FB: Empire 8

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Excellent Greek Food down at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.  My new home in New Port Richey is about 20 minutes away.  Also great fish-house called "Ballyhoo's".

Not as good as a particular pizza place in Chicago...right kirasdad?

P.S. Just randomly checked the front page to kill some time and noticed 'Port to the NJAC.  Not sure how long that story is up there but that is pretty big news I think.  PG04, you out there?  JT?  Knightstalker?  Other NJACers with thoughts?

Huh?  I haven't been to IL since 2001 or so. 

[JQV]

Just randomly checked the front page to kill some time and noticed 'Port to the NJAC.  Not sure how long that story is up there but that is pretty big news I think. 

Couple hours.

Please remember that PC next time I get into trouble for not going to the homepage often enough.

Your thoughts on the moves?

[JQV]

Excellent Greek Food down at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.  My new home in New Port Richey is about 20 minutes away.  Also great fish-house called "Ballyhoo's".

Not as good as a particular pizza place in Chicago...right kirasdad?

P.S. Just randomly checked the front page to kill some time and noticed 'Port to the NJAC.  Not sure how long that story is up there but that is pretty big news I think.  PG04, you out there?  JT?  Knightstalker?  Other NJACers with thoughts?

Huh?  I haven't been to OH since 2001 or so. 

sorry KD.  I may have you confused with another Mount fan that I ran into at the Uno's Pizzeria on the day of the Stagg Bowl.

[Pat Coleman]

I think it's a win-win -- both groups have trouble filling out schedules. It makes the NJAC stronger. Makes it harder for Brockport to make the playoffs, though.

[Sir Spiedie]

Holy Crapoli, Batman, that's a pretty big conference. And one long bus ride to Buffalo State! That's got to be brutal!

[AUPepBand]

P.S. Tarpon Springs is home to one of the world's largest sponge fisheries and, an odd concentration of Greeks.  Awesome food over there.

What is it with the Greeks and FOOD? When Pep was but a lad, Alfred had two restaurants downtown. The first was The Collegiate, still owned today by the same Greek family....Ninos; then down the street was the "Alfred Lunch" which is now Alex's, owned at one time by another Greek, Alex Spyralatos, who retired to Myrtle Beach and passed away in the past few years.

And, of course, Ithaca has the Manos Diner.

Ninos, Spyralatos, Manos.....they're all Greek to me. 

[sjfcards]

I think it's a win-win -- both groups have trouble filling out schedules. It makes the NJAC stronger. Makes it harder for Brockport to make the playoffs, though.

I think Brockport and Mo-Ville joining the NJAC is a real good deal for everybody involved. Brockport gets a tough schedule but a better travel schedule. NJAC gets another quality program if Brockport can build itself back into a east region power.
For Mo-ville they can get some top notch competition as a benchmark for how well the team is progressing in their young stages...

May be interesting to see what happens to them next year tho. I watched the game against Cortland last year and it was not pretty. Playing Rowan on the road this year or next, or some of the other NJAC powers may be some tough growing pains for Mo-vill, but it will probably pay of in the long run.

['gro]

With the NY teams spread out there could be more teams in the playoffs. Would be nice if the LL, E8, and NJAC were all won by NY teams and then 2 other teams got C bids.

[fisheralum91]

I am a little suprised yet enthused that Moville will be in a solid conference now.
They have nowhere to go but up and with the state of upstate ny football on the rise, all i can say is that any program willing to take some lumps before getting a solid program together is a good thing.

[JQV]

With the NY teams spread out there could be more teams in the playoffs. Would be nice if the LL, E8, and NJAC were all won by NY teams and then 2 other teams got C bids.

That would be awesome but, if Cortland couldn't win the league this past year, I think we are probably a few years off before a NY team steps up and wins the NJAC.

This makes that yearly Brockport-Cortland date more interesting though.

'Port must be thrilled to save on the travel budget too.  But, I wonder if this means the days of 'Port-IC are done.

[realistic]

P.S. Tarpon Springs is home to one of the world's largest sponge fisheries and, an odd concentration of Greeks.  Awesome food over there.

What is it with the Greeks and FOOD? When Pep was but a lad, Alfred had two restaurants downtown. The first was The Collegiate, still owned today by the same Greek family....Ninos; then down the street was the "Alfred Lunch" which is now Alex's, owned at one time by another Greek, Alex Spyralatos, who retired to Myrtle Beach and passed away in the past few years.

And, of course, Ithaca has the Manos Diner.

Ninos, Spyralatos, Manos.....they're all Greek to me. 

mmmmmmmm.....I live in Astoria, NY - Huge concentration of Greek immigrants.  Phenomenal food.  Tiny diner a half a block from my apt is on speed dial in the cell.  Good stuff.

I think it's a win-win -- both groups have trouble filling out schedules. It makes the NJAC stronger. Makes it harder for Brockport to make the playoffs, though.

I think Brockport and Mo-Ville joining the NJAC is a real good deal for everybody involved. Brockport gets a tough schedule but a better travel schedule. NJAC gets another quality program if Brockport can build itself back into a east region power.
For Mo-ville they can get some top notch competition as a benchmark for how well the team is progressing in their young stages...

May be interesting to see what happens to them next year tho. I watched the game against Cortland last year and it was not pretty. Playing Rowan on the road this year or next, or some of the other NJAC powers may be some tough growing pains for Mo-vill, but it will probably pay of in the long run.

Agreed - its good for Brockport for the stated reasons but huge for Morrisville.  I could immediately legitimize thier program.  I don't see them being a power anytime soon, but I think being a member of the E8 speeded up Utica's improvement from what it could have been and would assume Morrisville could see the same thing.  In a similar regard, playing in a league with the "big boys" could really help 'port with recruiting.

'Port must be thrilled to save on the travel budget too.  But, I wonder if this means the days of 'Port-IC are done.

Jose - that was my first thought too.  I would hate to lost 'port of the schedule, but don't see how it would be possible to keep them (assuming the Cortaca game stays intact at the end of the year).  Seeing how good the IC-'port matchups were when we were up there keep them in a special place in my heart (along with Bobby D)

--- This is big news....where's PG04???

[fisheralum91]

does this also mean that the Fisher Port games will be done?

[realistic]

does this also mean that the Fisher Port games will be done?

You gotta assume so.  I think IC has the best chance of staying on the schedule (longer rival, etc) but it is all dependent on the league scheduling.  If IC and 'port want to play eaach other but open dates don't allign, then its a non-starter.  Though down the road, maybe it could be a rotating situation.  Play IC on year, then SJF, etc.

[JQV]

It seems as if at least one, if not both, are definitely done.  With just one out-of-conference game per season, 'Port can't keep both IC and Fisher.  Also means Cortland is basically done making a schedule every fall as their out-of-conference game is spoken for...

The effect on IC's schedule is potentially huge.  This means that in the last five years, three staples of the schedule will have been removed due to conference affiliation (Hobart, St. Lawrence, and Brockport).  You also have to figure that Buff State game may be in jeopardy of falling off the schedule as well.  IC has already replaced those games with some interesting OOC matchups in previous seasons adding Wilkes once, Lyco once (now twice), and Huntington.  This may mean some more IC-PAC matchups.  Perhaps IC will make some further trips trying to get games.  It is almost like being an Indy again.

[JT]

With the NY teams spread out there could be more teams in the playoffs. Would be nice if the LL, E8, and NJAC were all won by NY teams and then 2 other teams got C bids.

That would be awesome but, if Cortland couldn't win the league this past year, I think we are probably a few years off before a NY team steps up and wins the NJAC.

This makes that yearly Brockport-Cortland date more interesting though.

'Port must be thrilled to save on the travel budget too.  But, I wonder if this means the days of 'Port-IC are done.

At this point and NJAC favorite is pretty much up in the air between Cortland, Rowan, and Montclair IMHO.  West Conn and Kean could be darkhorses.  With Orihel's graduation, QB is certainly a question mark for Rowan.