FB: Empire 8

[theoriginalupstate]

And we thought last year's E8 season was a cluster****?

Let's see:

Ithaca loses to Union, a team that hasn't distinguished itself since--they lost to Muhlenberg, who today lost 20 - 3 at Gettysburg.

Utica takes a lead at RPI into the fourth quarter, loses by 3.  Utica leads at home in the 4th quarter against Ithaca, and loses by 3.

St. John Fisher loses to MUC (expected) and usually-good Salisbury, and manages to hold off Rochester, 35 -33.

Hartwick squeaks by middling NEFC Salve Regina, roughs up doormats Morrisville St. and Norwich.

Alfred hangs 49 points on Springfield.  Alfred warmed up for that game by beating 3 weaker teams, headlined by St. Lawrence (who beat Norwich by 4 points).

What the heck does this all mean?  Ithaca might still be as good as they were predicted, but that doesn't explain how they got beat by Union.  Maybe it means that in absolute terms, Utica is even better than Dew believes they are.

SJFisher's 2d loss, even to a quality team like Salisbury, makes a Pool B bid tough,especially since they've now lost head-to-head to another Pool B candidate with 2 losses.

Let's not forget, the MUC game doesn't really count so SJF is really 2-1...

SJF bit off more than they can chew with the schedule...

It certainly hasn't helped them at all the past two years...

Upstate,

I agree. This is one of the things that killed Buffalo State in the early 2000's, although Fisher will not drop that far. It will be very interesting to see if SJF can remain an East Power or if they'll fade back, kind of like Brockport did after their 3-4 year run. I don't mean that as a dig, just an honest question. They've certainly got the facilities to bring in top recruits. We'll see if they can fight back the rest of the season. Certainly, not opening with MUC will help.

It just seems like any momentum that the program built from 2002-2007 has been canceled out...

Now that Salisbury is apart of the E8, it might be a good idea to find a way to stop their offense...

I can understand not being able to stop MUC, no one can really, but to have Salisbury run up another big offensive day after last years sad showing shouldn't be acceptable if they want to remain a regional power...

[AUPepBand]

I think what's getting lost in all this is right now Alfred looks like the clear best team in the E8.

Pep thinks maybe some folks are jumping to conclusions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcv5e6xX25I

[BoSox0322]

Week 4 Predictions...

12:00 pm   St. John Fisher (42) atSalisbury(24) (Fisher pulls away late)      
1:00 pm       Springfield (31)  at     Alfred (34) (Overtime)      
1:00 pm       Ithaca (21)        at  Utica (28)  (Utica shows they are for real)         
4:00 pm      Hartwick (51)    at     Becker (17) (Blowout of the week)

Hawks with a very real chance of going 0-4 this week.... Utica is tough but it's still Ithaca-Utica... I think Springfield is a better team than anyone things.... Fisher sucks.... and this is a classic Hartwick-get-cocky-and-then-blow-it possibility....

looks like he didnt do that bad

[BoSox0322]

And we thought last year's E8 season was a cluster****?

Let's see:

Ithaca loses to Union, a team that hasn't distinguished itself since--they lost to Muhlenberg, who today lost 20 - 3 at Gettysburg.

Utica takes a lead at RPI into the fourth quarter, loses by 3.  Utica leads at home in the 4th quarter against Ithaca, and loses by 3.

St. John Fisher loses to MUC (expected) and usually-good Salisbury, and manages to hold off Rochester, 35 -33.

Hartwick squeaks by middling NEFC Salve Regina, roughs up doormats Morrisville St. and Norwich.

Alfred hangs 49 points on Springfield.  Alfred warmed up for that game by beating 3 weaker teams, headlined by St. Lawrence (who beat Norwich by 4 points).

What the heck does this all mean?  Ithaca might still be as good as they were predicted, but that doesn't explain how they got beat by Union.  Maybe it means that in absolute terms, Utica is even better than Dew believes they are.

SJFisher's 2d loss, even to a quality team like Salisbury, makes a Pool B bid tough,especially since they've now lost head-to-head to another Pool B candidate with 2 losses.

I think what's getting lost in all this is right now Alfred looks like the clear best team in the E8.

I agree ... I think they are the best in NY

[BoSox0322]

I have to ask this question...

When and why in the hell did SJF adapt the Hartwick offensive mentality?

As a team:

29-54, 359 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT...

23 Carries for -44 yards...

As a program that once prided itself on it's ability to plug in RB's and run the ball well on anyone in this region, this has to be an embarrassment...

If I am an offensive lineman on this team (also allowed 5 sacks today) I'm ashamed of this piss poor performance...

probably adapting to the players/situation ...

[BoSox0322]

Alfred is on top of the E8 in dlips opinion with the W over the Pride today. Needless to say they will be moving up in dlips poll. One loss that did not surprise dlip is Cortland. Just felt they have been overrated all season, especially considering their youth. What a cluster **** mess the east is. dlip is loving it though.

Cortland may have been a little overrated but remember they had a stud d1 transfer QB that was playing very well. He went down last week with a torn achillis (sp?)

[theoriginalupstate]

Alfred is on top of the E8 in dlips opinion with the W over the Pride today. Needless to say they will be moving up in dlips poll. One loss that did not surprise dlip is Cortland. Just felt they have been overrated all season, especially considering their youth. What a cluster **** mess the east is. dlip is loving it though.

Cortland may have been a little overrated but remember they had a stud d1 transfer QB that was playing very well. He went down last week with a torn achillis (sp?)

Agree that they were not a top 10 team in the country even before the QB got injured, however they were probably the best team in the East Region...

It's up to AU, RPI and a couple of the teams in the MAC who are undefeated to run the table and keep MUC out of the east...

[fisheralum91]

nice poll put up there---Blaise has these kids dinkin the coolaid.
You know that he has the Fisher game circled and doenst hope to win- he expects to win that game.
They had both RPI and IC dead- just couldnt finish.
They are dangerous- but AU is the team to beat- no doubt.

[maxpower]

from an unsure Saterday to an unsure Sunday.... go bills!!!!

[theoriginalupstate]

Max, considering both my Alma-Maters got beat yesterday it wouldn't surprise me for the Bills to pull the trifecta today for me!

[maxpower]

Yeah I'm trying to block out the whole "31st-ranked pass defense vs. best pass offense" thing....

[AUPepBand]

Agree that they were not a top 10 team in the country even before the QB got injured, however they were probably the best team in the East Region...

It's up to AU, RPI and a couple of the teams in the MAC who are undefeated to run the table and keep MUC out of the east...

Pep doesn't think even AU running the table would keep Mt. Union out of the East Bracket. AU has no recent NCAA prowess to justify a #1 seed in the East bracket.

And, truthfully, AU still has its toughest games to play. Pep doesn't see the Saxons going 10-0  or even 9-0 for that matter. AU still must play at Growney and Butterfield...where the grounds crew is probably already hitting the "turf" with Rapid-Gro and waterings in preparation for the Saxons' visit in November.

[maxpower]

Agree that they were not a top 10 team in the country even before the QB got injured, however they were probably the best team in the East Region...

It's up to AU, RPI and a couple of the teams in the MAC who are undefeated to run the table and keep MUC out of the east...

Pep doesn't think even AU running the table would keep Mt. Union out of the East Bracket. AU has no recent NCAA prowess to justify a #1 seed in the East bracket.

And, truthfully, AU still has its toughest games to play. Pep doesn't see the Saxons going 10-0  or even 9-0 for that matter. AU still must play at Growney and Butterfield...where the grounds crew is probably already hitting the "turf" with Rapid-Gro and waterings in preparation for the Saxons' visit in November.

We normally only do that for Springfield but since you guys ripped them we'll give you the Butterfield special too....

[AUPepBand]

Agree that they were not a top 10 team in the country even before the QB got injured, however they were probably the best team in the East Region...

It's up to AU, RPI and a couple of the teams in the MAC who are undefeated to run the table and keep MUC out of the east...

Pep doesn't think even AU running the table would keep Mt. Union out of the East Bracket. AU has no recent NCAA prowess to justify a #1 seed in the East bracket.

And, truthfully, AU still has its toughest games to play. Pep doesn't see the Saxons going 10-0  or even 9-0 for that matter. AU still must play at Growney and Butterfield...where the grounds crew is probably already hitting the "turf" with Rapid-Gro and waterings in preparation for the Saxons' visit in November.

We normally only do that for Springfield but since you guys ripped them we'll give you the Butterfield special too....

Pep had to open his big mouth....

[redswarm81]

Agree that they were not a top 10 team in the country even before the QB got injured, however they were probably the best team in the East Region...

It's up to AU, RPI and a couple of the teams in the MAC who are undefeated to run the table and keep MUC out of the east...

Pep doesn't think even AU running the table would keep Mt. Union out of the East Bracket. AU has no recent NCAA prowess to justify a #1 seed in the East bracket.

Agreed, and for the reason you stated (even though nothing in the selection and/or seeding criteria permit recent or even ancient historical "NCAA prowess" to factor in the selection and seeding process, but if I harp on that, I might manage to get the board shut down, and I wouldn't want to see free speech stifled. )