FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[GoBlue61]

Just got an email that the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game is going to be played on their turf field (practice field?).  Too bad...their regular field is a nice venue...right in the middle of campus.  With Bowdoin's luck, I am sure this will work to their disadvantage.

BTW...I disagree with the Power Rankings comment that Trinity went easy on Bowdoin last week.  Trinity kept their first team in until late in the 4th quarter.  They were throwing the ball right to the end and scored with a few minutes left against Bowdoin's second team.  For what is worth, Trinity is physically the most impressive team I have seen this season.  Not sure how they lost to Williams.

[lumbercat]

Wes is small and slow- Picorrillo has not been all in recently, he will hopefully turn it on but watch out for Bowdoin if Richam goes.

How many points you want to give us? We are 2-0 against fellow boardsters so far this year so beware...we'll take NESCAC action from anyone at anytime...

Good one Nescacman-
How many points are you looking for, LOL.
Saying Bowdoin could make it interesting.

OK....how many you want?

If Richam goes I'll take 19.

[lumbercat]

Just got an email that the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game is going to be played on their turf field (practice field?).  Too bad...their regular field is a nice venue...right in the middle of campus.  With Bowdoin's luck, I am sure this will work to their disadvantage.

BTW...I disagree with the Power Rankings comment that Trinity went easy on Bowdoin last week.  Trinity kept their first team in until late in the 4th quarter.  They were throwing the ball right to the end and scored with a few minutes left against Bowdoin's second team.  For what is worth, Trinity is physically the most impressive team I have seen this season.  Not sure how they lost to Williams.

Thanks for the info GoBlue-

Why are they playing on the practice field?

And thanks for the clarification to the board on the location of the Wes gridiron.

[GoBlue61]

Regarding the field for the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game on Saturday...word is Wesleyan does not want to tear up their grass field given the forecast of poor weather...they want to save the field for the Trinity game in two weeks.  When you lose 23 in a row that's what you get -- the practice field.

[lumbercat]

Thats awful- it's rained on that damn Andrus field forever like any other field - what a crock. And while were on the subject it's most overrated field in the league. Its a great Baseball field...period.

Disrespect to the Bowdoin College Polar Bears by the blowhard Whale who is evidently treating this like a damn scrimmage as the mighty Cards get ready for their more important games in the last 2 weeks.

I'm a Bates guy with no affection for Bowdoin but I will be rooting hard for the Black and White in this one- total BS and disrespect to Bowdoin. Unless I'm missing something total arragance by Wesleyan for no reason.

[WesCardPlayer]

The Wesleyan turf practice field (Citrin) does still have stands for fans to watch  (it is the men's lacrosse field when Jackson Field is covered in snow/before the ground softens). When I was at Wes, the Cardinals played Bowdoin on Andrus in a torrential downpour... there were deep puddles on the playing surface. However, that was before Citrin. I think the decision may partially be based on expected attendance. Citrin can seat maybe a few hundred - it'll be raining and Bowdoin will have less traveling fans than Trinity would, for comparison.

I don't see why Wes doesn't play on Andrus, the field won't be used again until the spring (after the Trin game). I believe there is endowment money carved out specifically to maintain the "oldest continuously used football field in the nation."

[lumbercat]

The Wesleyan turf practice field (Citrin) does still have stands for fans to watch  (it is the men's lacrosse field when Jackson Field is covered in snow/before the ground softens). When I was at Wes, the Cardinals played Bowdoin on Andrus in a torrential downpour... there were deep puddles on the playing surface. However, that was before Citrin. I think the decision may partially be based on expected attendance. Citrin can seat maybe a few hundred - it'll be raining and Bowdoin will have less traveling fans than Trinity would, for comparison.

I don't see why Wes doesn't play on Andrus, the field won't be used again until the spring (after the Trin game). I believe there is endowment money carved out specifically to maintain the "oldest continuously used football field in the nation."

Thanks for weighing in Card Player...your input clouds things even further.

[polbear73]

Thats awful- it's rained on that damn Andrus field forever like any other field - what a crock. And while were on the subject it's most overrated field in the league. Its a great Baseball field...period.

Disrespect to the Bowdoin College Polar Bears by the blowhard Whale who is evidently treating this like a damn scrimmage as the mighty Cards get ready for their more important games in the last 2 weeks.

I'm a Bates guy with no affection for Bowdoin but I will be rooting hard for the Black and White in this one- total BS and disrespect to Bowdoin. Unless I'm missing something total arragance by Wesleyan for no reason.

I agree, Lumbercat in that this is total disrespect for Bowdoin on the part of Wesleyan. Normally, this would he great bulletin board material but injuries have left Bowdoin more outmanned than usual. I'm still hopeful that the Bears can give Wesleyan a game and turn this snub into positive energy.

[Nescacman]

Wes is small and slow- Picorrillo has not been all in recently, he will hopefully turn it on but watch out for Bowdoin if Richam goes.

How many points you want to give us? We are 2-0 against fellow boardsters so far this year so beware...we'll take NESCAC action from anyone at anytime...

Good one Nescacman-
How many points are you looking for, LOL.
Saying Bowdoin could make it interesting.

OK....how many you want?

If Richam goes I'll take 19.

Given the weather forecast, our feeling is 14 is the number but we feel benevolent this AM...we'll give you 17...

[ITH radio]

Spoke to my folks in Hartford yesterday and recommended they take my nephew to the Midd-Trin game (my Dad is Midd '71), but the oncoming monsoon has them thinking they'll sit this one out. Hopefully it won't be that bad. Looking fwd to seeing how that one, and the Tufts-Amherst game ends up.

[amh63]

Just got off the Polar Bear website.  Seems the weather is having men's soccer and the field hockey key games moved to Sunday.  Read that Bowdoin's top RB has a toe injury that has him "missing in action"...so to speak.  This last bit of info MAY change some numbers

[Nescacman]

A lot of (erroneous) chatter this AM on the move of the Wesleyan/Bowdoin game from historic, iconic Andrus Field to Citrin Field...

In true NESCACMAN fashion, one of our correspondents went to the source and spoke to one of the key principals in the decision....here are the facts:

1. If any of you have actually looked at the weather forecast you will see that what will be coming through Middletown tomorrow before, during and after the game is more than just a little rain shower. It's a full blown nor'easter with 2+ inches of wind blown rain. Not the most ideal forecast for a game that would be played on a grass field.

2. The last time there was a game played in similar conditions on Andrus, there was literally a lake covering about a quarter of the field. The field is historic and is a great venue, but it drains horribly. Not only does that affect strategy but also puts player safety in question. NESCAC football is bad enough at times on a dry field in perfect playing conditions, but in conditions that we are likely to see tomorrow, we'll take a pass.

3. Which leads us to the number 1 reason the game was moved...player safety. The Wes AD reminded us of a time when he was coaching a game being played in similar conditions. One of his players foot was literally stuck in the mud, the player got tackled while he was stuck and the player suffered a severe ankle injury that changed the kids career. He does not want to put the players (on both Teams) at risk for similar injuries.

4. The move had to be approved by BOTH Teams. Wesleyan could not do this move unilaterally. The Bowdoin AD (we are sure he consulted with HCOF Wells) had to approve the move of the game. Moving the game to Sunday was also discussed but that didn't work due to logistical reasons (length of the drive home, hotels, buses, etc.).

5. Citrin Field is way more than a practice field. When NESCAC Teams used to have scrimmages, this is where Wes held their game scrimmages. In addition, Wes hosts other varsity sporting events on this field and it is also the home of the Wes Track and Field Team. As has been noted, there are stands and the field also has a scoreboard, permanent play clocks, etc. Wes and Bowdoin are both lucky this field exists.

6. Moving the game to another field is not an easy endeavor and is not ideal. They had to find places for the coaches in the sky to sit, places for the timekeeper to sit, deal with headsets, set up the field for the game, inform the league, officials, parents, alums, etc. In sum, not an easy task 48 hours before a game and something to be avoided if at all possible.

Calling this a "dis" to Bowdoin in any way is just not right and is misinformed. Bowdoin was 100% in on the decision and signed off on it. Who wants to see a game played in those conditions on a grass field with the high potential of players getting injured.   

[GoBlue61]

I stand corrected on the Wes/Bowdoin.  BTW...that is not the story coming from the Bowdoin side; may be using the situation for motivating purposes, not that it will matter given Bowdoin's health situation/talent level.  In any event, it is too bad for the Bowdoin seniors.  No matter how you spin it, Citrin looks like a glorified high school/practice field.

[Nescacman]

I stand corrected on the Wes/Bowdoin.  BTW...that is not the story coming from the Bowdoin side; may be using the situation for motivating purposes, not that it will matter given Bowdoin's health situation/talent level.  In any event, it is too bad for the Bowdoin seniors.  No matter how you spin it, Citrin looks like a glorified high school/practice field.

I'm having trouble understanding how this is motivating. I'd be more concerned that my coaches are lying. They should focus on the actual game...good teams will play any one at any place at any time...

[Trin9-0]

I'm typically the last one to agree with Nescacman, but I'm in full agreement that this is much ado about nothing. I'm sure many of us recall a few years ago when the Wesleyan-Bates game was moved to Trinity because the weather conditions made Andrus Field unplayable. Certainly this is a better solution than that.

I'm also shocked to hear Lumbercat calling Andrus Field overrated. It was always my favorite place to play on the road as the surrounding buildings gave it an intimate stadium feel (I was also a big fan of Whittier Field in Bowdoin). It's funny that playing on a grass field has become a novelty. In 2002 Trinity became the first NESCAC football program to make the move to field-turf; now Andrus is the only grass field left. However, given the weather situation for tomorrow we can see that it does have its drawbacks.