FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[ColbyFootball]

Congrats to Williams (I'm a believer), and Middlebury for getting it done on the road. Tufts and Trinity went as expected. As for Colby Wes I will give you a few stats that sum up the problem. 22 completions for 111 yards (5.05 yards average per catch), with a long of 15. And they have a bunch of guys that can stretch the field like Brandon Miner (no catches, why?), a speedster like Tyler Farris who can break big plays if you get him the ball in space (they don't even try). Instead they must have thrown 25 (no kidding) WR screens at the los. Now Michaeles will practice the same thing telling the kids the game plan is fine, they just need to execute it better. He would have forced Tom Brady to run the wishbone, and Tebow to be a pocket passer. This is why he's lost so many players. I give up.

[maineman]

Does anyone know the status of Midd's Jimmy Martinez who didn't play?  Is he injured and when might we see him back again?

[lumbercat]

It think it was pretty much agreed by all in preseason and early on that this conference has never been so significantly divided between the top and bottom programs. results to this point bear that out in spades.

Kinds of sad overall to be so far from parity.

There is a very clearly defined arms race here and not every school is buying in. All NESCAC schools espouse the party line that they strive for excellence but thats nothing but lip service at certain schools.

Some schools act like they care and are committed to being competitive but basically it's a PR effort on their part placate their fundraising base and only maintain the status quo.

[Vandy74]

Does anyone know the status of Midd's Jimmy Martinez who didn't play?  Is he injured and when might we see him back again?

Middpantherpride might be able to find out since he still has friends on the team, but if his ex HC wants it kept quiet he won't report it on the board, nor should anyone expect him to do so.  It's very difficult (impossible) to get info on the status of injured (?) players without an insider's link.  Just as interesting to know would be the degree of injury sustained by Conrado Banky who left the playing field, obviously not wanting to put much weight on an ankle, after scoring the TD early in the 4th Q.  The announcer made no mention of it at the time but I didn't see him playing after that.

[amh63]

2nd attempt to post on the Amherst vs Midd Battle at Pratt.  First time lost post as I lost the internet. 
Many thoughts on the game.  First, Congrats to Midd on their Win.  Their QB is first rate as well as their defense!
The top two offenses lived up to their billing.  The third and forth defenses in the league show their stuff.  It was a game that the impartial fan might find most entertaining.
Me, Ugh! It was a strange game for me.  Too many mistakes/ errors made by Amherst.  Three picks by Amherst's QBs...two for TDs...plus a fumble.  Both defensive sides forced the opponents QBsout of the pocket and sacked the QBs.  It was the sacks  on Foy that proved the difference, imo.  Foy made a nice long run to the sidelines early in the game.  However, several sacks later, he seemed to lose a step, was hesitant to run.  One of his picks for a TD was due in part to being caught from behind as he threw the pass.  The triple option plays put in did not seem to work....pitch to the edge runner and Foy hesitant to run.
TB Hickey ran well but did Not reach a 100yards...though another TB did.  They were like Thunder and Lightning and showed why Amherst has the top running duo. 
Midd won the TO battle.  Midd made three picks and recovered a fumbel.  Too many mistakes by Amherst.  Late in the game, after Amherst's  last TD, Amherst made a two point coversion to bring the game within a field goal.  A penalty on the play and Amherst had to settle for a one point conversion.
Midd has a FY TB that played great late in the game.  Ran well and held on to the ball as Amherst defenders tried to strip the ball out.
Hard lessons for the young Amherst defense.  Think there were a number of "backdoor" stories in the game.  Why was Amherst's all Nescac RG being rotated in and out late in the game? 
Expect Amherst to bounce back next week and at Homecoming when Wes arrives in town.

[middpantherpride]

Middpantherpride might be able to find out since he still has friends on the team, but if his ex HC wants it kept quiet he won't report it on the board, nor should anyone expect him to do so.  It's very difficult (impossible) to get info on the status of injured (?) players without an insider's link.  Just as interesting to know would be the degree of injury sustained by Conrado Banky who left the playing field, obviously not wanting to put much weight on an ankle, after scoring the TD early in the 4th Q.  The announcer made no mention of it at the time but I didn't see him playing after that.
[/quote]

I cannot speak to the injury status of current Midd Players. I do not know, and even if I did, I would not do so for reasons listed. I hope all NESCAC players with injuries have a speedy recovery. Also, in regards to having friends on the team. These kids are much younger than me. I do not speak to guys on the team regularly. I would qualify that statement in saying that even though some of them I would refer to as friends, it is not as though I am an insider into Middlebury football. I can only speak of my observations and my experiences. The daily ins and outs are way above my pay grade. That is all. I speak about it with kids in my graduating class, but I do not fish for information from current players.

[ColbyFootball]

It think it was pretty much agreed by all in preseason and early on that this conference has never been so significantly divided between the top and bottom programs. results to this point bear that out in spades.

Kinds of sad overall to be so far from parity.

There is a very clearly defined arms race here and not every school is buying in. All NESCAC schools espouse the party line that they strive for excellence but thats nothing but lip service at certain schools.

Some schools act like they care and are committed to being competitive but basically it's a PR effort on their part placate their fundraising base and only maintain the status quo.

I couldn't agree with you more. It is very sad.

[jburrell21]

I can only address Colby. But the failures there are obvious to me. If any of you are close the situation I'd love to know what you're hearing from the players. What I heard and saw at Middlebury after the game was depressing for the players. Several young guys feel so beaten down by the coaching they're ready to pack it in. They are the future and they're being lost. Three games into the season and its that bad.

If coaching is a concern, allow me to rephrase the question ... would any of the four teams currently at the top of the NESCAC trade rosters - just the players - with any of the four teams currently residing at the bottom of the NESCAC?  In theory, if coaching was the issue, the implication is that the talent levels are comparable from top to bottom.

Rephrase it all you want, you still don't get it. Good coaches recruit well, don't lose an unually high number of players for no good reason, know how to manage personnel before, during and after games, and put their players in the best position to be successful. Colby just lost to Middlebury 34-6, and Middlebury's roster us no stronger than Colby's. Ritter has a great system and using his players to maximum benefit in his system.

I watched the Midd-Colby game.  I realize you are passionately attached to the Mules and I applaud you for that.  However, you are blind and don't really understand the game of football if you think that Midd's roster is no stronger that Colby's.  Probably the only team worse than Colby is Bowdoin.  Colby's QB play was terrible.  Midd's WRs are head and shoulders above Colby's DBs.  I don't mean to disrespect the men working hard in Waterville.  I just found your comment absurd.  Full disclosure:  Midd Class of '91, 20+ year college coach, 3 years as DC at Bowdoin.

[jburrell21]

I'm not one for kneeling and crap during the anthem.  But, I'm also not stupid enough to continue associating their discontent with the military or first responders etc.  The protesters are clearly stating they are objecting to social injustices. 

Yes, but what the protesters are STATING isn't what a large portion of America is perceiving.  Look, you've been married, right?  Or at least in a relationship?  You must have had those moments when you said X thinking it was all innocent, and your significant other heard Y and went ballistic on you.  If you're like me, you've had dozens of instances when you wished you could walk back those words and make your point a little differently.  "Honey, I didn't really mean those pants make your butt look big, it just came out that way."

I agree with the message, I really do.  But it's become painfully clear that a whole sh*t ton of people won't listen to the message because they are hung up on the way it's delivered, and they are the people who most need to hear it.  The kneeling isn't helping the cause, it's hurting it.  Way too many folks only see disrespect to the flag, the military and the first responders, and not the reason for the protest.  It's widening the racial divide in this country.

And I am sorry to anyone who says we shouldn't discuss this here.  It's a dialogue we need to be having - respectfully - all over the country.  Besides, I think it's more worthwhile than continued Michaeles-bashing.

Please keep in mind that "Way too many folks" are racists.  They may deny it until they are blue in the face.  They may say "I have black friends" but the bottom line is that they see uppity black men being paid millions of dollars who are protesting and they can't stand it.  Many who agreed that we needed to make strides on racial equality in the 1960s couldn't stomach the protests that happened then.  They said it was too soon.  Look what has happened as a result.  We came a long way as a society but we have so much further to go now.

[jburrell21]

Were you at thus past week's game? And how many Colby games have you seem the past few years?

I was not at the game, but I streamed the game. My question is how do you come away from a Middlebury win in which they absolutely dominated Colby in all 3 phases of the game, and say that Colby's top 11 could beat Midd's top 11 on any day?? And that Middlebury is not that good. I played Colby from 4 times in the past few years. I have respect for their players and they always play their hearts out. That said, its bonkers to say that Colby's top 11 could hang with Middlebury's top 11. Not even close. They have maybe 3-4 players that could start at any NESCAC. Beyond that, there is a huge drop off. And simply insulting to the Middlebury players to say they are not that good. They have returning All-NESCAC players on both sides of the ball. Don't take your frustration with the Colby coaching staff out on the Midd players. They have earned respect and they deserve your respect. So don't take shots at the Midd roster and make sweeping statements that they are not that good. Coach Ritter and co. have worked their balls off to build something special at Midd and their record the past 5 years and counting is pretty remarkable. Give them the respect they deserve. They ended the 21 game win streak of Amherst last year and ended Trinity's home win streak convincingly 27-7 in 2014. But keep hating on them. They feed off being the underdog.
[/quote]

I love your commentary and welcome you to this board.  Great to see another Panther!  Cheer Boys Cheer!

[westcoastDad]

Lumbercat,

I watched the first hour of the Colby game.  Who is the recruiting coordinator?  Geez, if they want to turn the program around then they will have to be more worldy.  Smh.  My cousin plays for Colby.  Maybe things are changing?

Amh63,

It almost seemed as if we (Amherst) underestimated our passing game.  Was very clear that our game plan was to use a dual threat to gain advantage.  We had a very good throwing QB on the sideline who once inserted actually opened up the running game.  Foy had an amazing sophomore campaign but the year off (for injury) and slow start this year (nagging ankle) meant he really hadn't been on the field our previous three games enough to be near his 2015 season.

I like Avery kick returns.  He seems to be getting more comfortable.  Capable of taking one the distance for sure.

I also noticed #72 going in and out of the game.  Couldn't figure out if they were using Linemen to bring in the plays or what.

The secondary.  We had opportunities to make plays.........especially early in the game (1st quarter).  Balls hit hands but were dropped.  Their secondary pounced on opportunities when there. 

Its tough to defend a short field and we gave them 4 turnovers (2 returned for TDs) that were on our half of the field.  They converted at least 3 of their turnovers for TDs.  I can't remember the last one if they did or did not.

Tough loss.

Also watched the Trinity game.  Is Trinity playing possum?  Since the uproar about their pouring it on in game 1 or 2, they have been allowing teams to jump on them early before turning up the heat.  Hamilton really had no business being up 13-0.  I think Trinity knows how much better they are than the rest of the league and are laying low so as not to piss off the other 9 teams lol.



There is a very clearly defined arms race here and not every school is buying in. All NESCAC schools espouse the party line that they strive for excellence but thats nothing but lip service at certain schools.

Some schools act like they care and are committed to being competitive but basically it's a PR effort on their part placate their fundraising base and only maintain the status quo.
[/quote]

[ColbyFootball]

I can only address Colby. But the failures there are obvious to me. If any of you are close the situation I'd love to know what you're hearing from the players. What I heard and saw at Middlebury after the game was depressing for the players. Several young guys feel so beaten down by the coaching they're ready to pack it in. They are the future and they're being lost. Three games into the season and its that bad.

If coaching is a concern, allow me to rephrase the question ... would any of the four teams currently at the top of the NESCAC trade rosters - just the players - with any of the four teams currently residing at the bottom of the NESCAC?  In theory, if coaching was the issue, the implication is that the talent levels are comparable from top to bottom.

Rephrase it all you want, you still don't get it. Good coaches recruit well, don't lose an unually high number of players for no good reason, know how to manage personnel before, during and after games, and put their players in the best position to be successful. Colby just lost to Middlebury 34-6, and Middlebury's roster us no stronger than Colby's. Ritter has a great system and using his players to maximum benefit in his system.

I watched the Midd-Colby game.  I realize you are passionately attached to the Mules and I applaud you for that.  However, you are blind and don't really understand the game of football if you think that Midd's roster is no stronger that Colby's.  Probably the only team worse than Colby is Bowdoin.  Colby's QB play was terrible.  Midd's WRs are head and shoulders above Colby's DBs.  I don't mean to disrespect the men working hard in Waterville.  I just found your comment absurd.  Full disclosure:  Midd Class of '91, 20+ year college coach, 3 years as DC at Bowdoin.

I tried to clarify in subsequent posts, but they get passed over easily. The point I was trying to make is that Colby's players are capable of hanging with Midd. That the team is capable of competing. Might not win, but capable of competing. And I respect your years of coaching. Have you followed Colby game planning and play calling? I'd love to know your head best take, if you're capable.

[westcoastDad]

Jburrell21 and ColbyFootball

Missed this one but glad you brought it back up.

The 60's protesters were strategic, well thought out and with an end goal. 

This current one (if we want to call it such) has little strategy, vague end goal and no real "focused" leader. 

Kaepernick, I'm sorry.......is not a leader.  Won't even go into it here.  But, dude is not a leader.  He's a performer. 

I keep asking all ....... what is being done to the cops to address the issue of police brutality?  Silence or no plan.

I keep asking .......... what will be the "solution" that gets things back to some state of normalcy.  Varied.  Anything from Kaepernick needs a job (which to me is a joke) to "equality" which doesn't seem to exist in ANY country on this planet yet (but we do continue to strive for better).

I watched the Anthem at today's game between Amherst and Middlebury.  Didn't see kneeling for did see raised fists.  Here's what I would rather see when the black players (I'm black by the way) raise their fists ........  I would love to see the black AND white players have raised fists but connected versus standing alone.  Fist to Fist or side by side (touching) but to me that would give a better chance of Unity versus the look of guys being individuals in a team event.  That's just me though.

It's a tough topic for sure. 

[PolarCat]

It might be time to consider the possibility that the Ephs are actually pretty good.  An absolutely massive day from the frosh once again, on both sides of the ball.  Including a break out game from Rashad Morrison ... we will see as the competition is much tougher in the second half of the season.  But dang they look better each week ...

I was there.  My take aways:

• Bobby Maimaron is the real deal.  Hard to believe this kid is a FY.  INCREDIBLE poise, reads and checks down like an SEC QB, great legs, and fearless.  All of you who hold Sonny Puzo, Mac Foote, et. al. in high esteem, take note:  If Bobby stays healthy for 4 years, he's going to rewrite the record books.  If he was 3 to 4 inches taller, he could be playing at Bama, Florida State or Notre Dame.


• Rashad Morrison also has D1 talent.  Stola and Jaelon Moaney are top notch talent for D3.  The Ephs' biggest weak spot is their Special Teams, as both their kicker and punter are pretty weak, even by CAC standards.  But other than that, this team is just going to get better down the stretch.  I'm going out on a limb here, but 7-2 is not out of reach.


• The Ephs may lose 2 or three games this year, and 1 or 2 next year, but Coach Raymond is going to win the important battles: in recruiting.  I watched him in warm ups.  The guy just carries himself with authority, and he is wrapped in a mantle of leadership.  He even pulls off the blowing-the-whistle-to-run-drills bit with eclat.  Any other coach in the CAC would look like a buffoon, but Raymond looks like the head of JSOC.  Any recruit watching the warm up would get a hard on.  And Williams even has a freaking MARCHING BAND.  They're a small unit, they don't perform like the Trojans or the Buckeyes, but wow, do they add a lot to the atmosphere.  It felt like an honest-to-God college football game in Willytown today.   A HC who's a stud ... the facility ... the uniforms and equipment ... the marching band ... the fact that FY's get to play, and play well ... the team singing the fight song after the victory ... and the value of the Williams diploma ... how can any other program compete with that?

amh63, be very afraid.

[PolarCat]

And now, let's address Bates.

I get the feeling that Coach Harriman (like Coaches Michaeles and Wells) thinks that he is in the NFL, and competing for the #1 draft choice.  And unlike the NY Jets, he would actually be following a well-crafted strategy to win that "reward".  The 'Cats played pretty well in the first half, answering the Ephs' early TD with one of their own and showing competence on both sides of the ball.  With 2:38 in the half, the Ephs were only up 10-7 after two missed FG's (shades of Nick Folk).  Maimaron engineered a beautiful 62 yard drive for a TD, but Bates got the ball back on their own 29 with 36 seconds remaining.

Bates FY QB Brendan Costa has shown that he has an arm, having thrown a gorgeous strike for an 80 yard TD in the first quarter.  So as a coach, you'd think your options would be (A.) air the ball out 2 or 3 times, and hope to make it a one score game; or (B.) take a knee and head  into the locker room to regroup, without risking an injury.  Instead, the Bates brain trust ran a QB keep up the middle.  WTF?

Series after series, Bates ran on first down, ran again on second down, then (big surprise) threw on third down.  With predictable results.  The daring that was shown in the second half against Tufts was clearly lacking today.

It's a tough time to be a Bobcat fan, very hard to stay upbeat.  The boys work hard, there is some definite talent on this team, and every week we see some great individual efforts.  But the play calling is an enigma.  (Particularly if the #1 pick in the draft is not in play).  Against Trinity, we had a chance to kick a chip shot field goal and avoid a blow out.  Instead, the OC ran the ball on 4th and goal from the 13, and got stuffed.  Today, we ran a play that had a zero probability of success instead of airing it out or taking a knee.  Realistically, the boys and the fans have 2 seasons: an almost-certain 0-6 start against the CAC opponents who show up with a game plan, and then the chance to compete against Colby, Bowdoin and Hamilton in the season ending Battle of the Little People.

Oy vey.