I am only half interested. I hate to be this way too, since I genuinely like D3 football. It is what it is I guess.

Hang in sjfcards Dlip hears you! In recent years dlip has stayed true to D3 football even with his beloved Dutchmen struggling mightily. He feels that this period has actually helped dlip to become a better fan of D3 football. The turning point was the West Conn game this year. Dlip drove the whole family out to Danbury and stayed in a hotel. However he and his family left the game at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and went back to the hotel because dlip was going ****ing ballistic and was going to start breaking ****. It was from that point he realized he was taking it WAY TOO seriously and just needed to chill out and focus on the positives.

There is nothing he can do about the Dutchmen but he certainly can appreciate the game itself, the weather, watching the games with his friends etc. Since then dlip has really gained a whole new perspective and appreciation for D3 football and it's great players.

Dlip is hoping SJF will return to form shortly but until then do your thing and try to stay close to the program if you can.

[wesleydad]

I think with the uncertainty of Fisher, the Board has been down.

It kills me to say it, but with Fisher off to such a bad start it is hard to get into the season (for me at least). With some other commitments on Saturday's I have just sort of lost track of the season overall. Normally I find a way to make Fisher games a priority during the fall, but I find myself looking for basketball info more than anything else.

I still check in, but it is hard to have much to say when I am only half interested. I hate to be this way too, since I genuinely like D3 football. It is what it is I guess.

Hang in sjfcards Dlip hears you! In recent years dlip has stayed true to D3 football even with his beloved Dutchmen struggling mightily. He feels that this period has actually helped dlip to become a better fan of D3 football. The turning point was the West Conn game this year. Dlip drove the whole family out to Danbury and stayed in a hotel. However he and his family left the game at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and went back to the hotel because dlip was going ****ing ballistic and was going to start breaking ****. It was from that point he realized he was taking it WAY TOO seriously and just needed to chill out and focus on the positives.

There is nothing he can do about the Dutchmen but he certainly can appreciate the game itself, the weather, watching the games with his friends etc. Since then dlip has really gained a whole new perspective and appreciation for D3 football and it's great players.

Dlip is hoping SJF will return to form shortly but until then do your thing and try to stay close to the program if you can.

Well said Dlip.  I still attend a game almost every week and the son has been done since 2008.  I really enjoy it and have met some really great people in the process.  It has helped that Wesley has remained at the top of D3, but I think I will still be going if they slide.  I just like the games and the smaller atmosphere.

[lewdogg11]

I think with the uncertainty of Fisher, the Board has been down.

It kills me to say it, but with Fisher off to such a bad start it is hard to get into the season (for me at least). With some other commitments on Saturday's I have just sort of lost track of the season overall. Normally I find a way to make Fisher games a priority during the fall, but I find myself looking for basketball info more than anything else.

I still check in, but it is hard to have much to say when I am only half interested. I hate to be this way too, since I genuinely like D3 football. It is what it is I guess.

Hang in sjfcards Dlip hears you! In recent years dlip has stayed true to D3 football even with his beloved Dutchmen struggling mightily. He feels that this period has actually helped dlip to become a better fan of D3 football. The turning point was the West Conn game this year. Dlip drove the whole family out to Danbury and stayed in a hotel. However he and his family left the game at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and went back to the hotel because dlip was going ****ing ballistic and was going to start breaking ****. It was from that point he realized he was taking it WAY TOO seriously and just needed to chill out and focus on the positives.

There is nothing he can do about the Dutchmen but he certainly can appreciate the game itself, the weather, watching the games with his friends etc. Since then dlip has really gained a whole new perspective and appreciation for D3 football and it's great players.

Dlip is hoping SJF will return to form shortly but until then do your thing and try to stay close to the program if you can.

Wait a minute wait a minute Dlip.  You stayed in Danbury?  Did you put the wife and kids to bed and go looking for Rodman at the Osborne St Pub?  Who Dat Said Dem Gon Beat WesConn Who dat???

Never mind. Way before your time.

[Pat Coleman]

If I remember correctly, Rodman is responsible for shaping young minds now as a junior high teacher.

Every year in Salem I stand down on the field after the game waiting for the West Conn fans to finally show up as promised. Still waiting ...

[sjfcards]

I appreciate the positivity guys, but I understand what this is. I don't want to make myself out to be a charity case since the season is only 5 games old and Fisher is 2-3 (far from terrible) after a decade and a half of really good teams. I will still be around of course, just not as active for the next few weeks.

My wife pointed out to me after the game on Saturday that what Fisher is lacking in wins, they are certainly making up for in how they get them. The 2 wins they did get have both been barn burners...

[AUPepBand]

The Olean Times-Herald has a nice piece on Maleke Fuentes, younger brother of Julio Fuentes, who long-time posters will recall suffered a serious spinal injury as a Saxon in a game against Thiel back on Sept. 9, 2006.

[Bengalsrule]

Nice shout out for the Empire 8 on D3 football. Began the season as the #5 ranked conference (according to D3 Football). Has moved up to #3. 13 non - conference wins  noted along with a couple of tough losses to good Non -conference opponents.

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2015/re-ranking-the-conferences-for-2015

Kudos for all of the league.                                           Now lets get back to beating each other up!!!!

[Bengalsrule]

The E8 is now anyone's game...chaos reigns again

Well said Bombers. Me thinks that the Cortaca game (Cortland vs. Ithaca), on last day of regular season  (11/14), could make/break a playoff berth for someone! Time will tell!

[sjfcards]

The E8 is now anyone's game...chaos reigns again

Well said Bombers. Me thinks that the Cortaca game (Cortland vs. Ithaca), on last day of regular season  (11/14), could make/break a playoff berth for someone! Time will tell!

How awesome would that be? I think we all thought it when it was announced Cortland was coming to the E8, but to get it in year 1 would be something.

[sjfcards]

By the way congratulations to Brad Keem and Mark Robinson for their induction into the Fisher Athletics hall of fame. Well deserved...

[fisheralum91]

Here Here!

FA91 says congrats especially to Robbie!

[Bengalsrule]

The E8 is now anyone's game...chaos reigns again

Well said Bombers. Me thinks that the Cortaca game (Cortland vs. Ithaca), on last day of regular season  (11/14), could make/break a playoff berth for someone! Time will tell!

How awesome would that be? I think we all thought it when it was announced Cortland was coming to the E8, but to get it in year 1 would be something.

Trust me. I'm not hoping ..or thinking...that Cortland will be E8 Champs this year. Just that there winning or losing the final game could open up something for another team. 2 losses by Cortland brings them down a peg or 2. They face 2 other 1 loss teams (Alfred and Ithaca). Something has got to give!!

Go BENGALS!!!!