FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

PolarCat · July 17, 2017, 05:13:47 PM

Pretty sure there were other NESCAC programs and Ivies romancing him. I imagine the opportunity to be a 2-sport athlete, and compete for a starting spot in both, was a big attraction. Not to mention the cachet of a Purple Cow Pigskin.

amh63 · July 17, 2017, 05:25:16 PM

Getting the itch a bit for the start of football "boot camp". Then the posts here should get both interesting and speculative, imo. Good to have competition at all positions.
Went to the Amherst recruit list today and looked at video available..to hot and muggy to do my outdoor yard chores. Interesting to compare the heights and weights of players' promo videos to the numbers on the Amherst HC chart. HC's numbers are lower both in height and weight...especially wrt to linemen.
Amherst has two QBs coming coming in....one from Florida, a transfer from Stetson Un. and another from S.C. that stated he was selected twice as a 1st team All-State. Good to have competition at the QB position

. However, it is very rare to have a new recruit get a starting position at Amherst, if my memory holds up.

frank uible · July 18, 2017, 09:45:13 AM

George Perles used to say "work hard, keep your mouth shut and good things will happen"..

quicksilver · July 18, 2017, 05:48:28 PM

Bowdoin's Whittier Field has been granted landmark status.

amh63 · July 19, 2017, 09:31:46 AM

Quicksilver.....nice!. Hope the designation works well for the Polarbears football fans.
A number of years ago, chatted with some Amherst alums wrt such designations. They were associated with historic preservations on a national scale and pointed out that there are often some negatives with the positive impacts....mostly positive.
On another board, a brief discussion on the upgrades to a number of CAC basketball floors. In my search for football news, I was impressed with the Wesleyan's new athletic website. Seems the Cardinals have redone its entire website.
A quick check around the CAC indicates that the majority of the schools have put up/on a new "face" to the competitive college education world. I have enjoyed the " new edition" websites. My grandchild is growing up fast and there is a grand niece in Durham, NC that is looking around at colleges.

lumbercat · July 19, 2017, 12:37:30 PM

Notable NESCAC transfer.
QB Harry Kraft, Robert Kraft's grandson and son of Pats exec Jonathan Kraft, has transferred from Dartmouth to Colby. Believe he has 2 years of eligibility.

PolarCat · July 19, 2017, 01:20:16 PM

Wow. Wasn't Jonathan an Eph, and wasn't granddad a major donor in the Weston Field renovation?

Is the kid any good? Does he have a shot at starting? Will we see a return of a certain Mule QB's dad to this board, railing against the coaching staff for treating his kid so unfairly?

Will this news pull Retired Mule out of hibernation / the witness protection program?

Must have been a late transfer, because he is still listed on the Big Green 2017-2018 roster: http://www.dartmouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210187810&DB_OEM_ID=11600

Jonny Utah · July 19, 2017, 01:38:38 PM

Quote from: PolarCat on July 19, 2017, 01:20:16 PM
Wow. Wasn't Jonathan an Eph, and wasn't granddad a major donor in the Weston Field renovation?

Is the kid any good? Does he have a shot at starting? Will we see a return of a certain Mule QB's dad to this board, railing against the coaching staff for treating his kid so unfairly?

Will this news pull Retired Mule out of hibernation / the witness protection program?

Must have been a late transfer, because he is still listed on the Big Green 2017-2018 roster: http://www.dartmouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210187810&DB_OEM_ID=11600

Harry Kraft will not be starting for Colby College I'm guessing. I haven't seen him play since HS, but he does not have the frame/skills/speed to play at the NESCAC level. Way too short for a QB who can't run.

nescac1 · July 19, 2017, 01:43:47 PM

PolarCat, you are correct about Jonathan (who not only is an Eph, but has served on the Board of Trustees). Whether or not he ultimately plays for Colby, it's never bad to have a Kraft affiliated with the school for a variety of reasons ...

amh63 · July 19, 2017, 04:22:35 PM

Maybe putting myself in " trouble" a bit with the Kraft QB subject here. Raises a number of questions in my mind.
PolarCat....being a Dartmouth alum, any backside info on Harry Kraft's football ability?
Strange that the "kid" did not go to Columbia, his grandfather's school, an Ivy level school. Must have thought he wanted a stronger Ivy football program. Then again, the AD at the Big Green is an EPH big time...alum and a great MBB coach in Willytown. With the new football coach at Williams, I would think that Williams would be a place where H. Kraft would Consider.. Not putting down the Colby program here!
Wait...didn't someone suggest earlier that Lumbercat had a possible Russian link to info?
In any case, the transfer is to a Nescac school where H. Kraft will get a good education and a chance to contribute on the playing field.

ColbyFootball · July 19, 2017, 08:21:00 PM

Quote from: lumbercat on July 19, 2017, 12:37:30 PM
Notable NESCAC transfer.
QB Harry Kraft, Robert Kraft's grandson and son of Pats exec Jonathan Kraft, has transferred from Dartmouth to Colby. Believe he has 2 years of eligibility.

I'm very excited that the Kraft family may be at some games. And that Colby will have a future connection to the Kraft's is very positive. IMHO this is great news for the program and the school.

lumbercat · July 19, 2017, 09:12:13 PM

I think the best QB transfer from Dartmouth in the NESCAC is DiBiaso at Tufts. He has never set foot on Ellis Oval......a bit to my surprise.
However, the Jumbos have been very strong at QB for the past several years.

There has been a prevailing mindset that Ivy or Patriot kids not getting on the field can walk into the NESCAC and start or dominate. This has not been the case in recent years most notably at the QB position.

Kraft is small but he's also.......slow. But he is a spunky kid and a competitor so who knows how he will fare with the Mules. I know there will be one helluva Golf outing next year up in Waterville.

I was amazed that Colby landed Dave Dunn, a 10 year HFC at Catholic as an assistant. His coaching resume may qualify him for virtually any HFC opening in the NESCAC. Don't know where Michaeles gets the money to pay his staff.

lumbercat · July 19, 2017, 10:01:40 PM

A lot of pressure on the Colby program this year-- odds are that Sparacio will the QB though he needs to come in lighter than previous 230. Hes a tough kid and a gamer. Working with Dave Dunn he can succeed.

The lefty from New Jersey will have to wait another year but Dunn will be grooming him as he works with Sparacio.

Colby loses underclassman stud WR Sebastian Ferrell which is a huge loss for the Mule offense. Ferrell, working with Sparacio, made a close game out of a blowout last year at Bates. He was spectacular that day working with Sparacio and would be a shoo in this year for all NESCAC......but he's not returning.

PBPOP20 · July 25, 2017, 02:23:28 PM

lumbercat, do you know if Ferrell's departure is related to the March incident where 25+ mules were cited for underage drinking at a local watering hole? When i say "mules" i mean Colby students... no idea how many athletes were involved.

ColbyFootball · July 25, 2017, 03:29:39 PM

Quote from: PBPOP20 on July 25, 2017, 02:23:28 PM
lumbercat, do you know if Ferrell's departure is related to the March incident where 25+ mules were cited for underage drinking at a local watering hole? When i say "mules" i mean Colby students... no idea how many athletes were involved.

My understanding is that Ferrell just didn't have the passion to play any longer. Lost his desire, that's it. I hope the desire came back being away from it during the spring and summer, and he returns.