FB: Empire 8

[JQV]

Wick almost won at Butterfield my senior year (the last time they were decent).  One of the classics during my four years.

Bombers were up 19-18 when Hartwick got the ball for their 2-minute drill.  Hartwick drove it far enough to set up what would have been a long field goal for the win but were out of timeouts.  They rushed the FG unit onto the field but never got the play off because their kicker was also their starting left guard.

The fact that a guard doubled as the kicker is funny enough.  But the reason they couldn't get the play off was because he was not just a kicker, he was a barefoot kicker.  After the ball was spotted for the final play, the kick team lines up while fatty the guard is on one knee struggling to untie his shoe.  He got to his sock when the horn sounded.  If only there was YouTube back in 2002.

[AUKaz00]

Here's the schedule:

Sept. 6--URSINUS
Sept. 13--FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
Sept. 20--at St. Lawrence
Sept. 27--at Springfield
Oct. 4--NORWICH (Homecoming)
Oct. 11--at Hartwick
Oct. 18--at Utica
Oct. 25--Open date
Nov. 1--at Rochester
Nov. 8--ITHACA
Nov. 15--ST. JOHN FISHER

I love this schedule!  Less travel, no three game road trip to finish the 2009 season, and not starting the season with a BYE.  But most importantly, the use of the BYE will be big these next two years since those final 3 games look to constitute the meat of AU's schedule.  Kudos, Moretti and Murray!

A better question is, what SUNY school currently in the NJAC wouldn't bolt for the E8?  Shorter travel, more natural rivalries, and, with SJF, IC, and SC, no dip in national respect for the conference.

Seriously, Jose?  Not even a tip of the cap to AU who would more closely embody the first half of that sentence (shorter travel, more natural rivalry) than SC?  Rodney Dangerfield is alive and well in Petticoat Junction.

[JQV]

Seriously, Jose?  Not even a tip of the cap to AU who would more closely embody the first half of that sentence (shorter travel, more natural rivalry) than SC?  Rodney Dangerfield is alive and well in Petticoat Junction.

Sorry man, despite AU's rise, they have been up and down as of late and still haven't cracked the dance since the E8 formed.  As for poster respect, the E8 dominates the NJAC thanks in large part to the Petticoat Junciton contingent.

In all honesty, I thought AU was the biggest disappointment of the season in upstate last year.  I thought the game at Butterfield would have been much more competitive.

This year could be an "up" year for AU given that they have their meat at home, instead of on the road.  We'll see how they replace Keeley.

[AUKaz00]

In all honesty, I thought AU was the biggest disappointment of the season in upstate last year.  I thought the game at Butterfield would have been much more competitive.

While I was definitely disappointed with how the regular season ended for the Saxons, I think that the Alfred-Ithaca contest was competitive.  The game was within 3 points in the fourth quarter and the last touchdown was more a function of having to go for it than anything else (we turned the ball over on downs on our own 29 yd line!).  Fair play to the Bombers D and wideouts for taking advantage of our rusty corner who came back from a week 1 injury (that was a reinjury from week 11 in 2006).  The Fisher and Ithaca games were the exact same script which was ultimately frustrating since a win in either would more than likely have sent Alfred to the tourney. 

This year could be an "up" year for AU given that they have their meat at home, instead of on the road.  We'll see how they replace Keeley.

Alfred, like Fisher, has a lot of holes to fill this year and so I'm looking toward 2009 (the Haze's Senior year) for Alfred to make a run.  While the Saxons will have to finish the year at Butterfield and Growney, at least they will host UofR in week 9 with a bye week in week 8.  Then hopefully 2009 will unfold with as much excitement as 2007, but with a better result for the Saxons!

[fisheralum91]

Kazoo- The buildup for the AU-Fisher game was pretty insane- and the outcome didnt do it justice...No disrespect- but i expected a whole lot more.

[AUKaz00]

Kazoo- The buildup for the AU-Fisher game was pretty insane- and the outcome didnt do it justice...No disrespect- but i expected a whole lot more.

There is no way you were saying that half-way through the 4th quarter when Alfred closed to within 7.  In both the Ithaca and Fisher games, Alfred fell behind by large amounts only to rally and make the game interesting before falling back down and then allowing a late score when they were playing out of desperation which made the final tally look lopsided.  I won't deny that Alfred got their heads handed to them in each of those final three regular season contests, but it's not like the team got behind and then gave up.  In all three of those games Alfred made up most of their deficit and made the games interesting in the second half.  I'm not on here trying to fish for respect; Alfred lost and deserved to in each of those three games, but that's doesn't mean that the games weren't exciting for all who attended and the winning team wasn't still nervous about the result until late in the game.

UPDATE: We've been away from this for so long that I meant to type "exiting" rather than "exciting" in my last sentence.

[JQV]

I honestly do not even remember a single occurence in the Alfred IC game outside of a pick Keeley threw.  If I remember right, I was watching it in Gainesville before heading out to tailgate.  Not sure though.

[not so rowdy bomber]

Where have all the posters gone?

Priceless Pep... From the football war to "peter, paul, and Mary, Pep"

I really hope we only add one football member.  I'd hate to get into a situation like the current NJAC where there is no flexibility to keep the schedule fresh and entertaining.  I have really enjoyed the changes in the Bombers non-conference schedule over the years.  Mansfield was an interesting opponent.  Hobart and Brockport were great games.  Lyco and Kings have been interesting.  Even Huntingdon was a good game the year they came.  Adding too many teams would prevent this.

NSRB loves the Viper's term "interesting" ...

Huntingdon was a laugh.  Utica's JV could have made a game of them, Lycoming... decent, Kings... despite the Bombers not playing very well they still appeared pretty unorganized, and NSRB doesnt remember Mansfield.  But in fairness, Rowdy agrees with Vipe.. too many teams and the Bombers wouldnt get to feast on the travelers from afar...  those guys make the "start up the bus", "drive home safely", "na na naaa na hey hey good bye", and the key jingling cheers so successful.. cause you know they got a looooong ways to go

[Caz Bombers]

Jose - Plant High recruit breaks Gators BCS crystal trophy...any comment there?

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=78371

[fisheralum91]

Commish- I really dont think that there was a collective worry that Fisher was going to lose that game even when AU got close.
This coming year has too many question marks for both teams and i have no feel on what the alma mater can do.. There are just too many vacancies to fill.
Coaching on down.  Skill players as well as big uglies on the line.
Graduation hurt big time-- as it does all schools- but this year especially so with 2 all americans and all e8 players to boot.

[AUPepBand]

Pep is happy he was able to stir the pot a bit....nice to see some posting here! 

[fisheralum91]

stir away!
board was getting a little stale!
glad to see others posting instead of lurking!

[Knightstalker]

Would other E8 posters be willing to post their teams' 2008 schedules?

What SUNY schools currently in the NJAC would bolt for the E8?

With the exit by Norwich, would the E8 take just one SUNY school to maintain its AQ? Should the E8 take more than one?

Some off-season topics that perhaps could generate some discussion.

From Pep's perspective, it would appear Ithaca and Hartwick would be in position to battle for the 2008 E8 title while St. John Fisher, despite coaching changes and a new QB, will likely be in the mix as well. Post-Keeley Saxons are a puzzle dumped on the table awaiting the coaches' putting pieces together but Pep is optimistic as AU season pre-Keeley was a solid 8-3.

Where have all the posters gone?

Where have all the posters gone
Since football season stopped
Where have all the posters gone
After the Stagg
Where have all the posters gone
They've gone out drinking, every one
Oh, when will the off-season end
Oh, when will the off-season end

With my apologies to Pete Seeger.

Lyrics edited at 10:11 am

[Ralph Turner]

Would other E8 posters be willing to post their teams' 2008 schedules?

What SUNY schools currently in the NJAC would bolt for the E8?

With the exit by Norwich, would the E8 take just one SUNY school to maintain its AQ? Should the E8 take more than one?

Some off-season topics that perhaps could generate some discussion.

From Pep's perspective, it would appear Ithaca and Hartwick would be in position to battle for the 2008 E8 title while St. John Fisher, despite coaching changes and a new QB, will likely be in the mix as well. Post-Keeley Saxons are a puzzle dumped on the table awaiting the coaches' putting pieces together but Pep is optimistic as AU season pre-Keeley was a solid 8-3.

Where have all the posters gone?

Where have all the posters gone
Long time passing
Where have all the posters gone
Long time ago
Where have all the posters gone
They've gone out drinking, every one
Oh, when will the season start
Oh, when will the season start

With my apologies to Pete Seeger.

Thanks KS, I did not know the history behind the song, or that Seeger was as old  as he is.

[Knightstalker]

Would other E8 posters be willing to post their teams' 2008 schedules?

What SUNY schools currently in the NJAC would bolt for the E8?

With the exit by Norwich, would the E8 take just one SUNY school to maintain its AQ? Should the E8 take more than one?

Some off-season topics that perhaps could generate some discussion.

From Pep's perspective, it would appear Ithaca and Hartwick would be in position to battle for the 2008 E8 title while St. John Fisher, despite coaching changes and a new QB, will likely be in the mix as well. Post-Keeley Saxons are a puzzle dumped on the table awaiting the coaches' putting pieces together but Pep is optimistic as AU season pre-Keeley was a solid 8-3.

Where have all the posters gone?

Where have all the posters gone
Long time passing
Where have all the posters gone
Long time ago
Where have all the posters gone
They've gone out drinking, every one
Oh, when will the season start
Oh, when will the season start

With my apologies to Pete Seeger.

Thanks KS, I did not know the history behind the song, or that Seeger was as old  as he is.

Pete Seeger wrote it in the 50's I believe, right around the time he was black listed for being a commie.  It was recorded by the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez and many others.  It really is a beautiful song with a strong message.  But that is true for most Pete Seeger songs, he wrote from his heart and his conscience (sp).