FB: Empire 8

[AlfredSaxon8]

Any thoughts on Utica yet? I think they could surprise some people after the first year under Coach Faggiano... he'll get a chance to really recruit his guys more than Kemp's.

I think they'll probably finish 5-5 (2-3) with a couple close losses.  Next season will be interesting to see what Faggiano's move to Utica means to the E8.  Does Fisher rebound?  Does Utica continue to improve?

Utica was improved from last year.  But I watched film on both sides of the ball for them.  Not very impressed with the very vanilla play calling.  The routes were not very complex, easy curl slides, a smash route here and there and maybe a crosser/ TE seam concept.  They need to switch it up a little.  I understand the coach there is new and he's trying to get the right players in the right positions first but I think he needs to expand his playcalling.  Fisher's offense was relatively basic but they are efficent and based on more timing routes.  If Utica plans to put in a heavy read system, they cannot stick to the simple plays they have now.   

Decent athletes on defense that is very stingy at home.  If they get their big E8 games at home they could have a suprise record next year...

[labart96]

Hartwick  (WR Jack Phelan) and IC (Brian Weverburgh) players named to:

AFCA D-III All-America Team

[dlippiel]

I look for Springfield to be in the mix also. That option game is going to be nasty next season.

I agree.  Springfield started to score in spurts at the end of the season and if they can keep the turnovers down, they'll help to make a mess of the E8 standings.  KazooTwo is scheduled to come see the Pride at Merrill in week 3 next year which I'm hoping will be Homecoming.  I'm glad the Saxons get them early and at home next year.

I am also seeing the Pride back in the mix in 09.

[AlfredSaxon8]

Hartwick  (WR Jack Phelan) and IC (Brian Weverburgh) players named to:

AFCA D-III All-America Team

Congrads to them both.  Always nice to see some national recognition for the Empire 8.  They both deserve the honor.  Kudos. 

[Yanks 99]

Wow...a big time congrats is in order to Jason Boltus and Jack Phelan for being named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team...both being named as second team All-Americans.  For those who don't know, the Associated Press Little All-America Team is a combination of DII, DIII, and NAIA players and from what I remember is one of the oldest and most established All-American teams out there (I actually remember following these teams as a kid).  Great day for the E8 in general...with Brian Wevergergh being named to the third team.  All three were placed behind DII players...again, congrats to all three.

Looking quick...other DIII players include (16 others...19 total including the guys above):

Kmic - RB - MUC - 1st
James - OL - Cortland - 1st
Rihndal - LB - UWW - 1st
Ittersagen - DB - Wheaton - 1st
Ogun - RB - Christopher-Newport - 2nd
Beavers - AP - Weasley - 2nd
Schleber - K - UWW - 2nd
Chandler - DL - Salisbury - 2nd
Meyer - DB - Aurora - 2nd
Weiss - OL - Bethel - 3rd
Westemeyer - OL - Augustana - 3rd
Ardnt - DL - Redlands - 3rd
Burk - DL - Knox - 3rd
Henri - LB - MHB - 3rd
Bott - DB - Case Western - 3rd
Ziller - DB - Carleton - 3rd

Here is the ESPN link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3780735

[dewcrew88]

Wow...a big time congrats is in order to Jason Boltus and Jack Phelan for being named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team...both being named as second team All-Americans.  For those who don't know, the Associated Press Little All-America Team is a combination of DII, DIII, and NAIA players and from what I remember is one of the oldest and most established All-American teams out there (I actually remember following these teams as a kid).  Great day for the E8 in general...with Brian Wevergergh being named to the third team.  All three were placed behind DII players...again, congrats to all three.

Looking quick...other DIII players include (16 others...19 total including the guys above):

Kmic - RB - MUC - 1st
James - OL - Cortland - 1st
Rihndal - LB - UWW - 1st
Ittersagen - DB - Wheaton - 1st
Ogun - RB - Christopher-Newport - 2nd
Beavers - AP - Weasley - 2nd
Schleber - K - UWW - 2nd
Chandler - DL - Salisbury - 2nd
Meyer - DB - Aurora - 2nd
Weiss - OL - Bethel - 3rd
Westemeyer - OL - Augustana - 3rd
Ardnt - DL - Redlands - 3rd
Burk - DL - Knox - 3rd
Henri - LB - MHB - 3rd
Bott - DB - Case Western - 3rd
Ziller - DB - Carleton - 3rd

Here is the ESPN link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3780735

Who does larry beavers play for?
This guy?


Couldn't resist 

[Yanks 99]

Wow...a big time congrats is in order to Jason Boltus and Jack Phelan for being named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team...both being named as second team All-Americans.  For those who don't know, the Associated Press Little All-America Team is a combination of DII, DIII, and NAIA players and from what I remember is one of the oldest and most established All-American teams out there (I actually remember following these teams as a kid).  Great day for the E8 in general...with Brian Wevergergh being named to the third team.  All three were placed behind DII players...again, congrats to all three.

Looking quick...other DIII players include (16 others...19 total including the guys above):

Kmic - RB - MUC - 1st
James - OL - Cortland - 1st
Rihndal - LB - UWW - 1st
Ittersagen - DB - Wheaton - 1st
Ogun - RB - Christopher-Newport - 2nd
Beavers - AP - Weasley - 2nd
Schleber - K - UWW - 2nd
Chandler - DL - Salisbury - 2nd
Meyer - DB - Aurora - 2nd
Weiss - OL - Bethel - 3rd
Westemeyer - OL - Augustana - 3rd
Ardnt - DL - Redlands - 3rd
Burk - DL - Knox - 3rd
Henri - LB - MHB - 3rd
Bott - DB - Case Western - 3rd
Ziller - DB - Carleton - 3rd

Here is the ESPN link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3780735

Who does larry beavers play for?
This guy?


Couldn't resist 

You bastard....how in the world could you possibly catch that this early in the morning. Hahaha...nice find.

+k

[boobyhasgameyo]

So I am bored and watching ESPN news and it was showing highlights of St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida which is ranked the #1 high school team in the country and they just won the state 5A championship by 49 points.  How do you guys think that team would do against a Mount Union?  They probably have a dozen D1 prospects but they aren't as physically mature as a Mount Union.  I think Mount Union would handle them easy enough, but I am no expert on Florida high school football.  Maybe Jose or somebody else from the area would know more? 

[Yanks 99]

So I am bored and watching ESPN news and it was showing highlights of St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida which is ranked the #1 high school team in the country and they just won the state 5A championship by 49 points.  How do you guys think that team would do against a Mount Union?  They probably have a dozen D1 prospects but they aren't as physically mature as a Mount Union.  I think Mount Union would handle them easy enough, but I am no expert on Florida high school football.  Maybe Jose or somebody else from the area would know more? 

I would easily go with MUC.  There is a big difference between a 22-23 year old man playing at a high D3 level for 3-4 years and being well coached like the MUC team is...and a 17-18 year old kid, being coached at the HS level.  Overall talent level may be with the HS team...but I think it would be "unrealized" talent.

[dlippiel]

So I am bored and watching ESPN news and it was showing highlights of St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida which is ranked the #1 high school team in the country and they just won the state 5A championship by 49 points.  How do you guys think that team would do against a Mount Union?  They probably have a dozen D1 prospects but they aren't as physically mature as a Mount Union.  I think Mount Union would handle them easy enough, but I am no expert on Florida high school football.  Maybe Jose or somebody else from the area would know more? 

I would easily go with MUC.  There is a big difference between a 22-23 year old man playing at a high D3 level for 3-4 years and being well coached like the MUC team is...and a 17-18 year old kid, being coached at the HS level.  Overall talent level may be with the HS team...but I think it would be "unrealized" talent.

I am with you on this Yanks. I think MUC hammers them no question. Steve Angiletta (a former stud Union receiver) told me that the biggest adjustment from high school to college ball was not necessarily the size and/or speed of the game but the complexity of the game. There were so many things to learn and understand, offensive/defensive schemes etc. Plus you have the maturity factor. I bet some hot shot high school players would maybe look down on a "D3" team only to get man handled in the end by the best D3 has to offer, MUC.

[sjfcards]

It's tough to compare a high school team to a team like MUC. I think MUC would beat up on them as well, but I think the better question is how would they do against a team closer to the middle of the pack in DIII. Is High School Football in Florida, Texas, California ,etc. better than mid range DIII teams like some of our E8 teams? I hate to say it but I think a team like St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida might win the E8.

[Yanks 99]

It's tough to compare a high school team to a team like MUC. I think MUC would beat up on them as well, but I think the better question is how would they do against a team closer to the middle of the pack in DIII. Is High School Football in Florida, Texas, California ,etc. better than mid range DIII teams like some of our E8 teams? I hate to say it but I think a team like St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida might win the E8.

It is tough to compare...but I don't think any HS team would win the E8.  Not for lack of talent...but lack of developing..both physically and knowledge.

[Yanks 99]

Good game so far.  By the way, how many times has Micheli actually hit the ground this year?  How about in his career?  5...maybe 6?  He has forever to throw the ball.  I am willing to bet there are at least 7-8 games this year that he hasn't even hit the ground.  MUC O-Line is unbelievable.

[HHawks]

It's tough to compare a high school team to a team like MUC. I think MUC would beat up on them as well, but I think the better question is how would they do against a team closer to the middle of the pack in DIII. Is High School Football in Florida, Texas, California ,etc. better than mid range DIII teams like some of our E8 teams? I hate to say it but I think a team like St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida might win the E8.

It is tough to compare...but I don't think any HS team would win the E8.  Not for lack of talent...but lack of developing..both physically and knowledge.

There is a big difference between High school football and college football. On Any Level. I remember a couple years ago Hartwick Scrimmaged Milford Academy, which is a prep school for several prospective Division 1 athletes who just don't have the school grades to go straight to the College's. It wasn't even competitive. Hartwick completely rolled over them.

[Yanks 99]

Anyone else notice the MUC line moving forward before the ball is even snapped?