FB: Conference of New England

[Boxer7806]

wow the pages are really starting to move... NLNG thanks for recognizing my picking skills this week... my only loss was the westfield vs framingham game... framingham looked like they mailed it in... but lets get back to business and talk some nefc football...

two huge games this week in my mind ... lets first start with the boyd division in PSU vs Curry... i think PSU will rely on the legs of Mack and Demarco and beat Curry ending their dominance of the NEFC for one year at least... this is the most vulnerable Curry team of the last 5 years and i think PSU has the firepower and more importantly the defense to stop Curry and come out on top...

im also rooting for Plymouth becuase as Pat said earlier we get an automatic bid and have a outside chance at a at large bid.. if Plymouth win the championship they are an automatic bid... if Curry loses but wins out they have a better chance then Plymouth at getting that at large bid because of thier past sucesss especially winning a playoff game last year and Plymouth somehow losting to Mount Ida... with the rest of the east down this year it is not impossible for the NEFC to get 2 bid and win another playoff game...

Bridgewater vs Westfield is huge game in the Bogan... i think whoever wins this game is going to take the Bogan... Westfield step up huge this week and took out Framingham in a must win for both teams... but i think Bridgewater is hungy and will win this game... another big game is Maine vs Framingham because Maine needs to keep pace whichever teams wins and i think Maine will win becuase they have something to play for and Framingham does not...

[Findtheball]

 Does anyone think NEFC is getting better as a group? Getting more and better recruits . Is NEFC going to take on Castleton & Husson next or possibly Mt Ida and someone else ? Making the NEFC a bigger conference. It's pretty amazing actually how many schools are in New England .

My picks will be in later in the week.

[CB23]

Just wondering?!?!
does wheaties have anything  to do with karma!??!?!?!?   
CB23

[defenseiskey]

I think only a select group of teams are getting better. Many of them are still very inconsistent. Plymouth and Curry are the only real two this year that could give another team in the country a run for their $$$$. Also the NEFC is big already I dont think it needs to add any more teams.
What this conference needs to do is to play more out of conference games like endicott and bridgwater did this year to try and get on the political map a little more.

[union89]

I think only a select group of teams are getting better. Many of them are still very inconsistent. Plymouth and Curry are the only real two this year that could give another team in the country a run for their $$$$. Also the NEFC is big already I dont think it needs to add any more teams.
What this conference needs to do is to play more out of conference games like endicott and bridgwater did this year to try and get on the political map a little more.

Agreed 100%......the NEFC doesn't need more mediocre teams.  You guys need to make a footprint in the LL and E8 like Curry did last year.

[CB23]

By plymouth opening up the season with a win against a division 2 school ( even though it was st. anselms), help get them on the political map more?
CB23   

[Boxer7806]

Union i agree right on but the leauge is getting better as a whole... we do not and i mean absolutely do not want to add on anymore teams because the leauge is watered down enough but the parity and the leauge as a whole is improving... Curry beating Hartwick last year was huge... WNEC schedules tough teams and did well by beating Hartwick last year... kudos to BSC playin Rowan tough to start and Endicott puttin up a fight with RPI to start the year even though they are a bottom dweller this year... its only going to help the leauge as a whole... eventually and hopefully teams like Fitchburg will open with the Springfields and beat them instead of putting up a game or getting blown out...

compared to years past when i didnt think the top eschelon of teams could even beat the bottom dwellers of the E8 and little leauge... the leauge has taken a great step foward at being competitive.. a middle of the pack UMD team took WPI to 5 overtimes and in all honesty should of won the game... WPI is 5-1 and there is talk they could go to the playoffs... I'm not saying the NEFC is in the same category as the LL but its a marked improvement over past years and i hope it continues...

[union89]

Union i agree right on but the leauge is getting better as a whole... we do not and i mean absolutely do not want to add on anymore teams because the leauge is watered down enough but the parity and the leauge as a whole is improving... Curry beating Hartwick last year was huge... WNEC schedules tough teams and did well by beating Hartwick last year... kudos to BSC playin Rowan tough to start and Endicott puttin up a fight with RPI to start the year even though they are a bottom dweller this year... its only going to help the leauge as a whole... eventually and hopefully teams like Fitchburg will open with the Springfields and beat them instead of putting up a game or getting blown out...

compared to years past when i didnt think the top eschelon of teams could even beat the bottom dwellers of the E8 and little leauge... the leauge has taken a great step foward at being competitive.. a middle of the pack UMD team took WPI to 5 overtimes and in all honesty should of won the game... WPI is 5-1 and there is talk they could go to the playoffs... I'm not saying the NEFC is in the same category as the LL but its a marked improvement over past years and i hope it continues...

Again....agreed.

The NEFC has a huge conference as it is....don't add more below average teams....my point is to not get locked into playing more below average teams.  Curry can continue to play a weak schedule and get the AQ.  Curry needs to step up for the betterment of the league and play the RPI's and Ithaca's of the region and win.  Last years win vs. Hartwick was huge.....play a better OOC schedule and gain respect and visibility on a national/regional scope.

Continuing to be the NEFC power and playing no one outside does not help unless more wins like the one vs. Hartwick are on the horizon.

[Jonny Utah]

Id also say that Plymouth St. is looking to put themselves back on the map, as they had been a regional power several times over the past 30 years.

As for Curry College, it seems like thier coaching staff puts out more effort than the other NEFC schools from what Ive seen.  I go to a lot of MA high school football games and Im always seeing Curry coaches at these games.  They are also at all the coaching clinics across NE that Ive been to.

[defenseiskey]

Is anyone going to make the trek to PSU for the big game or is nlng going to be all alone with his coffee cup?  I think this game is going to be loaded with fans but then again it will be a nice brisk day up in NH

[InTheMix]

I agree that the NEFC is working towards improving itself and reputation. I think that when Coast Guard and Plymouth State joined the conference it was a step in the right direction.

It seems that in recent years more teams are going outside of the conference, and even sometimes outside of the division, for pre-season scrimages, and for the first 2 games of the season. This can only help in the long run.

Another aspect is that Curry finally got a win in the NCAA tournament. Finally, the NEFC isn't the punchline of Division 3 jokes. I think that players and coaches are seeing that a team from the NEFC can actually win outside of the conference and on the big stage. The mental aspect can go a long way.

Another reason is that now the private schools in the NEFC are increasing their tuition. So, instead of getting the big talent with the "private school" setting, a lot of players are going to state schools that are much more affordable.

Finally, a lot of schools are beginning to bring in full-time coaches. This allows the coaches to focus on football. Recruiting will obviously improve. The relationship between players and coaches will improve as well.

Well, to sum it up....the NEFC seems to be getting better. But it will take more than one year

[Jonny Utah]

Too bad the MA state schools are still some of the most expensive in the country.

[Findtheball]

 Wow , I love the feedback .
Ok next question is, is NEFC too big , should they down size , break off and start another league ?
What is going to happen to Castleton next year ? don't you think the likes of Husson or Becker or Mt Ida should fall into a league , as opposed to being an independant . I think that in it self , hurts their programs. Has Husson , Mt Ida or Becker played any big games this year ? Sorry I haven't been following them . How would NEFC stack up against a NESC . Granted I know they feel their scholars are more importantant but it's still football , am I confused .
Pat you coming up here this weekend or what ?

[Findtheball]

                              Pat I'm waiting

[Pat Coleman]

I live in Minneapolis. Not making the trip, sorry.

Those independents formed a league and will play in the North Atlantic Conference. If you'd read Around the Northeast you couldn't miss it.