FB: Empire 8

[AUSaxons]

Don't forget the political science department, pep! 

As for the transfers, my big question is why are all of these runningbacks suddenly coming into the fold at Alfred? AU returns all 3 of their top 3 runningbacks from last year, their "Short yardage" back in Clark, Chuck Beckwith comes back from injury (some AU fans might remember his performance in the scrimmage of 2009), Dwyer and Lopez both had VERY good years last year....so why are there 2 all state runningbacks and 2 relatively high profile runningback transfers coming here? I dont think there is one position on the entire team where the depth chart is as set for as long as runningback. This would probably put alfred 4 or 5 deep in terms of runningbacks who have been effective in game situations, and that doesnt even count the recruits!

I think they're looking to move a lot of these kids to Wide Reciever in search of a big athletic kid who can catch. AU didnt lose much from their passing game in terms of numbers, but the loss of Ryan Thon is the loss of 15 of AU's 28 passing TD's last year and nearly 1,000 recieving yards. Alfred needs to find somebody, whether it is on the team now or a recruit. If Alfred cannot find someone to help replace Thon's production, the offense will become too dependent on the short passing game and risks becoming anemic at times. I believe Phillips or McCloud could fill this role, but the fact remains that as of RIGHT NOW, AU is missing a deep threat.

[AUPepBand]

This message board is a great microcosm for owners wondering why their expansion teams don't have any fans; it has little to do with interest in the sport, and more to do with whether the team is, you know, doing well. When I joined the E8 board in 2006, it was mostly IC posters, with some Fisher guys poking their heads in, and one or two mainstays from AU (won't mention any names), plus DC and PG. A couple good seasons for Alfred, some disappointment for Fisher and IC, and look at the dynamic now.

You mean Pep and Kaz00?    Been on these boards since Sept. 2005, shortly after they began. AU has been competitive throughout:
2005: 9-2 (5-1)
2006: 8-3 (4-2)
2007: 8-3 (4-2)
2008: 7-4 (4-2)
2009: 8-2 (4-1)
2010: 10-3 (5-0)

Were the Saxons for some reason to suddenly fall apart in 2011 and finish, say, 4-6, sorry guys, Pep will still be around. Pep has not forgotten those 4-6, 5-5 seasons, since the pep band started in fall 1999 as a kazoo band and added "other instruments" in fall 2000.

Pep is no bandwagon fan. Actually, Pep drives the bandwagon!  

[maxpower]

I should probably be clear that I wasn't trying to say anything about fans of any particular team... hell to be on this board at all at any point you have to be pretty devoted.

[Frank Rossi]

So I opened the database we receive from the "Home Office" in Minnesota for Top 25 voting, and I noticed Alfred has only 5 of 11 starters back on offense (2OL, 1QB, 1RB, 1WR, 0TE).  Now, granted, 9 are returning on a pretty good defense.  However, I'm somewhat curious to ask how this affects the overall posture of prognostication as far as the Saxons go this season. 

I feel the preseason poll is the most important one to take extra time to research, etc., so I don't want to over-reward teams for successful 2010 campaigns but ignore the strength of returning players -- that's why I'm asking since the Alfred/Cortland announcing job I did last year only told me so much about Alfred's offense (what was it, three TDs by the DL that came into the power backfield that game?).  Many voters use this ballot to "shift" teams after play begins, although, we've seen larger reshuffles earlier than later as the weeks of experience mount.  Anyway, just throwing this out there.

[boobyhasgameyo]

The boobs lingers on.  Upstate usually comes back during the season does he not?  Superman has been MIA for a couple of years now...Tags always maintained that he only became a fan due to growing up with Mark Robinson, so I assume once Mark peaced out Tags lost his rooting interest. 

I still remember the good old days in the weeks leading up to the Fisher-IC game in which I would come back after work to see 15+ pages of beautiful beautiful trash talk.  Now it's kind of like...oh hey look Fisher is playing Ithaca tomorrow, I thought that was next week. 

I would talk more about Fisher in the offseason but I don't hear anything.  I have no idea who they are bringing in via freshman or transfers.  I have no clue if they will be average or great this year (I highly doubt they will be below average)...so largely I just linger and am taking the wait and see approach. 

[Bombers798891]

I think part of the problem is, even with this great site, D-III football is still really hard to follow unless you live very close by, or are willing to put in the effort. I mean, other than press releases from the sports info department, which tend to be a by-the-numbers look at things, how much coverage does the average D-III team get? So you're probably finding it harder to have worthwhile things to say about the team. And then, once they start struggling, well...

I remember getting a little behind the Bombers when I lived in Maryland for a year, and I follow the football team pretty heavily. But after awhile, you stop hearing the gossip, and the inside info, and then you miss the games, and the enthusiasm starts to wane.

The difficulty becomes when you hit that tipping point. There were times I was posting on the E8 WBB board and it kind of felt pointless because no-one else ever did. I kept it up because I have a someone unnatural attachment to the college's athletic programs, but I imagine most people's tipping points come much sooner.

But I wonder if D-III fandom is predicated on a very specific set of circumstances. I follow Michigan State football because they were on TV a lot when I was growing up. I never went to MSU, and have never lived near East Lansing. But it's not like it's hard to follow a BCS team in the era we have. I feel like D-III fandom is contained mostly in the years you attend the school, maybe a few years after if you stay in the areas. I have no evidence of this, just a general idea

[AUPepBand]

So I opened the database we receive from the "Home Office" in Minnesota for Top 25 voting, and I noticed Alfred has only 5 of 11 starters back on offense (2OL, 1QB, 1RB, 1WR, 0TE).  Now, granted, 9 are returning on a pretty good defense.  However, I'm somewhat curious to ask how this affects the overall posture of prognostication as far as the Saxons go this season. 

I feel the preseason poll is the most important one to take extra time to research, etc., so I don't want to over-reward teams for successful 2010 campaigns but ignore the strength of returning players -- that's why I'm asking since the Alfred/Cortland announcing job I did last year only told me so much about Alfred's offense (what was it, three TDs by the DL that came into the power backfield that game?).  Many voters use this ballot to "shift" teams after play begins, although, we've seen larger reshuffles earlier than later as the weeks of experience mount.  Anyway, just throwing this out there.

There were two or three major questions in the 2010 pre-season camp at Mayberry part of which was the "Mandrix Factor." I.e., how would AU replace two-way starter Jared Manzer and sensational RB Vinson Hendrix? Another looming question was whether AU could improve its pass defense.

In 2010, frosh Austin Dwyer emerged as the RB to replace Hendrix and, quite remarkably, exceeded Hendrix' season rushing record, albeit with two additional games. And, Hendrix was likely Dwyer's biggest fan (except maybe for Mom Dwyer).

The Saxons got some solid production at WR from unheralded frosh Josh Phillips and a solid season from WR stalwart Ryan Thon. WR Andre McCloud and frosh WR E.J. Beauford also had productive seasons.

And, defensively, the secondary improved dramatically throughout the season with the growth of Cinco Press and Jon Jackson and solid performances from Rollie O'Brien and Alec Currier.

Pep is confident that Coach Rankl will put together an effective O-line. One real question mark is replacing Vandewalker at center but either a returning player will step in or possibly a freshman will emerge.

As far as AU's power attack (short yardage situation), it was LB Nick Clark who ran for 3 TDs at Cortland State, with fellow LBs as blocking backs. A few years back, Coach Murray used big defensive lineman Don Miller for such situations, which the band called "Miller Time"....and before that, LB beast Brenton Brady.

Pep isn't too worried about Top 25 voting, Frank, and, in fact, prefers the Saxons are unheralded and underrated so as to continue in the Rodney Dangerfield psyche.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Frank Rossi]

Understood, Pep, that you like to see your team understated.  You know, though, that Pat likes voters who take their ballots seriously -- and that's why I like to ensure some level of knowledge and accuracy when I cast my ballots.  As I stated last year, this job is a lot harder than it looks with so many teams on the table, especially early on.

[AUPepBand]

In reference to Bombers798891's post about fan following:

Pep has the advantage of having been close to the AU football program from toddlerhood...Pep's grandfather was the announcer at Merrill Field, Pep's mother was a secretary in student affairs at AU for nearly 30 years, pep's Pops has missed three home games since 1937.

Pep remembers getting up early Sunday morning to get a Sunday paper so he could check scores of other D3 football games because the TV stations in Buffalo and/or Rochester covered only their local colleges' games.

Pep is fortunate that Kaz00 moved back to the area from New Jersey and landed a job across the street at Alfred State College and took over the 1st Kazoo seat.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Frank Rossi]

Pep has the advantage of having been close to the AU football program from toddlerhood...Pep's grandfather was the announcer at Merrill Field, Pep's mother was a secretary in student affairs at AU for nearly 30 years, pep's Pops has missed three home games since 1937.

Pep remembers getting up early Sunday morning to get a Sunday paper so he could check scores of other D3 football games because the TV stations in Buffalo and/or Rochester covered only their local colleges' games.

Pep is fortunate that Kaz00 moved back to the area from New Jersey and landed a job across the street at Alfred State College and took over the 1st Kazoo seat.

On Saxon Warriors!

I'm going to wink and nod and assume I knew what you meant in this post.  However, I will admit, sometimes I'm concerned that all the kazoo and band talk is a secret cult language instructing an audience of zombies as to when and where to attack.  If it happens, Pep, I'll know who to blame.  Just sayin'...

[AUPepBand]

Understood, Pep, that you like to see your team understated.  You know, though, that Pat likes voters who take their ballots seriously -- and that's why I like to ensure some level of knowledge and accuracy when I cast my ballots.  As I stated last year, this job is a lot harder than it looks with so many teams on the table, especially early on.

Understood. Pep is confident that the 2011 Saxons will be comparable--if not stronger--than the 2010 edition. Whether the results will be the same--with AU stubbing its toe a couple times along the way--remains to be seen. Given last year's results and the personnel losses on the offense, Pep would likely rate AU in the low 20s....say #21 or #22 for starters, somewhat of a compromise between Lindy's #16 and The Sporting News' snub.

[AUPepBand]

Pep has the advantage of having been close to the AU football program from toddlerhood...Pep's grandfather was the announcer at Merrill Field, Pep's mother was a secretary in student affairs at AU for nearly 30 years, pep's Pops has missed three home games since 1937.

Pep remembers getting up early Sunday morning to get a Sunday paper so he could check scores of other D3 football games because the TV stations in Buffalo and/or Rochester covered only their local colleges' games.

Pep is fortunate that Kaz00 moved back to the area from New Jersey and landed a job across the street at Alfred State College and took over the 1st Kazoo seat.

On Saxon Warriors!

I'm going to wink and nod and assume I knew what you meant in this post.  However, I will admit, sometimes I'm concerned that all the kazoo and band talk is a secret cult language instructing an audience of zombies as to when and where to attack.  If it happens, Pep, I'll know who to blame.  Just sayin'...

Your coverage of the Alfred-Cortland game, had it included a halftime interview of Pep and/or Kaz00 would have been enlightening. But Pep was delighted to know former Saxon Stan Ren was interviewed instead. Pep has nothing but admiration for Stan the Man.

[Frank Rossi]

Stan Ren is the great LL/E8 unifier.  He shall someday be the mascot for a New York Superconference when it comes to pass.

[AUPepBand]

Stan Ren is the great LL/E8 unifier.  He shall someday be the mascot for a New York Superconference when it comes to pass.

That'll be the day when said super conference competes for one AQ (like the NEFC) instead of two or three (E8, LL, NJAC).

[AUSaxons]

Another important thing to consider is who's replacing the starters. The 6 spots needing replacement are:

WR-Though the loss of Thon will hurt, there are several recievers returning with experience. McCloud, Phillips and Beauford all produced last season. There is also a wide reciever, Polino, who was absolutely fantastic on JV last season, I think he could step up and contribute on varsity this season.

TE- Loughlin Pope may have been the starter, but Adam Schutz was statistically more productive. With Schutz now the only real main tight end, we'll see if his production steps up. I think it will.

LT- Though the loss of Zach Morgan hurts, backup Harold Spetla saw the field A LOT during the playoffs and did a fantastic job relieving Zach Morgan when he injured his ankle, as well as during the Mount Union game. Spetla has proven to be probably the most dependable backup, I see him doing very well as a starter (though not quite as good as Zach Morgan).

C- Jeff VandeWalker leaves sort of a hole here. Back up Tim DeMersman is the presumed favorite for the job, but he doesnt have near the experience that Spetla does in terms of bigtime situations. That being said, the AU backup OLine did perform well when called upon to (though that was pretty much only in blowouts). There is a 300 pound 1st team allstate recruit from Orchard Park coming in at center, perhaps the freshman could have something to say about this job?

RG- The Saxons will likely start last year backup Vito Sinsingalli at this spot. Vito, like DeMersman, is unproven and this too is a question mark. I think a recruit could also potentially take over at this spot.

FB- Justin McCombs graduates here, but Brandon Yarnes had comparable stats in lesser time. Stats arent always the best way to judge a fullback, but I assume Yarnes can come in and be dependable.

So, in conclusion, though there are 6 spots that AU doesnt have a returning starter, I think there are only two real question marks. Now, anything can happen anywhere, but I'd have a hard time calling Spetla, Schutz, Yarnes and Phillips/McCloud unproven commodities. They all stepped up a lot when called upon last season. Now, the right guard and center spots I agree with Pep that Rankl can be trusted to produce an effective OLine. And, with all of this, keep in mind...the recruiting class this year is being touted by the AU coaches as its best class ever. I have to believe that there is an olineman or 2 and a good wide reciever within this group. Last season, AU started 3 freshmen on offense and 0.5 of the DT spot on D. If this class is supposedly better then that one, I as a fan really hope they can get 4 starters out of this group. Though it's a crapshoot every year so we'll see.