NESCACMAN is the Wesleyan OC on the hypothetical hot seat? The offense historically has always been the weak link in big games and bad losses for Wesleyan.

This year the OL and run game has been average at best. The play calling and execution has been questionable since Middlebury. Since week one the defense/spt has probably accounted for more points than the offense. The offense has been carried by the pure talent of Wilson and Candido.

If Wesleyan had not found ways to survive late vs multiple opponents this year. Again credit to a resilient locker room. This board would probably crucify the Wesleyan offense like they do Amherst.

Hopefully Wesleyan's offense answers the call and Saturday's game delivers on being an all time classic.

We look forward to your whimsical response or to be berated with irrelevant stats by Mole.

Mole and Lumbercat great points. Mole thanks for the data. We our all entitled to our opinions and we respect the fact that wins and losses do at the end of day speak loudest. I believe this point has been brought up before but what if you switch the coaches to different teams would they have the same success or failures? Devanney at Bowdoin or Mills at Bates or Murrray at Wesleyan or Hammer at Trinity. No one can say for sure what would happen but we think Devanney could move the needle at Bowdoin. Should Kelton be a top coach for winning a championship with a team he inherited or should he be judged for how his tenure ended? What if we pose it this way if Mole and Lumber took over there respective teams next year is Mole the better coach for leading Wesleyan to their usual 6-3 record or Lumber for finding a way to win 3 games for a 3-6 record.

Mole to your point about Raymond, we disagree with your assertion. Why wouldn't a Williams team that lost a very productive senior class take a step back (which was made worse by having no QB.) Why did a Wesleyan team that went 6-3 the year before, brought back 17+ starters and according to their superfans it was the year of the cardinal go 6-3 again with a lost to Bowdoin?

Despite what you think about Devanney and Trinity they have been a consistent championship program over the last decade and no one else can even come close to saying that with Amherst's fall from grace the last couple years.

There a lot of bad coaches who's players make them look good at every level of college football. We just feel there are some guys who are better at developing and getting the most out of their players, is that not what coaching is really about?


Here's win loss vs teams that finished above .500 the last 5 years.
Devanney 13-6 .684%
Raymond 7-13 .350%
Mills 9-12 .428%
Civetti 6-15 .286%
Dicenzo 8-11 .421%

Here's win/loss vs teams that finished under .500 the last 5 years.
Devanney 25-1
Raymond 23-2
Mills 17-7
Civetti 20-4
Dicenzo 24-2

Just did this for fun, but to us this and Mole's data shows that wins/ loss dont separate these coaches at all so you have to look beyond that. Thought it was interesting if you go back further there was a time EJ Mills and Amherst lost 3 games in 5 seasons. Sorry for another rant this rain in CA in unrelenting and we are bored of the news. Lumbercat we will answer your question on talent over the past seasons.

GroundandPound we hear you and again admit the middle was hard to rank. In our opinion winning percentage is important but in the NESCAC we feel you have to dig a little deeper. We wanted to reward guys who have done more with less. We considered the recruiting advantages/disadvantages, the state of the program each coach inherited, and living up to expectations, etc. For example Cosgrove is convincing talent to make a home in Waterville, ME thats a lot harder than convincing kids to set up shop in Middletown, CT/ Boston, MA. Or as was mentioned earlier think of the dumpster fire Raymond inherited do you think 3-7 would have fared nearly as well and so quickly. We could go on but our last point for thought. We'll pose it as a question, if you are being honest did anyone think Wesleyan would not have won a championship over the last 10 years looking back at the trajectory the program was on in 2013 and 14.

Charlie- We feel what keeps Mills 3rd for now is that he has won championships. No one else below him can say that. If we had to make one change it would probably be Coyne but we valued the energy/excitement he has brought to program that seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

Mole we meant no disrespect and hope you will give us a chance. If we had to produce power rankings going into next year Wesleyan would be #2 or #3.

NESCAC Head Coaches Rankings

(Based off the opinions of are many correspondents

1.   Jeff Devanney- Consistent winner, stable program, reloads in recruiting year after year. A lifer in the Coop if he is smart.
2.   Mark Raymond- Great rebuild from the dumps, we think if he stays in Willytown for the long term he will continue to win way more than he loses. Seems to know how to run a program, biggest question mark is the offensive identity of his team.
3.   EJ Mills- Previous track record buys him some slack but changes seem needed to avoid a fall from grace. Offensively team seems lost.
4.   Jack Cosgrove- Has laid the foundation over the last few years, but is he the right guy to lead the mules to the next tier. Only question is can him and his staff connect to players to get the most out of them and build consistent results.
5.   Jay Civetti- Probably toughest coach to rank, tun the corner after a tough start to tenure with the Jumbos. Talent is there, seems like they are set up for success but cannot deliver consistent results on Saturdays. In game decisions at times could easily push him down the rankings.
6.   Matt Coyne- Killed it in recruiting in terms of increasing numbers, seems to be building a solid culture within program, will on field success follow? Big question is can they develop current and future players to overcome talent gap.
7.   Dan Dicenzo- Besides recruiting great talent to Middletown continues to falls short of expectations every year. No more Helbig, Estevez, Tomlinson, Banks, Simco. Lot of talent and production will need to be replaced for the most undisciplined team in the CAC.
8.   BJ Hammer- Showed some promise, but still has not adjusted schemes to put players in best position to be successful ween in and week out. If not, for the win against Wesleyan, last season would have just been another disappointment.
9.   Dave Murray- Just seems happy to see another year and another paycheck. Showed promise early in tenure but program seems ok just to play 9 games each year regardless of result.

N/A- Doug Mandigo- We will have to wait and see but if he finds the right formula offensively don't see why he can't continue the success at Midd.

After 1 and 2 you could probably make a case for any order between 3-7 depending on metrics used. Sorry if we offended anyone by ranking there coach too low. Charlie don't let them get you down keep up the great work!

You ok NESCAC-MAN? You having trouble putting Wesleyan lower than 3 in your power rankings this week. No worries we are here to help.

The First Ever Unbiased NESCAC-MAN'S Power Rankings

1). Hartford State Bantams (2-0; LW: 2): Not the best team they have had by any stretch of the imagination. They do however seem like the most rounded team so far. Can the offense continue to lean on the run as they try to stretch the field vertically. If they get the pass game rolling watch out!

2). Middlebury (2-0; LW: 5): Sure seem energized against the Cardinals this past week. They still have a long way to go to be a true contender though. But showed they will scrap and still compete. Can the offense find ways to utilize weapons and get solid QB play. Defense employing the bend don't break strategy, must keep up the physical and discipline play.

3). Tufts Jumbo's (1-1; LW: 3): Continuing to trend upward with a comfortable win vs the bobkitties. The offense still has not reached its full potential. Defense is showing improvements.

4). Colby Mules (1-1; LW: 4): May have lost but showed they belong. First time in years The Mules showed some kick, fought for 4th quarters with another one of the big dogs. Need to take care of business this week before looking ahead to the next.

5). Wesleyan Cardinals (1-1; Last week: 1): Cards show their true colors once again. Despite it being the year of the cardinal. They couldn't over come what seems to be a theme since their 3 way split of a championship in 2013 and runner up finish in 2014. Ultra talented but lack of discipline and composure. Doing the little things right wins championships. Still plenty of games left but need to more consistent in big games.

6). Williams Purple Cows (1-1; LW:6):  Got back on the right track but have seem to have lost the mojo. No longer seem like the team that feels it can't be beat. Can they regain the swagger of last year in time.

7). Bowdoin Polar Bears (1-1; LW: 7):  Making strides but reminded they still have a ways to go. They have the talent at certain positions to scare and maybe steal a win vs the upper tier. But still have work to do to be more than a trap game.

8). Hamilton Continentals (1-1; LW: 10): Just not a good football team... to maybe they are just Hamilton and you get what you get week to week. Some good some bad some ugly.

9). University of Bates Bobcats (Lewiston Campus)(1-1; LW: 8): Good things take time, but is their improvement week to week that is still to be seen. What will it take for the Bobcats to become a winner?

10). Amhurst Lord Mammoths (0-2; LW: 9):
O oh, maybe in trouble, there's talent there but not playing as a team. QB struggles need to be fixed or this could become a season to forget. The competition only gets harder from here.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 6-4
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 267-83 (.765 winning percentage)