FB: Empire 8

[Bengalsrule]

Congrats to Pep and all the Saxon fans. 3 quarters of the game was good. Brockport couldn't do anything in the 4th and kept shooting themselves in the foot in various ways. Alfred has some very talented players for sure. Interested to see if they can make it to the end of the season undefeated!

Count me in on cheering for the Saxons to go undefeated also!

As I arrived at Alfred U last night ( for Buff State vs Saxons hoops contest), I couldn't help but feel the excitement in the athletic complex with regards to the Saxons 3rd game in the NCAA playoffs!  Passed some members of thier team while going by the training room. Gotta admit, as a former college football player, i was feeling some kind of pride for our region and conference.

Still hoping that my post from 1 month ago today (see above) holds true....for the next 3 weeks!!

GO SAXONS                                                                              GO SAXONS
GO Empire 8!

[Bartman]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

Agree on the Pep , Alfred perspective....as far as the homers from the rest of the E8 , you gotta love the passion....although as my son says....D3 is "glorified HS" football, how can you get so excited?....he may be partially right but I can't help rooting for student athletes that just play for the love of the game...may the love be with Alfred on Saturday

No offense to your son - but he is wrong....IMNSHO. I get a bunch of crap from friends about following Mount and UWW and keeping up on D3 as much as I do, while not giving a crap about OSU/UM/Bama etc.. But I took a couple to the Mount / UWW game last year (and a couple others to previous games) and they all loved it. I get phone calls and texts now asking how Mount did or how a certain player did. Most, not all, were blown away by the quality of football as well as the faclities - and could not believe "parking is free and the game ticket was $8"! Not too mention the Mount pre-game brunch for $8 all you can eat. As a good friend said "I spent $300 on tickets to the OSU game for the family, another $30 for parking, walked a mile to the stadium, and needed the big screen to see what was going on. A game, parking 20 feet from the stadium and breakfast for under $20 is a steal".

Desertraider,
           You are preaching to the choir .......take no offense in what my son says about D3 because he actually loves all levels of sports....he just tries to get back at me when I tell him his D1 program is merely a minor league for the NFL and is all about the $$(your OSU experience) and not really about the education....I love to see these young men compete at the D3 level ,and yes the entertainment is a great value for a family whether an alum or just a local fan....and you don't feel used because you helped add a wing onto Urban Meyer's real estate holdings......As for the playoffs, since the Statesmen gave it their all and were bounced, I am a Saxon for as long as they can keep winning because I know what a big deal this is for Mayberry, AU, the region and those players.....

[Desertraider]

MUC57
Pep and many of the Alfred crew are the sane bunch that are grounded and have perspective.
The rest of us are just ranting homer fans that love to see things thru rose colored glasses 

Agree on the Pep , Alfred perspective....as far as the homers from the rest of the E8 , you gotta love the passion....although as my son says....D3 is "glorified HS" football, how can you get so excited?....he may be partially right but I can't help rooting for student athletes that just play for the love of the game...may the love be with Alfred on Saturday

No offense to your son - but he is wrong....IMNSHO. I get a bunch of crap from friends about following Mount and UWW and keeping up on D3 as much as I do, while not giving a crap about OSU/UM/Bama etc.. But I took a couple to the Mount / UWW game last year (and a couple others to previous games) and they all loved it. I get phone calls and texts now asking how Mount did or how a certain player did. Most, not all, were blown away by the quality of football as well as the faclities - and could not believe "parking is free and the game ticket was $8"! Not too mention the Mount pre-game brunch for $8 all you can eat. As a good friend said "I spent $300 on tickets to the OSU game for the family, another $30 for parking, walked a mile to the stadium, and needed the big screen to see what was going on. A game, parking 20 feet from the stadium and breakfast for under $20 is a steal".

Desertraider,
           You are preaching to the choir .......take no offense in what my son says about D3 because he actually loves all levels of sports....he just tries to get back at me when I tell him his D1 program is merely a minor league for the NFL and is all about the $$(your OSU experience) and not really about the education....I love to see these young men compete at the D3 level ,and yes the entertainment is a great value for a family whether an alum or just a local fan....and you don't feel used because you helped add a wing onto Urban Meyer's real estate holdings......As for the playoffs, since the Statesmen gave it their all and were bounced, I am a Saxon for as long as they can keep winning because I know what a big deal this is for Mayberry, AU, the region and those players.....

No offense taken. My kids are younger and girls and I try to explain to them why Mount doesn't play OSU (I can see their eyes glaze over as I address the different divisions) and invariably why they don't play the Browns - though on this one I normally say "because Mount likes tougher competition".

[AUPepBand]

Congrats to Pep and all the Saxon fans. 3 quarters of the game was good. Brockport couldn't do anything in the 4th and kept shooting themselves in the foot in various ways. Alfred has some very talented players for sure. Interested to see if they can make it to the end of the season undefeated!

Count me in on cheering for the Saxons to go undefeated also!

As I arrived at Alfred U last night ( for Buff State vs Saxons hoops contest), I couldn't help but feel the excitement in the athletic complex with regards to the Saxons 3rd game in the NCAA playoffs!  passed some member of thier team while going by the training room. Gotta admit, as a former cvollege football player, i was feeling some kind of pride for our region and conference.

Still hoping that my post from 1 month ago today (see above) holds true....for the next 3 weeks!!

GO SAXONS                                                                              GO SAXONS
GO Empire 8!

Pep was thinking about you....but couldn't get out of the library last night to get down to the arena. Had the game on the front desk computer and was looking for you! Those Bengals sure have it going on! Can't see them finishing anywhere but in the top of the SUNYAC...if they can dethrone Tom Curle's Plattsburgh Cardinals.

It means a lot during this incredible run to have the support of our Empire 8 pals. We've certainly got our work cut out for us this Saterday but these Saxons work hard and play with a lot of heart. It's been a storybook year.

[fisheralum91]

Kick some purple raider buttarski and rep the E8 well!

We are rooting for ya AU!

Good luck pep kaz tad et al!

[AUKaz00]

Kick some purple raider buttarski and rep the E8 well!

We are rooting for ya AU!

Good luck pep kaz tad et al!

Thanks 91, +1. I still remember Pep and I travelling to Growney with our kazoos in 2006 and watching Fisher homogenize Rowan. It would be something if 10 years later the Saxons could pull the same thing against another beast.

On Saxon Warriors!!!

[AUPepBand]

Kick some purple raider buttarski and rep the E8 well!

We are rooting for ya AU!

Good luck pep kaz tad et al!

Thanks, 91! +K

[fisheralum91]

Kaz- I was at that game as well- one of the first ones that I went back to in eons.  (Re) Ignited the passion for Fisher football in me!
Was an amazing day all around.

Win and the final 4 awaits!

[AUPepBand]

Looks like, according to "Quick Hits," the Saxons don't stand a chance. 

[saxontad]

Pep,

It's about what I expected for predictions.  I believe the Saxons will play well.  See you at the Pit on saterday!!!

On Saxon warriors!!!!

[Saxon73]

The Saxons have improved their game throughout the year.  Less turnovers and much better concerning penalties.  If they can limit yardage on the flat , behind the LOS passes, they will play as good as anyone can expect.

This will be great experience and exposure for the program. 

Congratulations to Coach Rankl and the team !!

[Desertraider]

Looks like, according to "Quick Hits," the Saxons don't stand a chance. 

When Pat predicts it will be close - it usually is. However, when Pat predicts Mount to "name its score"......I get nervous. Maybe the score they name won't be enough 

I expect a close game. Maybe 28-24, 21-17.........62-59. I expect Mount to win - but they will have to earn it. I just don't buy getting to the final 8 on luck and heart. Has to be some talent and skill in there and I think Alfred will show us some of both. Good luck to all and safe travels.

[AUPepBand]

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.

For an impartial assessment of the Saxons, Pep quotes Wesleydad, who made the trip to Mayberry on Nov. 12 to see Alfred and St. John Fisher square off for the Empire 8 AQ. Pep agrees with his assessment. The Saxons do plenty of things pretty good...heck, he even thought the chili was pretty good! You just never know who's going to rise to a challenge and make the play to save the day.

Pep is hoping for a good competitive game with good sportsmanship and no injuries. Like Pep tells the band, "Keep it classy, not trashy."
Safe travels to all the Raiders fans making the trek to Mayberry. Hope you fill your side of the stadium!

On Saxon Warriors!

[art76]

Not a coach, nor even a pundit - but if I had any say in game strategy for the Saxons this week it would be along these lines:

1. Stay within reach/jump out to a lead so that at half-time you are tied or close to it.
2. Come out in the second half with an entirely different schema, as it has been shown in the last two games that Mount Union adjusts very well at half time.
3. And, this is a big and by the way, be able to adjust the Saxon defense to shut down the machine at the same time. It seems to be evident that that's what they've done the last two weeks.
3. I have no idea what the Saxons have "up their sleeves" to be able to pull this off. Teams that make it to the play-offs often have new wrinkles to add to their play-books, so that there is limited film for opposing teams to be ready for it.

Do I expect Alfred to become a triple option team in the second half? No, not really. But wrinkles that they are confident in that the machine has never seen could go far. Let them adjust to what you did in the first half knowing full well you won't be running that schema in the second half. The hard part would be pulling it off.

FWIW - I didn't think Mount Union would get past the second round game, but man, did they ever adjust during the break to just shut down Hopkins.

Good luck to the Saxon faithful.

[D O.C.]

Mistake free, Alfred.
No injuries!