FB: Empire 8

[E8]

An impressive victory by SJFC on the road at Ithaca.   I don't care who you are, Ithaca is a very tough place to play.. not to mention, coming into yesterday's homecoming game, Ithaca won 27 STRAIGHT homecoming games against division III opponents.  27 straight.  Not easy to do....

Brandon Moore was IMPRESSIVE to say the least for his first game at middle linebacker.   His play allows Episcopo to take his aggressive play, speed and smarts to the outside edge where he is DANGEROUS... and proved to be yesterday.    Brandon Moore's addition creates a whole new dimension to this defense... and it showed yesterday.    It was the SPEED of this defense coupled with its pursuit is what I took notice of yesterday.... they were prepared to play and they took some aggressive chances with corner blitzes and such... it worked.  Confident group.    The rest of the E8 should be on notice when it comes to this defense.  

what can you say about Christian Zamaitis?  Congratulations on breaking the school record.   There is no telling what this kid can do.   If he stays consistent and healthy and the line keeps blocking this way, he could move into a different stratosphere  by his senior year.   The 1-2 punch of Carlton and Zamaitis will cause the E8 fits from here on in.  

[superman57]

this has to suck for grastorf... he will graduate having never beaten fisher... can't believe it's only the second time ever...  and how bout that... Boston Loses, Yankees win and  Fisher Beats Ithaca all in one weekend... can't get much better than this... Happy Columbus day one and all

[theoriginalupstate]

this has to suck for grastorf... he will graduate having never beaten fisher... can't believe it's only the second time ever...  and how bout that... Boston Loses, Yankees win and  Fisher Beats Ithaca all in one weekend... can't get much better than this... Happy Columbus day one and all

Gastorf joins Juvan as the only starting Ithaca QB's that have never beaten SJF...

[sjfcards]

this has to suck for grastorf... he will graduate having never beaten fisher... can't believe it's only the second time ever...  and how bout that... Boston Loses, Yankees win and  Fisher Beats Ithaca all in one weekend... can't get much better than this... Happy Columbus day one and all

It has been a good weekend so far. The only thing I would add is that working for a bank I have tomorrow off, so this is officially a great weekend.

[Pat Coleman]

I feel like AU may be the class of the entire east region this year, but it can be tough to crack the top 25 when you are not a team that is around the top 25 year in and year out. Don't worry about AU, if they keep winning they will get there. I am sure they would all take a full season without entering the top 25 if they keep winning week after week.

Also tough when they have two of their toughest opponents still to come and both are on the road. Voters know what's next and some may be waiting to see what happens.

Kind of like RPI but with more votes.

[tecmobowler]

Perhaps the borderline arrogant recruiting of Ithaca that has been discussed here by some is starting to catch up with them... before this year the incoming classes have been less than stellar.  Currently, there isn't a single playmaker on offense.  Ithaca has no big play capabilities, and has to rely on 8 yard crossing patterns to the tight end, and passes in the flat to running backs and fullbacks.  It's kind of like watching the Dolphins stagger down the field, except IC can't run the ball. 

The lack of talent at WR is something I have a hard time adjusting to.  Having been in the area for ten years I've seen Cecay, Marks, McCaffery (sp?), Welch, Esposito, Gordon, O'Hara, Crandall.... our current bunch can't get a yard a two of separation. 

[tecmobowler]

While the field looks super long when the offense is on the field, the defense on Saterday was absolutely atrocious.  I've never seen tackling that putrid out of IC play after play... it was really rough.  Ithaca seemed to struggle with their usual substitutions, as Fisher employed their no-huddle.... the 4-3 continues to get torched by teams that run spread offenses, as our linebackers lack athleticism, and the cornerbacks are mediocre at best. 

[fisheralum91]

73- i was busting on the prep week--yes-the same one that fisher had.
it should be a great game!!!
ill do my best to be there!

[theoriginalupstate]

It was nice to see Moore on the field for SJF for the first time. 

As a freshman at Springfield last year he had 50 tackles,  5.5 for loss,  2.5 sacks and 4 INTs...

The transfer racked up nine tackles vs Ithaca   He also intercepted a pass that set up Fisher's first touchdown, forced a fumble, recorded a sack and deflected a pass.

If he stays healthy the rest of the season the Defense is going to be a lot more effective!

[Bombers798891]

this has to suck for grastorf... he will graduate having never beaten fisher... can't believe it's only the second time ever...  and how bout that... Boston Loses, Yankees win and  Fisher Beats Ithaca all in one weekend... can't get much better than this... Happy Columbus day one and all

Yeah, but Grastorf really only had one crack at it. He blew it spectacularly, but still. It's not like he's Dan Juvan, who lost all three games he started. Yeah, he was on the team for the 2005 game, but still. If it were me, I'd rather be Grastorf.

Some of that's just because I felt like Juvan couldn't win tough road games (0-5 at Fisher, Alfred, Cortland and Hartwick..although maybe he gets half a win for last year's Alfred game).

We're a long ways removed from the Josh Felliecti days

[tecmobowler]

I can't think of a big game that Juvan won period.  He probably ended up getting the most respect after the loss to Mount Union.

[Bombers798891]

I feel like AU may be the class of the entire east region this year, but it can be tough to crack the top 25 when you are not a team that is around the top 25 year in and year out. Don't worry about AU, if they keep winning they will get there. I am sure they would all take a full season without entering the top 25 if they keep winning week after week.

Also tough when they have two of their toughest opponents still to come and both are on the road. Voters know what's next and some may be waiting to see what happens.

Kind of like RPI but with more votes.

I have to wonder though, how impressive will a victory at IC look to voters? They're currently not receiving any votes it the poll now--which means they're ranked out of the Top 50--and probably won't be getting many when Alfred comes to town. Frostburg is terrible and Springfield isn't getting much love either.

Fisher's also out of the Top 50 and I doubt topping a 3-3 Utica team at home would open anyone's eyes.

If beating a 4-1, #20 Ithaca doesn't move Fisher up, what would beating a 6-2 (or 5-3), un-ranked Ithaca team do for Alfred? Sure, you could argue that Fisher, unlike Alfred, wasn't high enough to merit Top 25 consideration when they beat IC, but doesn't that sort of prove that the voters aren't looking at SJF the same way they used to?

And look how far IC fell in the polls after losing to Fisher. At least 30 spots. It was an epic stomping they got, but that drop tells me the voters either: Weren't high on IC to give Fisher credit for the win and that they weren't high enough on Fisher to give IC a break on the loss.

So it makes me worry that even though IC and SJF are Alfred's two toughest teams and have good reputations, do the voters consider them good enough that wins over them will matter? Obviously, Alfred will move up, but will it be a drastic jump?

[Bombers798891]

I can't think of a big game that Juvan won period.  He probably ended up getting the most respect after the loss to Mount Union.

Probably that and the Cortland/Alfred wins in 2007...

[AUPepBand]

I feel like AU may be the class of the entire east region this year, but it can be tough to crack the top 25 when you are not a team that is around the top 25 year in and year out. Don't worry about AU, if they keep winning they will get there. I am sure they would all take a full season without entering the top 25 if they keep winning week after week.

Also tough when they have two of their toughest opponents still to come and both are on the road. Voters know what's next and some may be waiting to see what happens.

Kind of like RPI but with more votes.

I have to wonder though, how impressive will a victory at IC look to voters? They're currently not receiving any votes it the poll now--which means they're ranked out of the Top 50--and probably won't be getting many when Alfred comes to town. Frostburg is terrible and Springfield isn't getting much love either.

Fisher's also out of the Top 50 and I doubt topping a 3-3 Utica team at home would open anyone's eyes.

If beating a 4-1, #20 Ithaca doesn't move Fisher up, what would beating a 6-2 (or 5-3), un-ranked Ithaca team do for Alfred? Sure, you could argue that Fisher, unlike Alfred, wasn't high enough to merit Top 25 consideration when they beat IC, but doesn't that sort of prove that the voters aren't looking at SJF the same way they used to?

And look how far IC fell in the polls after losing to Fisher. At least 30 spots. It was an epic stomping they got, but that drop tells me the voters either: Weren't high on IC to give Fisher credit for the win and that they weren't high enough on Fisher to give IC a break on the loss.

So it makes me worry that even though IC and SJF are Alfred's two toughest teams and have good reputations, do the voters consider them good enough that wins over them will matter? Obviously, Alfred will move up, but will it be a drastic jump?

Pep thinks PC makes a valid point. Given the Saxons' struggles with its year-end gauntlet of years past, Pep sees voters in a "holding pattern," and, should AU prove its mettle against said nemeses, there will be a dive bomb for the bandwagon landing strip....

Speaking of bandwagons and holding patterns...Pep still occasionally drives the AU Pep Bandwagon (1992 Grand Caravan) with 317,025 miles (trash trips to the transfer station) but has been contemplating its retirement. Pep gets "attached" to his vehicles and the Bandwagon has more stories than Pep has time to post. Should Pep back it into the transfer station and walk home or give it a smashing grand finale and enter it in the Demolition Derby at the 2010 Allegany County Fair?

[union89]

I feel like AU may be the class of the entire east region this year, but it can be tough to crack the top 25 when you are not a team that is around the top 25 year in and year out. Don't worry about AU, if they keep winning they will get there. I am sure they would all take a full season without entering the top 25 if they keep winning week after week.

Also tough when they have two of their toughest opponents still to come and both are on the road. Voters know what's next and some may be waiting to see what happens.

Kind of like RPI but with more votes.

I have to wonder though, how impressive will a victory at IC look to voters? They're currently not receiving any votes it the poll now--which means they're ranked out of the Top 50--and probably won't be getting many when Alfred comes to town. Frostburg is terrible and Springfield isn't getting much love either.

Fisher's also out of the Top 50 and I doubt topping a 3-3 Utica team at home would open anyone's eyes.

If beating a 4-1, #20 Ithaca doesn't move Fisher up, what would beating a 6-2 (or 5-3), un-ranked Ithaca team do for Alfred? Sure, you could argue that Fisher, unlike Alfred, wasn't high enough to merit Top 25 consideration when they beat IC, but doesn't that sort of prove that the voters aren't looking at SJF the same way they used to?

And look how far IC fell in the polls after losing to Fisher. At least 30 spots. It was an epic stomping they got, but that drop tells me the voters either: Weren't high on IC to give Fisher credit for the win and that they weren't high enough on Fisher to give IC a break on the loss.

So it makes me worry that even though IC and SJF are Alfred's two toughest teams and have good reputations, do the voters consider them good enough that wins over them will matter? Obviously, Alfred will move up, but will it be a drastic jump?

Pep thinks PC makes a valid point. Given the Saxons' struggles with its year-end gauntlet of years past, Pep sees voters in a "holding pattern," and, should AU prove its mettle against said nemeses, there will be a dive bomb for the bandwagon landing strip....

Speaking of bandwagons and holding patterns...Pep still occasionally drives the AU Pep Bandwagon (1992 Grand Caravan) with 317,025 miles (trash trips to the transfer station) but has been contemplating its retirement. Pep gets "attached" to his vehicles and the Bandwagon has more stories than Pep has time to post. Should Pep back it into the transfer station and walk home or give it a smashing grand finale and enter it in the Demolition Derby at the 2010 Allegany County Fair?

Pep,
I look forward to the quarterly updates over the years of the Bandwagon.  Let's be honest though, you don't have the heart to bury that buggy!!!!

I say keep that bad boy rolling through Upstate NY as long as possible and keep the updates coming every couple months!!