FB: Empire 8

[Upstate]

awful quiet here with the big game this weekend.  I like Fisher, but what do those of you in the know think.

I like Naton a lot more this year than last year. He's been making some REALLY good throws, especially over the middle. He's had maybe 2-3 bad throws (decisions) all year.

Fisher's WRs are light years better than last year as well.

The O-line has been shaky and has had some shuffling done. Pass protection has been pretty good but the run game is still hit and miss.

Defensively the LBers and Secondary are their strengths. The DL is hit and miss though.

I honestly think it's going to be a 38-35 type game. The Mannix vs Fisher secondary is the match up to watch.

[sjfcards]

I have a tendency to always see Fisher as the favorite in games like this, but I have a feeling Cortland is the better team this weekend. I saw some of the game last week, and was really impressed. The offense is really good and will test the Fisher secondary. The question for me is can the Fisher offense keep up. It  may come down to who has the ball last, but if I had to pick today I would take Cortland

[fisheralum91]

I have a tendency to always see Fisher as the favorite in games like this, but I have a feeling Cortland is the better team this weekend. I saw some of the game last week, and was really impressed. The offense is really good and will test the Fisher secondary. The question for me is can the Fisher offense keep up. It  may come down to who has the ball last, but if I had to pick today I would take Cortland

Wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Dont give up the ship cards!

[AUPepBand]

Pep is thinking AU's 2005 win at Growney Stadium should be considered. Mind you, AU had Brenton "Da Beast" Brady at middle linebacker wreaking havoc for the Fisher O, but Fisher was averaging over 40 points per game. The Saxons held them to a single TD.

That was also the game when a little known and hard-to-see 5'2" freshman by the name of Julio Fuentes, all of about 150 lbs., ran the ball eight or ten consecutive times on draw plays to march AU down the field for a last minute Chris Reynolds field goal that extended the AU lead to 13-7. Add to that, AU's offense was being engineered by "Fisher Reject" Paul Keeley, who transferred to AU after a year in Pittsford.

Nevertheless, Fisher was in position to win, having moved the ball into the red zone for the final ticks but on a 4th down play, an unobstructed blitzing Brenton Brady ended the game with a forced fumble/sack of the Fisher QB and the AU fans, who comprised at least a third of the Growney crowd that day, began to celebrate. There was some thought the win would earn AU an at-large in the NCAAs. Apparently a bad out-of-region loss at W&L in the season opener could not be overlooked.

AU has to have something better than that right?

The 2005 SJF team had 8 wins over teams that averaged 4 wins, yes they were blowing them out by a tune of 40-17 but they were really bad teams. I think UR was their best win that year and they were 6-4.

AU's 2010 win over Fisher was a lot more impressive than their 2005 one.

Fisher was ranked 17th in 2010 and AU just took it to them. The 2010 Fisher team was a hell of a lot better than the 2005 one.

Also pretty sure AU had a year where they won 2 playoff games too.

Not sure why the 2005 win is being mentioned.

Pep also considered the Saxons' 42-31 win over Fisher in 2010. And AU's 31-28 win at Growney after Secky went down to injury. Considering what AU did in 2010, Pep was thinking the 2005 game was clearly more of an upset. Both games denied Fisher an NCAA bid.

[sjfcards]

I have a tendency to always see Fisher as the favorite in games like this, but I have a feeling Cortland is the better team this weekend. I saw some of the game last week, and was really impressed. The offense is really good and will test the Fisher secondary. The question for me is can the Fisher offense keep up. It  may come down to who has the ball last, but if I had to pick today I would take Cortland

Wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Dont give up the ship cards!

It kills me to say it. I live in the shadow of the Cortland Stadium and have been waiting years for Fisher to make the trip. This is just a really good C-State team. I'll be there in full support of Fisher, but after watching both teams last week...

[fisheralum91]

You need to relinquish your Fisher swag and forget the super secret handshake!

[Upstate]

Pep is thinking AU's 2005 win at Growney Stadium should be considered. Mind you, AU had Brenton "Da Beast" Brady at middle linebacker wreaking havoc for the Fisher O, but Fisher was averaging over 40 points per game. The Saxons held them to a single TD.

That was also the game when a little known and hard-to-see 5'2" freshman by the name of Julio Fuentes, all of about 150 lbs., ran the ball eight or ten consecutive times on draw plays to march AU down the field for a last minute Chris Reynolds field goal that extended the AU lead to 13-7. Add to that, AU's offense was being engineered by "Fisher Reject" Paul Keeley, who transferred to AU after a year in Pittsford.

Nevertheless, Fisher was in position to win, having moved the ball into the red zone for the final ticks but on a 4th down play, an unobstructed blitzing Brenton Brady ended the game with a forced fumble/sack of the Fisher QB and the AU fans, who comprised at least a third of the Growney crowd that day, began to celebrate. There was some thought the win would earn AU an at-large in the NCAAs. Apparently a bad out-of-region loss at W&L in the season opener could not be overlooked.

AU has to have something better than that right?

The 2005 SJF team had 8 wins over teams that averaged 4 wins, yes they were blowing them out by a tune of 40-17 but they were really bad teams. I think UR was their best win that year and they were 6-4.

AU's 2010 win over Fisher was a lot more impressive than their 2005 one.

Fisher was ranked 17th in 2010 and AU just took it to them. The 2010 Fisher team was a hell of a lot better than the 2005 one.

Also pretty sure AU had a year where they won 2 playoff games too.

Not sure why the 2005 win is being mentioned.

Pep also considered the Saxons' 42-31 win over Fisher in 2010. And AU's 31-28 win at Growney after Secky went down to injury. Considering what AU did in 2010, Pep was thinking the 2005 game was clearly more of an upset. Both games denied Fisher an NCAA bid.

That 2005 team fell apart during the AU game (thanks to Brady, he was amazing) and the offensive coordinator left Fisher for UR almost immediately after the RPI ECAC game.

It wasn't an upset, that 2005 team lost to every good team they played that year. AU was the better team.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I have a tendency to always see Fisher as the favorite in games like this, but I have a feeling Cortland is the better team this weekend. I saw some of the game last week, and was really impressed. The offense is really good and will test the Fisher secondary. The question for me is can the Fisher offense keep up. It  may come down to who has the ball last, but if I had to pick today I would take Cortland

Wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Dont give up the ship cards!

It kills me to say it. I live in the shadow of the Cortland Stadium and have been waiting years for Fisher to make the trip. This is just a really good C-State team. I'll be there in full support of Fisher, but after watching both teams last week...

Maybe I'm taking crazy pills...I feel like Fisher is going to win this one by two touchdowns.   

[sjfcards]

I have a tendency to always see Fisher as the favorite in games like this, but I have a feeling Cortland is the better team this weekend. I saw some of the game last week, and was really impressed. The offense is really good and will test the Fisher secondary. The question for me is can the Fisher offense keep up. It  may come down to who has the ball last, but if I had to pick today I would take Cortland

Wha wha whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Dont give up the ship cards!

It kills me to say it. I live in the shadow of the Cortland Stadium and have been waiting years for Fisher to make the trip. This is just a really good C-State team. I'll be there in full support of Fisher, but after watching both teams last week...

Maybe I'm taking crazy pills...I feel like Fisher is going to win this one by two touchdowns.   

Ambitious!

[XREDDRAGON77]

Believe last week Cortland only had the ball for like 10 minutes all game...if not last, it was against Heidleberg. That receiver who caught 2 deep balls against SC could be a concern....Go Dragons!

[Upstate]

Believe last week Cortland only had the ball for like 10 minutes all game...if not last, it was against Heidleberg. That receiver who caught 2 deep balls against SC could be a concern....Go Dragons!

Cortland had the ball for 25:24 last week vs Framingham St and 34:09 vs Heidelberg the week before.

Fisher had the ball for 21:49 vs Springfield and 25:36 vs Olivet the week before.

[XREDDRAGON77]

Those stats were too difficult to believe. May have been a halftime recap. Possession time may become an issue for them tomorrow. It certainly was last year...fingers crossed.

[middlerelief]

Fisher is 3-0, but truly the least impressive undefeated in the East.  The offense is the best since '06, and the defense is as bad as it gets when it comes to stopping the run. 

Not getting my hopes on the Cardinals. 

As far as the E8 and I'll say the east in general -- I think St. Lawrence who has yet to let up a point, Alfred, and winner of Hobart/Ithaca should get a look at the Top 25.   

SJF will get a biased ranking based on prior performance - anyone who watched the Cortland game though knows how bad SJF's D truly is -- and it is AWFUL.  So they'll lift into the teens but it won't last.  PERIOD. 

Where's Boobs I owe him some Karma

[boobyhasgameyo]

Fisher is 3-0, but truly the least impressive undefeated in the East.  The offense is the best since '06, and the defense is as bad as it gets when it comes to stopping the run. 

Not getting my hopes on the Cardinals. 

As far as the E8 and I'll say the east in general -- I think St. Lawrence who has yet to let up a point, Alfred, and winner of Hobart/Ithaca should get a look at the Top 25.   

SJF will get a biased ranking based on prior performance - anyone who watched the Cortland game though knows how bad SJF's D truly is -- and it is AWFUL.  So they'll lift into the teens but it won't last.  PERIOD. 

Where's Boobs I owe him some Karma

Refer to my last post in the E8 game updates section.  I just couldn't disagree with you more.  This is your classic agree to disagree scenario haha. I'll still hug it out with you though.

[Upstate]

How about Mortillaro keeping Mannix in check for 4 catches for 30 yards...

Too bad the other CB got toasted but the big size mismatch turned out to be a great effort by Mortillaro...

Jake Smith for Cortland sure did have a day with 11 catches for 167 and a td...