Ithaca in deep trouble; Alfred up 21-0 in the second quarter.

Quote from: sjfcards on October 05, 2011, 05:54:01 PM

Quote from: SJFF82 on October 05, 2011, 12:59:15 PM

Quote from: Old IC Voice on October 04, 2011, 08:26:49 PM

Quote from: SJFF82 on October 04, 2011, 11:38:26 AM
I dont think SJF should necessarily be ranked ahead of AU.  To do so ignores the fact that SJF was poor enough to lose by 32 at home on homecoming to a team not wearing purple (and with all due respect to AU, I dont mean Alfred).  It seems everyone gets caught up in the "if you beat someone you must be ranked ahead of them" syndrome.  We know that it is impossible when teams start knocking eachother off later in the season.  If AU were to show further signs of struggle against Wick this week and SJF handles IC, then an argument could  and should be made.

It's what we have right now, though, especially given that it's early in the season. When matched up with one another, SJF was better than Alfred. As a result, they're ranked higher in my rankings. Simple stuff; when Oregon got beat by LSU, did pollsters keep ranking the Ducks higher than the Tigers? No, and that's the way it should be.

Later in the season, when certain teams separate themselves from the pack, I'm fine with changing the rankings and going with the teams that deserve them. For now, though, when we're only 4 games into the season, this is what's here; no more, no less.

Who do you think is the better team?  It appears your ranking now is based on who "deserves" it.

Personally I still think AU is the better overall team.

As do I, and most other people I would think, but all rankings are based on who deserves it in some way or another. Really talented teams that lose a game early have an uphill battle to get ranked ahead of a team that is slightly below them, but doesn't lose? In Division I, doesn't Boise State get ranked way up when SEC teams are clearly "better". And, taking that furhter, don't we all get upset when a 1 loss big conference team gets a BCS bid over an undefeated Boise Team? Boise may be better, but the other team has earned the bid based on one loss in a much tougher conference.

I think AU is a better team than Fisher this year, but I don't think you would have a problem with Fisher jumping them in the conference rankings (especially if the rankings are handicapping the eventual AQ winner).

This.

Quote from: SJFF82 on October 04, 2011, 11:38:26 AM
I dont think SJF should necessarily be ranked ahead of AU.  To do so ignores the fact that SJF was poor enough to lose by 32 at home on homecoming to a team not wearing purple (and with all due respect to AU, I dont mean Alfred).  It seems everyone gets caught up in the "if you beat someone you must be ranked ahead of them" syndrome.  We know that it is impossible when teams start knocking eachother off later in the season.  If AU were to show further signs of struggle against Wick this week and SJF handles IC, then an argument could  and should be made.

It's what we have right now, though, especially given that it's early in the season. When matched up with one another, SJF was better than Alfred. As a result, they're ranked higher in my rankings. Simple stuff; when Oregon got beat by LSU, did pollsters keep ranking the Ducks higher than the Tigers? No, and that's the way it should be.

Later in the season, when certain teams separate themselves from the pack, I'm fine with changing the rankings and going with the teams that deserve them. For now, though, when we're only 4 games into the season, this is what's here; no more, no less.

Quote from: bomber3 on October 03, 2011, 09:46:31 PM

Quote from: Old IC Voice on October 03, 2011, 07:00:59 PM
Updated E8 rankings after Saturday.

1) Salisbury: The new top dog in the conference following their offensive outburst against Utica. It's no secret that this team can put up the points, but can they beat a team with a similar option attack in Springfield, something they may not see again all year?
2) SJF: Big leap for the Cardinals after one of the more impressive wins by an E8 team this season. A sixth consecutive win over Ithaca (and GOD, does that thought make me sick as an IC alum) and a Salisbury loss, and suddenly, this team may go from #4 to #1 in the conference in the span of two weeks.
3) Alfred: Tough setback for the Saxons, but not one they can't recover from. Two second-half turnovers gave the Cardinals a short field and led to the two decisive touchdowns in a game that was otherwise pretty even statistically. They get what should be an easy win in Hartwick this coming weekend.
4) Springfield: Others are more impressed with Springfield than I am. In my eyes, they haven't beaten anyone of note, and their defense allowed 21 points to a 1-4 team last week. In their one game against a capable opponent, Alfred ran for 232 yards. That's not a good sign for a team looking to stop Salisbury's lethal option attack.
5) Ithaca: As I said a few days ago, without Ruffrage's big day and Conti's game-ending pick-six, Ithaca may have lost Saturday at Hartwick. The Cage has been a longtime nemesis for the Bombers, and they get another one this week when SJF comes to the South Hill.
6) Frostburg State: Nothing changes after the bye week. Unfortunately, that includes their opponent this week, regional power Wesley.
7) Utica: The Pioneers put up 45 points against what was thought to be a respectable Salisbury defense. The only problem? They gave up 70. Their game Saturday should be a good one, though, as they get an RPI team that hasn't allowed fewer than 21 points in a game through four weeks.
8) Hartwick: Some will say they should have defeated the Bombers Saturday, and I'll oblige that the argument is there. I say it's more due to the Cage getting into IC's head, and that they need to play their best game of the season to keep this week's game at Alfred within reach.

Once again I will nitpick the 4/5 spot.  This week, Fisher deserves to be ahead of Ithaca.  Springfield, I would disagree.  Both IC and Springfiend have lost once and Ithaca's close loss now looks better than Springfield's.  Ithaca has wins over Brockport, at Union, and at Hartwick (combined 4 wins).  Springfiend has wins vs Husson and Frostburg and at Merchant Marine (combined 3 wins).  Once again this is nitpicking but I think these two should be switched.  The rest of the rankings I agree with.

And everyone has been spot on with the Fisher/IC analysis.  The story of this game is IC's offense vs Fisher's defense.  IC will probably need at least 21 to win this game and turn it over 2 or fewer times.  Anything less than 21 points and more than 2 turnovers spells trouble and most likely means the streak will continue.  The defense will need to hold their own and win the field position battle - IC will find it very difficult to string together long, sustained drives.  Looking forward to this matchup.

Once again, part of me wanted to rank IC fourth, and once again, I refrained. They were a few breaks away from losing at Hartwick; that game was nowhere near as one-sided as the 27-13 final score would indicate. As good as IC's defense has been this year, the Hawks actually outgained IC, were driving to tie the game in the final minutes, and that's cause for concern leading into this week going against a Fisher team that appears considerably better than 'Wick in every aspect of the game. In addition, Springfield hasn't proven much, but I'm more impressed by their eight-point loss to Alfred than I am by IC's 14-point loss to Salisbury. Ultimately, those two factors made it impossible for me to move the Bombers up.

Updated E8 rankings after Saturday.

1) Salisbury: The new top dog in the conference following their offensive outburst against Utica. It's no secret that this team can put up the points, but can they beat a team with a similar option attack in Springfield, something they may not see again all year?
2) SJF: Big leap for the Cardinals after one of the more impressive wins by an E8 team this season. A sixth consecutive win over Ithaca (and GOD, does that thought make me sick as an IC alum) and a Salisbury loss, and suddenly, this team may go from #4 to #1 in the conference in the span of two weeks.
3) Alfred: Tough setback for the Saxons, but not one they can't recover from. Two second-half turnovers gave the Cardinals a short field and led to the two decisive touchdowns in a game that was otherwise pretty even statistically. They get what should be an easy win in Hartwick this coming weekend.
4) Springfield: Others are more impressed with Springfield than I am. In my eyes, they haven't beaten anyone of note, and their defense allowed 21 points to a 1-4 team last week. In their one game against a capable opponent, Alfred ran for 232 yards. That's not a good sign for a team looking to stop Salisbury's lethal option attack.
5) Ithaca: As I said a few days ago, without Ruffrage's big day and Conti's game-ending pick-six, Ithaca may have lost Saturday at Hartwick. The Cage has been a longtime nemesis for the Bombers, and they get another one this week when SJF comes to the South Hill.
6) Frostburg State: Nothing changes after the bye week. Unfortunately, that includes their opponent this week, regional power Wesley.
7) Utica: The Pioneers put up 45 points against what was thought to be a respectable Salisbury defense. The only problem? They gave up 70. Their game Saturday should be a good one, though, as they get an RPI team that hasn't allowed fewer than 21 points in a game through four weeks.
8) Hartwick: Some will say they should have defeated the Bombers Saturday, and I'll oblige that the argument is there. I say it's more due to the Cage getting into IC's head, and that they need to play their best game of the season to keep this week's game at Alfred within reach.

IC tops Hartwick 27-13 in a game that was much closer than the final score indicates. Hartwick actually outgained IC in terms of total yardage. Without Dan Ruffrage's big day (75 receiving yards, a TD catch, and a huge kickoff return for a score) and the pick-six at the end, you could make the argument that IC would have lost the game.

The positives for IC: It's a win. Hendel did fine, especially in the first half, but he did throw two picks. IC's defense forced four turnovers, including the 95-yard INT return for a score at the end of the game.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The Cage is in IC's head. The score shows a team that was considerably better than its opponent on that given day, but the stats and the way the game was played say otherwise.

Pick-Six and that'll do it! It's not pretty, it's not a game I'd like to see played again anytime soon, but it's a 27-13 win for IC.

Hartwick just BARELY converts on 4th down.

IC to punt it away with 1:02 left on the clock.

Come on, Bombers; don't do anything stupid here.

Big pick! IC dodges a bullet, and hopefully they can run the clock out.

Just got the feed. Goodness gracious.

I've been saying it all week; there's SOMETHING about The Cage that makes IC not play well. If not for Ruffrage, this game could have been lost already.

HC livestats bit the dust as well. Joy.

Quote from: bomber3 on October 01, 2011, 04:10:30 PM

Quote from: Yanks 99 on October 01, 2011, 04:09:19 PM
Great...KO return for a TD IC...about to be up 21-7...

Wahoo!

Needed a big play, and we got it. Ruffrage having himself a ballgame; 75 receiving yards and a TD catch, and now a 61-yard kick return for a score.

Following the IC-Wick livestats. Seems like a sloppy game, as each team's turned the ball over three times. Hendel's been OK but has also thrown two picks.

Bombers still lead 14-0 in the 4th quarter, but Wick is driving.

EDIT: And right after I post, Hartwick scores to cut it to 14-7 with 6:50 left.

Flashback of the day: Anyone think IC-Wick will have a game today resembling THIS past box score? http://www.hartwick.edu/x24783.xml