FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[F00TB@11F@N]

The only team that has a shot at Trinity this season is Amherst....possibly Williams due to the home field advantage.  Amherst usually has very good athletes, and I believe that they have a few of the speedy receivers coming back this season.  From what I hear they're lacking in defense, but that's merely rumored.  The only shot Williams has is if their starting QB from last season (Gleeson???) doesn't play....poor performances under pressure (Colby then Trinity 05).  Colby will have success because of their defense (mainly thier size), but their offense is slow and methodical.  Trinity will outrun them all day long.  So here's what I think...

Trinity: 8-0 SURPRISE!

Amherst: 7-1 Athleticism and speed are their strengths.

Colby: 6-2 Average talent, but a lot of heart.

Williams: 6-2 They will lose to Trinity and Amherst

Tufts: 4-4 Great talent on a consistent basis...but no one is home.

Middlebury:  3-5 Not a knock on VT football, but VT football is bad.

Bowdoin: 3-5 Last season was a fluke, and they will be back to their old ways.

Bates: 2-6 Oh boy, watch out for them bobcats!

Hamilton: 1-7 Yikes

Wesleyan: 0-8 Best schemes is the NESCAC, but another goose egg is on its way.

Union*(Not to be confused with MT. UNION): 9-2 Playoff birth, but they will lose in the first round.....their talent is no where close to that of the Mid-West teams.

*Indicates those teams who were kicked out of the NESCAC for illegal recruiting practices (but people from Union will tell you differently).

From what I hear, the Chuks kid is a stud LB, as well as the CA linebacker from Oaks Christian (Matt Allen).  I think the kid from FL is Doval (DL)...not sure though.  Have you ever heard of the kid chessdoc?  Everyone should know that defense wins championships, and if the core of LB's that Trinity has coming in is as good as advertised, then you know there's going to be no stopping them.  LB's play on almost every special team, and if you keep them fresh you won't have any problem stopping the run.  The one big issue that I see with Trin is their OL.  ONLY 2 INCOMING FROSH?!??  That could be an issue in the long run.  Hopefully the "turk" doesn't stop by camp trin this fall.  I'm sure they make up for the lack of OL with their speed and athleticism.  Leo, Quinones, Olenosky, Barnard, Pratt...and the incoming frosh....which includes a WR from CA, and a stud RB from GA.  And that's only the offense...........watch out!   

[chessdoc]

my son is just a kid coming off an injury nothing to worry about hejust try. certainly nothing the likes of the kids u guys describe. He will probably just carry the water. But cheer a great deal

[frank uible]

chessdoc: Sounds as if you and your son are lurking in the weeds!

[chessdoc]

nothing to boast about except desire.

[F00TB@11F@N]

chessdoc: Sounds as if you and your son are lurking in the weeds!

They're either lurking, or they're both on it...

[Garnet]

Footb@llf@an,

Garnet is not sure why you are taking a shot at Union.  There is no question that the NESCAC schools took Union off their schedules.  The reason is clear.  They did not like the way Union beat them on the field.  The reason for the beatings is also quite clear.  Union changed their recruiting tactics.  Why would anyone deny this?  The NESCAC as we know it did not exist back then either so it is not really worth discussing any further.

[F00TB@11F@N]

Garnet, since you brought it up why don't we throw it around and see what happens?

If by change, you mean they were doing things that were deemed illegal at that time, then that's cheating.

[Garnet]

There is nothing to debate on this matter.  Union no longer felt like playing by the conference rules so they left/got kicked out whatever. 

It's kind of like the kid (Union) who says, 'I am taking my ball and going home.'

Then all the others kids(NESCAC members) in the sand lot say, 'Go ahead, we don't want to play with you anymore anyway!'

Why bring up a 20 year old issue? 

Move on.

[LinemenRathletes2]

speaking of moving on from Union talk....

FOOTB@11F@N -

1) I think it is safe to say that Lucey will be playing over Gleeson for Williams this year. if you look at '05 stats he had 35 more attempts, 36 more completions, 10% better completion rating, 86 more yards, and 1 sack compared to 7.

2) I thought that Colby took a slight step back last year with the loss of Sherman on the d-line. They lose 8 defensive seniors from 2005 including Sullivan, probably their best defensive player last year. They still have Poplaski upfront, a tough player, and Im not sure if they are graduating any of those stocky linebackers but it will be interesting to see how they do. Also, I thought running back Bashaw was one of the most underrated players in the nescac last year, better in my opinion than the overrated Stepka. Personally I dont think they will have much of a chance against Trinity this year, I think Trin is going to be the only constant in a league full of recent parody, at least for this year.

3) Amherst offense looks very dangerous with Kehoe and Hannon returning as well as Ryan Smith who is an absolute beast, even though they do graduate their two runningbacks. I think that they may have the best chance to beat Trinity this year but playing in Hartford is always a big task.

4) I think that W-L predictions are presumptuous considering the relative parody this league has seen over the past few years. Teams like Tufts, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Bates all have the potential to have a big year like Bowdoin did. I think it is fair to say that they all have some of the parts and with some luck/hard work then big things can happen for any one of those teams. I know kids look at these posts and though it isnt exactly bulletin board material, it certainly sticks in the back of your mind all summer when you get written off in May. As for Wesleyan, they havent had any sort of success since the graduation of Brennan Carney and it makes sense considering that Hauser has apparently insisted on continuing to run an offense designed for Carney - Librizzi doesn't have the arm for this offense and Canter has thrown how many picks since transferring from Colgate?? Additionally they have zero hands at WR. Hamilton also seems to be stuck in the basement considering they practically trotted out a JV team last year, and a new coaching staff can only do so much in the first year.

Thats all I got, thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents

[LinemenRathletes2]

correction... 2) colby defense took a slight step back, obviously they did great things as a team

[cruiser]

all of colbys backers are back this season. bashaw is the real deal

[formerbant10]

Garnet,

What year did Union leave?  Do they play any of the NESCAC schools in any sports, or was the breakup so bad they couldn't stand the sight of each other?

Linemen, great post.

[Ephs1991]

I just saw the article in Nescacnation from the Williams baseball (and assistant football) coach.  I can understand why a lot of you guys do not like Williams very much.  That letter is whining at its very worst.  If the coaches are going to complain about admissions then they shouldn't be in the business of coaching, it sounds as if they are already throwing in the towel.  I always thought that part of athletics was about being ready for the challenge without making excuses - I think this is getting lost on some of the Williams coaches.  I can honestly say that I never heard Dick Farley or current Bowdoin coach Dave Caputi wasting their time complaining about other school's admissions - these guys just wanted to work hard and win.  I think we could all learn a lesson from Trinity here.

[LinemenRathletes2]

Thanks formerbant, I think it would be more interesting to move the topic of conversation away from who will beat Trinity this year (because it probably wont happen, however if it does im guessing it may not be williams amherst or colby). Who does everyone think has the best chance for a successful season out of the remaining teams not mentioned above, last year it was Bowdoin but it seems like the general sentiment on this board is that they will slide a bit this year. I think Tufts, Middlebury, Bates all have a shot at this it would just be interesting to explore strengths and weaknesses, etc... also.... the Williams coach in the Nescacnation article.... is it bullfrog?

[Garnet]

Formerbant,

In the late Eighties Union still had a few NESCAC teams on the schedule even though the Dutchmen were not really in the conference.  During my years we played Colby, Middlebury, Williams and Hamilton.

Due to the rivalry with Hamilton, they kept Union on the schedule for a few more years.

Other sports teams at Union compete against NESCAC teams.  Hamilton is in the LL in all sports except football.

Funny thing about all this is that throuhout the early history of Union football, the NESCAC teams used to crush Union.  That all changed in 1982-83.