FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

You never know, its one of the biggest rivalry games and the way the East is playing out...Cortland has played spoiler for Ithaca regarding seating in previous years. Maybe a score of 9-7 with Ithaca scoring on Defense and having a safety.

I don't believe in the rivalry game nonsense. Well, to put it another way, I don't believe that it affects one team more than the other. Ithaca has certainly lost some heartbreakers to Cortland over the years, but every result, IMO, was a result of existing Cortland strengths and Ithaca weaknesses.

[AUPepBand]

Pep hasn't had a chance to gather his thoughts until now on Saterday's game with Utica. Just happy to get a win against a very tough Utica squad. Seemed like AU was swinging for the fence most of the game until they finally settled down with 10 minutes to go and put together a sustained, 15-play 91-yard drive for the winning TD. Pep would describe the game as "suspenseful" as the end result was in doubt until Johnson dove into the end zone with 21 seconds remaining.
AU defense played well all day, holding the Pioneers out of the end zone.

Kudos to the Pioneers and their fans. Was pleased to see more Utica fans than any of the other Saxon opponents at Yunevich Stadium this year. The win gave AU a perfect 5-0 record in "the pit" that is Yunevich Stadium.

[Frank Rossi]

To give Bengals a little support, the team most likely to be sitting atop the East during the Pool C review after Wesley will be Alfred, which has a win vs. RPI, a loss vs. Cortland, and perhaps another RRO win pending depending on what the bottom of the East rankings ends up looking like Saturday night.  Alfred's SOS will remain extremely high after playing Fisher.  To me, they will end up lining up as the best remaining East Pool C candidate after Wesley with that extremely strong SOS and a reasonably good RRO record.

With that said, they'll need to hope that a couple one-loss teams get knocked off this weekend that are sitting in contention.  We've seen instances in which SOS differentials of 0.100 or greater have propelled a team with two losses over a team with one loss with nearly identical RRO records.  So, not EVERY one-loss team needs to lose, as Alfred would be picked ahead of some of them with two losses (for instance, if WNEU loses to Salve, Alfred's SOS would keep Alfred above WNEU in the final regional rankings).

Long story short: I believe Alfred is not an impossible Pool C candidate if Cortland and Alfred both win this weekend.  It would rely potentially on Salisbury losing to Frostburg (taking Wesley out of the Pool C mix altogether) or Wesley being picked as the first Pool C team to get Alfred on the board very early.  Longshot, but not impossible.

[sjfcards]

So, would it be better to have a hot team such as Alfred or St. John Fisher enter the playoffs or a Cortland State team that has been somewhat up and down represent the E 8 in the playoffs? I am leaning toward a hot Alfred or St. John Fisher team. I think the winner of the Alfred v. Fisher game is going to have all the momentum. Maybe Ithaca can play spoiler to stay .500.

I tend to agree with you about a hot team rather than the more consistent team. I have this debate in my head about what is a more dangerous team...the one that you know is going to give a good effort and be very tough to beat, or the team that may be up and down but if they play well almost no one can beat them. For the benefit of the league I typically want the team that has been at the top of the league most of the year that is undefeated or has a single loss. That is more for seeding purposes, but this year with everyone having 2 or more losses I am looking for the team that can go on the road and pull an upset.

[Bengalsrule]

To give Bengals a little support, the team most likely to be sitting atop the East during the Pool C review after Wesley will be Alfred, which has a win vs. RPI, a loss vs. Cortland, and perhaps another RRO win pending depending on what the bottom of the East rankings ends up looking like Saturday night.  Alfred's SOS will remain extremely high after playing Fisher.  To me, they will end up lining up as the best remaining East Pool C candidate after Wesley with that extremely strong SOS and a reasonably good RRO record.

With that said, they'll need to hope that a couple one-loss teams get knocked off this weekend that are sitting in contention.  We've seen instances in which SOS differentials of 0.100 or greater have propelled a team with two losses over a team with one loss with nearly identical RRO records.  So, not EVERY one-loss team needs to lose, as Alfred would be picked ahead of some of them with two losses (for instance, if WNEU loses to Salve, Alfred's SOS would keep Alfred above WNEU in the final regional rankings).

Long story short: I believe Alfred is not an impossible Pool C candidate if Cortland and Alfred both win this weekend.  It would rely potentially on Salisbury losing to Frostburg (taking Wesley out of the Pool C mix altogether) or Wesley being picked as the first Pool C team to get Alfred on the board very early.  Longshot, but not impossible.

+k!!!

[wally_wabash]

To give Bengals a little support, the team most likely to be sitting atop the East during the Pool C review after Wesley will be Alfred, which has a win vs. RPI, a loss vs. Cortland, and perhaps another RRO win pending depending on what the bottom of the East rankings ends up looking like Saturday night.  Alfred's SOS will remain extremely high after playing Fisher.  To me, they will end up lining up as the best remaining East Pool C candidate after Wesley with that extremely strong SOS and a reasonably good RRO record.

With that said, they'll need to hope that a couple one-loss teams get knocked off this weekend that are sitting in contention.  We've seen instances in which SOS differentials of 0.100 or greater have propelled a team with two losses over a team with one loss with nearly identical RRO records.  So, not EVERY one-loss team needs to lose, as Alfred would be picked ahead of some of them with two losses (for instance, if WNEU loses to Salve, Alfred's SOS would keep Alfred above WNEU in the final regional rankings).

Long story short: I believe Alfred is not an impossible Pool C candidate if Cortland and Alfred both win this weekend.  It would rely potentially on Salisbury losing to Frostburg (taking Wesley out of the Pool C mix altogether) or Wesley being picked as the first Pool C team to get Alfred on the board very early.  Longshot, but not impossible.

Agree with Frank on this.  I think Alfred will get to the table and then it's anybody's guess.  There's a lot of star wattage in the Pool C this year though which might be hard to overcome- even though that sort of thing shouldn't come into play, it's going to be hard for the humans on the committee who know what we all know about those teams (you know the ones) and not let that have an influence.  It isn't impossible to block out the names on the jerseys, but it can be hard. 

[pg04]

Wow! Wally beat me to the punch. I was going to point to the pool C board, where Alfred is the only team alive outside of Wesley, for the reasons mentioned. I put the nail in the entire E8 coffin earlier but given those with more time and effort put in keep Alfred as alive, my mind has changed.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Or Cortland can do either Fisher or Alfred a solid by losing this weekend.  I know that doesn't help Bengals in his quest to get two E8 teams into the dance...but this isn't the year I'd want to see two E8 teams in the dance.  Our conference is better served having multiple representatives when we have some beasts at the top. 

I think our reps would do well against the lesser teams in the playoffs but if we get a pool C that gets shipped off to a top 10 team this year, like Fisher was in 2013, then that's where I fear they'd run into a buzz saw. 

[Bengalsrule]

Wow! Wally beat me to the punch. I was going to point to the pool C board, where Alfred is the only team alive outside of Wesley, for the reasons mentioned. I put the nail in the entire E8 coffin earlier but given those with more time and effort put in keep Alfred as alive, my mind has changed.

Keep E8 "Hope alive"!!

+k

[pg04]

Or Cortland can do either Fisher or Alfred a solid by losing this weekend.  I know that doesn't help Bengals in his quest to get two E8 teams into the dance...but this isn't the year I'd want to see two E8 teams in the dance.  Our conference is better served having multiple representatives when we have some beasts at the top. 

I think our reps would do well against the lesser teams in the playoffs but if we get a pool C that gets shipped off to a top 10 team this year, like Fisher was in 2013, then that's where I fear they'd run into a buzz saw.

But there's also a chance pool C Alfred would be sent to undefeated Western New England, which could help 2 teams possibly make round 2.

[Bengalsrule]

Or Cortland can do either Fisher or Alfred a solid by losing this weekend.  I know that doesn't help Bengals in his quest to get two E8 teams into the dance...but this isn't the year I'd want to see two E8 teams in the dance.  Our conference is better served having multiple representatives when we have some beasts at the top. 

I think our reps would do well against the lesser teams in the playoffs but if we get a pool C that gets shipped off to a top 10 team this year, like Fisher was in 2013, then that's where I fear they'd run into a buzz saw.

So am I to understand that the 2013 Fisher players, staff and fans, regret getting invited to the NCAA's because of the results??  2 bites at the apple are better than 1. What do you have to lose?. A game? Better to have played and lost than not to have played at all? I was a coach on the sidelines of Buff States "Sweet 16" run in the 2011 NCAA championship. An while we didn't win it all, those extra 3 games (beating Gwinneth Mercy and Johnson Wales in the Ramapo regional...then losing to St Marys -Md.at U of Rochester), plus the 2 weeks of practice not to mention watching the selection show on campus with every other BENGAL coach, will be forever etched in our minds. Heck I still remember the pa system at Ramapo playing the CBS theme song, at the 1 min warm up mark,  that comes on whenever their tourney games come on. I got chills. And yes, while we would have been disappointed in losing the 1st game (each team in our region was ranked higher than us), we would not have traded that experience for anything. And what true player or coach would???

I'd wager that if you ask any player or coach whether or not they would rather be invited to the dance and face a top 10 team or not be invited at all. I guarantee there is not player or coach who would choose the later. You cant find a player who would rather say no to a NCAA bid for fear of facing a tougher team. not 1!!. I gotta admit that's the first time I have ever seen an argument for a team NOT going to the NCAA's. I'M STILL HOPING THE BEST FOR OUR LEAGUE.

[pg04]

Unfortunately Booby and Bengals will never align on this, since Booby obviously favors the Fisher winning route.

[Bengalsrule]

Unfortunately Booby and Bengals will never align on this, since Booby obviously favors the Fisher winning route.

True PG04 true. I think that I better just head back over to my SUNYAC hoops boards. Over there you will never hear talk of justifying having less teams get invited for fear of tougher competiton in the playoffs. I can tell you right now that the BUffalo State BENGALS football, basketball, track teams etc begin the season hoping for an NCAA Championship. No 1 comes to any program, at Buffalo State,  with the thought that we just aren't good enough to compete with the best! Coach Ansari used to say before any game ( I imagine that he still does), including vs D 1 Canisius, U of Buffalo, SUNY Binghampton or Niagara University, "if you dont think that you can win then stay in the damn locker room". To date...no 1 has ever stayed in the locker room. Maybe its different in other places. Thank GOD thats not the case at Buff State. Good luck to all E8 schools this weekend ...and beyond.

Go BENGALS
&
GO EMPIRE 8 FOOTBALL

[boobyhasgameyo]

I don't exactly favor Fisher getting in this year.  They aren't that great.  I'm in favor of strong teams from the conference getting in.  Cortland was not that when I watched them play.  Fisher isn't that.  Maybe Alfred will have me singing a different tune come this weekend. 

Also, Fisher won that game in 2013 Bengals.  They were a good team that year so them playing a top 10 team was fine.  This years team I fear would get smacked. 

Lastly, who would argue that the players wouldn't want to be invited?  I wouldn't make that argument.  But I'm not a player.  Just a fan.  I always want to see the E8 have a strong showing and I'm not sure it's in the cards this year. 

[AUPepBand]

Wow! Wally beat me to the punch. I was going to point to the pool C board, where Alfred is the only team alive outside of Wesley, for the reasons mentioned. I put the nail in the entire E8 coffin earlier but given those with more time and effort put in keep Alfred as alive, my mind has changed.

This is all very enticing but Pep can't really pull himself away from the fact that AU has its work cut out for itself with Fisher at Growney Saterday. Pep doesn't like counting chickens before they've been fried. Pep only wishes the Saxons could have played the Cardinals early in the season. Pep is thinking it's going to be a dog fight, no matter what Cortland is doing to Ithaca.

On Saxon Warriors!