FB: Empire 8

[SJFF82]

AS8, when did you play.

05-08... I graduated in 09.

My freshman through Junior year I backed up Keeley.  Saw a little playing time but never started.  Played some special teams.  My senior year it was between me and Secky and he beat me out for the starting job.  Got some playing time.  Loved every minute of it even though I wish I could've played more.  Came to AU and played with two of their best QB's ever so it was a great experience.

Great perspective that I appreciate as my son was a walk on, dare I say it in this room, at Cortland as a freshman.  Just loves the game and proud to be part of the team.  He played their JV schedule in his freshman year, had a brief stint as a back up on the DL in his sophmore year with some limited time on the field.  This year, he's got a 5th year senior ahead of him and and another senior so he's stepped on the field maybe 10 times but he wouldn't have it any other way. 

Several players quit this year that he's friends with and they asked him several times why he didn't quit.  He told them someone would have to drag him off the field.  This has been a great experience for him and he's making lifelong friends.  His ultimate goal is to start which he had hoped might happen this year but that's not panning out so he's got his sights on next year.  He takes a great deal of pride being the only remaining walk on from his first year and every Wednesday night he calls to let us know if he made the travel squad which he has each away game so far.  It's a small but important to him victory each week.  He realizes that he's playing on a team now very different than HS.  Instead of being the star, he's got 99 teammates who are all very good players and they too were stars on their HS teams.  He thrives on the challenge.

Have been to every game he was ever in even when there was little chance he would step on the field.  I've talked to other parents of players who don't start and many say they won't make the trip next week, what's the point if he's not playing.  I just don't  get them.  He traveled down to Glassboro today with little chance of playing other than going in for goal line D.  My wife and I are heading out first thing in the morning to see the game.  We are so happy that he's playing a game he's so passionate about and we couldn't be prouder of him even if he were starting each week. 

Great insight Phil...

My parents went to all my games while I was in Junior College (Alfred State), when I got to Fisher I was starting my first year there but blew out my ACL/MCL 5 games into the year.  They still showed up to the games even though I was on the sidelines sporting a knee brace and crutches...

They knew it was important to me so it was important to them...

I feel bad for players who only support their kids when it suits them...

good stuff 'phil'...i was proud to make the travel team many times as a Fr. and So., when I didnt really see the field after warm-ups....and was always very proud inside when I turned around during the game to see my parents freezing their tails off some where in the stands when they knew I wasnt touching the field.  Your son is very appreciative of your support!!!

[Old IC Voice]

So after today, here's my revised seeding, 1-8, with regard to the East region.

1) SJF
2) Montclair
3) DelVal
4) Rowan (suddenly, wins over Lycoming and C-State make a real good playoff resume)
5) Alfred
6) NEFC champ
7) Lycoming
8) LL champ (which will most likely be the winner of St. Lawrence/RPI)

This seeding is done to prevent a Rowan-Lycoming or DelVal-Lycoming rematch, and could prove accurate if Lycoming loses to DelVal but takes care of business elsewhere. Alfred, meanwhile, certainly can't afford to lose to anyone but Fisher, which is unfortunate since solid IC and UC squads are still on the schedule. And they still may need to BEAT SJF, too, which is NOT an enviable position.

The last three teams out, in order, are Cortland, Springfield, and IC. Rowan was probably in Cortland's position last week, but made a BIG leap.

[labart96]

I think you're a bit off -

SUNY M (still undefeated) or Norwich (if they end up 9-1 and have a win over the LL champ if SLU wins out) are potential Pool Bs and Alfred will be knocked out of playoff contention if they lose to SJFC next week.  If they upset Fisher, Montclair will have to go 10-0 to avoid either a MUC or Wesley getting shipped in.  Two 10-0 (possibly 3 if SUNY M wins out) will pretty much ensure (no guarantees) that the East will not have someone "shipped in".

In the LL there are still a number of possibilities (e.g., RPI beats SLU and Hobart runs the table).  If SLU wins next weekend they are in great shape given they could still afford a league loss given head to head wins over Hobart, RPI and Union.

I agree Lyco could be in the mix, but if/when they lose to DVC, they will effectively be eliminated from NCAA consideration with two losses.

[theoriginalupstate]

I agree with TGP...

Any one loss team needs to win out in order to get an NCAA bid, 8-2 isn't going to cut it especially since the East has a legit Pool B bid possible from SUNY M if they win out...

[theoriginalupstate]

Here's a wacky scenario for the East...

1- SJF 10-0 (A)
2- DVC 9-1 (A)
3- Cortland 9-1 (A)
4- Montclair 9-1 (C)
5- SUNY-Maritime (B)
6- NEFC Rep (A)
7- Rowan 9-1 (C)
8- LL Rep (A)

[SJFF82]

Here's a wacky scenario for the East...

1- SJF 10-0 (A)
2- DVC 9-1 (A)
3- Cortland 9-1 (A)
4- Montclair 9-1 (C)
5- SUNY-Maritime (B)
6- NEFC Rep (A)
7- Rowan 9-1 (C)
8- LL Rep (A)

AU is still undefeated in the E8...just sayin...

[theoriginalupstate]

Here's a wacky scenario for the East...

1- SJF 10-0 (A)
2- DVC 9-1 (A)
3- Cortland 9-1 (A)
4- Montclair 9-1 (C)
5- SUNY-Maritime (B)
6- NEFC Rep (A)
7- Rowan 9-1 (C)
8- LL Rep (A)

AU is still undefeated in the E8...just sayin...

If SJF beats them, they're out...

8-2 isn't cutting it this year...

[SJFF82]

Here's a wacky scenario for the East...

1- SJF 10-0 (A)
2- DVC 9-1 (A)
3- Cortland 9-1 (A)
4- Montclair 9-1 (C)
5- SUNY-Maritime (B)
6- NEFC Rep (A)
7- Rowan 9-1 (C)
8- LL Rep (A)

AU is still undefeated in the E8...just sayin...

If SJF beats them, they're out...

8-2 isn't cutting it this year...

that's my point.

...does the NCAA have to waste a seed on the LL this year?

[Pat Coleman]

especially since the East has a legit Pool B bid

This is irrelevant. The NCAA won't hesitate to put nine East teams in if it feels the need to.

[RedDragonFan]

Heard theres a Hartwick/CState JV game today at Hartwick.  Anyone know the start time by chance?  Thanks.

[fisher57]

The stat of the year so far is Fisher's defensive dominance on 3rd down. In the last four games, Fisher's D has allowed opponents to convert on 3rd down on only 11 of 51 tries.  21.5%.  That is difficult to accomplish at ANY level. 

To me, last night was Fisher's worst offensive performance of the year in terms of sustaining a rhythm and a groove......the swagger was absent.....but they still put up over 400 yards resulting in 41 points.   This offense has yet to peak, even with the gaudy numbers between Bailey, Borum and The Ryan Express.

The NCAA record for INTs in a game is 10.  Fisher dropped two INTs last night but came up with 8....two shy of tying the record.   Eight INTs is mammoth result in Madden on Playstation not to mention a college football game.  Congrats to that defense. 

Alfred looms.   
 

[sjfcards]

It is nice to see the Fisher D coming together. I was not able to watch or listen to the game yesterday, but from what I have seen on here, it looks like the D played well, and the offense scored a bunch of points without having the offense's best day. I was worried about the D early in the year, but they have had a few strong games in a row now. 8 picks against any team is a solid day. I am getting more and more excited about Fisher's chances for a deep run in the playoffs.

I was not able to see the AU game either, but does anyone who was at the game have a rundown on what went wrong?

[labart96]

You can watch an archived taping of the AU-RPI game here:

http://www.rpitv.org/productions/328-rpi-football-vs-alfred-university

[fisher57]

It is nice to see the Fisher D coming together. I was not able to watch or listen to the game yesterday, but from what I have seen on here, it looks like the D played well, and the offense scored a bunch of points without having the offense's best day. I was worried about the D early in the year, but they have had a few strong games in a row now. 8 picks against any team is a solid day. I am getting more and more excited about Fisher's chances for a deep run in the playoffs.

I was not able to see the AU game either, but does anyone who was at the game have a rundown on what went wrong?

The defense is heading into Alfred with a lot of momentum and, most importantly, confidence.   A confident defense is a dangerous defense.

[fisher57]

D3football.com Top 25, Week 7 2010
Through games of Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010:

# School (1st votes) Rec Pts Prev.
1 UW-Whitewater (23) 6-0 623 1
2 Mount Union (2) 6-0 602 2
3 Wesley 7-0 566 3
4 St. Thomas 7-0 548 4
5 Mary Hardin-Baylor 6-0 530 5
6 North Central (Ill.) 6-0 475 7
7 Wittenberg 7-0 438 8
8 Hardin-Simmons 6-1 401 10
9 Delaware Valley 5-1 358 12
10 Thomas More 6-0 352 11
11 Ohio Northern 5-1 345 13
12 Linfield 4-1 303 14
13 Wartburg 6-0 298 --
14 Montclair State 6-0 287 16
15 Trine 6-0 285 15
16 Coe 5-1 276 6
17 Wheaton (Ill.) 6-0 272 17
18 Central 6-1 233 9
19 St. John Fisher 7-0 215 18
20 Bethel 6-0 128 24
21 Hampden-Sydney 7-0 113 22
22 Pacific Lutheran 5-0 108 25
23 Cal Lutheran 4-1 95 21
24 Ursinus 6-0 39 --
25 Wabash 5-1 36 --

Dropped out: No. 19 Alfred, No. 20 Randolph-Macon, No. 23 Cortland State.

Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve 35, DePauw 31, Rowan 29, Illinois Wesleyan 28, Franklin 17, Willamette 14, Springfield 12, Randolph-Macon 9, Alfred 8, Amherst 7, Cortland State 3, UW-Stevens Point 2,Williams 2, Baldwin-Wallace 1, Lycoming 1.

The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.