FB: Empire 8

[msarge7]

I hope that E8 team is AU again next year!  I listened to the game on the broadcast from Canisteo.  It sounded like the defense played very well.  The offense kep them on the field too much to have a chan ce for a win.  Great season!  I look forward to seeing a few more games next year.  ON SAXON WARRIORS!

[maxpower]

Where's Pep with a recap?

[HScoach]

Where's Pep with a recap?

I'm very curious to hear it too.

[skunks_sidekick]

Where's Pep with a recap?

I'm very curious to hear it too.

Hopefully, he is not nursing his baby back to health somewhere along the freeway.

[AUPepBand]

Hard for Pep to gather his thoughts, but off we go.... Pep is proud of the Saxons for the effort they put forth yesterday at Mount Union Stadium and was delighted with all the Saxon fans who made the trip to cheer on our team. Saxons have every reason to stand proud and pleased for just an outstanding season, far surpassing many's expectations! Many thought a 7-3 record would be a success, given the "Mandrix" factor....so 5-0 in the E8 and 10-3 overall was outstanding! Hard work has its rewards!

Pep could see early in Saterday's game that the AU offense, while unstoppable of late, had met an immovable object. The Mount Union defense was just superb, controlling the line of scrimmage and being quick to the ball thereby breaking up any short pass routes. Secky, understandably, had a difficult time finding open receivers but delivered a nice 34-yard pass to Phillips on the run for the TD, culminating an 80-yard march that included a 33-yard pass to McCloud . Pep was thrilled at that moment that 1) the band could play the fight song 2) the Saxons were within 3 points of Mount Union in the second quarter and 3) that he hadn't pigged out at a brunch before the game.

On the other side of the  ball, AU's defense was stellar and came to play. Pep was delighted when on a 4th-and-1 from the Alfred 23, Mt. Union aired it out to Shorts who appeared open but #1 Jon Jackson (who come out of nowhere to become a stalwart in the secondary) closed quickly and had a nice pass break-up to prevent a likely score. Then, following a Shorts punt return to the Saxon 10, O'Brien got a pick in the end zone to thwart another Raider red zone opportunity. AU's offense then put together an 80-yard drive, giving the Saxon faithful some hope with  the score 10-7. And that was about it.

While Pep wished more band members could have made the trip, nevertheless, it was a good time interacting with Mount Union fans seated around us. Pep was impressed with the Mount Union Marching Band. They played much more through the game than Pep had anticipated. Kudos for the tunes for the season. Well done!   Pep found the Mount Union folks most hospitable. Apparently, a small set of bleachers had even been placed on the track near the end zone for our band. Pep is much more comfortable in the stands with the fans. It was good to meet seventiesraider and theaprof! And, following the game, the band journeyed over to the Wings Warehouse....nice! Heck, even Coach Kehres had some nice things to say about our team:

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2010/12/defensive_dominance_keeps_moun.html

Traveling down and back on Saterday was tiring....the trip to Alliance was slowed by snow-covered highways  from Salamanca to just south of Erie...and a certain tuba player got us off to a slow start by oversleeping (do you call it that when he's pulled an all-nighter only to fall asleep ten minutes before he's supposed to leave?). We therefore arrived in time to grab a parking spot behind the visitor stands but not early enough to partake of the Dining Hall Brunch.

Pep appreciates all the Mount posters' kind observations and assessments of the Saxons. This truly was a special season--warts and all!  Pep is hoping with the young talent on this squad that Alfred will make some noise for some time to come. Stay tuned!

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

I am just getting back onto the boards after being away all weekend. I was not able to follow any of the AU/MUC game, but from what I can tell AU has nothing to hang their heads about. 37-7 against MUC is not that bad of a result (considering who you are playing), and making it this deep into the playoffs is a nice step forward for the program. Congrats to all the AU players, coaches, and fans.

Do AU fans think this MUC team is as good as some of the past National Championship teams? They have looked good of late. I will be interested to see how next weeks go.  

[AUKaz00]

I had saved my 1000th post for the chance of the miraculous upset.  Alas, it was not meant to be.  However, everything about our trip on saterday had me in high spirits.  The weather was nicer than the previous week, we saw that the Saxon defense was up to playing at the level of a truly great team, the fans were receptive to our goofy little band and the Wing Warehouse lived up to its billing.  Whether this was a just an enjoyable playoff run or something Alfred can build off of will be played out next year, though my expectations are higher than the 7-3 and an ECAC bid I was hoping for in August.

So, thanks Saxons for entertaining me these past 3 1/2 months, thanks Mount Union for your hospitality and kind words, and thanks for all the support from the rest of the region.

Now, let's keep Mount out of the East next year!
On Saxon Warriors!!!

[maxpower]

Congrats on 1000 and a great year. +k.

[bomber3]

Vongrats to Alfred on their playoff run.  Being one of the final 8 teams playing is quite an accomplishment..

[seventiesraider]

[AUPepBand]

Every dog looks better wearing an AU Pep Bandanna. Best $5 investment seventiesraider has ever made!

+K and, oh yeah, Go Raiders and ON SAXON WARRIORS!

[fisheralum91]

Congrats to Tim Bailey- All East region Offensive POY!!!!!!

[Yanks 99]

Congrats to Tim Bailey- All East region Offensive POY!!!!!!

Agreed...Bailey was a hell of a player, and as Hartwick fan I can without question say I am glad that he is FINALLY gone!!!

I was curious about the East Region write up though?  Under Bailey's part, the article states "He ran for 369 more with four scores for the Cardinals, who won two Division III playoff games for the first time in program history."  What does that even mean?  First, because SJFC didn't make the NCAA's this season, and second, are we forgetting the back to back Final 4 and Elite 8 runs a few years back already?

I was marginally surprised by the SUNY-Maritime coach being named East Region coach of the year.  Unless the voting was complete before the playoffs started, I thought that SUNY-Maritime's powder puff schedule was completely exposed by Alfred...

[AUPepBand]

Congrats to Tim Bailey- All East region Offensive POY!!!!!!

Agreed...Bailey was a hell of a player, and as Hartwick fan I can without question say I am glad that he is FINALLY gone!!!

I was curious about the East Region write up though?  Under Bailey's part, the article states "He ran for 369 more with four scores for the Cardinals, who won two Division III playoff games for the first time in program history."  What does that mean?  First, because SJFC didn't make the NCAA's this season, and second, are we forgetting the back to back Final 4 and Elite 8 runs a few years back already?

I was marginally surprised by the SUNY-Maritime coach being named East Region coach of the year.  Unless the voting was complete before the playoffs started, I thought that SUNY-Maritime's powder puff schedule was completely exposed by Alfred...

Did someone perhaps think Bailey played for Alfred? Congratulations to Tim Bailey, just an outstanding QB out of East Aurora, from whence came an AU quarterback a while back...Todd Zandrowicz!

As for the selection of SUNY Maritime Coach Kendrick-Holmes as Coach of the Year, Pep has his own ideas but Kendrick-Holmes is well deserving of the honor, having rebuilt a football program out of nothing...and his team won every game on their regular season schedule. Jst an outstanding job, and (perhaps this entered the minds of those who voted) he's now serving his country, to be deployed to Afghanistan. Pep offers Coach Kendrick-Holmes his congratulations and godspeed!

On Saxon Warriors!

[Yanks 99]

Congrats to Tim Bailey- All East region Offensive POY!!!!!!

Agreed...Bailey was a hell of a player, and as Hartwick fan I can without question say I am glad that he is FINALLY gone!!!

I was curious about the East Region write up though?  Under Bailey's part, the article states "He ran for 369 more with four scores for the Cardinals, who won two Division III playoff games for the first time in program history."  What does that mean?  First, because SJFC didn't make the NCAA's this season, and second, are we forgetting the back to back Final 4 and Elite 8 runs a few years back already?

I was marginally surprised by the SUNY-Maritime coach being named East Region coach of the year.  Unless the voting was complete before the playoffs started, I thought that SUNY-Maritime's powder puff schedule was completely exposed by Alfred...

Did someone perhaps think Bailey played for Alfred? Congratulations to Tim Bailey, just an outstanding QB out of East Aurora, from whence came an AU quarterback a while back...Todd Zandrowicz!

As for the selection of SUNY Maritime Coach Kendrick-Holmes as Coach of the Year, Pep has his own ideas but Kendrick-Holmes is well deserving of the honor, having rebuilt a football program out of nothing...and his team won every game on their regular season schedule. Jst an outstanding job, and (perhaps this entered the minds of those who voted) he's now serving his country, to be deployed to Afghanistan. Pep offers Coach Kendrick-Holmes his congratulations and godspeed!

On Saxon Warriors!

Makes sense Pep, on the whole "won two Division III playoff games" thing.  Didn't even think about that.  Bailey was a stud though, and completely deserved the honor.

Still not sold on the SUNY-Maritime Coach of the Year thing...but I guess that is my ECFC/NEFC bias in general.  Not sure how "outstanding" it is to win all of your games in that league right now.  I watched the first half of the Alfred / SUNY-Maritime game...and had to shut it off when it was 50-0 at half.  If that is the "best" of what the ECFC has to offer, I just cannot take any of their accomplishments that seriously.  Outside looking in though, I agree with you and am guessing that the deployment scenario helped his cause.  Like you, I wish him a safe deployment, and a quick return.