FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

sonofbullfrog · August 16, 2006, 10:08:37 PM

Son of Bullfrog-aka Bullfrog

See Bant551, you disputed me, yet you just stated how talent "alone" helped you competively compete against a 1AA team eventhough they were non-scholarship. Do you honestly think another NESCAC JV team would have had similar results. It obviously wasn't anything else as YOU stated, since you were unprepared and were a fill in.

By the way, did you whine this much with Priore. I can't see him putitng up with that too much. And What's wrong with a JV game-football is football no matter what day. Shame on You!

bant551 · August 17, 2006, 08:56:59 AM

Actually, this whole thing took place my freshman year. This was before Priore.

In terms of talent, there wasn't much on the field for the Bantams... if we won because of talent, the league Central Connecticut plays in and the NESCAC should be immediately shut down as an embarassment to football in America.

No, it was a JV game my freshman year. Priore came my sophmore year. When Priore came, there was no messing around with JV games. Much more official and the 3rd/4th stringers got more reps (even if almost none at all -- that is more than nothin').

Anyway, Bullfrog, I appreciate your comment about how I am a talented player who was a part of that dynastic JV Trinity team in, say, 1999, I'd say you are badly mistaken.

I'm actually laughing in my office right now thinking about the players we threw out there for that game (myself included).

Bullfrog, you are such a joke if you thought you pulled one over on me with that JV thing. Although, I will say that by the time Priore was in his 3rd year (my senior year), the JV team was talented and very prepared when it beat a top-ranked local prep school in a JV game.

But that wasn't what I was talking about, and having talent and depth is part of being a good coach running a good program.

If you'd like some pointers, I'd be happy to tell you more about what its like to be a part of a winning program. In a way, I feel bad for you.

Trin9-0 · August 17, 2006, 09:25:24 AM

frog: I'm thrilled that you're back. However, not a stellar return to the board as I believe you have your Bants confused. I was the one who stated that we won a JV game due to "equal or greater talent". However, that was against D3 Springfield not D1AA Central CT.

Bant551 was making the point that a program with a legit JV team, as opposed to a collection of back-ups playing out of position or hungover, should have a huge advantage.

Furthermore, the JV game Bant551 was refering to took place in 1999. That's 3 years before the current streak started and a year before Priore even arrived at Trin. So yes, I do believe several other NESCAC teams would have been able to compete against that particualr D1AA team since Trinity was a very average 5-3 team that year and even worse the next two seasons (a combined 8-8).

If your point is that when there are no other factors (i.e. coaching, practice preparation, film study etc.) then the more talented team will win then I completely agree with you. However, if you are trying to say that Trinity dominates the NESCAC because their JV team beat an equally unprepared D1AA JV team 6 years ago I'll have to respectfully disagree. Talent is important but not the only factor.

LinemenRathletes2 · August 17, 2006, 10:06:02 AM

sonofbullfrog aka bullfrog aka coach barnard.... how the hell are ya??? how does it feel to be unemployed? I thought you would have jumped off of a cliff by now? I'm actually really surprised that you can get internet in a cave somewhere on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border!!!

sonofbullfrog · August 17, 2006, 11:30:22 AM

LinemenRathletes2-

I don't mind the ball breaking between the TR guys because they at least are committed about thier program, but why would you take joy out of some guy who you say got fired?

TRIN 8-0, I came back on because postings were kind getting boring?

Anyway what's the real word in Bant country?

Trin9-0 · August 17, 2006, 12:02:02 PM

In my opinion there is cause for concern in Bant country. A new coach, with an almost intirely new staff. A new QB with virtually no game experience. The top reciever is coming off surgery, one of last years best D-linemen is abroad for a year in China. And the worst part, Trin is playing its 1st two games against the top league contenders.

However, with all of that being said they still return many of the starters who had the #1 defense for the past 4 years and the best backfield in the league. This could be the year the Bants go down, but defense wins championships and a dominant running game will still put up points. It is possible, but it will take a tremendous effort from one of the very talented contenders (Colby, Williams, Amherst) to knock off Trin.

chessdoc · August 17, 2006, 12:21:20 PM

Gosh, my kid is packing, im praying and reading the trinity faithful getting ready. Where are the bates fans. Hope everybody has a safe season. Thanks for the advice bant, et al !1 months of training should allow him to put his best foot forward. If the good lord so wishes. Reading the posts its as spirited as his buddies at nd. Hope the florida expierience serves him well, but its probably tough to cut on ice. Cheers to all

bant551 · August 17, 2006, 12:55:39 PM

Chess, my guess is that at the very least, your boy (as per your descriptions) is preparing as hard as any other player in the league. Best of luck to him and the team... I always root for the guys who go the extra mile.

Bullfrog, I think you will see great challenges for the Bants the first two weeks as well. With an inexperienced team, even if they won their first two games, a let-down is possible against a lower-regarded team after such a victory.

It will be interesting to see. I like coach Deveney alot and think he has what it takes... but there are alot of expectations on him and he certainly has been throw a few curveballs since taking over (e.g., losing the most athletic QB in the league, a prolific offensive player).

bant551 · August 17, 2006, 12:57:25 PM

Oh and Chess, if you'd like more Bates fans to post, tell fellow parents-of-players about the site. You'll meet a bunch of your kid's friend's parents and there will probably be a meet-and-greet for parents and coaches.

Otherwise, you'll be doomed forever to hearing boasts from Trinity alumns, and arguments about the ethics of Trinity's football program.

chessdoc · August 17, 2006, 02:32:01 PM

maybe we can get bates to get another few aquinas kids next year and we can all post a few things and give u a run for the money in the posting area at least.

LinemenRathletes2 · August 17, 2006, 03:04:10 PM

bullfrog aka sonofbullfrog aka 'Mr. Only TR alums can poke fun at me'.... I'm just giving you a hard time because I thought you mentioned that you were a nescac coach and it seems that you and Mr. Barnard share a lot of the same views. I personally am convinced that you are one in the same and I thought it was very ironic that you disappeared from this board around the time that Barnard left Williams. And please don't pull that 'Only TR alums can give me a hard time' bs because we all know you don't coach there. Why don't you ask Devaney to hire you and then maybe they'll let you caddy for them at one of the bi-weekly alumni golf tournaments. Maybe they'll even let you wash their balls.

bant551 · August 17, 2006, 03:15:39 PM

I agree Bullfrog. Even if Linemen's team hasn't had the same success as Trinity, he can still call you out for what is an objectively embarassing approach to football (i.e., looking for someone/something to blame rather than looking in the mirror, accusing others of cheating, saying talent is all that matters, etc.).

Linemen seems like a football guy who knows what he is talking about. You are the one who said coaching doesn't matter, that talent means everything, and that Trinity's 6:30 a.m. film sessions, supplemental voluntary film study during the day, and extraordinary lifting program were only peripheral reasons for its success, but nothing really important.

Football people all around the world were scratching their heads at some of your comments. And you wanna tell this guy he can't criticize you?

Besides, as far as records of your team being the basis of your "credibility" on a message board, Linemenareathletes2 probably will have more "cred" because they might be better than Williams this year, unless Williams pulls itself back from its recent slippage.

Just utter nonsense.

LinemenRathletes2 · August 17, 2006, 04:40:33 PM

When you get all you want and you struggle for self,
and the world makes you king for a day,
then go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.
For it isn't your mother, your father or wife
whose judgement upon you must pass,
but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass.
He's the fellow to please,
never mind all the rest.
For he's with you right to the end,
and you've passed your most difficult test
if the man in the glass is your friend.
You can fool the whole world,
down the highway of years,
and take pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you've cheated the man in the glass.
-Anonymous
In 14 years of playing organized football, I played on some very good teams and some very bad teams. I have played on teams that overachieved and teams that underachieved. I cannot say that I have never been associated with a program that has had the same sort of wild success that Trinity recently has. I can say that I expect from my personal best from myself at whatever I do, whether it be in the office or on a football field. I have never blamed a teammate, a coach, or an opposing team for my own shortcomings or the shortcomings of my own team. For all of its problems, I love nescac football because it represents qualities that I admire. I believe that the sport was created to have been played in the nescac. It is a highly competitive league. Every single game counts. I feel that it is also a league that values qualities such as honor, integrity, strong work ethic. Sure I have been jealous of the success that Trinity has had, who wouldn't be? But rather than crying about their recruiting practices, I actually respect them more and hope that my college can learn something from them. I actually watched a fairly lengthy documentary on the Trinity-Williams game and there were some things that I took away from that insider look that my team never did and that probably would have been helpful. Mostly, I was struck by the amount of preparation that Trinity puts in during the week. I couldn't help but admire them. Furthermore, the fact that Trinity's coaching staff puts in the extra effort to recruit nationally is highly admirable. I might submit that a large amount of their success has come from the fact that they are willing to recruit nationally. Its a fact of life that kids from warmer climates get to practice and play all year round and end up being better football players. It doesn't mean that they are dumber and not worthy of attending a nescac school, only that Priore and his coaching staff as well as Trinity college were willing to make extra efforts to improve their team. Basically bullfrog I don't have much respect for you right now because you don't seem to value the same qualities that I think define this conference.

dirtybirds30-0 · August 17, 2006, 05:29:26 PM

Ah...the posting is back!

I have enjoyed reading the last few...well done.

Trin8-0...who is the d-line man that is in Chiiiiiina?

Wide receiver coming off surgery?

Are you going to the Colby game...cause I will be there!

sonofbullfrog · August 17, 2006, 10:36:07 PM

I can take any criticism in fact I like the going back an forth, I just don't have the time as seeing I had to work twice as hard since the TR coaches are the only ones that work. What do you think TR coaches are the only ones that do what you say as far as preparation. The bottom line with that program is ADMISSIONS-so stop trying to BS everyone else.

Some of you are the most gullible people, I have ever come across. It's like that coach down in CT Jack Cochran who just got suspended for punching a fellow coach. The Bant prog and his program are very similar. They both get the best players, yet justify it is all the coaching and their philosophy. Maybe Jack should go back to TR seeing he was there in the winter. Then you guys could(not the coaches) could stroke each other ego's.

The other thing is I have never accused anyone of cheating in fact I have previously stated, if I had a similar situation I would take it. I just know that in all NESCAC schools with the exception of TR admissions is what wins games.