FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[ColbyFootball]

Before we get too excited about Hamilton scoring 62 points on Bowdoin, let's not lose sight of the fact that Bowdoin is last in the NESCAC in total defense by a long shot giving up over 500 yards per game. In fact, Bowdoin is at or near the bottom in most team defensive categories in the NESCAC as well as being near the bottom nationally in total defense and rushing defense. Hats off to the CONTS on a nice win but let's put their offensive prowess in the proper perspective.
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absolutely correct, and I don't think anyone is getting too excited.  a lot depends on what the defense is offering, and also how sharp the Hamilton O is on any given day.
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I get what the two of you are saying, but 62 points excites me  against any team. Does it mean everything? No. But it reinforces my belief that Murray's team is moving in the right direction and is not that far off from competing with the big boys. And it has to throw a scare into the weaker teams, knowing that Hamilton can produce that kind of firepower if you don't come to play.

[lumbercat]

A big factor with Hamilton is the recruiting advantage they have in an area where they are the only NESCAC school around. It's a strong Football region in which they are often unopposed in terms of NESCAC competition. Much stronger football area than Maine, NH or Vermont.
Murray is familiar with the region and is recruiting well. The long bus rides are a challenge for the Buff n Blue but Coach Murray will continue to recruit like shooting fish in a barrel.

Typical NESCAC recruiting itineraries are...... CT: visit Trinity and Wes. Western Ma- hit Williams and Amherst. Maine- you can cover those 3 schools in a day.

For Western/ Northern NY kids it's the Buff n Blue.....unopposed.

Murray gets that and and Hamilton continues to improve- a great hire.

[DC 53]

   Let me be the first on these pages to congratulate Hamilton QB Kenny Gray on being named the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week. Those of you who feel inclined may read the details on the NESCAC website. I only saw parts of the game on my phone as I was at a HS game here on LI (always looking for future Conts!) It looks as if he had the breakout game that Nescacman has been hoping he'd have.
    So Nescacman, I find your prognostications both interesting and entertaining, though most of your game predictions have a degree of difficulty somewhere between a whack a mole arcade game and shooting squirrels with an AR-15. I also appreciate a certain amount of snark, but much of yours (especially when aimed at my beloved Conts) is unnecessarily cruel and gratuitous. Your constant badgering of Trinity as Hartford State is really obtusely repetitive and stale. As a graduate of a state school's lacrosse program that ranks #8 in overall NCAA victories, I'd suggest that the Trinity football program should wear the "State" moniker as a badge of honor, as it seems to imply grit, tenacity, and toughness, all apt descriptors of that excellent program in Hartford. As an English teacher, I tend to look for irony in everything. Brown University's lacrosse team in recent years has renamed itself "Brown State" as a self tribute to their blue collar work ethic and and approach to their sport. The wonderful thing about athletics is that no matter your background or socio-economic level, your effort and commitment is always your currency. That's what I love about NESCAC football; it's egalitarian; it doesn't matter how you got here, it's what you bring to the battle.Go hard, or go home. So yes, 62 points is earned, even if it's against air. A ton of effort, during the week, in summer workouts, in the weight room in the dead of winter, and in endless film study, all contributed to the result. To discount that is, well, to be kind, uninformed.
   On Bowdoin: Many here disparage the program, the coaching, and the performance. It's easy to do when a team is down. I get it, everything's a zero-sum game. I sat a few rows behind the Bowdoin bench at Steuben in 2016. What I saw surprised me. Coaches and players were laser focused and working with great effort. The coaches were teaching, and the players were attentive. The body language was really positive. It wasn't for lack of effort or incompetence that they lost. I wish them luck, except for one game each year!
   AMH63: I enjoyed my time at the Hamilton/Amherst in Sept. I'm always impressed with the excellence of Amherst. While I give a slight edge (reluctantly) to the new Willytown facility, I love what Amherst has done with the Pratt facility. I got to watch the game from the berm with my old friend, the Asst. AD. We we were joined for most of the game by some former FB players, as well as current members of that women's B-Ball juggernaut. Your old school produces some terrific young people.
Colby Football: It sounds as if you're enjoying the NESCAC world much more this year. We're all better off for that! Your view of Murray and staff is spot-on. They realize that they still have much work to do. I do know that they love working with NESCAC student- athletes. I've said before that I regret that my son only got to play for Coach Murray for one year. I'll repeat what my son said when I asked him for his first impression of his new coach, "He's an excellent football coach, but forget football, he's just a really great guy!" It's moving in the right direction in Clinton, irrespective of wins and losses.
  One last correction: The injured star player for the Conts is not named Jacobs; there is no Jacobs on the Hamilton roster. The stud ALL- NESCAC LB, Tyler Hudson will return in 2019. Enjoy the games, folks, it goes by quickly.

[DC 53]

Lumber cat: Your post is what I forgot to write in mine! I didn't see you post until after I posted. That's what I get for being so long-winded! Dave Murray coached at Cortland and at Alfred, and he and all of his staff have deep roots in all parts of NY. Other NESCAC schools do bring in players from all parts of NY. Two LB's from my HS on LI played for Wesleyan in the early 2000's. One was a team captain. They didn't win many games, but both are doing quite well in life after NESCAC  FB. LI remains mostly ignorant about the value of the NESCAC experience, but that will change moving forward.

[Hamiltonian]

A big factor with Hamilton is the recruiting advantage they have in an area where they are the only NESCAC school around. It's a strong Football region in which they are often unopposed in terms of NESCAC competition. Much stronger football area than Maine, NH or Vermont.
Murray is familiar with the region and is recruiting well. The long bus rides are a challenge for the Buff n Blue but Coach Murray will continue to recruit like shooting fish in a barrel.

Typical NESCAC recruiting itineraries are...... CT: visit Trinity and Wes. Western Ma- hit Williams and Amherst. Maine- you can cover those 3 schools in a day.

For Western/ Northern NY kids it's the Buff n Blue.....unopposed.

Murray gets that and and Hamilton continues to improve- a great hire.

Agree on Murray, of course. But never thought I'd be reading about Hamilton's "recruiting advantage."  You must be kidding. I can hardly think of a Nescac team with fewer recruiting advantages. High admissions standards.  Remote location. Somewhat lesser known than some Nescac schools.  Any recruiting success due almost entirely to Murray and his team.

[frank uible]

62 points is a lot - even against The Little Sisters of the Poor.

[polbear73]

62 points is a lot - even against The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Makes one shudder to think how many Trinity will put up against Bowdoin this Saturday.

[frank uible]

Hopefully the Trin coach will find reasons to keep the score down.

[polbear73]

Hopefully the Trin coach will find reasons to keep the score down.

Both coaches are Trinity graduates.

[PBPOP20]

Anyone know what happened with Trinity LB Smerczynski?  He had another year, but don't see him on the roster.  He and Jean-Jacques were team mates on 2012 State Champ St. John's Prep....

[ColbyFootball]

Colby Football: It sounds as if you're enjoying the NESCAC world much more this year. We're all better off for that! Your view of Murray and staff is spot-on. They realize that they still have much work to do. I do know that they love working with NESCAC student- athletes. I've said before that I regret that my son only got to play for Coach Murray for one year. I'll repeat what my son said when I asked him for his first impression of his new coach, "He's an excellent football coach, but forget football, he's just a really great guy!" It's moving in the right direction in Clinton, irrespective of wins and losses.

I'm not sure many, if any, posters on this site know that my oldest son graduated from Hamilton and played football for a time. I have a very deep affection for the football program and the school as a whole. I love the people and the place. As for my Colby HC postings of previous years, the pain my family felt was real and will be carried for a long time. As you know, we hurt for our kids, and every time I look at my Colby son's face when discussing Colby football, I feel that pain over again. He deserved fairer treatment, which is all anyone can ask for. But, the past is the past, so I try to avoid that topic. I only mention it as it was alluded to in your post. But back to Hamilton, It would be an honor to have my HS junior son play at Hamilton under Coach Murray.

[amh63]

Fall is here!  See the leaves are turning in Western Mass...and around the Nescac.  Been watching other Fall sports....so I do see leaves turning elsewhere.
DC 53.....thanks for your acknowledgement.  Yes the WBB team will soon begin informal practices.  Two players are playing Fall sports....and both are contributors to their teams.  Both very talented student athletes that came to Amherst in part to play more than one sport.  The Nescac provides such opportunities.
Did notice that the winning teams last week had balanced offensive stats...net rushing and passing.
The losing teams had only solid offensive numbers in one.  The Midd win over Williams clearly shows such stats.
Amherst heads to Middletown on Sat.  Should be another game where the team that can establish a balanced offense will most likely "carry the day".   Of course, the team that has the fewest  TOs improves its chances.  It should be noted that the Ephs fine Soph QB had his first two interceptons of the season. 

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN 2018 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week #5

Welcome to the 2018 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings for Week #5 in "the league where they pay to play"!!! 5 weeks into the 2018 and we've only had a handful of interesting, competitive games. Let's hope the rest of the season is more competitive (and more interesting)...Time for our weekly rankings including a special feature, "Who really is the worst team in the NESCAC?"...

1. Amhurst (5-0; LW:1): Amhurst is 5-0 over teams with a collective record of 5-20...doing it with defense first giving up no more than 14 points in any one game...only quality win has been over MID...schedule gets much more difficult from here on out facing Wesleyan and Hartford State on the road and Tufts and TTUN in Amhurst...those 4 Teams are a collective 15-5...win 3 out of 4 and they are guaranteed a share of the NESCAC title for 2018 (depending on tie breakers)...next up: at Wesleyan.

2. That Team Up North (aka Williams)(4-1; LW:2): Upset loss at home against Middlebury costs them an undefeated season...team that can ill afford to have injuries has now been ravaged by injuries...tough schedule down the stretch as well...they will need to get some of the walking wounded back to have a shot at being competitive over the last 4 weeks...next up: at Tufts.

3. Hartford State (4-1; last week's rank:4): Nice win in the Coop for HS as they defeated previously undefeated Tufts to keep their championship hopes alive...Hartford State fell behind 14-0 in the 1st quarter before scoring the next 30 points...HS defense shut down the Tufts rushing attack aka Ryan McDonald and HS Q Vazzano continues to throw the ball down the field...next up: at Bowdoin.   

4. Tufts (4-1; LW:3): Tufts drops a spot as they lose their first game in 2018 at Hartford State...defense, which had been solid all year gave up almost 500 yards of total offense and 38 points (they had only given up 31 points combined in their previous 4 games in 2018)...Tufts needs to figure out how to run the ball better...3 of last 4 games are against quality opponents...next up: TTUN in Medford.

5. Wesleyan (3-2; LW:5): Wes strings together its second win in a row with a convincing win against the Bates Bobcats...Wes led this one 37-6 before Bates scored a meaningless defensive TD in the 4th quarter...Bates had 18 yards of offense and 1 first down the entire second half, most of that against the Wes 2nd defense...Wes defense held the Bates offense to 1 of 13 on third down conversions...QB Piccirillo was 10 of 15 for 185 yards and 3 TDs in the air and another 93 yards rushing on 11 carries...DT Taj Gooden had 4 tackles, a sack, 2 tackles for loss and a batted pass...Wes kept its title hope alive with the win...next up: Amhurst at Middletown.

6. Middlebury (3-2; LW:6): Biggest win of the season for the Pants as they upset the previously unbeaten Ephs...big game by DB Bobby Ritter (DPOTW) and punter Maxwell Rye (STPOTW)...led 21-3 at the half and held on for the 21-10 win....held TTUN to only 92 yards rushing...big game rushing for Peter Scibilia who had 143 yards rushing....QB Will Jernigan added another 94 on the ground...MID had 440 yards of total offense 278 of which was on the ground...MID actually has more yards rushing on the season than they do passing...will try to keep their title hopes alive this week...team has completely moved on from opening day starting QB Meservy...next up: UBates in Middlebury. 

7. Hamilton (2-3; LW:7): As we predicted, HAM won a shootout against the Polars in Clinton...the 62 points by the Conts were the second most in program history...only 3 punts by both teams in the game...735 yards of total offense and 55 first downs...QB Kenny Gray earned NESCAC OPOTW honors for his 4 TD tosses and 87 yards on the ground...Will Buddington had a big day receiving for the Conts...HAM has a good chance of getting to .500 this week at Colby (after a 5 ½ hour bus ride)...next up: at Colby.

8. Colby (0-5; LW:10):  As the C-B-B moves to a combined 0-15...It's time to quantify the worst team in the NESCAC really is (3 points for last, 2 for next to last and 1 point for first):
Points For: BAT (2.5), COL (2.5), BOW (1)
Points Against: BAT (3), BOW (2), COL (1)
Total Offense: BAT (3), COL (2), BOW (1)
Total Defense: BOW (3), BAT (2), COL (1)
First Downs: BAT (3), COL (2), BOW (1)
Turnovers: BOW (3), COL (2), BAT (1)
Penalties: BAT (3), BOW (2), COL (1)
Time of Possession: BAT (3), BOW (2), COL (1)
Total: COL (12.5 points), BOW (15 points), BAT (20.5 points)

The Mules are now our choice to win the Great Northern Pillow Fight aka the C-B-B...next up: Hamilton in Waterville. 

9. Bowdoin (0-5; LW:8): Might have been better off playing flag football last week against the Buff & Blue...BOW has turned the ball over 13 times in 5 games including 10 INTS...237th in the country in total defense...tough one this week....HS beat Hamilton by 37 and Hamilton beat Bowdoin by 35 so it could get ugly this week in Hartford...hopefully HCOF Devanney is in a good mood...next up: at Hartford State. 

10. University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(0-5; LW:9): UBates offense failed to show up in the second half against Wes...the Air Raid looked confused and out of synch...the Wes O-line pretty much had their way with the Bobcats front seven...we hope HCOF is a good recruiter, they need reinforcements badly including personnel actually recruited for this offense...we think QB Costa is a nice player but he should not be a QB in this offense...next up: at Middlebury.

[Nescacman]

Hopefully the Trin coach will find reasons to keep the score down.

Yeah, like he did last year (63-14)....

[Nescacman]

62 points is a lot - even against The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Makes one shudder to think how many Trinity will put up against Bowdoin this Saturday.

All time points scored by Hartford State in a game:

Most points scored
94, CCNY; 11/2/1907
72, Rochester; 1889
71, Bates; 9/25/93 (NESCAC record) 63, Wesleyan; 11/12/05
63, Bowdoin; 10/21/17

Although we think 94 is probably out of reach, the all-time NESCAC record of 71 is certainly in jeopardy of falling this week...