For 5 consecutive years some very good Wesleyan teams have posted an annual sub par effort in games they should have won. They have all occurred against teams in the lower half of the standings. For 4 consecutive years preceding this year they have dropped games against Bates, Bowdoin (twice) and Colby.
 
Trinity doesn't allow that to happen.

This years version occurred last week at Hamilton. However, the Cards were able to squeak this one out so I predict they will go into this years Trinity game undefeated.
A lot can happen and there much more Football to be played but this years game in Hartford shapes up as a potential classic. If things unfold as predicted it should be one for the ages with a playoff opportunity at stake.

VooDooDoc wabsh

 The facts of the case involving Hammer at Allegheny as stated are correct and a matter of public record.


I originally directed message to Owl in error

Quote from: The Third Division on October 04, 2026, 11:33:29 PMfor the record: (link removed)

Different case.

Yes, back to Football.

Another great report, right on money by NM. The reach of his corespondents is impressive and informative. In the early days of his NESCAC journalistic endeavor if there was no news his syndicate diligently worked to find and maybe create, some stories but it's different now. He is a very credible journalist with a committed and objective focus on Nescac Football. His group provides great reporting and content which I think we all enjoy.   

I'll clarify one thing on the Bowdoin situation- The majority in Brunswick feel that Hammer will be gone but let's see how everything plays out.

The firing of his predessor JB Wells was very controversial. It was a leverage play by a small group of well capitalized Bowdoin Football supporters who simply decided they wanted Coach Wells gone. Shaking in his boots cub Bowdoin AD Ryan succumbed to their wishes and Wells was fired. The funding of the Whittier Field renovations and construction of the new Football building adjacent to Whittier coincided with the firing of Wells. The Polar Alums leveraged their contribution on the Wells firing. Ryan played along a gave the Bowdoin trustees a wink. It was a financial win.

Now, Coach Hammer is on the hotseat. I don't know how many in Brunswick realize that AD Ryan fired Wells and then proceeded to hire Hammer. Yes BJ Hammer....the same guy who was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a member of the Allegheny Football team where the Hammer was Head Coach of Football prior to being recruited by AD Ryan for Bowdoin. The sexual harassment lawsuit was settled by Allegheny. It involved a kicker for the Allegheny Football team who was female. It was messy. The progression of the suit resulted in a judgement against Hammer and Allegheny which was settled for a sum exceeding 2,000,000.

Ryan evidently did not do a thorough background check on Hammer before bringing him to Brunswick. Of all places one would think Bowdoin would be the last place he might land given prior events.

It's puzzling how or why Ryan and the Bowdoin Athletic Department got the esteemed Bowdoin Administration embroiled in this series of transgressions. These developments in Bowdoin Athletics seemed totally inconsistent with the public identity of Bowdoin and their ideals as the #4 rated liberal arts college in the nation.

The difference in the firing of Wells and the potential firing of Hammer is pretty significant. Wells was fired clearly without cause. If Hammer is fired it will be with cause.

Since the cat is evidently now out of the bag can anyone disclose who the interim Head Coach is at Bowdoin.

Hearing from more than one source regarding controversy at Bowdoin surrounding a potential personnel issue relative to the coaching staff. I won't comment on rumors here on the board until the situation can be factually clarified. Rumor only at this point from what I can see.

Does anyone closer to the program know anything about developments and disclosures that may have been issued within the Bowdoin community?

Yeah, it's nice to have the option to do the Missouri thing, I get it. But when you're scouting and recruiting a kid like this you go all in. Sure he could get hurt but as an incoming prospect Hamilton got a potentially great one here with credentials that exceed any of the other RBs I've seen in this class- maybe the best all around RB prospect since Chance Brady at Tufts.

Quote from: Nescacman on September 21, 2026, 04:13:59 PM

Quote from: ItsATuftSituation on September 21, 2026, 12:31:01 PMWas in Medford to watch the Jumbos play Hamilton. Sad that Hamilton's stud first-year RB got hurt on the final play of the game. He was super dynamic, scored three times in the game. Hope he's okay but he was down for a long, long time.

Never like to hear about injuries. We hope he is OK.

Not sure if 7 carries for 33 yards (and 6 catches primarily on dump passes) warrants the term "stud" but he did score 3x and HCOF Murray was very high on Ace when we spoke to Coach on our season preview 9 Weeks NESCAC podcast. He certainly has one of the better names in the NESCAC so there is that... 

NM1-
This kid is a stud and will be heard from in this conference believe me- to put things in perspective his   track times in high school---- 100 meters: 10.6 ---indoor 55m: 6.51---- 110m hurdles outdoor: 14.12
I know Hamilton is not a track school but these High School times are better than Hamilton school records before he even shows up. This kid is Ladirus Drew on a 5'8" 188 pound frame. Not sure any other NESCAC teams even knew about this kid because he doesn't appear to have participated in any of the New England clinics where all the NESCAC teams beat each other up competing for camp participants. What a get for Murray.....like Kurzum. Hamilton fishes in a different recruiting pond and they have a lot of recruiting opportunities they have missed in past years, looks like they are turning things around.

Trin 8-1
Although I think you are trivializing the expenses a bit I'm with you 100%. However that's how they think on the Administrative side in Academia.
 
It doesn't matter how big endowments grow, when expenses are going up they get very frugal. Especially in an area where many NESCAC administrative types are not major advocates of growing helmet sports to begin with.

At Trinity, Tufts and Wes it's probably a lesser change beacuse those programs are already further advanced. Maybe 15-20 more players. Those programs already have 10 or 11 coaches while  much of the rest of the conference typically have an 8 man staff. At other schools it might create a need for 2 more coaches and 25 players.

I hope it happens but in my experience I've seen a real reluctance to increase funding for Football traditionally at all the schools.

Let hope the Presidents see that these changes are needed to compete on the national level.

I agree with DiCenzo and hope there will be changes, but It's all about dollars. Cost $1,500+ to outfit a football player. Cost is maybe a few hundred dollars to outfit Track Athletes.
Believe there actually are limits in the conference on Basketball, Hockey and Baseball rosters which are tacitly determined by the individual schools. I've seen kids get cut in these sports in the NESCAC.

Not sure about Lacrosse and other sports.

The only sport that really benefits from high roster numbers is football. Makes no sense to have 25 Basketball players (unless you are Grinnell) or 35 baseball players without formalized JV programs in those sports. It's counter productive to have large numbers in those sports but they tacitly do have roster limits.
 
I think these factors have given the decision makers some wiggle room on the issue for years and we haven't even mentioned the need for larger coaching staffs that comes with expanded rosters.

However, maybe decision makers will consider change as participation in the D3 Football playoff commences.

At the end of the day I see it primarily as a money issue at a time when even the Harvards of the world are whining about rising expenses.

Their you have it.

Dante Kelly of Wes is one guy who I'm anxious to see if he can produce again at an elite level. Im afraid the answer is yes. There is some interest in how he performs after he's been around the league once. DCs now will prepare differently. He was fantastic in his FY.

Boardsters happy today to note that the Nescaman media arsenal will commence with their media barrage shortly. Looking forward to a great season.
And welcome new boardster Jumbosman224 aka Mr. Carey.

Colby bringing in a high rated transfer QB from Trinity University (Tx.). Stephen Gill 6'1" 200.  2 years of eligibility.