FB: Empire 8

[thewaterboy]

So are we going to talk up the game this week or what?
Man
Quiet
Its going to be a good one and a nice E8/ NJAC  matchup.

dlip is thinking, if Germinerio is 100% healthy the Port will take the Wolverines to the woodshed and declare their dominance as the new hope of the east...of course then they'll be staring at Del Val. Man it's tough to get to the semi's...

Honestly dlip likes both teams but he really does feel like Brockport will be the east's best representative in the semi finals. Last week RPI's defense, which dlip really likes but still thinks may be a step slower than B-Ports, had some success against Wesley (who does traditionally start slow) and really put the offense in a position to win this game. dlip also really likes RPI's offense but again, he feels like Brockport's O is on another level. RPI's offense just couldn't get the separation on the scoreboard when they had the chance and against an offense like Wesley if you don't kick the **** out of them when they are down you KNOW they will come back.

The difference is Brockport's talent and consistent execution on both sides of the ball will be too much for Wesley's prolific offense and average defense...

Maybe Im an E8 homer but that is the way im seeing it go down as well.  I havent seen Wesley this year and couldnt comment specifically on them, but I have seen Brockport numerous times and they are a legit contender.  They are a balanced well coached machine.  I liken them to the steam roller that Fisher ran into in 2011 in St. Thomas....Yikes what a beatdown

Ehh. RPI was able to capitalize on two short fields off an interception and a muffed punt for 10 of their points, both of those coming in the first half. Then Wesley held them to 7 in the second. Is Wesley's defense down comparatively to years past, I'd say sure... but do I think Germinerio is going to go crazy and light Wesley up through the air, well, I'm sure he will have success, but not that much. Unless the other team is Mount Union, Wesley's D has usually made enough plays to keep games competitive.

Certainly true waterboy and please don't get dlip wrong, he has a ton of respect for Wesley. However he thinks Wesley will be facing a different beast in Brockport.

Wesley has played two teams that dlip would consider in Brockport's tier (Frostburg and Del Val), the closest being Del Val who defeated  Wesley (albeit week #1) and had 242 yards of offense against the Wolverines. Now dlip considers (maybe incorrectly it remains to be seen) Brockport to be a bit stronger on O than the Aggies. The Aggies put up 242 yards against Wesley with 142 of them coming through the air. RPI put up 317 total yards of O against Wesley with 227 in the air. Germinerio will certainly be throwing come Saturday. He doesn't believe that RPI or Del Val's O is as strong as Brockport's. The game will probably be close but dlip thinks B-Port is the better team as a whole and that Wesley's D is just not as strong as in years past (or dlip's impression of how strong they were in years past).

dlip is expecting a shootout come Saturday. It will be interesting to see which side comes out on top. dlip does think that the winner of this game will represent the east in the semi's.

dlip, I'm wondering how much Brockport has seen of that "tier" thus far. Of course their opponents consist of consistently decent teams like Hobart, Ithaca and Alfred, but this year those teams did not quite get to that top tier of the east.

[AUPepBand]

dlip, I'm wondering how much Brockport has seen of that "tier" thus far. Of course their opponents consist of consistently decent teams like Hobart, Ithaca and Alfred, but this year those teams did not quite get to that top tier of the east.

Brockport in 2016 had Alfred on the ropes at Yunevich Stadium with a 28-17 lead late in the third quarter... eventually succumbing to a bend-not-break AU defense and a guy named Tyler Johnson (who, Pep will add, Germinerio emulates with his duo run/pass threat).

Could it be that Hobart, Ithaca and Alfred didn't "quite get to that top tier of the east" because of Brockport? When AU rallied to pull to within 28-25 up at Brockport, the game was delayed after the brutal hit on Germinerio...and the Brockport defense regrouped and turned back the Saxons. Mind you, AU had a couple of hiccups this year (at Cortland and vs. RPI) because of offensive inconsistency, but the Saxon defense was as good or maybe even better than in 2016. Hobart's hiccups came at Ithaca and Union. Ithaca's "hiccup" occurred at RPI, after opening with losses to Alfred and Brockport with a different QB.

Pep would say Ithaca, Hobart and Alfred, even with the hiccups, were certainly comparable if not better than the top teams Wesley faced all season long.

[dlippiel]

So are we going to talk up the game this week or what?
Man
Quiet
Its going to be a good one and a nice E8/ NJAC  matchup.

dlip is thinking, if Germinerio is 100% healthy the Port will take the Wolverines to the woodshed and declare their dominance as the new hope of the east...of course then they'll be staring at Del Val. Man it's tough to get to the semi's...

Honestly dlip likes both teams but he really does feel like Brockport will be the east's best representative in the semi finals. Last week RPI's defense, which dlip really likes but still thinks may be a step slower than B-Ports, had some success against Wesley (who does traditionally start slow) and really put the offense in a position to win this game. dlip also really likes RPI's offense but again, he feels like Brockport's O is on another level. RPI's offense just couldn't get the separation on the scoreboard when they had the chance and against an offense like Wesley if you don't kick the **** out of them when they are down you KNOW they will come back.

The difference is Brockport's talent and consistent execution on both sides of the ball will be too much for Wesley's prolific offense and average defense...

Maybe Im an E8 homer but that is the way im seeing it go down as well.  I havent seen Wesley this year and couldnt comment specifically on them, but I have seen Brockport numerous times and they are a legit contender.  They are a balanced well coached machine.  I liken them to the steam roller that Fisher ran into in 2011 in St. Thomas....Yikes what a beatdown

Ehh. RPI was able to capitalize on two short fields off an interception and a muffed punt for 10 of their points, both of those coming in the first half. Then Wesley held them to 7 in the second. Is Wesley's defense down comparatively to years past, I'd say sure... but do I think Germinerio is going to go crazy and light Wesley up through the air, well, I'm sure he will have success, but not that much. Unless the other team is Mount Union, Wesley's D has usually made enough plays to keep games competitive.

Certainly true waterboy and please don't get dlip wrong, he has a ton of respect for Wesley. However he thinks Wesley will be facing a different beast in Brockport.

Wesley has played two teams that dlip would consider in Brockport's tier (Frostburg and Del Val), the closest being Del Val who defeated  Wesley (albeit week #1) and had 242 yards of offense against the Wolverines. Now dlip considers (maybe incorrectly it remains to be seen) Brockport to be a bit stronger on O than the Aggies. The Aggies put up 242 yards against Wesley with 142 of them coming through the air. RPI put up 317 total yards of O against Wesley with 227 in the air. Germinerio will certainly be throwing come Saturday. He doesn't believe that RPI or Del Val's O is as strong as Brockport's. The game will probably be close but dlip thinks B-Port is the better team as a whole and that Wesley's D is just not as strong as in years past (or dlip's impression of how strong they were in years past).

dlip is expecting a shootout come Saturday. It will be interesting to see which side comes out on top. dlip does think that the winner of this game will represent the east in the semi's.

dlip, I'm wondering how much Brockport has seen of that "tier" thus far. Of course their opponents consist of consistently decent teams like Hobart, Ithaca and Alfred, but this year those teams did not quite get to that top tier of the east.

A good point waterboy!

[Bombers798891]

Pep would say Ithaca, Hobart and Alfred, even with the hiccups, were certainly comparable if not better than the top teams Wesley faced all season long.

Your endless positivity is sometimes infectious, Pep, which I love you for. But the idea that the Liberty League's 4th place team is somehow comparable to the 7th ranked team in the country is pretty far-fetched.

[Machiavelli]

Pep would say Ithaca, Hobart and Alfred, even with the hiccups, were certainly comparable if not better than the top teams Wesley faced all season long.

Your endless positivity is sometimes infectious, Pep, which I love you for. But the idea that the Liberty League's 4th place team is somehow comparable to the 7th ranked team in the country is pretty far-fetched.

Dude, stop being so perfectly literal. Obviously Pep isn't talking about Delaware Valley or Frostburg. He's talking the likes of Salisbury, Christopher Newport, Montclair, Kean, etc, none of which seem ridiculously overmatched this year. Looking at Frostburg's results, I wouldn't even put them too far ahead of the E8/LL pack.

I think the E8 and LL were both pretty strong on the top half this year, moreso than in year's past.

[Bombers798891]

Obviously Pep is talking the likes of Salisbury, Christopher Newport, Montclair, Kean, etc,

So...not the top teams Wesley faced?

[Bombers798891]

I think the E8 and LL were both pretty strong on the top half this year, moreso than in year's past.

On this I would agree, and the LL has probably closed the gap, except at the extremes of Brockport and Rochester

[fisheralum91]

Im just looking for a good game.
Weather looks like it wont be too much of a factor, lets lace em up!

[D3MAFAN]

Pep would say Ithaca, Hobart and Alfred, even with the hiccups, were certainly comparable if not better than the top teams Wesley faced all season long.

Your endless positivity is sometimes infectious, Pep, which I love you for. But the idea that the Liberty League's 4th place team is somehow comparable to the 7th ranked team in the country is pretty far-fetched.

Dude, stop being so perfectly literal. Obviously Pep isn't talking about Delaware Valley or Frostburg. He's talking the likes of Salisbury, Christopher Newport, Montclair, Kean, etc, none of which seem ridiculously overmatched this year. Looking at Frostburg's results, I wouldn't even put them too far ahead of the E8/LL pack.

I think the E8 and LL were both pretty strong on the top half this year, moreso than in year's past.

I would say the LL/E8 are comparable to that of the NJAC. I think the E8/LL have better offenses, but the NJAC have better defenses. Coaching and Special teams will be the deciding factors.

[Saxon73]

It is difficult for top tier teams to appear such when they are cannibalizing each other.

[Bombers798891]

It is difficult for top tier teams to appear such when they are cannibalizing each other.

Sometimes this is true. Most of the time, I think the reality is, they're not top teams, which is why they lose three times a season. I think the D-III pollsters are pretty good at recognizing when a three-loss team deserves a ranking. I also think there's a reason the three teams mentioned (IC, Alfred, Hobart) aren't receiving any votes—though that may change considering the Bombers topped Salisbury, who was earning some.

Look, that doesn't mean they're not good teams. But everyone who has gotten to this point plays good teams. Thewaterboy's comment was about Wesley facing a tier of opponents that Brockport has not yet, a statement that is borne out by the rankings, both top 25 and regional.

Sure, as Machiavelli says, if you take out Del Valley and Frostburg, the talents of the teams they've played are similar. But that's not the point

[UfanBill]

Guys, with all this talk about how Brockport will do against Wesley this week, keep in mind these facts about the Wesley program. They have been to the D3 tournament 13 years in a row!. Brockport is in for the first time since 2003. In the last ten years Wesley's record is 107-19...Brockport 58-46. My point is while this year's Brockport team is great (it may be a once in a generation great} Wesley has consistently shown excellence. After their opening loss to Del. Valley, Wesley has salivated for a chance for payback. I don't see Brockport stopping them from their rematch.  Wesley will be ready.

[Bombers798891]

Guys, with all this talk about how Brockport will do against Wesley this week, keep in mind these facts about the Wesley program. They have been to the D3 tournament 13 years in a row!. Brockport is in for the first time since 2003. In the last ten years Wesley's record is 107-19...Brockport 58-46. My point is while this year's Brockport team is great (it may be a once in a generation great} Wesley has consistently shown excellence

Yeah, but this is pretty much what you could have said about Rowan-Fisher in 2006. I'm not saying Brockport's going to do anything like that, but I don't think there's any reason to believe the difference will be playoff experience

[Oline89]

Pep would say Ithaca, Hobart and Alfred, even with the hiccups, were certainly comparable if not better than the top teams Wesley faced all season long.

Your endless positivity is sometimes infectious, Pep, which I love you for. But the idea that the Liberty League's 4th place team is somehow comparable to the 7th ranked team in the country is pretty far-fetched.

Dude, stop being so perfectly literal. Obviously Pep isn't talking about Delaware Valley or Frostburg. He's talking the likes of Salisbury, Christopher Newport, Montclair, Kean, etc, none of which seem ridiculously overmatched this year. Looking at Frostburg's results, I wouldn't even put them too far ahead of the E8/LL pack.

I think the E8 and LL were both pretty strong on the top half this year, moreso than in year's past.

I would say the LL/E8 are comparable to that of the NJAC. I think the E8/LL have better offenses, but the NJAC have better defenses. Coaching and Special teams will be the deciding factors.

D3MAFAN nailed it here.  LL/E8/NJAC are practically identical, the top teams in each league would be highly competitive against each other.  End of season records come down to only a few important plays that determine games.  Wesley is 10 points away from going 7-2 (compared to 9-0) in conference, and missing the playoffs completely.   Hobart is 8 points away from being 5-0 (compared to 3-2), and heading to playoffs.  Does that mean the 9-1 Wolverines would blow the doors off of the 7-3 Statesman? I am sure Brockport-Wesley will be a phenomenal game, but will probably come down to a few key plays that tip the game to the winner.  This is why D3 Football is awesome!   

[D3viewer]

RB Justin Morrison back atop the 2 deep vs Wesley.