East Region Fan Poll

[ITH radio]

I think the good & bad re the East this year is that there isn't one team that's head and shoulders above the rest. Alfred, Hobart and Fisher all needed some luck to put away BP so it shows me these three teams are all pretty even. I think the fact Fisher and Hobart lost games they probably shouldn't shows that also. Husson played ALF close back in Wk 1 and WNE beat some LL teams handily that Hobart struggled a bit to put away. Then you have Stevenson dropping a game to a two loss team and the NJAC teams that have multiple losses. Of the 7 east entrants it would seem only Bridgewater is the "weak link" but they barely lost to Kean who ended up beating Rowan who beat Salisbury....

Ultimately what this says to me is the East will probably be lucky to get one team into the quarterfinals and when they do, it might be ugly, unless they end up against a JHU who I don't see as better than any champion from the NY/NJ/PA conferences. You never know though, one of the HOB/ALF/SJFC/WES entrants could go 2003 RPI and run to the final four. All depends on pairings in the end, but the parity in the East sure seems apparent IMO.

[AUPepBand]

I think the good & bad re the East this year is that there isn't one team that's head and shoulders above the rest. Alfred, Hobart and Fisher all needed some luck to put away BP so it shows me these three teams are all pretty even. I think the fact Fisher and Hobart lost games they probably shouldn't shows that also. Husson played ALF close back in Wk 1 and WNE beat some LL teams handily that Hobart struggled a bit to put away. Then you have Stevenson dropping a game to a two loss win team and the NJAC teams that have multiple losses. Of the 7 east entrants it would seem only Bridgewater is the "weak link" but they barely lost to Kean who ended up beating Rowan who beat Salisbury....

Ultimately what this says to me is the East will probably be lucky to get one team into the quarterfinals and when they do, it might be ugly, unless they end up against a JHU who I don't see as better than any champion from the NY/NJ/PA conferences. You never know though, one of the HOB/ALF/SJFC/WES entrants could go 2003 RPI and run to the final four. All depends on pairings in the end, but the parity in the East sure seems apparent IMO.

Please note edit....still can't believe Stevenson fell to Wilkes at home, no less. But then the Colonels snapped an Alfred win streak way back in 1970 in Wilkes-Barre...or the Saxons might have had back-to-back undefeated seasons.

[ITH radio]

Good catch Pep! One other thing I think bears mentioning is whether or not ALF & SJF will be separated to avoid a potential rematch. I do think either way both teams get in, but more riding for Saxons as 10-0 basically guarantees better draw / 1-2 home games (assuming they've filed and can host, which I'm pretty sure they can / will).

[fisheralum91]

One thought i had was - hindsight being 20/20 - but how great was it for Fisher and Olivet to get together for the OOC game?

Im really impressed with how Olivet rebounded from the week one beating the Cards put on them.

Helps our SOS and shows........any given SatErday!

[ITH radio]

Sure does and even though they supposedly "shouldn't", it does seem as though the ERAC is giving SJF a W vs. a RRO for that one, which I get.

[wesleydad]

A team from a top 5 conference that is 9-0 being ranked 3rd is interesting...

agree

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but usually undefeated teams are ranked higher than those with 2 losses. Guessing it's one of those things where the voters thinks both WES and SALS would beat ALF H2H, which maybe they could...or maybe not.

Wesley maybe? Salisbury, very unlikely. Salisbury is one-dimensional and at times gives up the deep ball too easily. I was rooting for Salisbury up until this past weekend. I think Wesley exposed them and Alfred would do the same. Late in the third or early 4th, Salisbury coach called a play action pass (with the QB turning his back to the Defense) on 4th and forever.  Teams that are well balance and have a respectable D (no even dominant) such as Alfred and Wesley would beat them 9 times out of 10. I do question Salisbury ranking at 2, I for one drop them to the bottom of the Top 10, because they can surprise other teams here and there, but that's all they have for themselves.

I dropped Salisbury out of the my top 10.  I try to only have 2 teams from a league in my top 10 unless I have trouble finding another team to fill the bottom of the list.  This week I threw some love to undefeated Trinity who was ranked pretty high by D3 in kickoff and probably could give some of the other teams a good game.  I have Alfred, Wesley, Fisher, Hobart as my top 4 and if Fisher beats Alfred will make them my #1 because I think the E8 has shown to be better than the NJAC this year.  I would love to see these 4 somehow be placed so that if they all won round 1 games they would face each other in round 2 with Alfred/Fisher winner vs. Hobart and the Alfred/Fisher loser vs. Wesley.  Now that would be some fun football.

[fisheralum91]

Hobart - Fisher games are always "interesting" 

[sjfcards]

I certainly hope we get a great game SatErday- no reason to think otherwise.

Coach Keyes best have his D running on all cylinders!

Safe travels to all headed down to Mayberry- unfortunately Mrs91 and I have to sit this one out.

Pep will be disappointed if the far side visitor stands (which, by the way, provide a top-notch view of the game minus one light pole) are not filled.

Come on, Fisher fans, the trip to Mayberry is just a hop (on I-390 south), a skip (over Rt. 36 south from Dansville), and a jump (onto I-86 west for one exit). Heck, we can even have Sheriff Taylor at the town line to usher you in so you don't get lost in the woods.

You should watch for deer, but be assured that Pep last Saterday took out the last of the kamikaze deer in our neck of the woods. It should be a safe enough place.

On Saxon Warriors!

I'm considering going Pep!  But I'm trying to remember if I'm a jinx when I show up at Alfred.  I think I've only seen Fisher win there twice.

My last trip to AU for a Fisher/AU game was 2010, which didn't work out too well for me. I am planning on making the trip out this weekend, but need to find someone to ride along as my wife is working Cortaca for TV this weekend. Excited to see the game live if I can make it happen.

[saxontad]

Come on down 'cards.  The more, the merrier (I hope)!!!

[fisheralum91]

Mrs91 thinks we may have jinxed Fisher when we went to the UC game....
Couch it is!

[Bartman]

Hobart - Fisher games are always "interesting" 

Looking forward to the possibility of the Statesmen redeeming themselves for the past playoff flatulence against the Cardinals....and improving on the historical 11-7 performance since 1990(IF we beat the Yellow Jackets....an essential caveat).

[fisheralum91]

Hobart - Fisher games are always "interesting" 

Looking forward to the possibility of the Statesmen redeeming themselves for the past playoff flatulence against the Cardinals....and improving on the historical 11-7 performance since 1990(IF we beat the Yellow Jackets....an essential caveat).

I think it would be a game that the entire FA91 family would travel to!!!
That is if its played at Growney.....

[sjfcards]

Come on down 'cards.  The more, the merrier (I hope)!!!

I think I may just have to make the trip, even if I am flying solo. How often do we get a legit E8 championship game in the last week of the season between clearly the two (IMHO) best teams in the conference? I have a hard time missing that, win or lose. 

[fisheralum91]

Ouch do i feel the guilt

[saxontad]

'Cards, hope you make it.  I'll be on the 50, row 13, purple seats!! Drop by!!!

On Saxon Warriors!!!