FB: Empire 8

[Ralph Turner]

Hearing Springfield to the LL in 2011.  Has anyone else heard this?

Hearing the same but no confirmation.

Does that make room for Wesley and Stevenson?

[Yanks 99]

Hearing Springfield to the LL in 2011.  Has anyone else heard this?

That suprises me...I didn't think Springfield had the academic chops to move to the LL...

[SJFF82]

Hearing Springfield to the LL in 2011.  Has anyone else heard this?

Hearing the same but no confirmation.

Does that make room for Wesley and Stevenson?

where?

[AUPepBand]

Okay, so the musical chairs continue. As Pep tells the band, "Stay Tuned."

So, let's see if Pep can keep up with the game. Effective with the 2011 season:
Liberty League Lineup
Hobart
Union
St. Lawrence
Rochester
Rensselaer
Springfield
Merchant Marine
Worcester Tech

Empire Actual 8:
Alfred
Ithaca
Utica
Hartwick
Fisher
Frostburg State
Salisbury
Buffalo State(?)

Is this where everyone will sit in 2011?

[BTEXPRESS]

AND___________ The Musical Chair game continues. I guess everything will settle down and both leagues will stay stable for a FEW YEARS anyway. Pep, if your line ups are correct, both leagues look good in my book. They are almost like, kind, and quality from the outside looking in.

[Frank Rossi]

Since it was posted in both the LL and E8, here was my response to Pep regarding his alignments, including my own error:

"No, Pep -- Springfield's move takes effect in 2012.  In 2011, LL has 7 and E8 has 9.  In 2012, LL has 8 and E8 had 8.  Now, here's the rub:  from what I understood, the Frostburg/Salisbury entry was just a two-year deal.  Thus, in 2013, this would leave the E8 with 6 football members at present -- not enough for a Pool A bid without another exemption.

[EDIT:  Let me correct this, since I just located the info regarding Buffalo State.  They join the E8 in 2012.  Therefore, here are the correct totals:

2011:  LL 7/E8 8 (SPR, FRO, SAL in E8)
2012:  LL 8/E8 8 (SPR in LL -- FRO, SAL, BUF in E8)
2013:  LL 8/E8 6 (SPR in LL -- BUF in E8 -- FRO, SAL TBD)]"

[sjfcards]

Happy Super Bowl everyone!!

I have to tell you I hate it when teams jump around from conference to conference in any sport at any level, but I understand the decision making for schools when they have a chance to improve their academic reputation, etc.

[Jonny Utah]

Happy Super Bowl everyone!!

I have to tell you I hate it when teams jump around from conference to conference in any sport at any level, but I understand the decision making for schools when they have a chance to improve their academic reputation, etc.

You have to think too that 6/8 of the new E8 teams are overnight trips for Springfield.

[sjfcards]

I just checked out the Fisher athletics page and saw that an announcement was made that the Courage Bowl, between SJFC and U of R, will be played at the new Rhino's stadium in Rochester the next two years. I sort of have mixed feelings about the decision. Part of me loves the idea of the neutral site, and a bigger venue for the game. The city seems to embrace that game as much as a city that size can embrace a Division III game, but I don't think they will get the attendence to make the stdium look even half full. Part of the fun part of the game for me is the "big" crowds in the smaller stadiums. Especially at Fisher, where U of R kids stand on the hill by the scoreboard, and all the seats are full, etc.

It does seem to add to the big game feeling, but I don't know how I feel about it. What does everyone else think?

[SJFF82]

I just checked out the Fisher athletics page and saw that an announcement was made that the Courage Bowl, between SJFC and U of R, will be played at the new Rhino's stadium in Rochester the next two years. I sort of have mixed feelings about the decision. Part of me loves the idea of the neutral site, and a bigger venue for the game. The city seems to embrace that game as much as a city that size can embrace a Division III game, but I don't think they will get the attendence to make the stdium look even half full. Part of the fun part of the game for me is the "big" crowds in the smaller stadiums. Especially at Fisher, where U of R kids stand on the hill by the scoreboard, and all the seats are full, etc.

It does seem to add to the big game feeling, but I don't know how I feel about it. What does everyone else think?

oops...read back a few pages and check the LLPP board....

[sjfcards]

I just checked out the Fisher athletics page and saw that an announcement was made that the Courage Bowl, between SJFC and U of R, will be played at the new Rhino's stadium in Rochester the next two years. I sort of have mixed feelings about the decision. Part of me loves the idea of the neutral site, and a bigger venue for the game. The city seems to embrace that game as much as a city that size can embrace a Division III game, but I don't think they will get the attendence to make the stdium look even half full. Part of the fun part of the game for me is the "big" crowds in the smaller stadiums. Especially at Fisher, where U of R kids stand on the hill by the scoreboard, and all the seats are full, etc.

It does seem to add to the big game feeling, but I don't know how I feel about it. What does everyone else think?

oops...read back a few pages and check the LLPP board....

That will teach me to just jump on and post when I think I have some news. I should have known 

The more I think about it the more I think the decision may be a good one. If the schools take an active approach in promoting the game to the Rochester areas (especially those with ties to both schools), it may draw a bit more than on campus. There are probably folks that stay away because the stadiums are tight and overcrowded for that game. A large piece of the Fisher alumni stay in the Rochester area after school, and I am sure the same is true with U of R. Also, as someone discussed earlier, Camp Good Days is such a great cause that the schools can pull at the heart strings a little bit, and make some more money for the organization. Which is a very good thing. I think it only works if the schools really make an effort to promote the game beyond the normal channels they use (schools websites). With my marketing brain turning on I start to think of mass mailings to alumni, focusing on recent graduates. Articles in the local papers beyond just the D&C. Reaching into some of the smaller papers in surrounding towns. TV commercials promoting the cause, etc. These could lead to bigger crowds, which leads to better atmosphere, more interest, and more money for the schools and the Camp.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, because I thought that the game really had the makings to become one of those "big" games in DIII. This may make or break it.   Sorry to beat this topic to death, but I just wanted to get my two cents in.

[AUPepBand]

That will teach me to just jump on and post when I think I have some news. I should have known 

The more I think about it the more I think the decision may be a good one. If the schools take an active approach in promoting the game to the Rochester areas (especially those with ties to both schools), it may draw a bit more than on campus. There are probably folks that stay away because the stadiums are tight and overcrowded for that game. A large piece of the Fisher alumni stay in the Rochester area after school, and I am sure the same is true with U of R. Also, as someone discussed earlier, Camp Good Days is such a great cause that the schools can pull at the heart strings a little bit, and make some more money for the organization. Which is a very good thing. I think it only works if the schools really make an effort to promote the game beyond the normal channels they use (schools websites). With my marketing brain turning on I start to think of mass mailings to alumni, focusing on recent graduates. Articles in the local papers beyond just the D&C. Reaching into some of the smaller papers in surrounding towns. TV commercials promoting the cause, etc. These could lead to bigger crowds, which leads to better atmosphere, more interest, and more money for the schools and the Camp.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, because I thought that the game really had the makings to become one of those "big" games in DIII. This may make or break it.   Sorry to beat this topic to death, but I just wanted to get my two cents in.

Sorry, Pep consulted with the Editor and Publisher of Alfred's local paper, and he said that The Alfred Sun would not be promoting the Courage Bowl as the local rag is sold on the Saxons.

[SJFF82]

That will teach me to just jump on and post when I think I have some news. I should have known 

The more I think about it the more I think the decision may be a good one. If the schools take an active approach in promoting the game to the Rochester areas (especially those with ties to both schools), it may draw a bit more than on campus. There are probably folks that stay away because the stadiums are tight and overcrowded for that game. A large piece of the Fisher alumni stay in the Rochester area after school, and I am sure the same is true with U of R. Also, as someone discussed earlier, Camp Good Days is such a great cause that the schools can pull at the heart strings a little bit, and make some more money for the organization. Which is a very good thing. I think it only works if the schools really make an effort to promote the game beyond the normal channels they use (schools websites). With my marketing brain turning on I start to think of mass mailings to alumni, focusing on recent graduates. Articles in the local papers beyond just the D&C. Reaching into some of the smaller papers in surrounding towns. TV commercials promoting the cause, etc. These could lead to bigger crowds, which leads to better atmosphere, more interest, and more money for the schools and the Camp.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, because I thought that the game really had the makings to become one of those "big" games in DIII. This may make or break it.   Sorry to beat this topic to death, but I just wanted to get my two cents in.

Sorry, Pep consulted with the Editor and Publisher of Alfred's local paper, and he said that The Alfred Sun would not be promoting the Courage Bowl as the local rag is sold on the Saxons.

well phooey on the Alfred Sun 

[John McGraw]

As per a discussion a while back, I've heard from a pretty good source that the transfer quarterback into Hartwick is indeed the same player that has also been at Delaware and initially committed to Purdue as a preferred walk-on. Hartwick would make his third school in as many years.

[Bombers798891]

I just checked out the Fisher athletics page and saw that an announcement was made that the Courage Bowl, between SJFC and U of R, will be played at the new Rhino's stadium in Rochester the next two years. I sort of have mixed feelings about the decision. Part of me loves the idea of the neutral site, and a bigger venue for the game. The city seems to embrace that game as much as a city that size can embrace a Division III game, but I don't think they will get the attendence to make the stdium look even half full. Part of the fun part of the game for me is the "big" crowds in the smaller stadiums. Especially at Fisher, where U of R kids stand on the hill by the scoreboard, and all the seats are full, etc.

It does seem to add to the big game feeling, but I don't know how I feel about it. What does everyone else think?

oops...read back a few pages and check the LLPP board....

That will teach me to just jump on and post when I think I have some news. I should have known 

The more I think about it the more I think the decision may be a good one. If the schools take an active approach in promoting the game to the Rochester areas (especially those with ties to both schools), it may draw a bit more than on campus. There are probably folks that stay away because the stadiums are tight and overcrowded for that game. A large piece of the Fisher alumni stay in the Rochester area after school, and I am sure the same is true with U of R. Also, as someone discussed earlier, Camp Good Days is such a great cause that the schools can pull at the heart strings a little bit, and make some more money for the organization. Which is a very good thing. I think it only works if the schools really make an effort to promote the game beyond the normal channels they use (schools websites). With my marketing brain turning on I start to think of mass mailings to alumni, focusing on recent graduates. Articles in the local papers beyond just the D&C. Reaching into some of the smaller papers in surrounding towns. TV commercials promoting the cause, etc. These could lead to bigger crowds, which leads to better atmosphere, more interest, and more money for the schools and the Camp.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, because I thought that the game really had the makings to become one of those "big" games in DIII. This may make or break it.   Sorry to beat this topic to death, but I just wanted to get my two cents in.

One of the tough things about games like that can be that to promote it outside of a very local region, you really need strong teams year in and year out. As fans, we are aware of the off-the field angles sure, but for sports, people care about the level of competition. Fisher's really only been on the scene for about seven years and Rochester's kind of a middling program.

I'm not trying to sound harsh, because I understand the importance of the game and commend the two schools for doing everything they can to grow it. I just think that for the average out of area person to care, both schools need to be at a high level.

I think your point about using alumni to grow the game is dead on '82. It's gotta start at a grassroots level. Getting the school's campus organizations behind it might help too, by having them reach out to community leaders. Maybe they already do that, but they've got to have a lot of reach.

It sucks, I know, but I think of things like the Paralympics. As someone with a disability, I wish people would follow it, promote it, etc. But, it's not likely to happen, and people won't be as interested in it, simply because of the level of competition.