FB: Empire 8

[realistic]

1) As a Mets fan, I'll take anything that involves them in the playoffs this year. I think they're much better than last year at this time, but the media is already starting the "Mets fading" headlines after simply losing 3 of 4. I hope they don't start buying into it, themselves. I think they'll be OK.

I hope you're right 15.  I don't like how it's going.  A half game and losing to BAD teams.  Even when they win they are giving up way too many runs....like the 13-10 win against the Nats last week.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I can enjoy Septembers much more now that I'm only 2 hours from Ithaca

Not in Max's hometown of Rochester by any chance?

Since Rochester is your hometown you can admit that deep down you enjoy Fisher's football team.  When Fisher beats Ithaca you even crack a smile don't you.....It's ok you can admit it, nobody will judge you. 

[AUKaz00]

Rowdy wants to know who has the parking pass for Z-lot and who will be bringing what to the game.  FDC needs to get their asses organized... we're already 2 games in!!!

someone i.e.  MIYH needs to make Rowdy an Admin on the FDC Facebook group so that he can contact everyone  (yes, NRSB is gettin' salty).

good "w" Bombers.  FDC is expecting to see the game stepped up alot more.  Confidence is key... we'll be there Saterday to back ya up. btw, any really tall WR's this year?  Rowdy wants to bring back the "Throw it to _____, he's tall!" wicked bad.

So ready for some toe-touches, some herkies, and booga boogas, throw in a couple safety dances, and a "PLETHORA!" of "WHERRRRRE's hEEEEEEE gOooooooinnnnnnns?!!"

EHHHHHHHHH Bombers!

Rowdy, can't say it's been easy getting troops rounded up considering iceman isn't in Ithaca anymore.  And the weak showing two weeks ago didn't help.  We had a few newbies ask for shirts which is good.  ice is expecting a PLETHORA of new recruits this Saterday.

As for the cheers...don't know if the "throw it cause he's tall" is gonna work this year....no one with bostics size out there.  ice had to take over for the "WHERE'S HE GOING"s...no issues there.


We seeing you at Butterfield this weekend?

Well, while they may not be showing up at the Butter Field, the FDC is everywhere as evidenced by this photo that I shot over Labor Day weekend in Poughkeepsie:

[Spark57]

Hartwick's offense is legit, but they may eventually want to work on putting a defense together...even accounting for the idiotic college football overtime rules that screw up scoring, they still allowed 27 or more points nine times last season. Allowing 34 points a game is not something elite teams do. They've been giving up 30+ points a game for years now, and they'll start being legit the day they stop.

Here are their totals

2007: 34.9
2006: 31.4
2005: 38.8
2004: 32.1
2003: 30.1

The first game this seaosn? 37 more

The 2007 team won five conference games last season by a total of 16 points. Wins are wins are wins I suppose, but if you're banking on winning EVERY close game and your offense HAS to put up 35 points every game, you're not going to be succesful for long.

Look at last year's playoff game. Up 7-0, Curry's defense starts getting turnovers. They intercept a pass in the endzone and score on the ensuing to go up 14-0. Then, after a fumble, Hartwick's defense is unable to stop a 1st and 22, making it 21-0. Then it's another pick, and a TD on the next play for a 28-0 lead. Hartwick drives into the redzone and Curry's defense forces four straight incompletions. Later, another 1st and 10 in the redzone, three incompletions and a 1 yard rush marks another turnover on downs. Then, after two more turnovers, one of which puts the ball at the 5, 'Wick is unable to hold Curry off right before the half, allowing a TD with no time on the clock. After getting their first TD, Hartwick drives back into the Redzone, but is unable to score after a 1st and Goal. Rather than keeping Curry pinned back, Hartwick allows a 98 yard drive in two plays. Down 42-7 in the 4th, Hartwick's defense finally decides to show up, recovering two fumbles and stopping Curry on two fourth downs, but at that point, it's too late.

Curry's defense made the plays when they needed to, and Hartwick's defense never bailed out their offense by getting a timely turnover or big defensive stop.

They made their plays in the regular season, but their offense kept them in the games to the point where all they needed was one stop. This isn't the kind of team that has a defense they can rely on for 60 minutes week in and week out. And that will be their downfall every year.

Look at some other E8 teams who have made recent runs in the NCAA's. (Some of these runs were before the E8 was the E8)

Ithaca, '01: 15.9 PA
Ithaca, '03: 14.7 PA
SJF: '07: 14.9 PA
SJF: '06: 13.7 PA

The reason those teams could make those runs? Defense. The 2001 Bombers won two road games with a backup QB. The 2003 team won 14-9 at Brockport. Fisher hung with Mount Union in 2006 because their defense kept them in it. And their '07 team allowed only 14 points in their two playoff wins.

Every single one of those four teams had offense scoring over 27 points a game, and three of them scored over 30. But these teams made their marks by having strong defenses as well. Hartwick may win a conference title every now and then if they , but they'll never truly be considered a East power (at least by me) until they have a good defense.

I agree, the defense has to get better.  Seeing them play, they are very small on the offensive and defensive lines. Not sure why, but they are. I imagine offensivley they can't run the ball as good as they want to. If they could, it would take some of the pressure off the defense.

Look at the WNEC game as an example. The Hartwick offense scored 63 points in 22 minutes of TOP. WNEC scored 37 points in 38 minutes TOP and ran 88 offensive plays. Being a small defense, 88 plays is going to wear you down, that and a lack of depth could be the issue.

I am sure TOP and running game, SJF and IC are much better then Hartwick.

Again, I don't know if it's a recruiting thing, offensive strategy issue or combination of both. It will be interesting to see how it plays out on Saturday.

Look forward to it.....

[JQV]

I always thought of Hartwick as a classic gimmick team.  They know they aren't going to get enough OLine talent or D talent to dominate the ball so they thought of a creative system that makes them competitive without those things.  That alone deserves a tip of the cap.

[theoriginalupstate]

I always thought of Hartwick as a classic gimmick team.  They know they aren't going to get enough OLine talent or D talent to dominate the ball so they thought of a creative system that makes them competitive without those things.  That alone deserves a tip of the cap.

Totally agree. I really hated playing Wick, not just because I blew my knee out vs them but because you've got a bunch of smallish type players just run around giving you multiple formation looks and alot of movement pre and post snap.  You've really got to be solid with your assignments on offense with all the movement, one false move and you've got a 5'10", 180lb Linebacker running right past you. 

Their offense seems to do two things really well, the RB/FB out of the backfield on outlets after their WR's clear out the flats and the post-dig combo where one WR runs a dig to try to get the safety to bite and another WR runs a post right behind that safety.  They seem to hit that post for alot of big TD's.

[TheEnforcer]

Put a check in the "Attending" column for myself and Mr. High Life this weekend.  If anyone wants to join him for a quick hop down to the PA border to pick my sorry behind up on gameday morning, some beers may be in order.  I can't drive in New York State and I don't like the idea of Delilah sitting at a rest stop along the side of I-81 til Monday night.

GO BOMBERS

[dlippiel]

Ok, going to try to make a full-time return back to this board now that we've got all the OOC games out of the way. A few random musings:

-Like this board, GB15 will be making his return to Butter Field this weekend for the first time since '05 Cortaca (the warmest game in Cortaca history). I can enjoy Septembers much more now that I'm only 2 hours from Ithaca and no longer have to worry about hurricanes crushing New Orleans.

-I'm surprised the Fisher fans aren't more worried about their run defense after giving up 225 yds on the ground to Buff State. About 70 of those came on a garbage time drive, but 150 through 3.5 quarters isn't that great, either. Fisher shut down Buff State's passing game, but am I wrong to say that Fisher defenses of the past would have completely shut down a one-dimensional offense like that?

-Once again, barring a major upset in Ithaca this weekend (and it would be a major upset if Hartwick won in Ithaca), the de facto E8 Championship Game takes place on September 27th in Pittsford (cue slighted Alfred fans). I've said it in the past and I'll continue to say it: I HATE that Fisher/Ithaca is played in September. Can we at least get the game in mid-October? I don't like games with that consistently have that much importance to be played in September. The rivalry is there now. Push it back.

-Grow that Butter Field grass loooong this weekend for the boys from Hartwick.

-Anyone else notice that 'Wick has byes before both the Ithaca and Fisher games? Strategic. They have only 9 scheduled games and will have played only 2 when the calendar flips to October.

-Where is Tecmo? With his Cubs doing well, I thought he'd be posting endlessly. Tecmo, you still in the CNY region?

I don't know they beat WNEC this season so watch out! Seriously though I think a Hartwick win would make sense if the score was something like 50-42. Could you imagine Boltus if he had a defense to back up his arm? The only way Wick wins is if the O gets out of control and the D fails to show up for Ithaca. We already know they probably won'd show for Wick (no offense because I like to see Wick do well but they really have no D)

[Bombers798891]

I always thought of Hartwick as a classic gimmick team.  They know they aren't going to get enough OLine talent or D talent to dominate the ball so they thought of a creative system that makes them competitive without those things.  That alone deserves a tip of the cap.

It's odd...when I think of "gimmick" teams, I guess I honestly think more of Springfield than Hartwick. Hartwick is basically an offense only team, but it's a difficult offense to stop because they do a lot of things and beat you a lot of different ways. Springfield on the other hand, does one thing--albeit very well--but if you can stop that one thing, they tend to be sunk because they're really incapable of making adjustments and beating you another way. They usually don't have QB's that can throw (Wasn't Sharpe a WR or RB they made into a QB?) Maybe I'm wrong, but it's just a thought

[theicdubbz]

ugh... Dubbz team just lost to the other Road Course in NASCAR for the first time in 7 years.  Team Missed a PK, and two open net shots 2 yds in front.  oh boy.... rough times in Dubbz land.  final 2-1, should have been 5-2 Dubbz....


SPEAKING OF FDC Facebook.... where are those 69 some odd FDCers on Saterdays?

Dubbz will be at the tailgate and game, but, he, lady Dubbz, TEcmo, and Mrs. tecmo are workign on being recruited into Sweet Lou's Brigade.  we will be comfortably parked in the Retired FDC Reserve section, aka R and R, at butterfield.  Dubbz will only be putting the yellow and blue on for Cortaca. 

[maninorangehat]

ugh... Dubbz team just lost to the other Road Course in NASCAR for the first time in 7 years.  Team Missed a PK, and two open net shots 2 yds in front.  oh boy.... rough times in Dubbz land.  final 2-1, should have been 5-2 Dubbz....


SPEAKING OF FDC Facebook.... where are those 69 some odd FDCers on Saterdays?

Dubbz will be at the tailgate and game, but, he, lady Dubbz, TEcmo, and Mrs. tecmo are workign on being recruited into Sweet Lou's Brigade.  we will be comfortably parked in the Retired FDC Reserve section, aka R and R, at butterfield.  Dubbz will only be putting the yellow and blue on for Cortaca. 

MIOH thinks you mean the Blue and Gold you panzee. 

PSA For any of you young FDCers out there:

Don't look to dubbz as a role model.  He was once a young and reliable FDC member... now he's strapped down with a live-in girlfriend and a puppy.  No more energy for FDC cheers... instead he's working on honey-do projects in the garage on saterdays with a natural light in hand (getting natural as he used to call it).

Dubbz - If MIOH makes the 6.9 hour voyage to Butterfield this year he expects to see you wasted in the parking lot, doing bomber shots, wearing your FDC shirt, and responding to angry text messages from the wife every 1-7 minutes.

GB15 - MIOH is not buying the media BS about another Mets September collapse. The nose dive by the Brew Crew helps in a lot of ways... 

[theoriginalupstate]

-I'm surprised the Fisher fans aren't more worried about their run defense after giving up 225 yds on the ground to Buff State. About 70 of those came on a garbage time drive, but 150 through 3.5 quarters isn't that great, either. Fisher shut down Buff State's passing game, but am I wrong to say that Fisher defenses of the past would have completely shut down a one-dimensional offense like that?

-Once again, barring a major upset in Ithaca this weekend (and it would be a major upset if Hartwick won in Ithaca), the de facto E8 Championship Game takes place on September 27th in Pittsford (cue slighted Alfred fans). I've said it in the past and I'll continue to say it: I HATE that Fisher/Ithaca is played in September. Can we at least get the game in mid-October? I don't like games with that consistently have that much importance to be played in September. The rivalry is there now. Push it back.

Im not worried about the Buff state rushing totals.  Watching the game, the only play they had was the QB draw out of 4/5 WR sets.  They only had 3 drives that crossed the 50, once on their final drive with under 2:00 to play, once to the fisher 47 that ended in a punt and another that got all the way down to the 25 but that drive ended in an INT.  Im not worried about their D, its the offense that worries me.  They need to start finishing drives.

I also agree that the SJF/IC game should be pushed back a couple of weeks.  This way it keeps both squads focused.  Since its so early a team may just coast after that game and end up losing to lesser teams. 

[gobombers15]

*****PRESS RELEASE*****

GB15 has been put on the injury report and downgraded to "questionable" for this weekend "with an ankle." The injury occurred late in his team's 7-1 indoor soccer league victory over the team from Paychex (take that, Golisano!) on Tuesday. Team doctors refuse to disclose whether the left or right ankle was injured. He will be visiting an ankle specialist (ok, a regular doctor) on Thursday and said doctor will advise if the ankle is any shape for walking hilly terrain, drinking skippy and/or cheering on the Bombers to inevitable victory. Further details will be made available then. GB15 was not available for comment beyond saying "I hope it's not that lisfranc thing."

*****END RELEASE*****

[ICemanJK]

iceman would tell GB15, in the nicest way possible, to suck it up and get to South Hill!

October 2007, iceman dislocated his left shoulder in a midnight intramural playoff flag-football game on a Thursday night.  This did not top him, however, from donning the Orange hat a few days later to lead the FDC and support his Bombers to defeat Alfred.

October 2006, iceman breaks his left middle finger in the same scenario and against doc's orders, partakes in pre and post game festivities as the Bombers take down Chris Sharpe and Springfield.

To help...iceman will offer any assistance to GB15 so he might be able to navigate to and from the tailgate to Butterfield with ease and enjoy the Bomber Homecoming.

[maxpower]

I can enjoy Septembers much more now that I'm only 2 hours from Ithaca

Not in Max's hometown of Rochester by any chance?

Since Rochester is your hometown you can admit that deep down you enjoy Fisher's football team.  When Fisher beats Ithaca you even crack a smile don't you.....It's ok you can admit it, nobody will judge you. 

Well, to be more specific, my hometown is Irondequoit, and I grew up resenting Pittsford a-holes before I even knew what college was. Plus my Dad is a U of R grad... sorry booby, no love lost here.

Here's hoping for a solid FDC turnout this weekend. Max will be there in spirit, but what he will really be doing is trying to find an internet connection in the SF bay area to watch the webcast....