FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

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....

That loss to SU is going to make every weekend feel that way for Fisher fans I am afraid. Fisher absolutely has the ability to  win out, but with Buff State , IC, and AU left out there I can see them slipping right out of the playoffs.

A lot of hand ringing for the next 5 weeks I am afraid.

[AUPepBand]

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.

Is the Fisher Pep Band up and running? Pep recalls reading about the band and it sounded like it was a done deal. Did they not show for the SU game? What about Hartwick? Was there a Fisher pep band for the Hartwick game? Pep's gotta know.

And, just to allay any Fisher fans' fears of losing the Nov. 15 game at Yunevich Stadium, the Saxons will need to put together a perfect turnover-free performance to keep it close....and this past weekend was AU's first without a turnover. 

On Saxon Warriors!

BTW, reminds me of a story about a women's basketball coach who had given birth in the offseason. A reporter asked the new mother whether she'd given her players opportunity to hold the baby. The coach replied, "With as many turnovers as we commit, that's a risk I just can't take."

[sjfcards]

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.

Is the Fisher Pep Band up and running? Pep recalls reading about the band and it sounded like it was a done deal. Did they not show for the SU game? What about Hartwick? Was there a Fisher pep band for the Hartwick game? Pep's gotta know.

And, just to allay any Fisher fans' fears of losing the Nov. 15 game at Yunevich Stadium, the Saxons will need to put together a perfect turnover-free performance to keep it close....and this past weekend was AU's first without a turnover. 

On Saxon Warriors!

BTW, reminds me of a story about a women's basketball coach who had given birth in the offseason. A reporter asked the new mother whether she'd given her players opportunity to hold the baby. The coach replied, "With as many turnovers as we commit, that's a risk I just can't take."

I can't say about the Hartwick game, but the band has been at each of the games I have been to (Otterbein, Brockport, Salisbury). They are small, but they seem to have a lot of fun, and definitely add to the atmosphere. From what I understand the Fisher athletic department has bought some instruments and is supporting the band in the hope it will grow.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I don't think they were at the Hartwick game actually

[fisheralum91]

Fisher slips a spot despite a win over Hwick...
Ugh.....
Lets run thru Utica this week!

[D3MAFAN]

I got a chance to go back and forth between a couple games, was really impress with Buffalo State, they really play with a lot of confidence. I don't think Ithaca really could muster a comeback after the interception return by Buffalo State. I parts of the Utica vs. Salisbury game, I think Utica failed to capitalize on great field position. Although Anthony Acevedo had a good game with 8 rec and 178 yards, he could easily broke the NCAA record if they would have used him in the red zone. From what I read the other E8 games went as predicted, SJF rolling Hartwick and Brockport taking Frostburg to the woodshed.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Didn't care when Fisher and John Carroll flipped spots.  Fisher gained votes that week and they appear to be two teams on equal footing.  It is dumb that Fisher actually lost votes this week and slipped a spot.  Maybe we should have kept our starters in the entire game and win by 50 instead.  Lame. 

Ithaca drops completely out of the top 25, also seems severe.  I understand they were one of only 2 top 25 teams to lose this week...but that is a big drop.  Clearly voters think Buffalo State is at least a little decent since they are receiving votes, so why penalize Ithaca so severely?

[D3MAFAN]

Didn't care when Fisher and John Carroll flipped spots.  Fisher gained votes that week and they appear to be two teams on equal footing.  It is dumb that Fisher actually lost votes this week and slipped a spot.  Maybe we should have kept our starters in the entire game and win by 50 instead.  Lame. 

Ithaca drops completely out of the top 25, also seems severe.  I understand they were one of only 2 top 25 teams to lose this week...but that is a big drop.  Clearly voters think Buffalo State is at least a little decent since they are receiving votes, so why penalize Ithaca so severely?

I think the loss at home really hurt them, but it is not as if Buffalo State had taken them to the woodshed, but I still think they can compete and win against half the teams in the Top 25, just my opinion, but the loss at home to an unranked team was probably the rationale for more voters and many other teams moving on the up and up. The Top 25 is going to get somewhat clear over the next couple weeks.

[wesleydad]

Didn't care when Fisher and John Carroll flipped spots.  Fisher gained votes that week and they appear to be two teams on equal footing.  It is dumb that Fisher actually lost votes this week and slipped a spot.  Maybe we should have kept our starters in the entire game and win by 50 instead.  Lame. 

Ithaca drops completely out of the top 25, also seems severe.  I understand they were one of only 2 top 25 teams to lose this week...but that is a big drop.  Clearly voters think Buffalo State is at least a little decent since they are receiving votes, so why penalize Ithaca so severely?

John Carroll flipped with Wartburg and they won by 60.  I think the voters are moving teams around based on overall season and how they did against some other teams who are either still winning or have an unexplainable loss.  I think Ithaca dropping out is a readjust since they had climbed so high due to others losing.  Not sure why Fisher dropped 1.  Did notice that the too UW's jumped up a few spots.  Always fun to watch how the voters change.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Didn't care when Fisher and John Carroll flipped spots.  Fisher gained votes that week and they appear to be two teams on equal footing.  It is dumb that Fisher actually lost votes this week and slipped a spot.  Maybe we should have kept our starters in the entire game and win by 50 instead.  Lame. 

Ithaca drops completely out of the top 25, also seems severe.  I understand they were one of only 2 top 25 teams to lose this week...but that is a big drop.  Clearly voters think Buffalo State is at least a little decent since they are receiving votes, so why penalize Ithaca so severely?

John Carroll flipped with Wartburg and they won by 60.  I think the voters are moving teams around based on overall season and how they did against some other teams who are either still winning or have an unexplainable loss.  I think Ithaca dropping out is a readjust since they had climbed so high due to others losing.  Not sure why Fisher dropped 1.  Did notice that the too UW's jumped up a few spots.  Always fun to watch how the voters change.

I noticed that John Carroll dropped after their victory, but Wartburg beat a better team (and their rival) 43-0.  So that, combined with Wartburg's body of work to date like you suggested, make that a reasonable switch.  I don't see any justification in having Fisher lose votes.  I don't care as much about the spot if you maintain or slightly increase your votes...but to lose ground after thumping a team the way we did?  And it could have been a lot worse. 

Oh well.  On to next week.  Hopefully we keep winning.  I really really want this team to make the playoffs to see what they can do.

[82 cardinals]

Coach Vos is a smart man up 42-0 you play your second string regardless if Hartwick scored. Its better for his team to see action

[Pat Coleman]

Luther is Wartburg's rival, for what it's worth.

Agreed -- with so few losses, the voters are still taking the opportunity to re-evaluate teams even if they haven't lost. So things are shifting where they haven't in other years. For example, getting passed by Platteville? Who cares? Platteville and Stevens Point play on Saturday, so someone will probably fall.

It may also reflect general disagreement as to who the best team in the E8 is.

And as wesleydad noted, Ithaca had climbed, a lot. 23 preseason, 19 in Week 1 and Week 2, 17 in Week 3, 15 in Week 4 and 13 in Week 6. Pretty good climb and time for a correction, perhaps. But yeah, since nobody else lost, Ithaca fell a little more than the typical 12 spots for a loss to a team that hadn't gotten any votes.

Didn't take them to the woodshed but it was 38-19 until that garbage time TD.

It always amuses me when fans say something like "what, beating this team by 50 wasn't enough?" The voters aren't impressed with beating bad teams by 40, 50, 69 or whatever. As long as it's more than a couple scores, I doubt we have any voters who care about the margin.

[Bengalsrule]

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

Magic mans - Front page....http://www.d3football.com/notables/2014/10/roundup-top25-week6

Magicman...good to see you travel over to the football boards before the balls hit the court on weds.!

  BENGAL faithful are slowly starting to believe that this years team could have the makings of something real special! Backup q.b. comes in and gets 31 unanswered points against #13 Ithaca?! Too bad that the boys are off until the 25th visit from 4-2 Utica. I know coach Boyes will be keeping the team focused. 5-1 record is nice and this is the earliest that we have hit the 5 wins mark in the last 9 years (2013 hit 5 at 11/2, 2012 10/27 and 2011 11/5. No time to get comfortable.

   Fisher at Utica  this weekend should have many of the BENGAL faithfuls undivided attention this weekend. Dare I say " 4 in a row"

[fisheralum91]

dont push it

[sjfcards]

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

Magic mans - Front page....http://www.d3football.com/notables/2014/10/roundup-top25-week6

Magicman...good to see you travel over to the football boards before the balls hit the court on weds.!

  BENGAL faithful are slowly starting to believe that this years team could have the makings of something real special! Backup q.b. comes in and gets 31 unanswered points against #13 Ithaca?! Too bad that the boys are off until the 25th visit from 4-2 Utica. I know coach Boyes will be keeping the team focused. 5-1 record is nice and this is the earliest that we have hit the 5 wins mark in the last 9 years (2013 hit 5 at 11/2, 2012 10/27 and 2011 11/5. No time to get comfortable.

   Fisher at Utica  this weekend should have many of the BENGAL faithfuls undivided attention this weekend. Dare I say " 4 in a row"

At 5-1, 3-1 in one of the better conferences in the country, and a win in the road against a top 15 team I think it's time everyone start to believe in the Bengals. I watched a large portion of the game against IC and they look like a team with as much of a shot as anyone else. They have the loss to AU and probably should have lost to Cortland, but overall the resume is impressive. The game against Fisher is a huge one but the Bengals already have SU and IC in the rear view mirror so they will have a shot to win the league this year.