LL in game updates

[Frank Rossi]

But the philosophy is to be bold on the road and play it safe at home since you have home-field advantage already.  The defense held them scoreless for virtually a half of football.  Play to your strength and punt the damned ball at home.  You need a field goal to tie, not a TD.

[EDIT: Ironically, as a strategist, I'm very liberal in my football mindset.  I'd sometimes go for 2 when +7 late to put away a game at +9.  Generally, I'd favor going for it on 4th down.  But when -3 at home, it's different, especially since you're still 30 yards from FG range and you need 10 yards for a first down.  There's not much there that screams it's worth doing it to me.]

[Bombers798891]

But the philosophy is to be bold on the road and play it safe at home since you have home-field advantage already.  The defense held them scoreless for virtually a half of football.  Play to your strength and punt the damned ball at home.  You need a field goal to tie, not a TD.

[EDIT: Ironically, as a strategist, I'm very liberal in my football mindset.  I'd sometimes go for 2 when +7 late to put away a game at +9.  Generally, I'd favor going for it on 4th down.  But when -3 at home, it's different, especially since you're still 30 yards from FG range and you need 10 yards for a first down.  There's not much there that screams it's worth doing it to me.]

The problem is, you might not get the ball back (or, like in Cortaca, you get it back in worse shape). But forget Xs and Os. We can both point to examples where our preferred strategy worked. Say You're Dan Swanstrom. You came in with a reputation as a great offensive mind, to revitalize a unit that struggled immensely at times, but also to change the culture and attitude of the program. You simply aren't going to punt it away with 3:30 to go down by 3. Take your shot.

[Frank Rossi]

I get all that, but also learn from the end results here.  You punt the ball to the 8, let's say.  Alfred will never go on 4th in that position.  They get the ball to the -30 at best and punt with Ithaca getting a runback.  On the + side of the field, Alfred potentially has 4 plays every set to put the game away, not 3, because the risk of kicking on a short field isn't good.  The likelihood is Ithaca would've had the ball back closer to FG range with more time on the clock instead of needing to throw up a prayer like they did.  Like I said earlier -- guts call, but not a football-smart call based on the risk/reward analysis at home with a defense that has been really good most of the game.  Great Bombers effort, nonetheless.

[AUPepBand]

I get all that, but also learn from the end results here.  You punt the ball to the 8, let's say.  Alfred will never go on 4th in that position.  They get the ball to the -30 at best and punt with Ithaca getting a runback.  On the + side of the field, Alfred potentially has 4 plays every set to put the game away, not 3, because the risk of kicking on a short field isn't good.  The likelihood is Ithaca would've had the ball back closer to FG range with more time on the clock instead of needing to throw up a prayer like they did.  Like I said earlier -- guts call, but not a football-smart call based on the risk/reward analysis at home with a defense that has been really good most of the game.  Great Bombers effort, nonetheless.

Pep was pleased to see Austin Dwyer after the game at Butterfield yesterday. Been on the field and on the sidelines at Alfred for seems like a long time. Now a guidance counselor at LeRoy High School and head coach of the modified football team.

The reason I bring up Dwyer is because the one time in the last 17 attempts that AU was able to beat the Bombers on Butterfield, Dwyer had a huge role. Back in 2011, IC had pulled to within 21-19 of the Saxons with just 3:57 remaining in the game. Rather than try an onside kick, Ithaca kicked deep, only to have Tyler DeRosa get a good return all the way back to midfield. After putting the ball in Dwyer's hands on five straight plays, AU faced a 3rd-and-3 on the IC-33. This time the hand-off went to Christian Smith who gained 5 yards and the game was over.

Bombers is right. There was a good chance IC wouldn't see the ball again. That's how it went back in 2011.

Pep also applauds Swanstrom's short (onside) kick after the Bombers went up 14-7. A quick-thinking and well-coached Rodney Etienne, closest to the ball, signaled for a fair catch and hauled it in. A Bomber recovery and subsequent score would have taken the wind out of the Saxon sails. Also liked Swanstrom's trick play in first half, which would have gone farther with an accurate throw. Fron played a great game and the Bomber offensive game plan was brilliant....seemed like they always took the ball to the opposite side of A.J. LiCata.

That Ithaca squad was loaded with juniors and seniors. Pep thought AU's young squad--with a lot of sophs and freshmen on the field--played pretty well. It's always tough to play on South Hill. The IC crowd made lots of noise on AU third-down plays but Saxons were focused and went 7-of-17 on third downs, same as Ithaca.

AU finished with a 35:14 to 24:46 advantage in time of possession and 17-15 in first downs. 'Twas a great game and a rare win for AU at Butterfield.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

I get all that, but also learn from the end results here.  You punt the ball to the 8, let's say.  Alfred will never go on 4th in that position.  They get the ball to the -30 at best and punt with Ithaca getting a runback.  On the + side of the field, Alfred potentially has 4 plays every set to put the game away, not 3, because the risk of kicking on a short field isn't good.  The likelihood is Ithaca would've had the ball back closer to FG range with more time on the clock instead of needing to throw up a prayer like they did.  Like I said earlier -- guts call, but not a football-smart call based on the risk/reward analysis at home with a defense that has been really good most of the game.  Great Bombers effort, nonetheless.

I mean, look, you might be right on pure strategy. We can agree to disagree. But think about this from the perspective of a head coach, brought in to change the direction of the program and revitalize it. We both know Mike Welch punts there 100 times out of 100. If, during the critical moment of your first game, you basically do what Welch was known for (and sometimes criticized for) you risk sending the message that its business as usual. Most fans aren't seeing the Twitter and YouTube stuff. This was the chance to say things are going to be different. And that's the key thing when you're doing a rebuild. The wins might take time. But the mentality can be changed immediately. Even though it didn't work, there was more to be accomplished than just picking up a 4th and 10 and starting 1-0.

[wesleydad]

get the turnover but nothing with another missed field goal.  Fisher misses opportunity to take early lead.

[Olorin]

RPI 7-0 with 3:11 left in 1st

[Olorin]

After a WPI INT RPI now up 14-0 with 1:05 left in 1st.

[wesleydad]

Hobart looking much better this week.  This may speak to how good Brockport was last week. 

[Olorin]

RPI 14 WPI 7 with 9:53 in Q2

[Bombers798891]

Hobart all over Fisher now. 24-3. Time to focus on Cortland and IC for me

[wesleydad]

the brockport/ithaca live feed sucks.  Camera is too far away.  Looks like I am watching ants run around.

[UfanBill]

Union over Coast Guard 21-7 at the half.

[wesleydad]

Glad the feed is fixed and you can actually see the players.  Brockport scores to take the lead 7 - 0.

[BomberJeff]

Ithaca decided to go for it on 4th and 3 on the Brockport 41 but comes up short.  Brockport follows up by going the 59 yards for the touchdown over 5 minutes.

32 seconds left in the first: Ithaca 0 Brockport 7.