FB: Empire 8

[Upstate]

The Ithaca 08 one is a good one, Ithaca's 08 team was weird. They got taken to the woodshed by a rookie QB 37-6 at Fisher and then turn around and knock off 9-0 Cortland.

However I will say that the IC loss probably helped Cortland a lot, they got matched up vs a Plymouth State team in the first round, a Plymouth St. team that lost to Mt. Ida earlier in the year. They then ended up with Curry (who lost to Plymouth St earlier in the year) in the 2nd round.

From a Fisher perspective I'd like to acknowledge that Buff Sts win was the best win in E8 history. Taking that out I'd add the 2011 27-14 Fisher win vs 11-0 Delaware Valley. DVC was ranked 11th and Fisher had Ahmed Hassanien making his first start in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I think that win was a lot more improbable than the John Carroll game a few years later.

[AUPepBand]

Speaking of Buffalo State's 7-6 win over the purple Warhawks...has anyone seen Bengalsrule around?

Pep's exited to be heading to Coyer Field Saterday with a few students armed with instruments and is hoping to see him.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

Taking that out I'd add the 2011 27-14 Fisher win vs 11-0 Delaware Valley. DVC was ranked 11th and Fisher had Ahmed Hassanien making his first start in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I think that win was a lot more improbable than the John Carroll game a few years later.

Speaking of weird teams.

Five weeks into the 2011 season, Fisher had lost by 36 at home to Hobart, been taken to overtime by the worst Ithaca team in 50 years, and trailed a .500 Buff State team with three minutes to go in the 4th.

I'd have lost every cent I had if you'd asked me to wager on that team making a playoff run.

[Upstate]

Taking that out I'd add the 2011 27-14 Fisher win vs 11-0 Delaware Valley. DVC was ranked 11th and Fisher had Ahmed Hassanien making his first start in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I think that win was a lot more improbable than the John Carroll game a few years later.

Speaking of weird teams.

Five weeks into the 2011 season, Fisher had lost by 36 at home to Hobart, been taken to overtime by the worst Ithaca team in 50 years, and trailed a .500 Buff State team with three minutes to go in the 4th.

I'd have lost every cent I had if you'd asked me to wager on that team making a playoff run.

That team could have been sooo good if either Bailey had one more year or if FentI didn't break his hand.

They were a QB away from probably being the best team in Fisher history.

Schmidt, Francis, Nigolian at WR.

Miller, Kramer, Borum at RB.

A defensive secondary that allowed only 16 passing TDS in 13 games and picked off 27 passes.

A front 7 that allowed only 3.8 ypc.

An actually good FG/EP kicker.

They had everything but a QB and still went to the Elite 8.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Taking that out I'd add the 2011 27-14 Fisher win vs 11-0 Delaware Valley. DVC was ranked 11th and Fisher had Ahmed Hassanien making his first start in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I think that win was a lot more improbable than the John Carroll game a few years later.

Speaking of weird teams.

Five weeks into the 2011 season, Fisher had lost by 36 at home to Hobart, been taken to overtime by the worst Ithaca team in 50 years, and trailed a .500 Buff State team with three minutes to go in the 4th.

I'd have lost every cent I had if you'd asked me to wager on that team making a playoff run.

That team could have been sooo good if either Bailey had one more year or if FentI didn't break his hand.

They were a QB away from probably being the best team in Fisher history.

Schmidt, Francis, Nigolian at WR.

Miller, Kramer, Borum at RB.

A defensive secondary that allowed only 16 passing TDS in 13 games and picked off 27 passes.

A front 7 that allowed only 3.8 ypc.

An actually good FG/EP kicker.

They had everything but a QB and still went to the Elite 8.

Man will I agree with that until the sun goes down.  Throw Bailey on that team and it is dangerous.  He was so good...it's a shame he never made it to the NCAA tournament.  Also, I'm still bitter at that St. Thomas game.  They were running trick plays in the 4th quarter and doing whatever else they could to run up the score.  Their fans weren't the most cordial bunch either.  The whole time I was just grumbling to myself "yeah but if we had a legit QB though" haha.  Still, proud of the effort to beat Delaware Valley and then Johnny Hopkins in back to back weeks in the playoffs to get to that point. 

[fisheralum91]

So----looking forward to the Cortland game satErday........

[Upstate]

To put Bailey into perspective:

Recent Fisher HOF inductee Greg Roland '03 (4 year starter):

564/1052 (53.6%), 6602 yds, 50 TDs, 2 rushing TDs

Tim Bailey '10 (3 year starter):

628/1010 (62.3%), 8352 yds, 77 TDs, 9 rushing TDs

He was nasty and had a brilliant SR year.

[Upstate]

So----looking forward to the Cortland game satErday........

Big question is if Fisher is going to stick their pre-season AA CB Mortillaro (5'9", 175lbs) on Cortland's #1 WR Mannix (6'3", 220lbs).

6 inches and 45lbs is a pretty big gap in size at any level.

Fisher does have a 6'2" 175lb CB opposite Mortillaro in Chamberlain but he's no #7 (no offense).

Will be interesting to see if they keep the CBs playing sides or if they have them switch based on where Mannix lines up.

[Bombers798891]

So----looking forward to the Cortland game satErday........

Big question is if Fisher is going to stick their pre-season AA CB Mortillaro (5'9", 175lbs) on Cortland's #1 WR Mannix (6'3", 220lbs).

6 inches and 45lbs is a pretty big gap in size at any level.

Fisher does have a 6'2" 175lb CB opposite Mortillaro in Chamberlain but he's no #7 (no offense).

Will be interesting to see if they keep the CBs playing sides or if they have them switch based on where Mannix lines up.

Maybe I'm just scarred by memories of John Babin outleaping Mike Vulcano to win the 2013 Jug, but I hate massive size differentials there. (Vulcano was obviously not as good as Mortillaro) It negates so much of a good corner's ability

[fisheralum91]

If the Fisher D line gets the push they need and has any semblance of a pass rush- that amplifies the need for quality coverage down field.
I think Mortillaro is up to the task.

[ITH radio]

What's the E8 crew's take on Hobart vs IC this wkd?

[Union2000]

What's the E8 crew's take on Hobart vs IC this wkd?

So I'm not the E8 crew but I find this game a total mystery.  Ithaca's D was very stout against my Dutchmen.  But it'll be the pass defense that will matter, and I have no idea how Ithaca's passing D is because Union's passing attack has been so tepid to date.  (I did notice that Ithaca tended to send pressure ALOT - that'll only go one of two ways against Sweeney).  Same goes for the Ithaca O - they were anemic against Union, but then again Union might have a very, very stout D ( as in, the best Union D in 15  or 20 years...)

[Bombers798891]

What's the E8 crew's take on Hobart vs IC this wkd?

So I'm not the E8 crew but I find this game a total mystery.  Ithaca's D was very stout against my Dutchmen.  But it'll be the pass defense that will matter, and I have no idea how Ithaca's passing D is because Union's passing attack has been so tepid to date.  (I did notice that Ithaca tended to send pressure ALOT - that'll only go one of two ways against Sweeney).  Same goes for the Ithaca O - they were anemic against Union, but then again Union might have a very, very stout D ( as in, the best Union D in 15  or 20 years...)

Ithaca's offense scored 40 points total the final five weeks of the season last year. So I would not consider their 7-point showing against Union to be uncharacteristic. Union's defense played fine, but Ithaca's offense just isn't good.

Similarly, Ithaca's defense is solid, if unspectacular. They make plays, and don't allow too many. I know Sweeney didn't play against IC last season, however, so who knows what to expect

[Bombers798891]

Throw Bailey on that team and it is dangerous.  He was so good...it's a shame he never made it to the NCAA tournament. 

This strikes me as something super unique to E8 teams. Why do their best QBs experience so little NCAA Playoff success? I mean, we can figure out why each individual team didn't qualify, but on the whole, it sort of blows my mind that in the E8, elite QBs haven't really translated to postseason success.

I mean, look at it this way:

Combined playoff wins by Josh Felicetti, Tim Bailey, Tom Secky, and Jason Boltus in a combined 14 seasons*: 4
Combined playoff wins by Hassanien and Greg Sheeler, who started a total of 3 games**: 3

How in the world does this happen?

*Let's not split hairs on Felcetti's 2002 or Secky's 2011
**Sheeler did not start Ithaca's opening round playoff game in 2001, but Brian Young was injured early on. Sheeler threw 23 passes to Young's 7, so I think he gets credit for the win

[dlippiel]

What's the E8 crew's take on Hobart vs IC this wkd?

So I'm not the E8 crew but I find this game a total mystery.  Ithaca's D was very stout against my Dutchmen.  But it'll be the pass defense that will matter, and I have no idea how Ithaca's passing D is because Union's passing attack has been so tepid to date.  (I did notice that Ithaca tended to send pressure ALOT - that'll only go one of two ways against Sweeney).  Same goes for the Ithaca O - they were anemic against Union, but then again Union might have a very, very stout D ( as in, the best Union D in 15  or 20 years...)

Ithaca's offense scored 40 points total the final five weeks of the season last year. So I would not consider their 7-point showing against Union to be uncharacteristic. Union's defense played fine, but Ithaca's offense just isn't good.

Similarly, Ithaca's defense is solid, if unspectacular. They make plays, and don't allow too many. I know Sweeney didn't play against IC last season, however, so who knows what to expect

Dlip was impressed with Ithaca's D however points from both posters regarding the struggles of each other's offense certainly holds water when looking at just how good each defense really is. For both teams we will certainly find out this week.

IC's secondary will certainly be tested by Geneva's very own Mr. Sweeney and the Dutchmen will face arguably the most athletic offense the May see all season.

In regards to Bombers comment that Union's D played "fine" dlip will agree. Dlip mentions it only because bombers provides us with an unbiased opinion. To Dutchmen fans the D seemed like the ****ing Orange Crush in comparison to the Garnet D's of the past two decades. Last week, although surrendering a decent amount of yards we were blown away with the aggressiveness and execution of the D. Sacks and timely INT's for points have been unheard of in Garnet land for ****ing ever.