FB: Empire 8

[Rowdy Rowdy Bomber]

QUESTION:

Has Springfield seen the 3-4 D yet this year?  I know we're well into the season, but do they know whats coming at them, or could they be another Huntingdon?

Rowdy,
  I only wish Springfield was Huntington..they are for real....THIS will be one heck of a football game....


                  Calling ALL Alumni.....the FDC needs YOU!                    

I think Ithaca needs to pull one out to make this game a "measuring stick" or "one heck of a game." I'm behind the Bombers 100% here, but I think IC fans that don't realize Springfield should be favored pretty substantially in this game are kidding themselves.

I dont think any Ithaca fans are underestimating SC. In fact,  I think we may actually be overestimating them... I sure hope the team isnt.  Rowdy believes this b/c there were way too many shocked faces at the Fisher game, and then to have SC run it up on them this weekend.... Well, We all know what we're in for. 
At the same time, why should we keep hyping them up.  Seriously.  Its Ithaca. and Its Butterfield, and you know what...  SC hasnt experienced the FDC at full force.  To be honest.  I dont think they have a clue what is awaiting them through the silver gates upon South Aurora's majestic grounds.  Sure they'll be a tough match up... but we're THE BOMBERS!

[tecmobowler]

This week's weather (including Saturday) calls for a complete slop-fest.

Might this be a positive for the Bombers?

[maxpower]

I don't see how it couldn't.

[maxpower]

And speaking of the full force of the FDC, who all is headed to the game? I'm pretty sure I'll be there, but I want a better showing than the last game I went to (Brockport).

[XREDDRAGON77]

  To the Bomber Faithful,
If IC wants to take this one, the key for them is ball control.  IC is a team that is explosive every year, just as the SC offense appears to be this year.  Rather than start a pissing match of TD for TD, and play the "who makes a mistake first game", just take a deep breath and relax.  It has been noted that SC is soft defensively, so If I was getting my kids ready I would just scheme  ball control power plays.  Iso, Power, Trap, Counter, and Sprint Out (mangle the corners reads).  3-4 yard a pop plays and eat the clock.  Limit their access to the ball!  More touches they get, the more chances thry have to break a big one.  If they send one big right of the bat, chew the clock on them so the O does not get on the field to get into a rhythm.  Just my 2c from a high school coach. I am sure the Bomber staff is thinking the same.
Taste It

[boobyhasgameyo]

So if Ithaca beats Springfield and God willing Fisher handles Alfred the final week of the season creating a 3 way tie, the first tie breaker is strength of schedule? Or am I wrong in that regard?

But if I am right I was looking at the index and was suprised to find Springfield and Fisher ranked so highly, but then I looked at how the other teams are doing that Fisher played.... U of R is 5-2, Kings is 5-2, and I think Mt. Ida is 4-3.  I didn't realize thats how those teams were doing, I remember seeing at the Fisher game that Mount Ida was playing Hartwick close and I made the comment that it was a game that absolutely does not matter.  But if that is the case for tie breaking, I guess it matters alot. 

[Bill McCabe]

I was comparing scores with common opponents (I know that isn't the best way to do things) and Ithaca and Springfield were very close in their scores against Utica and Brockport State.  The glaring difference is against SJF.  Was the Ithaca game against them closer than the score?  They both played at SJF?  Should I throw out that game and expect a very tight game this week?

[Reno Hightower]

I think everyone is rooting for SC against Ithica. Those fans are way too cocky for their own good. Win a big game this decade! TASTE IT

[XREDDRAGON77]

Ball Control philosophy being used against an explosive Wing T offense in Section I
www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/SPORTS02/610220346/1050
I would love to see IC knock off Springfield.  If the "Win a big game this decade" was dircted at Cortland, we can just point our fingers at y several IC games since we are almost always the dog, and you guys are always sitting pretty.  If that was not directed at Cortland, disregard.
Taste It

['gro]

random note:  what a pointless argument about the IC/Springfield game being played on grass.  I guess it goes beyond the IC/SC game. Sports reporters everywhere make that claim that teams are "faster" on turf and that when a turf team plays on grass it will affect their performance.  the playing surface is the same for both teams, the weather is the same for both teams. please refrain from using this silly argument.

The real advantage for Ithaca this week will be playing at HOME.

[maninyellowhat]

dragon,

Reno's talking about us Ithaca folks who talk about our national championships from decades ago but lose to Union in playoff games during the Mike Welch era.

[JQV]

Jose where are YOU?

Sorry for the absence boys.  Been a crazy weekend that wound up with the most exciting Bucs game I have ever attended.  2-4 doesn't feel so bad when one of them involves beating Philly...again.

As for SC-IC, I think JU makes a good point.  Welch and his coaching staff have been facing SC every year for quite a while now.  Someone posted earlier that Vosburgh was over his head Saterday.  Sounds about right.  You can watch it on film but, attacking that animal involves a lot of trial and error.  I am encouraged by the fact that we have had a ton of success against SC, especially when they play at Butterfield.  Sharpe is definitely a stud but, so were Sylvia and Judd.  I will look it up tomorrow but, I am pretty sure we were 2-0 against those two at IC and maybe 3-1 against them overall.

SC certainly is a big challenge but I think we are a better matchup for them than Fisher for any number of reasons.  More to come on that this week.

[truebluefan05]

random note:  what a pointless argument about the IC/Springfield game being played on grass.  I guess it goes beyond the IC/SC game. Sports reporters everywhere make that claim that teams are "faster" on turf and that when a turf team plays on grass it will affect their performance.  the playing surface is the same for both teams, the weather is the same for both teams. please refrain from using this silly argument.

The real advantage for Ithaca this week will be playing at HOME.

point taken, but i'd have to disagree. The triple option definately favors a "fast" surface more than other offenses. The offense is all about angles and precision and there can be no argument against being faster and being able to cut better on turf.

Another argument for this is that springfield traditionally plays better on turf. I also currently am close friends with a coach at springfield and my high school quarterback who is a close friend of mine also played quarterback for springfield, they have definately confirmed this. My high school also ran the triple option and it was definately more effective on faster surfaces like when we played in the carrier dome (although that has to be the worst surface I've ever played football on and the worst track I have ever run on).

Springfield's practice AND game field are both turf.

I think this will be Springfields first game of the season on grass.

It definately makes a differences from play to play as far as cutting, and on the legs as the game comes down to the wire, as a softer surface causes much more fatigue.

Just some thoughts about why we shouldn't disregard this arguement  so easily.


maxpower: i'll be at the Ithaca game this weekend so will definately be interested in tailgating. who else is going ot make it???

GO BOMBERS

[gobombers15]

random note:  what a pointless argument about the IC/Springfield game being played on grass.  I guess it goes beyond the IC/SC game. Sports reporters everywhere make that claim that teams are "faster" on turf and that when a turf team plays on grass it will affect their performance.  the playing surface is the same for both teams, the weather is the same for both teams. please refrain from using this silly argument.

The real advantage for Ithaca this week will be playing at HOME.

Gro, I agree with most of the things you say, but I have to disagree with you here. My high school soccer team was full of burners and every year, without fail, when we played one of our rival high schools, the grass would be higher than it was at any other time during the year. Sure, both teams have to play on it, but the cuts aren't as sharp and it's just generally frustrating for a team built on speed. The game just seems like it's going at 75% of the speed.

I agree that IC's main advantage is that it is playing at Butterfield. But you can't say the field doesn't matter at all. Look at those great Rams offenses of earlier this decade...they looked nowhere near as quick as they did when they were on grass as compared to when they were on the fast tracks.

Again, do I think it's going to be the deciding factor? No, of course not. But I do think it will play into the equation if it means that Sharpe is going to be half a step slower and the defense has that extra half second to recognize where the ball is.

[AUPepBand]

AUPepBand thinks that if anyone can stop the Springfield attack, it would be Ithaca...the Bomber coaching staff has more experience facing that beast since SC has been long-time IC foe.

Would have thought AU could stop 'em...but every time the Saxons had the Pride backed up in third-and-long, Sharpe would drop back to pass, then pick his way through the AU defense to pick up the first down. AU was also missing a couple of starters. Even so, AU, to the Saxon offense's credit, hung with the Pride at Benedum. AU had the only turnover as SC scored on 6-of-10 possessions, AU scored on 5-of-10 possessions.

Still not clear here on the E8 tie-breaker. In event of two-way tie, assuming here the head-to-head winner would get the AQ. Three-way-tie is another animal altogether.