FB: Empire 8

[boobyhasgameyo]

And cue the bulletin board material that MHB people have been waiting for this week haha. 

By the way - they did beat Mount Union in 2004 or 2005.  Think they made it to the national championship game that year too.  So that puts them above a Wesley in my book.  Linfield actually won the championship that year - so they are definitely above Wesley. 

[Pat Coleman]

SJF has had much stronger competition thus far in the season, and arguably tougher competition 2 rounds into the post season than MHB.  It isn't going to be the steam roll and fore gone conclusion that some in other sections of the boards are expecting.

I would like for that to be the case but I have my doubts.

[Ralph Turner]

I like that discussion. I am glad the SJF is coming to UMHB.  It is good to have this inter-region games appearing in the Round of 8.

SJF is the best team for UMHB in the Quarterfinals.  They were clearly stronger than Hobart and now I think that Hobart got a considerable bit of love in the Top 25 by just "floating" at 6th and 7th in the Polls (with no more that 473 points which is almost a perfect "7th").

SJF has been in the playoffs for the last 4 seasons.  They are a quality program (AKA "usual suspect" as mentioned in the blog.)

As for the weather, if we Texans had standard issue thermal ("proven to  minus 40 degree windchill sit on your rear end in a frozen deer blind") underwear, then we might not consider 35 degrees above too cold.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Well I don't think there is any doubt that Fisher has faced tougher opponents in the first two rounds.  Unfortunately I don't think that will count for much come Saterday. 

I like middlerelief's enthusiasm.  I don't agree with his rankings of programs and it is a slight to MHB (and Linfield), but you can't hate on a guy for believing in his team.  It's like I referenced on the ASC board, the alternative of having a completely defeatist attitude is lame. 

[Ralph Turner]

SJF has had much stronger competition thus far in the season, and arguably tougher competition 2 rounds into the post season than MHB.  It isn't going to be the steam roll and fore gone conclusion that some in other sections of the boards are expecting.

I would like for that to be the case but I have my doubts.

A wish, and a hope to get a gauge on the level of D-III in the western half of the South Region.
I want to see how SJF compares to the LaCollege's and Trinity's and TLU's that we see.

[sjfcards]

SJF has had much stronger competition thus far in the season, and arguably tougher competition 2 rounds into the post season than MHB.  It isn't going to be the steam roll and fore gone conclusion that some in other sections of the boards are expecting.

I would like for that to be the case but I have my doubts.

I want to believe in Fisher this weekend, but UMHB is a really tough test. I think Fisher can hang around but for how long I am not so sure. I am interested to hear what fans of the Cru honestly think about what I consider the best team in the East this season.

I am sure we could debate who the best team in the East is from this post, but for me it is Fisher.

[wesleydad]

fisher guys, good luck this weekend.  as far as the speed that you will see goes, I believe that fastest/quickest team you saw this year was likely salisbury, they are not close to UMHB.  the worry that i would have is the number of points fisher gave up to salisbury.  if that happens saturday fisher is in for a long day.  if the offense can control the ball and slow the game down fisher has a chance, a slim one, but a chance.  congrats on making the final 8, another good showing by a good program.  both our squads are up against it this weekend, double upset would be great.

[Upstate]

I like that discussion. I am glad the SJF is coming to UMHB.  It is good to have this inter-region games appearing in the Round of 8.

SJF is the best team for UMHB in the Quarterfinals.  They were clearly stronger than Hobart and now I think that Hobart got a considerable bit of love in the Top 25 by just "floating" at 6th and 7th in the Polls (with no more that 473 points which is almost a perfect "7th").

SJF has been in the playoffs for the last 4 seasons.  They are a quality program (AKA "usual suspect" as mentioned in the blog.)

As for the weather, if we Texans had standard issue thermal ("proven to  minus 40 degree windchill sit on your rear end in a frozen deer blind") underwear, then we might not consider 35 degrees above too cold.

Don't quote me but I think it was Pat, or someone else in the D3football.com world, that basically alluded to Hobart being ranked so high was due to their Wittenburg win in the playoffs last year...

Is that accurate and if so does that sort of call into question their ranking throughout the year???

[Upstate]

Well I don't think there is any doubt that Fisher has faced tougher opponents in the first two rounds.  Unfortunately I don't think that will count for much come Saterday. 

I like middlerelief's enthusiasm.  I don't agree with his rankings of programs and it is a slight to MHB (and Linfield), but you can't hate on a guy for believing in his team.  It's like I referenced on the ASC board, the alternative of having a completely defeatist attitude is lame.

I like his enthusiasm as well, just don't think that beating two top 10 teams on the road matters a whole hell of a lot at this point with 8 teams left...

There's always been a gap in talent after the top 3-5 teams in the rankings over the past few years and then there's even a split in those top 5 teams...

There's the favorites like UMU and UWW and then there's the "contenders" like UMHB, Linfield and Wesley to round out the top 5 over the past few years...

After that you get in the 5-8 range teams like Bethel, North Central and St. Thomas as of late...

Then there's everyone else in the top 25 that can win a few playoff games but aren't "legitimate" contenders...

[Upstate]

fisher guys, good luck this weekend.  as far as the speed that you will see goes, I believe that fastest/quickest team you saw this year was likely salisbury, they are not close to UMHB.  the worry that i would have is the number of points fisher gave up to salisbury.  if that happens saturday fisher is in for a long day.  if the offense can control the ball and slow the game down fisher has a chance, a slim one, but a chance.  congrats on making the final 8, another good showing by a good program.  both our squads are up against it this weekend, double upset would be great.

Speed has never been an issue when facing SU...

If you put those same athletes from SU in either a pro style system or even a spread passing attack you don't see SU winning as many E8 games as they have done the past 3 years...

[Ralph Turner]

I like that discussion. I am glad the SJF is coming to UMHB.  It is good to have this inter-region games appearing in the Round of 8.

SJF is the best team for UMHB in the Quarterfinals.  They were clearly stronger than Hobart and now I think that Hobart got a considerable bit of love in the Top 25 by just "floating" at 6th and 7th in the Polls (with no more that 473 points which is almost a perfect "7th").

SJF has been in the playoffs for the last 4 seasons.  They are a quality program (AKA "usual suspect" as mentioned in the blog.)

As for the weather, if we Texans had standard issue thermal ("proven to  minus 40 degree windchill sit on your rear end in a frozen deer blind") underwear, then we might not consider 35 degrees above too cold.

Don't quote me but I think it was Pat, or someone else in the D3football.com world, that basically alluded to Hobart being ranked so high was due to their Wittenburg win in the playoffs last year...

Is that accurate and if so does that sort of call into question their ranking throughout the year???

Thanks Upstate.

That is a problem. I have participated in Mr Ypsi's Fan Hoops top 25 and run the South Region Fan Poll. You kinda have to give the team the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise.

[Upstate]

I like that discussion. I am glad the SJF is coming to UMHB.  It is good to have this inter-region games appearing in the Round of 8.

SJF is the best team for UMHB in the Quarterfinals.  They were clearly stronger than Hobart and now I think that Hobart got a considerable bit of love in the Top 25 by just "floating" at 6th and 7th in the Polls (with no more that 473 points which is almost a perfect "7th").

SJF has been in the playoffs for the last 4 seasons.  They are a quality program (AKA "usual suspect" as mentioned in the blog.)

As for the weather, if we Texans had standard issue thermal ("proven to  minus 40 degree windchill sit on your rear end in a frozen deer blind") underwear, then we might not consider 35 degrees above too cold.

Don't quote me but I think it was Pat, or someone else in the D3football.com world, that basically alluded to Hobart being ranked so high was due to their Wittenburg win in the playoffs last year...

Is that accurate and if so does that sort of call into question their ranking throughout the year???

Thanks Upstate.

That is a problem. I have participated in Mr Ypsi's Fan Hoops top 25 and run the South Region Fan Poll. You kinda have to give the team the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise.

Yeah just for clarification to the LL folk...

That was not a veiled shot at Bart or the LL...

Hobart is a damn good team...

They deserved to be ranked to start the season...

They likely would have made it into the top 10 with the way they ran through the LL with their undefeated record...

[Toby Taff]

As for the weather, if we Texans had standard issue thermal ("proven to  minus 40 degree windchill sit on your rear end in a frozen deer blind") underwear, then we might not consider 35 degrees above too cold.

You don't mix hunting gear with football gear Ralph. 

[Pat Coleman]

Hobart is a damn good team...

They deserved to be ranked to start the season...

They likely would have made it into the top 10 with the way they ran through the LL with their undefeated record...

I agree with all of these things. Just understand -- they started out ranked highly because of the Wittenberg win last year, something that put them above other Hobart teams and most other Liberty League teams. And they floated up, like undefeated teams do. But without that win, they're probably battling neck and neck with Johns Hopkins, rather than playing in the territory they were this year.

It's only a couple spots but it's the difference between Hobart being at or near the top of the non-Usual Suspects list, and being more in the middle of that second/third tier.

[Toby Taff]

SJF has had much stronger competition thus far in the season, and arguably tougher competition 2 rounds into the post season than MHB.  It isn't going to be the steam roll and fore gone conclusion that some in other sections of the boards are expecting.

I would like for that to be the case but I have my doubts.

I want to believe in Fisher this weekend, but UMHB is a really tough test. I think Fisher can hang around but for how long I am not so sure. I am interested to hear what fans of the Cru honestly think about what I consider the best team in the East this season.

I am sure we could debate who the best team in the East is from this post, but for me it is Fisher.

As a Cru fan, I can't tell you anything about SJF other than what I read. What I can tell you is that I believe this UMHB team is better than the team that gave UMU all it could handle in the semis last year. Their biggest weaknesses are a propensity to start slow and the occasional defensive lapse deep down field.
On Defense the DBs man up a lot, and it has paid off with ints this season. The Cru uses mostly a four man rush because the Dline is filthy that leaves the speedy LB's to patrol sideline to sideline.
On offense, the QB is dangerous if he runs and pretty accurate when he throws, but the Cru would just as soon run you over as pass on you. If the running game is going down hill (and Hudson is a beast) the Cru will just feed the RBs all day. People keep talking about the team speed, but Hudson is not a speedy back. Hudson reminds me more of John Riggins than any other pro RB. He runs through arms and stumbles forward. He averages 5.4 a carry for the season against Rowan last week it was 5.9; against Wesley 3.5. Off of all that running up the gut comes the play action passing game and the QB's read option game that has shown the ability to strike on the long pass or on the long run by the QB.
On special teams, count on someone coming after the kickers and count on seeing some fantastic punting. This is Peavey's season line:

no.     yds         avg  long   TB     FC    I20   50+  Blk
Chad Peevey     53    2230    42.1 79    11    14    16    11    2

Overall, I think the Cru will show up to play and will expect a close game. I will show up and be a nervous wreck until the final gun. I hope SJF is as advertised and I see a fantastic game, but I won't be surprised if UMHB breaks out a whoopin' stick in the latter part of the game and puts some real distance between them and the Cardinals before the final gun.