Congratulations to NESCAC alums, Logan Tomlinson (Wesleyan) and Phil Lutz (Tufts), for doing the NESCAC proud in the opening week of the college football season. Tomlinson was the leading receiver for UNH in their opening loss to FBS power, UCF. Meanwhile, Lutz scored Delaware's first TD of the season with a reception in their opening win against Bryant. Making NESCAC proud!

Bates 2024 roster is now posted:

https://gobatesbobcats.com/sports/football/roster/2024

This board has officially come back to life. The inimitable NESCACMAN with that wrestling hood in his signature photo has recently emerged from his clandestine summer Jersey haunts. He's gained 10 pounds on Jersey Hot Dogs and great NJ Italian cuisine but he promises great new content to come this year!

I also see the Mole is coming out of off season hibernation in the quiet confines of rural PA where its been confirmed that many of his senior family and friends were extras in the the filming of the Deer Hunter.

In addition to that the Polarcat has evidently been granted at least temporary asylum from a political gag order placed upon him at Dartmouth many years ago. He was placed on infinite probation by the double secret security faculty committee at Dartmouth. This fall, he can finally set foot on the Dartmouth campus this with no fear of retribution or repression.

For those complaining recently about the lack of activity on the board fasten your seat belts as the season approaches. The two Cardinal backers don't pull any punches. Sometimes it will seem like there is an eternal Middletown echo here but it does make things go.


Maybe we will see more balanced input onto the board from all NESCAC programs in the year ahead.
Hamilton, Colby, Tufts, and Bowdoin typically emit cricket sounds here - maybe that will change this year.

Helicopter parents, especially those from the west coast are always welcome here!

I think week 1 will tell us a lot.
Wesleyan vs Middlebury could set the tone for the #2 slot for the year. I say this since everyone already blessed Trinity with the #1 position, which they clearly didn't earn last year. (Sorry to bring this "tie" thing up again)
I am not convinced that Tufts can be in the top 4, Williams could be the wildcard to fill that position.

Not enough conversation about UCONN-Hartford Campus as a contender for the #2 slot. After all, that is what happened last year. Just saying before we appoint the Nervous Birds as champions on paper.

Quote from: ROTMNG on September 02, 2024, 09:33:47 PMNot enough conversation about UCONN-Hartford Campus as a contender for the #2 slot. After all, that is what happened last year. Just saying before we appoint the Nervous Birds as champions on paper.

For the record, it's Hartford State. Not affiliated in anyway with the basketball power in Storrs.

Quote from: Nescacman on September 03, 2024, 09:27:02 AM

Quote from: ROTMNG on September 02, 2024, 09:33:47 PMNot enough conversation about UCONN-Hartford Campus as a contender for the #2 slot. After all, that is what happened last year. Just saying before we appoint the Nervous Birds as champions on paper.

For the record, it's Hartford State. Not affiliated in anyway with the basketball power in Storrs.

I'm a long-time reader. Just expanding our vernacular. Well aware of the Hartford State lore.

Quote from: lumbercat on September 01, 2024, 05:41:57 PMThis board has officially come back to life. The inimitable NESCACMAN with that wrestling hood in his signature photo has recently emerged from his clandestine summer Jersey haunts. He's gained 10 pounds on Jersey Hot Dogs and great NJ Italian cuisine but he promises great new content to come this year!

I also see the Mole is coming out of off season hibernation in the quiet confines of rural PA where its been confirmed that many of his senior family and friends were extras in the the filming of the Deer Hunter.

In addition to that the Polarcat has evidently been granted at least temporary asylum from a political gag order placed upon him at Dartmouth many years ago. He was placed on infinite probation by the double secret security faculty committee at Dartmouth. This fall, he can finally set foot on the Dartmouth campus this with no fear of retribution or repression.

For those complaining recently about the lack of activity on the board fasten your seat belts as the season approaches. The two Cardinal backers don't pull any punches. Sometimes it will seem like there is an eternal Middletown echo here but it does make things go.


Maybe we will see more balanced input onto the board from all NESCAC programs in the year ahead.
Hamilton, Colby, Tufts, and Bowdoin typically emit cricket sounds here - maybe that will change this year.

Helicopter parents, especially those from the west coast are always welcome here!

Thanks Lumber. Great to be back. We concur with you that it would be nice to get more balanced reporting from around the 'CAC. Kinda sad when we get more posts from CC Camels than we do from "real" NESCAC schools that play Saturday on the gridiron. Hope the Conts, Mules, and Polar faithful step up this year. We know the Jumbo's fans are out there. Just looking for more consistent reporting from them...

NM

Quote from: ROTMNG on September 03, 2024, 09:32:50 AM

Quote from: Nescacman on September 03, 2024, 09:27:02 AM

Quote from: ROTMNG on September 02, 2024, 09:33:47 PMNot enough conversation about UCONN-Hartford Campus as a contender for the #2 slot. After all, that is what happened last year. Just saying before we appoint the Nervous Birds as champions on paper.

For the record, it's Hartford State. Not affiliated in anyway with the basketball power in Storrs.

I'm a long-time reader. Just expanding our vernacular. Well aware of the Hartford State lore.

Understood and welcome into the pool. Just don't want us to drag down the academic reputation of Connecticut's state university by linking them to state college's in Hartford.

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 02, 2024, 06:54:54 PMI think week 1 will tell us a lot.
Wesleyan vs Middlebury could set the tone for the #2 slot for the year. I say this since everyone already blessed Trinity with the #1 position, which they clearly didn't earn last year. (Sorry to bring this "tie" thing up again)
I am not convinced that Tufts can be in the top 4, Williams could be the wildcard to fill that position.

Did I miss where everyone crowned Trinity as the presumptive favorite this season? Middlebury returns twice as many All NESCAC performers while Wesleyan and Tufts both have more all conference talent coming back than Trinity. The Bantams have to go on the road to play the Jumbos and Panthers. Tufts has the top returning QB while Trinity graduated the greatest statistical QB in their program history along with 9 of 11 starters on defense and most of the offensive line.

Sure, Trinity is seemingly always in the running for a league title, but it's hard to call them the favorite this year and I don't recall seeing anyone who has...

Quote from: Trin9-0 on September 03, 2024, 10:03:08 AM

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 02, 2024, 06:54:54 PMI think week 1 will tell us a lot.
Wesleyan vs Middlebury could set the tone for the #2 slot for the year. I say this since everyone already blessed Trinity with the #1 position, which they clearly didn't earn last year. (Sorry to bring this "tie" thing up again)
I am not convinced that Tufts can be in the top 4, Williams could be the wildcard to fill that position.

Did I miss where everyone crowned Trinity as the presumptive favorite this season? Middlebury returns twice as many All NESCAC performers while Wesleyan and Tufts both have more all conference talent coming back than Trinity. The Bantams have to go on the road to play the Jumbos and Panthers. Tufts has the top returning QB while Trinity graduated the greatest statistical QB in their program history along with 9 of 11 starters on defense and most of the offensive line.

Sure, Trinity is seemingly always in the running for a league title, but it's hard to call them the favorite this year and I don't recall seeing anyone who has...

Sorry with the "everyone" designation.
Maybe a historical reference/opinion.
And I still believe strongly that they weren't "tied" for #1 last year, that I stand by no matter what the rules are.

Sept 3, 2024 (best case to worst case)
Trinity has won 11/22 NESCAC Titles since 2000 -I am calling them the favorites:

Trinity (9-0 to 6-3)
Middlebury (9-0 to 5-4)
Tufts (8-1 to 5-4)
Wesleyan (8-1 to 5-4)
Williams (7-2 to 4-5)
Bowdoin (6-3 to 3-6)
Amherst (6-3 to 3-6)
Colby (6-3 to 2-7)
Hamilton (5-4 to 2-7)
Bates (4-5 to 0-9)

Quote from: Nescacman on September 03, 2024, 09:36:20 AMKinda sad when we get more posts from CC Camels than we do from "real" NESCAC schools that play Saturday on the gridiron.

Heh-heh...The Mighty Camels are looking to build upon their 112th Fall without a loss on the gridiron!!  In fairness though, my kids are a recent Bowdoin graduate and a football Bobcat.

Looking forward to another great season of NESCAC football!

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 03, 2024, 10:22:49 AM

Quote from: Trin9-0 on September 03, 2024, 10:03:08 AM

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 02, 2024, 06:54:54 PMI think week 1 will tell us a lot.
Wesleyan vs Middlebury could set the tone for the #2 slot for the year. I say this since everyone already blessed Trinity with the #1 position, which they clearly didn't earn last year. (Sorry to bring this "tie" thing up again)
I am not convinced that Tufts can be in the top 4, Williams could be the wildcard to fill that position.

Did I miss where everyone crowned Trinity as the presumptive favorite this season? Middlebury returns twice as many All NESCAC performers while Wesleyan and Tufts both have more all conference talent coming back than Trinity. The Bantams have to go on the road to play the Jumbos and Panthers. Tufts has the top returning QB while Trinity graduated the greatest statistical QB in their program history along with 9 of 11 starters on defense and most of the offensive line.

Sure, Trinity is seemingly always in the running for a league title, but it's hard to call them the favorite this year and I don't recall seeing anyone who has...

Sorry with the "everyone" designation.
Maybe a historical reference/opinion.
And I still believe strongly that they weren't "tied" for #1 last year, that I stand by no matter what the rules are.

Sure, historically Trinity has been the best team in the NESCAC. That won't win them any games this year.  And forget "everyone" has ANYONE gone on record to say the Bantams are the favorite this year?

As for your other point; I think most (myself included) agree with your assessment that they didn't necessarily deserve to be a 2023 co-champion. However, I'm curious if others share my opinion that, even though Midd deserved a solo crown, Trinity was still the best NESCAC team last year.

Statistically the '23 Bantams were one of the top performing NESCAC teams of all time. If they had found a way to punch the ball in from the two yard line against the Panthers they would surely be considered as such. Meanwhile Middlebury had wildly successful season, but their week-to-week performance was somewhat unremarkable. They finished 4th in total offense and 8th in total defense. Midd was 3rd in scoring offense and 2nd in scoring defense. Their rushing numbers were middle of the pack on both sides of the ball and even the historically dominant Midd passing attack finished just 3rd on offense (5th on defense).

Middlebury led the league in only two categories: kickoffs and opponents penalties. Now, they also tied for the league in wins (which I'm not trying to discount). I get it that everyone wants to poke fun at Trinity for winning a share of a title they don't see as legitimate, but I'd like to hear any rationale for those who think Middlebury was actually the best team for the entire season. Keep in mind the Panthers did lose to Wesleyan, whom Trinity dismantled 58-6.

Quote from: Trin9-0 on September 03, 2024, 12:09:08 PM

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 03, 2024, 10:22:49 AM

Quote from: Trin9-0 on September 03, 2024, 10:03:08 AM

Quote from: NescacNewbie on September 02, 2024, 06:54:54 PMI think week 1 will tell us a lot.
Wesleyan vs Middlebury could set the tone for the #2 slot for the year. I say this since everyone already blessed Trinity with the #1 position, which they clearly didn't earn last year. (Sorry to bring this "tie" thing up again)
I am not convinced that Tufts can be in the top 4, Williams could be the wildcard to fill that position.

Did I miss where everyone crowned Trinity as the presumptive favorite this season? Middlebury returns twice as many All NESCAC performers while Wesleyan and Tufts both have more all conference talent coming back than Trinity. The Bantams have to go on the road to play the Jumbos and Panthers. Tufts has the top returning QB while Trinity graduated the greatest statistical QB in their program history along with 9 of 11 starters on defense and most of the offensive line.

Sure, Trinity is seemingly always in the running for a league title, but it's hard to call them the favorite this year and I don't recall seeing anyone who has...

Sorry with the "everyone" designation.
Maybe a historical reference/opinion.
And I still believe strongly that they weren't "tied" for #1 last year, that I stand by no matter what the rules are.

Sure, historically Trinity has been the best team in the NESCAC. That won't win them any games this year.  And forget "everyone" has ANYONE gone on record to say the Bantams are the favorite this year?

As for your other point; I think most (myself included) agree with your assessment that they didn't necessarily deserve to be a 2023 co-champion. However, I'm curious if others share my opinion that, even though Midd deserved a solo crown, Trinity was still the best NESCAC team last year.

Statistically the '23 Bantams were one of the top performing NESCAC teams of all time. If they had found a way to punch the ball in from the two yard line against the Panthers they would surely be considered as such. Meanwhile Middlebury had wildly successful season, but their week-to-week performance was somewhat unremarkable. They finished 4th in total offense and 8th in total defense. Midd was 3rd in scoring offense and 2nd in scoring defense. Their rushing numbers were middle of the pack on both sides of the ball and even the historically dominant Midd passing attack finished just 3rd on offense (5th on defense).

Middlebury led the league in only two categories: kickoffs and opponents penalties. Now, they also tied for the league in wins (which I'm not trying to discount). I get it that everyone wants to poke fun at Trinity for winning a share of a title they don't see as legitimate, but I'd like to hear any rationale for those who think Middlebury was actually the best team for the entire season. Keep in mind the Panthers did lose to Wesleyan, whom Trinity dismantled 58-6.

I think that is what makes football, specifically NESCAC football, so great. Any given Saturday afternoon. There is no doubt that Trinity had an incredible team last year and had arguably the best statistical season in NESCAC history. But if its all about statistics, why play the games?

No one ever could've predicted the Conts would take down the Jumbos or that the buzzsaw that was the Bants wouldn't get into the endzone at their own Coop. Thats why we play the games and love the sport.