FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[NBC93]

Jefffan,
I know the QB from Texas was very highly acclaimed in his home state, which is saying a lot when that state is Texas.
No offense to my East Coast friends.

[lumbercat]

From the part of intramural that means 'only playing among yourselves' ... it's hard to argue otherwise.

Obviously there's also a part of the word that implies that it is disorganized and the like ... which is easy to argue against.

Pat
Thanks for the Webster's dictionary primer.
As we know,  intramural competition in most settings is conducted at a level below Varsity standards.

[NBC93]

Jefffan,
I remember reading an article that he was All-State and MVP of the district or conference. Not sure how they term things down there. Seems like he was awaiting D-1 scholarships but nothing materialized so he committed to Amherst. Not a bad choice.
I know here in our part of the MidWest, I've seen too many talented players waste away at D-1 schools without a scholarship and become disillusioned and quit the game and leave the school. It hurts them and their education. In rural, underprivileged, and underserved areas like where I am assigned currently, the emphasis is on the "prestige" of a D1 program regardless of the real future the young man may have afterwards.
My son was pleased to turn down D2 schools for a chance to go to an Ivy or NESCAC school for the education and the non-football opportunities.

[lumbercat]

NBC93

Well stated.

In recent years the NESCAC schools have become more widely known in the Midwest, South and Southwest. Recruiting enhancements including the proliferation of the many camps and clinics along with the growth of social media has enabled the NESCAC schools to recruit more successfully in these areas.

Back in the day most in these areas had little or no knowledge of the NESCAC schools and typically had not even heard of the NESCAC schools with the possible exception of Amherst or Williams.

The secret is out- Good Football, great education and it really gets good when the job interviews start.

[Hawk196]

My son was pleased to turn down D2 schools for a chance to go to an Ivy or NESCAC school for the education and the non-football opportunities.

My son was being pursued by Bentley and I was intrigued because of their reputation in the business world, but at the end of the day when you say Tufts university people know who they are....Bentley?? I think of the car...LOL

[SpringSt7]

As for Williams, I think it's very fair to worry about the offense.  Especially considering that Middlebury is not likely to be a top-tier defense in the conference, and Tufts sure as heck looks like they will be.

The coaches were trying a lot of formation gimmicks (two QB sets, FB splitting wide, etc. etc.)  to make things happen which is not a great sign so early in the season.  I thought Williams would be absolutely loaded on offense this year.  But then three sophomore WRs who saw varsity action did not return for this season (not sure if gone for good from program or not), so the position is perilously thin.  One of the starting WRs who adds a lot to the offense as a running option did not play.  The top two TBs did not play on Saturday even though one was listed as the game starter (no idea what the story is there, either). Burke, another key weapon on offense who was listed as a starter for the game, also did not play.  One senior OL starter did not return for his last season.  Two other projected starters on the line are injured, at least one of them out for the year, not sure how serious the starting center's injury is.  At least one (maybe two?) frosh were playing on the OL Saturday.  Basically, right now, Williams is just down too many guys.  The Ephs critically need Dozier and Burke back, I'd say.  Stola is an elite weapon on offense, but he can't do it alone.  Williams needs more guys out there who can break big plays.  Clearly with a bunch of unexpected turnover the offensive line is still a work in progress, as well.   

From what I've gathered:

As already mentioned--Ludwig is done with too much wear and tear. Freeman is out for the year, Rooney is out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury, hopefully will return for the meat of the schedule, those last three against Trin, Wes, Amherst. Two of the sophomore WRs you mentioned will be away from the program for at least this year, and the third, Kingman, has transferred. From my experience, the game notes coming out of Williams are almost always inaccurate. I agree that the Ephs need Dozier back as well, but everything leads to the belief that Vaughn was the starter regardless going into the Middlebury game, and perhaps for the foreseeable future, which is absolutely mind boggling.

[nescac1]

Thanks for the (discouraging) update SpringSt7.  If Dozier is healthy and not the starter that would indeed be bizarre.  He's an elite runner.  Very tough luck at the OL and WR spots.  Some young guys will just need to step up especially on the line.  If Burke (in particular), Morrison and at least one TB can join the mix soon that would certainly help matters.

I agree that the game notes are fairly useless.  I think something like seven of the listed starters were wrong last week and most from that group didn't play at all.  The roster is also often way off on weights and positions, which often do not change over time to reflect reality ...

[Nescacman]

2019 Week #2 NESCACMAN Preview

Welcome to Week #2 in the NESCAC...in the league where they "pay to play"....3-2 in the traditionally "tough-to-pick" week 1....we got tripped up by the Tufts upset of the Staters from Hartford and the MID/TTUN game could have gone either way...looks like some great weather with Indian summer settling in over New England this week...here are this week's picks and spreads:

Amhurst College at Colby College: Hersch can certainly throw the ball but Colby will have a tough time running on the Lord Mammoths or stopping Ollie...the LMs score enough for this not to be an interesting game...

Amhurst 28 Colby 10
Point Spread: Amhurst -14.
Weather: Mostly Sunny. High of 76.

Middlebury College at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus): Despite MID being down a bit and Bates being improved (how could they be worse than 2018?), we think this game ends up being too close for comfort for the Pants faithful just like last year...however, we'll take HCOF Ritter's experience over HCOF Hall's enthusiasm..MID does just enough to win...

MID 21 UBates 17
Point Spread: MID -6. 
Weather: Mostly sunny. High of 79.

Bowdoin College at Hartford State: HS at home after their first opening day loss in 24 years...poor Polar Bears...this game could get very ugly....on the other hand, if for some reason HS has not righted the ship at QB and RB and Bowdoin somehow pulls off the upset of the century....nah, forget that thought...HS destroys the Polars...who wins by more, the Pats over the Jets or HS over the Polars?

Hartford State 45 Bowdoin 10
Point Spread: Hartford State -21.
Weather: Sunny. High of 84.

Wesleyan University at Hamilton College: Wes, with their new "snarky" Cardinal logo, looked impressive in all three phases of the game against Colby last week...let's see if the Conts can get their revamped ground game going against a real defense...We think Wes just has too much young talent sprinkled all over the field for HAM to handle plus they are looking for payback after last year's upset at Andrus...Wes wins going away...

Wesleyan University 31 Hamilton College 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -10.
Weather: Sunny. High of 80.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University at TTUN: TTUN is (again) ravaged by injuries...Can the Maimaron/Stola combo generate enough offense against the Tufts D? Can TTUN get their running game going? Tufts D looked really good last week upsetting Hartford State...We think they shut down the Ephs and generate enough offense to get to 2-0...

Tufts 24 TTUN 17
Point Spread: Tufts -3. 
Weather: Sunny. High of 81.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners)
2019 Season: 3-2
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 198-57 (.776 winning percentage)

[amh63]

Thanks, Nescacman.  Always makes the upcoming games more interesting. 

[Nescacman]

Thanks, Nescacman.  Always makes the upcoming games more interesting.

Thanks amh....means a lot coming from you. Enjoy the games Saturday.

[Hawk196]

LOL I posted this in the NEWMAC board earlier....I was wondering why the confuse responses


Tufts vs Williams "game of the week" (according to NBN)

https://nothingbutnescac.com

I'm only worried about the "high from the Trinity win" and "0-2 is a death sentence" in the prediction below

Although I'm not sure if the writer/staff understands the injury situation with Williams

Predictions:

Tufts @ Williams, 1:30pm, Williamstown, MA

I'll keep this one short because it's our Game of the Week, but no one could have predicted Tufts to knock off the three-time defending champions in Week 1. What an awesome feeling that must have been for first-year starter in senior Jacob Carroll, who waited his turn behind Ryan McDonald and finally got his chance on the big stage. Tufts has everything going for them heading into Williamstown, but my gut tells me the high from beating Trinity won't last past Saturday. After stumbling on their own feet against Middlebury, Williams knows this game is a must win. Starting the season 0-2 is essentially a death sentence, so expect Maimaron, Frank Stola and co. to set the tone early and grind out some yards against a solid Jumbos defensive front.

Also shoutout to OJ Armstrong for the Jumbos, Go Raiders*

MK: Williams 20-13
RM: Williams 23-17
SS: Tufts 17-7
HC: Williams 30-24
CC: Williams 24-16

Writers' Pick: Williams

[ITH radio]

We previewed this one in our Lightening Predictions segment. My pick was the Ephs.

[SpringSt7]

LOL I posted this in the NEWMAC board earlier....I was wondering why the confuse responses


Although I'm not sure if the writer/staff understands the injury situation with Williams

Predictions:

Tufts @ Williams, 1:30pm, Williamstown, MA


MK: Williams 20-13
RM: Williams 23-17
SS: Tufts 17-7
HC: Williams 30-24
CC: Williams 24-16

Certainly have to wonder how familiar some of these writers are with both teams...would be pretty surprised if both teams combined for more than 35 points. I'm personally cautiously optimistic for this Ephs team, whose offensive shortcomings last week have distracted from how good this defense is—arguably the best LB core in the league, and a much improved front 3 last week. If they can keep Tufts in the teens I think they might have enough big play potential offensively to get their season back on track

[Nescacman]

LOL I posted this in the NEWMAC board earlier....I was wondering why the confuse responses


Tufts vs Williams "game of the week" (according to NBN)

https://nothingbutnescac.com

I'm only worried about the "high from the Trinity win" and "0-2 is a death sentence" in the prediction below

Although I'm not sure if the writer/staff understands the injury situation with Williams

Predictions:

Tufts @ Williams, 1:30pm, Williamstown, MA

I'll keep this one short because it's our Game of the Week, but no one could have predicted Tufts to knock off the three-time defending champions in Week 1. What an awesome feeling that must have been for first-year starter in senior Jacob Carroll, who waited his turn behind Ryan McDonald and finally got his chance on the big stage. Tufts has everything going for them heading into Williamstown, but my gut tells me the high from beating Trinity won't last past Saturday. After stumbling on their own feet against Middlebury, Williams knows this game is a must win. Starting the season 0-2 is essentially a death sentence, so expect Maimaron, Frank Stola and co. to set the tone early and grind out some yards against a solid Jumbos defensive front.

Also shoutout to OJ Armstrong for the Jumbos, Go Raiders*

MK: Williams 20-13
RM: Williams 23-17
SS: Tufts 17-7
HC: Williams 30-24
CC: Williams 24-16

Writers' Pick: Williams

NBN are definitely "NARPs"...ITH might be a NARP too...

We are not...which is why we are almost always right with our picks...the smart money is on the Jumbo's...the ghost of the HCOF will haunt Farley-Lamb Field forever...

BTW, RIP Coach Renzie Lamb...one of the top characters of all-time in NESCAC athletics...it was an honor to be his friend (he grew up on Long Island with a NESCACMAN committee member's Dad)...

[amh63]

The Tufts vs Williams game at 1:30 pm is the only one that has a late start.  Seems to me that someone has picked "the game of the Week".   Both Colby and Amherst have not provided a preview on their sites...yes, it is still early today .