Nobody asked, but here's the perspective of first year Bowdoin player's parent after five games. (The students were told that they are not freshmen, as that is a male dominant term 
)
My son is very lucky to attend Bowdoin, and I believe that he would be equally fortunate to have matriculated at any of the other NESCAC schools. The academic experience is superb, as are his fellow students, the faculty and staff, and his teammates and all of his coaches. And most important to his parents with respect to football, he is having the most fun in sports that he has had since Little League.
It appears that the NESCAC gets it right in terms of balancing athletics with everything else in life. When we visited schools that played in higher divisions, it was clear that at some football took priority over summer internships, semesters abroad, etc., and that he would sacrifice a lot of the college experience (and ride the bench for a couple of years) if he pursued football at a slightly higher level. I don't see that happening in the NESCAC, where the seasons don't last forever, and where student athletes can pursue other activities offseason. My son was perhaps a better player at baseball than football, yet he plans on running track for the first time this spring. Good for the NESCAC that he can play multiple sports, and good for him for playing the sports he wants to play.
And selfishly, the games have been a blast for us. The other parents have been incredibly welcoming, and while our children may be winless to date, we have some champion tailgaters! I can see how the senior parents will miss the games and camaraderie next year as much as their sons.
Finally, despite this year's 0-5 start, I'd wager a brand new Harriet Tubman $20 bill that when the Bowdoin class of 2020 graduates its football team will have won more games than they lost over four years. There are quite a few Frosh (I hope that term is still ok) and sophomores gaining valuable experience. The head coach has a proven track record at building a program, and the staff appears to be very good at recruiting. So, any takers on the wager?
)My son is very lucky to attend Bowdoin, and I believe that he would be equally fortunate to have matriculated at any of the other NESCAC schools. The academic experience is superb, as are his fellow students, the faculty and staff, and his teammates and all of his coaches. And most important to his parents with respect to football, he is having the most fun in sports that he has had since Little League.
It appears that the NESCAC gets it right in terms of balancing athletics with everything else in life. When we visited schools that played in higher divisions, it was clear that at some football took priority over summer internships, semesters abroad, etc., and that he would sacrifice a lot of the college experience (and ride the bench for a couple of years) if he pursued football at a slightly higher level. I don't see that happening in the NESCAC, where the seasons don't last forever, and where student athletes can pursue other activities offseason. My son was perhaps a better player at baseball than football, yet he plans on running track for the first time this spring. Good for the NESCAC that he can play multiple sports, and good for him for playing the sports he wants to play.
And selfishly, the games have been a blast for us. The other parents have been incredibly welcoming, and while our children may be winless to date, we have some champion tailgaters! I can see how the senior parents will miss the games and camaraderie next year as much as their sons.
Finally, despite this year's 0-5 start, I'd wager a brand new Harriet Tubman $20 bill that when the Bowdoin class of 2020 graduates its football team will have won more games than they lost over four years. There are quite a few Frosh (I hope that term is still ok) and sophomores gaining valuable experience. The head coach has a proven track record at building a program, and the staff appears to be very good at recruiting. So, any takers on the wager?