FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[footballluv]

is Colby as bad as they looked in week #1.

I don't think so

[Trin9-0]

Trin 8
Good information. Im sure the renovations will be top shelf but I just don't get the one sided seating.
They are honoring the 78 Trinity NESCAC champ team at halftime tomorrow. Good friend and team mate from HS was a captain on that team- wish  I could be there to shake his hand. A great player for Coach Don Miller who I would expect may also be there.

I'm not sure what the rationale is behind the single-side seating. If there's any consolation there will still be the small hill, also similar to Middlebury, on the visitor side. So if you don't mind standing, you'll be able to see over the players on the visiting sidelines.

Coach Miller is listed as one of the chairs of the event so I imagine he'll be in attendance. I believe he is still (in his mid-80's, mind you) a volunteer assistant coach at the Coast Guard Academy. CGA is home against Norwich this weekend so I'm not sure if he'll be at the stadium that bears his surname for the game and tailgate, or just the post game reception. Either way it will be great to have the legend back in The Coop.


Nescacman, I noted this picture that was posted to the event facebook page:

Some things never change.

[lumbercat]

I think Miller left Coast Guard so maybe he will be there

[ColbyFootball]

is Colby as bad as they looked in week #1.

I don't think so

Nor do I. But we'll see. I'll keep hoping.

[Nescacman]

is Colby as bad as they looked in week #1.

I don't think so

Nor do I. But we'll see. I'll keep hoping.

That's why they play the games...we shall see....

[JEFFFAN]

Amherst preview:

https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-College-football-looks-to-reclaim-championship-form-20331733

[Nescacman]

Rise and shine NESCAC....it's game day!!!!

[Nescacman]

Trin 8
Good information. Im sure the renovations will be top shelf but I just don't get the one sided seating.
They are honoring the 78 Trinity NESCAC champ team at halftime tomorrow. Good friend and team mate from HS was a captain on that team- wish  I could be there to shake his hand. A great player for Coach Don Miller who I would expect may also be there.

I'm not sure what the rationale is behind the single-side seating. If there's any consolation there will still be the small hill, also similar to Middlebury, on the visitor side. So if you don't mind standing, you'll be able to see over the players on the visiting sidelines.

Coach Miller is listed as one of the chairs of the event so I imagine he'll be in attendance. I believe he is still (in his mid-80's, mind you) a volunteer assistant coach at the Coast Guard Academy. CGA is home against Norwich this weekend so I'm not sure if he'll be at the stadium that bears his surname for the game and tailgate, or just the post game reception. Either way it will be great to have the legend back in The Coop.


Nescacman, I noted this picture that was posted to the event facebook page:

Some things never change.

[JEFFFAN]

All the favorites held serve today.  Yawn.  Nice effort by Bowdoin, however, which seems to be improving.  The new rotational schedule can't get here soon enough.

[frank uible]

Wasn't Wes a favorite against Tufts?

[frank uible]

Based on today's stats it is hard to see how Tufts could've possibly won.

[nescac1]

Thoughts on Williams after two games:

- the defensive back seven is really good.  Now of course it's come vs. probably the two weakest passing attacks in the league, but the Eph starters completely shut down both the Bowdoin and Colby passing attacks.  The secondary is the most veteran unit on the team and has five quality guys back there (including Manzella who plays a lot).  Both corners are rock-solid (but will be far more tested vs. Trinity's ridiculous pair of receivers).  The LB core is in my view the best unit on the team and has to be among the best in NESCAC.  Apuzzi, Wesner, Rothman and Thomas are just nasty as a group, very, very fast.  Frosh Coleston Smith who like Thomas is a hybrid DE/LB looks like a keeper.  And do-it-all two-way player Horihan provides good depth. 

- the defensive line has not answered the pre-season concerns.  Other than DeMarco, the unit is really small and inexperienced as a group and Colby pushed them around early in the game before they settled in.  Converted O-lineman Neema Zarebian seems to be the only true nose tackle who plays much, and there is no one who really commands a double team. They really only need to hold their ground to let the LBs make plays but I'm worried about them getting blown off the ball vs. the better offensive lines (especially next week).   They rotate a bunch of guys and do a lot of stunts to try to mix things up but that is definitely the biggest question mark on the team.

- the injuries on offense are piling up for the Ephs which is a big concern, especially at WR.  Frank Stola didn't play this week and was sorely missed, he is the go-to guy.  That is compounded by last week's season-ending injury to Will Lofredo and another speedy frosh WR who got hurt early in this week's game.  Joe Volpe did a nice job filling in, but Williams needs more production out of the other two starting receivers, Nelson and Morrison, who have both been very quiet in the passing game through two weeks.  Especially if Stola, clearly the best receiver on the team, is out for awhile.  Williams was also missing its mammoth starting right tackle today and valuable TB/FB/TE Ryan Pruss has yet to play this season.  Hopefully a few of those guys can be back vs. Trinity because the Ephs will need all the help they can get for Maimaron and Dozier on offense.   

- Justin Burke is becoming a real weapon in both the passing and rushing attack.  Especially if Stola is out, he will be a key player going forward.  He came very close to breaking a few big ones today.  Morrison continues to be much more effective as a runner than as a receiver.

- the passing game just didn't click today -- lot of different things went wrong.  Obviously the injuries played a big role, but Maimaron was just a bit off on a few throws and receivers dropped several catchable passes.  Guys had trouble getting open down the field as well.  That won't get the job done vs. Trinity, not even close. 

- the running game, on the other hand, looked awesome.  TJ Dozier is already an all-league caliber runner as a soph.  He better stay healthy though as he carries a huge load for the Ephs.  Maimaron is obviously fantastic as a runner, four TDs today and a fifth called back due to penalty, what else can you say.   Despite being down Watson and Pruss as blockers the o-line dominated on running plays in quarters two and three, really wore Colby down. 

As for Colby, I think they are a bit more physical on both sides of the ball than Bowdoin.  But they lack any sort of explosive playmakers.  Schwern is by far their best guy on O but is a guy who has to grind out yards.  They really have to dink and dime you on offense and have zero margin for error.  Frosh QB Matt Hersch did look very promising and I imagine he will start going forward.  His impressive stats are however a bit deceptive as most of his success came very late in the game vs. the Ephs' second and third string defense, and as has been discussed the program depth isn't quite where it needs to be yet. 

[gridiron]

Has to be the easiest League to pick winners and losers each week. Bring on more parity!!!

[frank uible]

As in poker, winners crack jokes; losers say shut up and deal!

[amh63]

Fall weather has hit the DC/Md area today.  Put on my LL Bean Flannel shirt today .  Admit that Maine has been a rare visit area for me.  My oldest son was just up to the Acadia Park and Bar Harbor Area last weekend though...with wife and old friends.
Football notes.....Frank U's posts are terse indeed.....but wow, his posts today are "plural".  Must like the latest edition of the Fighting  Purple Cows.  Indeed...impressive bunch of football players.
Amherst started slow yesterday...more likely, Hamilton started strong.  Amherst's coaches made adjustments...key point for me.  Second half it became evident that the Continentals were over matched as Amherst put in a bunch of reserves, etc....including a backup QB and a FY QB from Ma.  Counted 66 LJ players got into the game...from the stats .
Scanned the scores of the other ongoing games and watched the Wes vs Tufts night game.
Bowdoin actually was ahead  briefly....24 points scored by the Polar Bears impressed.  Did Trinity run
up the score??   Middlebury is a puzzle presently...but their running game via stats seemed improved.
Now to the night game.  See that the lights on the visitor side were rentals...big truck parked.  Lots of Cardinal fans found their way to the game.  Fans were dressed heavily by game's end.  The key points of the game for me were....Cardinal QB was hurried.  The Jumbo defense impressed me.  First half
score was the final score!  Found out that the Cardinals won last season's game in OT and had tied the game in the last 6 seconds.  I like night games in the Nescac .
Nescacman....sorry that this year's night game ruined pick pefection