Amherst is no longer a destination within the league. Nothing against Coach Mills and his work there, but the days of the Lord Jeff/Mammoth dominance are just over. I think a big part of that is that Amherst is no longer getting the best New England recruits at this level, and the league has embraced more of a national approach to its recruiting as a whole. And if Amherst has to stack up to a Wesleyan or Tufts or Trinity with national kids, they're not particularly as appealing to a kid from a powerhouse football state.

On top of that, they're just not evolving with the rest of the league. Most of the chatter says that Amherst and Williams are the two main programs who have held the league back from expanding to 9 games in the past, eliminating the roster limit, and accepting the NESCAC playoff bid. If I'm a kid who cares about football, what's the draw to Amherst other than their past success?

Quote from: Bantamsdad69 on March 11, 2025, 12:11:28 AMI was looking through Amhersts roster and they seem so small compared to the rest of the players in the NESCAC. Is it a recruiting philosophy issue? I would think that Amherst could land some of these bigger players but they don't. Anyone from this board have any insight?

A D1 school taking a Wesleyan OL is pretty funny. 63 sacks allowed over the last two seasons. Someone in the Marist scouting department must know something we don't...

But yes, Tufts and Middlebury are the only other schools in the league with a significant number of grad transfers. Tufts also had 2 kickers who went on to Duke. Midd has Donovan Wood at USC, and Cole Kennon at Missouri, and of course Hauschka who went on to a successful NFL career. Will be interesting to see how many D1s start recruiting the league given the recent run of success. It's also curious that so many guys are falling through the cracks. How did the ivy/patriot/pioneer schools whiff on these kids?

Good for the kid. Makes sense for him given his California roots, and that program at UC Davis is pretty good too. Sucks for the jumbos though. Definitely a major loss, especially in a year that they lose Timmins as well to graduation. I think that means they lose their entire starting secondary if I'm not mistaken? I know they were senior heavy last season at the position, and it doesn't look like they have a lot of younger guys that played a ton. They've been good against the pass the last couple of years, will be interesting to see if they can overcome those guys leaving.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on January 19, 2025, 07:40:30 PMIt was posted by the UC Davis football account that they signed him

Quote from: Scoops on January 19, 2025, 06:29:15 PMI'm not sure where you saw that, but I don't see it on Richardson's Twitter account?

Quote from: ItsATuftSituation on January 18, 2025, 08:43:39 PMTy Richardson has transferred to UC Davis. Was announced on their Twitter recently. Tough loss for Jumbos.

I'm not sure where you saw that, but I don't see it on Richardson's Twitter account?

Quote from: ItsATuftSituation on January 18, 2025, 08:43:39 PMTy Richardson has transferred to UC Davis. Was announced on their Twitter recently. Tough loss for Jumbos.

Are we forgetting Ty Richardson? Seems like he's a fair bet for DPOTY given he hasn't committed elsewhere yet.

Quote from: Nescacman on January 09, 2025, 11:48:46 PMOn the defensive side of the ball, we'd argue that the Lord Mammoth's Harmon and Wesleyan's Connors belong in the discussion with UBates Ryan. Harmon and Connors are our early picks to challenge for NESCAC DPOTY in 2025.

Serious question: With all the transfer portal madness reaching the NESCAC, are we going to start seeing "representatives" from higher level programs roaming the sidelines in the future?

I like how posters have zeroed in on UMass, opposed to the other opportunities the young man has. The kid's got a lot of great opportunities, some of which are better academic fits with good football. Given that he's a California kid, I have to assume the San Diego and UC Davis offers are quite appealing to him. Also, if he wants to focus on education he can just stay at Tufts and continue to build his resume for next year's transfer portal. Although I can't imagine many QBs throwing at him next season if he stays.

Mole -

Congrats on your team's championship. Glad to see you handling it exactly how I assumed you would.

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish by bringing up my points about last year's secondary and offensive line? Winning the championship doesn't change how bad they were last season. In fact, their offensive line was still atrocious this year, giving up the most sacks once again. Also you're wrong about them being the top pass defense this year (Tufts 1, Trin 2, Wes 3). And you can thank whoever Colby's DB coach was for getting Nick Donatio to be the player he was. He was light-years ahead of anyone else on the Wesleyan back end, and clearly the difference maker.

That said, please enjoy your championship. The cards won when it mattered, and have every right to lord it over the group for the next year. I'm sure we will all rejoice when the cards inevitably regress to the mean in 2025.

I don't think you can call them all-time bad. If they were getting blown out every week that's one thing. To their credit, they've played a handful of 1 and 2 score games, and have been competitive. Similar to Bates last year, but I personally think this Hamilton team is better than last year's kitties. Not by much though. Should be an interesting matchup today.

Quote from: BigKat on November 09, 2024, 07:23:20 AMWe spend a lot of time talking about the top of the stack and historic milestones. With that in mind , is this Hamilton team in contention for all time bad ones if they lose today ? Remember some recently bad Bates teams as well . It's not easy to run the proverbial o-Fer table in this league thus my question . Let's hope they pull out a W today .

Good luck to the cardinals in their attempt at winning their first outright championship after so many years of coming oh so close!

Quote from: The Mole on November 05, 2024, 10:30:26 AMI knew you would take the bait. Thank you. 4-4 is mediocre. 7-1 and playing for a championship. How does it feel to lose 10 of the last 11?

Oh I've done no slinking Mole ol' buddy! I do love all of the Wesleyan fans taking their "victory lap" here, like they didn't just scrape by to get into this position. Typical Wes under-achieving mentality. Win by one on the last play of the game to a team that literally didn't feel the need to throw the ball against your "vaunted" defense. Anyone who watched the game (and the scoops "collective" was there in person) knows that Wesleyan had no business winning that game. But here you are Cards fans. Congrats to you for just barely making the cut. Should be a fun game to watch, although I think the outcome will be obvious. Is it possible to have BOTH teams lose? I think the majority of posters here would rather that than anything 

Quote from: The Mole on November 05, 2024, 08:44:08 AMAnd Scoops slinked back into its hole

Quote from: NescacNewbie on November 05, 2024, 07:21:11 AMIt has been crickets from the student/player at Middlebury...some legend guy?
Was fun while it lasted. 

NM - that's how good Lutz and Richardson were! They could make the lowly mammoth offense look competent.

Quote from: Nescacman on October 29, 2024, 01:35:52 PM

Quote from: Scoops on October 28, 2024, 08:40:54 PMHe had 2 legitimate division 1 receivers for the start of his career. It's pretty obvious that they made him, not the other way around. Berluti is certainly no slouch, but I'm sure if you gave Amherst's QB (whichever one they choose to play) Richardson and Lutz, they would have the same kind of success. Those guys were just better than everyone else.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on October 28, 2024, 07:30:04 PMPersonally I think this is about the lack of explosiveness on the offense for tufts this year. They still have tons of talent but they seem to be lacking the GUY that they have 2 or 3 of each of the last couple years. I expected Berluti to be able to make up the difference but he was much more productive the last two years.

Scoops, have you seen the Lord Mammoths play in person the last several years?!?

NM

He had 2 legitimate division 1 receivers for the start of his career. It's pretty obvious that they made him, not the other way around. Berluti is certainly no slouch, but I'm sure if you gave Amherst's QB (whichever one they choose to play) Richardson and Lutz, they would have the same kind of success. Those guys were just better than everyone else.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on October 28, 2024, 07:30:04 PMPersonally I think this is about the lack of explosiveness on the offense for tufts this year. They still have tons of talent but they seem to be lacking the GUY that they have 2 or 3 of each of the last couple years. I expected Berluti to be able to make up the difference but he was much more productive the last two years.

The "Barry Sanders" comparison is quite the stretch Ephs1. Let's not be unnecessarily hyperbolic. I was watching the stream of the Tufts/Williams game and the injury to Fischetti certainly did not look good. You've got to feel for a kid like that who, when healthy, has been arguably the best back in the league. Kudos to the rest of Ephs team for rallying rather than folding when their best player went down.

Amherst beat Bates. And Bates beat Wesleyan. So by your "collective's" transitive logic, Amherst is better than Wesleyan, right? I think having eyes (yes my "collective" watches the games too), will tell you that Wesleyan is not the top team in the league. Even with the loss, it's Trinity. And even with their game 1 loss to Wesleyan, Middlebury is #2. Wesleyan came out the first week after having a month to prepare and had a great game vs Midd. Since then, they've been average against the softest part of their schedule. Again I get being a homer, and I generally like your commentary, but you do your "collective" no favors in the credibility column when you put out ludicrous stuff like that.

Quote from: Nescacman on October 22, 2024, 10:35:55 PM

Quote from: Scoops on October 22, 2024, 09:04:46 PMSo let me get this straight... 4-1 Middlebury beats an undefeated Trinity and yet you, assumingly with a straight face, are able to convince yourself that Wesleyan is the current top team in the league? The same Wesleyan that lost to a winless Bates (your #8 team), had to come back against a one win at the time Colby (#6) and gave up a staggering EIGHT sacks and had to come back to win against 2-3 Bowdoin (#7)? I get being a homer, but your own rankings don't agree with themselves.

Quote from: Nescacman on October 22, 2024, 02:49:29 PM

2024 NESCACMAN Week 6 Power Rankings

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (Record: 5-1; Last Week Rank: 2; 7 first place votes): Wesleyan moves into our #1 spot based on Middlebury's upset of Hartford State, Wesleyan's 5th win of the year against the Polars on the road, and Wesleyan's large win over Middlebury in Vermont in Week #1. Wesleyan always seems to have a tough time playing at Bowdoin and this year was no exception. The Wesleyan defense is very good and leads the NESCAC in many categories including scoring defense and yards allowed. The offense has been inconsistent. At times they have looked spectacular and at other times, they have struggled. Overall, it was a gutsy come from behind win in Brunswick. Wes travels to Amherst to face the Lord Mammoths in the first Little 3 contest of 2024.

Thank you Maple for being the voice of reason here....the last 3 games will decide things so we'll see. With that being said...

1. The NESCACMAN consortium is comprised of 10 Voters, 1 vote representing each team in the league (no vote for the Fighting Camels...sorry); the vote this week: 7 votes for Wesleyan, 3 votes for Middlebury. Very objective and fair. Sorry Scoops and Mr. JV Legend, only starters get a vote.

2. You seem to forget that Middlebury actually played Wesleyan at home in Vermont. Wesleyan won 43-7 and it was not even that close. Go back and watch the game. We did. Score could have easily been 60-0. Doesn't matter when they played, they played and Wesleyan won by a ton. Case closed. If it was a closer game, maybe we would give Middlebury some wiggle room but it wasn't.

3. Middlebury didn't exactly set the world on fire against arguably the worst team in the league, Amherst. They allowed 21 points to one of the worst offenses in the country and if it wasn't for 4 INTs by the Lord Mammoths, MID probably would have lost.

4. So let us understand this. Last year, MID beats Hartford State, they finish with the same record, and  MID claims the league title as a result of the head-to-head win. This year, through 6 games, Wes and Mid are tied, yet despite the head-to-head win by Wes, Mid claims to be ahead of them in the standings because they are "playing better". Seems a bit hypocritical to us.

Not that we have to explain ourselves, but we stand by our rankings through 6 games...