FB: Empire 8

[SUADC]

I missed SU's very first offensive posession, but watched the rest of the game and did not see #12 Ross Flanigan play for Salisbury. He shows in the participation report as playing, but no carries etc. Not that I feel SU wins with Flanigan, but he is one of, if not their best, offensive weapons. He was missed and it was very apparent in SU's inability to get outside that his speed was lacking in the offense. He is only a junior so I am looking forward to seeing Ross back next year. Pat? SUADC? Anyone know the story with Flanigan today?
thanks....and skunks_ -SU may have a little something to say about who the favorite is next year in the E8 
Go Gulls!

I believe he got in the game late to make a catch, not sure. He did have a ankle injury last week that was hindering him. So I am guessing that was the problem. Also, I was saying the same thing, with Flanigan in the game some plays that was cut short would have definitely went for touchdowns. I am not sure about the outcome, but definitely would have been closer. Again, when you play against top teams, you have to be able to throw adaquetly. Nevertheless, Seagulls improved from last year throwing the ball, I can see them opening it up again next year with more passing, we have a lot of guys coming back.

[sjfcards]

Congrats to Wesleydad by the way. A big win for Wesley this weekend. I am pulling for you next week.

[Retired Old Rat]

I posted this on the MIAC board, thought I'd post it over here as well.


I was at the game.

SJF had some big kids, they just could not match ST's athletecism.  Also not much depth.

Met some very nice SJF parents. 

Number 7 for SJF, Ryan Francis, appeared to have a serious right knee injury.  Went down late in the 3rd quarter.  He was SJF's number one playmaker, not sure why they didnt' figure out more ways to get the ball in his hands.

I listened in on SJF head coach Paul Vosburgh's post game comments to his team.  (I was taking photos, I couldn't help but hear what he said.)  I was impressed with what he had to say and the way he said it.  Very classy and a good way, given the circumstances, for his seniors to spend their last moments on a football field in SJF uniforms.

The officiating crew was from the CCIW.  Best call all day, from my perspective, was when Jack Gavin of ST intercepted a pass in the back corner of the ST endzone in the 3rd quarter.  The official who was right there put up both arms to signal a touchdown.  An unnamed MIAC head coach who was standing right there chuckled and said to him "I'm not going to say anything."

I was really hoping SJF would give ST and better game and provide a better measuring stick of just how good ST really is.  Based on the two times I've seen them this year, I think they can hang with Whitewater.  They have size, speed and athletecism.  The unknown is how they will react when the team on the other side of the ball matches their size, speed and athletecism.  And how they will react the first time that dliping cannon goes off.

[Frank Rossi]

I was really hoping SJF would give ST and better game and provide a better measuring stick of just how good ST really is.  Based on the two times I've seen them this year, I think they can hang with Whitewater.  They have size, speed and athletecism.  The unknown is how they will react when the team on the other side of the ball matches their size, speed and athletecism.  And how they will react the first time that dliping cannon goes off.

That first sentence in the quote mystifies me a bit... How do we know if it was or wasn't a measuring stick?  Maybe UST IS that good.  Maybe SJF did provide a good matchup (maybe not size, but agility and ability), and UST handled it well.  No team except for maybe a Mount Union, Wesley, UMHB or Linfield would really provide any ability to make comparisons to a forthcoming UWW game -- so using this game as a dipstick for that purpose at all doesn't seem to make much sense to me.  The point of SJF making the playoffs at all was that they were better than Case and Endicott despite W/L numbers.  Everything beyond that first game was gravy and unexpected in a lot of ways.  Every game in the playoffs for both teams provides challenges that you can't ignore -- even in a rout scorewise.

[mattvsmith]

Congratulations to the Cards for going as far as you did. You proved that you are national caliber.

Great job all season long. You did your school, the E8, and the East Region proud.

[sjfcards]

I posted this on the MIAC board, thought I'd post it over here as well.


I was at the game.

SJF had some big kids, they just could not match ST's athletecism.  Also not much depth.

Met some very nice SJF parents. 

Number 7 for SJF, Ryan Francis, appeared to have a serious right knee injury.  Went down late in the 3rd quarter.  He was SJF's number one playmaker, not sure why they didnt' figure out more ways to get the ball in his hands.

I listened in on SJF head coach Paul Vosburgh's post game comments to his team.  (I was taking photos, I couldn't help but hear what he said.)  I was impressed with what he had to say and the way he said it.  Very classy and a good way, given the circumstances, for his seniors to spend their last moments on a football field in SJF uniforms.

The officiating crew was from the CCIW.  Best call all day, from my perspective, was when Jack Gavin of ST intercepted a pass in the back corner of the ST endzone in the 3rd quarter.  The official who was right there put up both arms to signal a touchdown.  An unnamed MIAC head coach who was standing right there chuckled and said to him "I'm not going to say anything."

I was really hoping SJF would give ST and better game and provide a better measuring stick of just how good ST really is.  Based on the two times I've seen them this year, I think they can hang with Whitewater.  They have size, speed and athletecism.  The unknown is how they will react when the team on the other side of the ball matches their size, speed and athletecism.  And how they will react the first time that dliping cannon goes off.

UST did seem to outmatch Fisher with speed and athletic ability. I have no doubt they were the better team and Fisher would have had to play a near perfect game to beat them. Fisher did, however, make several mistakes that we have just not seen this team make this year (dropped snap on a punt, bad kickoff returns, etc). From what I saw I thought Fisher was closer to UST than the score would indicate, but UST was clearly a better team.

[fisheralum91]

Cards- enough.
Its over.
there is always next season.
it was a fantastic run.
One that both you and I never saw coming!
No need to beat yourself up, nor give the UST boys anymore credit.

[Cardinal Pride]

Great season and I too am sorry that it has come to an end, enjoyed every minute of it.  I am already looking forward to next year.  I would also like to thank everyone here on the boards for tolerating my rookie season.  Great bunch of guys that are truly passionate about D3 football.

[fisheralum91]

great to have you pride!!

[Upstate]

Great season and I too am sorry that it has come to an end, enjoyed every minute of it.  I am already looking forward to next year.  I would also like to thank everyone here on the boards for tolerating my rookie season.  Great bunch of guys that are truly passionate about D3 football.

Yeah there's a lot of good things to look forward to next year.

Offensively,
-4/5ths of the O-line returns.
-Stacey, Kramer & Miller come back in the backfield
-Stell, Nigolian, Kirchner & Rudy come back at WR
-If Fenti comes back healthy and is good as they say he is, some say he's a Tim Bailey clone, offensively they should be light years better than this year.

Defensively,
-LB, is the big issue as they had a ton of injuries early in the year so the young guys lost (most notably Donitzen & LoBrutto) didn't get a ton of experience.  However Levall should be coming back after missing the year with injury which will help a ton with the Cardinals losing Moore.
-Judd, Belluco, Foster come back on DL.
-Tones, Sant, Dolan, Kline come back in the secondary.

I think they're in good shape despite losing Schmidt & Francis and will be competing with SU for the E8 next year again.

[fisheralum91]

Upstate- The future does indeed look good.
Lobrutto is a beast. I look forward to watching him for a few years!!

[pg04]

Cards- enough.
Its over.
there is always next season.
it was a fantastic run.
One that both you and I never saw coming!
No need to beat yourself up, nor give the UST boys anymore credit.

Really?  Come on already! Stop being so grossly overdramatic.  How dare someone give St. Thomas credit!  It isn't up to you to decide what is enough for someone to post.  I'm sorry but I have never read a poster be so over the top in this manner!  Yes I know you are disappointed and you feel like they ran it up.  I understand.  Most of the teams I like suck.  But, please, the way that this has gone down has given a worse image to the Fisher posters, IMO. 

[maxpower]

Cards- enough.
Its over.
there is always next season.
it was a fantastic run.
One that both you and I never saw coming!
No need to beat yourself up, nor give the UST boys anymore credit.

Really?  Come on already! Stop being so grossly overdramatic.  How dare someone give St. Thomas credit!  It isn't up to you to decide what is enough for someone to post.  I'm sorry but I have never read a poster be so over the top in this manner!  Yes I know you are disappointed and you feel like they ran it up.  I understand.  Most of the teams I like suck.  But, please, the way that this has gone down has given a worse image to the Fisher posters, IMO.

+k.

I always found the idea of complaining about running up the score in a PLAYOFF game rather hilarious.

[Pat Coleman]

I could see it maybe in the first round, if it's an Empire 8-ECFC type of matchup.

[fisheralum91]

pg- i was trying to move on....
it was a tough loss.
thats all.
i have had no problem with you, nor will i.
i have my right to an opinion just as you.
if you like or dislike what i say- i really dont care.