FB: Empire 8

[D3MAFAN]

With all the talk about greatest wins, what would be the greatest losses, where the team played well, but just didn't win.

[sjfcards]

With all the talk about greatest wins, what would be the greatest losses, where the team played well, but just didn't win.

2006 Mount Union has to be on the top of the list. Yesterday's game with UMHB, and maybe the 2004 Del Valley game in the playoffs. Maybe the 2005 IC game. I was happy for Struzi, but that was like a punch to the gut for sure.

[Upstate]

With all the talk about greatest wins, what would be the greatest losses, where the team played well, but just didn't win.

I'd be willing to bet that 3 of Fisher's "Moral Victories" came from the 2003 season alone:

VS RPI (17-24) In a matchup of two of the best offenses in the East Region neither team could muster much offense in the first half as Fisher went into half up 3-0. Most of the 3rd quarter remained a stalemate until the eventual NCAA Semi Finalist RPI broke through for a 7-3 lead with 5 minutes left in the 3rd. Following a 3 and out for Fisher RPI got the ball back on their own 40. A first down by RPI set up a first and 10 inside Fisher territory, RPI's Cole was sacked for a big loss and then on 2nd and 18 Fishers All American DE (Brad Keem) picked off a shuffle pass and returned it for a huge TD to put fisher up 10-7. RPI got the ball back and drove 77 yds on 11 plays to score a 1yd TD by their RB to being the 4th quarter. Fisher would answer with a 7 play 80 yd TD drive to go up 17-14. RPI answered with a FG of their own to tie it at 17. Following a series of punts for both teams RPI got the ball back at their own 40 and used two huge plays to go up 24-17 in 15 seconds. The 22 yd TD pass occurred after the SJF DB slipped on the turf leaving the RPI WR wide open for the score. Fisher would get the ball back only to be picked off on their own 40 with 46 seconds left. RPI took a knee, timeout SJF. On 2nd down another knee, time out SJF. On third down RPI took a knee, they then ran the playclock down to 1 and called time out with 5 seconds left. That sets up 4th down and 16, RPI inexplicably decides to NOT run around or even run backwards and take a safety with just 5 seconds left. RPI's QB takes the snap and while still behind center just throws the ball as far as he could down field. RPI is then called for intentional grounding with 1 second left, that's a spot foul and a loss of down. The "super smart" engineering school ended up giving SJF's offense one last chance at their own 41 yard line with one second left. SJF tries a deep pass down the middle of the field, it falls incomplete but a pass interference penalty keeps the game alive and puts the ball on the 26. One more chance SJF tries to force a pass to Noah Ferhenbach but it's knocked down...end of game.

VS #12 Ithaca (19-20). Fisher once again started the season off 3-0 with wins vs AU, UR and Norwich to set up a huge game at Butterfield vs the #12 and eventual NCAA Quarter Finalist Ithaca Bombers. Up to that point in the series SJF had NEVER ran a play inside Ithaca territory at Butterfield Stadium...NEVER CROSSED THE 50! Bombers win the toss and Cardinals end up receiving the kick off. The opening kick was returned 65 yards to the Ithaca 35 yard line, Fisher moves the ball 18 yards to get inside Ithaca's redzone. They kick a 33 yd FG to go up 3-0. Fisher's D forces a punt near midfield and the offense takes over at their own 11. Fisher used a beautiful 16 play, 89 yard drive that was capped off by a 5 yd TD pass that made the score 10-0. Fisher forces another punt and their O takes over inside their own 30. 12 plays later it sets up 4th and 1 at the Ithaca 11 yard line. Fisher tries a QB sneak, a play they unbelievably NEVER practiced prior, on 4th and 1 and is stuffed. They ended up adding another FG to go up 13-0 at the half. It was the first time Ithaca was shut out at the half in a decade. Ithaca finally does something with their 2nd series of the 3rd quarter and cuts the lead to 13-7. Fishers pins Ithaca inside their own 10 following a punt, Felicetti then misfires on a pitch to a RB and Fisher takes over. The next play they go up 19-7 and go for two which the pass falls incomplete. Ithaca's next possession they go 53 yards on 9 plays to bring the score to 19-13 as the kick was no good. The next series Meyers rips off two runs for 25 total yards only to fumble on the third carry at midfield. Ithaca takes over and marches down the field on a 9 play 47 yard drive that was capped off by a 19 yd pass to Welch from Felicetti. The two pt conversion was good and it made it 20-19 Ithaca. From then on the teams exchange punts and Fisher ends up with the ball with 5:15 left. They start at their own 7, move the ball to the 31yd line and are faced with a 4th and 1. Fisher goes for it but Meyers is stuffed for a 1yd loss. Ithaca then gets the ball back and drives to the Fisher 7 yd line and are faced with the exact same situation. 4th and 1 at the Fisher 7, Jamie Free is stuffed for a 1yd loss and Fisher takes over with 1:25 left. They fail to move the ball past the Bomber 40 yd line and end up being sacked to end the game.

Vs #5 Brockport (35-38) A ridiculous barn burner that came down to a last second FG by the NCAA Tournament qualifying Brockport Eagles. Going into the 4th Fisher trailed 28-21 they scored with 9 minutes left to make it 28-28 but UMU transfer Wise returned the kick off 97 yards for a TD. Fisher scored with 1:20 left on a pretty fade pass to Simboli for 28 yards to make it 35-35 but Brockport had too much time on the clock. Darnley ripped off a 30 yard run on the first play of their possession to get them to the Fisher 29 yard line. Brockport kicked a 39 yard FG with 7 seconds left to go up 38-35. The ensuing squib kick was caught by the front liner Freshman Mark Robinson at the 47 yard line. Fisher would try two long passes but both didn't come close and Brockport squeaked out a 38-35 win.

They finished 8-3 and their 3 losses were by a combined 11 points to a NCAA Semi Finalist, a NCAA Quarter Finalist and a NCAA tournament entry.

[boobyhasgameyo]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive! 

[Jonny Utah]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive!

You guys have written about 3000 words on the 2003 RPI/SJF game (ive read most of them) and you want to complain about the NESCAC board writing about things people might be interested in?

Hey, I'd love to talk about all sorts of stuff on here, but there is only so much E8 football talk you can have without having posters lose interest.

[boobyhasgameyo]

That wasn't a complaint.  They can talk about whatever they want to discuss in their own little world that they've created.  My depression is centered on the fact that nobody else in the East has any relevant football related discussions at this point.  It would be nice if one of our programs were in the final four.  Oh wellllll. 

[D3MAFAN]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive!

You guys have written about 3000 words on the 2003 RPI/SJF game (ive read most of them) and you want to complain about the NESCAC board writing about things people might be interested in?

Hey, I'd love to talk about all sorts of stuff on here, but there is only so much E8 football talk you can have without having posters lose interest.

So who is favored next year in the E 8 and East region in general.

[Bombers798891]

I'll happily repost my Felicetti > Boltus screed if you guys want....

[Toby Taff]

So , any SJF fans that made it to Belton... I wanted to hear about your experience other than just game info.

[AUPepBand]

So , any SJF fans that made it to Belton... I wanted to hear about your experience other than just game info.

Well Toby, in reference to your tag line, Pep is pretty fond of Purple and Gold, too!!

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive!

You guys have written about 3000 words on the 2003 RPI/SJF game (ive read most of them) and you want to complain about the NESCAC board writing about things people might be interested in?

Hey, I'd love to talk about all sorts of stuff on here, but there is only so much E8 football talk you can have without having posters lose interest.

So who is favored next year in the E 8 and East region in general.

Well, Pep can guarantee that Alfred will be at the top of the E8 conference standings when the season begins. 

On Saxon Warriors!

[AlfredSaxon8]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive!

You guys have written about 3000 words on the 2003 RPI/SJF game (ive read most of them) and you want to complain about the NESCAC board writing about things people might be interested in?

Hey, I'd love to talk about all sorts of stuff on here, but there is only so much E8 football talk you can have without having posters lose interest.

So who is favored next year in the E 8 and East region in general.

Well, Pep can guarantee that Alfred will be at the top of the E8 conference standings when the season begins. 

On Saxon Warriors!

+1

Lots of young talent in key positions. Add an always solid Murray defense and I think they could make a push for an E8 title.

SJF will probably have the top recruiting class of the E8 with another strong showing in the playoffs. But I put them after AU mostly because of personal bias   It will be interesting to see who steps up for the Cards after some key production players move on.

IC was a nice surprise this year so it will be interesting to see if they continue their way back to the top after some disappointing seasons recently. But, they are the Champs until someone takes it from them. They get my #1 spot.

My most intriguing team for next year is the Gulls. It's hard to tell if it was an off year for Salisbury or if their initial dominance in the E8 has come to an end.  Competitive without a doubt but hardly the whipping they laid on some top E8 teams *cough* Alfred *cough* in the past.

And I am still waiting for Buff State to put together a complete season. Im curious how Brockport will perform in the E8 but I dont have very high expectations, simply a middle of the conference type team.

1) IC
2) AU
3) SJF
4) Salisbury
5) Brockport
5) Buff State
6) Hartwick
7) Utica
8) Frostburg State

[AUPepBand]

Congratulations to Saxon offensive lineman Ryan DiFlavio on being named First Team D3football.com East Region All Star! None more deserving than DiFlavio who was a stalwart OL for the Saxons for four seasons, and a frequent visitor of Herrick Library!

As Ryan's dad would say, "Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap, Oooh!"
And the band could always count on Don to finish their abbreviated rendition of the Mexican Hat Dance, complete with dance!

Gonna miss Ryan on the field....and Don in the stands! Gosh, AU football is FUN!

On Saxon Warriors!

[D3viewer]

AS8 says .."Im curious how Brockport will perform in the E8 but I dont have very high expectations, simply a middle of the conference type team. "

Brockport has not fared very well recently against SJF (L in 2010 ?), Ithaca( L in 2011), AU and Buff St (lost to both LY).
Their biggest challenge will be replacing almost their whole OL. 3 players were 3 year starters ( ~ 30 starts each)..another senior started for about 1.5 years. One of the "FB's" was a converted SR OL.  So that is 5 seniors gone that played a lot this season and others. The last time they rebooted their OL was in 2011...and they didn't win a game for the first half of the season.

[sjfcards]

How depressing that all new posts on the eastern region boards are NESCAC posts talking about things absolutely nobody outside of Pat, Utah, and NESCAC posters care about.  I wish the Ithaca vs Fisher Stagg Bowl dream was still alive!

You guys have written about 3000 words on the 2003 RPI/SJF game (ive read most of them) and you want to complain about the NESCAC board writing about things people might be interested in?

Hey, I'd love to talk about all sorts of stuff on here, but there is only so much E8 football talk you can have without having posters lose interest.

So who is favored next year in the E 8 and East region in general.

Well, Pep can guarantee that Alfred will be at the top of the E8 conference standings when the season begins. 

On Saxon Warriors!

+1

Lots of young talent in key positions. Add an always solid Murray defense and I think they could make a push for an E8 title.

SJF will probably have the top recruiting class of the E8 with another strong showing in the playoffs. But I put them after AU mostly because of personal bias   It will be interesting to see who steps up for the Cards after some key production players move on.

IC was a nice surprise this year so it will be interesting to see if they continue their way back to the top after some disappointing seasons recently. But, they are the Champs until someone takes it from them. They get my #1 spot.

My most intriguing team for next year is the Gulls. It's hard to tell if it was an off year for Salisbury or if their initial dominance in the E8 has come to an end.  Competitive without a doubt but hardly the whipping they laid on some top E8 teams *cough* Alfred *cough* in the past.

And I am still waiting for Buff State to put together a complete season. Im curious how Brockport will perform in the E8 but I dont have very high expectations, simply a middle of the conference type team.

1) IC
2) AU
3) SJF
4) Salisbury
5) Brockport
5) Buff State
6) Hartwick
7) Utica
8) Frostburg State

A lot of what Fisher will look like next year will depend on if Fenti comes back. He has another year to play if he chooses.