FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Hamiltonian]

all true.  I guess he still has a year of eligibility.  Kenny Gray is just a junior....

[lumbercat]

Does anybody know anything about the QB situation at Midd?  Is Merservey a lock with Liebowitz  gone or could there be a competition?

I think the Oklahoma Rifle is the man.

[Vandy74]

Does anybody know anything about the QB situation at Midd?  Is Merservey a lock with Liebowitz  gone or could there be a competition?

I think the Oklahoma Rifle is the man.

I'd say that's a no-brainer lumbercat, and haven't you been telling Panther fans that Meservy was a more than capable ace-in-the-hole ever since his freshman season?  Considering how well he rose to the occasion following Lebowitz' injury last fall methinks you know whereof you speak although I already suspected as much.  The Panther offense is loaded so long as the OL does it's job and that includes a very adequate three-pronged running attack to whatever extent Ritter/Caputi choose to utilize it.  As nescac1 points out the big question mark for Middlebury is it's defense. 

[lumbercat]

The Rifle might be entering his second or third year as a starter at other NESCAC venues. Lets see who Houdini brings in as his heir apparent at Quarterback U this year. I think he's got 2 QBs coming in.

A great passing attack results in a lot of QB talent holding clipboards or becoming baseball pitchers like the Stalcup kid.  I suspect that will be the case again this year in snow country. Houdini knows and enjoys the comforts that come with depth.

Other than Trinity, I see Middlebury as a very strong title contender this year.

[amh63]

To the two previous knowledgeable posters.....Vandy74 and lumbercat.....a fine offense can often keep you in a game but a great defense will carry the day....both in football and basketball .

[nescac1]

Brutal blow for Hamilton -- I'd say that Hudson was the most indispensible (not necessarily the best) non-QB in NESCAC.  Now that he is out for the year, I'd suggest the candidates for that honor as: Andrew Yamin and Jack Hickey, Amherst, Max Chipouras, Trinity, Brandon Morris, Wesleyan, and my pick, Greg Holt, Tufts. 

I feel like this is the year Hamilton was primed to start to make a bit of noise, but without Hudson, that will be a far more difficult task ...

[Trin9-0]

Greetings NESCAC fans!
It's been a while since I've visited the board but I'm looking forward to another year of insightful commentary from our esteemed posters. As one of the few Trinity affiliated posters, I can offer the following perspective on the upcoming season for our back-to-back champions:

The bad news for Trinity:

• The Bantams graduated two-time All NESCAC QB, Sonny Puzzo, who led the Bantams to back-to-back titles.
• Also gone is two-time All-American tackle, Chris Simmons who anchored a dominant offensive line.
• Trin also needs to replace five All-NESCAC selections from a defense that allowed fewer than 10 points per game last season.

The good news for Trinity:

• Max Chipouras, who has already rushed for more touchdowns in the history of Trinity College football, returns with a shot to make his third consecutive All-NESCAC team and further cement his status as one of the great backs in NESCAC history.
  
• On paper, Jordan Vazzano, appears to have what it takes to succeed Puzzo and will have talent at the skill positions lead by Junior WR, Koby Schofer.
• Over the last decade Trinity has led the league in scoring defense 4 times, finished second 3 times, and third twice. I have little doubt they will reload once again.

As for the rest of the league, I must concur with amh63 that a strong defense goes a long way in the NESCAC. Amherst returns five All-NESCAC defenders led by Defensive POY, Andrew Yamin. With Jack Hickey returning they should have a more than capable rushing attack as well. This recipe has served Mills well over the years.

The other key predictor of success is quarterback and Mark Piccirillo at Wesleyan is the strongest returning player in the league at that position. He threw for nearly 300 yards per game last season and led the Cardinals in rushing. There was a significant drop off in WR talent after Breuler last year so someone will have to step-up if Wesleyan wants to contend for a title. The season opener in Middletown against Middlebury is a gigantic game for both teams. The Panthers top five receiving targets all return which should ease the pressure on whoever wins the starting QB job.

One would think the baby Ephs will continue their upward climb back to the top echelon of the league. Sophomores Bobby Maimaron, T.J. Dozier, Frank Stola, and Justin Nelson will have a year of experience under their belts and Williams plays Trinity, Middlebury, and Wesleyan all at home.

The reported loss of Tyler Hudson is indeed a devastating one for Hamilton. Their opening game hosting Tufts will be very telling for both squads. The Jumbos four losses last season were to the top teams in the league and all but one was decided by a touchdown or less.

In my opinion, the biggest change in the NESCAC over the past 20 years has been the shrinking gap between the middle of the pack and the top tier these past few seasons. Unfortunately, the gap between the middle and the bottom tier teams is as wide as ever. In reviewing the All-NESCAC teams I noted that only one player from the state of Maine earned such honors. Nick Vailas, a WR who graduated from Bowdoin made second team. There may be hope in Brunswick, Lewiston, and Waterville but it will take a lot of work and time for the CBB squads to return to respectability.

My 2018 season prediction:
1. Trinity (8-1)
2. Amherst (7-2)
    Wesleyan (7-2)
4. Middlebury (6-3)
    Williams (6-3)
6. Tufts (5-4)
7. Hamilton (3-6)
8. Bates (1-8)
    Bowdoin (1-8)
    Colby (1-8)

Finally, on a personal note, I'll have another rooting interest this fall as I've taken a position at (*gasp*) Wesleyan University. I sincerely hope to run into nescacman at a game this fall. Go Bants and (to a lesser extent) Go Cards!

[amh63]

Trinity8-0...Enjoyed your objective post.  Good luck at your new position!  See you are still staying in the Nutmeg state.  Let's see...Wes's HC is a Williams football alum and now they have a Trin football alum on campus.  Guess Wes knows Talent.  Plus K to you.

[amh63]

Back again.  FY Orientation started today.....move in day.  There is a pic of Football FYs meeting with HC Mills at the Football facilities.  FY Compliance Meeting tonight and I believe the new student schedule shows time on Wednesday to join practices...all sport tryouts.
I counted 23 new recruits in the pic...but then I maybe off by one .  Move in day at Wes is on Wednesday...maybe the last one in the Nescac?  Believe Williams had its move in day on Monday.  There, the Little Three schools have their talent in.  2018 rosters should be out soon.  Unless a Johnny Unitas type transfer shows up somewhere...like at Amherst, I go with Trinity 8-0 prediction for now

[Hamiltonian]

still hoping to get a readout on Tufts this year.  the opener in Clinton will go a long way to determining Hamilton's season. 

[lumbercat]

I would expect a strong showing out of the Buff 'n Blue in the home opener. Though they may have their hands full with McDonald who is a big time playmaker. He's overlooked as one of the top QBs in the league. The Conts will have to contain him, if so I think they have a good chance.

[NBC93]

Spent the day at Amherst with the FYs today. Some sizable guys on the both sides of the line. They obviously put some work in this past year because look bigger and more developed than their intro pics on Twitter.
The more I hear E.J. Mills speak, the more impressed I am with his management skills along with his coaching. Hard work and team are the words of the day and no player is greater than the team. That culture permeated our time with the players today. If every program in the CAC is similar to the schools that I have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with, and I assume they are, then I  am even more thrilled with the competition and couldn't be happier with our boy's decision to leave the Midwest and become a small piece in a quality school and conference!
As far as the buff and blue, my son met at length with their staff also last year and the buzz was high for the new recruit class as well as the change in philosophy around the program. Losing Hudson was huge, but I don't think it necessarily means the season is without hope if some of the FY's and sophs can step up like they are expecting. I know the coaches are counting on some of the young talent to step in and contribute right away.

[ColbyFootball]

NESCAC football is a special creature in many ways. You have so many players that are either 2 sport athletes, or have major interests outside of football. A terrific player at any given time may simply opt to not play further. So I look more to the schools with "programs" to continue to be strong. The question then becomes, which schools, if any, are developing a solid football "program".

We have gotten a glimpse of what Murray is doing at Hamilton. This season will tell us where they stand. I have followed Coach Murray at Hamilton, and have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to him. My sense tells me that he's the real deal, and that you will see Hamilton taking yet another step up this year. And what would make that all the more satisfying is that he's a really good guy and a class act.

We will get our first glimpses of Bates and Colby. Unfortunately, I know little of the new Bates coach. I know a bit more about Cosgrove at Colby, and from everything I see and hear, he's the real deal. I do know the AD, and he was a tremendous addition to Colby and will be a major asset supporting the football program. I fully expect Colby to begin the process of building a "program" this year under the oversight of the AD, and the leadership of Coach Cosgrove.

Now if we can just play a few games it would be great.

[frank uible]

Be patient. Games will be here soon enough.

[Hamiltonian]

Thanks to lumbercat, NBC93, and ColbyFootball for the commentary and insights.  I agree that Murray is a breath of fresh air at Hamilton.  Very solid guy, and the players like him and think he is turning around the program.  I think his first real recruiting class included aces like Kenny Gray and Joe Schmidt.  The kids are looking at this year as their big chance to step up in the league, and although the Tyler Hudson injury was a blow, they're still optimistic.  The big question will be on the defense where guys will have to step up to fill the gaps left by him and a couple of departing seniors.  The offense was at times brilliant last year and at times prone to error.  They'll have to be much more consistent.  (the coaches, too. some of the play-calling was atrocious.) As you know they came close to beating the Jumbos in Medford last year, and they played Trinity even for a half before getting blown out.  Gray can get hot, but then the rest of the team has to play consistent top notch ball to take advantage of it.

Getting into the top tier will be hard--I am consistently struck by how much bigger (and maybe faster) the players on those elite teams are than the Hamilton guys.  That's part of the reason they fade after striking early, I think.  So this year the goal is to stop being the top of the bottom tier and move into the middle tier.  That will pretty much depend on beating Tufts on opening day.  It could well be the biggest game of their season.