FB: Empire 8

[Upstate]

Fisher hasn't lost 3 in a row since 2002...

I think Utica is a much improved team but I don't see them eclipsing Fisher at Growney...

[drt]

Utica is due for a signature conference road win, but based on the two
eggs they've laid (layed?) the past two weeks I don't think Growney is where
its going to happen.

[AUPepBand]

Any Salisbury fans wanting to watch tomorrow's game can catch the webcast (no promises on quality) at the following link:
http://www.empire8.tv/play/index.cfm?fuseaction=embstay&id=3F23A16813

The Collegiate Restaurant (aka "The Jet") in Mayberry was filled with Sea Gulls earlier this evening. Pep is looking forward to a good game tomorrow. Let's go Saxons!

On Saxon Warriors!

[Knightstalker]

Any Salisbury fans wanting to watch tomorrow's game can catch the webcast (no promises on quality) at the following link:
http://www.empire8.tv/play/index.cfm?fuseaction=embstay&id=3F23A16813

The Collegiate Restaurant (aka "The Jet") in Mayberry was filled with Sea Gulls earlier this evening. Pep is looking forward to a good game tomorrow. Let's go Saxons!

On Saxon Warriors!

And everybody thinks that was fried chicken in the basket they were eating.

[D3MAFAN]

Great game by Alfred, as I predicted, I knew that Alfred could win the game and key turnovers and a little bit a trickeration here and there allowed the Saxons to prevail over Salisbury...E 8 very interesting this year.

[fisheralum91]

You many have predicted it, but by no means is the IC game in the bag....
I think you are giving Ithaca a bit too much credit!

[gterror]

Great game by Alfred, as I predicted, I knew that Alfred could win the game and key turnovers and a little bit a trickeration here and there allowed the Saxons to prevail over Salisbury...E 8 very interesting this year.

The double pass at the end of the half with only a min left was huge for Alfred.  This seemed like a tough game going in and that was definitely the case.

Definitely agree the E8 is very interesting; no great or maybe even very good teams.  But multiple quality teams overall. 

Ithaca has definitely been playing the best over the last month. 

[AUPepBand]

Any Salisbury fans wanting to watch tomorrow's game can catch the webcast (no promises on quality) at the following link:
http://www.empire8.tv/play/index.cfm?fuseaction=embstay&id=3F23A16813

The Collegiate Restaurant (aka "The Jet") in Mayberry was filled with Sea Gulls earlier this evening. Pep is looking forward to a good game tomorrow. Let's go Saxons!

On Saxon Warriors!

And everybody thinks that was fried chicken in the basket they were eating.

LOL  +K  Pep isn't sure what it was....but it worked!

On Saxon Warriors!

[fisheralum91]

Fisher comes back to beat a very tough UC team.
Congrats to the alma mater on coming back to win!

[drt]

Inexplicable how UC failed to go for two after the missed XP.
Convert it and you have a whole other game

[Jonny Utah]

Time for E8 "fact or myth"

1.  SJF does not have the firepower to shock anyone offensively like they usually do.

2.  Ithaca can win next week and 1 or 2 playoff games based on defense and special teams alone.

3.  Alfred has turned their season around and just might be the best team in the league.

4.  Hartwick can beat anyone at home in any given year.

5.  Frostburg State is going to be average for a long time.

6.  Salisbury has lost it's mojo.

7.  Utica has "arrived"

[D3MAFAN]

Time for E8 "fact or myth"

1.  SJF does not have the firepower to shock anyone offensively like they usually do. FACT - I think they have the firepower, except it just isn't shocking anyone.

2.  Ithaca can win next week and 1 or 2 playoff games based on defense and special teams alone. FACT - Great Special Teams help with field position, which is always important, especially in the playoffs. They do say Defense wins championships, however in this scenario, I think they have the ability to win a couple games if they do make it, but in the third round, you still have to have an offense that can move against teams with a defense that is just as good or even better.
3.  Alfred has turned their season around and just might be the best team in the league. Myth - I think the head to head with Ithaca is why this is a myth, because Ithaca controls their destiny, but looked very good this past Saturday.
4.  Hartwick can beat anyone at home in any given year. Myth - Although they do play well at home, they have only one signature win.
5.  Frostburg State is going to be average for a long time. Fact - they recruit against teams like Delaware Valley, Stevenson, Salisbury, and Wesley. Until they start winning on a consistent basis, I don't know what they have to offer at Frostburg that would get a top recruit to choose them instead of the others aforementioned.
6.  Salisbury has lost it's mojo. Myth/Fact - I think Salisbury Mojo is somewhat seasonal, depending on the quarterback and offensive line experience. You can have one year (2011) that they will be hitting on all cylinders or others where they just appear predictable and very turnover prone.
7.  Utica has "arrived" Myth - they have arrived, but are still standing outside, if they somewhat win the remaining games, they will be at .500, but what's the difference from previous years. As always, it appears that they can score with anybody, but they may not score enough or run out of gas late in the games. However, they did play SJF and Ithaca tough.

[Bombers798891]

Time for E8 "fact or myth"

1.  SJF does not have the firepower to shock anyone offensively like they usually do.

2.  Ithaca can win next week and 1 or 2 playoff games based on defense and special teams alone.

3.  Alfred has turned their season around and just might be the best team in the league.

4.  Hartwick can beat anyone at home in any given year.

5.  Frostburg State is going to be average for a long time.

6.  Salisbury has lost it's mojo.

7.  Utica has "arrived"

1. Fiction-- They're still averaging more than 30 PPG. They may not have 50-point capability, but it's a very good offense.

2. Fact-- I've said it before and I'll say it again: Stop kicking to Ithaca's return unit. They are better than your coverage unit

3. Fiction-- You can't ignore the Ithaca game. The Bombers dominated it. Unless the Bombers lose to Salisbury, they're #1

4. Fact-- But they're still not very good.

5. Fiction-- This would require an improvement. They've won more than three games only once since 2005.

6. Fact- This is the second straight year they've regressed

7. Fiction-- Forever and always

[drt]

Odd bit of officiating at the end of the UC-SJF game.  SJF third and 25 own 39.
UC calls time out with 50 seconds to go.  SJF then gets stuffed for a 2-yd loss leaving @ 42 sec left on the clock with the ball on their own 37,
AND DOES NOT HAVE TO SNAP THE BALL AGAIN?  THE PLAY CLOCK NEVER EVEN RAN.
I'm not saying Utica could have won the game with the few seconds they should have had with the ball, and as I said earlier today, they
squandered other chances, but the final chance should have been there for them.
But, hey, Bombers#######, I guess we won't sweat it because it's JUST UTICA, who will FOREVER AND ALWAYS be on the outside looking in.
Sound about right, everyone?

[AUPepBand]

Shout out to Salisbury punter Kyle Hamby's dad...was a pleasure meeting you today at the game! Your son certainly did a nice job of pinning the Saxons back against the goal line today, twice placing punts inside the 1. Wow. Always delighted to meet folks via this forum. Pep is pretty easy to find at a game...he's the old guy banging on a bass drum, yelling such atrocities as "Harass them, harass them, make them relinquish the ball!"

Pep must say that was probably overall the most complete game by the Saxons this season, although their play at Frostburg State last week was pretty darn good, too. And AU certainly had to have a game like that to defeat the Sea Gulls. 'Twas a small but spirited crowd at Yunevich Stadium today...was happy that band members showed up in spite of the inclement weather. Turns out it was an okay day. Just a few brief moments of light rain.

Saxons pulled out all the stops on offense with solid execution and it paid rich dividends. Pep is pleased how the coaching staff utilizes personnel...three TD passes by three different individuals. WR Ruffin on a reverse throwing to a wide open TE Alec Ladonis; WR Tack throwing deep to Phillips after taking a lateral pass with Phillips making a nice move to ward off two would-be tacklers, and QB Tyler Johnson with a bullet to Phillips in the back of the end zone immediately after Justin Liberta made a great play in intercepting a screen pass at the SU 22.

Just a great game...exciting to the finish...and solid win for AU.

On Saxon Warriors!