FB: Empire 8

[dlippiel]

dlip thinks/hopes Fisher will be OK. He watched much of the Utica game and really thought Fisher looked very out of sorts on offense. However it was Naton's first game back correct? The timing just looked to be off and dlip thinks the Cardinals O was trying to force things instead of letting the game come to them. Any athlete can relate to the panic when things "feel" and "seem" off that you grind harder and things just go from bad to worse. He thinks after the bye week we'll see a healthier and more in sync offense out of the Cardinals.

Who the **** knows? This loss may be exactly what Fisher needed (aside from more cowbell) to light the fire that may lead them into the post season. As always best of luck to Fisher on the remainder of the season!

[fisheralum91]

+k Dlip
I hope you are correct--and i think that you are spot on!

[fisheralum91]

dlip-I am the luckiest guy out there.
Not only is she an amazing gal/mom/wife/- she can rock a cocktail dress or a Fisher sweatshirt equally.
She has adopted my alma mater as if it was her own, and to be honest - she looked at me last night (while wearing my Fisher sweatshirt) and she said that if anything happened to us - she is keeping the sweatshirt!

[fisheralum91]

Hmmm,
Boys at d3.com picked Mooville to get off the schnide.
Thoughts?

[D3viewer]

Game of the week. Utica (5-2, 3-2) at Buff St. (4-2, 2-2). Battle of third tier E8 teams (those with 2 conf losses, Ithaca is the other team w 2 conf losses). The winner stays within striking distance, and the loser drops kinda out of the race. Both teams are surging a bit. Buff st seems to be improving weekly and Utica got back on track with impressive beating of SJF. 2 "hot" teams. I'm picking Buff St as they may be the second best team right NOW in the conf (they lost close to SJF). They and Alfred are the only 2 teams ranked in the top half of the conf in both off and def. Buff st to win at home, but Utica may keep it close.

SUNY creature Battle, Red Dragons vs Gold Eagles.  Brockport has won the last 2 of 3. But C st won last season. Brockport has gone to their second QB , Joe Germenario, who was a TE on UAlbany's roster this past spring (6-2, 210) but was a QB in HS. Must've come to Bport to play QB. Don't know if McKeon got hurt or benched after he threw a pick last week that led to an early Ithaca TD. Germinerio ran the option well vs Ithaca. Cortland may have found a QB as well, their 4th string guy ? Had some nice stats last week. I'm picking Brockport to win , setting up a huge game at Alfred next week. Brockport has a nice balanced offense, while Cortland's offense is getting its feet underneath itself. Cortland's even poorer defense than Brockport's may be their undoing in this game. Another weird start time (3pm)

mville / Ithaca      I'll pick on Ithaca , like D3 football did, and pick Morr in the upset. But it's so close, conventional wisdom says Ithaca wins this game, just like Hartwick.  Just because Ithaca found a passing attack (they all do vs Brockport), they have no run game, so i'm not a believer in their offense. Morrisville's actually offense isn't too shabby, and can challenge Ithaca's D.

Offense Vs Defense Bowl. Even though Alfred's offense is very good (2nd in the conf) and respectable because they have a good veteran QB. we''ll pretend it doesn't exist for this game. (They will win because of it running over Hartwick's D), but let's focus on Team Boltusses glorious air attack, Billy Pine the top passer throwing to the top 2 receivers in the conf. Hartwick also features a sneaky/decent run game. Tito Pichardo is 2nd in the conf in rushing behind Dan Andrews (5.2 yards a carry and a very good 12 rushing TD's). Alfred of course features the top defense and best unit in the conf overall.  I think Alfred (despite the attempted above hype for Hartwick's O) is a much better team, and should win handily. But that H O and A D matchup should be fun. AU wins and sets up a big game next week vs Brockport, unless either team blows it.

[D3viewer]

Special weather bulletin...the Northeast will be a experiencing a raw, cold, very windy (40-50 MPH gusts) day tomorrow. Good luck to those outside. Travel and playing/watching should be tough sledding for the teams and fans as well in attendance. Won't be enjoyable.

[Bengalsrule]

Game of the week. Utica (5-2, 3-2) at Buff St. (4-2, 2-2). Battle of third tier E8 teams (those with 2 conf losses, Ithaca is the other team w 2 conf losses). The winner stays within striking distance, and the loser drops kinda out of the race. Both teams are surging a bit. Buff st seems to be improving weekly and Utica got back on track with impressive beating of SJF. 2 "hot" teams. I'm picking Buff St as they may be the second best team right NOW in the conf (they lost close to SJF). They and Alfred are the only 2 teams ranked in the top half of the conf in both off and def. Buff st to win at home, but Utica may keep it close.

D3viewer, did I ever tell you that I like reading your predictions??    48 degrees and windy tomorrow at 12 noon kickoff!  That's a summer day here in Buffalo NY!

[Bengalsrule]

Some very intriguing matchups this weekend
The UC Buff state game is one that ill keep my eye on for sure!

Sounds like GAME OF THE WEEK at 1300 Elmwood!!!!

[FandemoniumEagle1]

Game of the week. Utica (5-2, 3-2) at Buff St. (4-2, 2-2). Battle of third tier E8 teams (those with 2 conf losses, Ithaca is the other team w 2 conf losses). The winner stays within striking distance, and the loser drops kinda out of the race. Both teams are surging a bit. Buff st seems to be improving weekly and Utica got back on track with impressive beating of SJF. 2 "hot" teams. I'm picking Buff St as they may be the second best team right NOW in the conf (they lost close to SJF). They and Alfred are the only 2 teams ranked in the top half of the conf in both off and def. Buff st to win at home, but Utica may keep it close.

SUNY creature Battle, Red Dragons vs Gold Eagles.  Brockport has won the last 2 of 3. But C st won last season. Brockport has gone to their second QB , Joe Germenario, who was a TE on UAlbany's roster this past spring (6-2, 210) but was a QB in HS. Must've come to Bport to play QB. Don't know if McKeon got hurt or benched after he threw a pick last week that led to an early Ithaca TD. Germinerio ran the option well vs Ithaca. Cortland may have found a QB as well, their 4th string guy ? Had some nice stats last week. I'm picking Brockport to win , setting up a huge game at Alfred next week. Brockport has a nice balanced offense, while Cortland's offense is getting its feet underneath itself. Cortland's even poorer defense than Brockport's may be their undoing in this game. Another weird start time (3pm)

mville / Ithaca      I'll pick on Ithaca , like D3 football did, and pick Morr in the upset. But it's so close, conventional wisdom says Ithaca wins this game, just like Hartwick.  Just because Ithaca found a passing attack (they all do vs Brockport), they have no run game, so i'm not a believer in their offense. Morrisville's actually offense isn't too shabby, and can challenge Ithaca's D.

Offense Vs Defense Bowl. Even though Alfred's offense is very good (2nd in the conf) and respectable because they have a good veteran QB. we''ll pretend it doesn't exist for this game. (They will win because of it running over Hartwick's D), but let's focus on Team Boltusses glorious air attack, Billy Pine the top passer throwing to the top 2 receivers in the conf. Hartwick also features a sneaky/decent run game. Tito Pichardo is 2nd in the conf in rushing behind Dan Andrews (5.2 yards a carry and a very good 12 rushing TD's). Alfred of course features the top defense and best unit in the conf overall.  I think Alfred (despite the attempted above hype for Hartwick's O) is a much better team, and should win handily. But that H O and A D matchup should be fun. AU wins and sets up a big game next week vs Brockport, unless either team blows it.

Give me:
Buff State-(Hoppy State) especially if Stewart plays)
Brockport - Every week gets a little more interesting.
Ithaca - Bombers let that grass grow just a little extra longer with the MoVille offense coming to town.
Alfred - The "projected weather report" from D3Viewer- keeps me from making an upset pick. 

[AUKaz00]

Going against this Hartwick offense today, Kaz00 Jr. has the right idea:


On Saxon Warriors!!!

[D3viewer]

Time Warner Sports will be broadcasting the Utica-Buff St game at noon.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Well, Ithaca is certainly looking good at this point in the season.  It's going to be a stiff test for Fisher coming out of their bye week.  I like it though.  Sink or swim time for the Cardinals these next 3 weeks. 

[saxontad]

AU wins 61-12!!!

[AUKaz00]

It's not Hobart, Ithaca, and Fisher circa 2007, but Alfred faces the E8 gauntlet to close out the regular season.  Should be an exiting conclusion to the conference championship!

[D3viewer]

The E 8 easily sorts out in order of succession to the title.  If we rank the teams with winning conf records it breaks down like this.
1. AU 5-0
2. SJF 4-1 (win over Bport)
3. Bport 4-1 (wins over Ithaca and Utica)
4. Ithaca 3-2 (win over Utica)
5. Utica 4-2

4 of the top 5 play each other this weekend. Ithaca at Fisher and Brockport at Alfred. Utica has a bye.