FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Saw most of the second half of AU's scrimmage with Misericordia this afternoon. Starters played the first half, so didn't see any of them but I got a good look at second stringers and newbies. AU coaching staff should be pleased with a couple of first-year running backs who looked very good, and a first-year WR. Likewise, AU's backup QB, Bryce Morrison (Randolph), who came into the 2015 preseason camp with mono so he really never got started last year, looked good. Another QB also did a nice job.

Play of the day, from that part of the game that Pep saw, however, was a sweet tight end screen when senior back-up TE Wyatt Esposito broke a tackle and bounced it outside for a 10-yard gain and a first down. The sideline erupted. Pep was a teammate of Wyatt's on an AU intramural basketball team. He's one of those guys who just lifts everyone around him. Good play, 9-5!!

On Saxon Warriors!

[Upstate]

I got word from a contact at Fisher about their scrimmage information this year. Fisher will have an intra-squad scrimmage this Sunday morning at 9:45. They will also scrimmage U of R at 6pm next Friday, 8/26.

What time and is it at Fisher or UofR???

[sjfcards]

I got word from a contact at Fisher about their scrimmage information this year. Fisher will have an intra-squad scrimmage this Sunday morning at 9:45. They will also scrimmage U of R at 6pm next Friday, 8/26.

What time and is it at Fisher or UofR???

Friday, 6 PM at Growney according to my friend. 

[Kelly Boggs]

Hey, AUPepBand,

How was your trip? I was disappointed that I was in Dallas when you were passing through Belton. I was looking forward to meeting you and giving you a tour around the UMHB campus and an insiders look at Crusader Stadium. I hope all went well.

[AUPepBand]

Hey, AUPepBand,

How was your trip? I was disappointed that I was in Dallas when you were passing through Belton. I was looking forward to meeting you and giving you a tour around the UMHB campus and an insiders look at Crusader Stadium. I hope all went well.

The trip was beyond Pep's wildest expectations. Your staff at UMHB filled in quite nicely in your absence. Everyone was friendly and hospitable to this Yankee! I particularly enjoyed entertaining the bookstore staff and inquiring about where I could get some purple and gold athletic clothing that said ALFRED. They had plenty of purple and gold!

Stayed in Belton overnight, visited the campus/stadium in the morning, learning that the same architect who had designed the new Yankee Stadium had designed your beautiful complex. Amazing facility! Perhaps Pep's Saxons will one day have an opportunity to play there in the NCAA playoffs.

Following that visit, after checking out of the hotel, I traveled into Austin and had a fun afternoon meeting with Dillon Panther Head Football Coach Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights), aka John Rayburn (Bloodline), aka Gary Hobson (Early Edition). Then I drove west.....now I know why Riggins always says "Texas Forever!" It just goes on and on and on and on and on and on....and On Saxon Warriors!

[ITH radio]

I got word from a contact at Fisher about their scrimmage information this year. Fisher will have an intra-squad scrimmage this Sunday morning at 9:45. They will also scrimmage U of R at 6pm next Friday, 8/26.

What time and is it at Fisher or UofR???

Friday, 6 PM at Growney according to my friend.

Pls let us know if anyone attends and report back on what you saw. UofR has a pretty small roster this year and have backed off on hitting in practice bc of it. Still have a lot of good play makers but graduated a lot, especially on D.

[sjfcards]

I got word from a contact at Fisher about their scrimmage information this year. Fisher will have an intra-squad scrimmage this Sunday morning at 9:45. They will also scrimmage U of R at 6pm next Friday, 8/26.

What time and is it at Fisher or UofR???

Friday, 6 PM at Growney according to my friend.

Pls let us know if anyone attends and report back on what you saw. UofR has a pretty small roster this year and have backed off on hitting in practice bc of it. Still have a lot of good play makers but graduated a lot, especially on D.

I am headed out that way after I get some work done in the Rochester area. I will post an update at some point tonight/tomorrow.

[dlippiel]

+k to both Kelly Boggs and AUpep on the cross region relationship. Great to see d3 fans supporting each other.

[Kelly Boggs]

Great to hear, AUPepBand, I am glad  your experience at UMHB was positive and that your entire trip went well. I hope we do get to meet someday and at a playoff game would a perfect time and place!

[AUPepBand]

+k to both Kelly Boggs and AUpep on the cross region relationship. Great to see d3 fans supporting each other.

+K back at ya dlip! Always a treat to meet fellow D3 fans...and the celebrities from the d3football.com website. Had the distinct pleasure a few years back of meeting Keith McMillan at Merrill Field. Also, the guru, Pat Coleman, called the play-by-play of the final minutes of a thrilling Alfred-Catholic game in the 90s for Pep over the phone from the CUA press box when he was still a student there. A classmate of his at CUA had a son on Pep Jr.'s AAU basketball team. Still waiting for Pat to pay a visit to Yunevich Stadium.

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

Finally getting a chance to report back on what I saw at the Fisher scrimmage on Friday night.

The two teams ran several offense vs defense drills, before each team had several drives against the others defense starting at their own 20. After that the two teams played a quarter of real football. In the full quarter of play Fisher won 15-0 (touchdown with a missed extra point, touchdown and point, and a safety). The safety was very questionable as the quarterbacks for both teams were basically playing one hand touch.

For Fisher the defense was strong. I believe U of R only had a couple  first downs in the quarter of full play, with one coming off a penalty and the other off a long catch on a broken play. Most of U of R's success came off broken plays and a scrambling qb. They were in several 3rd and long situations and it looked like Fisher was happy to give up the underneath and protect the first down line.

Offensively they sort of grew into the game. Started slowly but got rolling as they went. Tony Fusco looked very good. Breaking tackles and had a touchdown. Collichio looked good returning punts,  and catching the ball. The transfer Will Blake took reps with the second team most of the night, but played with the first unit during the live game. He had a few drops but looks like he can contribute. Naton got better as the night went on and made some good throws down field . The O-line looked great.

The two concerns I saw on offense were some dropped passes/miscommunication on routes, and that Chambers didn't dress or play. Not sure if he is hurt or what.

Both teams looked like it was a pre - season scrimmage. Sloppy is the word I would use. For Fisher my primary concern were the dropped passes. Several were right in the hands and erased some really good throws and big plays. Other stuff like lining up for punts or extra point with 10 guys happened but can be ironed out as they go forward.

All in all a pretty good showing for Fisher. U of R had a small roster but had some guys who could make plays. They struggled to protect the quarterback most of the night.

[Pat Coleman]

+k to both Kelly Boggs and AUpep on the cross region relationship. Great to see d3 fans supporting each other.

+K back at ya dlip! Always a treat to meet fellow D3 fans...and the celebrities from the d3football.com website. Had the distinct pleasure a few years back of meeting Keith McMillan at Merrill Field. Also, the guru, Pat Coleman, called the play-by-play of the final minutes of a thrilling Alfred-Catholic game in the 90s for Pep over the phone from the CUA press box when he was still a student there. A classmate of his at CUA had a son on Pep Jr.'s AAU basketball team. Still waiting for Pat to pay a visit to Yunevich Stadium.

On Saxon Warriors!

Actually, I was a graduate -- that was my first game day as SID.

[fisheralum91]

Good news on the Fisher front.
Hard to believe that the season starts next weekend!
Any up and comers that you saw at the scrimmage that we need to take a peek at?
Im glad Blake will contribute- any others?

[sjfcards]

Good news on the Fisher front.
Hard to believe that the season starts next weekend!
Any up and comers that you saw at the scrimmage that we need to take a peek at?
Im glad Blake will contribute- any others?

No one really jumped out at me but several guys looked like they could play. I was very interested in the receiving core and the secondary. The receivers were big and fast. Will Blake looked to be the most gifted of the younger guys, but again didn't take the snaps with the first team until later in the night. That may be more about what goes on film, as he did play the majority of the live quarter with the first team. The other receivers that saw action were Will Coon (Sophomore) and another really tall receiver (I didn't catch his name and now his number escapes me).

Fusco took almost all the carries but they did have a back up running back get some time. I don't see him playing if James Chambers is healthy. He didn't dress but didn't have any apparent issues from what I could see (no limp, cast, sling or anything like that). As I mentioned Fusco looked great.

On the defensive side of the ball I focused on the secondary. Alec Mortillaro was very good (very fews throws his way as he had great coverage and he had a pick in the 7 v 7 drills). The other CB was Demarre Nelson  (Sophomore from East Rochester). He looked big and fast. Not overwhelming but not much happened down field. It was mostly underneath where U of R got their yardage. Anthony Lee was playing as the Safety.

The kicking game was what it always is, but at least they didn't botch any snaps. Still missed an extra point. I didn't see a ton of the field goal attempts in before the teams played live (I walked over and watched the soccer practice for a bit).

They looked pretty good, but I can't tell if U of R was just young or Fisher was that good. U of R had a very small team in terms of numbers and I didn't see a lot of big play ability. 

[fisheralum91]

Good news on the Fisher front.
Hard to believe that the season starts next weekend!
Any up and comers that you saw at the scrimmage that we need to take a peek at?
Im glad Blake will contribute- any others?

No one really jumped out at me but several guys looked like they could play. I was very interested in the receiving core and the secondary. The receivers were big and fast. Will Blake looked to be the most gifted of the younger guys, but again didn't take the snaps with the first team until later in the night. That may be more about what goes on film, as he did play the majority of the live quarter with the first team. The other receivers that saw action were Will Coon (Sophomore) and another really tall receiver (I didn't catch his name and now his number escapes me).

Fusco took almost all the carries but they did have a back up running back get some time. I don't see him playing if James Chambers is healthy. He didn't dress but didn't have any apparent issues from what I could see (no limp, cast, sling or anything like that). As I mentioned Fusco looked great.

On the defensive side of the ball I focused on the secondary. Alec Mortillaro was very good (very fews throws his way as he had great coverage and he had a pick in the 7 v 7 drills). The other CB was Demarre Nelson  (Sophomore from East Rochester). He looked big and fast. Not overwhelming but not much happened down field. It was mostly underneath where U of R got their yardage. Anthony Lee was playing as the Safety.

The kicking game was what it always is, but at least they didn't botch any snaps. Still missed an extra point. I didn't see a ton of the field goal attempts in before the teams played live (I walked over and watched the soccer practice for a bit).

They looked pretty good, but I can't tell if U of R was just young or Fisher was that good. U of R had a very small team in terms of numbers and I didn't see a lot of big play ability.

What is it with Fisher teams that i have to hold my breath because of special teams.
This seems like a fix that is very doable.

Seriously,
Every year its the same story.....i bite my fingernails on PAT's and punts.....Its aweful!