Empire 8 Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)
2011 Final Standings
Looking back: Salisbury University made a big splash in its first season in the Empire 8 Conference in 2011, as the Sea Gulls went undefeated (7-0) in league play en route to advancing to the NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinals, losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 34-14. Additionally, St. John Fisher also advanced to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual national semifinalist St. Thomas, 45-10.
Looking ahead: Buffalo State joins the E8 this season, while Brockport will follow suit in 2014. That will give the conference at least nine members by then, barring any further changes in membership. Also, Springfield left the E8 to join the Liberty League in 2012.
2012 Predicted
Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)
1. St. John Fisher (10-3): The Cardinals hope to make another deep run in the D-III playoffs this season. But a tough early season slate has them facing the likes of Thomas More and Washington and Jefferson, both out of the President's Athletic Conference.
2. Salisbury (11-2): After a remarkable run which included an inaugural conference title, as well as a trip to the D-III Elite Eight, the Sea Gulls also hope to go deep in the D-III playoffs. But they definitely won't be sneaking up on anyone, especially with perennial postseason participants like Christopher Newport and Wesley to start off the 2012 slate.
3. Alfred (8-3): The Saxons ended an otherwise "down" season by their standards with a 41-10 rout of Bridgewater State (Mass.) in last year's ECAC Northeast Bowl. On a side note, they'll play only one game outside of New York State this season; a trip to Salisbury on October 20.
4. Utica (5-5): The Pioneers hope that 2011 will end better than it started, as they lost three straight after a 5-2 start, to finish E8 action at 2-5.
5. Ithaca (4-6): The Bombers look to begin the long climb back to respectability after experiencing something their faithful hadn't experienced in years: a losing season.
6. Frostburg State (4-6): The Bobcats will look on last year's 3-4 conference record in their inaugural season of E8 play.
7. Buffalo State (5-5): With a tough schedule that includes a trip to three-time defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater on September 15, the Bengals might be hard pressed to even repeat last year's respectable 5-4 league mark in their final season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), much less finish above .500 in their rookie season in the E8.
8. Hartwick (2-8): The Hawks have nowhere to go but up after going winless (0-7) in E8 games last season.
No comments:
Post a Comment