FB: Empire 8

[D3viewer]

I noticed Alfred has no home night games this year. Is that unusual ? Is there a reason ? Montclair is kinda too far(for them) to have one. But the others are mostly from NY state.

AU has gotten away from night games. Heck, in Alfred, they often must turn on the lights for the afternoon games, because, as you perhaps did not know, in Alfred the SUN comes out once a week....and that's usually Thursday.

Alfred University, early in its history, out of deference to the majority of Sabbath keepers (scripturally sundown Friday to sundown Saturday), played all of its home football games on Saturday nights, usually with kickoff at 8 p.m. You see, Alfred was founded by Seventh Day Baptists and at one time had the only post office in the nation that was closed on Saturdays and delivered mail on Sundays. So in Mayberry, the whole town, following a Sabbath rest, came out to support the Saxons!

Pep is unsure whether the lack of night games at Merrill Field is a conscious decision, a matter of scheduling, or a matter of preference. Scheduling night games late in the season can be a bit nippy at this elevation. Merrill Field is also home to women's and men's soccer and often hosts night soccer games, many on Saturdays following football games.

Pep will inquire.

Get the fight song ready....and stay tuned!

Interesting history about AU I did not know.

[fisheralum91]

Elmira?
Football?
They are E8 in other sports, why not Football!
That would be a good fit!
They do have some quality teams, especially hockey.

[saxontad]

I have often wondered why EC doesn't have football.  Have they ever? Anyone know?  If they haven't, it's a huge step to start a new program.  But I think it would make great sense to add them to E8 football. 


On Saxon Warriors!!

[AUPepBand]

I have often wondered why EC doesn't have football.  Have they ever? Anyone know?  If they haven't, it's a huge step to start a new program.  But I think it would make great sense to add them to E8 football. 


On Saxon Warriors!!

Pep is going to go out on a limb and say that Elmira College has never had football. Just read that the college only went co-ed in 1969....seems as though it was a women's college from its inception in 1855. Pep knows for a fact that the Soaring Eagles have not appeared in a football game since 1969, and, given that only 29% of the student body is men, it would seem the likely move to bring up the number of men enrolled. But please correct Pep on this if anyone has contrary information.

Get the fight song ready!

[fisheralum91]

29 % men?
Wow...
Great odds!
That explains much!

[AUKaz00]

Baseball has already been announced.

Yeah, I saw that on their site and was told the order of things to accomplish was baseball, turf, football. 

I have often wondered why EC doesn't have football.  Have they ever? Anyone know?  If they haven't, it's a huge step to start a new program.  But I think it would make great sense to add them to E8 football. 


On Saxon Warriors!!

Pep is going to go out on a limb and say that Elmira College has never had football. Just read that the college only went co-ed in 1969....seems as though it was a women's college from its inception in 1855. Pep knows for a fact that the Soaring Eagles have not appeared in a football game since 1969, and, given that only 29% of the student body is men, it would seem the likely move to bring up the number of men enrolled. But please correct Pep on this if anyone has contrary information.

Get the fight song ready!

Another point that came up in our conversation since I thought they were bringing the program back but was told they never had football.  Can't complain about another close away game, but it would continue to stretch the talent in upstate NY.

[D3viewer]

Re: Elmira College.  football.  Tiny (1100 students), most likely expensive,  college located in a not very football rich/dense area (Elmira).  Hartwick might be the best comparison for its possibilities/ challenges

[sjfcards]

I made my final college decision between Fisher and Elmira, and ultimately decided on Fisher for several reasons (Athletic facilities, City the campus was in, etc)  including the fact that Fisher had a football team and EC did not.

It would be cool to see another traditional E8 school to have a football team, but I see a team more like the EC basketball team than the hockey team. Upstate is a hard area to break in with a football team with the number of teams and schools, but the E8 seems especially difficult to break in to. With IC about 35-40 minutes up rt. 13, Fisher a short drive up 390, and AU just down I86 (3 well established programs with recruiting ties in EC's back yard) it could be very tough. It would most likely help with increasing enrollment and brand recognition however.

[fisheralum91]

While I agree that it would be tough for EC to have a successful Football team....They do need to look to the future and see the bigger picture.
If they do get a football team will they be the doormat of whatever league they are in?  Probably...Will it be tough to recruit against more well known Colleges just down the street...yes.....But a funny thing happened a few years back...Fisher had a club football team and decided to go d3.....A lot of bumps and bruises later, we are talking about a continual nationally ranked program...I would welcome EC  and applaud their efforts

[AUPepBand]

While I agree that it would be tough for EC to have a successful Football team....They do need to look to the future and see the bigger picture.
If they do get a football team will they be the doormat of whatever league they are in?  Probably...Will it be tough to recruit against more well known Colleges just down the street...yes.....But a funny thing happened a few years back...Fisher had a club football team and decided to go d3.....A lot of bumps and bruises later, we are talking about a continual nationally ranked program...I would welcome EC  and applaud their efforts

Is there any doubt should Elmira College start a football program that the Soaring Eagles would compete in the Empire 8? Pep has always thought it would be nice for ALL members of the Empire 8 to field football programs....then Pep wouldn't be driving 9 hours to southern Maryland for a conference game.

And, Pep contends, isn't there a certain appeal for high school football stars to go someplace just starting up...to get immediate playing time and be the "Big Man on Campus"? If and when Elmira begins football, it will no doubt need an outstanding recruiter to market and build the program. And with that, the college will be addressing its pitiful 29% male enrollment statistic and then perhaps it could utilize its 653 cheerleaders during the fall sports season.

Bring it, Soaring Eagles!

[D3MAFAN]

Salisbury #16, SJF #24, Buff State (1 Receiving Vote), and Ithaca (1 Receiving Vote). Honestly, I think that this is reasonable based upon the players that are coming back. I think there are going to be some big changes come the first couple of weeks.

[fisheralum91]

Great to see the E8 well represented in the top 25.
The start of the season with the quality OOC games should be telling indeed!

[fisheralum91]

Oh D3MAFAN don't forget....Buff St. is in the E8 too..

[AUKaz00]

Re: Elmira College.  football.  Tiny (1100 students), most likely expensive,  college located in a not very football rich/dense area (Elmira).  Hartwick might be the best comparison for its possibilities/ challenges

This guy might have something to say about that!

[D3viewer]

Re: Elmira College.  football.  Tiny (1100 students), most likely expensive,  college located in a not very football rich/dense area (Elmira).  Hartwick might be the best comparison for its possibilities/ challenges

This guy might have something to say about that!

Are you from Elmira ?