FB: Liberty League

[Frank Rossi]

Frank-

I stated a few posts back that Rowan isn't to be taken lightly. I think you are lumping all Fisher posters in w/ some that are being overconfident.

I am a little discouraged that Fisher is being nit picked time & time again when all they've done so far this post season is go out and prove everyone completely wrong.

Tags, ask RPI fans about the scrutiny they encountered in 2002 when they went to the Final Four.  It comes with the territory.  However, I didn't see the jawing that SOME Fisher fans are doing from the RPI faithful back then.  They knew that the road was not an easy one.  They knew they were always the underdog after the second week of the playoffs, no matter what their seed was.  However, they pinned their tail between their legs during days like today and focused on the next opponent, and the next.

The thing that has stuck with me in this playoff cycle is the quote from Robinson after the Union game concerning how he told his coach that he'd carry the SJF team on his back.  It was just assinine -- Kramer's play won the game against Union.  That was what opened up the run at all for Robinson (his numbers were not what I'd call superior except for TDs -- which were mostly from short distance).  His quotes before the Union game were ill-timed, whether or not SJF delivered.  Ever since that point, I've taken an even more hardened stance about SJF because such egos can end up losing a VERY GOOD team a close game.  I said it last week:  congratulate yourselves with the people closest to the program, and then prepare for the next challenge.  I'm not going to apologize for upsetting anyone by "nitpicking" here -- I'll simply explain why I think some of the overt enthusiasm needs to be tempered for the sake of the SJF program's chances this next weekend.  I've done the same thing related to Union over the last few years -- some would say I'm a major critic at times.  I think we all know that I'm not a foe to Union -- and I don't believe I'm a foe to SJF.

[radiomike]

Although I havent seen Rowan in a few years, their team speed can often times neutralize the opponent. 

Rowan has an amazing back in Edwards that will have to be contained. However, Fisher seemed to squash Sharpe, so it may be able to do the same here.

Not to be a prick, but I wouldn't use the term amazing for a back averaging 55 yds / game.

I won't comment on the first part, but my comment was the Speed he had. He is explosive on the field. Add to him the other Rowan runners, and Fisher will be challenged.

[Tags]

tags, get off your soapbox man. fisher posters need to take some criticism. frank has brought up some very valid points, the use of robinson being one of them. jesus christ, i'm certainly no union fan here but frank has backed up his arguments, given fisher credit where credit is due, and played devil's advocate. rowan is a true playoff tested program too, their speed is going to be NOTHING fisher has seen. his point about seeing springfield twice in a season is a LEGIT point to. don't you think they made a few small adjustments based off of the first game and studied sc's tendencies. and rowan's defense will be much better than sc's, although sc played better than i thought they would.

fisher posters need to lighten up in the LL house. don't knock someone for backing up their claims with legit points. cardinals10. frank just served you. ha!

Ha, soapbox? Are you serious? Quit sucking up in here man, I'm not disrespecting anyone on the LL, Inc. board. I respect Frank, we've had our differences and it's all just a matter of opinion.

I never said these points aren't legit - but there are also counterpoints that are legit.

Perhaps you're the one that needs to relax.

[Tags]

Frank-

About Robinson... I completely agree that his comments weren't warranted. I am very much in your corner that you should lose & win with class & stay humble.

Like I said, while I agree that it's better to remain humble - I am of the opinion that he's just trying to fire everyone up (including himself) for one last run in his Sr. year. He's always been VERY humble prior to this years post season - so that's why I say that.

On the other side of the coin, he's had 218 yards and 7 TD's on just 44 carries so it looks like he's backing his statements up.

[The Truth 00]

i'm not sucking up to frank at all tags. i've disagreed with him before and who knows, it will probably happen again. i'm just sick of the whining and "no one respects us" bs that fisher people come up with when someone makes a point against them or makes a case for rowan. that's all. both of these teams are legit. they aren't in the final 8 for nothing.

[Tags]

Although I havent seen Rowan in a few years, their team speed can often times neutralize the opponent. 

Rowan has an amazing back in Edwards that will have to be contained. However, Fisher seemed to squash Sharpe, so it may be able to do the same here.

Not to be a prick, but I wouldn't use the term amazing for a back averaging 55 yds / game.

I won't comment on the first part, but my comment was the Speed he had. He is explosive on the field. Add to him the other Rowan runners, and Fisher will be challenged.

I edited to say "no offense"... Anyway, I guess I'm not very convinced after what Fisher has done to both the Union & Springfield running games. I think they'll completely shut down a marginal rushing attack was all I was thinking.

[2minuteO]

good luck to the playoff teams still climbing towards that National Championship

[maxpower]

I'm gonna jump on the "calm down Tags" bandwagon. Frank is right about how to judge Fisher's season: best ever no matter what happens, and best showing the E8 has had in a while. But I think Fisher needs to accept their role as underdogs. Tags, you keep saying you're not convinced about Rowan because Fisher has beaten Union and Springfield.... well Rowan beat a Hobart team about on par with Union and a Wilkes team about on par with Springfield, both on the road... plus Rowan has been one of the best teams in the east for 10 years. That second thing is something Fisher can't say, and it counts.

I think what is bothering people is you have a kind of "we've been here before, no sweat" attitude about you, when Fisher has never been even close to here before. Last week was not here, two weeks ago was certainly not here. Robinson has never been here, Kramer has never been here, I don't think Vosburgh has ever been here, although I'm too lazy to do research on that. Because of those factors, and because of how Rowan has pulled together since the Montclair game, I think the game is about as 50-50 as you can call it. But the program factor swings the pendulum to Rowan, who was a great team long before the Bills moved from Fredonia.

I am really rooting hard for Fisher in this game because I hate hate hate Rowan, but you guys need to start walking softly and carrying big sticks.

[Frank Rossi]

Frank-

About Robinson... I completely agree that his comments weren't warranted. I am very much in your corner that you should lose & win with class & stay humble.

Like I said, while I agree that it's better to remain humble - I am of the opinion that he's just trying to fire everyone up (including himself) for one last run in his Sr. year. He's always been VERY humble prior to this years post season - so that's why I say that.

On the other side of the coin, he's had 218 yards and 7 TD's on just 44 carries so it looks like he's backing his statements up.

Tags -

My points re: Robinson's numbers is this:  4, 5, 1, 4, 16, 10, 1.  Those numbers represent the yards he ran for the seven touchdowns.  Sure, it's terrific to score seven TDs.  However, there's the question that comes from this:  isn't he capable of breaking long runs for TDs?  I think the answer is yes, but why isn't he?  I don't think it's his fault; I think the variety of run offense SJF ran the last two weeks (especially against Springfield) was predictable (middle, middle, middle).  The couple times he tried to get to the corner, he didn't have the burst he needed to turn downfield.  The toss sweep play is a great play for him, especially to the short side of the field -- it gives him a jump on the defense because he's in motion while he receives the ball.  I think he's very capable, but Rowan will tackle him for losses if the offense is that plain this Saturday.  That was my point about Robinson's running between the 20-yard lines.

[Tags]

Frank-

About Robinson... I completely agree that his comments weren't warranted. I am very much in your corner that you should lose & win with class & stay humble.

Like I said, while I agree that it's better to remain humble - I am of the opinion that he's just trying to fire everyone up (including himself) for one last run in his Sr. year. He's always been VERY humble prior to this years post season - so that's why I say that.

On the other side of the coin, he's had 218 yards and 7 TD's on just 44 carries so it looks like he's backing his statements up.

Tags -

My points re: Robinson's numbers is this:  4, 5, 1, 4, 16, 10, 1.  Those numbers represent the yards he ran for the seven touchdowns.  Sure, it's terrific to score seven TDs.  However, there's the question that comes from this:  isn't he capable of breaking long runs for TDs?  I think the answer is yes, but why isn't he?  I don't think it's his fault; I think the variety of run offense SJF ran the last two weeks (especially against Springfield) was predictable (middle, middle, middle).  The couple times he tried to get to the corner, he didn't have the burst he needed to turn downfield.  The toss sweep play is a great play for him, especially to the short side of the field -- it gives him a jump on the defense because he's in motion while he receives the ball.  I think he's very capable, but Rowan will tackle him for losses if the offense is that plain this Saturday.  That was my point about Robinson's running between the 20-yard lines.

Frank- I can appreciate what you're saying, and no doubt Rowan will get him behind the LOS a few times. But if they stop being so bull headed about running him off the Center & start letting him get outside & off the tackles then you will see him break some.

I believe that's a coaching discussion - they aren't giving him the right opportunity to do what he can do in my opinion. But to your point yes, if they continue to try and pound the middle he will be having a rough go of it vs. Rowan I would assume.

They did that with him vs. Alfred - Kept trying to pound him up the gut & he was getting killed in there. I'm not sure why the change, they used to try to get him to the outside a lot more. I think they're relying on his cutback ability way too much.

[The Truth 00]

yea, there's no question fisher had the most success up the middle against sc but i don't see that happening against rowan. the problem with sc's d....they are so damn predictable, their tendencies will tell you that. they rarely blitz anyone, let alone the inside lbs. they ran that trap/cutback play to robinson a good majority of the time. tags, i know robinson can turn it up a notch in the open field. he has deceiving speed but he's gonna have to turn it up a notch against rowan - those guys have wheels. fisher used to run a designed power play with their toss but i don't know how much they run it now. that could work but the actual toss sweep might hurt them this week.  pass protection for kramer will be key because i don't see him having as much time as he did against a weak sc pass rush.

[Tags]

I'm gonna jump on the "calm down Tags" bandwagon. Frank is right about how to judge Fisher's season: best ever no matter what happens, and best showing the E8 has had in a while. But I think Fisher needs to accept their role as underdogs. Tags, you keep saying you're not convinced about Rowan because Fisher has beaten Union and Springfield.... well Rowan beat a Hobart team about on par with Union and a Wilkes team about on par with Springfield, both on the road... plus Rowan has been one of the best teams in the east for 10 years. That second thing is something Fisher can't say, and it counts.

I think what is bothering people is you have a kind of "we've been here before, no sweat" attitude about you, when Fisher has never been even close to here before. Last week was not here, two weeks ago was certainly not here. Robinson has never been here, Kramer has never been here, I don't think Vosburgh has ever been here, although I'm too lazy to do research on that. Because of those factors, and because of how Rowan has pulled together since the Montclair game, I think the game is about as 50-50 as you can call it. But the program factor swings the pendulum to Rowan, who was a great team long before the Bills moved from Fredonia.

I am really rooting hard for Fisher in this game because I hate hate hate Rowan, but you guys need to start walking softly and carrying big sticks.

You're out of your mind. I have not downplayed this game in the least - And I never associated this game as a whole with the Union or Springfield games, may want to go back and re-read. I said I'm not convinced their "running game" will be a factor based on what they did to Sharpe & #1 from Union. That's all...

I know it will be a very difficult game for Fisher to win b/c of Rowans defense. There's nothing I'm writing on here suggesting otherwise so may want to jump off the "calm down tags" bandwagon.

[zachattack22]

ZA believes Fisher can win this game...The scary part about Rowan is they NEVER seem to panic if they get behind and they find ways to get back in the games and win em....

ZA believes that the comments that really have made "some" SJF fans on this board look silly have actually been the "little" ones that indicate a certain lack of respect for others. 

Arcidiacono had a tough game against RPI and Fisher. Yes, he was injured and should not have even played in the RPI game....But, it's a team loss and no running back is going to dominate if his line is getting hammered unless he's walter payton.

But what kind of comment do we get from an SJF poster?  Arcidiacono wasn't worth all they hype is what we get....

Those are the kind of posts that just turn away many of us that want to see an upcoming program move on and beat one that has been there for many years (rowan)...

Following that logic, every top running back in DIII would "not be worth the hype" if the particular game an SJF poster happened to see was one where one of the best backs in DIII got shut down.  Union has shut down some great backs over the years...So has RPI, so has a thousand other teams.  Robinson didn't have a 180 yard game against Union.  Other backs have done that...Is Robinson NOT worth the hype.  ZA and most of us in the LLPP would not judge Robinson by one performance in which his entire team was dominated on the line of scrimmage...IF Robinson gets low numbers against Rowan, is he not worth the hype...ZA believes he IS worth the hype because of his career and his obvious huge games against other good teams.

ZA really wanted to jump on the SJF bandwagon and still does...but "Arcidiacono isn't worth the hype" kind of comments are just too immature and shows a lack of respect for what others have accomplished.
NO ONE reaches Robinson's numbers or Arcidiacono's numbers and does so by "accident" if they're not worth the hype, unless they're playing teams week after week that do not belong in DIII.....

This is what makes it difficult to simply just say...."GO SJF"....

[SJFF82]

okay SJF (and all you other transplants) you won the games (you beat Union by a lot, and got revenge for your only loss), does not mean a whole lot when Rowan is coming to play ya. Have you seen any NJAC games? What is your barometer for how up or down that league was this year? If you dont know then pointing out a 12ppg offense for Rowan is way off the mark. SJF has a good team. They play solid defense and run a balanced offense (most of the time). The funny thing is as bigdvs types that it is the same thing written about Union before facing Rowan last year. They will be faster then what you have seen count on it. They will be bigger (at some positions) count on it. They are a playoff tested program that has already pulled 2 games out of the fire this post season, so rattling them by scoring first wont work, count on it. All that said, bigdvs would love for someone other then brown and gold to be the East representative in the Final 4.  (though some of you are not engendering any goodwill SJF's way either at this point)

I havent been on these boards that long, but one thing that is pervasive and that I cannot understand is why posting in favor of your team (regardless of how 'aggressive the post may appear) equates to "not engendering goodwill"?  This also begs an important question?  Why does one care about engendering "gooodwill" up in here?  Why can't posts be just posts without all the analyzing and posturing that goes on.  Lets just support who we want to support and provide football info, etc and be happy.

Go Fisher...at the risk of being called ungoodwillengendering

[Tags]

I said that comment. I wasn't aware of any injury to #1 - why wasn't it an issue prior to the game? Why didn't it get mentioned well before hand, and not after all was said and done?

I don't think it's immature to say it wasn't worth the hype. 11 carries for 10 yards when you're the leading active RB in DIII ?

He had a great career & he's obviously a great athlete & that's worth a ton of respect absolutely.