FB: Empire 8

[theoriginalupstate]

What a great season to witness.   On behalf of everyone at sports radio 950 ESPN in Rochester, thank you for taking the time to tune in to our broadcasts this year.   Congratulations to the Alfred Saxons and the SJFC Cardinals for being co-champs of the Empire 8 and to Fisher for winning the ECAC Northwest Bowl.    Here is to a quick and healthy off-season, and we'll see you in 2010.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for giving us a way to follow the Cards when we can not make it to the game E8. I am excited for what Fisher will bring back next year. I think they have the very early inside track for the conference title next year. Maybe it is a homer pick, with AU and IC also figuring to be strong, but I am a fan first.

I thought AU was going to be the team to beat as long as Secky was around but seeing that offense with out Manzer has me changing my tune a bit.  They'll no doubt be in contention along with IC and SJF but that offense looked pedestrian and out of sync with out him.  Secky will win them some games but they need to get another play maker at WR.  They have good ones besides him but there is no one to be afraid of, no one to roll coverage towards and no one to key on. 

[sjfcards]

Is Hendrix back next year for AU? He was a very effective back and I think losing him will hurt AU as well. He is listed as a senior on the AU site, but I don't know if he has any eligibility left.

[saxontad]

As far as I know Hendrix is done at Alfred.  He will be missed.

On Saxon Warriors!!

[PBR...]

As far as I know Hendrix is done at Alfred.  He will be missed.

On Saxon Warriors!!

yeah but the kid is a helluva guitar player...

[AUKaz00]

Is Hendrix back next year for AU? He was a very effective back and I think losing him will hurt AU as well. He is listed as a senior on the AU site, but I don't know if he has any eligibility left.

The Purple Haze has indeed played his last game in a Saxon's uniform.  I'm excited about freshman Chuck Beckwith who was injured during our scrimmage with Susquehanna and subsequently red-shirted.  You could say that I'm "maxpowered" about watching him for the next four years!  Definitely more concerned about who fills the shoes of Manzer and Harding in the passing game and getting a shutdown corner for the secondary.  Alfred has a lot a great athletes coming back, but while I thought the 2009 Saxons would finish with only 1 loss I'm expecting the 2010 version to end up with 2 or 3.  It'll all depend upon who those losses are to on whether Alfred can make it back to the playoffs.  The biggest silver lining will be having Fisher and Ithaca at home (and not on consecutive Saterdays), but the biggest challenge will likely be traveling to Springfield to face the Carter led triple-option in his third year running it.  For that reason I hope we start the year with Mass-Dartmouth again just so the defense can begin to prepare for that week 4 trip out east.

[saxontad]

Kazoo,

Do you expect Beckwith to be our tailback next year rather than Lopez?

[AUKaz00]

Kazoo,

Do you expect Beckwith to be our tailback next year rather than Lopez?

If the scrimmage was any indication, then I would expect Beckwith to take over.  He single-handedly took that game from a halftime tie to a monkeystomp, then got injured.  There should definitely be a battle for the position, but I think that since they didn't split carries in the scrimmage that Beckwith had won the job as Hendrix' backup until he got hurt and then Murray just decided to red shirt him and use him for 4 years.  I guess we'll see in September, but if he's healthy I expect to see Chuck in the backfield.

[saxontad]

Thanks for the inight on Beckwith.

[saxontad]

That should read "insight on Beckwith".

[sjfcards]

It sounds like AU will be good again next year. Obviously it is way to early to know anything for sure, but it looks like their might be 4 real good teams in the conference next year with Fisher, AU, IC, and SC. That does not even mention Salisbury and how much UC might have improved with another year under Faggiano. Should be an interesting off season. Time for the recruiting talk to begin.

[SJFF82]

That should read "insight on Beckwith".

being a 'Alfred poster' is like being born with a 'silver spoon' in your mouth....you register for post-patterns and you get like automatic +10k to start with...

[saxontad]

If you'll check recent posting history on the Empire 8 board I think you'll agree I have not earned much positive karma.

[SJFF82]

If you'll check recent posting history on the Empire 8 board I think you'll agree I have not earned much positive karma.

ha...even more evidence that you were born with the +9 you have now. 

[dewcrew88]

If you'll check recent posting history on the Empire 8 board I think you'll agree I have not earned much positive karma.

ha...even more evidence that you were born with the +9 +11 you have now. 

Fixed. 

[AUPepBand]

That should read "insight on Beckwith".

being a 'Alfred poster' is like being born with a 'silver spoon' in your mouth....you register for post-patterns and you get like automatic +10k to start with...

Pep's Pops always said he was "born lucky," only to be corrected by Pep's mom that he was "born blessed."

Speaking of being blessed...Blessings (and +K) to all Post Patterns posters on this Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!