FB: Empire 8

[saxontad]

Since we are mentioning scrimmages, Pep, any word on AU's scrimmage this year?  When does practice start?
Love that there are six home games this year.

On Saxon warriors!!

[dlippiel]

Write up on the Union College Football Dutchmen's recruiting class on the blog.

www.dlipthedutchman.blogspot.com

[AUPepBand]

Since we are mentioning scrimmages, Pep, any word on AU's scrimmage this year?  When does practice start?
Love that there are six home games this year.

On Saxon warriors!!

Pep believes practice begins Aug. 16. AU will scrimmage AT Cornell University on Saturday, Aug. 31, with exact time yet to be confirmed.

Pep was delighted to see Chris Steeves and his mother on Main Street in downtown Mayberry today...Steeves will be on the coaching staff this season, having graduated in May. Of course, Pep, driving the Pep Bandwagon, paused long enough to yell out the window, "Hey, it's Coach Steeves!"

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

New poster here... Frequent to the board over the last year to follow the Bombers when I couldnt make it to games... but looking forward to this year optimistically (as are most teams before the season starts). Quick breakdown on the bombers for this year..

Offensively:

QB: Neumann's (Captain) Senior year. Will he take the next step and progress into a possible all conference QB? Last year he seemed to get more comfortable and trusting of his recievers as the season went along but his strength will remain not turning the ball over and being smart with it.  Would like to see him get a little more aggressive when needed though. Hopefully the Bombers have been developing younger talent at this position/ have some good young recruits coming in because the Bombers really struggled even to get a single first down when Neumann went down vs HARTWICK last year.  Big question mark on the future of the position after Scavo went to Alfred (although the Bombers only had him for 2 days)
RB: After losing 2 senior RBs in Naiden and Ardoin the Bombers I believe will depend more on last years newcomer and Ithaca native Rakim Jones. Saw him a little in limited action and he looked like he could be a solid back.  Also any word on Sal Sulla? Last I heard he was supposed to be returning to the Bombers but I havent heard. He would be a welcomed sight as 2 back systems seem to have worked pretty well in the past for the bombers. 
OL: O-Line will be the biggest strength for the bombers offensively.  Returning starters of Benvenuto (G), Rampa (T), and Senior Captain Pat Stevenson (T/G) Should allow the bombers to be a better run team than recent years.  Also some younger talent should help fill in the spots to provide a pretty solid line, probably the best for the bombers since the 08-09 mostronsity of a line.
WR: With Ingrao gone the WR's are somewhat of a question mark for the bombers... Joel Lynch will be their biggest threat. Can he step up and become the #1 Wideout for the bombers.  Look for lesser known juniors such as Matt Pinzka/Chris Bauer to possibly be a number 2 threat. Also slot recievers Vito Boffoli and Josh Oliver could make an impact if they can get the ball in their hands.
TE: Returning Seniors Steve DelMoro and Jared Prugar should be assets for the bombers in the passing and running games. Look for the bombers to use a lot of 2 TE sets again with these 2 back.

Defensively:

D-Line: Returning Joe Ricotta to the Bombers 3 man line will be key but the bombers need to fill in the other 2 spots to allow the LBs to run free and make tackles.  Look for Tijah Henderson to possibly fill one of these roles.
LBs: Typically the Bombers' strength will be no different this year.  Returning Senior Will Carter (Captain) will be big for the bombers. Also returning are Jake Santora and Chris Williams.  No shortage in depth with Duggan, Hardenberg, and others returning to help the bombers.
DBs: With both starting corners in Vulcano and Garvey returning as well as safeties Tom Scanlon and Skylar Griffenberg, the Bombers pass D should be pretty strong. Depth behind those guys as well.

Special Teams:
Returning Kicker Garrett Nicholson and Returners Sam Carney and Josh Oliver should make the Bombers dynamic as always on the specialties. 

Looking forward to this year to see if the bombers can make the next step and get back into playoff contention... Any insights on other teams in the E8? Saxons? UC? Fisher? Salisbury? Buff State?

Go Bombers!!

Welcome aboard, bomber23! Always glad to see new posters on here....along with an occasional visit from some "posters from the past" like YellowHat....Techmo....Tags....Superman....where'd they go?

Get the fight song ready!

[Cardinal Pride]

Is there any news about a Fisher scrimmage this year? They have traditionally played Mo'ville, but played Alfred State last year. Any info is appreciated.

Fisher will scrimmage Erie Community College.    I wouldn't let the Community College title fool you as they have many DI hopefuls that didn't make the grades.  They have kids from up and down the east coast, should be interesting.

[saxontad]

Is Dennis Green still the head coach at Erie?  He used to be Offensive Coordinator at AU in the early '90's as I recall.  Guess I'll check their website.  Pep, remember Coach Green?

On Saxon Warriors.

[Jonny Utah]

Is Dennis Green still the head coach at Erie?  He used to be Offensive Coordinator at AU in the early '90's as I recall.  Guess I'll check their website.  Pep, remember Coach Green?

On Saxon Warriors.

Related to Saxon stud backer Will Green from the same time period?

[saxontad]

I'm not positive, but I don't think they were related.

[sjfcards]

Is there any news about a Fisher scrimmage this year? They have traditionally played Mo'ville, but played Alfred State last year. Any info is appreciated.

Fisher will scrimmage Erie Community College.    I wouldn't let the Community College title fool you as they have many DI hopefuls that didn't make the grades.  They have kids from up and down the east coast, should be interesting.

Thanks Cardinal Pride! Ay idea when, where, what time?

[dlippiel]

Dlip is wishing Phil Neumann a great senior year at IC! Being a Capital Region kid (Burnt Hills) makes dlip an automatic fan! Good luck Phil...against everyone except Union .

[AUPepBand]

Is Dennis Green still the head coach at Erie?  He used to be Offensive Coordinator at AU in the early '90's as I recall.  Guess I'll check their website.  Pep, remember Coach Green?

On Saxon Warriors.

Pep DOES remember Coach Dennis Greene, offensive coordinator at AU from 1991-1994. Class act, great role model for young men. Solid Christian. Pep wasn't aware he was at ECC in that capacity. Upon a little research, Pep learned that he was Erie's FIRST (program started in 2001) and only head football coach and continues there today. ECC was a challenge for Alfred State over the years. Still on the ASC schedule this season, to complete a contract.

Get the fight song ready!

[D3MAFAN]

Is Dennis Green still the head coach at Erie?  He used to be Offensive Coordinator at AU in the early '90's as I recall.  Guess I'll check their website.  Pep, remember Coach Green?

On Saxon Warriors.

Pep DOES remember Coach Dennis Greene, offensive coordinator at AU from 1991-1994. Class act, great role model for young men. Solid Christian. Pep wasn't aware he was at ECC in that capacity. Upon a little research, Pep learned that he was Erie's FIRST (program started in 2001) and only head football coach and continues there today. ECC was a challenge for Alfred State over the years. Still on the ASC schedule this season, to complete a contract.

Get the fight song ready!

I am not sure, but does Erie CC still play at a high school on that awful grass field?

[AUPepBand]

Pep stopped in briefly at the Wegmans off Hylan Drive near Marketplace Friday and bumped into one of his old pick-up basketball pals, Brenton Brady. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Pep just happened to have an AU Saxons fall sports schedule with him in the Cruiser and handed it over to Brady and encouraged him to see the Saxons play. A couple of East High standouts (where Brady played his high school ball) are in the Saxon secondary...Michael Perkins and Calvin Bain.

Have you purchased your Kickoff 2013 from this website yet? The boys will be back in town the end of this week.....

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Pep was standing in line with Pep Jr., waiting for a ride on Ravine Flyer 2 at Waldameer Park in Erie, PA and found himself listening to a tune that seemed like a "must" for AU Pep Band's repertoire. Pep was unfamiliar with the name of the song until asking Pep Jr. who informed him it was "The Final Countdown," definitely a "must" for the band. And with that, it seems like it's the final countdown until the 2013 season begins.....

Today is Wednesday, August 14 and in two days, there will be plenty of activity on Merrill Field as the 2013 Saxons open their preseason camp!!

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUKaz00]

Pep was standing in line with Pep Jr., waiting for a ride on Ravine Flyer 2 at Waldameer Park in Erie, PA and found himself listening to a tune that seemed like a "must" for AU Pep Band's repertoire. Pep was unfamiliar with the name of the song until asking Pep Jr. who informed him it was "The Final Countdown," definitely a "must" for the band. And with that, it seems like it's the final countdown until the 2013 season begins.....

Today is Wednesday, August 14 and in two days, there will be plenty of activity on Merrill Field as the 2013 Saxons open their preseason camp!!

On Saxon Warriors!

That Europe tune is on Just Dance 4 and Kaz will occassionally hear his boys bust out the chorus.  It always slays me, especially since whenever I hear that song I immediately think of George Oscar Bluth.