FB: Empire 8

[Pat Coleman]

I think coaches are sleeping on Buff St. a little bit. Wouldn't surprise me to see them ahead of Ithaca, and challenging Alfred.

Agreed. Boyes can flat out coach and the Buff State teams I have seen the last two years have been far better than the few years before his return. Even more scary is how much they jumped from year to year. I think they will be a lot better this season.

Agreed x's 2!!!

Coach Boyes is on a mission!! He's got these kids, and school, believing that they can beat anyone. Heck, their 3rd game is on the road at DEFENDING NAT. CHAMP Wisconsin - Whitewater! Don't know if that S.O.P in the Empire 8 but it's gonna become a standard in his football program. Trust me, he didnt charter a plane to Wisconsin to go fishing at Rice lake!!

Hopefully the home opener vs. Cortland will give the BENGAL faithful and idea of how far we've come since Jerry took over!

Schools new to a conference often get the short end of the stick in the first couple of preseason polls. Even for Kickoff, I personally feel Buff State will finish higher than we predict them but I couldn't convince everyone.

As do most around here. The Bengals were a really tough out last year, I really thought Fisher wasn't going to win it last year with the way the Bengals drove down the field at the end of the game. The WR for Buff St got both hands on a pass in the endzone and should have come down with it to put them a head. I'm expecting another tough game with them this year.

And Bengals fan, some teams in the E8 have a long history of scheduling tough OOC games.  Others, not so much...

I'll be at that game, by the way. Look forward to it.

[fisheralum91]

Dont get ahead of yourself Bengalsrule.
You have a decent team and are indeed a tough out, but this team isnt going to win the E8, nor is scheduling a big boy new as mentioned in another post.
Be excited and enjoy the season!

[sjfcards]

I think coaches are sleeping on Buff St. a little bit. Wouldn't surprise me to see them ahead of Ithaca, and challenging Alfred.

Agreed. Boyes can flat out coach and the Buff State teams I have seen the last two years have been far better than the few years before his return. Even more scary is how much they jumped from year to year. I think they will be a lot better this season.

Agreed x's 2!!!

Coach Boyes is on a mission!! He's got these kids, and school, believing that they can beat anyone. Heck, their 3rd game is on the road at DEFENDING NAT. CHAMP Wisconsin - Whitewater! Don't know if that S.O.P in the Empire 8 but it's gonna become a standard in his football program. Trust me, he didnt charter a plane to Wisconsin to go fishing at Rice lake!!

Hopefully the home opener vs. Cortland will give the BENGAL faithful and idea of how far we've come since Jerry took over!

Schools new to a conference often get the short end of the stick in the first couple of preseason polls. Even for Kickoff, I personally feel Buff State will finish higher than we predict them but I couldn't convince everyone.

As do most around here. The Bengals were a really tough out last year, I really thought Fisher wasn't going to win it last year with the way the Bengals drove down the field at the end of the game. The WR for Buff St got both hands on a pass in the endzone and should have come down with it to put them a head. I'm expecting another tough game with them this year.

And Bengals fan, some teams in the E8 have a long history of scheduling tough OOC games.  Others, not so much...

I'll be at that game, by the way. Look forward to it.

Have you ever been to Growney before Pat? That is really cool that you are making the trip to Pittsford.

[Pat Coleman]

Uh, I meant I was going to the Buff State/UW-Whitewater game.

I have sort of been to Growney but I recognize that being at St. John Fisher for a game in 1994 is not really the same as being there now. In fact, of all the schools I've been to, I suspect it's the one that's changed the most.

I was also at St. John Fisher for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 in 2007, so I saw the stadium but not with a game going on.

[sjfcards]

Does anyone know what time Fisher practices on Friday? I am going to be in Rochester this weekend, and I will have some free time on Friday afternoon, and was hoping to make it to campus for practice.

I am also going to the scrimmage on Saturday, so if anyone else is going stop by and say hi.

[fisheralum91]

Pat,
I graduated form Fisher in 1991 and the change in the College, not just the Campus is nothing short of shocking.
New schools opened, new facilities, dorms, and increased class size are just the beginning.
Im glad to say that I was there before all "this", and am astounded every year when I make my trip back to mecca

[Bengalsrule]

Dont get ahead of yourself Bengalsrule.
You have a decent team and are indeed a tough out, but this team isnt going to win the E8, nor is scheduling a big boy new as mentioned in another post.
Be excited and enjoy the season!

I dont remeber predicting that the BENGALS would win the E8.  And if hoping the best for my beloved BENGALS,  who have a coach that is instilling the belief in his kids, that they can beat anyone, is getting "ahead of myself" then...........................................................I'm way out there!!!!

[Bombers798891]

Dont get ahead of yourself Bengalsrule.
You have a decent team and are indeed a tough out, but this team isnt going to win the E8, nor is scheduling a big boy new as mentioned in another post.
Be excited and enjoy the season!

I dont remeber predicting that the BENGALS would win the E*.  And if hoping the best for my beloved BENGALS,  who have a coach that is instilling the belief in his kids, that they can beat anyone, is getting "ahead of myself" then...........................................................I'm way out there!!!!

Frankly, I always thought the attitude Buff State had under Boyes was why they beat IC every year. Both teams were usually even talent/skill wise, but I thought the Bengals almost had a cocky sort of attitude that served them well against IC

[fisheralum91]

Bombers-I know what you are talking about.
Its a swagger that  Boyes instills.
Bengalsrule-enjoy the season and best of luck.
Welcome to the E8.
I still think that they are a .500 team

[sjfcards]

Dont get ahead of yourself Bengalsrule.
You have a decent team and are indeed a tough out, but this team isnt going to win the E8, nor is scheduling a big boy new as mentioned in another post.
Be excited and enjoy the season!

I dont remeber predicting that the BENGALS would win the E*.  And if hoping the best for my beloved BENGALS,  who have a coach that is instilling the belief in his kids, that they can beat anyone, is getting "ahead of myself" then...........................................................I'm way out there!!!!

Frankly, I always thought the attitude Buff State had under Boyes was why they beat IC every year. Both teams were usually even talent/skill wise, but I thought the Bengals almost had a cocky sort of attitude that served them well against IC

I grew up in Cortland, and I can remember seeing Buff State beat up on C-State. I was always impressed with how easy it seemed for those Buff State teams to do what they wanted. It did seem like they had something besides talent working for them.

Having also seen several of those really good Rowan teams from the 90's, I thought the Profs were  just way more talented than Cortland. Buff State was closer in talent but could just find ways to execute. That kind of feeds into the winning attitude/expectation to win. But now we are into a chicken and the egg discussion.

[Upstate]

Does anyone know what time Fisher practices on Friday? I am going to be in Rochester this weekend, and I will have some free time on Friday afternoon, and was hoping to make it to campus for practice.

I am also going to the scrimmage on Saturday, so if anyone else is going stop by and say hi.

I'm going to be there on Saturday as well, hope to see you there!

[Bengalsrule]

Bombers-I know what you are talking about.
Its a swagger that  Boyes instills.
Bengalsrule-enjoy the season and best of luck.
Welcome to the E8.
I still think that they are a .500 team

Thank you fisher Alum for the warm greeting. Hopefully my BENGALS will prove your ".500 team" wrong. But then that's why they play the game(s)!

I'll be looking for you on the 3rd of November!! I'll be in the gym but hopefully catch you after the game!

[AUPepBand]

I think coaches are sleeping on Buff St. a little bit. Wouldn't surprise me to see them ahead of Ithaca, and challenging Alfred.

Agreed. Boyes can flat out coach and the Buff State teams I have seen the last two years have been far better than the few years before his return. Even more scary is how much they jumped from year to year. I think they will be a lot better this season.

Agreed x's 2!!!

Coach Boyes is on a mission!! He's got these kids, and school, believing that they can beat anyone. Heck, their 3rd game is on the road at DEFENDING NAT. CHAMP Wisconsin - Whitewater! Don't know if that S.O.P in the Empire 8 but it's gonna become a standard in his football program. Trust me, he didnt charter a plane to Wisconsin to go fishing at Rice lake!!

Hopefully the home opener vs. Cortland will give the BENGAL faithful and idea of how far we've come since Jerry took over!

Schools new to a conference often get the short end of the stick in the first couple of preseason polls. Even for Kickoff, I personally feel Buff State will finish higher than we predict them but I couldn't convince everyone.

Pep posted this back on August 10:

PEP'S PICKS
EMPIRE 8 2012 FOOTBALL STANDINGS
                       E8      Overall
Salisbury State   7-0   9-1
St. John Fisher   6-1   9-1
Buffalo State   5-2   6-4
Alfred University   4-3   6-3
Ithaca College   3-4   5-5
Frostburg State   2-5   5-5
Utica College   1-6   2-8
Hartwick College   0-7   3-7
SALISBURY: Lone loss to national power and long-time Rt. 13 rival Wesley. Gulls sweep the Empire 8 once again.
ST. JOHN FISHER: A loss to Salisbury at Growney Stadium is the Cardinals' only blemish as they publish the sequel to their 2011 Cinderella season.
BUFFALO STATE: While losses to Salisbury and St. John Fisher keep the rising Bengals out of the NCAAs, ambitious scheduling is posturing Boyes' Bengals for a promising future.
ALFRED: With holes to fill, the Saxons falter at Buffalo State. Wins over RPI, SLU, Ithaca, Utica, Frostburg and Hartwick give AU still another ECAC bowl game.
ITHACA: Bomber struggle with Fisher continues. Losses to E8 foes Salisbury, Buffalo State and at Alfred are overshadowed by a victory in Cortaca!
FROSTBURG STATE: With wins over Utica and Hartwick, non-conference wins over Case, Geneva and Waynsesburg, the Bobcats finish 5-5.
UTICA: Utica loses some key talent after a 5-5 season. Program continues to grow but E8 remains strong and rugged LL foes don't help matters. Wins over Hartwick and St. Lawrence.
HARTWICK: Hawks start hot with non-conference wins over Husson, Mooville and Becker, none of which matches the caliber of play in the E8.

Pep, who had the distinct pleasure of serving as one of three judges in "AU Football's Got Talent!" show last night, plans to hit Saxons' practice after work today...hoping to see that the talent is better on the turf than on the stage. (Although Pep is still laughing about the O-line skit...)

Get that fight song ready, Pep Band!

[fisheralum91]

Bengalsrule-This old alum doesnt do as many games.
Im not in Roch anymore and getting there is a challenge
Ill hit growney once or twice and then see the alma mater give UC a beatdown.
Good luck this season!

[fisheralum91]

Pep-
Good picks.
Well thought out.
Completely within reason that the season plays out that way.
Well done
+k