FB: Empire 8

[AUPepBand]

Pat,

It has taken me a week of intensive psychiatric counseling to overcome the shock and dismay associated with the NCAA's snub of AU, as it conjured up feelings of outrage associated with a similar snub in 1971 when the undefeated Saxons (8-0) were snubbed by the selection committee of the Knute Rockne Bowl in favor of a Bridgeport (8-1) team to play Hampden-Sydney.

And, by the way, I did thank you for your kindness in mentioning that you thought Alfred should have gotten in.

The poll thing is no big deal with me. I just thought it amusing that Fisher stock still was so high. AU fans had been told here that the reason Saxon defensive stats were so impressive was "because they haven't played IC or SJF." Yet, AU held Fisher 39 points and 230 yards under their game average. Thought that might have meant more than catching the eye of 4 of the pollsters.

[Pat Coleman]

Responding once is one thing big guy, keeping a running battle going is different.Like I said, every year someone is going to gripe, why feed it.

I wuld love to only have to answer once. But as long as there's a response bashing our poll then I am going to continue to defend it.

Thanks for your input.

[Saxon73]

TNBomberDad,

Thank you for your mature attitude and support.  Sometimes these sites are overblown with emotions. Discussions do not have to be a war or battle of words.

As Thomas Carlyle said, " Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the devil."

[Grido03]

Just got back from a long weekend in Albany ... the only 4 times I've been there have been for Ithaca losses (2 football, 2 baseball regionals).
That game was ridiculous. I agree with whoever said the momentum swung permanently after that freak kickoff off our upback. That sucked.
I was standing on the grass with, amongst others, a JV Bomber Dback who tore his ACL and MCL the first day of practice this year. He's ready to make an impact next season. The defense can only get better from here.
It was rough watching Ithaca's Dbacks go step for step with the WR then at the last second, see the WR come down with the ball.
I think defensively one of Ithaca's best players against Union was Adam Jason (#93) at nose tackle. The Union RB, Arcidiocono, was mostly effective bouncing outside, using that fieldturf to his advantage. The couple drives that he did nothing, he was stuffed up the middle.

I think overall the Bombers may have overachieved this season, but they all played hard, through the injuries and hopefully the returning guys can take a lot from their experiences.
To the grdautes - it was terrific following you guys through your Bomber careers...

[TNBomberDad]

No problem 73,  understand your excitement over AU's season and desire for respect. Bashing the poll may not be the best way of getting there though. The RPI guys have the same issue on the LL board. Ask Auburn about polls from last year.

['gro]

Alfred @ RPI this weekend.

[AUPepBand]

RPI vs. Alfred at Butterfield (neutral site) ECAC would be better if they actually had a playoff system instead of single bowl games. Would love to see RPI and Alfred tangle.

[AUPepBand]

I wuld love to only have to answer once. But as long as there's a response bashing our poll then I am going to continue to defend it.

Thanks for your input.

Please accept my apology for bashing your poll, Pat. I certainly was not very articulate. Nor did I present a case--just took a cheap shot. Let me just explain that I find it odd that a third place team in any conference would generate more poll votes than the second place team in said conference. Likewise, a team getting less votes among its Upstate peers, still generating more votes in a national poll than teams ahead of it.

Upstate NY D3 Football Final Poll -- Nov. 14 
1. Union (13)  65
2. Hobart 49
3. Ithaca 30
4. Cortland 29
5. Alfred  14
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: St. John Fisher 6, Rensselaer 2.
One school did not vote.

Your D3Football.com pollsters had Union 197, Ithaca 94, Fisher 84, Cortland 24, Hobart 20, RPI 10, AU 4.

[Pat Coleman]

You can use that as an example if you like. I know that poll has been roundly criticized on these boards all season. I don't know how much respect it gets.

All I think the results of this week are going to do is drag Fisher down. Not likely to pull Alfred up.

[maninyellowhat]

Do you continue the poll during the postseason?  Or are you speaking in terms of next year?

[Pat Coleman]

We have a final poll after the Stagg Bowl.

[gobombers15]

Alfred guys, don't worry about the rankings. The Saxons had a great season capped off by a huge victory in a postseason game. We all know Alfred should have made the postseason--Pat said he was dumbfounded by the fact they were not in the field-- and that should be worth more than any ranking or amount of votes can provide. Alfred is truly and up-and-coming squad and should be expected to compete for the E8 title next year(home games against both Fisher AND Ithaca) as well as a post-season berth.

Speaking of which, 2006 should be a fun year in the E8 for football. Ithaca will be reloaded but is forced to replace Felicetti and Espo, among others. Fisher loses Fehrenbach. Alfred returns many of their core players. Utica should continue to improve. Springfield will certainly be better than they showed this year and will build on the improvement they saw in the second half of the season. Hartwick will put up a million points and if they can get ANY defense should have a chance to upset some teams. Norwich can put a scare in some teams, too. I'm pissed we have to wait another nine months until football season.

Oh well, I'll see some of you guys over on the basketball boards. It's nowhere near as fun as football because we lose a lot!! Just accept our mediocrity and everything will be easier.

[Reno Hightower]

GB15, what are you doing here? You said you were done posting here till next season if Ithaca lost......

TASTE IT

['gro]

Gro thought he would really enjoy talking smack after the LL sweep... but maybe Gro is a little older and wiser than he used to be.

Fact is, USNY put 4 teams in the playoffs from 3 conferences. Of course the NCAA matched them up to save on travel, but 2 teams proved their worth on saturday. So...

1. The LL was the better conference THIS YEAR.
2. All this talk about a super NY conference can go out the window.
3. As long as the E8 & LL meet up in the playoffs lets also stop bitching about scheduling!

[gobombers]

I am still getting smited!  Unbelieveable!  LL posters, move onto the MAC and NJAC, please!