FB: Empire 8

[labart96]

Cards- I would be amped for the upcoming season if i had a single clue what to expect from Fisher this fall
Did they have spring workouts?
Are we going to go thru a "down" year.
I know that once that smell is in the air ill be amped- but for now- im working on getting my handicap back to respectable figures!!

From what I can remember from seeing the Fisher-Hobart game is that virtually everyone on SJFC's roster were underclassmen (i.e., either JRs or SOs last season, so most guys are back as SRs and JRs this year), save for Bailey. 

Now Bailey's shoes will be tough to fill, but with their RB, OL and most other areas intact, I'd have to think the Cards will be in the mix for the E8 title this fall....

[Bombers798891]

Cards- I would be amped for the upcoming season if i had a single clue what to expect from Fisher this fall
Did they have spring workouts?
Are we going to go thru a "down" year.
I know that once that smell is in the air ill be amped- but for now- im working on getting my handicap back to respectable figures!!

From what I can remember from seeing the Fisher-Hobart game is that virtually everyone on SJFC's roster were underclassmen (i.e., either JRs or SOs last season, so most guys are back as SRs and JRs this year), save for Bailey. 

Now Bailey's shoes will be tough to fill, but with their RB, OL and most other areas intact, I'd have to think the Cards will be in the mix for the E8 title this fall....

Isn't Fisher losing a lot on the lines?

On offense, Fotia, Soehner, Perrone, and Lowney were all seniors...aren't all of those guys starters?

Granted, Fisher's going to be good anyway, but I feel like there's some OL turnover

[Bombers798891]

Bombers should have an interesting season. They're (as usual) flat-out loaded at linebacker. In a surprising twist, the corners are actually the strength of the secondary--it's usually the safeties, but that position looks shaky. The defensive line loses some talent, but I'd suspect that the Bombers will use their linebackers in some spots.

The less said about the offense the better. Word is that the Bombers have over-corrected the problem at offensive line in recruiting, but are any of them going to be impact guys this season?

Losing Zappia (who was better than expected), plus every receiver of significance is a major concern. The running game is a black hole right now. Ardoin had two carries of over 20 yards last season. I know the line was an issue, but there's no speed in the IC back field at all. I say stick Carter back there. He was a RB in high school (partly) and it's not like IC doesn't have 75 good linebackers already

Ithaca's kind of always been an offensive-minded team, but this season, the defense is going to need to be a strength.

[labart96]

Cards- I would be amped for the upcoming season if i had a single clue what to expect from Fisher this fall
Did they have spring workouts?
Are we going to go thru a "down" year.
I know that once that smell is in the air ill be amped- but for now- im working on getting my handicap back to respectable figures!!

From what I can remember from seeing the Fisher-Hobart game is that virtually everyone on SJFC's roster were underclassmen (i.e., either JRs or SOs last season, so most guys are back as SRs and JRs this year), save for Bailey. 

Now Bailey's shoes will be tough to fill, but with their RB, OL and most other areas intact, I'd have to think the Cards will be in the mix for the E8 title this fall....

Isn't Fisher losing a lot on the lines?

On offense, Fotia, Soehner, Perrone, and Lowney were all seniors...aren't all of those guys starters?

Granted, Fisher's going to be good anyway, but I feel like there's some OL turnover

You are correct in that there is a good deal of OL turnover.  I checked the 2010 roster and Fisher had ~17 SRs, 8 of which were OL.

That said SJFC does have 8 OL-men coming back (Wentworth, Cooper, Spacher, Cotungo, Best, Balcerzak, Murphy and Maloney) which seems like a decent core to me....

Also have to assume they will have a several guys coming in as FY.

[fisheralum91]

I knew that the O line was going to get killed.
RB looks good  - depending on how they use Kramer this year.
Loss of Bailey is a tough one.
There is talent in the kids coming back- dont get me wrong.
I just hope for the best- but dont have those crazy expectations that I had last year.............Now back to geting my handicap to ten!

[labart96]

I knew that the O line was going to get killed.
RB looks good  - depending on how they use Kramer this year.
Loss of Bailey is a tough one.
There is talent in the kids coming back- dont get me wrong.
I just hope for the best- but dont have those crazy expectations that I had last year.............Now back to geting my handicap to ten!

Not sure the OL gets "killed" given one of the returning guys, Balcerzak was a starter and an AA OT (3rd team but still)....

But it does seem there will be t/o at other positions if guys like Perrone, Lowney, etc. were starters.

[fisheralum91]

TGP
One side note---your RB is gonna be sick this year.
Saw him at the Fisher game.
He is going to light up some defenses this fall!

[labart96]

TGP
One side note---your RB is gonna be sick this year.
Saw him at the Fisher game.
He is going to light up some defenses this fall!

Webb?  Yeah #34 had a fantastic game vs. the Cards that night (pretty much the only Hobart player who was able to do anything well that game).  That said he has room for improvement.  He was bottled up the next week @ SLU.  Only had ~50 yards until late in the 4th qtr when he ripped off a 26 yd TD run (which should have won Hobart the game  ).

Still Webb will be a key cog in the Statesmen offense for sure. 

[Bombers798891]

I knew that the O line was going to get killed.
RB looks good  - depending on how they use Kramer this year.
Loss of Bailey is a tough one.
There is talent in the kids coming back- dont get me wrong.
I just hope for the best- but dont have those crazy expectations that I had last year.............Now back to geting my handicap to ten!

Not sure the OL gets "killed" given one of the returning guys, Balcerzak was a starter and an AA OT (3rd team but still)....

But it does seem there will be t/o at other positions if guys like Perrone, Lowney, etc. were starters.

One of the things I've wondered, and obviously have no first-hand knowledge of, is how much of an individual's o-line play can be affected by the guys around him. It's a little more obvious at say, WR or CB where you might have a guy who spent a year against other teams #2's now going against #1's. But does O-line work the same way?

What's the QB situation? Leader in the clubhouse? Darkhorse? Am I the only guy who thinks Ryan Francis has been on Fisher for like, 10 seasons? I'm not being a hater or anything, I have the same inkling about Spence White at IC. Francis just seams like one of those guys...

[fisheralum91]

No inside track here on the cards- just hoping that QB gets worked out early and they can get focused.
In my humble opinion there is nothing worse for college football than using a mutliple qb system.  Just doesnt work, and I hope that Fisher doesnt try to use it again.   That said- you are right about Francis---tho it has been great having him play so well for so long!

[AUPepBand]

Yay! Stuff to read! That Francis kid has only been around for two seasons but last year was responsible for advancing the ball 150 yards per game for the Cardinals.

Pep remembers such a WR at Alfred back in the late 80s. Seemed like he was catching passes for six years or so. But maybe his premature balding had something to do with that.

On Saxon Warriors! +K to all the posters for giving Pep some reading material!

[Bombers798891]

Yay! Stuff to read! That Francis kid has only been around for two seasons but last year was responsible for advancing the ball 150 yards per game for the Cardinals.

Pep remembers such a WR at Alfred back in the late 80s. Seemed like he was catching passes for six years or so. But maybe his premature balding had something to do with that.

On Saxon Warriors! +K to all the posters for giving Pep some reading material!

In the spirit of giving Pep something to read, please throw out any other, "Man, that guy is *still* here?" nominees. I always felt like every Springfield QB ever was around for a decade or so...

[labart96]

Hey Pep -

Here's more reading material....

http://cityliving.whec.com/news/news/east-high-senior-michael-perkins-play-football-alfred-university/50171

http://oneontafootball1925.vnsports.com/news/article.asp?id=300866

http://www.uticaod.com/blogs/sports/moshier/x1700914679/New-York-Mills-the-CSC-Division-III-baseball-favorite

http://www.brightonpittsfordpost.com/feature/x230259061/Football-Four-Pittsford-players-to-continue-careers

Would think AU should have a great recruiting class after their run in 2010....

[Doid23]

http://cityliving.whec.com/news/news/east-high-senior-michael-perkins-play-football-alfred-university/50171

East High Orientals? Really?

[sjfcards]

Cards- I would be amped for the upcoming season if i had a single clue what to expect from Fisher this fall
Did they have spring workouts?
Are we going to go thru a "down" year.
I know that once that smell is in the air ill be amped- but for now- im working on getting my handicap back to respectable figures!!

From what I can remember from seeing the Fisher-Hobart game is that virtually everyone on SJFC's roster were underclassmen (i.e., either JRs or SOs last season, so most guys are back as SRs and JRs this year), save for Bailey. 

Now Bailey's shoes will be tough to fill, but with their RB, OL and most other areas intact, I'd have to think the Cards will be in the mix for the E8 title this fall....

I love the way you think! Fisher needs to answer some questions at OL, DL and QB, but I am cautiously optimistic. Fisher has had success in the past with replacing lineman, and if I remember there were a few options at QB (my early money is on Kramer, butbwe will see how that plays out).

Gotta love a little football talk in April. Anyone have more info on what Fisher or anyone else has?