Games to watch in 2008
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For those who aren't familiar, this is my third season as the Around the East Region columnist. This year because of the continued shift of New York teams out of the ACFC, that conference will be covered in Around the Mid-Atlantic and Around the East will pick up the MAC.
One of the first things we like to do is give you, the fan, 10 games to watch in the region.
They aren't in any specific order, other than chronological -- they are just 10 games that should be seen in person if you can, or at least listened to on the radio or watched on local TV.
So without further ado, here's my list of the Top 10 East Regional games for the 2008 season:
Sept. 6, St. John Fisher at Mount Union
The Cardinals are taking on the impressive task of playing the most dominant team in D3 history right off the top in 2008. The game is part of a home and home series that will bring the Purple Raiders to Pittsford, N.Y. in 2009. Both teams lost a good chunk of their starters from a year ago, and the game is the first one of the year for the two squads, so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Sept. 6, Salisbury at Albright
After a tough second-place finish in conference to Widener, Albright looks to make it back to the top of the conference, but in Week 1, they face off against a tough non-conference opponent in Salisbury. The Gulls are a top 25 team, and their triple-option offense will be tough for any opponent to stop. The Lions will have to play a tough game for the full 60 minutes, or it will be a slow start to 2008 for Albright.
Sept. 20, Cortland State at Rowan
A top matchup in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Cortland looks to be at the top of the conference, and Rowan would like nothing better than to knock the Red Dragons off of their perch only a couple of weeks into the season. Also, this will be even tougher for Cortland because this game is on the road in Glassboro, N.J.
Sept. 27, Ithaca at St. John Fisher
The Bombers and Cardinals actually tied at the top of the Empire 8's preseason poll and that's not a surprise if you've followed the conference the past few seasons. St. John Fisher beat Ithaca last year at Butterfield 37-16, one of the few times Ithaca has fallen at home. Can Ithaca return the favor against the Cardinals?
Nov. 1, St. John Fisher at Utica
The games between these two Empire 8 games have not been close in the past, but this year's game takes on more meaning this year as new Utica head coach Blaise Faggiano leads his new team against St. John Fisher, the team he was defensive coordinator for, for nine years. Should be interesting to see how that plays out as well.
Nov. 1, Union at RPI
The battle for the Shoes takes place for the last time at '86 Field. RPI has the talent to go a long way this season, and they'll have to win the Shoes as momentum to propel them the rest of the way. Union looks to foil that plan. The buildup to the game is terrific, as there is a lot of respect between the teams and especially the coaches, RPI's Joe King and Union's John Audino. This is always one of the best games of the season, just because of all the history and the atmosphere around it. I covered one two years ago, and the atmosphere was practically electric.
Nov. 8, Hobart at RPI
As I said in the LL preview in Kickoff 2008 this game could decide the Liberty League championship. Of course, as we've seen in the past, the LL championship hasn't been easily decided in three years, but if things play out, this would be the de facto title game.
Nov. 8, Widener at Albright
As with the Liberty League, this game on Nov. 8 could decide a title, this time for the MAC crown. Last year, Widener, who trailed 21-7 at the half, came all the way back, scoring the winning touchdown with 18 seconds to go. However, that game was at home for the Pride, so this year the game will be at Albright.
Nov. 15, Utica at Hartwick
Charles A. Gaetano Stadium saw record-breaking offensive fireworks during this game last season, one that the Hawks won 72-70 in four overtimes, setting records for most combined points and most points, 70, by a losing team. The Pioneers go to the cage at All-Weather Field in Oneonta, and Hartwick quarterback Jason Boltus is still around ... do fans get another laser show or something else? Either way, it should be an exciting game to see.
Nov. 15, Ithaca at Cortland State
The annual Cortaca Jug game, this year being played at Chugger Davis Field at Cortland, is always a top quality matchup, and this year, both teams could be playing for league championships in the Empire 8 and New Jersey Athletic Conference, respectively. This could be the one of the last games that Cortaca is a non-league matchup, as well. Norwich leaves the Empire 8 after this season, and the Empire 8 voted back in March to allow public institutions to join the conference. With Cortland's central location in New York state, the Red Dragons joining the Empire 8 could be a possibility.
Honorable mention: Union at Springfield, Sept. 13. A good Empire 8/Liberty League matchup.
St. John Fisher at Rochester, Sept. 20. Another good interconference matchup, the Courage Bowl.
Wilkes at Montclair State -- Sept. 13. A good matchup between the Middle Atlantic Conference and the NJAC, and both look for playoff spots this year.
Brockport State at Montclair St. -- Sept. 27. This is the first test for new NJAC members Brockport in conference. They've played many NJAC teams before, but actually being part of the conference will present a different challenge.
Morrisville State at Rowan -- Oct. 18. Morrisville joins the NJAC after a few years of being an independent. This game against the Profs will be a good indicator of how Morrisville coach Terry Dow is able to get situated in a new conference.
WPI at RPI -- Sept. 27. The Engineers battle. WPI could be improved this year, but is it enough to beat the boys from Troy?