FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Sjfcards,

I was on business in the Rochester area and noticed it was lunch and I thought I would venture to St. Johns Fisher. What a beautiful campus. I visited Growney Field. It's a great facility, but where do the visiting fans go? I figure the home side holds about 2,500. It seems like there is a lot going on across the home side. Will they build stands there? Again a very beautiful campus.

Rams,

I have always been a huge fan of the Fisher campus, especially with some of the recent renovations and additions they have made. I love the look and feel of it. How did the construction on the visitors side look? I know they have a short window for completion of the facility, but I hear it is moving along. I haven't seen it yet however.

[rams1102]

Sjfcards,

I was on business in the Rochester area and noticed it was lunch and I thought I would venture to St. Johns Fisher. What a beautiful campus. I visited Growney Field. It's a great facility, but where do the visiting fans go? I figure the home side holds about 2,500. It seems like there is a lot going on across the home side. Will they build stands there? Again a very beautiful campus.

Rams,

I have always been a huge fan of the Fisher campus, especially with some of the recent renovations and additions they have made. I love the look and feel of it. How did the construction on the visitors side look? I know they have a short window for completion of the facility, but I hear it is moving along. I haven't seen it yet however.

It looks like everything is leveled out and they are ready to go. Let's see what happens and again the campus is great. !!!

[sjfcards]

As stated before, when the new grandstand is complete, I will probably want to sit with the visitors fans. I was talking with someone that works in the Fisher athletics department, and he said they are planning on making some additions (hooray bathrooms) to the existing side of Growney as well. Not sure if it is true or not, but that would be a great idea.

[fisheralum91]

Upstate and cards give a younger view of Fisher- I can give you guys perspective of what it was like in the 80's.
Small campus, small classes poor athletic facilities, but great and I mean great faculty and administration.
President Pickett wasnt a great guy but his support staff was outstanding.  Back then you knew everyone in your class- I think I was one of 550 in '91. To go back and visit- I hardly recognize the campus.
It is amazing the transformation.
Cant wait to get back in a couple of weeks!

[dewcrew88]

My Week 4:

Wilkes 28 Pootica 13 - Can't use the SC game as bench mark. Triple option is really hard to stop especially when its the first time seeing it. A pee wee team could hang 50+ on Becker and Castleton.

That "Pee-Wee" team hung 42 on RPI last weekend. Wilkes, correct me if I'm wrong, also allowed 35 points and 452 yards to Waynesburg in Week 1. So I'm not exactly sold that Wilkes could stop anyone. Wilkes' offense didn't exactly look impressive putting up 190 yards last week either

you got it.

[Yanks 99]

My Week 4:

Wilkes 28 Pootica 13 - Can't use the SC game as bench mark. Triple option is really hard to stop especially when its the first time seeing it. A pee wee team could hang 50+ on Becker and Castleton.

That "Pee-Wee" team hung 42 on RPI last weekend. Wilkes, correct me if I'm wrong, also allowed 35 points and 452 yards to Waynesburg in Week 1. So I'm not exactly sold that Wilkes could stop anyone. Wilkes' offense didn't exactly look impressive putting up 190 yards last week either

you got it.

I actually expect Utica to win this one...still, nothing will matter at all for them until they start beating E8 teams.  Assuming they win this weekend, and then beat St. Lawrence and Wick (it hurts as a Wick fan to say you are probably heavily favored in this one), nothing (opinions that is) will really change until you take down one (or two) of the remaining four teams in the E8 (Fisher, Ithaca, Springfield, or Alfred).

Just the way it is...trust me...we have been there...

[dewcrew88]

My Week 4:

Wilkes 28 Pootica 13 - Can't use the SC game as bench mark. Triple option is really hard to stop especially when its the first time seeing it. A pee wee team could hang 50+ on Becker and Castleton.

That "Pee-Wee" team hung 42 on RPI last weekend. Wilkes, correct me if I'm wrong, also allowed 35 points and 452 yards to Waynesburg in Week 1. So I'm not exactly sold that Wilkes could stop anyone. Wilkes' offense didn't exactly look impressive putting up 190 yards last week either

you got it.

I actually expect Utica to win this one...still, nothing will matter at all for them until they start beating E8 teams.  Assuming they win this weekend, and then beat St. Lawrence and Wick (it hurts as a Wick fan to say you are probably heavily favored in this one), nothing (opinions that is) will really change until you take down one (or two) of the remaining four teams in the E8 (Fisher, Ithaca, Springfield, or Alfred).

Just the way it is...trust me...we have been there...

absolutely. Starting non-conference undefeated is nice, but nothing changes for the program until they get into conference play and beat those teams. Like i said in ATE, I think they have turned the corner from the close losses last year -- they just need to finish ballgames.

[Yanks 99]

My Week 4:

Wilkes 28 Pootica 13 - Can't use the SC game as bench mark. Triple option is really hard to stop especially when its the first time seeing it. A pee wee team could hang 50+ on Becker and Castleton.

That "Pee-Wee" team hung 42 on RPI last weekend. Wilkes, correct me if I'm wrong, also allowed 35 points and 452 yards to Waynesburg in Week 1. So I'm not exactly sold that Wilkes could stop anyone. Wilkes' offense didn't exactly look impressive putting up 190 yards last week either

you got it.

I actually expect Utica to win this one...still, nothing will matter at all for them until they start beating E8 teams.  Assuming they win this weekend, and then beat St. Lawrence and Wick (it hurts as a Wick fan to say you are probably heavily favored in this one), nothing (opinions that is) will really change until you take down one (or two) of the remaining four teams in the E8 (Fisher, Ithaca, Springfield, or Alfred).

Just the way it is...trust me...we have been there...

absolutely. Starting non-conference undefeated is nice, but nothing changes for the program until they get into conference play and beat those teams. Like i said in ATE, I think they have turned the corner from the close losses last year -- they just need to finish ballgames.

Even finishing undefeated in non-conference would be great for Utica (and assuming what I said above that they beat Wick)...as that would guarantee a finish of no worse then 6-4...and I believe it would be only the second time ever that Utica would have a winning record.  To most though, to officially turn the corner for this year only, they would have to knock off one , but probably two, of the remaining four E8 teams (Fisher, Ithaca, Alfred, and Springfield).   7-3 would be great for Utica, from a program standpoint, as that is uncharted territory...but it would still in all reality mean a fourth place finish in the league.  Nice jump...but tough to really get that excited about the prospects of a team that finishes fourth in a six team league.  That is why beating two of the remaining four to me would be really important if you want to gauge that Utica has "turned the corner".

[Bombers798891]

I'd really like an E8 team to just put it all together one year and run the table. I know we talk about parity and what not, but it seems to me that, most seasons, we seem to have that one dominant team that just lays an egg in the regular season.

Last year, it was an undefeated Alfred getting whipped by a three-loss IC

In 2008, it was IC getting stomped by a four-loss Fisher team

In 2006 it was that great Fisher teams losing to a Springfield team they probably should have beaten (and did beat later), and then Springfield losing to a pretty bland three-loss IC team

In 2004 it was Fisher losing to Norwich and the Bombers---with their most underrated team---blowing a 4th quarter lead in Fisher

I guess '07 was an exception, although frankly, I think few of us would doubt Fisher was stronger than that Wick team. And honestly, Fisher was better than IC in 2005. (But we were better in 2004, IMO)

I don't know, maybe this is just me, but is it weird to anyone else that the only team to go undefeated in full E8 play (with seven teams) was the '05 Bombers, who are probably the fourth best Ithaca team in that time frame? If we were to rate the strength of the various E8 teams in that time frame, that IC team would come in somewhere like  8th, behind, at least in my mind:

The '04, '07 and '08 Bombers
The '04, '05, '06 and '07 Fisher teams
The '06 Springfield team

I know I tend to be the cynical one of this board, but I think this is one of the things hurting the conference (Well, that and losing in the 1st round at home every season) and maybe the East. Our best teams don't always play 10 straight great weeks, and that means someone's got to string together a solid postseason run (Like those Fisher teams, or going back to the very early days, the '03 Bombers). At what point does parity become teams just blowing chances at making waves?

That's why (and it pains me deeply to say this) I wouldn't mind Fisher going 10-0 this year. Just quick screwing around an cut a path of destruction already. (I'd say the Bombers going 10-0, but if that '88 team couldn't do it, I don't know how I'd feel about it. Wouldn't feel right. Kind of like Yuniesky Betancourt finishing the season with a higher average than Derek Jeter)

[sjfcards]

That's a great point bombers, and I love that you are pushing for a 10-0 Fisher. I agree with your point. As a Fisher fan there have been some very disappointing losses, and I am sure AU and IC fans can say the same. If nothing else it hurts the conference and the east region by allowing Mount Union to be brought into the east.

[clandfan]

Sjfcards,

I was on business in the Rochester area and noticed it was lunch and I thought I would venture to St. Johns Fisher. What a beautiful campus. I visited Growney Field. It's a great facility, but where do the visiting fans go? I figure the home side holds about 2,500. It seems like there is a lot going on across the home side. Will they build stands there? Again a very beautiful campus.

Rams,

I have always been a huge fan of the Fisher campus, especially with some of the recent renovations and additions they have made. I love the look and feel of it. How did the construction on the visitors side look? I know they have a short window for completion of the facility, but I hear it is moving along. I haven't seen it yet however.

It looks like everything is leveled out and they are ready to go. Let's see what happens and again the campus is great. !!!

Was there last year for ECAC Bowl game when we got thumped in the second half.  Campus is beautiful.  Glad to hear of the plans for visitors seating.  It was definately needed.

[Bombers798891]

That's a great point bombers, and I love that you are pushing for a 10-0 Fisher. I agree with your point. As a Fisher fan there have been some very disappointing losses, and I am sure AU and IC fans can say the same. If nothing else it hurts the conference and the east region by allowing Mount Union to be brought into the east.

I wouldn't say I'm pushing for it per se. I actually think, if Ithaca were to get by Fisher at 6-0, they would probably have a good shot at going unbeaten. Springfield and Utica come here, (Where they never play well) and then we get what looks like may be a not-as-great Alfred team, and then Cortland who, if nothing else, we're on par with.

The wrinkle is, of course, that I don't think they WILL get by Fisher, so I'm hedging my bet.

[boobyhasgameyo]

What's with the see-through runners?

Rob Kramer and Mark Robinson, ghosts of St. John Fisher past, come out of the cornfield to do one last lap around the old (er... new) track...

If you have seen Rob Kramer lately you would know he isn't in any shape to be doing a lap around the track.

Hey oh!


I kid, I kid...but seriously. 

[Yanks 99]

What's with the see-through runners?

Rob Kramer and Mark Robinson, ghosts of St. John Fisher past, come out of the cornfield to do one last lap around the old (er... new) track...

If you have seen Rob Kramer lately you would know he isn't in any shape to be doing a lap around the track.

Hey oh!


I kid, I kid...but seriously. 

Hmmm...I thought he looked exactly the same as his playing days when I saw him not that long ago...

[sjfcards]

I remember a Fisher/IC game at Ithaca (2007 maybe), and a guy sitting in the section I was in kept yelling at the IC team to "make the fat pigeon toed QB run the ball". Shortly after that Kramer broke one for a touchdown (maybe 25 or 30 yards). That brought a very frustrated scream from that guy.

Priceless!