RFC Summer Semester--Empire 8 Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

Empire 8 Conference (NCAA Division III)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: For the second straight season, the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University took home the Empire 8 Conference championship, as well as a second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  

Unlike 2011, however, (when they advanced to the national quarterfinals), the Sea Gulls were "two and out" in 2012, as they were eliminated by Widener, 28-7, in the second round.

Despite finishing in a four-way tie for third place in the E8 at 4-3, St. John Fisher grabbed a spot in a postseason game, as the Cardinals crushed Castleton State, 63-7, in the ECAC Northwest Bowl. 

Looking ahead:  Expect the other seven teams to once again chase Salisbury for the E8 crown in 2013.


Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Salisbury (9-3):  The Sea Gulls have been consistent; consistently good, under Head Coach Sherman Wood, suffering just one losing season dating back to 2002.  Still, they'll face a tremendous challenge to open the 2013 season, as they play against two teams that advanced to the D-III playoffs last year in Christopher Newport and Wesley.


2. St. John Fisher (8-3):  As it hard as it is to believe, the Cardinals last losing season came in 2001, when they finished 3-7.  Since 2002, SJFC has had 11 straight winning seasons, including a trip to the national semifinals in 2006.  If they're to make it 12 straight winning seasons in 2013, the Cards must get through a brutal schedule that saw eight teams (five in conference play alone) post winning records in 2012. Ouch!

3.  Alfred (6-4):  Despite struggling to a 1-2 mark in non-conference games last season, the Saxons still managed to finish E8 play in sole possession of second place. Head Coach Dave Murray already has 100 wins in his coaching career. He hopes those winning ways will continue in 2013.

4. Buffalo State (6-4): A low-scoring 7-6 upset win over then-defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater on September 15 helped propel the Bengals to their first winning season since 2000, when they finished 7-4.  If that wasn't enough, they also ended the 2012 season with four straight wins. Believe it or not, the Bengals will host the Warhawks in a re-match on September 21, 2013.

5. Ithaca (6-4):  The Bombers were yet another team that finished in a four-way tie for third place at 4-3, losing their 2012 season finale(in heartbreaking fashion) to archrival Cortland State in the annual battle for the "Cortaca Jug". It'll be interesting to see if 2013 will have a much happier ending.

6. Utica (6-4):  The Pioneers carried a 6-2 overall record into final two games of the 2012 season, before losing back-to-back contests to Salisbury and St. John Fisher to end it on a disappointing note.  They open the 2013 campaign on September 7, when they play host to Lewis and Clark, in a battle of, you guessed it, Pioneers.

7. Frostburg State (3-7):  The Bobcats hope to move forward after yet another disappointing season.

8. Hartwick (3-7):  Speaking of disappointing, the Hawks enter the 2013 season looking to snap a seven-game skid, with all of the losses last year coming in conference play.  That was after starting 3-0.

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