FB: Empire 8

[Pat Coleman]

I think what gets lost in our viewing of the aggregate poll (and I know how weird it feels for your team to gain votes, but drop spots) is that the poll is 25 seperate ballots.  So, Fisher wasn't ranked 18th on all of them last week and is suddenly 19th this week.  Voters may have had Alfred and Cortland ahead of Fisher and Wartburg last week, but Wartburg moved up more spots in the vaccuum left by top 25 losers than Fisher did.  On some ballots Fisher is likely ahead of Wartburg.  It's the cummulative affect of someone like Wartburg moving up 4 or 5 spots on a bunch of ballots compared to Fisher moving up 1 or 2 spots on those same ballots that affects the rankings we see.

And ANY undefeated team deserves a spot in the playoffs or else we're no better than the BCS.

Keith and I talk extensively about the Top 25 poll and specifically about St. John Fisher's place in it in this week's podcast.

[bleedpurple]

HELP WANTED:

Looking for Pollsters for a "soon to be unveiled" D3 TOP 25 FAN POLL.

Publishing site: www.uwwfootball.blogspot.com

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Commit to submit a ballot ranking the D3 Teams 1-25 by stated deadline. I'm thinking that will be midnight on Mondays.
2. Research the teams and try to be as unbiased as possible in ranking them.
3. Think through your own philosophy as to how much to weigh previous ranking, won/loss record, your sense as to who would win head to head, national performances in recent years, quality wins, and whatever reasonable criteria you care to choose.   
4. Submit a ballot EVERY WEEK by the deadline. Missing a deadline will be cause to forfeit your spot. Create and submit your ballot BEFORE viewing the D3football.com poll. You can look at previous weeks polls to get you started if you are having a hard time filling out the last few slots.

PURPOSE OF POLL

This poll is to promote meaningful and fun discussion on d3boards.com.  It is simply something that will be fun to contrast with D3football.com's poll. D3football.com's poll is the one legitimate poll we have in D3 football in my opinion.  This poll is not even intended to become #2. I just think it would be an interesting point of comparison and discussion. 

HOW TO APPLY

Send me a private message. In your message indicate:
1. you are applying to be a pollster.
2. What team/conference you follow.
3. Whether you can submit a poll as early as this Thursday. (That is not mandatory, if everyone can we may do one this week).

WHO WILL BE CHOSEN?

The first 25 respondents will be our initial group of pollsters.  This group will remain the D3 FOOTBALL FAN POLL TOP 25 pollsters unless they resign their position or miss a deadline.  Pollsters, I will never post your names on the boards.  If you choose to, that is fine. If you are beyond the first 25 responses, your name will be placed on a "waiting list".  If there are fewer than 25 respondents by midnight on Wednesday, we will go with what we have and continue to have "open" slots to be filled.

Remember FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! 

[fisheralum91]

Shoot-
Pat- Im stuck at work with no volume...
Sorry.
Ill listen later!

[fisheralum91]

Just snuck on to listen Pat,
I thinkill have to thank Keith!!
7 sounds much better!
Hope they live up to that SatErday!


Nah- no hoping-they will- and more!

[BoSox0322]

And its never too early to start weekend predictions:

Alfred- 1 million
Fisher- 0


The rest of the scores:

Irrelevant
sax8- humor ---without a doubt....
thats why I say The Ryan Express 34-
                         Saxons--- Negative 2

hahaha just kiddinggg... hopefully we can find a little humor on the boards?

Anyway, I'm not going to be overly optimistic.  SJF has most certainly earned the hype they are getting.  Alfred has a big roadblock in front of them and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.  I think Alfred needs to control the ball, wear down that impressive Fisher D and keep their Offense off the field... AU needs to control the LOS and battle for first downs, string out some long, time consuming drives and make let Fisher make the mistakes. AU has relied too heavily on big plays.  They need to nickel and dime and take what the D will give them, if they give them anything at all...

How does one get -2??

A field goal and a safety, but the Pep Band doesn't show up.  Negative 2.  (And, yes, Alfred would have won 31-27 had we made the trip on saterday)

Luckily it was an OOC game... But that just means, there goes Alfred's shot at getting an at-large bid if they lost in the E8... Only chance now is the AQ.

With that in mind, if Fisher loses, do they get in with an at-large bid? Thoughts?

i think they should if thats their only loss... but isnt threre a possibility that Montclair Cortland and Rowan all finish with one loss?  Then it would get very interesting

[theoriginalupstate]

Yeah there's a possibility that the top 3 NJAC teams all finish 9-1...

If you throw in a 1loss E8 team to the mix it will be interesting to see how the bracket plays out...

[AlfredSaxon8]

Yeah there's a possibility that the top 3 NJAC teams all finish 9-1...

If you throw in a 1loss E8 team to the mix it will be interesting to see how the bracket plays out...

Is there anything in a conference head to head type situation? Like if E8 is 4-2 over the NJAC in compeition, they get preference or is it just whoever they decide to vote in?

[Pat Coleman]

Something like that wouldn't figure in directly but it might help in terms of common opponents.

[AUKaz00]

Just snuck on to listen Pat,
I thinkill have to thank Keith!!
7 sounds much better!
Hope they live up to that SatErday!


Nah- no hoping-they will- and more!

Not to draw any attention to it, but 19 is the cursed spot.  Alfred lost last week and Wabash the week before.  These things come in 3s you know...

[fisheralum91]

Even Jesse Ventura can see that conspiracy!

[AlfredSaxon8]

Just snuck on to listen Pat,
I thinkill have to thank Keith!!
7 sounds much better!
Hope they live up to that SatErday!


Nah- no hoping-they will- and more!

Not to draw any attention to it, but 19 is the cursed spot.  Alfred lost last week and Wabash the week before.  These things come in 3s you know...

Kaz- is that an early prediction for an Purple and Gold upset?

[AlfredSaxon8]

Just snuck on to listen Pat,
I thinkill have to thank Keith!!
7 sounds much better!
Hope they live up to that SatErday!


Nah- no hoping-they will- and more!

Not to draw any attention to it, but 19 is the cursed spot.  Alfred lost last week and Wabash the week before.  These things come in 3s you know...

Kaz- is that an early prediction for an Purple and Gold upset?

By the way, I'm trying to post while I'm at work so my grammar and spelling kind of suck haha  But it's not because I'm an idiot.  Although maybe some will disagree haha.  Pep taught me while as a Library mentor so hopefully its not a poor reflection on Alfred and its teaching

[Bombers798891]

Saxon 8- maybe i am putting too much emphasis on the rankings---must be a pride thing...Fisher is ranked and that is great....the fact that they lost position by winning (albeit a lesser conference foe) is troubling.
We knew the polls would be tight, but I for one thought for sure that Fisher would jump at least 2 spots with Coe losing.
Oh well.
Next week is AU- so now saxon8 you are PNG!

I think what gets lost in our viewing of the aggregate poll (and I know how weird it feels for your team to gain votes, but drop spots) is that the poll is 25 seperate ballots.  So, Fisher wasn't ranked 18th on all of them last week and is suddenly 19th this week.  Voters may have had Alfred and Cortland ahead of Fisher and Wartburg last week, but Wartburg moved up more spots in the vaccuum left by top 25 losers than Fisher did.  On some ballots Fisher is likely ahead of Wartburg.  It's the cummulative affect of someone like Wartburg moving up 4 or 5 spots on a bunch of ballots compared to Fisher moving up 1 or 2 spots on those same ballots that affects the rankings we see.

And ANY undefeated team deserves a spot in the playoffs or else we're no better than the BCS.

Well put. It would be interesting to see the spread of votes for each team just to know what people are thinking. It could be that Fisher's got a smattering of votes from 15 to unranked or that they're all tightly bunched near 18-19. Regardless, they'll be in the playoffs with a chance to prove themselves soon enough.

[AlfredSaxon8]

Saxon 8- maybe i am putting too much emphasis on the rankings---must be a pride thing...Fisher is ranked and that is great....the fact that they lost position by winning (albeit a lesser conference foe) is troubling.
We knew the polls would be tight, but I for one thought for sure that Fisher would jump at least 2 spots with Coe losing.
Oh well.
Next week is AU- so now saxon8 you are PNG!

I think what gets lost in our viewing of the aggregate poll (and I know how weird it feels for your team to gain votes, but drop spots) is that the poll is 25 seperate ballots.  So, Fisher wasn't ranked 18th on all of them last week and is suddenly 19th this week.  Voters may have had Alfred and Cortland ahead of Fisher and Wartburg last week, but Wartburg moved up more spots in the vaccuum left by top 25 losers than Fisher did.  On some ballots Fisher is likely ahead of Wartburg.  It's the cummulative affect of someone like Wartburg moving up 4 or 5 spots on a bunch of ballots compared to Fisher moving up 1 or 2 spots on those same ballots that affects the rankings we see.

And ANY undefeated team deserves a spot in the playoffs or else we're no better than the BCS.

Well put. It would be interesting to see the spread of votes for each team just to know what people are thinking. It could be that Fisher's got a smattering of votes from 15 to unranked or that they're all tightly bunched near 18-19. Regardless, they'll be in the playoffs with a chance to prove themselves soon enough.

Luckily, on this level, all teams have a chance to prove themselves, regardless of whether people think its well deserved or not by their schedule.  Leaves it so that there's not much room for debate. 

Just a weird thought... How come Baseball has the most games but allows the least amount of teams in the playoffs?  You would think they could just limit the amount of regular season games and allow for more time for the playoffs?

But that brings me into the question... there are like 230 d-3 football teams right?  What if we limited the number of OOC games, cut the season by 1 game, and added another round to the playoffs, giving AQ's and such a bye for a week?

I think the playoff system is perfect the way it is.  There is NEVER a season where its disupted who derserves the National Championship.  But wouldn't it be cool to have some teams playing for a bye game and such and allowing some more teams into the first round?

[boobyhasgameyo]

Well we are finally at the week I have been waiting for.  Now, in a serious way guys, AU and Fisher rooters (and anyone else who is interested), what has changed between last season and this one that should drastically change any of our expectations about the outcome of this year's game compared to the last two seasons?

On Saxon Warriors

I'm sorry but you make it seem like Alfred has manhandled Fisher these past two years.  Your team won by a total of 6 points combined and last year you needed our return guy to fumble a punt return in the final minutes of the game in order to win.  Make no mistake your team is the underdog this week.