It feels like the general demographic time bomb couldn't have come along at a worse time.  As well as some D1s musing over whether D1 makes sense, I guess at the very top end, most D1s must be wondering the same.  I don't have much of a feel for D1 football or hoops, but do supporters of the best teams in those sports care so much about whether the games are under the auspices of the NCAA? Michigan v Ohio State will be big irrespective I presume.

Very good stuff Kuiper and I do wish we had more of this insight when the journey first started back in 2018.  I do think the why D3 question is an important one and as an international consumer of American education (boosting the US trade position at Australia's expense and hopefully helping avoid the imposition of tariffs) I feel well qualified to offer an opinion if only from that perspective.  The perspective I have now, which I hasten to add, wasn't the same as when the process started, is that the level you play at is as important as you want to make it.  But then, I think that it's compulsory to be completely honest about what your standard actually is.  The instagram update that says you have committed to such & such Big 10 college could well be the highlight of your athletic "career".  It's not hard to find a roster at that type of school and D1 schools in general where a senior has hardly played.  That doesn't mean they haven't had fun, but in part they have sacrificed the potential academic benefit at the expense of what is essentially a "there for the ride" experience.  That's not to say that it will be any easier at a D3 programme, but at least in D3 you will have time to actually focus on the academic and lifestyle aspects of attending university, which is an important part of the experience and ultimately better sets you up in your actual career.   

Asking the current club coach and anyone else who is properly knowledgeable and most importantly, prepared to be honest, is super important, as is listening to the response.  Later on, asking prospective college coaches where they actually see the opportunity is crucial also.  It may be the case that you need to read between the lines, but listening to the answer is the key for me.  I have been helping a friend here whose son has just joined a D2 school and the response he got when asking that question was, "the team has underperformed in the position you play, we are trying to fill that gap and you will have the chance to be the solution".  No guarantees of course, but since arriving, he has already identified there is an opportunity, what happens after that is up to him. 

Ultimately, very few players, irrespective of the division, are going to actually have careers in the game as players, but perhaps have a better chance as coaches.  The average lifespan of a college player drafted to the MLS is one year and I recently heard a podcast where an agent said that players being drafted are essentially looking at spots 24 to 36 on an MLS roster and that is for the players considered rightly or wrongly as amongst the best in D1.  I understand there are player who beat those odds, sometimes from D3, but there are many, many more doctors, lawyers and engineers created than professional soccer players. 

So, my guide essentially distils to get to the best academic institution you can, taking into account whatever boxes need to be ticked on that side.  If you can identify five, for example, then start to look at their soccer programmes.  Is there going to be a big senior class graduating?  Who actually played and in the position you're looking at?  Were they freshmen or juniors, how did the team actually go?  Obviously, things worked out differently for EnmoreKitten, but when I was checking out programmes, I liked the idea of a well-ranked academic institution where there was a re-build taking place and therefore opportunity to play.  Four years of potentially not playing much is probably something no one expects wherever they commit, but it's kind of down the same path as what I think is very good advice, that is, if you were injured and unable to play, would that school be a place you want to attend?

I agree strongly that watching games is super important.  We had the chance in 2018 to watch D1, 2 & 3 games and spend time with coaches and players.  Whilst it was valuable and insightful, 6.5 years later, I truly can say I knew nowhere near as much as I thought I did and inside these forums, there are treasure troves of knowledge and experience that are easily accessible and can fast track your learning.  I would encourage you to reach out.

Quote from: stlawus on January 29, 2025, 01:49:14 AMI missed it at the time but Jeremy Ogango from SLU was in the transfer portal in early December. Don't know what came of it, if anything as he's still on campus. Though that doesn't necessarily mean anything for next year. I believe it is/was an attempt to level up.

The Portal Whisperer!

As an international consumer, I'm a strong advocate.  World class academic possibilities, a robust athletic experience, plus one of the few countries left (sadly not including Australia so much these days) that offers an authentic student life.  Can't ask for more really...

All interesting points, I guess my cynical side wonders if it's more an opportunity to reduce actual academic effort so that more time can be dedicated to the underlying sport.  In the bigger picture, it might be doing the players who do get drafted, a favour, but the ones who don't are possibly left with a less useful qualification.  But, if they have good fortune with NIL, perhaps it won't matter as much.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/business/college-sports-academic-major.html

Not really a D3 issue, but the only surprise is that it hasn't already happened I guess.  The top level of college basketball and football is clearly the second tier beneath NBA and NFL and will continue to separate from all other sports over time potentially.

Thanks Kuiper, I'm getting goosebumps forever...

I feel like there is a synergy there waiting to be exploited

Quote from: Falconer on December 11, 2024, 12:18:51 PM

Quote from: EnmoreCat on December 10, 2024, 06:21:18 PMThe Amherst players that can read, do also.

All three of them, in addition to your son?

Unfortunately Falconer, there is less accurate data available about how many can count...

The Amherst players that can read, do also.

Quote from: PaulNewman on December 09, 2024, 05:49:49 PM

Quote from: EnmoreCat on December 09, 2024, 05:25:22 PM

Quote from: PaulNewman on December 09, 2024, 01:21:14 PMApropos of nothing....I've got 6, maybe 7 Amherst College t-shirts.

If anyone wants any or all, they're free...and I'll cover the postage and handling.

A few are L and a few are XL.

That does make me feel a little uncomfortable, perhaps it's the shade of purple...😀

I'm guessing you are an extremely fit XXL...but four of them have never been touched and came directly from the Amherst College Bookstore and a little emerging company called Amazon.

Bang on the money, Paul Newman, technically I may be better described as Enmore BigCat, especially if I started regularly imbibing coffee stouts.

The exciting news for me at least is that I am not far from Downtown Enmore and will be re-watching the final on a big screen later today.  The real treat will be when EnmoreKitten returns at the end of the week and we all get to watch together.

Quote from: PaulNewman on December 09, 2024, 01:21:14 PMApropos of nothing....I've got 6, maybe 7 Amherst College t-shirts.

If anyone wants any or all, they're free...and I'll cover the postage and handling.

A few are L and a few are XL.

That does make me feel a little uncomfortable, perhaps it's the shade of purple...😀

Paul Newman, I am agreeing with you on everything. I look forward to one day seeing you in Downtown Enmore.

Paul Newman, your non-begrudging praise is acknowledged and of course, well received. There is an uncensored version of my report where I deal with the MFers issue, but I do know that if I met any in person, that the conversation would most likely be a fun one and whilst that person may not walk away believing Amherst MSOC is actually a force for world good, I at least know it would be a cordial discussion.

I get your point about people not underestimating Amherst more generally and that's fine.  Perhaps my purple antennae are particularly sensitive to discussion about the national landscape. To be fair, Tufts and Midd were the standouts in what was a very even NESCAC and deserved more recognition. 

I've thought a bit about the Amhating point of view and my conclusion is that if I had never been aware of D3 Boards, I would have been completely oblivious to the grievances expressed.  I think it comes up to my Australian upbringing where aggression is a natural part of sport and I haven't seen anything in the last three seasons that I haven't seen in playing/coaching/watching more than 45 years of sport.  That's not the same as justifying it, but what I am saying is I don't actually care. 

What I do know is that next weekend we will have EnmoreKitten with us in downtown Enmore and are going to go frame by frame through a Director's Cut version of all the Final Four games and I know it's going to be so much fun.

Connecticut College 0 Amherst 0 (Amherst win on penalties and are the 2024 D3 Champions)

Before today, one would have to go back eight games to find one between these teams where the margin was wider than a goal, so there was no doubt how evenly matched these two teams would be.  Plus, the games are tough, I understand that's not everyone's thing, but the prevalence of NESCAC teams late in the tournament at least suggests to me that those who espouse a more "beautiful" game have work to do if they are going to materially impact this dominance.  It's probably a good time to remind of my standard disclaimer, everything today is purely coming from the father of a player who in some parts of Vermont, is considered unable to read.

Conn were very good, I can't truly tell you who the two best teams in the country are, but I can tell you the two who before today had both managed to win five consecutive games in a very tough tournament.  In addition, Conn won NESCAC and were clearly peaking at the right time.  Their keeper caught everything, much to the chagrin of those with purple in their hearts and whilst I had a slight bias to Amherst maybe edging it, the gap was tiny.

Things rolled on and whilst both teams had chances, it did start to feel like we were heading towards OT and then it moved on to penalties.  I suspect the Camels supporters possibly felt more confident, particularly given they had been successful in the NESCAC quarter final against Amherst on that basis, but of course, the Mammoths possess a senior who knows a bit about winning shoot outs too.

The details are by now well known and both sides had chances to finish things, but it took EnmoreKitten to do so and things proceeded to go just a little crazy.  It will be no surprise that this correspondent was quite emotional as were all Mammoths supporters.  It's a stunning way to finish a college career and of course, now goes down into folklore.  I will have more to say about that.

To Conn, commiserations, an excellent team that works hard in transition and which just about handled what at times was a rampant Amherst attack.  I am sure they will be around next year.

I do have to advise that yet again, I have petitioned the NCAA, this time about how Amherst is recorded as 2024 Champions.  I have proposed that an asterisk is noted against it, reflecting the fact that so many posters here despised the manner in which it was achieved.  I am not sure if it will be successful, but I do hope it might just placate both the casual and active Amhaters

Speaking of Amhaters, if you are one, now might be a good time to look away...

So onto the team, but firstly the coach.  I'm never quite sure how much direct contact the more critical in here have actually had with him, but am feeling in a magnanimous mood today and will give them the benefit of the doubt.  I will tell you that this is someone who deeply cares about the young men in his charge and has utmost respect in the Amherst community.  That may not be enough for some, but it's more than enough for me.  To lead a team that has made four of the last five finals, won one, plus two NESCACs and also achieved a 2015 title suggests he should be given much more credit than what he gets and I don't mean of the begrudging kind.

As for the team, well where do you start? Two key players injured permanently inside the first few weeks of the season should have been and was, a massive blow.  But game after game this team found ways to win, not always to this correspondent's ultimate satisfaction, but good enough.  Last year I described the team as efficient, this year, "resilient" would be my label.  They mostly successfully defended slender leads and a team that let in four goals in the 2023 FF found a way to just concede one this time around, that speaks to the quality of the defence.

A skilfully assembled freshman class quickly paid dividends and today three of them played important roles and executed well.  The sophomores, including one well deserved AA, played their part too, but my highest praise must go to the seniors.  A superb group of young men who play with skill, make contests and most importantly, refuse to give up.  Their resilience was something to behold.  Along with a national title, this group also managed two NESCAC titles and multiple all NESCAC honours, that's a pretty outstanding return for four years.

This will be my last match report, but I know I will find it hard to stay away and I am sure I will occasionally opine.  I know it's not long until August and the opportunity to speculate about this and that.  I don't think anyone selected Amherst at any stage as the 2024 champion, but lots of others were nominated.  Maybe we don't know as much as we think we do.

Final Foul Count: Conn 15 Amherst 14 quite ironic that the Mammoths lose this count on the most important game of the season