FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

With the exception of the '06 and maybe '07 years, I really thought that the playing field was level talent wise. 

a) The talent level was nowhere close to even in 2008. Fisher lost FOUR times that season and they beat IC by 30 points. And look at some other conference games.

Fisher loses to a Wick team the Bombers hang 69 on? Fisher beats Utica by seven and Ithaca beats them by 35? Or beats Springfield by three while the Bombers win by 29? I give Fisher all the credit in the world when in comes to being better than IC, but there's no way those 2008 teams were close.

b) Doesn't it strike you as disconcerting that, with equal talent levels in 2009, playing at home, Ithaca's only points in the first three quarters came on the return of a blocked XP? Or that the Bombers were outgained by 300 yards?

Honestly, 06 and 07 don't bother me. Fisher was the better team by far both seasons and should have won those games. But the last two seasons were different. And Fisher still killed them

A talented Ithaca team doesn't lose to Curry in the first round...

Just saying...

Fair point. But to reverse it, does a non-talented Ithaca team beat their undefeated, seventh-ranked rival on the road by 22 points with their backup QB and RB? Probably not.

Teams lose to teams they're more talented than all the time. Fisher lost to Norwich in 2004 didn't they? Which team was more talented? You're not going to sell me that it was the Cadets. The Bombers lost to Fisher and blew that Norwich team off the field (Although, according to the Box Score, Norwich ran for like 4,000 yards in that game. How odd).

I'm not trying to antagonize, I'm just saying, there are plenty of instances where that happens and we can't use any one game to make a definitive statement about any team's overall talent level. I think the overall body of work for the 2008 season favors the Bombers.

The Bombers laid an egg, no doubt. But they were the most talented team in the conference that season IMO.

[sjfcards]

I don't disagree with bombers at all about the 08 season. It all comes down to how teams match up, and Fisher has had some favorable matchups of late.

[PrideFan1]

I think Fisher is going to exploit Ithaca's secondary. I don't think we'll see a blowout though. 35-24 Fisher

[fisheralum91]

Ill settle for a Fisher win.
This is the stretch that we have been waiting for at  Fisher.
A beautiful day is forcast on Alumni weekend and Ill be there to catch the game!

[Bombers798891]

I just want Ithaca to be competitive. Watching them roll over in the second half every year is depressing. Feeling like Fisher owns them and players on both sides know it is depressing. Watching what should be a great rivalry dissolve into nothing is depressing.

There's no shame in losing to a team that's better than you, and yes, Fisher is better. But show some fight guys. Play with some intensity, and don't wilt at the first sign of pressure. Take the game to them a bit.

Give me 31-23 and I'd be a happy man. 41-13? Not so much.

[Knightstalker]

Pat,
The team pages have Merchant Marine listed as a conf game for Springfield and it is reflecting in the conference standings.

[AlfredSaxon8]

I'm going to have to say Ithaca wins. 

It makes the most sense, not because of one team's offense or the other's defense but simply because this is the Empire 8.  And if Fisher is undefeated, Ithaca will win and probably force some sort of crazy controvery or scenario down the road in regards to the playoffs/automatic qualifier.  It seems to happen like that in this league 


On a serious note, this is do or die for the Bombers, esentially.  If they lose Saterday then they have to hope they beat Alfred and Alfred beats Fisher down the road. A loss to Lycoming isn't all that bad (reminiscient of 2005) but if they add a loss to Fisher on it, they suddenly become a huge longshot.  All of them do hold their own fate (Alfred included) but if Ithaca doesn't get the AQ, that means they will have had another loss, and also means they are a longshot for the playoffs.  If they win against Fisher but lose to Alfred, I still dont know if it will be enough to get in with 2 losses.  Of course, they did it once before in 07 and gave MUC one heck of a game, but I dont know if it will happen again.

Basically, I feel like Ithaca has to run the table in order to make the playoffs while AU and SJF might be able to sustain a loss in conference and still have a shot at the playoffs or the AQ. 

Thoughts??     

[labart96]

This game is somewhat sim to Hobart vs. Union this weekend....with the surprise loss to SLU, Bart is suddenly 1 loss away from complete NCAA playoff/postseason (given Bart passed on the ECACs last year and could do the same this year) elimination. 

IC would also be effectively eliminated (at least for NCAAs) with 2 Ls while SJF could still get in at 9-1 (either winning a Pool A via a tiebreaker or Pool C).

IC has more to lose in this one (like Bart does in against the U)....

[Jonny Utah]

This game is somewhat sim to Hobart vs. Union this weekend....with the surprise loss to SLU, Bart is suddenly 1 loss away from complete NCAA playoff/postseason (given Bart passed on the ECACs last year and could do the same this year) elimination. 

IC would also be effectively eliminated (at least for NCAAs) with 2 Ls while SJF could still get in at 9-1 (either winning a Pool A via a tiebreaker or Pool C).

IC has more to lose in this one (like Bart does in against the U)....

IC does have more to lose.  But if Lycoming can run the table and pull of a win against Del Val, then a 8-2 Ithaca could get in depending on what Montclair or Rowan does.

[fisheralum91]

Very nice article about Blaise in Utica OD.

http://www.uticaod.com/features/x83586337/Tuesday-Conversation-All-roads-led-to-UC-for-football-coach-Blaise-Faggiano


Tho leave it to Blaise to move into Whitesboro instead of New Hartford....Wonder who led him astray on that one!

[Bombers798891]

This game is somewhat sim to Hobart vs. Union this weekend....with the surprise loss to SLU, Bart is suddenly 1 loss away from complete NCAA playoff/postseason (given Bart passed on the ECACs last year and could do the same this year) elimination. 

IC would also be effectively eliminated (at least for NCAAs) with 2 Ls while SJF could still get in at 9-1 (either winning a Pool A via a tiebreaker or Pool C).

IC has more to lose in this one (like Bart does in against the U)....

IC does have more to lose.  But if Lycoming can run the table and pull of a win against Del Val, then a 8-2 Ithaca could get in depending on what Montclair or Rowan does.

Interestingly however, according to the new E8 tiebreaker system on the conference website, fewest overall loses comes into play before overall strength of schedule, so if Alfred/IC/Fisher, all tied at say, 5-1 in conference, the Bombers would be eliminated because of a second loss (I assume Fisher will kill Frostburg and Alfred beats Rochester and RPI)

In a completely unrelated note, the five OOC teams on Fisher's schedule are a combined 4-12 independent of their games vs. Fisher. IC's opponents are 12-4 independent of their games against IC. Alfred is somewhere in the middle of the two. Not that it will matter because IC will probably lose to Cortland anyway, but I sort of wish we'd reward teams for playing quality OOC opponents. I recognize that Fisher's annual OOC rivalry is what it is, and that IC has played Brockport, Buff. St. and Frostburg in recent seasons, so I'm not calling out anyone. Just wishing we didn't penalize teams for a second loss against a good team. (And yes, I would say the same thing had say, this happened in 2008 and Fisher's 2nd loss in an 8-2 season was to MUC.) I am a fan of, provided we're not discussing say, 9-1 vs. 6-4, rewarding teams for playing tough opponents even if some of it is fluky luck and can't be predicted.

[SJFF82]

With the exception of the '06 and maybe '07 years, I really thought that the playing field was level talent wise. 

a) The talent level was nowhere close to even in 2008. Fisher lost FOUR times that season and they beat IC by 30 points. And look at some other conference games.

Fisher loses to a Wick team the Bombers hang 69 on? Fisher beats Utica by seven and Ithaca beats them by 35? Or beats Springfield by three while the Bombers win by 29? I give Fisher all the credit in the world when in comes to being better than IC, but there's no way those 2008 teams were close.

b) Doesn't it strike you as disconcerting that, with equal talent levels in 2009, playing at home, Ithaca's only points in the first three quarters came on the return of a blocked XP? Or that the Bombers were outgained by 300 yards?

Honestly, 06 and 07 don't bother me. Fisher was the better team by far both seasons and should have won those games. But the last two seasons were different. And Fisher still killed them

I think I agree with you...BUT what if SJF just failed to perform in those other games.  I mean you didnt mention SJF thrashing of Cortland last year.

[maxpower]

With the exception of the '06 and maybe '07 years, I really thought that the playing field was level talent wise. 

a) The talent level was nowhere close to even in 2008. Fisher lost FOUR times that season and they beat IC by 30 points. And look at some other conference games.

Fisher loses to a Wick team the Bombers hang 69 on? Fisher beats Utica by seven and Ithaca beats them by 35? Or beats Springfield by three while the Bombers win by 29? I give Fisher all the credit in the world when in comes to being better than IC, but there's no way those 2008 teams were close.

b) Doesn't it strike you as disconcerting that, with equal talent levels in 2009, playing at home, Ithaca's only points in the first three quarters came on the return of a blocked XP? Or that the Bombers were outgained by 300 yards?

Honestly, 06 and 07 don't bother me. Fisher was the better team by far both seasons and should have won those games. But the last two seasons were different. And Fisher still killed them

I think I agree with you...BUT what if SJF just failed to perform in those other games.  I mean you didnt mention SJF thrashing of Cortland last year.

Ithaca was in control of Cortaca last year until the 4th quarter.... remind you of any other Ithaca team we know...

[SJFF82]

Ill settle for a Fisher win.
This is the stretch that we have been waiting for at  Fisher.
A beautiful day is forcast on Alumni weekend and Ill be there to catch the game!

good stuff FA91...we'll catch up for this one...missed out on Utica.  Mrs 82 laid down the law on 82.  82 went to Dayton the weekend before for a golf/softball reunion and when the word "U-t-i..." started to come out of my mouth last Sat, I had to duck a left, right combo....

[dewcrew88]

I think Fisher is going to exploit Ithaca's secondary. I don't think we'll see a blowout though. 35-24 Fisher

Wait until you read my column.