Quote from: EnmoreCat on November 26, 2024, 02:03:12 AMI understand that Amherst isn't everyone's cup of tea and whilst I can truthfully say I don't appreciate everyone's candour, I certainly respect their right to opine.  Your comments about what higher education in the US faces, resonate with me and I find myself much more interested in the prospects for what will happen there, than in Australia!  I read today on Bloomberg that a number of D3 colleges, not ones that we typically discuss here, have implemented quite dramatic cuts in tuition fees, perhaps economists at the respective schools have been waxing lyrically about the concept of supply & demand.  In any event, it's clear that schools all over are dealing with not just demographic issues, but also product ones.

Thanks for your good wishes, it will be no surprise that I do care about the final outcome, but also appreciate the calibre of what lies in Amherst's path.

The schools that are implementing "dramatic cuts in tuition" are largely just rationalizing what most in the US do - have a stated very high tuition and immediately offer basically anyone who gets in a 50%+ discount in "scholarships" or "grants".  In the 2023-24 academic year, the average discount rate for first-time, full-time freshmen was 56.1% according to NACUBO (the National Association of College and University Business Officers organization which tracks a great deal of college financial information in the US).  The previous year it was 54.8%; given trends it would be reasonable to suspect it to close in on 60% in the current school year or the next.  Who wouldn't be happy with getting $30K off on that $50K published tuition?

Not everyone gets these discounts; the well-off who attend the better-known schools will generally pay a higher net rate.  One reason small schools are so eager to recruit athletes is they (or their families) are often willing to pay more to attend a school if Johnny or Jane can continue to play the sport(s) they love.  The small schools that are granting reduced net tuition to all are willing to overlook that additional revenue to get more people interested in the school and hopefully through the doors, though whether that will work in the long run is to be seen. 

Finally, in the US (like many other countries) the number of young people available is coming down due to lower birth rates.  This, on top of families placing a lower value on a formal education from colleges, means most all colleges are scrambling to define their value equation and recruit from the smaller cohort they see each year. 

As a neutral who enjoyed watching the Red Devils this season, I wanted to highlight 4 players in particular who were enjoyable to watch:

Saul Iwowo - 16 goals 9 assists -- savvy, silky, deceptive. A special player who can create something out of nothing. At 6'3" he has incredible athleticism...reminds me of 2019 All-American Forward from St. Mary's College, Khalid Balogun, who was 6'4" and had similar skill with the ball.

Ethan Jarden - 13 goals 8 assists -- A perfect partner in crime to Iwowo. Dickinson's playmaker. Has a nose for getting in the right spots and finishing chances.

Nicholas Dwamena - 5 goals 5 assists -- his playstyle and physique reminds me of Brighton's Tyriq Lamptey. Such a fun, dynamic player to watch down the outside.

Timi Omoniwa -- 7 goals 3 assists -- At times, Omoniwa was just as tricky to deal for defenses with as Iwowo. A product of the Houston Dynamo academy.

Well done Red Devils on a great season.

 

Quote from: Mr_November on November 26, 2024, 12:04:41 PMAs a neutral who enjoyed watching the Red Devils this season, I wanted to highlight 4 players in particular who were enjoyable to watch:

Saul Iwowo - 16 goals 9 assists -- savvy, silky, deceptive. A special player who can create something out of nothing. At 6'3" he has incredible athleticism...reminds me of 2019 All-American Forward from St. Mary's College, Khalid Balogun, who was 6'4" and had similar skill with the ball.

Ethan Jarden - 13 goals 8 assists -- A perfect partner in crime to Iwowo. Dickinson's playmaker. Has a nose for getting in the right spots and finishing chances.

Nicholas Dwamena - 5 goals 5 assists -- his playstyle and physique reminds me of Brighton's Tyriq Lamptey. Such a fun, dynamic player to watch down the outside.

Timi Omoniwa -- 7 goals 3 assists -- At times, Omoniwa was just as tricky to deal for defenses with as Iwowo. A product of the Houston Dynamo academy.

Well done Red Devils on a great season.

 

The Centennial better be on alert for next year... None of those dudes graduate.

Iwowo and Jarden are Juniors
Dwamena and Omoniwa are first years.

Dickinson is going to terrorize the Centennial next year. In addition to the four already mentioned, I've been impressed by Westin Fryberger, Daniel Spataro, and Luke Finkielstein. Fryberger and Spataro are first years, Finkielstein is a junior.

One area that could perhaps use some improvement is goalkeeping. During the regular season game between Dickinson and Hopkins this year, Gavin Marr (another first year) played the second half and was markedly better than the starter.

The Red Devils have a very skewed age structure on their team - lots of excellent juniors and first years, far fewer seniors and sophomores.

Quote from: Hopkins Walk-On on November 26, 2024, 01:20:06 PMDickinson is going to terrorize the Centennial next year. In addition to the four already mentioned, I've been impressed by Westin Fryberger, Daniel Spataro, and Luke Finkielstein. Fryberger and Spataro are first years, Finkielstein is a junior.

One area that could perhaps use some improvement is goalkeeping. During the regular season game between Dickinson and Hopkins this year, Gavin Marr (another first year) played the second half and was markedly better than the starter.

The Red Devils have a very skewed age structure on their team - lots of excellent juniors and first years, far fewer seniors and sophomores.

Another thing to watch out for re: Red Devils goalkeeping is if Nick Potter (brother of Middlebury Assistant Coach Ben Potter) is healthy for his senior season. He started a handful of games as a sophomore and would have had the most returning starts among the keepers on the 2024 roster, but an injury kept him out all year.

IMO I put this Dickinson team on par with this year's Vassar or Wesleyan.

I like their coach, met him when he worked at Lafayette, he is in a position to attract a lot of talent

They came a long way in a short time.

The Dickinson fans were lovely (even the chirping from the sidelines was good natured and harmless). My son said the team seemed like they were great guys. Hats off to Dickinson.

congrats to you and the team!

Going off of the conversation in the liberty league chat, if W&L were in the Nescac where would they fall year after year?

Quote from: Garden12 on November 27, 2024, 09:36:09 AMGoing off of the conversation in the liberty league chat, if W&L were in the Nescac where would they fall year after year?

Would finish first most years by at least 2 games.

They would lose every away game due to travel and win every home game due to travel.

Quote from: Hopkins92 on November 27, 2024, 10:00:35 AMThey would lose every away game due to travel and win every home game due to travel.

Why?  Why?  Why did ya have to go there???

This forum has been a lot of fun this season.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Quote from: Hopkins92 on November 27, 2024, 10:00:35 AMThey would lose every away game due to travel and win every home game due to travel.

Obviously the same applies to the Final Four :-)