FB: Empire 8

[fisheralum91]

Forgot about that.
Same could be said about a few players..
Hell transfers happen all the time.
Its wierd when it happens in conference but what the hell.
The recruitment game is insane.
I look at Blaise and i think- UC is more expensive than Fisher, offers fewer programs, has poorer facilities and yet he is getting some good ball players.
That boy must have one hell of a sales pitch!

[dewcrew88]

I'm rooting for IC- Simply because I would like to see a year in which IC is strong, Fisher is strong, and AU is strong.  I want to see AU come out on top of the best in the E8.  I understand UC is gaining momentum but like said before, AU has never beat (minus the forfeit season) AU and SJF in the same year.  IC may not be as strong as in the past but they are still IC...

Yeah, you mentioned that whole "When Alfred beats IC, it's usually said that IC is down," but unfortunately although it may be a bit of a unfair hit to the AU team, it tends to be true. It also tends to be true for most teams that aren't Fisher or Cortland though. And really, doesn't that make sense? All teams are more likely to lose in down years. That's what makes them down years.

Yes but a "down year" for IC is 2-3 losses...  Down years for most schools are .500 or one game above.  For IC, a "down year" is losing to Fisher and AU and going to an ECAC game...

If IC lost to UC then it would it may call into question the dwindling strength of the E8.  Obvsiouly the other end of that would be the rising power of UC, but from an oustiders p.o.v, it would be a bad loss, not a good win.  

I think utica could get it done, if they have no mistakes.
from the UC website.

The Pioneers are 0-9 all-time against the Bombers in nine previous meetings. Last season Ithaca was ranked No. 20 in the nation when it traveled to Gaetano to square off against UC. The Pioneers opened up a 24-14 lead in the first half but five second half turnovers led to 13 points and a slim three point victory for the Bombers.

edit: 2000 posts!

[dewcrew88]

dewcrew wants to say that he's not sure if he should feel awkward or complimented that booby dreamed about one of my columns...

[fisheralum91]

dew----run away---run away!

that is creepy no two ways about it

[Touch The Rock]

I was personally pretty impressed with IC on my recruiting trip.  But, with that said, both of my parents went to IC, my father and cousin played at IC so it's extremely possible that I might be a touch, just a touch biased. 

The obvious reasons are the lack of facilities.  The locker room and weight room at IC are pretty awful in comparison to SJF and  C-State.  The new A&E center really has nothing to do with the football team.  I'm sure they'll be able to use the turf field in bad weather, but to my knowledge...that's about it. 

Price is definitely a factor.  But, there's plenty of schools with high tuition.  I think Hobart is upwards of like $52,000?  Price definitely factors, but I believe a lot of it has to do with academic affairs.   Coach Welch can't promise a kid that he can get in nor can he really speak to how much money they'll be getting.  I can't tell you the amount of kids that I "hosted" that the coaches really wanted that didn't come because of a lack of money.  I'm not saying that Academic Affairs has to reach out to the football team and let everyone in.  The difference is that when I was recruited by Coach Murray at Alfred, he called me the night after I met him and told me that I was in and an idea of the kind of money/aid I could get.  IC can just tell you that they want you. 

I had a buddy that visited IC and all of that.  He was set on IC and ready to commit.  He got a call right before he sent in his deposit from RPI and they offered him more money and a laptop.  He had no choice but to take the money/laptop. 

I think that’s a lot of it.  And of course, in recruiting, you’re going to miss sometimes.  IC missed out on a great talent like Robinson and that’s tough.  But, I’m sure it goes the other way too. 

[Bombers798891]

I think utica could get it done, if they have no mistakes.
from the UC website.

The Pioneers are 0-9 all-time against the Bombers in nine previous meetings. Last season Ithaca was ranked No. 20 in the nation when it traveled to Gaetano to square off against UC. The Pioneers opened up a 24-14 lead in the first half but five second half turnovers led to 13 points and a slim three point victory for the Bombers.

I think Utica matches up well with the Bombers, who struggle against good passing teams. And Benkwitt is really good. But can Utica defend it any better? Becker, Castleton State, St. Lawrence, Springfield and Wilkes are not going to pass on you. And Utica did just ok against RPI and not well at all against Bailey. So I'm not convinced IC won't be able to pass on them. I think both teams will struggle running the ball. Utica's got the better run game, but Ithaca defends it better. Neither team seems to have a back who is a home run threat.

Utica's secondary has allowed a 60% completion rate and has 6 picks and 13 breakups, IC's has allowed a 54% completion rate and had 11 picks and 31 breakups. The pass attempts aren't totally equal, but they aren't far enough off that those numbers aren't significant.

At home, I think the Bombers' secondary rises to the occasion and makes the plays Utica's hasn't this season. Similar to the Fisher game for the Pioneers...34-24 Bombers

[AUKaz00]

I think utica could get it done, if they have no mistakes.
from the UC website.

The Pioneers are 0-9 all-time against the Bombers in nine previous meetings. Last season Ithaca was ranked No. 20 in the nation when it traveled to Gaetano to square off against UC. The Pioneers opened up a 24-14 lead in the first half but five second half turnovers led to 13 points and a slim three point victory for the Bombers.

I think Utica matches up well with the Bombers, who struggle against good passing teams. And Benkwitt is really good. But can Utica defend it any better? Becker, Castleton State, St. Lawrence, Springfield and Wilkes are not going to pass on you. And Utica did just ok against RPI and not well at all against Bailey. So I'm not convinced IC won't be able to pass on them. I think both teams will struggle running the ball. Utica's got the better run game, but Ithaca defends it better. Neither team seems to have a back who is a home run threat.

Utica's secondary has allowed a 60% completion rate and has 6 picks and 13 breakups, IC's has allowed a 54% completion rate and had 11 picks and 31 breakups. The pass attempts aren't totally equal, but they aren't far enough off that those numbers aren't significant.

At home, I think the Bombers' secondary rises to the occasion and makes the plays Utica's hasn't this season. Similar to the Fisher game for the Pioneers...34-24 Bombers

You don't know what you're talking about, Bombers!  As a dedicated Pioneer fan, like my man DC, you haven't seen what makes this team tick.  The only reason the completion percentage is so high against our secondary is because we're dropping 80 on people every week!  Eventually our opposition has to air it out and against our third stringers they're bound to make a few catches.  Don't get me wrong, Ithaca's a good team so I think it'll be tough for us to break 60 this week, but I think we will.  63-31, Moose.  Book it.

And +K to my fellow Utica brother for reaching 2k.

[boobyhasgameyo]

dew----run away---run away!

that is creepy no two ways about it

muahahahahaahahahahahahaa

[Bombers798891]

I think utica could get it done, if they have no mistakes.
from the UC website.

The Pioneers are 0-9 all-time against the Bombers in nine previous meetings. Last season Ithaca was ranked No. 20 in the nation when it traveled to Gaetano to square off against UC. The Pioneers opened up a 24-14 lead in the first half but five second half turnovers led to 13 points and a slim three point victory for the Bombers.

I think Utica matches up well with the Bombers, who struggle against good passing teams. And Benkwitt is really good. But can Utica defend it any better? Becker, Castleton State, St. Lawrence, Springfield and Wilkes are not going to pass on you. And Utica did just ok against RPI and not well at all against Bailey. So I'm not convinced IC won't be able to pass on them. I think both teams will struggle running the ball. Utica's got the better run game, but Ithaca defends it better. Neither team seems to have a back who is a home run threat.

Utica's secondary has allowed a 60% completion rate and has 6 picks and 13 breakups, IC's has allowed a 54% completion rate and had 11 picks and 31 breakups. The pass attempts aren't totally equal, but they aren't far enough off that those numbers aren't significant.

At home, I think the Bombers' secondary rises to the occasion and makes the plays Utica's hasn't this season. Similar to the Fisher game for the Pioneers...34-24 Bombers

You don't know what you're talking about, Bombers!  As a dedicated Pioneer fan, like my man DC, you haven't seen what makes this team tick.  The only reason the completion percentage is so high against our secondary is because we're dropping 80 on people every week!  Eventually our opposition has to air it out and against our third stringers they're bound to make a few catches.  Don't get me wrong, Ithaca's a good team so I think it'll be tough for us to break 60 this week, but I think we will.  63-31, Moose.  Book it.

And +K to my fellow Utica brother for reaching 2k.

Haha I love the enthusiasm, despite believing none of it. Good luck to Utica this weekend

[maxpower]

Just one thing about this IC recruiting business:

IC has a certain arrogance about its fans and "aura," that's hard to argue.

But one person who definitely does not have any of that is Mike Welch. He has been nothing but a class act that has treated everyone with the utmost courtesy and respect in his time at IC, and I know he expects the same of his staff.

One other thing that is true is that recently Ithaca has limited its recruiting to people they KNOW are academically qualified to actually be offered admission. Now Ithaca obviously ain't no Cornell in this respect, but if you have a 950 on your SAT there is really no point in the coaches talking to you, and that might come through a bit.

I just wanted to make sure Welch got his due for being the guy he is.

[AUPepBand]

Just one thing about this IC recruiting business:

IC has a certain arrogance about its fans and "aura," that's hard to argue.

But one person who definitely does not have any of that is Mike Welch. He has been nothing but a class act that has treated everyone with the utmost courtesy and respect in his time at IC, and I know he expects the same of his staff.

One other thing that is true is that recently Ithaca has limited its recruiting to people they KNOW are academically qualified to actually be offered admission. Now Ithaca obviously ain't no Cornell in this respect, but if you have a 950 on your SAT there is really no point in the coaches talking to you, and that might come through a bit.

I just wanted to make sure Welch got his due for being the guy he is.

Pep will concur. Coach Welch is a class act. He had many years as an apprentice to your Hall of Fame Coach Jim Butterfield, who was also a class act. Pep is wondering how Lois is doing these days....haven't heard much about her in a few years. An AU fan/friend of Pep's had the pleasure of sitting next to Lois at an IC/AU game (the friend's daughter was enrolled at IC and there were no seats left on the AU side)... he told me, "Now there's a woman who knows her football."

[fisheralum91]

reg. rankings out and the only problem with the east region as I see it is where SUNY Maritime sits.
Call me a bit of a pessimist, but when you beat Mt. Ida by the skin of your teeth and have a schedule that might as well include sisters for the poor, I dont buy them ahead of CState at all...
The other regions are a complete farce...
Take a look at where UMU and UWW are.....Too funny

[Bombers798891]

reg. rankings out and the only problem with the east region as I see it is where SUNY Maritime sits.
Call me a bit of a pessimist, but when you beat Mt. Ida by the skin of your teeth and have a schedule that might as well include sisters for the poor, I dont buy them ahead of CState at all...
The other regions are a complete farce...
Take a look at where UMU and UWW are.....Too funny

Ok. but right now, who's Cortland beat? Six teams with a combined 11-31 record. Their best win was a 12-point victory over a Kean team that's going to be, at best, 6-4. If they beat Montclair, then we'll know how good they are, but they've hardly done anything more than beat "the blind sisters of the poor" themselves. Granted, they only lost to Rowan by three, but they're not awash in quality wins here.

[AUKaz00]

Pep was thinking....Rochester beat Worcester Tech, Worcester Tech beat RPI, RPI beat Alfred....then UR could very well hand the Saxons their second loss of the season.

I LIKE the way you think......

Ethelred, have you no love for family?

[AUPepBand]

Pep was thinking....Rochester beat Worcester Tech, Worcester Tech beat RPI, RPI beat Alfred....then UR could very well hand the Saxons their second loss of the season.

I LIKE the way you think......

Ethelred, have you no love for family?

Nice find, 'z00! You amaze Pep with your wit and wiki.answers. Bring on dem Yellowjackets!