FB: Empire 8

[pg04]

Lindys has fisher 14th....
I really hope this is the year that Fisher regains the momentum that they built 3 years ago!

I'll be interested to see Lindy's Week 1 poll.

Does the kickoff discount on .edu e-mails include division 1 .edu addresses? LOL.  Anyway I'll just use a non-edu website because I definitely think the publication is worth the full price!!  

[sjfcards]

Any word on when camps get going?
heard good things about Fisher's returning/transfer players.
looking forward to good things this year!

This isn't so much directed at this specific comment, but I sort of feel like, if we went around and collected the info on teams, we'd walk away thinking 98% were going to get better. I've never really put a lot of stock in reports of "Well, the coaches really like the new additions and think they'll have a great impact on the team" unless we're talking about a position of absolute, total disaster. (And I realize that I'm guilty of saying things about incoming Bombers as well, so yes, I'm a hypocrite )

But honestly, don't all coaches like the players they recruit? I know sometimes coaches are, in general disappointed with the overall haul and players they missed out on, but isn't it sort of self-explanatory that coaches like players they actively recruit?

And even if they didn't, would they really say otherwise? I personally would love it if a coach said something like "Yeah, we got some wide receivers, but honestly, they're not really that talented, and [insert name of current best WR] has really hit his ceiling and probably isn't going to be any better than he was last year," or "Sure, we brought in some new defensive lineman, but we're probably still going to be pretty bad against the run and struggle to rush the passer." But that's not going to happen.

I sort of feel like, at every school every year, there's always stories of "New attitudes/philosophies", "half the team is in the best shape of their careers," "872 seniors providing leadership to the 12 freshman", and "incoming recruits better than 90% of current roster" this time of year.

Which always turns into the same type of story "The new defensive tackles (who the coaches love) will control the run, freeing up the two senior defensive ends (who are taking on a massive new leadership role on and off the field) to have their best seasons rushing the passer, which will free the linebackers (who are really benefiting from a new defensive philosophy) and take pressure off the secondary (who are all in the best shape of their life)"

I'm not saying those stories are without merit, or not worth writing/discussing. It's simply that the talk seems to blend into one big ball of "Great things are going to happen". I will admit to feeling overly cynical today and welcome any karma assassination attempts

I was just signing on to see what rumors we were hearing about transfers and amazing incoming freshman. I have heard a few positive things out of the Fisher camp so far, but nothing really concrete yet. I think what Fisher fans should be excited about is that a lot of the team is back and they have some pieces to work with from last year.

I have no idea what other teams have coming back, but I guess that is why I buy Kickoff every year.

[fisheralum91]

Sjf cards..keep an eye on Fisher camp......a transfer will be there that will make you pleasantly surprised

[Bombers798891]

No E8 teams in d3football.com Top 25. Alfred comes in at #33, Fisher at #35 and IC at #45.

Can't say I disagree at all. The conference is down. No real tough OOC opponents for these teams either. Union and Hobart lurking in the also receiving votes category, but that's it. Cortland will probably pick up at least six wins from the awful NJAC, so an upset or two could have them lurking. RPI could always bounce back.

Overall, no surprises. The East sort of just stinks as a whole

[AUPepBand]

No E8 teams in d3football.com Top 25. Alfred comes in at #33, Fisher at #35 and IC at #45.

Can't say I disagree at all. The conference is down. No real tough OOC opponents for these teams either. Union and Hobart lurking in the also receiving votes category, but that's it. Cortland will probably pick up at least six wins from the awful NJAC, so an upset or two could have them lurking. RPI could always bounce back.

Overall, no surprises. The East sort of just stinks as a whole

Were one to take a look at the map of D3football institutions, one would see that the bulk of D3 football teams are, geographically, located in the East. New York State high schools are not producing the country's best football players. Of the ESPN Top 150 prospects, one is from New York and two from Pennsylvania. Yet at the D3 level, East Region programs are recruiting like never before from an area that appears to be drying up. Pep would contend that this results in parity in the East Region.

Perhaps there will be a day when all the pieces fit together at one of the East Region institutions and it can make a run to a title. But from Pep's perspective, it won't happen anytime soon. Nevertheless, for the love of the game, and to continue in pursuit of that dream season, East Region teams will continue to play football!

On Saxon Warriors!

[rams1102]

No E8 teams in d3football.com Top 25. Alfred comes in at #33, Fisher at #35 and IC at #45.

Can't say I disagree at all. The conference is down. No real tough OOC opponents for these teams either. Union and Hobart lurking in the also receiving votes category, but that's it. Cortland will probably pick up at least six wins from the awful NJAC, so an upset or two could have them lurking. RPI could always bounce back.

Overall, no surprises. The East sort of just stinks as a whole

The NJAC may not be a super power, but watch out for the other (3) teams.

[rams1102]

No E8 teams in d3football.com Top 25. Alfred comes in at #33, Fisher at #35 and IC at #45.

Can't say I disagree at all. The conference is down. No real tough OOC opponents for these teams either. Union and Hobart lurking in the also receiving votes category, but that's it. Cortland will probably pick up at least six wins from the awful NJAC, so an upset or two could have them lurking. RPI could always bounce back.

Overall, no surprises. The East sort of just stinks as a whole

Were one to take a look at the map of D3football institutions, one would see that the bulk of D3 football teams are, geographically, located in the East. New York State high schools are not producing the country's best football players. Of the ESPN Top 150 prospects, one is from New York and two from Pennsylvania. Yet at the D3 level, East Region programs are recruiting like never before from an area that appears to be drying up. Pep would contend that this results in parity in the East Region.

Perhaps there will be a day when all the pieces fit together at one of the East Region institutions and it can make a run to a title. But from Pep's perspective, it won't happen anytime soon. Nevertheless, for the love of the game, and to continue in pursuit of that dream season, East Region teams will continue to play football!

On Saxon Warriors!

Pep, you are right on about the East. As a Montclair fan I visited the sacrificial alter in Alliance. I hope to get back there again. Montclair and the NJAC scored the most points against MUC in the playoffs with the exception of the National Champs. The East will get better one day and as you said that's why we plat the games. +K for you.

[saxontad]

Hello Pep and all Saxon faithful. 
I have recently run into some professional colleagues from Hornell and the city is quite excited about this Dwyer kid.  They are assuring me that he is NOT too small and is the real deal.  I ran into his aunt yesterday and she informs me that a large contingent from the Hornell area can be expected this year at AU home games, especially if Dwyer sees significant playing time.  It looks like a good competition this year at tailback.  Do we have a scrimmage at home this year?

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Hello Pep and all Saxon faithful. 
I have recently run into some professional colleagues from Hornell and the city is quite excited about this Dwyer kid.  They are assuring me that he is NOT too small and is the real deal.  I ran into his aunt yesterday and she informs me that a large contingent from the Hornell area can be expected this year at AU home games, especially if Dwyer sees significant playing time.  It looks like a good competition this year at tailback.  Do we have a scrimmage at home this year?

On Saxon Warriors!

AU will scrimmage Susquehanna at 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 27, 2010 on the new Field Turf at Merrill Field here in Saxonville.

The starting tailback slot, in Pep's opinion, is up for grabs. Pep anticipates a very competitive pre-season with Chris "Smoke" Lopez, redshirt Chuck Beckwith, Albany transfer Joe McMurry and Dwyer all excellent prospects.

The boys will be back in town on Wednesday....

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

Does anyone know if Fisher has a scrimmage this year? I always try to make a scrimmage if I can, but I never know when they are.

[AUPepBand]

The folks from Clark are working on the Field Turf today. Will it be ready for Thursday's first practice? Stay tuned.

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

Sjf cards..keep an eye on Fisher camp......a transfer will be there that will make you pleasantly surprised

I heard a rumor about a certain ex-player's brother coming to camp, who was an absolute stud in high school. I think Fisher is going to be a pretty good team this year. The team to beat? Of course I think that, but the league is tough from top to bottom, so who knows.

[AUPepBand]

Sjf cards..keep an eye on Fisher camp......a transfer will be there that will make you pleasantly surprised

I heard a rumor about a certain ex-player's brother coming to camp, who was an absolute stud in high school. I think Fisher is going to be a pretty good team this year. The team to beat? Of course I think that, but the league is tough from top to bottom, so who knows.

I heard it through the grapevine...

[Frank Rossi]

Sjf cards..keep an eye on Fisher camp......a transfer will be there that will make you pleasantly surprised

I heard a rumor about a certain ex-player's brother coming to camp, who was an absolute stud in high school. I think Fisher is going to be a pretty good team this year. The team to beat? Of course I think that, but the league is tough from top to bottom, so who knows.

I'll go out on a limb and say it for you -- Fisher is the team to beat in the E8 this season.

[dlippiel]

Sjf cards..keep an eye on Fisher camp......a transfer will be there that will make you pleasantly surprised

I heard a rumor about a certain ex-player's brother coming to camp, who was an absolute stud in high school. I think Fisher is going to be a pretty good team this year. The team to beat? Of course I think that, but the league is tough from top to bottom, so who knows.

I'll go out on a limb and say it for you -- Fisher is the team to beat in the E8 this season.

dlip will second that