FB: Empire 8

[kubiack78]

As I am trying to expand my DIII horizons away from the comfort of the midwest... Is the E8 made up of only upstate NY teams?  Just curious.

and basicly too lazy to do the research

[fisheralum91]

no- norwich--VT and springfield MA are in the e8 in football

[kubiack78]

thanks 91  +k

[fisheralum91]

it gets weirder in bball too..but that is for a diff board.

there is also talk of the e8 losing norwich and trying to find a team to replace them.

anyway you slice it- it will be a tough roadtrip for upstate ny teams whoever is chosen.

[superman57]

The Original E8 was only really upstate teams including
RIT
Nazareth
Ithaca
Elmira
Utica
Hartwick
Alfred
Fisher

they have since added Stevens Insitute

[jaypeter]

It's too bad RIT isn't elegible for the post-season.  How many years have they been undefeated in football, now?

[dewcrew88]

The Original E8 was only really upstate teams including
RIT
Nazareth
Ithaca
Elmira
Utica
Hartwick
Alfred
Fisher

they have since added Stevens Insitute

That's for basketball, just to make the distinction.

[fisheralum91]

jp- i sense sarcasm again correct?

i am still curious on who will take the Norwich spot when they leave.

[Pat Coleman]

The Original E8 was only really upstate teams including
RIT
Nazareth
Ithaca
Elmira
Utica
Hartwick
Alfred
Fisher

they have since added Stevens Insitute

That's for basketball, just to make the distinction.

Actually, it's for the wide range of sports. Stevens just doesn't have football. (As do some of the others.)

[AUPepBand]

As I am trying to expand my DIII horizons away from the comfort of the midwest... Is the E8 made up of only upstate NY teams?  Just curious.

and basicly too lazy to do the research

Hey Kubiack....congrats on the Warhawk Win!

Empire 8 and Liberty League, both primarily Upstate NY conferences, both have "imported" some out-of-state teams to help get the AQs. At one time back in the 60s and 70s, Pep recalls, the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC) was predecessor to both the E8 and LL. Alfred, St. Lawrence, Hobart, Union, RPI, Ithaca, Clarkson (no football) and RIT (football for a few years with Tom Coughlin as coach) were the mainstays.

Pep theorizes that a few of the schools didn't take too kindly to Ithaca's size (and quality program) and pulled out to form its own Upstate conference. Alfred for some reason was left out of the mutiny perhaps because of its remote location and no one enjoyed playing the Saxons at what was then called "The Pit" of Merrill Field where rowdy students lined the length of one side of the field and AU fans filled the grandstand with both team benches in front. At any rate, what has evolved in New York are two pretty solid conferences (some teams added for football only) in the E8 and LL. Plus, there's the SUNYAC but they don't have enough SUNY schools with football teams to warrant league competition, so the SUNYs have bolted to Jersey.

[fisheralum91]

good history lesson pep----

hard to believe that rit once had a football program 

[AUPepBand]

Yeah, albeit an unsuccessful one under the watchcare of a now NFL coach! It was at an AU scrimmage at RIT (no bleachers) that Pep's late mother, sitting on the grass back aways from the sideline, was run over by BY's pops, who had hauled in a long pass and got shoved out of bounds. After hearing who had hit her while recuperating at Strong that afternoon, she quipped, "I couldn't have been hit by a nicer guy!" She knew most of the players from her work as a secretary at AU.

[AUPepBand]

good history lesson pep----

hard to believe that rit once had a football program 

Pep, a few years back, while attending an AU-RIT basketball game in Rochester, spoke briefly with an RIT soccer player. The soccer player said RIT would NEVER field a football game again. Tis a shame, the Tigers, already an E8 member, could be a nice addition to the E8 Football Family. Same goes for Elmira. And Naz.....can you imagine that?

[AUPepBand]

When are the 08 commisioner campaigns starting?

When is the voting happening?

Can we reinstate a former commish?

Should we create a E8 dictionary for those future posters from the outside realms of the LL, Ohios, and possibly even the Cali's?

Does this mean Pep's resignation has officially been accepted? Pep's only boast as "reluctant chairman" is the E8 boards' gaining some 275 pages on the still-East Region leading LLPP.

[fisheralum91]

pep- with a school the size of rit- i find it hard to believe that they would never have another football program.

Naz on the otherhand--never had one to start with-
and they are focused on lax and bball.

imagine that crosstown rivalry if naz fielded a football team---ouch