So here I am for the annual trip to Alliance where the weather is about 30-something degrees and there’s a good wind blowing across the field.
I feel a little silly wearing a Linfield sweatshirt, which I brought to have some fun with the SJU and Whitewater fans before the flight got cancelled. I need to buy some OAC wardrobe for these trips since we make enough of them.
Ric Brienza and “HS Coach” gave me a very pleasant surprise, printing me copies of their game charts which we have named “Brienzas” in honor of Ric. They combine all the players’ vital information in a shell that’s easy to complete for a new team and even easier to update for a team you’ve seen before. Bless their hearts for the help since this was a late change in travel plans.
A few Capital players were milling around at about 10 AM and seemed in good spirits. If nothing else, they won’t be intimidated playing in this Stadium. QB Rocky Pentello and the other four-year seniors are playing their sixth game against Mount Union.
As for the Purple Raiders, they are always good for some stunning stats.
– Nate Kmic averages 7.43 yards per carry and is within striking distance of Chuck Moore’s school record (7.46).
– The Purple Raiders are holding teams to 0.9 yards per carry. That’s about what you should get if your quarterback takes the snap and collapses forward.
The two guys I most look forward to seeing are Pentello to see how he stacks up against other OAC playoff quarterbacks in the past few years (Arth, Adamson) and Matt Kostelnik. A junior safety for the Purple Raiders, Kostelnik has amazing numbers — 44 tackles (fourth on the team), 11.5 TFL (2nd), 7.0 sacks (1st), 4 INTs (1st) including two for TDs. Hello, All-American team.
I’ll post some thoughts at the half and after the game, but the floor is certainly open for other thoughts from Wisconsin, Delaware, New York or wherever else you may be.
MP look up the weather in western NY…. the running joke is Rochester get 4 days of sun a year…the rest is either rainy or cold and snowy
Superman,
Mount Union is no Rowan. It will be an intimidating experience. You can’t believe how good they really are until you play against them or see them play. If you want to see them play, I’m sure ESPN has tapes of 8 or so Stagg Bowl wins you can view. 😎
Wesley 34- UMHB 20! Need we say mor!
Superman, from what you say, the players should be OK. I was writing from the perspective of someone from VA suffering thru a humiliating defeat, miserable temperatures, metal seats, and a bleak landscape to look at on the way back. Go SJF!
Honestly don’t care how many stagg bowls MUC has won… I have the utmost respect for them but as we have seen before anything can happen and you are only as good as your last performance…Fisher Shut out a very good rowan team and MUC struggle against a team they dismantled eariler in the season
SJF – I love what you did today. Rowan does not go easy and no disrespect here ( even tho they knocked us out 2 years in a row) … Congratulations for winning the East convincingly – now go beat that giant in Ohio (be sure to say your prayers!). We’ll be routing hard for you from aggieland and all over the east. And for that matter … Go Wesley! Take care of the other midwest giant. Look forward to seeing you guys next year … (but I won’t be routing for you then)
Confidence! A football team with a significant amount of this ingredient is difficult to stop…anywhere and against anyone. The SJF coaching staff has put its players in the best possible position to win each of the past three weeks, and it has been rare to see Fisher not execute their game plan to precision. We did not just beat Rowan today; we dominated them. For a perennial powerhouse to visit East Avenue and get embarrassed from the kickoff to the final horn is a testament to the coaches who draw up the game plan, the players who believe in the system and, most importantly, believe in each other. It is VERY hard to beat a team with everything clicking like it is with Fisher. It is not so much how much talent you have, but how a team utilizes that talent. If Mount Union is content with their position, their winning streak and their record in the semis…. they have NO idea what is about to hit them. Raiders, you better be ready. It’s not just about the players on the field….. See you in Ohio; a trip to the title game hangs in the balance! Throw out the X’s and O’s.. this game is about who wants it more.
Bucksfan-
I guarantee the Fisher boys won’t be intimidated going into Alliance.
I’m not saying they’ll go in and win the game, but they won’t be scared to stand toe to toe with them.
First congrats to Mount Union for once again making the final four-a tribute to the team and coaching staff. A hearty thank you to the Capital seniors for 4 great years of football (the best in school history) and for making the quaterfinals in each of the last 2 years.
“I think its also fair to say the East Bracket was TERRIBLE.”
Why because someone other than rowan won the east this year?
SJF rolled through it outscoring opponents 107-42.
Just back from Rochester, the better team won. The Rowan offense was a no show. I wasn’t overly impressed with the Fisher offense and don’t think they will stack up so well against Mt Union but I was very impressed with their defense. The SJF defense was the quickest Rowan faced all year. The question I have about their defense is the lack of size.
Rowan finally dug themselves a hole they couldn’t get out with 3 turnovers and a punt return for TD in the first half.
The guy earlier who said SJF won’t be overwhelmed by going to Alliance…you are 100% wrong and you’ll see when you get there.
I think the SJF defense will keep them in the game but I just don’t see the offense putting up too many points though I am basing my assumption on seeing SJF just once.
The better team won today, good luck.
you say SJF won’t put up too many points but we just put 31 up on you guys… who have the 3rd best d in DIII
WarhawkBadger nice statement! I think it is also fair to say your post was a joke. Please write in again when you have anything realistic and constructive to say. Congrats to SJF today.I can honestly say I am proud to have you represent the East. What a run this season, impressive is an understatement. This team has really put it together when it needed to. Not having seen Mt UNion play this year I am curious as to what next week will have in store for the Cardinals. Any thoughts? I am sure we will all be discussing this all week. Congrats to all winners today.
Before I even get started on the 63 posts here, I posted a bunch of stuff (as did other people – 93 posts and counting) on the Looking ahead to Week 14: Quarterfinal Week blog thread.
As far as the Brienzas, they have become a D3football.com staple, and they get attention from radio guys around the country. We have blatantly copied Ric’s style on these, and have fallen in love. With the Brienzas. Not with Ric himself. I mean, he’s a nice guy and all …
Anyway, seems a good a time as any to say thanks by plugging his site, MtUnionFootball.com … The Shrineyness of it may be tough for the big New York contingent that makes their way over there this week, but that’s an accurate representation … SJF is going to THE place to play in D3football anymore. It’s the spot. The mystique is deserved.
By the same token, as a player, you want that challenge. UMHB talked about it in ’04, that they weren’t so much shook as they were eager to challenge themselves against the best there is.
We’ve seen some good teams get slaughtered there, and some good ones win … Either way, SJF will discover a lot about itself. Enjoy. And if you travel out there, NFL fans might as well hit up Canton down the road. 🙂
Oh, and I think it was here I read someone disparaging the East Region.
The East doesn’t have the power at the top like North (MUC/Cap), West or even South.
But it was the deepest region, i.e. it had more very good teams this year than the North or South … But the West was still best.
It was a big year for the East, although if SJF loses big, it may take some of the shine off it … but I think the East showed its depth, if not its up-top strength this season.
Oh, sweet, I get to see Mark Robinson play. ‘Bout time. I thought our connections in the East, which usually relgates me to games from the other regions, might mean I never see him and the Fisher gang.
I really had no idea Army-Navy was today. I mean, I know it’s the first week of Dec. and I drove by the billboard in Philly en route to Wilkes last week, but … I guess I’m just so immersed in D3.
Couldn’t even get up for Rutgers – W.Va. tonight. BCS Bowl … that’s cool, but A FREAKIN’ PLAYOFF would be cooler. Those guys don’t know what they’re missing. Playoff football. More games. The best against the best, proving it in the most entertaining way possible.
Whoever mentioned Capital, I voted for them No. 3 at the end of last season, ahead of Linfield (No. 4) and behind Whitewater.
I think what they did today locked up at least a No. 5 final rankings.
But, keeping with the theme of this post, who cares about polls when we’ve got the STAGG BOWL!!!!
(asks Brad Bankston for royalties) 🙂
JK,
guess that was all for you.
WarhawkBadger,
You think neither MUC or UW-W is as good as last year? I think they might both be better, I’ve heard that sentiment from some locals … but you’ve seen more Whitewater than me.
How/Why are they not better?
Keith-
They haven’t used Robinson like they did in 2004 but today they finally gave him some good carries (27). Rowan’s run defense was great, by far the best run defense we’ve seen & he still was over 100 yds until a play late in the 4th stopped him for a good sized loss. He will be the key in the Mount Union game – We’ll need him to step it up vs. Mount Union, this will be big for our O-line to try to create something for him. At the very least 25-30 carries will make Mount Union pay attention to our running game, and if he can get a little bit going we’ll have a better opportunity to have success in the passing game. Fisher is very well balanced and I believe that caught Rowan by surprise, as they were focused a lot on shutting Robinson down.
Keith, I hope that a lot of NY’ers will make it out to Allaince…but worried that the students will hold back on going because of Finals…got two words SCREW FINALS…plan on being there myself…should be a good game…no matter what Fisher has made a huge name for themselves and should be proud
Keith, I’ve been visiting this site for the past two years and absolutely love it. Thank you! But, I’m posting for the first time. I can’t speak for MU but I can absolutely say that UWW is definitely as good if not better than last year. We have had close games because the teams we have played are better than they were last year. Both LAX and SJU played great games against us. Last weeks game against LAX and today’s game with SJU have been a couple of the best football games I’ve seen all year. The better teams are able to overcome uncharacteristic mistakes and win the close ones.
Go Warhawks!
Keith,
Meeting you and Pat Cummings and some of the other DIII fans from other schools and chatting football was an enjoyable experience today. Glad the EAGLES weren’t brought up! Keep up the great work
UMHB brought their B game and got B game results. Like I said before if Wesley had big pass plays, cancel Christmas. Good year Cru, work on pass defense next year and keep pounding the pigskin. I doubt Wesley will be as competitive next year because they lose Warrick. UMHB has most of the starters coming back and will be in great shape again. Good game Wesley and good luck next week, you will need it!! I am pulling for you to win, go Wesley!! Oh! that DL Robinson dude is ONE hell of a player he caused havoc all day. UWW you better be ready, Wesley held us to 131 rushing yards.
“Keith, I hope that a lot of NY’ers will make it out to Allaince…but worried that the students will hold back on going because of Finals…got two words SCREW FINALS…plan on being there myself…should be a good game…no matter what Fisher has made a huge name for themselves and should be proud”
Although I enjoy the passion, that type of statement is inherently against the grain of what D3 is all about…. Academics first. Tsk tsk.
wow what a game between uww and sju…i went to that game and let me tell u….RYAN KLEPPE IS AN ANIMAL….if he doesnt win the galardi trophy i dont know who will….today sju was the better team…there defense played outstanding…the johnnie offense spuddered and had 3 turnovers and they scored 10 points basically on our offense….but uww has a good chance to beat wesley and against mount union if they win….there defense is incredible and the offense is great even tho they played bad today….good luck uww!
Hondo earlier this week: “And for you folks at D3, you can pick and predict, and talk about whoever you’d like to, but here at Fisher, we’ll just play the game…”
… and then you’ll come back the next day and throw down your 20-20 hindsight?
Hondo today: “Pat and Keith, and D3 Football – Wrong Again… ”
Pretty weak given you weren’t willing to post your own scores beforehand.
POrtgrad…when I say screwfinals I don’t mean don’t take them but take some time to enjoy what college has to offer since chances are Fisher will not make it this far for a few years…so study at the hotel or in the car….and anyways who really studies anymore….I certainly never did and always did very well on all my tests
Fisher:28 MU: 24
Good win Warhawks, We gave it all we had, you guys just make plays when you have two. Congrats on your second stright trip to the Stagg Bowl. You guys have earned it.
Fisher might beat MU this week. Whats up with LK benching Jorris for two bad series. He wasnt hurt was he??? Guy has been money for this team the last two years. With other guy MU is one dimensional and can’t throw the ball. They may get by Fisher, but a one dimentional team will get smoked by UWW.
Flush the Johnnies
Lest you forget the Stagg bowl is in two weeks!!!! Don’t think that you will be seeing the same Wesley team you saw last year. But if your Warhawks are looking past the Wolverines they’ll be watching the Stagg bowl on t.v.
sjfc1993
Congratulations on your big win, but I feel obligated to point out that unlike St. John Fisher, Mt. Union, UW-W, and Wesley have ALL “beat every team they’ve played this year.”
Even if your record did not include the one blemish, we would still have to consider which of the four semifinalists played the tougher schedule. Despite the fact that your “numbers weren’t put up against nobody teams either; Rowan, Springfield, Union, and Ithaca were all top 25 teams this season,” I believe most of the neutral third parties will agree that either Mt. Union or UW-W (I am not arguing OAC v WIAC right now) played the tougher schedule. In any event, your team is NOT undefeated and did NOT play a tougher schedule than its next opponent.
Oh and your quick stats? While the NCAA site does not include the quarterfinal games…
Scoring Offense
1 Mount Union 48.4
2 St. John Fisher 40.3
3 Wesley 39.7
5 UW-W 38.8
Scoring Defense
2 Mount Union 6.9
8 UW-W 10.4
16 Wesley 11.7
30 St. John Fisher 13.8
Total Offense
1 Mount Union 518.1
9 St. John Fisher 431.5
10 UW-W 431.2
11 Wesley 425.2
Total Defense
2 Mount Union 174.9
18 UW-W 228.7
33 Wesley 251.5
50+ St. John Fisher ???.?
Turnover Margin
8 Mount Union 1.4
9 UW-W 1.3
28 Wesley 0.9
41 St. John Fisher 0.8
Finally, while “Fisher played minus 3 defensive starters” I would point out that UW-W played without what is arguably the best Division 3 running back in the country (for more than one game).
To use your own quote, “I think [your] game will be a bit [tougher] than you anticipate…”
35-14 sounds about right.
58-6 last year in a laugher. It will be cold and snowy in Wisconsin again, and Wesley wont compete. They quit last year in a National Semifinal. Maybe a little more respectable this year. Lets say 48-6. How is Wesleys team any different??? UW defense is much improved. Beaver will run wild again Saturday. like last year. Real interest this week is MU/Fisch game. Does anyone have explanation on their QB situation?? I know LK has posted on here before maybe he can clear it up.
uww will win without a doubt….they do have an unbeliveable defense….warhawks offense played bad yesterday and they still beat st. johns….warhawks had no guy over 100 yards rushing or recieving and jacbos only through for 193 yards….but it doesnt matter when kleppe is in the backfield every play
Flush
1. Wesley won’t be surprised by the weather this year. Unless of course the ground crew screws up the field!!!!! Any idiot knows that moiture and sub freezing temps equals ice. Guess that’s home field advantage aye?
2. Wesley has a better running game than last year.
3. The defense is playing well and has shut down two of the best running attacks in DIII the last two weeks.
So don’t be surprise when Wesley comes to town
Keith
Because you asked…
While I believe UW-W might be good enough to win a national title, they clearly are not playing as well as last year’s team was throughout the playoffs and into the Stagg Bowl.
Losing Justin Beaver for an extended period of time can mess up an offense and even with him back, you need to remember that their blocking fullback is done for the year.
After UW-LAX 1, the Warhawks seemed poised for a run back to the Stagg Bowl, but Beaver’s broken collarbone at the end of that game certainly dimmed the momentum. Their throw game has gotten back in gear but when they a play a team like St. John’s yesterday and get no big plays from Derek Stanley they can look mortal.
They are better on defense but not as consistent on offense. Having said that, they have been exposed a little bit defensively in the secondary–you cannot win a game running the ball against them (although UW-LAX mauled them a little bit in the playoff game) but you can max protect and throw it over the top. Yesterday St. John’s consistently got stuffed on 1st and 2nd down and then moved the pocket and attacked the middle of the field and converted 3rd and longs. Several offsides penalites hurt and the UW-W defense just could not get off the field despite being dominant on first and second down. UW-W ran like five plays in the third quarter (but got a TD).
The UW-W D can get after your quarterback (Ryan Kleppe) and turn you over and their offense does not need a lot of help.
Wesley throwing for over 400 yesterday is worrisome but if they cannot run and get one-dimensional they may need a good backup quarterback.
Offensively, it is all about consistency and not turning it over. Then they make you try to drive it against their defense.
Given a short field or a breakdown they pounce. St. John’s lost last year because they turned it over and lost this year because they turned it over.
If UW-W steps up and plays well (maybe the best thing you can say about their talent is that they have played two subpar games in a row and advanced to the national seminfinals) they will roll over Wesley. 58-6 is still 58-6. Elements, turnovers, and giving up all played a roll but the game was never competitive.
Still, for Saturday I see something like
UW-W 34
Wesley 17
and I already said 35-14 sounds right for MU over StJF–regardless of the quartercback. The fact that they beat Cap without taking advantage of Pierre Garcon means a lot to me–very much like UW-W winning without Stanley getting big numbers.
Mt. Union and UW-W are so good that they have to play poorly, make mistakes, anf turn it over in order to lose.
If there is not a rematch, THAT is an upset.
I want to congratulate the Johnnies on a great season, which unfortunately ended two weeks too early. My impressions of Whitewater is that they are a solid team but a flawed one…SJU missed on opportunities, unable to finish drives all season long and it bit them hard on Saturday. I think we will have a Stagg Bowl rematch, only because a team can only improve so much from year to year…and I have to agree the Warhawk D was fantastic, Kleppe is as advertised.
For those of you who predicted a big win by the Warhawks…you were wrong and need not post anymore…especially SeanGOP…you bother me boy…just go play with your toys…
As for SJ Fisher…good luck on your initial trip to Alliance, you will need it, maybe you are a great program and a great team, but now you are in rare air and sometimes its hard to breathe
PA_Wesley fan
“Any idiot knows that moiture and sub freezing temps equals ice.”
FYI
This is Wisconsin and it is now December.
It seems to me that while any idiot knows that we have ice in winter here, the Wesley Wolverines seemed shocked by it a year ago.
You could tell when they left the locker room that they wanted to turn around and get back inside where it was warm–somtimes this game gets down to toughness (mental and physical) and your team will need to display more of it Saturday than they did last year.
The weather made it tough and the footing was bad (apparently for just one team) but the Warhawks were ahead 37-0 with 8:30 left in the second quarter and their longest scoring drive took like 1:20 off the clock–your defense (and the weather) never even slowed them down.
I know superman! I was just busting on you…and making a very broad point about D3 at the same time!
D3 Keith,
I’m a UWW Alumnus and am very familiar with both teams. I think the Defense this year is better (despite suffering some injuries), but the offense clearly misses our star end from last year. Stanley is a great player, but he was even better as our #2. Good teams have been able to shut down our offense. I would say that has been the biggest difference between the teams.
Last year’s defense would give up more yards, but would force turnovers like crazy, and our offense would march down the field and score. This year, our defense gives up fewer yards (and points) but doesn’t force as many turnovers, and our offense doesn’t have as good of field position.
Certainly, losing our top WR (to graduation), and AA RB (for a few weeks) this year hurt, but the offense just isn’t as explosive.
I think Whitewater wins next week, but is vunerable. Maybe its just me, but I’d rather win 49-28 every week rather than 24-21 or 17-14.
MUC won last year, and during the regular season really dominated, though i’m not sure they (nor Whitewater) are as focused this year. Thats why i think neither team is as good…. or…. really.. that MUC and UWW both far exceeded expectations last year, and maybe aren’t able to live up to them this year
Allow me to scoff :;
“East showed its depth, if not its up-top strength this season.”
If not this season, when …? Can’t buy that the East was the deepest, even if it’s deep with strong (for its region, I guess) teams.
Both the West and the East had a dog team (woof, woof Wash & Lee and St. Norb) but look what the No. 7 seed in the West did.
SJU beat two undefeated champions of strong conferences (including one that had recently produced a Stagg winner — something the East cannot claim) and gave the No. 2 team a run to the final seconds. Then look what another conference runner-up, UW-LX did against UWW. They were the best No. 4 seed in the field.
Plus if the East was deeper … why was the 1st round MOV 25 vs. 15 in the West? Throw out the blowout game and the average MOV was 15 vs. 5.
I know you’ve got your role as the SJU scoffer 🙂 so ‘fess up, there was a bit of scoffing seeping through in this ATN:
“McMillan: St. John’s could have one of the most precipitous falls in history, going from a 9-0 start and No. 3 national ranking to consecutive losses and an early playoff exit, which would nix a chance Johnnies fans have waited since last year for: a rematch against UW-Whitewater.”
One of the lesser disappointments yesterday was that SJU didn’t get a trip to Wesley so we could could have a face-to-face scoff-off. Or at least say hello.
Acoltfan:
Wesley never seems to play well on grass or in bad weather: were beaten badly by Brockport in frezzing rain on a grass field in 2005, got the tails whipped by UWW on a bad “grass” field in 2005 and had a hard time with a medicore Salisbury team on wet grass field in 2006. They seem to love that field turf. Undefeated at home on it! Also, you have to remember last year was there first time to the semi-finals to a place that really took them out of their “comfort zone.” Everyone said they would loose to UMHB last year and they won, most people said they would loose Bridgewater and we crushed them on a beautiful sunny day and then on a plane to the frozen north. Me thinks just tooooooo much!
They “should” be totally prepared for whatever the weather this year and “should” have learned a lot from last year’s experience. The forecast calls for lots of sun and about 45 degrees. It should be a good game. I will be there no matter what the weather to cheer for the Wolverines!
Repete: We would have loved a home game next week with SJU. We were listening and hoping for a SJU victory, not to be!
AndrewChrz,
Moving the semis to a neutral location might rob both teams of a good-sized crowd. If Wesley had played Mary-Hardin Baylor … at Maryville, let’s say (I’m guessing an equidistant D3 locale), how many people from either side would have been able to make the trip?
At least Wesley alums and parents were able to fill their side … and UMHB traveled about as well as could be expected for the distance they had to go.
Repete,
SJU scoffer. 🙄
You guys have issues. Unless I am completely slobbering all over your squad, it’s like a personal kick in the face. How dare I acknowledge the possibility that a team might lose!
Thanks for caring so much about what I think though!
I thought the 1-6 in the East, plus Cortland State, Ithaca and Alfred, were all about even. Obviously, SJF and Rowan weren’t even, but the scores in the East games (and W&L is a South team moved to the East; throw that out) did bear that out in a lot of places. 20-18, 27-21, 21-14 … and 14-7 in OT Rowan vs. Cortland, Hobart vs. Alfred in the regular season, etc.
Now in hindsight, maybe a lot of it was Rowan playing to whatever level of competition they were playing that week, but the East Region, as a whole, had more good, playoff-caliber teams than any region but the West.
And unless SJF upsets Mount Union, they just won’t have had that one stud team that gives an entire region bragging rights.
Doesn’t make an entire region “terrible.”
The East Region, IMHO, is much better than it’s been. Doesn’t mean it’s champion can match the champions from other regions, but it’s 4-5-6 and some of the teams that were left out could outplay the 4-5-6, etc. from other regions. That’s depth.
Right on repete…SJU should be at Wesley this week, but either way Wesley’s Waterloo will be Saturday, December 9th 2006. I agree with WarhawkBagder…your offense is not as good and “good to spectacular” defenses like SJU can keep it in check…from 163 to 93 for Beaver should say that enough…Whitewater knows they were let off the hook, but I am not ready to crown them…not yet. Now go represent the WEST the way you should and win it all…
Keith…you have got to be kidding me…the east is WEAK on average, Rowan has been the only exception recently…LAX, OCCIDENTAL and BETHEL could have fared very well in the EAST, if not won it.
VOJ:
If Rowan had won by 1pt yesterday, you would not be calling the East week.
You and most would be content with your so called ‘security blanket’ Rowan coming out of the East and the anticipated match-up of MUC v. Rowan that everyone was anticipating….sorry SJF is big, strong and fast. They dominated the likes of Ithaca, Union, and Rowan this year….yes DOMINATED!
No question they will have their ‘hands’ full in Alliance this week, however dont underestimate a team that scores so many pts and gives up so few against so many national powers in one season.
Pat:
earlier in the year I stated that I was lookin forward to the SJF-MUC matchup in week 1 ’08 and you promptly rebuked me as another overzealous fan who should be careful what they wish for (and this was mild compared to what you really stated) Just curious…what are your thought now? Have you seen SJF play this year? Do you know how big their front line is? Have you heard of their secondary? How ’bout Kramer, the second rated passer in the country, with 21 tds and only 1 INT.? Oh…I think they have a running game as well…their 3rd string back has 2 100 yd games I believe.
VOJ,
Try using your comprehension skills. The three teams you mentioned are from the West. I’ve clearly said about six times, since I first formed this position in about Week 8, that the East is deeper than the North and South, but NOT the West.
I also said it’s deeper than it has been; it has been weak on average.
I love to argue, but not with fools.
Hey look, it’s a Johnnie fan:
Unless I am completely slobbering all over your xxxsquadxxxx region, it’s like a personal kick in the face. How dare I acknowledge the xxxpossibility that a team might losexxx region might be second best!
Keith here’s what you said — about the East:
“But it was the deepest region”
As for the remarks about the scoffer, geez, I was just playing — ala the emoticon.
I see these boards as a place for banter rather than emotion — and I’m sorry if it was NOT clear in that context.
I’m lobbing playful jabs not swinging roundhouses. I try (and usually succeed) to keep it light. (The exceptions, which I hope are rare, are when I see cheap shots from posters. None come from the d3 staff.
I last saw St. John Fisher play in 2005. Looking forward to seeing them play on Saturday.
Going to be an interesting matchup — the vaunted SJFC running game against Mount Union’s rush defense, which allows 22.0 yards per game.
VOJ et al:
If St. John Fisher wins or is competitve against Mount Union, you’re going to have to drop that weak East argument for a while. That would be two years in a row the East has held its own against Mount Union.
St. John Fisher fans:
Your players are going to have to fight the intimidation factor. Don’t be fooled — Mount Union got its eight titles by being damn good between the lines, but many an opponent has also beaten itself mentally just from the mystique factor. Teams such as Capital — and even to a sense, Rowan — that have played Mount Union regularly, know what this is like and it doesn’t get to them. SJFC will have to combat that factor. It is real.
to everyone,
Yes, Mt. Union is going to be tough. Yes, Mt. Union basically owns D3 Football and this website. Yes, Mt. Union is ranked number 1. Yes, they are playing at home. Yes. Yes. Yes.
I get the point. Here’s my point. Fisher is a stellar TEAM. Whether they win, lose, or draw, this is a win-win situation. Other people make think this is crazy, but when Fisher wins, we not only again hopefully getting the respect we deserve, but we play in the national championship game. If we lose, we still get respect for getting to the final four of D3 Football, the first time in our college’s history. Recruiting will be sicker than ever, and we will be hot on everybody’s tail next season. What could be worse? We lose to Mt. Union saying we fought our best and we didnt win – their the number one team in the country?! But if we win, Chaos & Bendlam will hit Fisher, Rochester, d3 football d even this website, as Fisher will go on to win the National championship. Don’t forget that just 5 years ago, we were 1-9. We have something here — I’m still not quite sure, but there is something special. When u see this team together you understand the chemistry and the quiet confidence they give off. When you have a team that has ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING to lose, it’s hard to fathom them getting their butts handed to them.
Its going to be a battle. Whatever happens these guys represent Fisher well, Heart, Purpose, and Dedication. Perhaps if you stopped by any of our other battles you would’ve seen all of the above come out on the field.
By the way, thanks for all the other teams in the east support. It shows that they also have respect for us because they have seen and played us.
My prediction: Fisher 35 Mt. Union 21
PA_Wesley Fan,
It does not appear (as of right now) that the weather will be a factor next week! Game time Temp. of 39 Degree’s and sunny. Let all the “nay sayers” scoff, Wesley continue’s to shut em up!
I am curious SeanGOP, did you ever figure out when the last time Wesley lost at home?
D3Keith,
As I was only able to listen rather than attend, I was impressed, very well done! Thanks for the commentating. It is nice to hear someone recognize what the coaching staff along with the administration has done at Wesley, they are classy in every thing they do. They are also roughly a fifth of the size (student body count) of UWW, it will be interesting.
(doesn’t know the coding for strike through)
So it just hit me.
Doing the picks is like being a game official. It’s a thankless job. Nobody actually cares if you’re being fair or thorough, they just care about what you do to/for their team.
If you make 99 right calls, all they remember is the one they didn’t like. If you say 99 nice things about a team, all they remember is the one you didn’t 🙂
Last week I picked St. John Fisher to beat a team it had lost to 55-38 on it’s home turf. Guess I was a genius then and dummy now.
Each losing team has a smack-talking bunch of fans that find places to hide after their team loses. (Except Purple Crush, who covered his bases by picking Wesley over his beloved team) Eventually, except for one team, that’ll be you.
It’s all in fun though; You really can continue to give me my medicine on the SJF pick. Wesley I think saw a glimpse of why we liked UMHB in the third quarter, but the Wolverines outplayed the Cru and have the right attitude. They deserve everything they get, and no doubt all of the teams still playing do.
I’m gonna be honest, I won’t make my picks until I consider everything, but I’m pretty sure I’ll end up picking MUC over SJF and UWW over Wesley. Go ahead and enjoy yesterday, and be supportive fans, but if you can’t see why your teams would be underdogs, you might not be logical enough to be having these discussions.
Of course SJF and Wesley could win, but I don’t guess public opinion would make either a favorite, despite this past Saturday’s results.
Devin Hester is a beast. Sorry, small aside here … got the Ticket on in the background.
“Acoltfan,” good stuff. Whoever said SJF beat every team they played this year meant they also won the Springfield rematch, beating the team that it lost to. But you make a good point, the other three are undefeated, so that’s not exactly a scary stat to them.
PA_Wesley fan, good meeting you yesterday, same with the other guys I met for the first time. Saw Mount Union, Bridgewater, Wabash, Rowan and Ithaca fans at the game, if I recall correctly. Plus Dickinson and R-MC! 🙁
Drass said the shoes were no excuse last year; and he wants his team to be accountable for what happened. That said, last year is last year. I think it will be a much better game. Last year I thought the Wesley DL would hold up against the UWW OL … I’m afraid I want to make the same point this year, even though I guess I should know better.
Archer, good stuff at 12:59. Same goes to the Warhawks fans who explained why they thought last year’s team was better than this year’s; I’ll never have a disparaging thing to say about solid, well-thought-out arguments. I think I care about those more than who is right or wrong … weird, huh?
Fisher57, you’re gonna get your guys killed. (see post from about 8:45 last night)
You should take a lesson from Superman57 … Fisher has had a great year no matter what happens, and hopefully they go out there and give a great effort.
I don’t want to stop you, or anybody, from hoping/rooting/dreaming … being a realist is sort of my job here though.
But to whoever had beef with Pat saying be careful what you wish for in the SJF-MUC final … I think that still holds water.