FB: Empire 8

[Upstate]

Alfred 34, Cortland 13
-I think AU is going to have a special year this year. Johnson is playing at a near flawless level and the defense should continue to hold strong.

Johnson has proven me wrong. I thought we'd get another 16 TD/11 INT performance from him, and he's just inarguably improved as a passer his senior year. Good for him

I remember doing the math before the season and he had 44 turnovers in his first 3 years as a starter (31 INTS, 13 Fumbles lost)...

I think he's had 1 turnover so far this year...

Heck of a turnaround down in Mayberry!!!

[wesleydad]

This could be a special year for BOTH Fisher and AU.
Imagine they are both 9-0 with the title on the line.

Both get playoff nods..........Right?

Well, it would guarantee that both have at least one result against a regionally ranked opponent, but too soon for me to start fathoming such a situation (we've all seen too many E8 games...).

The way thing are breaking in the east, if AU and Fisher are both 9-0 before last game they are both likely in.  the loser will be likely be the first on the board for the east unless Hobart wins the LL and St Lawrence only has 1 loss.  If Stevenson runs the table in the Del Val, everyone will have 2 loses.  The njac is a mess and if Wesley runs the table, I think they will, CNU is the only team that can have only 1 loss, but they still have Salisbury left so a second loss is not out of the question.  The regional rankings will be very interesting in the east.

[sjfcards]

This could be a special year for BOTH Fisher and AU.
Imagine they are both 9-0 with the title on the line.

Both get playoff nods..........Right?

I find it hard to see a scenario where a one loss E8 team, with that only loss coming to an undefeated conference champ, would not get in. I know there is a lot of factors in those types of decisions, but the E8 has gotten multiple bids in years where the 2nd place team was a 2 loss team, with a loss to some sub-par teams.

Utica can still play spoiler, along with a lot of other teams. The most likely scenario I see for the E8 being a 1 bid league is Fisher loses to Utica, and then loses to AU. AU would be in, but a 2 loss Fisher team is not so likely to get in, IMHO. All other E8 teams would have at least 2 losses as well in that scenario.

[fisheralum91]

Here is hoping that Bombers is correct and that UC is reeling.
Im used to watching the alma mater roll when they visit Utica!

[Upstate]

Here is hoping that Bombers is correct and that UC is reeling.
Im used to watching the alma mater roll when they visit Utica!

Hopefully they get pressure and keep the QB contained this week!

[ITH radio]

If Alfred loses they'd still have a win over a RRO in likely ECFC champ in Husson which would be nice for their resume. If SJF loses they'd need someone like Brockport to crack the regional rankings, which is possible, to give them a boost. The fact that the MASCAC has a pool A this year will likely leave some 9-1 or 8-2 east team out of the field. Even a SLU for instance could be in trouble if they lost to Hobart and ended up 9-1. No guarantees bc their OOC slate had a bad year.

[fisheralum91]

weather looks really nice this satErday for the Fisher UC game...
If our running game can set up consistent play action, i see lots of Fisher TDs.
And yes upstate contain contain contain!!!

[fisheralum91]

If Alfred loses they'd still have a win over a RRO in likely ECFC champ in Husson which would be nice for their resume. If SJF loses they'd need someone like Brockport to crack the regional rankings, which is possible, to give them a boost. The fact that the MASCAC has a pool A this year will likely leave some 9-1 or 8-2 east team out of the field. Even a SLU for instance could be in trouble if they lost to Hobart and ended up 9-1. No guarantees bc their OOC slate had a bad year.

What about Olivet?
They have strung 4 straight after being trounced by Fisher

[sjfcards]

If Alfred loses they'd still have a win over a RRO in likely ECFC champ in Husson which would be nice for their resume. If SJF loses they'd need someone like Brockport to crack the regional rankings, which is possible, to give them a boost. The fact that the MASCAC has a pool A this year will likely leave some 9-1 or 8-2 east team out of the field. Even a SLU for instance could be in trouble if they lost to Hobart and ended up 9-1. No guarantees bc their OOC slate had a bad year.

What about Olivet?
They have strung 4 straight after being trounced by Fisher

I am not sure how that works as they are an out of region team, but I don't see them losing too many more this year. If they end up 9-1 or 8-2, I don't see how it hurts Fisher, but they may not count an out of region team for the RRO metric.

[fisheralum91]

So in other words....GO BROCKPORT!

[ITH radio]

Oliver winning more games will help SOS for sure. Not sure re regional wins as I think technically the NCAA doesn't look at it exactly the way they used to, i.e., now a win's a win, regardless of region so if Oliver ends up ranked in North, that could help Cards too

[AUPepBand]

Oliver winning more games will help SOS for sure. Not sure re regional wins as I think technically the NCAA doesn't look at it exactly the way they used to, i.e., now a win's a win, regardless of region so if Oliver ends up ranked in North, that could help Cards too

Gosh, Pep saw "Oliver" and "North" and thought perhaps this was some kind of vague reference to Ollie North. 

FWIW, "Olivet" is in reference to Mount Olivet, aka Mount of Olives, the ridge of mountains near Jerusalem that are covered with olive groves.

[fisheralum91]

Ok Fisher peeps,
Its humpday- any news about who will be under center or RB this week?
Also - how about a show of hands of who is making the trip?

[Upstate]

I'd say to wait until tomorrow for the two-deep to come out...

Buuuuuut they got us last week with it...

[fisheralum91]

I hope that they are healing- heck if we can sustain against UC and grab a w without Naton or Fusco and give them an extra 2 weeks to heal that is all fine by me.
Get them better for the stretch run!