FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[dirtybirds8-0]

I agree Bant55: It is easier to complain about the gap between the "Have's" and the "Have Not's", than to put in the hard work to achieve your goals.  It is kind of like that New Years resolution... a lot of people talk about doing something but very few actually act on their statements, and then they complain that they just don't have the time or the right circumstances.

So who is to blame for their inadequacies?

[LinemenRathletes2]

Great posts guys, I'm truly jealous. I think a lot of players around this league work extremely hard to be the best player that they can be. The real difference I think is the concise business plan implemented by the college. Every player is fed the 'work hard in the weight room, do your part to win, etc...' but the truth is that these colleges are dealing with millions and millions of dollars, they invest thousands a year in each student and thousands in the team as a whole. Why then do most schools think it is acceptable to throw a team out there and see what happens. I am a firm believer that in anything, success comes from the top down... so when an administration doesn't back a coach, he doesn't have the resources that allow him what he needs to run a team. Obviously, in a case like Barnard's, coaches become disenfranchised and players can sense that. Its hard as a player to have confidence in your program and yourself if you get the sense that the coaches aren't 100% invested in what they are doing. One huge indicator of how much an administration cares about the success of a team is how long they are willing to employ a losing coach. In any other profession, a guy who couldn't get the work done would be let go. I think that a lot of nescac institutions have intentionally forgotten about the good things that can result from a successful athletic program (campus morale, booster support, etc..) and are content with throwing a team out there every year and not really caring what happens (probably scared to get rid of the team b/c of nescac football tradition). Essentially, everyone around the league (myself included) is jealous of Trinity's success, we are jealous of the way that the college decided they wanted something and went out and took it within four years.... if you can't admit to this you're in denial. Hopefully other programs will begin to recognize that similar success can be attainable, I would point to Colby, a program that has had success in recent years and seems to have a good amount of school support (they promoted Mestieri from the inside, which worked out great for them) as well as Bowdoin who I hear is finally beginning to back that program and look what a difference it made in the first year. Maybe that is all it takes for a losing team to become a winning one... for the players and coaches to feel like they have the support of the school, to actually be playing for something and representing their institution.

[Trin9-0]

One huge indicator of how much an administration cares about the success of a team is how long they are willing to employ a losing coach. In any other profession, a guy who couldn't get the work done would be let go.  Maybe that is all it takes for a losing team to become a winning one... for the players and coaches to feel like they have the support of the school, to actually be playing for something and representing their institution.

Interesting point linemen. It makes me wonder who has a worse situation; Wesleyan, Bates or Hamilton.

The Continentals have gone through 4 coaches in the past 8 years. Hardly a show of support by the college for its coach. Conversely, Wesleyan head coach Frank Hauser has compiled a pedestrian 57-55 win loss record, going 7-17 over the past 3 seasons. While Bates coach Mark Harriman has gone 16-52 in 8 seasons.

Should Hamilton be more committed to establishing a program built on consistencey with its head coach? Or is it time that Wesleyan and/or Bates pulled the trigger and brought in someone new to take over the football program since the coaches they have now do not appear to be getting the job done?

[LinemenRathletes2]

Wesleyan- Hauser has been running an offense for Brennan Carney for two years after the graduation of his start QB. Canter who transferred from Colgate hasn't panned out and it seems like they are only just learning to retool their offense to fit Librizzi's style of play, if they can make the transition they should be able to beat a few teams, but they need to find a guy to carry a workmans load on the ground. Their defense has always had a few solid guys, I don't appreciate a lot of the uncoordinated blitz schemes (a la Cornell) that they have run in the past, but no matter how effective their defense is, its hard to win throwing 85% of the time and making multiple turnovers.

Hamilton- I don't think they will give Stetson as short a leash as the past few coaches because he is a 'Hamilton guy'... he had success back in the '80's when they were still chartering jets to away games and he has an impressive resume having coached at UNH recently... I would be surprised if they didnt give him the time he needed to put together his team but I can't see anything good coming out of Clinton for a couple years.

Bates- Although they haven't fired Harriman, I have heard that a few other coaches have moved on and that they have a new guy coordinating offense. Will be interesting to see how they approach this season offensively, especially because if you look at their roster they have a few good seniors on both sides of the ball who could carry the team to a few more wins than usual as well as QB Colon, former rookie of the year (I think) who is entering his 3rd year as a starter ...

[bant551]

Linemen, I think Wesleyan has always been pass-happy.  My senior year, they had a very small offensive and defensive line (and the defensive linemen weren't speed demons that run around and disrupt things in a stunting line/LB scheme).  However, I think they had an above-average running back (even statistically, despite lack of size on their line) that they never used (Young Douglass I think was his name).  I didn't complain at the time because it was just shooting themselves in the foot, but Hauser doesn't make changes, nothing is going to change.

You don't take any time off the clock with 10 running plays for 35 yards and throwing for 300 yards, 2 TDs and 4 INTs.

[chessdoc]

looks like bates is moving in the right direction to us.

[dirtybirds8-0]

Unfortunately I would have to disagree with you.  Although Bates has made some quality changes in certain areas of the team, they still remain average overall.  It takes more than a "Rookie of the Year QB", and some talented skill players to win a championship.  You had better have everyone on the team putting in an equal effort or you will be stuck in mediocrity for the years to come.  I wish them luck but do not see any change coming.

[chessdoc]

fair enough, know very little other than what we have heard and seen, but if who did not get in means anything than they must have a couple of lineman coming in my sons buddy did not get in and he is a hell of a kid, also here from a buddy on long island that a kid from garden city that is a quality kid is going up as well. time will tell.

[LinemenRathletes2]

I agree, a few talented skill player won't win a championship, and I don't think anyone expects them to (then again, they don't play Trinity). I do think that they are a team that has the potential to improve and jump out of the 2-6 rut. They may have the best defensive line in the league this year, a few pretty good skill players, and a good core class of seniors.

Bant551: Hauser may be one of the coaches that has overstayed his welcome, I think they have a decent but underused runner right now as well, but they did start to modify the offense last year for Librizzi, If I remember right it looked like they started running some more boot plays and some QB options. P.S. Young Douglass... great football name

[cruiser]

does anyone have any insight on how middlebury will be this year? trinity is talked about constantly on this page, colby is mentioned alot, ditto williams and amherst. now with bates and wesleyan getting mentions, it seems nobody has said anything about midd. outlook on the year? insight?

[LinemenRathletes2]

I don't know much about Middlebury, they graduated their stud LB Hutzler, and I think their top WR. They had a decent TE who I think is coming back (had a # in the 40's), and a pretty good QB Tiger Lyon has by far the best name in the nescac.

[Trin9-0]

I spoke recently with a current Wes player who is from my hometown. Being a defensive player he seemed a little frustrated with the predictability of the Wes offense and said that even he had heard rumors that Hauser may be gone.

As for Bates, they could be this year's Bowdoin. If not for a 1 point loss at Williams, coupled with 7 point losses to both Colby and Bowdoin last year, and the Bobcats could have finished 5-3. Whether they can win those close games rather than just be close remains to be seen, but a 4-4 finish isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Hamilton wasn't close in any game they played in last year, aside from their 5 point win against Wes. Look for more of the same as Stetson starts to build that program from scratch.

Young Douglas was a good back however, he cut his career short after he was kicked off the team (and possibly school, not sure though) for robbing a GAP with a starters pistol.

cruiser: As for Middlebury, as per usual they'll beat the teams they should (Wes, Ham, Bates). However, they have the potential to knock off the big dogs as well. They showed heart in their 14-0 loss to Trin and 15-0 loss at Amherst. They just need to create a little more offense.

[LinemenRathletes2]

so couldn't you say that Middlebury has a chance to be next years Bowdoin? or have they had too much success in the past? Another team all but forgotten on this board.... the Jumbos and their Jumbo head coach Jabba the Hut

[dirtybirds8-0]

Middlebury has a proud tradition of football, and besides our home field, I would say it is the second best place to play a game.  That being said, I could easily see Middlebury returning to the top ranks of the league by the end of this season. 

Yes, Bates COULD have a good season, but a good season would be 4-4. 

Again, I have to go back to my statements several posts back.  Using Weslyan as an example; One of my friends from highschool went to Weslyan to play football...the kid was a GOOD athlete.  He arrived at Weslyan 6'4" 290lbs and athletic for a big man (for some reason he loved the school despite being offered from two 1-AA teams, he regrets it every day).  His immediate complaint with the football program was the lack of intensity; They had OPPTIONAL lifting sessions....I dont even know what that is!  Anyway, in four years he lost motivation, put on 60lbs and the team followed the same path.  When this kid came into their program they were 6-2 (2000) and looking pretty good (Note: Trinity was 4-4, and lucky to have that record).  My point behind this story is that you can bring in talented kids, but if the program they are being exposed to is lack luster at best, well....you had better be prepared to lose.

[LinemenRathletes2]

A kid from Wesleyan used to go to my gym, he saw my detailed off-season program and said that Wesleyan didn't even give them lifting cards....