Sort of relevant, sort of not:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/19/englands-under-21-leagues-are-filled-with-players-whose-clubs-see-no-future-for-them

Bottom line is that even at the top levels in England, it's a difficult pathway and these are players who are at the very best clubs.  The idea that lots of college players are going to progress to long, well paid professional careers is optimistic at best.  I am guessing the ones that don't progress in England are some of the same ones coming in as more mature players at the college level and who would be undoubtedly attractive to many coaches.

Quote from: SimpleCoach on October 18, 2025, 06:34:17 PM

Quote from: EnmoreCat on October 18, 2025, 06:28:01 PMApart from the US and maybe Canada (that's a wild guess, no idea if accurate) no other country sees it's university system as a conveyor belt of soccer talent.  That probably tells you all you need to know and to my view much of this is pushed by coaches of high performing D1 programmes who are recruiting more experienced internationals. We know an Australian turning 23 this year who moved to the US to play for NC State this season, that doesn't say development to me.  For our code, college is much better placed to enable young men to be student-athletes, not the other way around.

Clearly, US Soccer has no understanding of this.

Hope you are and the litter are doing well @EnmoreCat.

SC.

Summer in downtown (and uptown) Enmore, so no complaints here.

Apart from the US and maybe Canada (that's a wild guess, no idea if accurate) no other country sees it's university system as a conveyor belt of soccer talent.  That probably tells you all you need to know and to my view much of this is pushed by coaches of high performing D1 programmes who are recruiting more experienced internationals. We know an Australian turning 23 this year who moved to the US to play for NC State this season, that doesn't say development to me.  For our code, college is much better placed to enable young men to be student-athletes, not the other way around.

We have a similar issue in Australia, it's called lack of a pyramid, which is what all of Europe has.  For sports like basketball and football, colleges do the development work for NBA and NFL.  Certainly for the latter, apart from the occasional punter who comes from Australia, the pool of available players is clearly identified.  I haven't seen it updated, but the last time I saw it, the average lifespan of a college player drafted to the MLS is like one season.  That doesn't mean they aren't good players, but there is just too big a gap to make up quickly.  I am sure MLS would like to pick up more domestic players, but they are already cherry picking a fair few of the best it seems and I would suggest that whilst those might be missing out on an education, they are getting a better soccer education.  If MLS clubs don't think enough good players are coming through, perhaps they should be thinking more like clubs in Europe than like NBA & NFL franchises and getting more involved in player development earlier. That could work within the college system, but may well work better outside of it.

For what it's worth, my view has changed on this, originally, I liked the idea of being a student-athlete where there is opportunity to potentially progress on the athletic side.  Now, I think, that it makes more sense to use your playing ability to help leverage you into a better academic college.  I'm D3 all the way...

I have struggled to watch too much of any game so far and whilst it's a disappointing result, I stand by my previous comment that I thought the team had overachieved.  It's a young roster that will be a story for 2026.  I'd encourage the Amhaters to enjoy the moment, for the rest of us, we'll always have Vegas.

Amherst 1 Colby 0

After the previous day's loss to the Bobcats, it was with a sense of trepidation that I switched things on to find out how things were going at the Billiard Table That Is Hitchcock Field.  There's no denying the sense of relief at seeing the Mammoths up 1-0 and I suspect the early goal from the prolific AA Junior would have calmed some nerves.  I got to watch a fair bit of the second half and saw the game swing from Colby to Amherst and then back to the Mules towards the end.  I observed one fierce Colby shot blocked quite late, but a desperate Amherst block ensured that the game's outcome wasn't impacted.

The result meant that the Mammoths are equal second on eight points at the half way mark in NESCAC.  The draw against Williams is looking a pretty good result given their subsequent form and with current equal second Wesleyan and Tufts next on Amherst's conference dance card, it appears that the first half of October will be a revealing time.  Right now, I would suggest Amherst has probably over-achieved on expectations given the youthful roster.  I observed that of the nineteen players who saw game time today, that twelve of them were underclassmen, which for the programme's future, is outstanding, but which does make it a little challenging in the immediate one.  In 2024 a much more battle hardened Purple shirted group managed 1-0 results against Bates and Colby and for those who came in late, eventually won the National Title, so perhaps this weekend's effort by a less experienced one is better than it looks.

Irrespective, whoever takes the field is expected to give maximum effort and I saw enough of that today to encourage me for what lies ahead. 

Foul Count: Amherst 14 Colby 12 

Quote from: Hotskull on September 27, 2025, 05:09:13 PM3-0... At Home...on the day of their "Pride game"...Terrible day to be a Mammoth! One of the worst results I have seen in my last 6 years following the NESCAC. This might cancel out last year's National Championship!

Actually, it doesn't, but good try...

Amherst 0 Bates 3

Congratulations to Bates on a well-deserved win.  Not much more to say really.

Foul Count: Amherst 10 Bates 20

Middlebury 0 Amherst 0

It looked a beautiful day in Vermont and I have to say I loved my visit there in 2023, it was a picturesque walk to the field on that sunny Saturday.  I only saw the final 30 minutes today, so observations are purely based on that.  I saw Amherst initially dominating and then the Panthers had a couple of decent chances, but were generally held well by a scrambling Mammoths defence.  It was the same at the other end and not for the first time since I have taken an active interest in these games, the teams were evenly matched.

There are many traits that I am sure Coach Serpone looks for his teams to display and the one most evident to me so far this season has been a gritty resilience.  A team incorporating so may new players could be forgiven for taking time to gel etc, but not for not working hard and the 2025 Mammoths are a hard working unit.  The performances thus far have exceeded my expectations and I think for those with this particular shade of purple in their hearts, there has been a lot to like.

Foul Count: Midd 17 Amherst 13 

Amherst 0 Williams 0

Definitely not a game for the purists, but that really couldn't have been a surprise, but in this particular part of Massachusetts this game is a big deal.  I had the sound down for all but the last 20 minutes or so as I was watching Crystal Palace also draw and it appeared the Mammoths had more of the ball in the Williams area, without really testing the keeper properly (I have a gripe with save statistics, but can leave that for another time) but equally, the Ephs, whilst dangerous on the break, were largely well handled by the White Shirt defence.

I did manage to get to see a rather poor incident involving one of the Amherst subs on a Williams player who had come across to the bench.  Oh actually, it was a Williams sub pushing over an Amherst player, but that probably doesn't fit with the narrative in here.  I'll hold off on allegations about the Williams culture under Coach Siebert, for the moment at least.  There looked to be a good-sized crowd in attendance and there will always be passion.  Things boiled over a few times, but at the end I saw a decent spirit from both sides.

4 points in conference play, plus an overall undefeated record is an impressive start for what is a very young Amherst group.  I suspect the trip to Vermont next week, may be the better gauge of where the 2025 Mammoths really are at, but I have liked what I have seen so far.

Foul Count: Amherst 18 Williams 16

Quote from: Newenglander on September 07, 2025, 12:15:21 AM

Quote from: EnmoreCat on September 06, 2025, 09:29:55 PMThat "very serious note" appears to hopefully have been delivered tongue in cheek according to my highly sensitive ears, but I am regularly wrong too.  Oh and the foul count was 21-13 Conn's way.  Perhaps it was the Camels getting in first...

I think the telling stat in regard to antics is 7 cards(one red) to 2 for Amherst including one for bench behavior......

That's the great thing about statistics, interpretation.

That "very serious note" appears to hopefully have been delivered tongue in cheek according to my highly sensitive ears, but I am regularly wrong too.  Oh and the foul count was 21-13 Conn's way.  Perhaps it was the Camels getting in first...

Amherst is introducing a large freshman class, nine in total after graduating thirteen seniors, including seven who started in the National Tournament final (with most of the others also being regular starters), of whom four were All-NESCAC selections.  I'd suggest that is quite a lot to seamlessly replace. What all this does do is create an opportunity for players to step up and take on responsibility.  That doesn't happen overnight and I would say that playing, Conn, Williams, Midd & Babson in four of the next six games is a pretty steep curve for this group. I watched the Suffolk game and my thought was that it will take time for things to gel.  But expectations are always high in western MA and I know that Coach Serpone will be fast-tracking this year's Mammoths.  My best guess is that the second half of the season will display the fruits of that process.  In any event, like all those with the Amherst shade of purple in their hearts, I hope that all rivals underestimate us. 

Quote from: y_jack_lok on August 21, 2025, 01:25:09 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 20, 2025, 08:05:44 PMWonder if they'll be changing their nickname from the Marlins to the Hatches.

Clever. But, I did wonder if there would be a change, since the Batten Marlins...well, just sounds odd. Maybe Barracudas.

I'm going for, "The Burghers" or "The Cakes":

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenberg_cake

Quote from: Ron Boerger on July 28, 2025, 06:47:21 PMSouthwestern (TX) successfully closed their seven-year long "Thrive:  The Campaign for Southwestern University" initiative on July 23, raising $160M against a $150M goal.  Among the items funded by the campaign is a multi-sports complex, opening in Fall 2026, where football and other unspecified sports will be contested.  Funds were also raised for a new welcome center, a major renovation to the 1908 Mood-Bridwell Hall along with other facility upgrades, student life initiatives, and general academic excellence including endowed chairs and improved equipment.

Not sure if things have changed since, but I watched a soccer game there against Trinity in 2018 and on a very warm Texan day, everyone was huddled in front of the announcer's booth looking for shade.  It was brutal, so perhaps some funding might go towards some shade cloth.