FB: Empire 8

[AlfredSaxon8]

Does anybody consider either of the last two games between Fisher and AU a shootout?

On Saxon Warriors!!

I wasn't considering the past games shootouts except in 08 but when you have two very skilled teams, its always has the potential to be a shootout and that's what Alfred has to avoid. 

[theoriginalupstate]

I'm not disputing that but how many players of the year does Fisher have on this year's offense? All American's?  That's all I'm saying.  That's what I'm going off of.  Yes, I understand they are media awards but you are downplaying the capability of those teams in the past and hyping a relatively new offense that is, to me, not quite proven. 

Beat Alfred.  Prove me wrong.  But AU in 07 smacked around teams really well until we went to Hobart, Ithaca and Fisher.  Their offense was "not quite ticking" either and still putting up 40 points a game. 

Their LT was a preseason AA, their C and RT (who has been injured the past 3 games) are probably first team all conference, Bailey is having a spectacular year and a definite candidate for East Region and E8 POY. 

[AlfredSaxon8]

I'm not disputing that but how many players of the year does Fisher have on this year's offense? All American's?  That's all I'm saying.  That's what I'm going off of.  Yes, I understand they are media awards but you are downplaying the capability of those teams in the past and hyping a relatively new offense that is, to me, not quite proven. 

Beat Alfred.  Prove me wrong.  But AU in 07 smacked around teams really well until we went to Hobart, Ithaca and Fisher.  Their offense was "not quite ticking" either and still putting up 40 points a game. 

Their LT was a preseason AA, their C and RT (who has been injured the past 3 games) are probably first team all conference, Bailey is having a spectacular year and a definite candidate for East Region and E8 POY. 

Keeley and Hendrix in 07 were having spectacular years until the last three games of the season...

And didn't the Fisher offense in 05 and 06 have that OT All American Brennan Fortune?

[sjfcards]

Sax8- If AU holds Fisher to 13 then I will throw out my new Fisher Alumni hat.


And oh btw- it is my new fav. hat so it is going noplace.....because there is NO way Fisher scores under 2 tds

I was just going to say...He is predicting Alfred will hold Fisher's offense to a lower point total than what Hartwick, RPI, Frostburg State, St. Lawrence and Springfield put up against them.

That's one theory...

I've seen better Fisher offenses put up less points...

No you really haven't

The one time Alfred held Fisher to under two scores this decade was in 2005 and this offense is certainly better than that one. 

I still stay with my prediction.  Its how I see AU's gameplan working out.  They aren't going to let it turn into a shootout.  Alfred has an incredible offense but whats impressive about them is that they can seemingly choose which way they want to gameplan.  They aren't 1 dimensional like most teams (not saying Fisher is) but I really see them giving Fisher's Offense very few opportunities.  

I appreciate the gameplan you have come up with ( I actually think it is the best way to stay with Fisher) but what you may be missing is that the Fisher offense does not need many opportunities or a lot of time on the field to score a bunch of points. When they get the ball they go score, usually quickly. I think AU will hold Fisher down some because of the gameplan you spelled out, but Fisher will still be able to score points. They are just really tough to stop on offense.

IMHO I think AU's best chance is to ball hawk a little, and try to create some turnovers to frustrate the Fisher offense, and create some easy scores for the AU O.

[theoriginalupstate]

Just for the record, none of the fans are discounting or disrespecting AU.  We all know it's going to be Fisher's toughest game to date.  Considering AU has basically knocked SJF out of the playoffs the past two years no one is taking this game lightly. 

[sjfcards]

Just for the record, none of the fans are discounting or disrespecting AU.  We all know it's going to be Fisher's toughest game to date.  Considering AU has basically knocked SJF out of the playoffs the past two years no one is taking this game lightly. 

Absolutely not. AU has always been a tough test for Fisher, and I don't see why this year will be any different.

[fisheralum91]

Yes Brennan was on that team.
Great All american- went to the Aztec bowl as well.

At the end of the year there are going to be many accolades for this offense.
No doubt about it.
one that sticks out is:
POY- Bailey
book it

[fisheralum91]

Please- I agree---this is going to make or break Fishers year.
I understand that AU might be pissed that they got beat by an RPI team that is having a down year, but AU has ruined Fishers season twice- dont think for a minute that those thoughts arent fresh wounds for the entire team!

[sjfcards]

Please- I agree---this is going to make or break Fishers year.
I understand that AU might be pissed that they got beat by an RPI team that is having a down year, but AU has ruined Fishers season twice- dont think for a minute that those thoughts arent fresh wounds for the entire team!

Let's hope so. Last year I can live with. Fisher lost to what I considered a better team (the best in the conference last year IMHO). But the year before that, when Fisher was handed a huge gift from Hartwick when the Hawks lost to a 4-6 SC team, and made the Fisher/AU game a conference championship game for the AQ. Fisher scored the touchdown they needed, and only had to kick an extra point to win the AQ. AU blocks it, and the rest is history.

I was sure that Fisher would play out of their minds that game, considering they were basicallly given a second chance at their season. Give credit to AU, they won the game, but hopefully that game still angers the players on the team like it fires me up.

[fisheralum91]

hell it angers me now!
friggin pat...
god
glad that seems turned around...
Vos taking over st has made a difference!

[Yanks 99]

Yes Brennan was on that team.
Great All american- went to the Aztec bowl as well.

At the end of the year there are going to be many accolades for this offense.
No doubt about it.
one that sticks out is:
POY- Bailey
book it

If/when Fisher gets the AQ (by beating Alfred), Bailey is the easy choice for POY.  The only one that can even come close to catching him is Secky...

[Bombers798891]

Yes Brennan was on that team.
Great All american- went to the Aztec bowl as well.

At the end of the year there are going to be many accolades for this offense.
No doubt about it.
one that sticks out is:
POY- Bailey
book it

If/when Fisher gets the AQ (by beating Alfred), Bailey is the easy choice for POY.  The only one that can even come close to catching him is Secky...

Bailey is POY regardless. A 25/5 TD/INT ratio and 286 yards per game vs. 13/9 and 233 with identical comp %'s? And we're calling this a debate? Benkwitt's having a better year than Secky. Heck, Zappia's not that far off from him. The completion percentage is much worse, but the interception total is much lower and the yardage total is identical.

Secky's the third best QB in the conference right now. Bailey is the clear player of the year.

[AlfredSaxon8]

Yes Brennan was on that team.
Great All american- went to the Aztec bowl as well.

At the end of the year there are going to be many accolades for this offense.
No doubt about it.
one that sticks out is:
POY- Bailey
book it

If/when Fisher gets the AQ (by beating Alfred), Bailey is the easy choice for POY.  The only one that can even come close to catching him is Secky...

Secky is having a down year in regards to turnovers.  I think the loss of Manzer may have something to do with that.  

I'm not taking any disrespect to the Fisher comments.  I guess I just dont feel like that are substantially different (simply from what I've experienced) than Fisher teams in the past, that's all.  They very well could be, no doubt about that.  But like I said.  Fisher usually romps people anyways and lately they've really given it to Ithaca.  So I guess I haven't seen a proving ground for this years team, that's all I'm saying.  

Then again, losing to RPI maybe could be Alfred's proving ground.  I dont know.  I just keep hearing how incredible Fisher's offense is and I think it's very realistic that they could have a bad game or be held back from the success they've seen in past games.  That's all. I'm trying to be realistic, not saying it is 100% going to happen.  Just saying I think its possible. Offense is spotty deal.  Execution is vital and 1 or 2 negative plays on offense could set the tone for the whole game.  

[fisheralum91]

i do enjoy this hype for the game!
i am wondering tho
isnt the RPI team that beat AU the same team that got shelled by UC?
dont know what to take from that

[Yanks 99]

Yes Brennan was on that team.
Great All american- went to the Aztec bowl as well.

At the end of the year there are going to be many accolades for this offense.
No doubt about it.
one that sticks out is:
POY- Bailey
book it

If/when Fisher gets the AQ (by beating Alfred), Bailey is the easy choice for POY.  The only one that can even come close to catching him is Secky...

Bailey is POY regardless. A 25/5 TD/INT ratio and 286 yards per game vs. 13/9 and 233 with identical comp %'s? And we're calling this a debate? Benkwitt's having a better year than Secky. Heck, Zappia's not that far off from him. The completion percentage is much worse, but the interception total is much lower and the yardage total is identical.

Secky's the third best QB in the conference right now. Bailey is the clear player of the year.

I am not disagreeing...the only reason I am not announcing him as the winner yet is because there is still a few football games left to play.  What happens if Alfred runs the table in the E8 (which includes beating SJF), and then SJF gets upset again by Springfield?  It's really, really unlikely that will happen...but if the above scenario occurs, and Secky has ridiculous numbers the rest of the way, and Bailey (as unlikely as it would be) tails off and has average stats in two conference losses...who would you vote for then?

Just saying...that's all.  My vote today is easily Bailey...but there is still a ton of football left.  When (if) Bailey and SJF beat Alfred...you can pretty much call the guy that engraves the POY trophy and make sure that he spells Bailey with an "e"...