FB: Empire 8

[JQV]

Is there a tougher schedule in the E8.

Ithaca: vs. Huntingdon (who fits your description of Thiel)
            at Brockport
            at Cortland

and probably Springfield:  They did have Union (when we thought they were good) and Montclair in consecutive weeks.

[AUPepBand]

Good morning, all!

With all due respect to Saxon 73, AUPepBand must disagree regarding his assertion that Alfred historically "does not shy away from competition." While that may have been true during Legendary Coach Alex Yunevich's day (ex: AU scheduling Eastern power Bridgeport as opener in 1973 after NCAA selected an 8-1 Bridgeport over 8-0 Alfred for Knute Rockne Bowl in 1971), the program has also had its struggles.

When Jim Moretti was appointed AD in 1996, he was asked to continue on as football coach for a year and, understandably, without vigorous recruiting, AU suffered a 2-8 season in 1997 (ironically opening with a 30-0 win over King's). Given AU's dubious two-year stint in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and inadequate recruiting, it is my understanding that AU asked Ithaca for a two-year scheduling "reprieve" until AU could get back on its feet.

Coach Dave Murray's start in 1998 was hindered by a hazing incident that resulted in AU cancelling its opener with Susquehanna and spurring a nationwide study on hazing in athletics. Tested from the start, Murray has steadily built a program of integrity and excellence at AU. Success is not always measured by the proverbial "W" but AUPepBand is eyewitness of Alfred's "individuals inspired"...seeing young men become positive role models and quality citizens because of their association with Alfred's football program. AUPepBand would venture to guess that AU's football program is still on the rise....and yes, Saxon73, as it continues to rise, there is no need for AU to shy away from competition.

GO SAXONS!!

P.S. AU consciously chose to discontinue scheduling state schools in mid-90s because of perceived unlevel playing field re: recruiting, despite AU's history of dominance of state schools.

[theicdubbz]

real quick.  Pepband sparked this....  At IC there have been two hazing incidents reported and the two teams have been put on probation.  You can research it if you want as Dubbz will not disclose the info.  The Football team is not one of them.  for all you players out there reading this the implications that take place are not worth the incidents!  DO NOT HAZE THOSE POOR FRESHMAN!  hook them up with sweet 17's and show them what college life is about.  but, for the love of your season do not haze!

[FisherAlum05]

dubbz you say cortland is the real deal but Fisher is not??  ithaca fans just cannot seem to give Fisher any respect.  Not even when we kick your butts up and down the field.  Learn to give credit where credit is due.  Cortland is the real deal.  Fisher is the real deal.  Ithaca is very good but not as good as either Cortland or Fisher in my opinion.  That was proven ON the field where it counts not on these forums.  Good luck to all the NYS teams the rest of the way even you IC.  See you in the playoffs. 

[AUPepBand]

+K to you dubbz; also kudos to IC for not tolerating it.

At Alfred, AUPepBand believes, returning players during pre-season camp, are paired off as mentors with freshmen/transfers as means of building team camaraderie. Likewise, new recruits build relationships with fellow unit members. Each year, AUPepBand is amazed how freshmen have immediate impact and get quality playing time. While there will always be aberrations, seems an environment of mutual respect is established from Day One at AU.

[FisherAlum05]

Also with regards to the topic of who plays the toughest schedule in the E8 I think it is either Alfred or Springfield.  Alfred plays Thiel and Hobart, as well as pesky St. Lawrence, in non-league games which are very competitive teams as you know.  Springfield plays Union, Montclair, and Brockport in non-league contests.  Ithaca is close behind playing a tough independent in Huntingdon as well as Cortland and Brockport.  Fishers non-league slate schedule has Kings, U of R, Mt. Ida, and Brockport. 

Brockport definately has the toughest schedule in the East or maybe in the country.  Absolutely ridiculous.  Too tough uif you ask me since their league has no AQ.   

[theicdubbz]

dubbz you say cortland is the real deal but Fisher is not??  ithaca fans just cannot seem to give Fisher any respect.  Not even when we kick your butts up and down the field.  Learn to give credit where credit is due.  Cortland is the real deal.  Fisher is the real deal.  Ithaca is very good but not as good as either Cortland or Fisher in my opinion.  That was proven ON the field where it counts not on these forums.  Good luck to all the NYS teams the rest of the way even you IC.  See you in the playoffs. 

hmm... perhaps what I should have said was that Fish is vulnerable.  They could be upset.  Cortland will not be upset.  This observation is also based on me seeing Fish play and reading about Cortland.

[maxpower]

dubbz you say cortland is the real deal but Fisher is not??  ithaca fans just cannot seem to give Fisher any respect.  Not even when we kick your butts up and down the field.  Learn to give credit where credit is due.  Cortland is the real deal.  Fisher is the real deal.  Ithaca is very good but not as good as either Cortland or Fisher in my opinion.  That was proven ON the field where it counts not on these forums.  Good luck to all the NYS teams the rest of the way even you IC.  See you in the playoffs. 

FA05-

The Ithaca game is the only test Fisher has had so far, and as I mentioned in my previous post, Fisher only played one half of good ball in that game. The rest of the game they were shutout by Ithaca, when they weren't even playing their best ball, were without two defensive studs, and had some questionable calls and play-calling. As I pointed out before, if Fisher's offense has a half like that again, they will find themselves facing an upset.

True, they won, and that's all that matters. But I don't see how that one game "proves" that Fisher is the real deal. Since (and before) then they have played only crappy teams, with the exception of Brockport who played them close and was then stomped by Springfield. Is Springfield the real deal?

I don't think Ithaca is better than Fisher, I think they're pretty neck and neck and that anything could happen should they meet again. Unfortunately this is college football and every game is a playoff game.Ithaca's defense gets a slight advantage over Fisher; if Charlie Stephens and Tom Blumenauer were in the game it might have turned out differently. Fisher's offense a slight advantage: Juvan has been gaining confidence and looking better every game, but the R&R express is simply a game-breaker

As far as your opinion that both Cortland and Fisher are better than IC, what's your reasoning for that? Even if I agree with you.

[JQV]

ithaca fans just cannot seem to give Fisher any respect.  Not even when we kick your butts up and down the field.  Learn to give credit where credit is due. 

Don't be a moron.  I do not think we could have been more derential.

That was proven ON the field where it counts not on these forums. 

This is a real revelation.  First, I don't think it would be physically possible for the teams to play in these forums.  Second, do I sense some dissention in the Fisher camp?  You and windbag should get together and decide whether or not posting here effects a team's rankings and performance.

I am going to look past this as just more evidence that you are a green program unsure how to win.  Most of the Fisher posters have been very rational (FA91, Booby, TOUS, even Superman to some degree).  But the rest appear unable to do anything but cry for respect and wish you were IC.  This is just what another Fisher poster was talking about (maybe it was TOUS...not sure) a few weeks ago when he said he was getting bombarded with emails from coaches/fans/players for critiquing the coaching staff in public.

Grow up and learn to win.

[cstate19]

maybe it is because i am on the E8 board.......but i feel like Fisher has redirected some of IC's hate from cortland.......and with cortaca now less then a month away.......im feeling a lil neglected.......would any of my fellow IC posters make this right?

[maxpower]

Cortland is a non-factor until we see how they fare in the battle of the overrated (Cortland vs. Rowan). Until then, they've had a mediocre conference schedule and a laughable non-conference schedule that they didn't even do that well with. Your monster defense allowed 20 points from Buff State? Yikes. If that can happen, then the Bombers can easily score 27 and the defense, I think, can cover that spread.

[cstate19]

Ok for the last time......its was 38-7 against buff state going into the 4th where WE PULLED OUR STARTERS who gave up 2 TD's.............IC was up 35-7 and didnt pull their starters till after they scored to go up 42-7 with 2 minutes to go..........that it the difference........

[maxpower]

Fair enough, forgot that. That said, Cortland sucks.

[cstate19]

As for the "laughable" non-conference schedule...........we play 3 non-NJAC games.......IC, Morrisville, Brockport.........Are you guys laughable? Even if you are that game is scheduled every year so nothing can be done.....Brockport is not laughable.......ask Fisher.....and Morrisville who is laughable......so we schedule 1 bad game......who do you want us to schedule in Week 1? you think Fisher is gonna wanna play us? There is no benefit for either team playing each other........

Now let's compare our Non-conference to IC's

We both play Brockport.......Both Play Each Other.......Morrisville is as laughable as Buff State......So all that leaves is Huntingdon who isnt that good........and even if they were.......we don't have that 4th week available

[theicdubbz]

As for the "laughable" non-conference schedule...........we play 3 non-NJAC games.......IC, Morrisville, Brockport.........

Its tough to get a good non conference schedule if you want to stay competitive in your conference and not suffer injury.