FB: Empire 8

[Tags]

James Reile is not Mark Robinson.... Maybe he's better!!!....oh wait, no...

OK I will stop.  I've gotten it out for the year. 

Ha, WB will be asking for your whereabouts if you don't.

[Tags]

Like I've said a number of times, nothing good comes from fans sitting on the same side. 

What do you mean by that? I think the majority of fans sat on the visitors side, save the FDC of course - in which I was asked if I'd like to fight, so I suppose you're right about that if it were more than just the FDC.

[tecmobowler]

The stands on the visitor side there are brutal because it's really tough to see anything over the players.  The reason alone is why a lot of Ithaca folk end up on the home side.  From there it gets ugly.... Ithaca has a great first half, IC fans make ton of noise, Fisher comes back, players taunt IC fans, IC fans taunt players, dumb IC fan offers Tags a fight, dumb mothers shake their cowbells towards IC fans in a false sense of entitlement... it's just not good. 

[tecmobowler]

And if it was someone in a yellow shirt who actually threatened you unprovoked I really apologize for that.  We had a couple of goofy freshman last year, but those of us who have been around try really, really hard to keep folks respectful and above that kind of crap.

[pg04]

Like I've said a number of times, nothing good comes from fans sitting on the same side. 

What do you mean by that? I think the majority of fans sat on the visitors side, save the FDC of course - in which I was asked if I'd like to fight, so I suppose you're right about that if it were more than just the FDC.

There is absolutely no defending the visitor's facilities in that stadium.  I agree that sitting on the same side is bad. 

[Tags]

And if it was someone in a yellow shirt who actually threatened you unprovoked I really apologize for that.  We had a couple of goofy freshman last year, but those of us who have been around try really, really hard to keep folks respectful and above that kind of crap.

After Robinson's second long TD run I gave some ish back to them over comments they were continually making during the first half about him - I was a little testy b/c his folks were right next to them all game listening to it (but hey it's football and all is fair as long as it's relatively clean).

It was some goof w/ a shaved head & beard if I remember correctly? Could be way off, don't really recall. It's all good, no harm, no foul Tecmo. I understand that it's usually in good fun & it's always good to bring that kind of energy to an away game.

RE: Visitors Seats

Agreed, it's pretty horrible. They do need to upgrade so they keep home fans seperate, especially as these rivalries continue to develop & heat up.

[DanPadavona]

Thoughts on Fisher (having only admittedly seen them a few times over the past couple years).

Who doesn't want to share a locker room with the London Fletcher's of the world?  It's pretty awesome for a 17-18 year old to picture, I'd imagine.  It doesn't hurt Ithaca's recruiting too bad, as much of the talent has been coming from Jersey, Conn., and PA these days, but dang, it can't be good at all for Brockport or Buff State. 

Remember Travis Henry used to share that locker room.  DP thinks maybe some of Henry's kids that he doesn't know about are suiting up for Fisher by now.

[FisherAlum05]

The stands on the visitor side there are brutal because it's really tough to see anything over the players.  The reason alone is why a lot of Ithaca folk end up on the home side.  From there it gets ugly.... Ithaca has a great first half, IC fans make ton of noise, Fisher comes back, players taunt IC fans, IC fans taunt players, dumb IC fan offers Tags a fight, dumb mothers shake their cowbells towards IC fans in a false sense of entitlement... it's just not good. 

Tecmo you are definately right about the visitors stands.  They need to build a visitors side bleacher system as soon as possible.  Like someone else said, only bad things can happen with opposing fann on the same side of the stadium.  Then again, it might take some type of serious incident like a fight for them to do it.  I hope not but it seems like every year we hear they are going to build and they never ever do. 

[FisherAlum05]

I think he had a down year last year, if he returns to the form of 2 years ago Fisher's running game will be fine.

Let me go on record right now on 8/27 & say that Hanson has a more productive year than Reile coming out of the backfield. I think Hanson will surprise a lot of folks and has been overlooked in the last few years for obvious reasons.

Also, while I think the running game will be just fine, the key is the passing game for this year's offense IMHO. Kramer had most of last year to work with his guys, and the entire offseason to work with them - Jackson, Smith, and Harmon will be a great trio to watch this year I think.

I wouldnt say James Reile had a "down year" last year.  He just wasn't the feature back.  He split out and played some WR (had a huge catch against Mount Union near the goal line) and also had another good year as a kick returner. 

I agree the Fisher running game will be fine.  Someone said Robinson fell forward for an extra 3 yards every run.  Exactly right.  James does not have this ability.  But he is a speedy back and when he gets in the open field he is gone. 

[FisherAlum05]

Ha, sorry Portgrad... rough timing.

Backed up with some football talk:

Three keys to the Bombers season-

1.)  Can the team adjust to new offensive and defensive coordinators?  Both were brought in seemingly late in the summer.  No longer having a bye Week 1 sure makes that opener come up soon.  Coach A leaving the offense was a blow two years back, and the defense just made the transition to the 3-4, only to have its two coordinators leave.  Can the learning curve be quick enough?

2.)  Lots of youth on the defensive side, but very talented youth.  Can names like Cheir, Scalice, and Goetz make the Bombers the feared defense they once were in the late ninties?  There's not a ton of depth on the defense, so folks must stay healthy.  The road to the playoffs goes through Springfield and Fisher.  We have seemed to figure out the triple option, but Fisher will be the test.   Lots of folks seem to forget that arguably the two best defensive players for the Bombers last year were inactive, and standing next to me in the (lame) Fisher tailgaiting section before the game.  Maybe the defense doesn't overpersue, and then collapse with Blumenauer and Stephens in the game.  Can the defense still be at full strength come Week 4?

3.)  Dan Juvan.  Like I mentioned last night, the Bomber have been blessed with maturity and good decisions at the QB position for the past ten years.  Can DJ relax in the pocket and turn the corner into a complete quarterback?  If not,  he may have Grastorf knocking at his door, and no one wants a QB controversey going into the E8 portion of the schedule.

Tecmo,

If I was a betting man (which I am) I would say the Bombers defense will be just fine.  They are returning some very good players from last year plus some guys they were missing last season.  I would say their defense will be one of the better in the conference for sure.

Offensively is their question mark.  I think if Juvan has a great season so will the IC offense obviously.  The more efficient he is the better the ground game will be.  And everybody knows IC has a GREAT stable of horses in the backfield. 

Do You have any insight on the IC special teams?  I think this will be the difference between the top E8 teams.  In close ball games it is such a weapon to have a great place kicker and punter as well as solid returners.  I know last year IC had a really good return man...Gordon right?  If he is gone who will replace him?

[lineback]

It was some goof w/ a shaved head & beard if I remember correctly? Could be way off, don't really recall.

Sounds like you almost got in a fight with Leonardo Da Vinci

[DanPadavona]

It was some goof w/ a shaved head & beard if I remember correctly? Could be way off, don't really recall.

Sounds like you almost got in a fight with Leonardo Da Vinci

Or Isaac Hayes?

[AUPepBand]

The more I read about Alfred University the more I think they might be a SERIOUS contender for the E8 crown.  Not that they have'nt been in past years.  But this year seems like it could be there year to do it.  Although they play a super tough schedule.  They have great players coming back at all the key positions.  Keeley at QB, Hendrix at RB, Manzer at WR, Miller on the DL is a beast and should control the interior line of scrimmage.  Pep you should be very excited for this season I think.

Shhhhhhhhh!  We're sleeping here.....

[maninyellowhat]

It was some goof w/ a shaved head & beard if I remember correctly? Could be way off, don't really recall.


Or Isaac Hayes?

Welcome back DP.  Nice Shaft reference.  Are you back for good now?

[theicdubbz]

so quick question to those bomber faithful that were real faithful in the mid 90's... is Fisher the new Hobart.  What I meen is in the 90's i seem to recall Hobart being a pretty good rivalry.  The coaches hated each other.  The players were all recruited to both schools and then hated each other for not choosing their school.  That was pretty cool.  I remember watching the last of the Hobart series at Bomberland and it was scary to watch on the field.   It reminded me of a Cortland game without 8700 drunk students on the sidelines. 

FDC mission for the year;  create Fish vs Bombs into greatest E8 rivalry.
(gonna be tough to beat Alfred and Fish)