FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

Regarding Ithaca, it's clear the team has taken a step back this season. That said, I'm not too impressed with the E8—outside of Fisher, who's looked dominant against everyone who doesn't run a triple option. I'm not 100% sure how Buff State is 5-1 right now, but then again, I wasn't sure how Ithaca was 8-1 at one point last year. This might just be the Bengals' year.

Still, the E8 is just strange this year. Hartwick barely moves the ball against IC and Fisher but lights up Salisbury? Frostbug looks like a non-entity on offense all year, but puts up 10 points in the 4th quarter against Ithaca and easily scores two TDs in overtime? Buffalo State needs a miracle to beat 2-4 Cortland, gets beat by a 3-3 Alfred, but controls their own destiny heading into the home stretch? Alfred may cough up 300 turnovers and finish .500?

[Bombers798891]

Regarding the Bombers, there's still two things I cannot figure out

1) What's going on with Joel Lynch? Last season, Lynch had a 41-530-6 line. Sure, that's kind of an average line in the grand scheme of things, but this season, he's got six catches total, despite playing in every game, and is rarely on the field. Ithaca's not exactly overflowing with WR talent.

2) Why is Sam Carney not returning kicks? Josh Oliver is certainly good, and Carney is now starting on defense. And he was battling an ankle injury early in the year. Still, Carney was first-team all-conference two years in a row, and now, he's not part of the special teams unit—which has been good, but hardly great, this season.

I've learned that there's always more going on that what we see on the surface, but it's strange to see two guys who were such key contributors not in their usual roles

[boobyhasgameyo]

Regarding Ithaca, it's clear the team has taken a step back this season. That said, I'm not too impressed with the E8—outside of Fisher, who's looked dominant against everyone who doesn't run a triple option. I'm not 100% sure how Buff State is 5-1 right now, but then again, I wasn't sure how Ithaca was 8-1 at one point last year. This might just be the Bengals' year.

Still, the E8 is just strange this year. Hartwick barely moves the ball against IC and Fisher but lights up Salisbury? Frostbug looks like a non-entity on offense all year, but puts up 10 points in the 4th quarter against Ithaca and easily scores two TDs in overtime? Buffalo State needs a miracle to beat 2-4 Cortland, gets beat by a 3-3 Alfred, but controls their own destiny heading into the home stretch? Alfred may cough up 300 turnovers and finish .500?

The thing about that is - we always talk about how strong the E8 is top to bottom, but then start saying how unimpressed we are if the top teams lose to perceived lower teams.  It shouldn't be both ways.  If there aren't many layups then we shouldn't be surprised with some of the losses.  Out of conference records are a great way to determine strength of a conference in my estimation, and we excelled on that front. 

There have been crazy scores thus far that nobody could have predicted.  Brockport losing to Utica but decimating a Frostburg team that beat Ithaca who previously easily handled Utica.  Buff State beating a Salisbury team that beat Fisher who handled Hartwick which beat Alfred who beat Buff State.  Round and around we go.  It happens when there aren't laughably bad teams for everyone to beat up on. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Regarding Ithaca, it's clear the team has taken a step back this season. That said, I'm not too impressed with the E8—outside of Fisher, who's looked dominant against everyone who doesn't run a triple option. I'm not 100% sure how Buff State is 5-1 right now, but then again, I wasn't sure how Ithaca was 8-1 at one point last year. This might just be the Bengals' year.

Still, the E8 is just strange this year. Hartwick barely moves the ball against IC and Fisher but lights up Salisbury? Frostbug looks like a non-entity on offense all year, but puts up 10 points in the 4th quarter against Ithaca and easily scores two TDs in overtime? Buffalo State needs a miracle to beat 2-4 Cortland, gets beat by a 3-3 Alfred, but controls their own destiny heading into the home stretch? Alfred may cough up 300 turnovers and finish .500?

The thing about that is - we always talk about how strong the E8 is top to bottom, but then start saying how unimpressed we are if the top teams lose to perceived lower teams.  It shouldn't be both ways.  If there aren't many layups then we shouldn't be surprised with some of the losses.  Out of conference records are a great way to determine strength of a conference in my estimation, and we excelled on that front. 

There have been crazy scores thus far that nobody could have predicted.  Brockport losing to Utica but decimating a Frostburg team that beat Ithaca who previously easily handled Utica.  Buff State beating a Salisbury team that beat Fisher who handled Hartwick which beat Alfred who beat Buff State.  Round and around we go.  It happens when there aren't laughably bad teams for everyone to beat up on.

I'm with booby - a conference that did well in OOC play and then has it's "perceived lower" teams beating a few from the upper crust is a sign of top-to-bottom strength.  This would be different if Frostburg, Brockport, Utica had gotten killed in OOC play and then upset "top" E8 teams, but they all beat their peer middle-bottom teams from other East conferences. 

[ITH radio]

Agree. The Pac12 gets labelled negatively when their "lower teams" beat upper ones but down here where I live in FL, SEC fans call that depth.

[Bengalsrule]

I'm not 100% sure how Buff State is 5-1 right now, but then again, I wasn't sure how Ithaca was 8-1 at one point last year. This might just be the Bengals' year.

There is something about this guy that I like!!

[bomber23]

I follow the boards but dont post very often... In reference to why some of the "upper tier" teams lose to the perceived "lower teams", football is all about matchups.  Certain styles of play are easy to stop for some teams and some teams just struggle against other styles... For instance Ithaca typically has done a good job against triple option teams. They have usually had a triple option team on the schedule for the past few decades I think.  That experience and belief in assignment football (one guy tackles dive, next guy has qb, next has rb" that the coaches teach and get the players to execute is a solid approach Ithaca has vs these style teams.  Fisher may have a different approach or they may not recruit that style player or have that scheme which may be why they struggle to matchup vs that style of play.

On the flip side for years Ithaca struggled vs the spread style teams such as Fisher.  We just couldnt play vs a spread out team that threw the ball 40 times a game and many times fisher nickel and dimed us to death.  Ithaca just didnt matchup vs that style for a while.  So many years I remember fisher beat us, we beat springfield or salisbury and then they beat fisher. Its all about matchups.  Even in our 4-6 year when we lost to Salisbury in a close game on the road and to fisher in OT, and Both of them made it to the elite 8 I was confused as to how those teams who didnt seem like world beaters could both be within a game of the final 4.  Certain teams matchup better.  Im not using this as an excuse as to why Ithaca lost to Frostburg, that was a bad loss anyway you look at it but certain teams just matchup against certain styles better.  I know Frostburg has had some ex-bomber coaches and the old OC was there for a while, they probably knew the bombers gameplan pretty well and just outplayed IC on sat.

As to why Carney hasnt been in on ST.. Im not sure to be honest.  Maybe they feel Oliver is the bigger gamebreaking threat? He had a few huge PRs while carney was out and maybe they felt he had won the job? I was at the Buff state game and I thought they won the game on Special Teams. IC consistently started drives inside the 20 and field position is huge for an IC team that doesnt get many "homerun plays". Plus a few muffed punts cost them possessions but I think it all started on ST.

[Bombers798891]

As to why Carney hasnt been in on ST.. Im not sure to be honest.  Maybe they feel Oliver is the bigger gamebreaking threat? He had a few huge PRs while carney was out and maybe they felt he had won the job? I was at the Buff state game and I thought they won the game on Special Teams. IC consistently started drives inside the 20 and field position is huge for an IC team that doesnt get many "homerun plays". Plus a few muffed punts cost them possessions but I think it all started on ST.

Yeah, the Buff State game was what got me thinking about Carney a lot. Again, Oliver's been very good, and he had a lengthy return against Frostburg (and Union earlier) but I agree, the last two games, the special teams hurt them. Nothing in the return game against Buff State, and a fumbled punt (IC got it back on downs anyway) and Saturday, they had a blocked XP and missed a 22-yard FG.

[AUPepBand]

So what Fisher fans are coming down to Mayberry for the Alfred-Fisher game on Saterday? 

[Bengalsrule]

So what Fisher fans are coming down to Mayberry for the Alfred-Fisher game on Saterday? 

Pep, where exactly will your  "welcome wagon" be parked for those Fisher fans?    I'm sure that you would want to personally greet those fans.   

[AUPepBand]

So what Fisher fans are coming down to Mayberry for the Alfred-Fisher game on Saterday? 

Pep, where exactly will your  "welcome wagon" be parked for those Fisher fans?    I'm sure that you would want to personally greet those fans.   

Perhaps in a few weeks, yes, but anyone driving along Main Street in Mayberry on a Saterday can spot Pep....driving a navy blue PT Cruiser with a bass drum riding shotgun!

How's that new press box coming at Coyer Field, 'rule?

Pep is pretty pumped that the 100+ piece Dansville H.S. Marching Mustangs will perform on Merrill Field at halftime of Saterday's game with Frostburg State. Pep has seen them twice this season and they have an outstanding show.

On Saxon Warriors!

[82 cardinals]

Fisher fans are pulling for you Ithaca.  Salisbury at home

[ExTartanPlayer]

I follow the boards but dont post very often... In reference to why some of the "upper tier" teams lose to the perceived "lower teams", football is all about matchups.  Certain styles of play are easy to stop for some teams and some teams just struggle against other styles... For instance Ithaca typically has done a good job against triple option teams. They have usually had a triple option team on the schedule for the past few decades I think.  That experience and belief in assignment football (one guy tackles dive, next guy has qb, next has rb" that the coaches teach and get the players to execute is a solid approach Ithaca has vs these style teams.  Fisher may have a different approach or they may not recruit that style player or have that scheme which may be why they struggle to matchup vs that style of play.

On the flip side for years Ithaca struggled vs the spread style teams such as Fisher.  We just couldnt play vs a spread out team that threw the ball 40 times a game and many times fisher nickel and dimed us to death.  Ithaca just didnt matchup vs that style for a while.  So many years I remember fisher beat us, we beat springfield or salisbury and then they beat fisher. Its all about matchups.  Even in our 4-6 year when we lost to Salisbury in a close game on the road and to fisher in OT, and Both of them made it to the elite 8 I was confused as to how those teams who didnt seem like world beaters could both be within a game of the final 4.  Certain teams matchup better.  Im not using this as an excuse as to why Ithaca lost to Frostburg, that was a bad loss anyway you look at it but certain teams just matchup against certain styles better.  I know Frostburg has had some ex-bomber coaches and the old OC was there for a while, they probably knew the bombers gameplan pretty well and just outplayed IC on sat.

Just wanted to say that this is a good post.  Football results aren't always linear A > B > C things.

[Bombers798891]

Fisher fans are pulling for you Ithaca.  Salisbury at home

We Bomber fans appreciate it, but honestly, I don't think Fisher needs the help. Barring a bunch of upsets, I think Fisher's pretty well on track for a Pool C bid, and honestly, given how they perform in the playoffs, that's all they need to go back to the Final 8—or further.

[Bengalsrule]

Im not sure who has seen this video on the D3Hoops cover page, but it sure puts everything in perspective for those who think that winning our games on Saturday are the most important things in life. It puts the word "dedication on a whole level! 

Must see!
http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/10/msj-hiram-move-game-for-lauren-hill