FB: Empire 8

[pg04]

Note: The NCAA selection committee HOPES tags is wrong (and sends a couple of hitmen out to his house), and Alfred beats one of the two...

I hope I'm wrong. I'd love for all three to get in, they all deserve it at this point.

I honestly don't think Alfred will beat either team right now. Maybe if Ithaca or Fisher's entire season weren't on the line but it is. Both teams know that one loss will put them on the outside looking in... just don't see it.

I don't think you read me correctly...I meant that the NCAA Selection committee hopes that you are wrong because they WANT to see Ithaca or Fisher lose, so they don't have to decide between the 3 E8 teams.  

[AUPepBand]

I'd love to see it folks, but I have a hard time believing that the committee will really select 3 teams from the E8.

They missed the boat last year when they only took the E8 AQ....but the East Region was loaded up with NY teams (Hobart, Cortland, Union, Ithaca). Should Springfield get the E8 AQ (and being in Massachusetts), AUPepBand thinks it would open it up for a one-loss Fisher or Ithaca, but both? Should Union stumble at Hobart or in Shoes game, the LL will likely get only the AQ this year....then you've got Cortland perhaps winning the NJAC as an AQ. Heck, why not two Pool C teams from the E8?

There's just one thing standing between the Cardinals and a 9-1 record.
There are two things standing between the Bombers and a 9-1 record.
Am exited to see how it all plays out the next two Saterdays!!

[Frank Rossi]

Note: The NCAA selection committee HOPES tags is wrong (and sends a couple of hitmen out to his house), and Alfred beats one of the two...

I hope I'm wrong. I'd love for all three to get in, they all deserve it at this point.

I honestly don't think Alfred will beat either team right now. Maybe if Ithaca or Fisher's entire season weren't on the line but it is. Both teams know that one loss will put them on the outside looking in... just don't see it.

I think you read me correctly...I meant that the NCAA Selection committee hopes that you are wrong because they WANT to see Ithaca or Fisher lose, so they don't have to decide between the 3 E8 teams.  

After the Regional Poll comes out tomorrow, I'll update my conference-by-conference review.  Doing most of the footwork already, though, it's actually becoming more likely that the E8 will get 3, should the standings show 3 1-loss teams.  It's up to the teams to hold on to those spots.

[John McGraw]

i'm sorry are you saying that Fisher's defense is as bad as Springfield's?  Outside of Springfield in which Fisher was missing 4 defensive starters (that means about 37% of the starting defense for all of you non math majors) and Brockport which just came back at the very end to make the score what it was, you should really look at how many points Fisher opponents post throughout their entire season and what they put up when they play Fisher.

"Heck they gave up 55 to SC", but heck they've only given up 56 points the other 8 games combined.     

These are issues you have to deal with during the playoffs too. Everyone's had players hurt. Ithaca fans didn't make a big issue out of not having Tom Bluemhauer or one of the previously injured secondary players on the field when Fisher ripped them for 34 unanswered second half points. Last year, Ithaca spent most of the season with a make-shift defense because of injuries and still made the playoffs before a loss at Union.

Bottom line, the team on the field still has to get it done, injuries or not. That day, Springfield was the better team. Fisher couldn't stop Sharpe nor the Springfield offense and ended up allowing 55 points and only stopped SC once the entire day. Springfield's defense that day was better. The Pride stepped up and made big plays when they had to, forcing several fumbles late and coming up with key stops.

What happens in a hypothedical world if Fisher plays Augustana in the playoffs? Obviously this wouldn't happen but I'm just using a team that uses a similar type of offense. You can't ask Auggie not to run the option because it's a "gimmick offense." Ithaca ran a type of option attack during the national championship years. Are you going to say that this type of offense can't win big games?

John-

The insinuation that Fisher's Defense isn't as good a defense as advertised is ridiculous. Everyone runs into a situation where they simply have an off day, and run into an offense that's hitting on all cylinders - That was clearly the case when Springfield came to town.

You can't use the Springfield game as a base to judge this defense. Against traditional offenses Fisher is very solid. I think that game came down to coaching. Vosburgh & Co. didn't prepare well enough for the Springfield offense and they got burned badly. Ithaca had a much better gameplan & executed perfectly. ... In my opinion it comes down to coaching & I think Fisher lacks in that area. Talent only takes you so far, you have to have the proper gameplan laid out from the top down.

I didn't say St. John Fisher's defense wasn't good. I said that they were not good against Springfield. Big difference. No one can argue that Fisher played good defense that day. Springfield had over 500 yards of total offense and one player scored seven touchdowns.
Against everyone else, Fisher's defense has been superb; the exception I think being the first half of the Ithaca game.

You say, against traditional offenses, their defense is good. While I agree with this statement, playoff time is a time when coaches become tricky and run different types of schemes to outwit their counterparts. Case in point, last year's Hobart-Cortland playoff game. Cortland's defense that day played well and deserved to win the football game. However, Hobart ran several "gimmick plays" and the Statesmen were able to convert those into points and eventually Hobart won the football game. You have to be ready for anything.

I don't think this is a coaching thing as opposed to more of an execution thing. Coaches all day can preach about running a certain scheme about how to stop an offense. But, if the players don't execute in that scheme, the scheme isn't going to work.

[Tags]

Tags,

I hear you but the same scenario presented itself last year and it was a must win situation for Fisher, Alfred managed to win.  So I wouldn't go that far just yet, but I like your spirit! lol

Last year isn't a good comparison I don't think. Robinson was just coming off an injury & they overlooked AU. This year you've got seniors like Robinson & Lang leading both sides ... and they won't let their year come to an end without a playoff run I don't think.

Of course, Robinson will only get 12 carries so maybe that's not a valid argument...

[AUPepBand]

I hate to make this post, but I honestly don't see Alfred winning either the Ithaca or the Fisher game... I think both of those teams will be bringing their A-games.

No offense AU pep.

No offense taken, tags. Do they have any other games they might want to bring to Merrill Field? Maybe C-games? Perhaps even F-games?

[tecmobowler]

Opinions, but mostly facts:

-  Fisher's defense is much, much better than Springfield's

-Ithaca did indeed have major injuries in the Fisher game (Stephens and Blumenauer).  No way we make excuses for that though.  First half showed we could easily win that game.  Second half was embarassing.

- Frank Rossi is wrong if he asserted Fisher would win a three way tie in the E8.  They would get the A only if King's and Rochester win out.  Not happening.

-King's is pedestrian.  The MAC is down this year with DVU and Widener having major flaws.  They will end the year without beating any sort of decent team.

- All three E8 powerhouses will get in if they win out.  The teams are 8-0 in OOC games, including multiple convincing wins over Brockport, Union, albeit pedestrian King's, Huntingdon, and potentially Cortland.  Not too shabby.

[Tags]

I hate to make this post, but I honestly don't see Alfred winning either the Ithaca or the Fisher game... I think both of those teams will be bringing their A-games.

No offense AU pep.

No offense taken, tags. Do they have any other games they might want to bring to Merrill Field? Maybe C-games? Perhaps even F-games?

I think you used up fisher's C game last year AU!

[pg04]

And Fisher's F-game was vs. Springfield....

[AUPepBand]

Perhaps Fisher's D-game is due....no time like 11/11/07 to unveil it.

[AUPepBand]

I think you used up fisher's C game last year AU!

+K for that.....AU definitely had the A-game and executed it to a T.

[Tags]

John-

I agree that execution is a big part of things - Fisher obviously didn't execute. I disagree with the coaching part though, I think coaching has a lot to do with how the guys execute.

I didn't ever say "gimmick" offense, I'm not sure where that's coming from. Most offenses are traditional and run a trick play or two... Springfield runs a triple option and never runs any traditional plays - big difference.

[pg04]

Ithaca had no problems stopping the triple option....

Goodness I shouldn't have said that! 

[Tags]

I think you used up fisher's C game last year AU!

+K for that.....AU definitely had the A-game and executed it to a T.

Thanks AU - somewhere along the line I've managed to get into the negative karma!!!

[Tags]

Ithaca had no problems stopping the triple option....

Goodness I shouldn't have said that! 

The definitely didn't, their defense played a great game - that just supports my coaching comment. I believe Ithaca was much better prepared, and that can be attributed to their coaching staff.