FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Well sad to see the short-term pessimism for Williams but unsurprised -- Kelton was crazily negligent in recruiting at certain positions, in particular the QB position.  That Williams has only one returning QB on the roster (and he is a converted RB) is absolutely insane.  Kelton didn't recruit a single NESCAC-level-starting-QB for three consecutive years -- that is just nuts.  The Ephs used to have 2-3 capable at worst and often future all-league QBs on the roster at any given time.  Kelton went 8-0 with an inherited superstar QB but since then ... man.  Raymond needs to bring in some guys who can play early in their Eph careers, especially on the OL (another area that has gone from elite unit to perpeptual trouble spot), QB, WR, and LB. 

The best-case scenario for Williams to rebuild quickly is to look to Amherst in the early 1990's.  In 1992, Amherst was 0-8 under an interm coach after the program disintegrated (also due to coaching issues, but for very different reasons, as the legendary coach had serious health issues that impeded his ability to lead the team).  Ephs could be facing a similar type nadir year, it seems, maybe two.  Siedlicki brought in a great staff (led by Mills) and three MONSTER classes in a row with some extra special help from admissions (wink wink) and before you knew it Amherst was 3-5, 5-3, 5-2-1, and then 7-1 with a team that owned NESCAC and should have been 8-0.  So basically a five year process. 

Now, I don't think it will be that easy for Williams, because in the early 1990s about half the NESCAC program were in terrible shape and really Williams and Trinity were the two dominant teams.  Now Trinity, Amherst, Wesleyan, Midd and Tufts are all in GREAT shape and will remain so as long as the current leadership remains in place.  (As a side note, one of the all time NESCAC what-iffs -- what if Williams had hired Dicenzo back in 2009??).  Bates and Hamilton also have very good head coaches and will remain solid-at-worst.  So there aren't any bottom feeders like Tufts and Hamilton were a few years back to easily and quickly surpass.  Bowdoin and Colby aren't great, but they do have some talent, and Williams unfortunately only gets to play one of those two per year in all events.  So it's hard to imagine Raymond turning things around quite as fast as Amherst did in the 1990s.  Still, if admissions helps him out (certainly, admissions has been an obstacle in recent years so Kelton doesn't get all the blame) and lets him bring in a star transfer or two at key positions (something most other NESCAC programs seem to benefit from from time to time) and he can bring in a few big and talented classes to replenish the roster, I don't think a winning record in his third or at worst fourth year at the helm is an unrealistic goal.   I still think Williams has SO much to offer recruits -- the academics, a campus culture that is generally pro-athlete, the elite football facility, a great coaching staff top-to-bottom, a tremendous football tradition, and a chance for immediate playing time -- that it should be a very easy sell for recruits.  If Williams just wins half the recruiting battles with Amherst (something that was routine prior to the Kelton era) and gets just a few cough-cough look-the-other-way type dudes in per year in the first three years of Raymond's tenure, he should be able to field a competitive team very quickly, and a contender within 4-5 years.   

[JEFFFAN]

Recent posts brings me back again.
Frank U.....why do you think Wes will be so successful?  A hint or two?
Lumbercat....Midd has a pic and a final roster online...more changes ahead?  Williams has posted a less than 75 player roster.  Expect more cuts?  Maybe some additions?
Colbyfootball....best to watch the game at Willytown.  Chance to celebrate after the game down the street.  Best chance for Colby to beat Williams in a long, long time so enjoy the moment with Kool Aid if you must.  Too much advice??
Will weather be a factor in any game?  Believe all fields will be artificial/ turf ones and in good condition.
JEFFAN....what made you believe 2015 would be special?  Foy was a new starter. Kelly was hurt early and Hickey was a surprise though talented.  Spears underperformed and another CB starter was lost early. A starting WR was lost to injury.  2015 was great because many talented players stepped up like Fairfield-Sonn, Foy and the seniors that started.  Just my opinion. yours?

The reason that I thought last year was their year was the incredibly strong senior class.   They had a defensive backfield with I think three starters who had started for three years, which is a great level of experience.  Opposing offenses had to go into the Amherst game last year believing that they had little chance of passing against that defense, which allowed the Jeff defense to focus on the other team's running game because the defensive backfield was so strong.   On offense, yes, a new quarterback was in place, but Mills is a "defense first, running game second, special teams third, passing game fourth" kind of coach, so a highly talented QB was a luxury.   The offensive line was as experienced as the defensive backfield going into the season, thus providing great protection for a young QB and the typical excellent blocking for any of a good stable of runners.  Having 6-7 two-three year starters in the defensive backfield and on the offensive line is principally why I thought that last year was their year.

[Jonny Utah]

As for the redshirt, I am not sure.  I think if you practice, but don't dress for games and aren't even on the roster, that you don't get a redshirt year.

That's correct -- this type of redshirting is not allowed in Division III anymore, only a medical hardship year.

Pat I believe there are other hardships the NCAA allows if they fall within a category "outside the student athletes control" or something like that.

[polbear73]

Bowdoin's roster lists, if I counted correctly, 73 players and 22 freshmen, several of which are highly touted coming out of high school.  Notable among the missing is Boston College transfer Tevin Mongomery who remains in school and has been described as toying with the idea of playing basketball.  There are at least two five year seniors on the roster and a couple of well respected upperclassmen playing college football for the first time.  Not sure what to make of any of this!

[nescac1]

Oh man, I would NOT want to be a NESCAC basketball player trying to box Montgomery out ... that would most certainly not be fun. 

[Jonny Utah]

Bowdoin's roster lists, if I counted correctly, 73 players and 22 freshmen, several of which are highly touted coming out of high school.  Notable among the missing is Boston College transfer Tevin Mongomery who remains in school and has been described as toying with the idea of playing basketball.  There are at least two five year seniors on the roster and a couple of well respected upperclassmen playing college football for the first time.  Not sure what to make of any of this!

Word is Bowdoin is starting a frosh LB.

[PBPOP20]

Bowdoin's roster lists, if I counted correctly, 73 players and 22 freshmen, several of which are highly touted coming out of high school.  Notable among the missing is Boston College transfer Tevin Mongomery who remains in school and has been described as toying with the idea of playing basketball.  There are at least two five year seniors on the roster and a couple of well respected upperclassmen playing college football for the first time.  Not sure what to make of any of this!

Word is Bowdoin is starting a frosh LB.

also starting a FY on OL.

[lumbercat]

I guess I owe an apology to the Bowdoin Orient. Earlier in the week I questioned their contention that there were very significant personnel changes in the Polar Bear program. Don't recall seeing anything this extreme in recent years.

Of the 15 seniors on last years roster it Looks like they graduated 12 and have 3 returning as 5th years.
They had 19 underclassmen who did not return this year. No cuts needed to be made.
They added 21 FY's and 3 players from the student body.

Notable non returners- former all league RB Andrew Grant, their best LB Archambault and Montgomery among others.
Although Montgomery came in with much fanfare he played his DT position vs Bates last year on roller skates, moving backwards. I don't think he is as significant a loss as Grant and Archambault.

It does look like a good group of FYs. Coach Wells, like Raymond at Williams, needs some time.

[Ephpapa20]

Some good news considering Williams cancelled the scrimmage against Amherst last weekend. Coaches are finalizing plans to have an Amherst - Williams "Sub-Varsity" game this Sunday in Willytown.

So it appears that even with low numbers for Williams, they are still getting work in for the newbies! Wish I would have known this sooner as I would have shot up there this weekend to watch Amherst/Hamilton on Saturday and Amherst/Williams on Sunday.

Oh well .... Coaching my 10 year old's Mitey Mite pop warner team to a dominating victory over New Smyrna Beach will have to suffice !!!

Go AMHERST!

The game is Sunday at 1pm at Williams.

[polbear73]

I guess I owe an apology to the Bowdoin Orient. Earlier in the week I questioned their contention that there were very significant personnel changes in the Polar Bear program. Don't recall seeing anything this extreme in recent years.

Of the 15 seniors on last years roster it Looks like they graduated 12 and have 3 returning as 5th years.
They had 19 underclassmen who did not return this year. No cuts needed to be made.
They added 21 FY's and 3 players from the student body.

Notable non returners- former all league RB Andrew Grant, their best LB Archambault and Montgomery among others.
Although Montgomery came in with much fanfare he played his DT position vs Bates last year on roller skates, moving backwards. I don't think he is as significant a loss as Grant and Archambault.

It does look like a good group of FYs. Coach Wells, like Raymond at Williams, needs some time.

19 undergrad non returners?  Never a good sign with any; really makes one wonder what's going on.

[amh63]

Thanks posters for the lively posts on the eve of the Nescac season.  Not really eve, but close.  Enjoyed the open comment, many that provided inside/scources knowledge.  Several comments before all the rosters are posted.
JEFFFAN....thanks for your thoughts...plus K.  I like some other Amherst posters have a bit more optimistic viewpoint on the season ahead.  I too am concerned about Hamilton.  I posted earlier that the Hamilton coach is a winner and many of the earlier posts have dwelled on the Coaches in the conference. 
Why I am optimistic.....First, the present projected starting QB is the son of a CAC coach and seemed to have regained the confidence of the coaches.  NBN listed his younger brother as a FY WR starter.  The younger WR is a soph and did a prep year out of HS.  He and his QB brother connected on many TDs in HS.  Therefore, Amherst has THREE experienced WRs, plus big experienced TEs'.  SR RB Kelly will be available during the season and is listed heavier at 218 lbs.  There is also the return of another SR RB....a bigger version of last season's red-zone TD machine.  In summary, the offense will be there...it depends on the rebuilt OLine.  The new offensive linemen have the size but lack the starting experience.  We will see what happens in the Hamilton game on Sat.
Now the defensive side.  The DLine is big, experienced and often dominated the pre- season.  The LBs have experience and are joined by some young guns.   Now the DBs.  Yes the FS and SS are new, but experienced.  The Amherst write-up cited two CBs from last season that made 33 tackles.  NSN posted two CB starters.  One is a new starter...but I heard that he is a good one.  The other is a returning starter that was injured early and is now a senior.  I stated that there are talented CBs that will get much playing time...in different schemes.  One is a transfer from Brown and has had a year on the team now.  The other CB is the other cited cornerback in the Amherst article...Drew.  Last year he was put in when a starter got hurt.  Of the 33 tackles cited, Drew made 28! Thus, I am confident of the talent on the defensive side and the depth. 
Last, the special teams and kicking game.  The special teams are experienced and when you recruit talent, it is the special team where young players get noticed and PT.  Remember when an All-Nescac RB got noticed as a soph on the special team.  Amherst's Kicking game should be first class, returning the FG and extra point kicker.  The new punter is a player from the West Coach that was recruited by Div 1 teams.  He came to Amherst in part to play baseball as a pitcher...which he did and excelled last season.
Last item.   Nescac1 posts reminded me of it.  In a recent Nescac1 post, he mentioned  that Williams has a listed QB who was listed as a RB last season.  That player is from Easton MD, on the "Eastern Shore" of Md...across the Chesapeake Bay. The player was a QB in HS and I believe he was recruited by Williams for that position.  I asked the present Amherst QB coach and recruiting Coordinator several years ago about the Williams recruit from Easton, Md...a town that I know well and where several friends live.  The Amherst QB coach was aware of the Williams recruited player..no surprise..but gave me indication that he did not believe he would be a QB at Amherst.

[lumbercat]

PolBear 73
It has to be due, at least in part, to recruiting by the prior regime.

[PolarCat]

I believe Montgomery may have had a head injury (concussion?) in the middle of last season, and that may have influenced his decision not to return.  I believe he is being "recruited" by several different coaches in Brunswick.  Purely conjecture, but I wonder if some of the other "early retirements" are due to academic reasons.  All the CAC's are academically rigorous, and it's a challenge to be both an athlete and a scholar.  Regardless of the sport, it's a rare coach / team that doesn't lose non-starting upperclass athletes through attrition.  Though 19 is certainly an eye-opening number.

[lumbercat]

The Orient attributes it to players quitting the program, not returning to school or academic probation so presumably academics seems the pervasive factor but gotta think talent level comes into play on some of the attrition so it may not be quite as devastating as it appears.

[mariner75]

Here is the Tufts - Wes game preview form the Jumbos website:

http://www.gotuftsjumbos.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/wesleyan_preview