FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

Boise St. has beaten the following ranked teams:
2009
#16 Oregon
#4 TCU
2008
#17 Oregon
plus the Oklahoma game.

Ill give ya Va Tech.
Not a great- but good resume

[AUKaz00]

The Wick plays Norwich, which can only win games in their cruddy conference, so they'll be no problem.

The Cadets are actually 2-0 in OOC play this year.  Granted it's against WNEC and St. Lawrence, but they lost those games last year.  If they take down Wick, they have a real chance of going undefeated and grabbing a Pool B or C. There should be a lot of potential bubble teams rooting for the Hawks this weekend...

Over the last few years, Pool B has struggled to produce an undefeated team.  Therefore, if Norwich were to run the table, I would wager that Norwich would take a Pool B, not C, slot.  E8 teams should pull for Norwich to run as much of the table as they can without beating E8 teams, since Opponents' Opponents Winning % is a factor in Pool C later.

And next year the ECFC Pool A bid (along with Frostburg and Salsbury joining the E5) will likely eliminate a Pool B, so in this case Norwich would just be taking that slot a year early.

[Frank Rossi]

And I see no reason why Utica can't win as well. The conference probably stays undefeated, but is probably still without a quality win.

RPI by 30 over Utica.  Take it to the bank.

Not so fast my friend...

RPI just put up a whopping 6 points vs Endicott, I think RPI is lucky to score 24 points this game.  This isn't your parents Utica squad.  In fact I'm willing to bet that they're 4-0 going into the SJF game...

This is the overlay of the century.  RPI is like a racehorse after a layoff of time.  Sometimes it needs a race under its belt to get itself back in racing shape.  And Utica has already reached its offensive quota for the season.

[Bombers798891]

they havent beaten the big boys?

Eh, they used a bunch of trick plays and stole a game from Oklahoma and beat Va Tech, who just got beat by James Madison FCOL...

Boise St is a nice story for the people that like long shots but if they're in a major conference they're just another run of the mill team...

Here's the difference between Boise and Norwich.

We may wonder how Boise would do in the Big 10/12/SEC, but we know how Norwich would do in the E8. They would (and did) get killed with regularity, so they bolted for an easier conference and now that they're beating up on teams like Becker, Castleton State and Anna Maria and we're supposed to think that makes them playoff worthy?

Boise's stuck in a crappy conference, and they tried to move to a better one. Norwich was in a good conference, couldn't hack it, tucked their tail between their legs and left. Maybe there were geography issues, but anyone who watched them play from the moment they arrived in the E8 knows almost any of the truly good teams would obliterate them. (Except for YOU, 2004 St. John Fisher)

Norwich was relevant for one season in the E8 because they had Pierre Garcon. And even that season, Ithaca, Springfield and Alfred ate them alive. They did not magically go from 2-8 to 8-3 because of a sudden influx of talent.

Look, the pool question marks nonwithstanding, it just bugs me when clearly inferior teams are selected, and if Norwich were to get in over a 9-1 IC/SJF/AU, that would be the case

[fisheralum91]

bombers- good case.
I agree.
Lets just hope that wick shuts em down.
yick ---rooting for hartwick is like kissing an ugly girl and pretending you like it.

[Frank Rossi]

they havent beaten the big boys?

Eh, they used a bunch of trick plays and stole a game from Oklahoma and beat Va Tech, who just got beat by James Madison FCOL...

Boise St is a nice story for the people that like long shots but if they're in a major conference they're just another run of the mill team...

Here's the difference between Boise and Norwich.

We may wonder how Boise would do in the Big 10/12/SEC, but we know how Norwich would do in the E8. They would (and did) get killed with regularity, so they bolted for an easier conference and now that they're beating up on teams like Becker, Castleton State and Anna Maria and we're supposed to think that makes them playoff worthy?

Boise's stuck in a crappy conference, and they tried to move to a better one. Norwich was in a good conference, couldn't hack it, tucked their tail between their legs and left. Maybe there were geography issues, but anyone who watched them play from the moment they arrived in the E8 knows almost any of the truly good teams would obliterate them. (Except for YOU, 2004 St. John Fisher)

Norwich was relevant for one season in the E8 because they had Pierre Garcon. And even that season, Ithaca, Springfield and Alfred ate them alive. They did not magically go from 2-8 to 8-3 because of a sudden influx of talent.

Look, the pool question marks nonwithstanding, it just bugs me when clearly inferior teams are selected, and if Norwich were to get in over a 9-2 IC/SJF/AU, that would be the case

This problem is not confined to the East.  There are several instances of 3-loss teams getting bids through the Pool A AQ.  I'd feel more optimistic about a 10-0 Norwich getting a bid than just rubber stamping a 7-3 Mount Union into the tournament.  We should reward wins -- although, we should also promote diverse scheduling (and not cupcake, cupcake, cupcake).  The promotion of scheduling is missing right now when the Committee suggests that if there are one-loss teams on the board, two-loss teams will be ignored in Pool C.  So, there is still improvement needed -- Norwich isn't the scenario by which we should get too ruffled unless a 9-1 Norwich were to find its way into Pool C (and I'd say 9-1 still gets Norwich a Pool B under normal circumstances).

[Bombers798891]

they havent beaten the big boys?

Eh, they used a bunch of trick plays and stole a game from Oklahoma and beat Va Tech, who just got beat by James Madison FCOL...

Boise St is a nice story for the people that like long shots but if they're in a major conference they're just another run of the mill team...

Here's the difference between Boise and Norwich.

We may wonder how Boise would do in the Big 10/12/SEC, but we know how Norwich would do in the E8. They would (and did) get killed with regularity, so they bolted for an easier conference and now that they're beating up on teams like Becker, Castleton State and Anna Maria and we're supposed to think that makes them playoff worthy?

Boise's stuck in a crappy conference, and they tried to move to a better one. Norwich was in a good conference, couldn't hack it, tucked their tail between their legs and left. Maybe there were geography issues, but anyone who watched them play from the moment they arrived in the E8 knows almost any of the truly good teams would obliterate them. (Except for YOU, 2004 St. John Fisher)

Norwich was relevant for one season in the E8 because they had Pierre Garcon. And even that season, Ithaca, Springfield and Alfred ate them alive. They did not magically go from 2-8 to 8-3 because of a sudden influx of talent.

Look, the pool question marks nonwithstanding, it just bugs me when clearly inferior teams are selected, and if Norwich were to get in over a 9-2 IC/SJF/AU, that would be the case

This problem is not confined to the East.  There are several instances of 3-loss teams getting bids through the Pool A AQ.  I'd feel more optimistic about a 10-0 Norwich getting a bid than just rubber stamping a 7-3 Mount Union into the tournament.  We should reward wins -- although, we should also promote diverse scheduling (and not cupcake, cupcake, cupcake).  The promotion of scheduling is missing right now when the Committee suggests that if there are one-loss teams on the board, two-loss teams will be ignored in Pool C.  So, there is still improvement needed -- Norwich isn't the scenario by which we should get too ruffled unless a 9-1 Norwich were to find its way into Pool C (and I'd say 9-1 still gets Norwich a Pool B under normal circumstances).

Well, AQ's are a whole different ball of wax than Pool C bids. If there's a conference with nothing but stiffs, someone's got to get a Pool A out of it. I agree with rewarding wins, to an extent. There was some debate over the worthiness of a 7-3 Fisher team with OOC losses to Salisbury and MUC a couple years ago, wasn't there? I don't think I'd go quite that far down. Obviously, there's a cutoff.

That's why I think it should be about more than a record. I know it's near impossible to do this with there being so many D-III teams, but sometimes I dislike how things are done in a vacuum and with less regard to the context of things.

[BoSox0322]

bombers- good case.
I agree.
Lets just hope that wick shuts em down.
yick ---rooting for hartwick is like kissing an ugly girl and pretending you like it.

im sure you're speaking from experience...

[dlippiel]

In dlip's humble Norwich would have no buisness getting a bid over numerous teams in the Region. yet most likely they will, especially when all the NCAA takes into account is a teams record. Frustrating but most likely the case here.

[maxpower]

Max wants to know why no one is talking about the 41-yd. TD pass on Saterday from.... WR Dan Ruffrage? That was pretty fun to watch. It didn't look like it had the distance, but it was far enough out of the reach of the Union CB not to matter... definitely the play of the game from my perspective.

[Frank Rossi]

Max wants to know why no one is talking about the 41-yd. TD pass on Saterday from.... WR Dan Ruffrage? That was pretty fun to watch. It didn't look like it had the distance, but it was far enough out of the reach of the Union CB not to matter... definitely the play of the game from my perspective.

I think because focusing on that one play takes away from the play of Zappia, who exceeded most expectations by a mile on Saturday.  Sure, that was a big play, but it wouldn't have been as big if Zappia didn't play the game of his life so far.  That's my guess, at least.

[Bombers798891]

Max wants to know why no one is talking about the 41-yd. TD pass on Saterday from.... WR Dan Ruffrage? That was pretty fun to watch. It didn't look like it had the distance, but it was far enough out of the reach of the Union CB not to matter... definitely the play of the game from my perspective.

I think because focusing on that one play takes away from the play of Zappia, who exceeded most expectations by a mile on Saturday.  Sure, that was a big play, but it wouldn't have been as big if Zappia didn't play the game of his life so far.  That's my guess, at least.

Gutsy call. Sometimes coaches use those plays against weak competition and that really gets to me. Use it when it matters. A spot like that can really shift the momentum. While you can never point to one play and say "That was the play where a game was won/lost," certain plays make that statement for you.

Zappia played well, no doubts there. The key will be the running game

[theoriginalupstate]

Max wants to know why no one is talking about the 41-yd. TD pass on Saterday from.... WR Dan Ruffrage? That was pretty fun to watch. It didn't look like it had the distance, but it was far enough out of the reach of the Union CB not to matter... definitely the play of the game from my perspective.

I think because focusing on that one play takes away from the play of Zappia, who exceeded most expectations by a mile on Saturday.  Sure, that was a big play, but it wouldn't have been as big if Zappia didn't play the game of his life so far.  That's my guess, at least.

Gutsy call. Sometimes coaches use those plays against weak competition and that really gets to me. Use it when it matters. A spot like that can really shift the momentum. While you can never point to one play and say "That was the play where a game was won/lost," certain plays make that statement for you.

Zappia played well, no doubts there. The key will be the running game

I like running plays like that vs the lesser teams, it gives the better teams more to look at on film and more to prepare for...

[Bombers798891]

Max wants to know why no one is talking about the 41-yd. TD pass on Saterday from.... WR Dan Ruffrage? That was pretty fun to watch. It didn't look like it had the distance, but it was far enough out of the reach of the Union CB not to matter... definitely the play of the game from my perspective.

I think because focusing on that one play takes away from the play of Zappia, who exceeded most expectations by a mile on Saturday.  Sure, that was a big play, but it wouldn't have been as big if Zappia didn't play the game of his life so far.  That's my guess, at least.

Gutsy call. Sometimes coaches use those plays against weak competition and that really gets to me. Use it when it matters. A spot like that can really shift the momentum. While you can never point to one play and say "That was the play where a game was won/lost," certain plays make that statement for you.

Zappia played well, no doubts there. The key will be the running game

I like running plays like that vs the lesser teams, it gives the better teams more to look at on film and more to prepare for...

They have to prepare for it yes, but then you can lose the element of surprise if a coach has his team ready for the possibility. I suppose it could go either way. I also think it can come across as a little showboaty against cruddy teams. But as long as it works when you need it to...

[pumkinattack]

What if it's part of the regular playbook?

For example, Coach Cragg sends a FR WR/Punter on his first play in college football and he successfully runs a fake.  4 down to get 10 baby, so you SJF-fers better be prepared for it come 9/25.