FB: Empire 8

[dewcrew88]

UC allows 400 yards rushing to Salisbury in a 36-19 loss. So, cue the Dennis Green sound clip: they are who we thought they were.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Salisbury's loss to Buffalo State keeps looking more and more understandable.  Interesting race we have cooking in the E8.  I still like Fisher's chances against anyone not named Salisbury.  With a minor shoutout to Alfred.  Always uneasy to have them looming on the schedule when Fisher is trying to make the playoffs.  They play the role of spoiler quite well. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

Unrelated note - the OAC is so boringly top heavy. 

Mount Union 62
Ohio Northern 0

John Carroll 69
Wilmington 0

It is playing out almost exactly like last year.  Mount Union and JC running a train on the entire conference, Heidelberg doing moderate damage, and Otterbein/Ohio Northern being serviceable.  After that there is a precipitous drop off.  They have some truly awful teams in that conference. 

[middlerelief]

Unrelated note - the OAC is so boringly top heavy. 

Mount Union 62
Ohio Northern 0

John Carroll 69
Wilmington 0

It is playing out almost exactly like last year.  Mount Union and JC running a train on the entire conference, Heidelberg doing moderate damage, and Otterbein/Ohio Northern being serviceable.  After that there is a precipitous drop off.  They have some truly awful teams in that conference.

exactly why the OAC should not have been in the top 4 for recent conference rankings...  I put that argument up there, but it appears as though the freedom of speech police were out and had it removed.

what makes a conference great in my opinion is competition - the E8 and MIAC for example have leadership rotation and you really don't know if a team can run the conference table or not, and most times it is not.  while frustrating to fans, its what makes the conference great, and probably why a team from each makes a respectable run in the post season.

OAC - Mt. Union's closest games are typically out of conference games and the last couple of times they've sent a team it has been early exits.  One team does not make a conference great.  JCU is now making a push, maybe they're something, but won't know for sure until final week of season again apparently.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Yeah, don't get me wrong...Mount Union is great.  I classified Ohio Northern as serviceable and they dismantled them.  But I would have to agree.  If you are ranking conferences based on top to bottom, there has to be more than 3 out there who have a better set of collective teams. 

[sjfcards]

Yeah, don't get me wrong...Mount Union is great.  I classified Ohio Northern as serviceable and they dismantled them.  But I would have to agree.  If you are ranking conferences based on top to bottom, there has to be more than 3 out there who have a better set of collective teams.

I understand you are not directly comparing the OAC to the E8 but if you were you can see the difference. Of course UMU would go through the E8 unbeaten, but look at what is happening in the E8 this year. There is probably 4 teams with a legitimate shot to win the AQ, and that doesn't include a pretty good AU team. No easy weeks in the E8.

[D3viewer]

Oh Frostburg...could your "offense" be any worse ?

7 first downs...60 yards rushing (1.6 yds/rush)..20 yards passing (2 Ints)...and that's ...80..that's 80 total yards (1.5 yards per play). And 0 points.

Brockport meanwhile had 223 yards rushing,   260 yards passing..for 484 total yards (6.4 yards/play) and 47 points.  Thus winning the 8/9 Bowl for E9 "lowpremacy". Keep looking for "the nation's top coaches"..you haven't found them yet.

[middlerelief]

fairly dominant performance by the top 8 teams in D3's Top 25 poll today

6 shutouts

combined score: 417-16

[boobyhasgameyo]

Oh Frostburg...could your "offense" be any worse ?

7 first downs...60 yards rushing (1.6 yds/rush)..20 yards passing (2 Ints)...and that's ...80..that's 80 total yards (1.5 yards per play). And 0 points.

Brockport meanwhile had 223 yards rushing,   260 yards passing..for 484 total yards (6.4 yards/play) and 47 points.  Thus winning the 8/9 Bowl for E9 "lowpremacy". Keep looking for "the nation's best coaches"..you haven't found them yet.

Me thinks Brockport is not #8.  That distinction would go to Hartwick in my mind.  Fisher held them to 100 yards after 3 quarters (and a shutout), then Hartwick piled on the yards and a few points in the 2nd half of the 4th quarter against the backups.

If I had to rank the teams, I'd go something like this:

Fisher
Buffalo State
Ithaca/Salisbury <interchangeable slots>
Alfred/Brockport   <interchangeable slots>
Utica
Hartwick
Frostburg

The loss by Brockport at the hands of Utica was interesting.  I didn't watch the game so I don't know if it was a bad day by Brockport or what happened.  Not to say that Utica should never win a game, but I would have expected it to be a closer affair than it was. 

[magicman]

Buffalo State's upset of Ithaca gets them a little front page news on D3Football.

[Pat Coleman]

Unrelated note - the OAC is so boringly top heavy. 

Mount Union 62
Ohio Northern 0

John Carroll 69
Wilmington 0

It is playing out almost exactly like last year.  Mount Union and JC running a train on the entire conference, Heidelberg doing moderate damage, and Otterbein/Ohio Northern being serviceable.  After that there is a precipitous drop off.  They have some truly awful teams in that conference.

exactly why the OAC should not have been in the top 4 for recent conference rankings...  I put that argument up there, but it appears as though the freedom of speech police were out and had it removed.

Nope, didn't notice your comment needed to be moderated. Like with a lot of comment services, your first comment got held for moderation. I really don't moderate out posts unless they use foul language or otherwise throw out unsubstantiated allegations.

[fisheralum91]

As I set up plans for this SatErday's game between UC and the alma mater- my head is still scratching.
While im thrilled that i will be joined by MANY fellow Fisher alums and families, I am not as confident as I should be going into this game.
Yes, Fisher rebounded as they should have against Hartwick (thank god- I hate Hartwick) and UC was beaten by SU, but......
Maybe it is the sheer amount of Utica Clubs Ill have to pay out if Fisher loses....

[wesleydad]

With Buff St already beating Salisbury and Ithaca, they are in the drivers seat for the E8 title.  11/1 will be a big game at Fisher.  If Fisher and Salisbury both win out the Gulls win the title.  Fisher needs some help if they are to win the E8.  With the recent results, how did Alfred defeat Buff St.?  And if not for the 4th quarter collapse against Buff St, the Gulls would be in the drivers seat.  The E8 is a fun conference.  Each week has its own twists and turns.  As someone stated in an earlier post, this is much better than the OAC where there is little drama with way too many blowouts.  I have not been to a game in 3 weeks and I don't think there are many close good games on 11/1 so I may have to plan for a trip to Fisher for the Buff St game.  It is about a 4 hour drive which is easy on a Saturday morning.

[boobyhasgameyo]

With Buff St already beating Salisbury and Ithaca, they are in the drivers seat for the E8 title.  11/1 will be a big game at Fisher.  If Fisher and Salisbury both win out the Gulls win the title.  Fisher needs some help if they are to win the E8.  With the recent results, how did Alfred defeat Buff St.?  And if not for the 4th quarter collapse against Buff St, the Gulls would be in the drivers seat.  The E8 is a fun conference.  Each week has its own twists and turns.  As someone stated in an earlier post, this is much better than the OAC where there is little drama with way too many blowouts.  I have not been to a game in 3 weeks and I don't think there are many close good games on 11/1 so I may have to plan for a trip to Fisher for the Buff St game.  It is about a 4 hour drive which is easy on a Saturday morning.

Have you been to Growney Stadium before Wesleydad?  If not, you should definitely come!  The Fisher crowds used to be awesome.  They would pack the joint and bring cowbells, cheering loudly.  Now they sit there all reserved and barely make any noise.  It's why I was surprised that Bombers said the Salisbury player who scored in overtime did the hush motion to the crowd.  I was there right up until Fisher kicked a field goal in overtime (when I knew we would lose for doing that) and we were quiet the entire game. 

Annnnnyway, that doesn't stop the stadium from being beautiful.  It should be a good game.  I wouldn't care at all if Fisher and Salisbury win out, that Salisbury would get the auto bid...because that will have meant that Fisher won out.  At 9-1 with their only loss coming in overtime?  I don't think there would be an easier lock for a pool C bid.  I know Fisher has the talent to get the job done, absolutely.  But they have done some head scratching things before.  Which is why so many of the Fisher faithful worry. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

A more entertaining scenario, which to be honest could happen, would be the following:

Fisher beats Buff State
Fisher beats Ithaca
Fisher loses to Alfred

Ithaca beats Salisbury, wins out besides Fisher

Salisbury wins out besides Ithaca

Buffalo State wins out besides the loss to Fisher

4 way tie for first?  With 4 teams having 2 conference losses. 

Hey oh!