FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Pep,caz, tad, etal,
Congrats on a regular season from heaven.
Going thru the E8 unscathed.
Something that is an impressive feat to say the least!

Complete respect for a great team....
Now can we talk about your play by play people?  YIKES!!!!

While we are in our ECAC game the whole FA91 family hopes you are kicking ass!

Thanks, 91!
As Kaz said, it's the local radio couple....connected to the webcast, which Pep has noticed technically produces some reverb that makes their voices quiver...and sounds like, as you so aptly describe...grandparents!

This season has been special from the start....when Julio walked off the field. What an inspiration! Pep understands that it was Julio that gave the team the post-Friday practice pep talk.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Jonny Utah]

Well Ithaca played its last Empire 8 game today.  I only saw the first half, but what I saw was much of the same over the past 10 or so years in the Cortaca game.  Not much.

Wondering if they will go outside the program for a new coach/start, or if they will keep McDonough and he will start with a new staff.  For some reason I say they go outside. 

[wesleydad]

Very nice trip to Alfred today.  Thanks to Pep for getting me in the alumni room for some food before the game, the chili was pretty good.  The Pep band is fun to be around, they liven up the game atmosphere.  It was also nice to meet Saxontad, told you to relax at the half since there was now way Fisher was going to score enough to beat you.  What a really cool field set up at Alfred.  The bowl effect is neat.

Now about the game, Alfred is just better.  The QB makes plays and will be annoying to any team that they play in the playoffs.  #4 is a nice receiver and his size will be an issue for most teams.  Fisher had 1 chance to get into the game; 3rd quarter punt is muffed by Alfred with a Fisher player being the first to it, somehow the Alfred player takes it from him and 2/3 plays later #4 makes a great adjustment on a broken play bomb and turns it into a touchdown.  Fisher recovers and scores it is 24-21 and a game, instead Alfred scores and and it is 31-14; game over.  Fisher looked very slow on offense and Alfred played a defense to not get beat over the top.  I expect Alfred to win at least one game and after that it depends on how the brackets are set up, they certainly could win 2 especially playing at home.  Alfred does nothing great, but they do plenty pretty good.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Lost our biggest playmaking wide receiver Coon, the one who scored the opening drive touchdown, in the 1st quarter.  Previously lost for the year one of our fastest players on offense and home run hitting running back in Chambers.  Lost our starting tight end.  Injuries have been a rather significant factor for Fisher this season.  The loss of Coon today hurt huge.  He was leading the team in receiving yards (over 100 per game heading into today) and touchdowns.  Do I think Alfred was the better team?  Yep.  Our defense just can't be trusted to do the job and their D was undoubtedly better.  But I'm also not going to deny that I think having Coon out there all game could have made this game play out a lot differently. 

Anyhow, I would predict that Alfred can hang with anybody in the playoffs.  Not even going to bother qualifying that with a certain team in Wisconsin or Texas.  Plus they are purple and that's the color that wins in D3 football tournaments.  I believe they have a ceiling that is higher than maybe winning a game or two.  I hope the Gods are so kind as to have an Alfred v Wesley matchup at some point. 

[boobyhasgameyo]

Although I predict St. Thomas is going to be the team to win it all this year.  Depending on how the brackets shake out if there isn't a semifinal matchup between St. Thomas and UMHB then that would be my bet for the championship game.  Purple purple purple everywhere. 

[wesleydad]

Lost our biggest playmaking wide receiver Coon, the one who scored the opening drive touchdown, in the 1st quarter.  Previously lost for the year one of our fastest players on offense and home run hitting running back in Chambers.  Lost our starting tight end.  Injuries have been a rather significant factor for Fisher this season.  The loss of Coon today hurt huge.  He was leading the team in receiving yards (over 100 per game heading into today) and touchdowns.  Do I think Alfred was the better team?  Yep.  Our defense just can't be trusted to do the job and their D was undoubtedly better.  But I'm also not going to deny that I think having Coon out there all game could have made this game play out a lot differently. 

Anyhow, I would predict that Alfred can hang with anybody in the playoffs.  Not even going to bother qualifying that with a certain team in Wisconsin or Texas.  Plus they are purple and that's the color that wins in D3 football tournaments.  I believe they have a ceiling that is higher than maybe winning a game or two.  I hope the Gods are so kind as to have an Alfred v Wesley matchup at some point.

Injuries are part of the game.  Alfred is good and depending on how the brackets break out could win more than 2 games, but from what I saw today I would have no problem with an Alfred v Wesley game.  I actually hope that they end up in the same bracket with most of the other east teams because I think it would make for some really good football games.

[AUKaz00]

I actually hope that they end up in the same bracket with most of the other east teams because I think it would make for some really good football games.

That would be exciting for those of us who focus on the East. But it would seem fitting in the year an East team finally goes undefeated that UMU would find its way into an eastern most bracket as a 4 seed and take some of the eastern intrigue out of the matchups.

[wesleydad]

I actually hope that they end up in the same bracket with most of the other east teams because I think it would make for some really good football games.

That would be exciting for those of us who focus on the East. But it would seem fitting in the year an East team finally goes undefeated that UMU would find its way into an eastern most bracket as a 4 seed and take some of the eastern intrigue out of the matchups.

Kaz, I hope they leave Mount in the north and send them on the road in round 2 and 3 if they win.  The loss should put them in the same position as many other 1 loss team, maybe a home game and then on the road you go. 

[Tags]

Yo AUPep - congrats on a great season. Wanted to swing by and say hello.

Hope you're well.

Tags

[AUPepBand]

Yo AUPep - congrats on a great season. Wanted to swing by and say hello.

Hope you're well.

Tags

Hey Tags! Great to see you're still stopping by once in a great while. Pep is doing great for an old fart. BTW, don't you think it's about time you removed that old quote from your profile? Haha! +K

On Saxon Warriors!

[Upstate]

Thoughts...

Alfred:

-That team is the most physical team Fisher has faced in a long time. Just had a hard nosed/old school attitude that you can't help but respect and admire. Fisher was taken to the woodshed by AU's offensive and defensive lines. That AU team is built for a nice playoff run, best of luck to them. I really hope they get a #1 seed, they absolutely deserve it!

-Johnson put together a great senior year and really turned it around from his first 3 years. That was not the same QB Fisher had faced the past 3 years. He really reminds me of Tebow from his UF glory days. Tough as hell running the ball and can make plays throwing the ball on busted plays. Some of his throw back, against the grain passes for TDs were just sandlot plays and a case of a great player making a great play. Can't do anything but tip your hat to him.

Post season:

-The D3.com/ITTH selection show last night was a great listen, I totally suggest you give it a listen. They have Fisher being the last team in. Not sure I see it but they make a case for it with their resume (1-1 vs RRO and a huge SOS). All depends on where Fisher is ranked in the final super secret regional rankings. If Fisher is ranked above Frostburgh and St. Lawrence then they're the first East team on the board after the AQ's.

-I see them taking the trip to UPenn (that's where the ECACs are this year right?) and taking on either a PAC school or a crappy New England team. Either way it's their 15th straight season of making it to the "post season".

In retrospect and going forward:

-You could really tell throughout the year that the interior O-line was bad. The guards couldn't get any push on the DTs and the guards often found themselves either in their own backfield or on the ground after being shed by a DT. You could really tell that they missed Coleman at guard, he is their best lineman and they had to move him to LT because of just how bad the LT depth chart was during camp.

-Fisher needs to go back to the drawing board with it's depth chart/roster. Their starting guards were 265lbs and 240lbs. If you're running an inside zone read and your guards are getting blown off the ball there's no shot for the RBs to go anywhere and that's why you saw Fisher go to the air in so many games because the run game was a waste of a down in most cases this year. Which is a real shame considering they had Fusco/Chambers in the backfield.

-Their starting 3 man defensive front was 235lbs, 270lbs, 235lbs. They were pushed around all year. If you're going with a 3 man front you better have some beef upfront. If you want 235lb defensive ends you better have them playing outside in a 4 man front instead of head up on the tackles who outweigh them by 70lbs or more in some cases. Middlerelief had a point that the DL was getting pushed around all game and he was right but he was a douche about it so I didn't care if he was right or not.

-The backs and receivers are all coming back next year so Fiutko will have plenty of weapons. Fiutko is more mobile than Naton so it may add an element with the zone read that the running game lacked. However Naton's arm will be missed next year, he really developed into a great QB. Averaging close to 300 yards a game and having 23 TDs and just 7 INTs in 8 games isn't easy. He was their MVP hands down.

-Nearly the entire DL two deep is gone next year as well as the starting secondary. They return all of the LBers at least. The current roster has no one with any size on the DL coming back. Might be time to move some of the younger offensive lineman to DTs/NTs for next year otherwise you're looking at a long season vs the run (again). At least Nelson is returning, he was the team leader in INTs, but I think he was the one got beat deep for that 70 yarder on an underthrown pass (great adjustment by the AU wr to come back to the ball).

[Bombers798891]

Well Ithaca played its last Empire 8 game today.  I only saw the first half, but what I saw was much of the same over the past 10 or so years in the Cortaca game.  Not much.

Wondering if they will go outside the program for a new coach/start, or if they will keep McDonough and he will start with a new staff.  For some reason I say they go outside.

They made a game of it in the second half. Got it to 21-16 and then chose to punt on 4th and 3 from Cortland territory in the 4th. The final drive consisted of Shafer being sacked on 4 straight plays, the last one with six blocking four.

Sad for Mike's career to end that way.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Sad that Ithaca is now gone from the E8.  We haven't talked about that much here.  Pleasure having you guys around!  You certainly helped push Fisher to greater heights.  I'd say the rest of the conference too but a lot of the teams are either new to the conference or they have so much darn history (Alfred) that they are in the middle of their own historical cycle. 

And nice writeup, Upstate.  You bring up a lot of salient points.  Let's hope the coaches realize this as well and adapt with their roster.  You'd hope they won't just be slaves to their own philosophies at the detriment of the team. 

[Jonny Utah]

Well Ithaca played its last Empire 8 game today.  I only saw the first half, but what I saw was much of the same over the past 10 or so years in the Cortaca game.  Not much.

Wondering if they will go outside the program for a new coach/start, or if they will keep McDonough and he will start with a new staff.  For some reason I say they go outside.

They made a game of it in the second half. Got it to 21-16 and then chose to punt on 4th and 3 from Cortland territory in the 4th. The final drive consisted of Shafer being sacked on 4 straight plays, the last one with six blocking four.

Sad for Mike's career to end that way.

The oline had several breakdowns in the first half too bombers.  Bad breakdowns.

[Bartman]

Just saw that Alfred is rated 14 in National poll, I think they should be rated above Hopkins, frankly...I have not seen the team live, but this is a tough fundamental , hard hitting team with very strong lines that I think will play well against anyone, except maybe the speedsters at MHB ... OAC is not so scary this year...and they might even surprise the WIAC and MIAC.I hope the Saxons prove it in the playoffs