FB: Empire 8

[fisher57]

I thought I would share this with everyone as I have been meaning to for quite some time.   It was written by an athlete at Cornell College in Iowa, (not sure when), but paints a pretty good picture of what most everyone here experienced.... enjoy:
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                                                         Why We Play Division III Athletics

It's not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making SportsCenter.  It's a deep need in us that comes from the heart.   We need to practice, to play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat.   We do it all for our teammates and for the student in our calculus class that we don't even know.   We don't practice with a future major league first baseman; we practice with a future sports agent.   We don't lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor.  We don't run with a future Wimdeldon champion; we run with a future CEO.  It's a bigger part of us that our friends and family can understand.   Sometimes we play for 2,000 fans, sometimes 25.   But we still play hard.   You cheer for us because you know us.   You know more than just our names.  Like all of you, we are students first.   We don't sign autographs.  But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams and student body petitions.   When we miss a kick or strike out, we don't let down and entire state.  We only let down our teammates, coaches and fans.   But the hurt is still the same.  We train hard, lift, throw, run, kick, tackle, shoot, dribble and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class.   And in that class we are nothing more than students.  It's about pride in ourselves, in our school.   It's about our love and passion for the game.   And when it's over, when we talk off of that court or field for the last time, our hearts crumble.  Those tears are for real.  But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves.   We will forever be what very few can claim... college athletes.

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I hope you enjoyed.

[Bombers798891]

Upstate -

Yes, I'm serious.  If this team goes 8-2 who says they can't get in.  The 2008 team got in with two losses.  I know other things have to fall in place but I've stated before that with their schedule they deserve a bid if they go 8-2.  Winning 80% of your games (including possibly beating 3 conference champions) with a top 10 in the nation SOS would warrant an at large bid. They also have a shot at the league AQ if Springfield wins @ Fisher and IC beats Alfred.  So yes dude, seriously.

They are not getting in with a pool C if they go 8-2, just stop with the dreaming now...

It's AQ or bust, and that's a longshot at best...

unfortunately, its a heck of alot more likely than any of us thought UR beating AU at Merrill was...

Yeah, but Springfield's not that tough. To me, the tricky part isn't IC beating Alfred. The way both teams are playing, Ithaca's got a shot. But Springfield over Fisher? Not looking good.

[maxpower]

Anybody else starting to get sick of all the UMU talk in the Playoff board? We get it, it sucks that they have to come over. Maybe one year it won't happen.

[theoriginalupstate]

Anybody else starting to get sick of all the UMU talk in the Playoff board? We get it, it sucks that they have to come over. Maybe one year it won't happen.

It's a pointless argument honestly...

It's the East's fault and no one elses...

It's DVC's fault for losing to Wesley...

It's Fisher fault for not beating AU...

It's AU's fault for losing to RPI and UR...

It's Rowan's fault for losing to Montclair...

It's Corltand's fault for losing to Rowan...

It's Montclair's fault for losing to Cortland...

It's the LL's fault for sucking all together...

If one (just ONE and not ALL of them or a combination of them) of those teams just would get their act together and win out this wouldn't be an issue...

[maxpower]

At least it's not Ithaca's fault!

[theoriginalupstate]

At least it's not Ithaca's fault!

There's a bright side to everything!

[Bombers798891]

Alright, so let's talk E8 playoffs. Fisher probably snares a Pool C with a win, and they're usually good against Springfield...any chance for an upset?

Ithaca/AU: Can Alfred shake off one of the most confounding losses by an E8 team in recent memory and beat their "nemesis"? Can Ithaca continue their trend of peaking late in seasons?

Has Utica arrived? (Kidding)

[maxpower]

I spent the last week or so wondering who SJF is playing after Springfield, went to look it up.... it's nobody! I didn't realize Fisher hadn't had a bye week all year. On the one hand, that's gotta be brutal right around now (and maybe SC's only chance), but on the other hand, if you're fairly confident you're going to the playoffs, how nice is it to have a bye right before?

[Jonny Utah]

I spent the last week or so wondering who SJF is playing after Springfield, went to look it up.... it's nobody! I didn't realize Fisher hadn't had a bye week all year. On the one hand, that's gotta be brutal right around now (and maybe SC's only chance), but on the other hand, if you're fairly confident you're going to the playoffs, how nice is it to have a bye right before?

Let's hope this is true in more ways than one!

[sjfcards]

I spent the last week or so wondering who SJF is playing after Springfield, went to look it up.... it's nobody! I didn't realize Fisher hadn't had a bye week all year. On the one hand, that's gotta be brutal right around now (and maybe SC's only chance), but on the other hand, if you're fairly confident you're going to the playoffs, how nice is it to have a bye right before?

Yeah, it will be very nice if Fisher gets into the playoffs, but I think the lack of a bye has really hurt them the last two weeks. The players being out have been talked about here. With Borum out it is a very different offense (I think Borum being out made a huge difference against AU), this week they lost one of the better wide outs in the conference, and were missing a starting O lineman yesterday. But the nagging injuries that players may be playing with are probably making it tough as well. Fisher has not played well the last two weeks and I think a lot of that is due to players feeling the effects of no bye.

Now if they can beat SC and get into the playoffs, then they can really use the bye week as a chance to get healthy and ready for whoever comes next.

[fisheralum91]

Cards- I thought that the Francis injury was just a tweaked ankle and that he would be back for SC.....

[sjfcards]

Cards- I thought that the Francis injury was just a tweaked ankle and that he would be back for SC.....

I hope so. I really don't know what the injury is. I was speaking more to the fact that they had to play most of the Frostburg game without him. Anyone that knows what the injury report is for Fisher, and wants to give me a heads up, I would really appreciate it.  

[fisheralum91]

well,
according to the broadcast yesterday, Tim Bailey said he talked to Ryan and he said that it was a tweaked ankle and would be back next week........

[sjfcards]

Nice to hear. He didn't look like he was in too much pain yesterday, but he was in the walking boot. I am more interested in Borum to be honest. I had heard it was just a strained muscle and that he would not be out very long. I am assuming that Fisher figured they could beat Frostburg without him, and that he will be back for the SC game next week, but maybe I am just hoping for that. Without Borum that SC game really scares me.

[sjfcards]

OK, so what is going to be the key to IC beating AU, or AU beating IC? I know what I am rooting for as a Fisher fan, but I would love to hear what some IC and AU fans have to say about it. IC looked good yesterday, and AU, well you know. What can I expect?