FB: Empire 8

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE 2012 TOP 25 FAN POLL:
Please send me a PM with your ballot. I'd like to get a preseason poll up by Thursday night.

During the season ballots shall be due by Tuesdays so I can get them up Tuesday night.

Remember, this is just fun and we aren't part of the BCS Formula... yet

[fisheralum91]

I have an odd question.
It was reported that Utica College inked a deal with Nike for its apparel and that it was new for division 3.  Is this accurate?  I cant believe that UC would be the trailblazers in this.  Thoughts?

[AlfredSaxon8]

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!

I grew up in Buffalo.  Played football in Section 6.  Had Buff State had any sort of a decent program when I graduated high school I would've gone there.  Guess its nice to see there's some promise to the program again.

Paul Shaffner was there when I visited in 05. He was a nice guy but I didn't like his whole "pitch". 

With the talent they locally and the pool of students they have to choose from (10,000+), they have a real opportunity to be a very competitive team.  Now, hopefully they can pull it together.   

No shots at Section 5 either.  But if you want to stay home for college and play ball, there's not many other choices then Buff State.  Not the options like Rochester has.   

[Pat Coleman]

Pool of students has nothing to do with it. It's not like they throw up signs for open tryouts in the dorms. Kids are recruited specifically to come to the school for football.

[AUPepBand]

Pool of students has nothing to do with it. It's not like they throw up signs for open tryouts in the dorms. Kids are recruited specifically to come to the school for football.

While there may have been a day when the pool of students had something to do with the quality of a college football team, those days are long gone...

At one time, Li'l Alf was lucky to get 50 guys to play football because (legendary) Coach Alex Yunevich didn't spend much time recruiting. He had some helpers (former players or alumni) out there sending players his way, but his efforts of recruiting were, well, nonexistent. That's why had had a few winless seasons. Sometimes he had the talent. Other times not so much.

AU fielded some pretty small teams in both size and number. And there were times when a non-recruited kid with some size was called on to go out for the team. Case in point: Mark O'Meara (AU '74), who spent his first three years at AU selling programs (dressed as a clown to enhance sales) at the football games, was asked to join the team his senior year because they needed a long snapper. And he was pretty good.

But your point is well made, Pat. Football players are not found in the hallways like it may happen in middle school. Pep is thinking that's why a little school like Wabash (enrollment 883 men) can compete with the best of them.

Get the fight song ready!

[fisherfanatic99]

Some things I'm wondering going in to game week at fisher
1. Can they find a consistent kicking game ( field goals and punting)

2. Can they sure up their special team coverage ( punt return and kickoff )

3. How do the competitions end up (battles at receiver and linebacker's )

Most importantly can they stay healthy . This team could be on the next level but talk is cheap

[AlfredSaxon8]

Pool of students has nothing to do with it. It's not like they throw up signs for open tryouts in the dorms. Kids are recruited specifically to come to the school for football.

Im not saying they are picking kids out of the hallway. But I had plenty of friends that could have played and arguably started on d3 teams that went to Buff State. And many times, they had thought about trying out and chose not to because of the poor performance of their team.

Im not saying its a huge factor but if this new coach builds a solid team, you might see more kids drawing interest that are more than capable of contributing that otherwise wouldnt play.

You may not think its an advantage but look a look at Alfred. The school is 1/5 the size of Buff State. And you will rarely find a kid on campus that was the starting quarterback and won the harvard cup that isnt on the football team. Its very common to see that at Buff State. That kid may choose to play and could be a factor.

[SaintsFAN]

I have an odd question.
It was reported that Utica College inked a deal with Nike for its apparel and that it was new for division 3.  Is this accurate?  I cant believe that UC would be the trailblazers in this.  Thoughts?

Negative.  Mount Union has had them for more years than I can remember.  I know my alma mater has them for all sports, as well.

[fisheralum91]

Thats what I thought.
Shoddy reporting ?
Maybe Gil should have done some homework?


NIKE TO BECOME OFFICIAL UNIFORM SUPPLIER OF UTICA COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Gil Burgmaster

When Utica College student-athletes show up on game day in the coming years, they will sport a new mark in addition to the Pioneers' moose logo - a Nike Swoosh.

Utica athletics, Nike and exclusive service provider Lids Team Sports have entered into a five-year agreement that will make Nike the official provider of uniforms, footwear, and equipment for the Pioneers.

The agreement, which is one of the first of its kind in Division III, is effective immediately and within the next three years all of the Pioneers game day uniforms will dawn the highly recognizable Nike mark.

"We are excited to announce this partnership between Utica College athletics, Nike and Lids Team Sports," stated Director of Physical Education and Athletics David Fontaine. "Nike is a worldwide leader in athletic apparel and equipment, and this agreement links UC athletics with that prestigious brand."

Utica offers 25 Division III intercollegiate sports affiliated with the NCAA, Empire 8 Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). The department supports over 550 student-athletes each year and athletics is an integral part of the campus community.

"Lids Team Sports is very pleased to be a part of aligning Utica College Athletics, and Nike in the execution of this five-year deal.

This partnership will allow UC student athletes and coaches a competitive advantage in both recruiting, and on the field of play," said Lids Team Sports/Anaconda Sports Sales Manager Rich Diliberto.  "

This partnership will allow UC athletics the ability to have greater control in branding the college, and have full access to Nike's industry leading footwear, apparel, and equipment."

Nike has been outfitting Professional, College, High School and Youth teams for over 20 years and now Utica College will be part of the Nike family.

Lids Team Sports, a leading provider of athletic equipment and apparel, has provided high quality sporting goods for 24 years, and they currently have a regional office located on Main Street in New York Mills.

[AUPepBand]

Thats what I thought.
Shoddy reporting ?
Maybe Gil should have done some homework?


NIKE TO BECOME OFFICIAL UNIFORM SUPPLIER OF UTICA COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Gil Burgmaster

When Utica College student-athletes show up on game day in the coming years, they will sport a new mark in addition to the Pioneers' moose logo - a Nike Swoosh.

Utica athletics, Nike and exclusive service provider Lids Team Sports have entered into a five-year agreement that will make Nike the official provider of uniforms, footwear, and equipment for the Pioneers.

The agreement, which is one of the first of its kind in Division III, is effective immediately and within the next three years all of the Pioneers game day uniforms will dawn the highly recognizable Nike mark.

"We are excited to announce this partnership between Utica College athletics, Nike and Lids Team Sports," stated Director of Physical Education and Athletics David Fontaine. "Nike is a worldwide leader in athletic apparel and equipment, and this agreement links UC athletics with that prestigious brand."

Utica offers 25 Division III intercollegiate sports affiliated with the NCAA, Empire 8 Conference, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). The department supports over 550 student-athletes each year and athletics is an integral part of the campus community.

"Lids Team Sports is very pleased to be a part of aligning Utica College Athletics, and Nike in the execution of this five-year deal.

This partnership will allow UC student athletes and coaches a competitive advantage in both recruiting, and on the field of play," said Lids Team Sports/Anaconda Sports Sales Manager Rich Diliberto.  "

This partnership will allow UC athletics the ability to have greater control in branding the college, and have full access to Nike's industry leading footwear, apparel, and equipment."

Nike has been outfitting Professional, College, High School and Youth teams for over 20 years and now Utica College will be part of the Nike family.

Lids Team Sports, a leading provider of athletic equipment and apparel, has provided high quality sporting goods for 24 years, and they currently have a regional office located on Main Street in New York Mills.

So does this mean all Nike sneakers are going to look like this?

[fisheralum91]

Well played!
+k

[sjfcards]

Already Tuesday of week 1: how about some predictions?

Fisher slips past Thomas More
Buff State beats Cortland
Ithaca over Moravian
Salisbury over Christopher Newport
Utica over St Lawrence (?)

Wow. Predicting a good week for the E8

[Upstate]

Already Tuesday of week 1: how about some predictions?

Fisher slips past Thomas More
Buff State beats Cortland
Ithaca over Moravian
Salisbury over Christopher Newport
Utica over St Lawrence (?)

Wow. Predicting a good week for the E8

Cortland over Buff State in a squeaker 27-24
Ithaca gets its offense going early vs Moravian 31-13
Salisbury gets a big win over a tough Christopher Newport 38-21
St. Lawrence with a mini upset over Utica 28-26
Fisher squeaks past Thomas More 31-28 in OT

[AlfredSaxon8]

Already Tuesday of week 1: how about some predictions?

Fisher slips past Thomas More
Buff State beats Cortland
Ithaca over Moravian
Salisbury over Christopher Newport
Utica over St Lawrence (?)

Wow. Predicting a good week for the E8

Agree with all except Buff State over Cortland. I think the Red Dragons will pull it out.

I just cannot wait until real football starts! Enough of this pre-season stuff with a bunch of overpaid grown men. I dislike the NFL anyway, but theres something about the whole "flash" that irks me. Give me a college game anyday where either team has a chance to win and I am a happy guy.

[fisheralum91]

Week one is always tough to pick.
Most of the picks were pretty spot on, tho I think the one game that may suprise some is the SLU UC game.
I look for a flat start by the Pioneers, and without some of the firepower they had, they cant comeback and lose.

The game that I think (and hope) isnt as close will be Fisher-TM.
Fisher has had good luck of late against southern schools (minus Salis.)
Look for that game having Fisher win by 10