FB: Empire 8

[fisherfanatic99]

Has anyone taken a look at what Fisher has coming back and have an idea of what they are looking like for next year? I want to do it, but I have not had any time, and if someone has already done the work that would be awesome.

I just know a little because I watched the team last year before my son graduated.  They are losing Vosburgh, Balcerzak (both all americans), two playmakers (Schmidt and Francis- Returners and WR's) and three key role players (Bigsby-TE, Moore-ILB, and Sawyer-DE)

Kramer is back to lead the offense, I see him starting where he left off adding some throwing after an offseason of really working at QB.  Miller is back in the backfield with the Freshman, Stacey.  Together they are a good combo but definitely need to add a bit of depth at that position.  Receiver they have a Freshman stud in the Nigolian Kid (6'2'' jumps out of the roof with great hands) Stell who was their best blocking wide receivers.  Again another position they need to add depth, but Fisher doesn't struggle to find men to fill voids.  On the O-line they have everyone but Balcerzak back which is good. TE is the captain, Noah Seward, who is more of the traditional TE who can block and who is athletic enough to catch some balls unlike Bigsby last year. 

On defense they return the whole secondary.  Their best of the defense is returning in Benderski and Judd at DT (both huge guys).  Judd progressed alot from his Freshman to Sophomore year, so he could be a guy to look out for.  Lobrutto started hot but tore his ACL 3rd game of the season so see how he comes back, but other than him a couple questions at the LB position.  You have to remember they lost four or five LB's last year and still produced a scary defense.  Kline and Tones are two key guys to fill those spots.

For special teams, it will be hard to replace the kicker Monheim who really had a great year.  The younger Francis kid is not as big as his brother but is as quick as lightning and should see some return time with Burdick.  This is as broad as I could make it.  The have some voids to fill, but Fisher has some central guys to build around and can carry them for the first part of the year.

[Upstate]

How can the entire secondary be back with Vos, a safety, graduating?

Also you have Burdick coming back, even though he was listed as a SR last year. 

[fisherfanatic99]

How can the entire secondary be back with Vos, a safety, graduating?

Also you have Burdick coming back, even though he was listed as a SR last year.

Burdick has a fifth year I believe because my son told me he was chosen as a captain this upcoming fall.  Fisher changed their defense to a 3-5 so I considered Vosburgh an OLB since he was in that kind of position 99.9% of the time.

[sjfcards]

How can the entire secondary be back with Vos, a safety, graduating?

Also you have Burdick coming back, even though he was listed as a SR last year.

Burdick has a fifth year I believe because my son told me he was chosen as a captain this upcoming fall.  Fisher changed their defense to a 3-5 so I considered Vosburgh an OLB since he was in that kind of position 99.9% of the time.

Great stuff. Exactly what I was looking for. I am sure the defense will be fine, and Fisher has had luck with replacing OL players like Balcerzack in the past. Can't wait to see what they bring in.

[dlippiel]

God, dlip loves D3 football talk in May! Can't wait for the season fellas. dlip is really hoping SJF comes out strong and makes a deep run once again. As a crazy East Region fan dlip was very proud of how SJF represented the region last season.

[Bombers798891]

May as well offer up some way too early predictions for the Bombers' season. I don't know much about all these other teams so these are, at best, educated guesses:

Week 1: @ Moravian— I see a team that averaged 10 PPG last season and who's QB's combined for 2 TD's and 14 INT's. Even on the road with the Bombers' struggles, I like them to win this one. 21-7

Week 2: vs. Union— I have a sinking feeling Union won't be so gracious as to turn the ball over every five minutes in this one. I'm tempted to call this a toss up and cite "margin of error" in honor of Frank Rossi, but I'll just say Union pulls it out 28-14

Week 3: @ Frostburg: I'd like it if Ithaca was at home. Not so much with the long road trip. Frostburg 23-10

Week 4: Utica: Call me arrogant, but I believe that Ithaca blew this game more than anything. Yes, it's not surprising that they struggled in the red zone, but they probably should have led this game 21-0 early. I think that's the type of game that's really easy to lose on the road. Utica's historically played terrible in Ithaca, so I'm sticking with the home squad here: 27-20 Ithaca

Week 5: @ Alfred— Interested to see the Saxons at QB, but Alfred's been a tough place for *good* IC teams to win. 31-13 Alfred

Week 6: vs. Buffalo State— Bengals are back. Probably should have beaten Kean and could have beaten Fisher. It's the 90's all over again. 21-10 Buff State

Week 7: @ Fisher—Yawn. Insert score of Fisher win here.

Week 8: vs. Salisbury— That's right, I'm calling upset. I know the game wasn't as close as the score indicated last season. I'm envisioning a Springfield-like home road dichotomy here. Bombers with their win of the season: 20-13

Week 9: vs. The Wick— Two in a row! Holy Jim Butterfield! Ithaca 27-10

Week 10: @ Cortland— Ugh. 31-7 Dragons. Cortland still sucks, though.

So, I'm seeing 4-6 again for Ithaca. The QB play should be improved, but I'll need to see a single playmaker somewhere else on offense and a decent o-line before I go crazy. How depressing

[Upstate]

How can the entire secondary be back with Vos, a safety, graduating?

Also you have Burdick coming back, even though he was listed as a SR last year.

Burdick has a fifth year I believe because my son told me he was chosen as a captain this upcoming fall.  Fisher changed their defense to a 3-5 so I considered Vosburgh an OLB since he was in that kind of position 99.9% of the time.

Awesome!

Also heard that Leavell is coming back for a 5th year too, so that will bring some much needed experience back at the LBer spot.

[sjfcards]

If that is true that is really good news for Fisher. I am hoping Fisher also finds some playmakers in this recruiting class or from JV. A wide receiver or high Quality TE would be nice.

[fisheralum91]

Detailed Fisher talk in May.
This is fantastic.
Im also glad that Kramer is getting the nod.
He will do very well, especially when he gets a chance to throw the ball.
He can do it- saw shades of it in hs.

[Garnet]

Chanel surfing the other night I came across the show Man vs. Food.  They were in Rochester doing a piece on the Garbage Plate.  I have never experienced one and I recall the many mentions here of how great they are. 

My mouth is watering as I type.

[SUADC]

May as well offer up some way too early predictions for the Bombers' season. I don't know much about all these other teams so these are, at best, educated guesses:

Week 1: @ Moravian— I see a team that averaged 10 PPG last season and who's QB's combined for 2 TD's and 14 INT's. Even on the road with the Bombers' struggles, I like them to win this one. 21-7

Week 2: vs. Union— I have a sinking feeling Union won't be so gracious as to turn the ball over every five minutes in this one. I'm tempted to call this a toss up and cite "margin of error" in honor of Frank Rossi, but I'll just say Union pulls it out 28-14

Week 3: @ Frostburg: I'd like it if Ithaca was at home. Not so much with the long road trip. Frostburg 23-10

Week 4: Utica: Call me arrogant, but I believe that Ithaca blew this game more than anything. Yes, it's not surprising that they struggled in the red zone, but they probably should have led this game 21-0 early. I think that's the type of game that's really easy to lose on the road. Utica's historically played terrible in Ithaca, so I'm sticking with the home squad here: 27-20 Ithaca

Week 5: @ Alfred— Interested to see the Saxons at QB, but Alfred's been a tough place for *good* IC teams to win. 31-13 Alfred

Week 6: vs. Buffalo State— Bengals are back. Probably should have beaten Kean and could have beaten Fisher. It's the 90's all over again. 21-10 Buff State

Week 7: @ Fisher—Yawn. Insert score of Fisher win here.

Week 8: vs. Salisbury— That's right, I'm calling upset. I know the game wasn't as close as the score indicated last season. I'm envisioning a Springfield-like home road dichotomy here. Bombers with their win of the season: 20-13
Week 9: vs. The Wick— Two in a row! Holy Jim Butterfield! Ithaca 27-10

Week 10: @ Cortland— Ugh. 31-7 Dragons. Cortland still sucks, though.

So, I'm seeing 4-6 again for Ithaca. The QB play should be improved, but I'll need to see a single playmaker somewhere else on offense and a decent o-line before I go crazy. How depressing

Be that last year's game was the first game of the season and each team was getting over summertime jitters, it was a good game nonetheless, going down to the last couple drives of the fourth quarter. However, this year's upcoming season game is played well into the season, I believe Ithaca is going to have a lot of film and will be ready, however can they score on Salisbury Defense, that is bringing back majority of their top Defensive Cogs. As for Salisbury, all of the tough games are going to be behind them, they may get laxitdasical, but I doubt Sherman Wood is going to allow that.

Nevertheless, its going to be a good late season game. Hopefully, for both teams it has conference implications or playoff implications on the line, that will make the game very interesting. 

[sjfcards]

Chanel surfing the other night I came across the show Man vs. Food.  They were in Rochester doing a piece on the Garbage Plate.  I have never experienced one and I recall the many mentions here of how great they are. 

My mouth is watering as I type.

Those things are amazing. They have like 5,000 calories in them, but every one of them is delicious. I am thinking about a run to Rochester just to get one...

[fisheralum91]

Cards- Not knowing when you graduated from SJFC, ill assume it wasnt near when I was there...But many of us from Classes 1988-1992 think that many of the newer alumni are soft....We had to go downtown to Nicks to get a plate.....Fight the hookers, coke heads and pimps, not to mention the other undesireables just to get a plate.....

[Bombers798891]

May as well offer up some way too early predictions for the Bombers' season. I don't know much about all these other teams so these are, at best, educated guesses:

Week 1: @ Moravian— I see a team that averaged 10 PPG last season and who's QB's combined for 2 TD's and 14 INT's. Even on the road with the Bombers' struggles, I like them to win this one. 21-7

Week 2: vs. Union— I have a sinking feeling Union won't be so gracious as to turn the ball over every five minutes in this one. I'm tempted to call this a toss up and cite "margin of error" in honor of Frank Rossi, but I'll just say Union pulls it out 28-14

Week 3: @ Frostburg: I'd like it if Ithaca was at home. Not so much with the long road trip. Frostburg 23-10

Week 4: Utica: Call me arrogant, but I believe that Ithaca blew this game more than anything. Yes, it's not surprising that they struggled in the red zone, but they probably should have led this game 21-0 early. I think that's the type of game that's really easy to lose on the road. Utica's historically played terrible in Ithaca, so I'm sticking with the home squad here: 27-20 Ithaca

Week 5: @ Alfred— Interested to see the Saxons at QB, but Alfred's been a tough place for *good* IC teams to win. 31-13 Alfred

Week 6: vs. Buffalo State— Bengals are back. Probably should have beaten Kean and could have beaten Fisher. It's the 90's all over again. 21-10 Buff State

Week 7: @ Fisher—Yawn. Insert score of Fisher win here.

Week 8: vs. Salisbury— That's right, I'm calling upset. I know the game wasn't as close as the score indicated last season. I'm envisioning a Springfield-like home road dichotomy here. Bombers with their win of the season: 20-13
Week 9: vs. The Wick— Two in a row! Holy Jim Butterfield! Ithaca 27-10

Week 10: @ Cortland— Ugh. 31-7 Dragons. Cortland still sucks, though.

So, I'm seeing 4-6 again for Ithaca. The QB play should be improved, but I'll need to see a single playmaker somewhere else on offense and a decent o-line before I go crazy. How depressing

Be that last year's game was the first game of the season and each team was getting over summertime jitters, it was a good game nonetheless, going down to the last couple drives of the fourth quarter. However, this year's upcoming season game is played well into the season, I believe Ithaca is going to have a lot of film and will be ready, however can they score on Salisbury Defense, that is bringing back majority of their top Defensive Cogs. As for Salisbury, all of the tough games are going to be behind them, they may get laxitdasical, but I doubt Sherman Wood is going to allow that.

Nevertheless, its going to be a good late season game. Hopefully, for both teams it has conference implications or playoff implications on the line, that will make the game very interesting.

Oh, I know this is a pipe dream. But, the 2006 Springfield team that was as good as any triple option team the East has seen came in and got flat out shut down. And, late October could invite some bad weather up here too. Granted, that IC team was light years ahead of this one. It's certainly unlikely, but weird things happen to triple-option teams that play up here.

[sjfcards]

Cards- Not knowing when you graduated from SJFC, ill assume it wasnt near when I was there...But many of us from Classes 1988-1992 think that many of the newer alumni are soft....We had to go downtown to Nicks to get a plate.....Fight the hookers, coke heads and pimps, not to mention the other undesireables just to get a plate.....

2004. Most of my soft parts are directly related to eating all of those plates from down the street.

I went downtown for a plate once...ONCE. Yikes...