FB: Empire 8

[wally_wabash]

2. I'm a little torn on the two-loss thing. I think Fisher could get in with two. But IC is unlikely considering their OOC opponents are currently 0-8. (We'll talk about Buff State and Utica if they beat SJF or IC)

I think the general feeling is that any team with two losses has no chance, but once you play all the games and all of a sudden enough other teams from all over lose a game that you might not think they will, all of a sudden that two-loss team does in fact have a chance.  And 2-loss teams in the East (from the E8 in particular) have a chance because I think there's enough attrition in the region in general to allow for an 8-2 team to be regionally ranked quite high.  Even last year, SJF was in an either/or situation with Wabash for the last available spot, so two losses is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, but there's a shot so long as the right teams get regionally ranked and depending on how things play out in other regions. 

I think two loss teams from the E8 and the MIAC are viable candidates.  After those two leagues, you really shouldn't lose twice. 

[Bombers798891]

2. I'm a little torn on the two-loss thing. I think Fisher could get in with two. But IC is unlikely considering their OOC opponents are currently 0-8. (We'll talk about Buff State and Utica if they beat SJF or IC)

I think the general feeling is that any team with two losses has no chance, but once you play all the games and all of a sudden enough other teams from all over lose a game that you might not think they will, all of a sudden that two-loss team does in fact have a chance.  And 2-loss teams in the East (from the E8 in particular) have a chance because I think there's enough attrition in the region in general to allow for an 8-2 team to be regionally ranked quite high.  Even last year, SJF was in an either/or situation with Wabash for the last available spot, so two losses is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, but there's a shot so long as the right teams get regionally ranked and depending on how things play out in other regions. 

I think two loss teams from the E8 and the MIAC are viable candidates.  After those two leagues, you really shouldn't lose twice.

How many Pool C bids are there this year?

[Upstate]

In 2001, Wabash gave up a tying score to DePauw with something like 12 seconds left.  DPU squibbed the kickoff, and Wabash had the ball with 7.8 seconds left somewhere around their 40.  They threw a quick slant to gain about 10 yards, called a timeout with 3 seconds left.  Then the Hail Mary and touchdown.  Wabash wins the Monon Bell.  Obviously, I'm not a coach, but I think SJF had an opportunity to run a couple of plays and maybe throw it up to the end zone.  Stranger things have happened.  I get the knee if you run a play from the 31 and throw an incomplete pass or whatever, because at that point you can't kick or throw it far enough to score, but they had one, maybe two plays to get that thing to midfield and have a shot. 

I digress.  My main reason for popping in here is to note that I've given a cursory glance to E8 results in 2014 and it looks like the league has positioned itself, again, quite well for at-large consideration for even a 2-loss team.  Fisher having Alfred State on the schedule probably means that they can't get all the way up to the .575 or whatever it was SOS that they had last year, but they're still going to have a big burly SOS that could very well offset a second loss should that happen.

1. In last season's Cortaca, Cortland started drive on their own 37 with 11 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter, they fumbled, IC took over on the Cortland 42 and threw a Hail Mary that Joel Lynch caught in the air, only to lose control of it when he landed. I think there's a thought by some fans that in a scenario like Fisher's, there's no harm in taking a shot, but there is. It may be small, but so are the chances of going 69 yards in 12 seconds for a touchdown.

2. I'm a little torn on the two-loss thing. I think Fisher could get in with two. But IC is unlikely considering their OOC opponents are currently 0-8. (We'll talk about Buff State and Utica if they beat SJF or IC)

I don't mind them not trying to go for it with that little time remaining. I do have a problem with them kicking the field goal with 5 minutes left and then again in OT.

I remember back in 2004 when Fisher first beat IC. Noah just took a routine out route and ran over 6 Ithaca defenders on his way for a 60+yd gain, a few plays later Fitz tosses a pass to his brother to tie it up. Ithaca gets the ball back around their 30 with less than 1:00 left after the kick off.

Felicetti drops back on the first play and is strip sacked by Luce. Sure it was recovered by the lineman that got beat. But it had a chance to end the game right then and there for Ithaca if the lineman doesn't come up with the fumble.

[wally_wabash]

2. I'm a little torn on the two-loss thing. I think Fisher could get in with two. But IC is unlikely considering their OOC opponents are currently 0-8. (We'll talk about Buff State and Utica if they beat SJF or IC)

I think the general feeling is that any team with two losses has no chance, but once you play all the games and all of a sudden enough other teams from all over lose a game that you might not think they will, all of a sudden that two-loss team does in fact have a chance.  And 2-loss teams in the East (from the E8 in particular) have a chance because I think there's enough attrition in the region in general to allow for an 8-2 team to be regionally ranked quite high.  Even last year, SJF was in an either/or situation with Wabash for the last available spot, so two losses is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, but there's a shot so long as the right teams get regionally ranked and depending on how things play out in other regions. 

I think two loss teams from the E8 and the MIAC are viable candidates.  After those two leagues, you really shouldn't lose twice.

How many Pool C bids are there this year?

I think A/B/C breakdown is 24/2/6 this year, but I have to double check that to be sure.  If there are 2 B's then there must be one of the new-ish leagues that aren't part of the autobid group.  I thought the SAA and MASCAC were both eligible this year, but I must be wrong about one of them. 

Update: Looks like neither are.  Maybe CWRU and CMU playing in the PAC this year was enough to lower the number of Bs from 3 to 2.  I'll need to do the math later when I have some more time. 

[Pat Coleman]

The SAA might be -- we have a message in to Indy on that.

[Bartman]

Yes please.......move on....
On to Cincinnati!


Anyhoo- I think that a majority of us are just plain tired of the DIII haves and have nots.
You know its unnerving when Ithaca and Fisher fans are banding together and rooting for each other!   

I havent seen this type of disparity in any sport since Hobart Lax when they were DIII.
Its boring.
I have no solution so dont look to me to have any answer- im merely venting.

Oh----BTW- now that I have calmed down and got talked off the ledge----I still think that SJFC makes a DEEP run in the playoffs......

Just sayin

Oh to relive those old days of Hobart lax. I just hope Hobart football can have a rematch with SJF in the playoffs, as last year ended pretty sadly with a well deserved thumping by a better SJF team. I think Fisher will rebound and Ithaca game should be great. Hobart, so far, is not as good as the teams of the last 2 years but they may mature every week with no guarantees in any games with Springfield, SLU, RPI and even Union. I was hoping for an undefeated year by Fisher ,so maybe we could have an Eastern region without Mount Union , but it looks like one of the top programs will be sent our way again. All well, good luck to Fisher and the E* the rest of the way.

[ECoastFootball]

I think A/B/C breakdown is 24/2/6 this year, but I have to double check that to be sure.  If there are 2 B's then there must be one of the new-ish leagues that aren't part of the autobid group.  I thought the SAA and MASCAC were both eligible this year, but I must be wrong about one of them. 

The MASCAC does not have an automatic bid this year. They will have one for the 2015 season.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I think A/B/C breakdown is 24/2/6 this year, but I have to double check that to be sure.  If there are 2 B's then there must be one of the new-ish leagues that aren't part of the autobid group.  I thought the SAA and MASCAC were both eligible this year, but I must be wrong about one of them. 

The MASCAC does not have an automatic bid this year. They will have one for the 2015 season.

And a sad day that shall be

[ExTartanPlayer]

I think A/B/C breakdown is 24/2/6 this year, but I have to double check that to be sure.  If there are 2 B's then there must be one of the new-ish leagues that aren't part of the autobid group.  I thought the SAA and MASCAC were both eligible this year, but I must be wrong about one of them. 

The MASCAC does not have an automatic bid this year. They will have one for the 2015 season.

And a sad day that shall be

The NEFC did y'all a favor for several years by only soaking up one bid.  I'd get this vitriol if the MASCAC champ was getting blown out by 50 whenever they played a good team, but Framingham State lost to Cortland by one point in the 2013 playoffs and to Ithaca by three points last year in the playoffs.  They're certainly going to be competitive with all but the top 2 or 3 East teams, and barring a first-round matchup with Wesley or someone of that ilk in the playoffs, I don't see any 50-point playoff blowouts because of this.

[ECoastFootball]

The NEFC did y'all a favor for several years by only soaking up one bid.  I'd get this vitriol if the MASCAC champ was getting blown out by 50 whenever they played a good team, but Framingham State lost to Cortland by one point in the 2013 playoffs and to Ithaca by three points last year in the playoffs.  They're certainly going to be competitive with all but the top 2 or 3 East teams, and barring a first-round matchup with Wesley or someone of that ilk in the playoffs, I don't see any 50-point playoff blowouts because of this.

I'd give ya +K if I could

[boobyhasgameyo]

I'm speaking nationally and not regionally.  When there are so precious few pool C bids they are taking a spot away from a team that will almost certainly be stronger than them.  Last year Wabash didn't make it in the field or St. Thomas.  Fisher made it in by the hair on their chinny chin chins.  Once the MASCAC comes along and nabs another - all 3 of those teams will be left out in such a scenario.  I'd take a 3 loss MIAC team over Framingham State. 

[Bombers798891]

I'm speaking nationally and not regionally.  When there are so precious few pool C bids they are taking a spot away from a team that will almost certainly be stronger than them.  Last year Wabash didn't make it in the field or St. Thomas.  Fisher made it in by the hair on their chinny chin chins.  Once the MASCAC comes along and nabs another - all 3 of those teams will be left out in such a scenario.  I'd take a 3 loss MIAC team over Framingham State.

Yeah. I mean, this has been talked about a lot, but at some point, if we ever get a semblance of parity in D-III football, we're going to leave out teams that could contend for a national championship. That hasn't happened in forever,, but eventually (I hope) D-III football's going to get to the spot where you could have more than a couple teams with a legit shot to win it all, and some of those schools are going to get the squeeze, because they're in a conference with another such team, and only one can make it.

[D3MAFAN]

The NEFC did y'all a favor for several years by only soaking up one bid.  I'd get this vitriol if the MASCAC champ was getting blown out by 50 whenever they played a good team, but Framingham State lost to Cortland by one point in the 2013 playoffs and to Ithaca by three points last year in the playoffs.  They're certainly going to be competitive with all but the top 2 or 3 East teams, and barring a first-round matchup with Wesley or someone of that ilk in the playoffs, I don't see any 50-point playoff blowouts because of this.

I'd give ya +K if I could

Got you covered. At one point I did agree, but the MASCAC champ has been doing pretty well for themselves and the NEFC has been playing well as of late. As long as they continue to schedule against the top notch conferences and have respectable performances, I have no problem now.

[D3MAFAN]

I'm speaking nationally and not regionally.  When there are so precious few pool C bids they are taking a spot away from a team that will almost certainly be stronger than them.  Last year Wabash didn't make it in the field or St. Thomas.  Fisher made it in by the hair on their chinny chin chins.  Once the MASCAC comes along and nabs another - all 3 of those teams will be left out in such a scenario.  I'd take a 3 loss MIAC team over Framingham State.

Depends which 3 loss team that is...in essence, just looking back at last year's matchup between the E8 "champ" and MASCAC champ, the score differential was only 3 points and the MASCAC team was on the road. I know the weather played a part in the matchup, but both teams had to play. You are basically saying that you would take a three lost team from the MIAC over the E8 champ -3 points.

[ECoastFootball]

The MASCAC gaining a bid won't really change the landscape much from what it has been in the last two years when Bridgewater (2012) and Framingham (2013) already went by receiving at-larges. That at-large spot will disappear, but those teams that had been taking it won't need it.