FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

Purple v purple

Why worry?

[ITH radio]

Can confirm that LL schools will be having more E8 match ups next steps to "ease" the IC switch over. I know Hobart has scheduled at least one extra game with an E8 school (they will open with BPort again too which is great) and are looking for a 10th game to be played in Geneva. Coach Yoder comes back home on 9/17 with a Shenandoah squad that competed well in the ODAC which should also be a good OOC game.

Will be curious to see how other LL/E8 match ups pan out.

[MUC57]

AUPepBand

I don't post too often because I often get jumped on. However: I just want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your posts. I especially like the little character at the bottom (a Saxon warrior, I presume?). You are one of the voices of sanity and reason on these boards.
Having said all that, I am looking forward to a good game Saturday. I think Alfred is a much better team than they are getting credit for. Also, there is something about playing at home. No, I will not be there, but will listen on the radio.
I always hope that both teams play their best, few penalties, no turnovers and nothing stupid.
I'd like to think that with 244 teams in Division III, we're down to the top 8.
Good luck to both schools Saturday, no injuries and may the better team win (hope that's UMU).

[fisheralum91]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

[fisheralum91]

My youngest "who wants to be recruited at the D1 level" says that ill play D3 "if I have too".........Oh no son, you will play when given the opportunity and asked!

[AUPepBand]

AUPepBand

I don't post too often because I often get jumped on. However: I just want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your posts. I especially like the little character at the bottom (a Saxon warrior, I presume?). You are one of the voices of sanity and reason on these boards.
Having said all that, I am looking forward to a good game Saturday. I think Alfred is a much better team than they are getting credit for. Also, there is something about playing at home. No, I will not be there, but will listen on the radio.
I always hope that both teams play their best, few penalties, no turnovers and nothing stupid.
I'd like to think that with 244 teams in Division III, we're down to the top 8.
Good luck to both schools Saturday, no injuries and may the better team win (hope that's UMU).

That guy is Alfred's mascot, "Li'l Alf." He's usually roaming around Yunevich Stadium when the Saxons are playing. Here he is:

[HansenRatings]

Advanced Stat Profiles for Alfred v. UMU (all numbers adjusted for opponent quality)

.	Alfred	UMU
Scoring Margin:	#32 (+20.91 ppg)	#5 (+43.38 ppg)
Scoring Offense:	#43 (37.62 ppg)	#4 (49.94 ppg)
Scoring Defense:	#35 (20.91 ppg)	#8 (6.56 ppg)
Net Efficiency:	#24|#9 (+3.13 ypp|+4.87 any/p)	#6|#10 (+3.53 ypp|+4.86 any/p)
Offensive Efficiency:	#12|#6 (6.93 ypp|8.12 any/p)	#14|#15 (6.81 ypp|7.28 any/p)
Defensive Efficiency:	#18|#26 (3.80 ypp|3.25 any/p)	#5|#10 (3.28 ypp|2.42 any/p)
Rushing Offense:	#4|#4 (5.98 ypp|6.92 any/p)	#21|#27 (5.21 ypp|5.84 any/p)
Rushing Defense:	#19|#28 (2.99 ypp|3.12 any/p)	#7|#7 (2.41 ypp|1.94 any/p)
Passing Offense:	#13|#5 (9.40 ypp|10.92 any/p)	#7|#9 (9.85 ypp|10.06 any/p)
Passing Defense:	#15|#25 (4.31 ypp|2.94 any/p)	#14|#23 (4.19 ypp|2.85 any/p)

The efficiency numbers like Alfred more than the scoring numbers do. We'll see which appears more prescient after Saturday.

[Bombers798891]

Why is that such an offensive statement?  Why is it so implausible that perhaps Alfred has underperformed in the playoffs thus far?

It's not.

Why is it so implausible that this year, these New England teams are better than we (the collective we, me included) have traditionally thought they were. It seems like every time one of our teams (Fisher, Alfred, Salisbury) blows out one of these teams, we act like "Well, of course, what do you expect?" But if our team doesn't blow them out, the thought process always starts with "what an underachieving performance by the E8 team"

[Saxon73]

Why is that such an offensive statement?  Why is it so implausible that perhaps Alfred has underperformed in the playoffs thus far?

It's not.

Why is it so implausible that this year, these New England teams are better than we (the collective we, me included) have traditionally thought they were. It seems like every time one of our teams (Fisher, Alfred, Salisbury) blows out one of these teams, we act like "Well, of course, what do you expect?" But if our team doesn't blow them out, the thought process always starts with "what an underachieving performance by the E8 team"

The last thing I ever wanted to hear in my professional career was, "we have always done it that way." 

[boobyhasgameyo]

Why is that such an offensive statement?  Why is it so implausible that perhaps Alfred has underperformed in the playoffs thus far?

It's not.

Why is it so implausible that this year, these New England teams are better than we (the collective we, me included) have traditionally thought they were. It seems like every time one of our teams (Fisher, Alfred, Salisbury) blows out one of these teams, we act like "Well, of course, what do you expect?" But if our team doesn't blow them out, the thought process always starts with "what an underachieving performance by the E8 team"

Believe me bombers I fully understand what you're saying.  But my contention is this - let us agree the New England teams have risen up.  I'm not denying they haven't.  But I don't think they've risen above the level of competition Alfred has faced this year.  On par with?  Sure, make that argument.  Above?  Doubtful.  Therefore it stands to reason that I could reasonably expect Alfred to perform at the same levels previously witnessed.  But they simply haven't in the first two rounds.  So yes if it were a team like St. Thomas I would argue that might be because they were outmatched in size, speed, skill, whatever.  But I'm not about to make that argument against a team like Bridgewater or WNE. 

Again, not saying I thought Alfred should have double monkey stomped them.  But overtime in one game and likely about to lose the second game if not for a timely red zone fumble in the closing moments of the second game...it's not exactly instilling confidence (from a bystander's perspective) before you're about to face a team that can check off some of those boxes for being faster, more skilled, etc. 

[Desertraider]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

Agree on the Pep , Alfred perspective....as far as the homers from the rest of the E8 , you gotta love the passion....although as my son says....D3 is "glorified HS" football, how can you get so excited?....he may be partially right but I can't help rooting for student athletes that just play for the love of the game...may the love be with Alfred on Saturday

No offense to your son - but he is wrong....IMNSHO. I get a bunch of crap from friends about following Mount and UWW and keeping up on D3 as much as I do, while not giving a crap about OSU/UM/Bama etc.. But I took a couple to the Mount / UWW game last year (and a couple others to previous games) and they all loved it. I get phone calls and texts now asking how Mount did or how a certain player did. Most, not all, were blown away by the quality of football as well as the faclities - and could not believe "parking is free and the game ticket was $8"! Not too mention the Mount pre-game brunch for $8 all you can eat. As a good friend said "I spent $300 on tickets to the OSU game for the family, another $30 for parking, walked a mile to the stadium, and needed the big screen to see what was going on. A game, parking 20 feet from the stadium and breakfast for under $20 is a steal".

[fisheralum91]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

Agree on the Pep , Alfred perspective....as far as the homers from the rest of the E8 , you gotta love the passion....although as my son says....D3 is "glorified HS" football, how can you get so excited?....he may be partially right but I can't help rooting for student athletes that just play for the love of the game...may the love be with Alfred on Saturday

Couldnt agree more.
My kids love every minute of the games-tailgaiting right straight thru till post gate.
And yes the facilities for small schools.......something to be proud of!!!

No offense to your son - but he is wrong....IMNSHO. I get a bunch of crap from friends about following Mount and UWW and keeping up on D3 as much as I do, while not giving a crap about OSU/UM/Bama etc.. But I took a couple to the Mount / UWW game last year (and a couple others to previous games) and they all loved it. I get phone calls and texts now asking how Mount did or how a certain player did. Most, not all, were blown away by the quality of football as well as the faclities - and could not believe "parking is free and the game ticket was $8"! Not too mention the Mount pre-game brunch for $8 all you can eat. As a good friend said "I spent $300 on tickets to the OSU game for the family, another $30 for parking, walked a mile to the stadium, and needed the big screen to see what was going on. A game, parking 20 feet from the stadium and breakfast for under $20 is a steal".

[HScoach]

Advanced Stat Profiles for Alfred v. UMU (all numbers adjusted for opponent quality)

.	Alfred	UMU
Scoring Margin:	#32 (+20.91 ppg)	#5 (+43.38 ppg)
Scoring Offense:	#43 (37.62 ppg)	#4 (49.94 ppg)
Scoring Defense:	#35 (20.91 ppg)	#8 (6.56 ppg)
Net Efficiency:	#24|#9 (+3.13 ypp|+4.87 any/p)	#6|#10 (+3.53 ypp|+4.86 any/p)
Offensive Efficiency:	#12|#6 (6.93 ypp|8.12 any/p)	#14|#15 (6.81 ypp|7.28 any/p)
Defensive Efficiency:	#18|#26 (3.80 ypp|3.25 any/p)	#5|#10 (3.28 ypp|2.42 any/p)
Rushing Offense:	#4|#4 (5.98 ypp|6.92 any/p)	#21|#27 (5.21 ypp|5.84 any/p)
Rushing Defense:	#19|#28 (2.99 ypp|3.12 any/p)	#7|#7 (2.41 ypp|1.94 any/p)
Passing Offense:	#13|#5 (9.40 ypp|10.92 any/p)	#7|#9 (9.85 ypp|10.06 any/p)
Passing Defense:	#15|#25 (4.31 ypp|2.94 any/p)	#14|#23 (4.19 ypp|2.85 any/p)

The efficiency numbers like Alfred more than the scoring numbers do. We'll see which appears more prescient after Saturday.

I don't know anything about Alfred, but the efficiency comment doesn't surprise me as this Mount team isn't nearly as consistent as some of their more experienced teams.   It's still very athletic and explosive, just not consistently so. 

[dlippiel]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

Agree on the Pep , Alfred perspective....as far as the homers from the rest of the E8 , you gotta love the passion....although as my son says....D3 is "glorified HS" football, how can you get so excited?....he may be partially right but I can't help rooting for student athletes that just play for the love of the game...may the love be with Alfred on Saturday

No offense to your son - but he is wrong....IMNSHO. I get a bunch of crap from friends about following Mount and UWW and keeping up on D3 as much as I do, while not giving a crap about OSU/UM/Bama etc.. But I took a couple to the Mount / UWW game last year (and a couple others to previous games) and they all loved it. I get phone calls and texts now asking how Mount did or how a certain player did. Most, not all, were blown away by the quality of football as well as the faclities - and could not believe "parking is free and the game ticket was $8"! Not too mention the Mount pre-game brunch for $8 all you can eat. As a good friend said "I spent $300 on tickets to the OSU game for the family, another $30 for parking, walked a mile to the stadium, and needed the big screen to see what was going on. A game, parking 20 feet from the stadium and breakfast for under $20 is a steal".

Great ****ing post!!!! +k

[Bombers798891]

it stands to reason that I could reasonably expect Alfred to perform at the same levels previously witnessed.

I witnessed them eke out a 7-point win over a New England playoff team in Week 1, a game in which they were 1 yard away from trailing in the 4th quarter.

I mean, can we all admit that we just don't respect these teams? I've always stated how much Norwich's success bugged me. I remember thinking Curry was going to lose by 40 to IC in 2008. Here's a smattering of quotes from before the Fisher-W. Conn ECAC game in 2014:

SJF/Western Ct is a crappy matchup.  Let's hope Fisher doesn't sulk about it and at least puts up 50 in the first half and then let's their young kids play.

Fisher is going to beat West Conn by 50.

Was thinking this but didn't want to say it...

Fusco goes for 250 if the coaches let him...

Fisher either wins by 40 or 7.

The one question that I will pose (while agreeing that one more game is great for the seniors) is what is the value of a monkey stomp other than giving your younger guys a look for next year?

West Conn looks to have a good pass rush with their DL. Will be interesting to see if they can get after Fisher's QB...

Speaking of...

If Fenti plays, Fisher by 27...

If Fenti and Nigolian play, Fisher by 35...

If Catan gets the start, Fisher by 17...

If Catan starts and Nigolian plays, Fisher by 24...

We were all pretty much summarily dismissing the game as an easy blowout for Fisher...and it was 7-6 in the 3rd quarter. (I know, I know Naton and Nigolian didn't play). But still, the default opinion we seem to have of these games is "How much are we gonna win by?" We really have to start admitting these teams aren't just there to provide a warm up for E8 schools