FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

I must tell you I wasnt ready to listen that long- but ya had me at hello!
Looking forward to another great football weekend and another ATN!

[Pat Coleman]

Yeah, sorry -- the creation of the podcast, with me in Minneapolis and Keith in Northern Virginia, got easier this year with the use of Ustream, so it's no longer a two-hour process for me to stitch together two separate audio files.

Unfortunately that means we are running a little longer, about 10 minutes longer than at this point last year.

[AUKaz00]

Congrats to the Cardinals for crackin' the Top 25!

Ironically, St. John Fisher makes its way into the poll so politely as to not cause anyone to drop out. Pep's Saxons, who jumped up to #23 from #25 after a less than impressive 24-16 win at St. Lawrence, drop back into a tie with Randolph-Macon at #25 after defeating previously unbeaten Springfield, 35-28. St. John Fisher no doubt impressed pollsters with their easily handling a highly-regarded Hobart squad, gaining enough votes to take the #24 slot.

It's nice to have a couple of E8 squads getting national recognition.

On Saxon Warriors!

And interestingly, Frostburg will have played both #25s in back to back weeks.  Those results should determine the definitive 25th best school!

[bomber3]

Pat -

The question on the football homepage regarding Ithaca's rushing game is misleading.  Those numbers take into account a snap over the punter's head and QB sacks, which accounted for -62 yards rushing.  In my opinion those yards shouldn't count so the real number is 48 yards rushing.  It is misleading!

[fisheralum91]

Pat- Im glad that you guys are thorough.
It is a good cast.
Ill listen!

[dlippiel]

Pat -

The question on the football homepage regarding Ithaca's rushing game is misleading.  Those numbers take into account a snap over the punter's head and QB sacks, which accounted for -62 yards rushing.  In my opinion those yards shouldn't count so the real number is 48 yards rushing.  It is misleading!

How about this...IC's rushing game was simply atrocious regardless if it was -12 or +48. Believe dlip he understands your frustration with a lack of running game being a Union fan whose team couldn't move the ball on the ground at all at Butterfield in week #2 but in his mind this is a tad bit of a nit pick.  IC deserves negative attention regarding their lack of a ground game because it is their main weakness. If the Bombers could move the ball on the ground they would most likely be a top #5 east region team easily. Who knows they still may end up being one but until they progress in their ground game dlip thinks it is somewhat unlikely.

[Jonny Utah]

Pat -

The question on the football homepage regarding Ithaca's rushing game is misleading.  Those numbers take into account a snap over the punter's head and QB sacks, which accounted for -62 yards rushing.  In my opinion those yards shouldn't count so the real number is 48 yards rushing.  It is misleading!

How about this...IC's rushing game was simply atrocious regardless if it was -12 or +48. Believe dlip he understands your frustration with a lack of running game being a Union fan whose team couldn't move the ball on the ground at all at Butterfield in week #2 but in his mind this is a tad bit of a nit pick.  IC deserves negative attention regarding their lack of a ground game because it is their main weakness. If the Bombers could move the ball on the ground they would most likely be a top #5 east region team easily. Who knows they still may end up being one but until they progress in their ground game dlip thinks it is somewhat unlikely.

I am the first to admit that Ithaca's run game has not been a force over the past two years.  But if it is that bad why can't teams focus more on their passing game and stop them?  Maybe Ithaca has figured out a way to make teams respect the run but beat those teams with the pass regardless?  I mean, their offense still has put up some pretty decent numbers.

But I agree with Dlip.  If they had a rb that could make some plays, we would be talking about a real great team here.  But hey, it's still early and I know there are still some injuries on that oline and TE.  Hopefully the running game can pick up by the end of the season.

[bomber3]

Dlip and johnny --

Sorry can't loop the responses from BB.  I am in total agreement about their lack of a running game and their struggles with it.  That wasn't really my point.  My point was you can't really include a 50 yard loss on a snap over the punter's head.  Yes, regardless the running yards aren't good but they aren't THAT bad.  And I think they are a top 5 east region regardless.  I know they lost this week but I still think they're about the 5-7th best team in the region.  Last week nipped them because of injuries.  If they were a little healthier I have no doubt they would be 4-0 and looking at an undefeated matchup with Fisher. 

[dewcrew88]

These recent SJF teams remind me a lot of the Buff State teams in the 1990s.  Their offensive lines are basically twice the size of any d3 upstate oline (6-5, 300 pound like types).  They have also had smart quarterbacks and running backs that can run, catch, and do lots of things.  Add in solid receivers and solid defenses and I think SJF is head and shoulders above the rest of upstate teams.  I always wondered how SJF gets these olinemen.  Were these olinemen great HS players or did SJF just pick these guys up with some good recruiting and molded them into great football players at SJF?  Or were these linemen top HS players and just didn't get scholarships to 1-AA teams?

That being said, I see this Hobart RB is from Dundee.  I hope Ithaca at least tried to recruit this kid as Dundee is very close to Ithaca and Ithaca has had some good players from that area.  Of course, Hobart is even closer, but from a fan standpoint, you hate to lose recruiting battles for local kids like this.

Not specifically lineman-wise, but I did see that the stud runner Borum, is a Erie CC transfer.

[dewcrew88]

Eh, the ranking doesn't mean much right now.  They're playing great right now and that's all that matters!

I hope they come out with a good game plan to get pressure on UC's QB who was sacked 4 times last week and didn't look as comfortable in the pocket as he did the first couple of games.

I think SJF puts up points regardless, Utica doesn't have the guys on defense to shut down the SJF Offense.  It will be up to the SJF defense to hold the UC offense in check.

Early prediction is SJF-41, Utica 24

That sounds like a stout prediction.

[fisheralum91]

Dew- he did ECC then Kentucky Weslyan- now Fisher.
And he is a load to bring down!
Ill offer ya a UC if you are out and about Sat eve!

[dewcrew88]

Pat -

The question on the football homepage regarding Ithaca's rushing game is misleading.  Those numbers take into account a snap over the punter's head and QB sacks, which accounted for -62 yards rushing.  In my opinion those yards shouldn't count so the real number is 48 yards rushing.  It is misleading!

I believe in D3, those yards do count. I think that those negative yards count in the rushing totals at all college levels, but maybe PC knows for sure.

[dewcrew88]

Dew- he did ECC then Kentucky Weslyan- now Fisher.
And he is a load to bring down!
Ill offer ya a UC if you are out and about Sat eve!

thanks! The wife has to work Saturday morning, but I'm trying to talk her into coming out to UC since it's a night game. Still up in the air right now.

[fisheralum91]

Dew- the invite is open if ya want to hop over to the "dark side" of the parking lot- we will all be tailgating.
BTW.That walk from parking lot to the field is absolutely insane.
Good lord!

[theoriginalupstate]

Pat -

The question on the football homepage regarding Ithaca's rushing game is misleading.  Those numbers take into account a snap over the punter's head and QB sacks, which accounted for -62 yards rushing.  In my opinion those yards shouldn't count so the real number is 48 yards rushing.  It is misleading!

So by this logic a punter running for a first down shouldn't count towards the rushing totals...