ECACs

[AUPepBand]

It wasn't pretty, but the Saxons somehow got it done, 11-10. Defense was stellar. Casey Bright had some nice runs and a nice catch while Tyler Johnson's legs posed more of a threat than his arm today. Trevor Monk was clutch, not only hitting the game-winning 22-yard field goal but also drilling the ensuing kickoff through the end zone.

Fitchburg's defense gave the Saxons fits...when the Saxons were shooting themselves in the foot. Nevertheless, it was an exciting finish to an ECAC D3 Football Fest that seemed to please most. Pep objects to a Sunday evening game but as a result, the Saxons were the last non-NCAA playoff team to win a football game in 2015.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bengalsrule]

It wasn't pretty, but the Saxons somehow got it done, 11-10. Defense was stellar. Casey Bright had some nice runs and a nice catch while Tyler Johnson's legs posed more of a threat than his arm today. Trevor Monk was clutch, not only hitting the game-winning 22-yard field goal but also drilling the ensuing kickoff through the end zone.

Fitchburg's defense gave the Saxons fits...when the Saxons were shooting themselves in the foot. Nevertheless, it was an exciting finish to an ECAC D3 Football Fest that seemed to please most. Pep objects to a Sunday evening game but as a result, the Saxons were the last non-NCAA playoff team to win a football game in 2015.

On Saxon Warriors!

Congrats to Pep and the Saxons!   Helped give the E8 a .500 weekend after my Bengals and Fisher couldn't seal the deal. Hopefully Cortland will give us a reason to tune in next Sunday night !

[NED3Guy]

I was one of the biggest bashers of this new ECAC format, when it was announced earlier this fall.

From all accounts it was a great success, and a high class operation.

If the webast quality is any indication, I'd say those accounts are accurate.

Congrats to all the teams and the ECAC on making the weekend a success.

I will now go eat some crow.

[gordonmann]

Seth Cantor does a great job. Back when we had audio broadcasts of playoff games, we used him for games in Upstate New York and he covered Merchant Marine for a lot of years. Those games are in very good hands with him.

The MAC-Centennial games were also tightly contested. I didn't see the Muhlenberg/Stevenson game, but there was a good crowd for Moravian/Del Val, both teams were into it and it had a big game feel to it, partly because the front offices for both conferences treated it as such. If the same is true for Muhlenberg/Stevenson, I don't see any reason why those conferences wouldn't do it again next year.

At some point the "South" region teams may question whether they really need to be members of ECAC at all, but that decision will presumably involve more than football.

All's well that ends well, I guess.

[jmcozenlaw]

I was one of the biggest bashers of this new ECAC format, when it was announced earlier this fall.

From all accounts it was a great success, and a high class operation.

If the webast quality is any indication, I'd say those accounts are accurate.

Congrats to all the teams and the ECAC on making the weekend a success.

I will now go eat some crow.

Did the local community come out to watch? How were the crowds for the six games?

[AUPepBand]

I was one of the biggest bashers of this new ECAC format, when it was announced earlier this fall.

From all accounts it was a great success, and a high class operation.

If the webast quality is any indication, I'd say those accounts are accurate.

Congrats to all the teams and the ECAC on making the weekend a success.

I will now go eat some crow.

Did the local community come out to watch? How were the crowds for the six games?

From what Pep could ascertain, max attendance was about 1000 at one of the games with the smallest crowd just under 700. Considering each team was forced to buy 300 tickets, seems the ECAC guaranteed itself a crowd of 600 for each game.

Pep wasn't able to make the trip, with AU playing the last of the games on a Sunday evening (library duty). And, NED might as well pass some of that crow over to Pep as he dissed the mandatory hotel after reading reviews that cited bed bugs and frogs. Pep has spoken with two or three Saxons and all said the hotel, albeit in the middle of nowhere, was very nice. Team had fun at the indoor pool and the team ate at a couple of nice restaurants, with good reviews.

AU escaped with an 11-10 win over a determined Fitchburg State team to prevent a clean sweep of the E8 teams as both Fisher and Buffalo State were beaten on Saterday.

On Saxon Warriors!

[wone3]

Seth Cantor does a great job. Back when we had audio broadcasts of playoff games, we used him for games in Upstate New York and he covered Merchant Marine for a lot of years. Those games are in very good hands with him.

The MAC-Centennial games were also tightly contested. I didn't see the Muhlenberg/Stevenson game, but there was a good crowd for Moravian/Del Val, both teams were into it and it had a big game feel to it, partly because the front offices for both conferences treated it as such. If the same is true for Muhlenberg/Stevenson, I don't see any reason why those conferences wouldn't do it again next year.

At some point the "South" region teams may question whether they really need to be members of ECAC at all, but that decision will presumably involve more than football.

All's well that ends well, I guess.

Didn't go to the Stevenson game but watched online...didn't get a good look on Muhlenberg side cause of the vidoe angle but it sounded like and looked like they had a decent crowd ( not a homecoming sized but not a rainy cold day style either). I would think they'd still want to do it next year as the Stevenson coach said in his during the week short video, they all recruit in similar areas for similar guys. It would be beneficial for these guys to see a game if possible nearby.

[desertcat1]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Safe travels.

[ITH radio]

ECACs announce 2016 "bowl games" to take place in Philadelphia at Franklin Field @ UPenn

http://www.ecacsports.com/sports/2016/6/23/FB_0623163314.aspx?

[gordonmann]

Wow! Very cool idea.

Franklin Field is a great venue. It's much bigger than needed, but the unique atmosphere will make up for it.

This should also make it more feasible for the PA-based ECAC members to participate if they want to, and the use of Franklin Field is a pretty cool incentive to do so. I hope the northern half of ECAC can make the trip down but, if not, maybe they do the same cross-conference challenge that the MAC-Centennial did last year.

[ITH radio]

Agreed - maybe it'll entice some of the MAC and CC teams to participate in this fall's bowl games.

I imagine you'll see several NJAC teams throw their hats in but not sure what teams from "northern" leagues / confs will think of the mileage to Philly...

[Jonny Utah]

My two cents on the ECAC's

-  It's just a football game.  Let's not make this too complicated.  You either want to play in it or you don't. The rankings should mean less than travel costs/issues. The NE teams need to realize that they might end up playing a good E8 team that didn't make the playoffs.  In 2015 though, it shouldn't be a blowout.

-  I have no problem with upstate teams just playing upstate teams they hadn't played in the regular season.  No reason to go from Ithaca to Bangor, Maine when you can just go to Troy or Canton.

- I don't mind the neutral site because chances are I live closer to that neutral site, and maybe more of the student body will too (if the games are during break).  I would go to New Britain for an Ithaca game over Ithaca, especially an ECAC game.

-  Speaking of New Britain, that place is blah-ville.  Why not have it someplace where there is something to do, like NYC or Boston, or even Philly.  Then the teams can stay overnight before and at least have some sort of experience out of the game/trip.

-  Move the Stagg Bowl to Florida.

That is all.

Ha.  I found this post of mine a few pages back.  Put me in the booth!!!!!

[AUPepBand]

My two cents on the ECAC's

-  It's just a football game.  Let's not make this too complicated.  You either want to play in it or you don't. The rankings should mean less than travel costs/issues. The NE teams need to realize that they might end up playing a good E8 team that didn't make the playoffs.  In 2015 though, it shouldn't be a blowout.

-  I have no problem with upstate teams just playing upstate teams they hadn't played in the regular season.  No reason to go from Ithaca to Bangor, Maine when you can just go to Troy or Canton.

- I don't mind the neutral site because chances are I live closer to that neutral site, and maybe more of the student body will too (if the games are during break).  I would go to New Britain for an Ithaca game over Ithaca, especially an ECAC game.

-  Speaking of New Britain, that place is blah-ville.  Why not have it someplace where there is something to do, like NYC or Boston, or even Philly.  Then the teams can stay overnight before and at least have some sort of experience out of the game/trip.

-  Move the Stagg Bowl to Florida.

That is all.

Ha.  I found this post of mine a few pages back.  Put me in the booth!!!!!

You're carrying the prophetic mantle, Jonny. +K

Pep was honored to carry said mantle when the E8 boys were drooling over Buffalo State's scheduling the two-time defending national champ Warhawks in Perkins Stadium back in 2012. They were saying it was gutsy for the Bengals to take on the Warhawks. I went one further and said the Bengals were not only gutsy enough to play the Warhawks, but that they would beat them so the sky high Bengals would come home to Coyer Field and face their Empire 8 debut against Pep's Alfred Saxons, who would gladly bring them back to earth. Check the outcome: Buffalo State 7, UW-Whitewater 6;   Alfred 40, Buffalo State 17.

End of boast. Carry on.

[D3MAFAN]

http://www.ecacsports.com/splash.aspx?id=splash_3

Live selection show.

[fisheralum91]

Did they change the venue again?
Penn?