FB: Empire 8

[tecmobowler]

Marquis starts the game off with a ten pitch walk..and then a more efficient four pitch walk.

Hope you're prepared for the emotional roller coaster which is the Cubs, Q.

[AUPepBand]

How come nobody is talking about the Kickoff Preview??
Or about the upcoming season??  I wanna talk football!!

1) Fisher predicted record of 10-0 (6-0)....That will be tough to do in the E8!will James Reile be able to carry the load like he did in '05??  I hope so.

2) Springfield, from what I've read, might have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball after losing a majority of their starters.

3) AU will be very competitive again this season, we all know that.  I think they make the NCAA tournament this season finally.  They deserve it.  Quality program.

4) IC looks solid as always.  Will Juvan improve this season?  Will their offensive line be able to open holes for the so called 3 headed monster?

Inasmuch as Pep would like to see #3 come to fruition, the chance of that is slim at best if Fisher goes 10-0. Reason is that in 2007, there's still another AQ (PAC), thus further reducing the number of Pool C bids.

Pep believes the Saxons here in Mayberry are well aware that they can't rely on the goodwill of the NCAA Selection Committee.

The d3football.com specialists rate AU #30 in the land, but astutely predict the Saxons will once again miss the NCAAs. The NCAA Championships invite 32 teams, but not necessarily the best 32 teams in the land. It's too bad for "quality programs" like AU. But that's the way the cookie crumbles. Saxons will need to turn it up a notch or two in their own conference if they want to go to the party.

[lineback]

Can you hear the "LET'S-go-CUB-bies" cheering in the background, or is that just my imagination?

Jose, you were much easier to convert than former Yankees fan, Mrs. Tecmo.

[Pat Coleman]

2) Springfield, from what I've read, might have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball after losing a majority of their starters.

Sometimes this can be a benefit. They're losing a bunch of players off an underperforming unit. How much worse can they be?

[tecmobowler]

Mrs. Tecmo has given the green light to dressing up future little tecmo's in Cubs apparel.  She thinks that's cute.

Lincecum looks unhittable tonight.

[tecmobowler]

Agreed, Springfield's defense has stunk for as long as I can remember.  Maybe a little change will be a plus.

[superman57]

I must say that the E8 in my mind has to be one of the top confences in the country with 4 teams in the top 30....I would say that they are even better than the 5 they were given

[lineback]

Mrs. Tecmo has given the green light to dressing up future little tecmo's in Cubs apparel.  She thinks that's cute.

Lincecum looks unhittable tonight.

aww, cute.  The other day I saw a litle girl in a Cubs cheerleader outfit.  riding on the shoulder of her dad in a cubs jersey while the mom walked a dog with a cubs collar.

[lineback]

I love watching Barry's face after he gets struck out looking.

[lineback]

The announcers are blaming the Cubs lack of offense on the lack of batting practice. 

[tecmobowler]

A little ninth inning magic!

Looked like a great win for the Mets tonight 'hats!

[K-Mack]

Mrs. Tecmo has given the green light to dressing up future little tecmo's in Cubs apparel.  She thinks that's cute.

aww, cute.  The other day I saw a litle girl in a Cubs cheerleader outfit.  riding on the shoulder of her dad in a cubs jersey while the mom walked a dog with a cubs collar.

My babies wear Eagles gear. I don't remember asking what the wife thought about this, I just know that it goes on a lot more often when I dress them than when she does.

[K-Mack]

3) AU will be very competitive again this season, we all know that.  I think they make the NCAA tournament this season finally.  They deserve it.  Quality program.

Inasmuch as Pep would like to see #3 come to fruition, the chance of that is slim at best if Fisher goes 10-0. Reason is that in 2007, there's still another AQ (PAC), thus further reducing the number of Pool C bids.

Pep believes the Saxons here in Mayberry are well aware that they can't rely on the goodwill of the NCAA Selection Committee.

The d3football.com specialists rate AU #30 in the land, but astutely predict the Saxons will once again miss the NCAAs. The NCAA Championships invite 32 teams, but not necessarily the best 32 teams in the land. It's too bad for "quality programs" like AU. But that's the way the cookie crumbles. Saxons will need to turn it up a notch or two in their own conference if they want to go to the party.

If I'm not mistaken, that's one fewer Pool B bid this year and the same number of Pool Cs. Pat or Ralph can correct me or I can look into it for you, but the PAC was always a Pool B conference, so it would make sense that when they converted to a Pool A, that's where they eliminate the bid from.

Also, I guess it's next year that the Northwest gets it's AQ, further dwindling Pool B.

When the SLIAC gets an AQ, that will be a case of a league actually stealing a bid, since none of those teams ever get one now.

re: Alfred and the playoffs, just hard to see them leapfrogging two of the three big E8 schools to get in, but stranger things have happened.

[K-Mack]

I sit next to a Cornell grad, and when he saw Ithaca not mentioned in my D3 preview for USA Today (out Friday I think, I've been done for like a week though, so I've lost track), he asked me:

"How come Ithaca isn't good anymore?"

I told him the Bombers were just outside the top 25, still a perennial playoff contender, just a victim of being in a league where there are two teams with really high expectations eating up all their press.

(not an exact quote, but basically that's the deal)

[fan of d3]

the sc defense definitley looks different this year.  They have switched some players around on D to positions that suit them better.  Also have a couple guys who were young and really shone but didnt get enough playing time.  Jeff Creeden will be moved to inside linebacker and everyin in springfield expects huge things out of him