FB: Empire 8

[D3MAFAN]

I'm actually not too worried about the pool C bid if Fisher wins out.  I think they would be the closest thing to a lock that there could be for it.  Little bit concerned that Fisher might drop a game to a team they are clearly better than since they have had a tendency to do that in years past even with their super teams.  If that happens then they would need a miraculous 2011 committee decision to put them in with two losses.  I sincerely doubt that would happen again.  Really it's a shame too because all I care about is Fisher making the playoffs.  I love seeing them compete against representatives against different conferences.  More times than not they come out on top and represent the E8 well.  Plus beating teams in the playoffs is the only thing in my life that gives me joy.  That's it.  Nothing else makes me happy. 

Wouldn't you love to see Fisher and Hobart play in like the second round of the playoffs where the winner gets to advance to the elite 8?  That would be fantastic.

That is the measuring stick for a successful season for sure. Bowl games are crap. I think Fisher will be in good shape for a pool C if they win out, but they were not helped by Otterbine and cortland losing yesterday. This was the scenario I really didn't want to see. Fisher losing the de facto E8 championship and having to avoid a loss down the stretch.

I necessarily don't think bowl games are crap, sometimes it can be hard to get up for a bowl game, especially if a team was so close to making the playoffs and was left out due to some type of technicality, but in Division III, if you win your conference, you're pretty much in. However, the bowl games somewhat match teams based on region (cost effective) to reward teams that are above .500 that played their schedule competitively. In addition the ECAC also gives the East Region a better picture on how conferences as whole measure against other conferences within region, something that other regions aren't fortunate to have. I think if they did experiment with something similar to the ECAC, it would also give them a better measuring on how their region is as a whole, having little regional matchups during the season, it would give them a measuring on how the middle of pack to top teams matchup against one another. Also, it gives players another game to play, which is fine enough for me. I wish everyday I could play just one more game.

[Bombers798891]

Man, I go away for a day and there's 20 posts on where Fisher would be ranked had Salisbury won a game more than a month ago? They'd be higher. Just like they'd be higher if Cortland hadn't lost to Buffalo State in Week 1, because then the Red Dragons would have been ranked instead of receiving one vote when Fisher beat them. So what?

Nope, that was never my main argument.  I was saying it was a shame Salisbury wasn't ranked higher heading into the game because to me they are a top 20 level team.  I never went on a tirade about Fisher being disrespected in the top 25 and neither did anybody else.  Fisher will be just fine if they win out.  Starting with your Bombers

Aside from the post that was made (not by you) stating:

"I think it would be so bias of the pollsters to drop SJF out of the Top 25"

[D3MAFAN]

Man, I go away for a day and there's 20 posts on where Fisher would be ranked had Salisbury won a game more than a month ago? They'd be higher. Just like they'd be higher if Cortland hadn't lost to Buffalo State in Week 1, because then the Red Dragons would have been ranked instead of receiving one vote when Fisher beat them. So what?

Nope, that was never my main argument.  I was saying it was a shame Salisbury wasn't ranked higher heading into the game because to me they are a top 20 level team.  I never went on a tirade about Fisher being disrespected in the top 25 and neither did anybody else.  Fisher will be just fine if they win out.  Starting with your Bombers

Aside from the post that was made (not by you) stating:

"I think it would be so bias of the pollsters to drop SJF out of the Top 25"

That post was made by me and yes, I believe they should be ranked in the Top 25 similar to other quality teams with one loss that was not ranked in the beginning of season.

[Bengalsrule]

BENGALS get 1st E8 win. Must run the table to finish 500 in Conference.

Utica next.

Go BENGALS!!

[AUPepBand]

BENGALS get 1st E8 win. Must run the table to finish 500 in Conference.

Utica next.

Go BENGALS!!

Good win for the Bengals....congrats, bengalsrule on winning the battle of the cats! Pep's Saxons must now travel down to Frostburg, MD to face those pesky Bobcats, who are probably not a happy lot after that smackdown.

[Upstate]

Well Fisher drops to 25 and SU jumps up to 24...

Didn't think Fisher would stay in the top 25 but whatever, it's Ithica week!!!

Last Fisher loss vs Ithica was 2005 with the Struzzi game winning pick 6 and peaking of 2005, that was the last time Ithica scored more than 17 points vs Fisher...

Early prediction...

34-13 Fisher...

[AlfredSaxon8]

Well Fisher drops to 25 and SU jumps up to 24...

Didn't think Fisher would stay in the top 25 but whatever, it's Ithica week!!!

Last Fisher loss vs Ithica was 2005 with the Struzzi game winning pick 6 and peaking of 2005, that was the last time Ithica scored more than 17 points vs Fisher...

Early prediction...

34-13 Fisher...

Probably an unpopular opinion to say the least but I might have to go with an upset on this one. I dont know why, I just think IC has a shot to kick them while they are down. Call me crazy but I think IC 35-31.

I will probably come to my senses later than sooner but hey, it's 4 in the morning and the midnight shift is kicking my butt. So I cannot be held accountable for my prediction.

[fisheralum91]

After watching the UC v IC game, I am thinking that Fisher continues its dominance over IC, and I don't think that it is too bold a statement.
UC had its chances to take that game, and after seeing them the last 2 weeks I haven't been greatly impressed with them.
Fisher 28-IC7

[Bombers798891]

I too think Fisher wins the game, but don't think it will be the blowout some are predicting. Ithaca's played Fisher very close the last two seasons (The last two games were decided by seven total points), and the Bomber defense has still not allowed more than 14 points in a game all year. (Both the Utica and Hartwick game featured turnovers resulting in TD's). And they're the only defense to shut down Alfred. This is, however, the best offense the Bombers have faced all season.

While Fisher's played a tougher schedule, I'm also surprised at their defense. They've allowed more points than I would have thought to a few teams. I really thought, following the first week shutout, that they were going to be a defensive stalwart, but they've had some issues. Allowing 23 PPG and 350 isn't bad, especially considering the offenses they've faced. But it's not great either.

None of this means I think Ithaca will win. Simply that I think the Bombers, at home, can give Fisher a game. Call it 27-14 Cardinals, in a game that's one score until late in the 3rd.

[Bombers798891]

So I wanted to resurrect the kicking conversation we had after talking with a former IC football player who now is Director of Football Recruiting Operations at Rutgers. He said one of the reasons it's so hard to find quality kickers is that colleges don't get a lot of game film on kickers—it's mostly combine-type stuff, I think—so it's tough to know what you have before they get there. I'd never really thought about that, but it was interesting to hear, so I thought I'd share

[fisheralum91]

Bombers-
Im glad you rekindled that topic.
Funny- I was having a similar discussion with an old HS coach- and he reminded me that he had trouble enough in HS getting kickers because we all played soccer- take that a step further into the college ranks and pickings get slim upstate...

[Bombers798891]

My E8 rankings after six weeks:

1. Salisbury— Clearly humming on offense, though Fisher landed some good body punches on the defense. They still have to survive an Ithaca team that's given them two good games, but if the Bombers lose to Fisher, the Gulls will still be fine. I don't know if they have the game-changer on offense though. The only player with more than 35 carries is Jones, and he's averaging just 4.4 YPC, (after adjusting for sack yardage). Can a group effort (7 players with 100+ yards) carry them?

2. Fisher— Another tough loss to Salisbury pretty much dashes the Pool A hopes. And the Pool C ones took a hit with Cortland falling to 3-3 and Otterbein losing their third (with a 4th on the way next week). But this is still a very good team, that is flat out loaded on offense. I don't see them losing the rest of the year. Will it be enough? I don't know, but they're not getting a lot of help from their OOC slate.

3. Ithaca— At the start of the year, I think the E8 would have broken into three tiers. Salisbury and Fisher into the top, Ithaca/Utica/Afred/Buff State in the middle (they all went 6-4 last season), and Frostburg and the Wick at the bottom. Ithaca's won all three matchups with mid-tier teams, and though they do have a loss to the Wick, I think their body of work justifies them here. I think Ithaca could absolutely go 7-3 this season.

4. Utica— Maybe a bit of a surprise, but I think the Pioneers should be ahead of Alfred based on a tougher schedule (Hobart & Salisbury so far) and a much better showing against their one common opponent, Ithaca.

5. Alfred— Like the Bombers, not playing the top 2 in the E8 makes it a bit tough to gauge them, but I explained why I don't have them ahead of Utica, and the loss to now 3-3 RPI looks worse every week.

6. Hartwick— The win over Ithaca keeps looking better, though two straight bad losses have me wondering if we'll remember that win sort of like Norwich over Fisher in 2004. A win's a win, but it's not always indicative of two team's relative strengths. I think Buff. State might beat them, but right now, the Ithaca win pushes them ahead

7. Buff State— The win over Frostburg looks pretty from a score standpoint, but the Bengals are still winless against teams with winning records, as both Cortland and Brockport look pretty mediocre.

8. Frostburg— Absolutely zero defense. Offense can make for some interesting games (like Fisher, and Utica for three quarters), but man, they can't stop anyone.

[gterror]

My E8 rankings after six weeks:

1. Salisbury— Clearly humming on offense, though Fisher landed some good body punches on the defense. They still have to survive an Ithaca team that's given them two good games, but if the Bombers lose to Fisher, the Gulls will still be fine. I don't know if they have the game-changer on offense though. The only player with more than 35 carries is Jones, and he's averaging just 4.4 YPC, (after adjusting for sack yardage). Can a group effort (7 players with 100+ yards) carry them?

2. Fisher— Another tough loss to Salisbury pretty much dashes the Pool A hopes. And the Pool C ones took a hit with Cortland falling to 3-3 and Otterbein losing their third (with a 4th on the way next week). But this is still a very good team, that is flat out loaded on offense. I don't see them losing the rest of the year. Will it be enough? I don't know, but they're not getting a lot of help from their OOC slate.

3. Ithaca— At the start of the year, I think the E8 would have broken into three tiers. Salisbury and Fisher into the top, Ithaca/Utica/Afred/Buff State in the middle (they all went 6-4 last season), and Frostburg and the Wick at the bottom. Ithaca's won all three matchups with mid-tier teams, and though they do have a loss to the Wick, I think their body of work justifies them here. I think Ithaca could absolutely go 7-3 this season.

4. Utica— Maybe a bit of a surprise, but I think the Pioneers should be ahead of Alfred based on a tougher schedule (Hobart & Salisbury so far) and a much better showing against their one common opponent, Ithaca.

5. Alfred— Like the Bombers, not playing the top 2 in the E8 makes it a bit tough to gauge them, but I explained why I don't have them ahead of Utica, and the loss to now 3-3 RPI looks worse every week.

6. Hartwick— The win over Ithaca keeps looking better, though two straight bad losses have me wondering if we'll remember that win sort of like Norwich over Fisher in 2004. A win's a win, but it's not always indicative of two team's relative strengths. I think Buff. State might beat them, but right now, the Ithaca win pushes them ahead

7. Buff State— The win over Frostburg looks pretty from a score standpoint, but the Bengals are still winless against teams with winning records, as both Cortland and Brockport look pretty mediocre.

8. Frostburg— Absolutely zero defense. Offense can make for some interesting games (like Fisher, and Utica for three quarters), but man, they can't stop anyone.

Huge opportunity for Ithaca this week after 2 good wins.  I recall Newmann was replaced by Dempsey due to injury.  That said their O seems to have some momentum. 

On the Salisbury front, a big key has been the timing and consistency in the back field.  The current starting slots are averaging 8-10 ypc and have been getting more time/carries consistently since around week 3.  I do agree that the big play threat doesn't seem to be there as much.  Will be interesting to see if the impressive team rushing numbers (400+ last two weeks).

[sjfcards]

My E8 rankings after six weeks:

2. Fisher— Another tough loss to Salisbury pretty much dashes the Pool A hopes. And the Pool C ones took a hit with Cortland falling to 3-3 and Otterbein losing their third (with a 4th on the way next week). But this is still a very good team, that is flat out loaded on offense. I don't see them losing the rest of the year. Will it be enough? I don't know, but they're not getting a lot of help from their OOC slate.

I am wondering what everyone thinks about what Fisher would have been in Fenton had started the past 2 years, and Kramer had been in his current role? Those Fisher teams were limited on offense, and As good as Kramer is, he just wasn't a QB. This years team seems to be a bit of the opposite. They can score but have not stopped teams as consistently. I am not sure what I think on the topic yet, but thought I would throw it out there.

[D3MAFAN]

My E8 rankings after six weeks:

2. Fisher— Another tough loss to Salisbury pretty much dashes the Pool A hopes. And the Pool C ones took a hit with Cortland falling to 3-3 and Otterbein losing their third (with a 4th on the way next week). But this is still a very good team, that is flat out loaded on offense. I don't see them losing the rest of the year. Will it be enough? I don't know, but they're not getting a lot of help from their OOC slate.

I am wondering what everyone thinks about what Fisher would have been in Fenton had started the past 2 years, and Kramer had been in his current role? Those Fisher teams were limited on offense, and As good as Kramer is, he just wasn't a QB. This years team seems to be a bit of the opposite. They can score but have not stopped teams as consistently. I am not sure what I think on the topic yet, but thought I would throw it out there.

I don't know about two year's ago, but last year it would have made a difference and may have change some of the outcomes. Two year's ago SJF faced some very good teams with very good defenses. I think the Defense two years ago was decent, but gave up a lot in the big games.