FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

Even at QB...I thought Fenti was good (and a welcomed sight after the second coming of Kramer QB era) but I didn't think he was super special.  With the exception of the game against Mary Hardin Baylor...I was very proud of what he was able to accomplish on that day.  But I now realize that it was a matter of me being spoiled as a fan.  Fenti was money.

A down year really makes you appreciate the good ones.  No assurances Fisher returns to prior form since nothing is guaranteed, but if they do then it'll be even sweeter.  It's pretty painful to watch what's happening this year.

Yeah, I mean, after Felicetti left, (and to a lesser degree Juvan), I felt like Zappia and Grastorf were good, but nothing to write home about. Then the Hendel/Neumann disaster of 2011 hit.

In general too, it's hard to come to grips with the fact that you might not return to previous heights. Now, Fisher's probably going to be good/very good at some point again. But, barring some shift in the way D-III football is tilted at the top are they going to get a legit Stagg Bowl shot again? I don't really know.

It's the same thing Ithaca fans had to deal with. You never stop hoping for the best of course. But you understand that you have to temper expectations, not only in the frequency of your down years, but in where you end up in those years. You stop saying things like "If only we had a guy like [insert name of past great player]" because you realize that's just a waste of energy. You try to appreciate the good kids who work hard and give 100% and worry a little less about the result. No matter what, there's another game next week. I probably didn't do that enough in 2011, but I'm trying to do it more now.

[Bombers798891]

Booby not to be a downer but can you imagine being a Union fan? To see how far the Dutch have fallen? Dlip is not trying to take away from anything SJF fans are going through right now. He understands and you know Dlip always supports SJF. However just try and keep some perspective...Dlip would give a nut to be where you are at.

As bad as it sounds, when IC people I know complain about the state of the program, I do kind of point out that "We could be Union." It's kind of staggering to see what's happened there. I really hope they pick up at least a couple of wins, though my guess is they're looking at 3-7 at best.

[ExTartanPlayer]

It's the same thing Ithaca fans had to deal with. You never stop hoping for the best of course. But you understand that you have to temper expectations, not only in the frequency of your down years, but in where you end up in those years. You stop saying things like "If only we had a guy like [insert name of past great player]" because you realize that's just a waste of energy. You try to appreciate the good kids who work hard and give 100% and worry a little less about the result. No matter what, there's another game next week. I probably didn't do that enough in 2011, but I'm trying to do it more now.

There was a decent column on Grantland earlier this year that slightly bemoaned the idea of MLB teams being buyers and sellers at the trade deadline because it seems to create this dichotomy: if you're not a World Series contender this year, you are "supposed" to trade away good veteran players because "you might as well get something out of them before they leave" - ignoring the intangible value to your team's fans of getting to see an exciting player hit some homers or take the mound every fifth day.

It is understandably difficult for fans of a program that has risen to great heights to get excited about 7-3 and 6-4 teams, but there are places where that 7-3 would be the best season in school history, and they still play on for some love of the game.  I'm not saying that means "be satisfied with what you have" - you always strive to take that next step up, or regain what you've lost - but it is worth remembering that, whether a playoff berth is on the line or not, a D3 football game on a crisp fall day is a great thing regardless of how good the teams are.  That's what I try to keep in mind.  Of course it's a little more special when something big is on the line, like a conference title or a playoff berth, but even when it's not...it's still a chance to play the game.  That's why I get a little cranky when you guys piss on the ECAC games.

For what it's worth, I think guys like dlip and AUPepBand are fabulous examples of loving and supporting the team through thick and thin.  I don't think you have to temper your expectations - always striving to get back to a higher level is fine - but remembering to enjoy the process and not just the outcome is important.

[Bombers798891]

...it's still a chance to play the game.  That's why I get a little cranky when you guys piss on the ECAC games.

The problem I have with ECAC games is that I've seen (first hand) teams that absolutely positively did not want to play in them, and those games don't really do anyone a service. If both teams are looking at it like you are, great. But sometimes, that's not the case.

[AUPepBand]

...it's still a chance to play the game.  That's why I get a little cranky when you guys piss on the ECAC games.

The problem I have with ECAC games is that I've seen (first hand) teams that absolutely positively did not want to play in them, and those games don't really do anyone a service. If both teams are looking at it like you are, great. But sometimes, that's not the case.

The one time Pep felt that way about an ECAC game was the 2012 season when AU finished 6-3 and had to travel to Springfield with a squad that had been decimated by injuries. There was little resemblance to the team that earlier that season had defeated Fisher 26-13 and Ithaca 31-7 back-to-back on Merrill Field. Even so, it gave the understudies an opportunity for playing time.

Other than that year, Pep has enjoyed his Saxons getting a bonus game. Another chance for Pep to bang on his bass drum and hum into his kazoo.   

But then, AU hasn't been to a Stagg Bowl and was snubbed by the bowl committee for the Knute Rockne Bowl back in 1971.

[jknezek]

...it's still a chance to play the game.  That's why I get a little cranky when you guys piss on the ECAC games.

The problem I have with ECAC games is that I've seen (first hand) teams that absolutely positively did not want to play in them, and those games don't really do anyone a service. If both teams are looking at it like you are, great. But sometimes, that's not the case.

But then, AU hasn't been to a Stagg Bowl and was snubbed by the bowl committee for the Knute Rockne Bowl back in 1971.

Considering Bridgeport beat Hampden-Sydney that year AU couldn't have done much better as the rep!

[AUPepBand]

...it's still a chance to play the game.  That's why I get a little cranky when you guys piss on the ECAC games.

The problem I have with ECAC games is that I've seen (first hand) teams that absolutely positively did not want to play in them, and those games don't really do anyone a service. If both teams are looking at it like you are, great. But sometimes, that's not the case.

But then, AU hasn't been to a Stagg Bowl and was snubbed by the bowl committee for the Knute Rockne Bowl back in 1971.

Considering Bridgeport beat Hampden-Sydney that year AU couldn't have done much better as the rep!

Indeed, perhaps Hampden-Sydney would have beaten Pep's Saxons and Alfred (8-0) would have finished somewhere other than first in the Lambert Bowl balloting, which it won that year.

Two years later, AU opened its season by hosting that same Bridgeport team in a clash of contrasting styles of football. AU scored in the final minute and completed a two-point conversion pass to take an 8-7 lead, only to be heartbroken when a big Bridgeport WR shoved two AU defensive backs away and hauled in a bomb at midfield then rambled to the goal line for the 14-8 win.

Pep was one of more than 7,000 attending that game at old Merrill Field. Memories. 

[D3viewer]

Sorry I haven't noticed 100 % before..but shoutout to Ithaca's QB's name.... "Wolfgang Shafer". Oktober is here.

Brockport is preparing for a big game vs Utica..I couldn't help notice the shoddy "helmet" they have designated for Utica in the Game Notes.
They seemed to have slapped Utica's moose icon over the shell of a SJF helmet. Utica's helmet is orange with no moose on it.
See it here   http://www.gobrockport.com/documents/2015/10/6//Game_Notes_UTICA.pdf?id=1060. Weak sauce.

[AUPepBand]

Sorry I haven't noticed 100 % before..but shoutout to Ithaca's QB's name.... "Wolfgang Shafer". Oktober is here.

Brockport is preparing for a big game vs Utica..I couldn't help notice the shoddy "helmet" they have designated for Utica in the Game Notes.
They seemed to have slapped Utica's moose icon over the shell of a SJF helmet. Utica's helmet is orange with no moose on it.
See it here   http://www.gobrockport.com/documents/2015/10/6//Game_Notes_UTICA.pdf?id=1060. Weak sauce.

Good find! Pep remembers slapping a Moose on a sneaker....oh, sweet, still have it:



On Saxon Warriors!

[@d3jason]

Sorry I haven't noticed 100 % before..but shoutout to Ithaca's QB's name.... "Wolfgang Shafer". Oktober is here.

Brockport is preparing for a big game vs Utica..I couldn't help notice the shoddy "helmet" they have designated for Utica in the Game Notes.
They seemed to have slapped Utica's moose icon over the shell of a SJF helmet. Utica's helmet is orange with no moose on it.
See it here   http://www.gobrockport.com/documents/2015/10/6//Game_Notes_UTICA.pdf?id=1060. Weak sauce.

Good find! Pep remembers slapping a Moose on a sneaker....oh, sweet, still have it:



On Saxon Warriors!

This!

Another reason why I love the E8 board. Gave me a chuckle.

You should see more moose showing on the front page of d3football.com sometime soon today in the news feed.

[gordonmann]

Brockport is preparing for a big game vs Utica..I couldn't help notice the shoddy "helmet" they have designated for Utica in the Game Notes. They seemed to have slapped Utica's moose icon over the shell of a SJF helmet. Utica's helmet is orange with no moose on it. See it here   http://www.gobrockport.com/documents/2015/10/6//Game_Notes_UTICA.pdf?id=1060. Weak sauce.

Reminds me of one my favorite websites, "The Helmet Project." I hadn't looked at it in a while but they have the correct helmet for Utica on there.

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

I love the historical feature. Such an awesome site.

[AUPepBand]

Sorry I haven't noticed 100 % before..but shoutout to Ithaca's QB's name.... "Wolfgang Shafer". Oktober is here.

Brockport is preparing for a big game vs Utica..I couldn't help notice the shoddy "helmet" they have designated for Utica in the Game Notes.
They seemed to have slapped Utica's moose icon over the shell of a SJF helmet. Utica's helmet is orange with no moose on it.
See it here   http://www.gobrockport.com/documents/2015/10/6//Game_Notes_UTICA.pdf?id=1060. Weak sauce.

Good find! Pep remembers slapping a Moose on a sneaker....oh, sweet, still have it:



On Saxon Warriors!

This!

Another reason why I love the E8 board. Gave me a chuckle.

You should see more moose showing on the front page of d3football.com sometime soon today in the news feed.

Yeah, it's a Swoosh with a Moose. Hmmm....now what's up with the moose other than the big win over da Bombers? Must be featured in the East Region column? Can't wait!

[ITH radio]

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2015/10/06/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

Lot of E8 talk in final segment of the show

[D3viewer]

You could Uticacize anything with that logo....endless possibilities. I just can't think of any right now.

[D3viewer]

By the way.. I would wear those sneakers.