FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[JEFFFAN]

Best thing about the Williams renovation is that it went the opposite direction, removing the track.  The new stadium is far better than its predecessor in all respects.  And glad there is still the Hopkins Gate to provide a sense of history / continuity.  Now Williams just needs to focus on a long overdue upgrade to Chandler and the Field House, which now are really the only truly outdated major facilities of any kind on campus.

I played Taconic last month and walked over to the football field - you are 100% correct - it looks terrific!  Must be a great spectator experience.

[SpringSt7]

The Williams weight room is long overdue for a renovation as well. With the exception of the football field, there isn't much from a facilities standpoint that would draw you to the school. The way the donations are received will always make these types of improvements an uphill battle. Ask Mike Maker.

[WesCardPlayer]

Wesleyan's highlight video from the OT win at Amherst (pretty nice production quality!): https://youtu.be/PNQLqmoFNYo

[lumbercat]

The Trinity plans look terrific.   Is it possible for these stadiums to be built without taking away the character of the spectator experience?  I feel like the Amherst stadium is very pretty and efficient but as a fan it frankly leaves me beyond cold. I understand why - they needed to build a track on the inside of the stadium rather than the formerly inept outside of the stadium track, but it still feels hollow.

Looks like the rest of the NESCAC is finally catching on to the concept of how to build a Football facility.

I pointed out a few years ago that the Ephs had trumped the Jeffs/Mammoths by moving their track facility to another location. The Amherst facility is nice but the track moves the seating much further away. Williams did it right- no track.

This business of building a track around the football field is High School 101.

Not sure what is going on at Trinity. Don't believe they will screw up like Amherst did.

Tufts, Bowdoin and especially Colby leave the spectators a long way from the field. Hope they have some good track meets to justify that setup. Fences around the track with the stands set way back make for an awful football fan experience.

Frustrating last week at Colby. On the visitors side they have a set of bleachers they seem to have borrowed from a local little league team. About 10 rows but you can only see the damn field from the top 3 rows.......a joke. Trying to watch a football game from the visiting side at Colby is a challenge- has been for years.

Go to a game at Bates or Williams and you can sit in stands that are close to the field or you can stand along the sidelines around the field and be right on top of the field with great site lines and no track.

[Trin9-0]

I'll bet you, I've watched this gif at least a thousand times over the years.

For me, I'd definitely take the over.


I wish Trinity would have relocated the track when they started to reconfigure their athletic field a few yeast ago. Unfortunately, being in a city there just wasn't room for it once they installed the new baseball facility. I agree the atmosphere was better when fans could walk along the track and my favorite places to watch NESCAC football on the road are those with seating closer to the field. I've never actually watched a game from the stands in The Coop; perhaps that will change with the new facility.

[harlequinfarm]

Bantamweight hit the nail on the head with that analysis:

-Hats off to Coach Raymond for bringing the house and dialing up some blitzes after 6 games of mostly conservative defensive playcalling--6 sacks and 13 TFLs speaks for itself--but there were no adjustments made at any point in the game by Trinity. #25, Luke Apuzzi was completely unchecked all game coming off the edge--would assume the OL is told to slide to the right as it is Lambert's preferred side, but he must've been hit by Apuzzi on 10+ plays, either finishing off a read option or after a throw.

-Harris seems like a talented runner, but again the playcalling did him no favors. Every single run design was the exact same--an off tackle run to the outside out of the shotgun. With a LB corps like Williams that is elite at moving and tackling in space, that is never going to work. More experienced and knowledgeable Trinity fans of the board can correct me if I'm wrong, but between the Cerberus of WRs and other talents on the offense, shouldn't there be a little more creativity that comes with that?

-If I'm not mistaken, the play was for Harshbarger to throw to Maimaron a la "Philly Special" but Maimaron was covered and so he kept himself. Pretty sure he played baseball in high school (if Mr. Harshbarger is still checking the board maybe he could inform us) so they trusted his arm, but either way a tremendous play. Wish the Trinity/Williams highlights on the EphSports YouTube page didn't consist of cellphone videos from the sideline this week and we could check it out for ourselves.

Do not know whether that was a designed run or pass on the 2-pt conversion.  Paul had multiple thrown conversions in high school and a few deep passes though none were completions.  In baseball, Paul led his high school team to the state championship game as their catcher (and lead-off hitter).   

If you are interested in some insight into him our regional paper did a profile at the end of the baseball season as our team headed to the state championships.  https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Harshbarger-eyes-grand-finale-13969976.php   

[MidDay]

I'll bet you, I've watched this gif at least a thousand times over the years.

For me, I'd definitely take the over.


I wish Trinity would have relocated the track when they started to reconfigure their athletic field a few yeast ago. Unfortunately, being in a city there just wasn't room for it once they installed the new baseball facility. I agree the atmosphere was better when fans could walk along the track and my favorite places to watch NESCAC football on the road are those with seating closer to the field. I've never actually watched a game from the stands in The Coop; perhaps that will change with the new facility.

I'll bet you, I've watched this gif at least a thousand times over the years.

For me, I'd definitely take the over.


I wish Trinity would have relocated the track when they started to reconfigure their athletic field a few yeast ago. Unfortunately, being in a city there just wasn't room for it once they installed the new baseball facility. I agree the atmosphere was better when fans could walk along the track and my favorite places to watch NESCAC football on the road are those with seating closer to the field. I've never actually watched a game from the stands in The Coop; perhaps that will change with the new facility.

That is truly mesmerizing.  Remind us relative newbies whan that was and how it affected the game.

[Trin9-0]

That is truly mesmerizing.  Remind us relative newbies whan that was and how it affected the game.

It was the 7th game of the 2003 season, and the first time Trinity had trailed in a game all season. The Jeffs had the momentum with a 14-6 lead late into the 3rd quarter. The Bantam defense only allowed 30 points during the entire '03 season so things were tense on the Trinity sideline as the offense hadn't been able to move the ball very much all game.

The Jeff punter shanked the kick and, as you can see, several Amherst players neglected to down the ball. The ensuing two point conversion tied the game and Trinity took the lead for good in the fourth quarter and held on to win.

The following week Trin destroyed Wesleyan 53-0 to cap the first undefeated season since 1993. Trin would go undefeated the following two seasons as well.

[GameBall14]

That is truly mesmerizing.  Remind us relative newbies whan that was and how it affected the game.

It was the 7th game of the 2003 season, and the first time Trinity had trailed in a game all season. The Jeffs had the momentum with a 14-6 lead late into the 3rd quarter. The Bantam defense only allowed 30 points during the entire '03 season so things were tense on the Trinity sideline as the offense hadn't been able to move the ball very much all game.

The Jeff punter shanked the kick and, as you can see, several Amherst players neglected to down the ball. The ensuing two point conversion tied the game and Trinity took the lead for good in the fourth quarter and held on to win.

The following week Trin destroyed Wesleyan 53-0 to cap the first undefeated season since 1993. Trin would go undefeated the following two seasons as well.

Great memories for #13! Hopefully the Bants can end their 5 game skid at Pratt. Going to need much improved special teams and offensive line play to get it done.

[JoeBag]

Great memories for #13! Hopefully the Bants can end their 5 game skid at Pratt. Going to need much improved special teams and offensive line play to get it done.
[/quote]

And I would like to add the the comment from NBN
"Trinity has to learn to adjust to what other teams give them and not just keep hammering the same few plays that have won them games in past seasons."

[nescac1]

Great clip from the recent ESPN special on the Williams-Amherst football rivalry.  Did anyone catch the entire thing?  Hopefully it will become available online ...

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/27977345

That game was without question one of the five best live sporting events I've ever attended (although it didn't QUITE top the Giants beating the 18-0 Pats in the Super Bowl ...). 

[Nescacman]

2019 Week #8 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome to Week #7 iin the league where they "pay to play"....4-1 in week #7 including picking both Wes and the Ephs to win on the road (+k for the "dimwits")...

Hamilton College at Middlebury College: Very important game...a win and MID is assured at least a share of the 2019 NESCAC title...HAM is on a roll winning their last 2 games against Tufts and Amhurst...MID is playing the Conts at exactly the wrong time...HAM played well last week on the road in Medford...HAM does not light up the stat sheet (except for turnovers) while MID leads the NESCAC in total O and is third in total D...we think HAM makes it interesting but MID is too tough to beat at home...

Middlebury 28 Hamilton 24
Point Spread: Middlebury -4.
Weather: Mostly Sunny. High of 47.

Tufts University at Colby College: Game might be closer than one might think, especially since the game is in Waterville....game could be won/lost through the air....Colby last in the NESCAC in rushing, Tufts is 8th...we think the Jumbo's get it done on the road...
Tufts 28 Colby 21
Point Spread: Tufts -7.
Weather: Sunny. High of 47.

Hartford State at Amhurst College: Battle for 4th place in the NESCAC...Both teams coming off dissappointing losses last week...Amhurst has lost 3 of their last 4 games and last quality win for the Lord Mammoths was September 28th at Tufts....Hartford State's last quality win was October 5th against HAM...killer for Hartford State has been turnovers with a -5 TO ratio and penalties (last in the NESCAC in penalty yards)...Amhurst leads the league in INTs thrown...loss of O'Regan could hurt the Lord Mammoths...toss up game but we'll go with the home team and the team that protects the ball better...
Amhurst 27 Hartford State 24
Point Spread: Amhurst -1. 
Weather: Mostly Sunny. High of 52.

Bowdoin College at UBates (Lewiston Campus): One of these coaches will get their first win as a NESCAC HCOF...we'lll take UBates here because they play better defense and they are playing home...congratulations HCOF Hall...

UBates 27 Bowdoin 24
Point Spread: UBates -3.
Weather: Sunny. High of 47.

NESCAC Game of the Week

TTUN at Wesleyan University: NESCAC elimination game...winner still has a shot at the NESCAC title and will either win or have a shot at winning the Little 3....should be a big crowd at Wes for homecoming...Wes has won the last 6 games against TTUN by a combined score of 180-49...Coach Dice has never lost to his alma matter...Maimaron struggled his freshman year against Wes and was knocked out of last year's game...Stola had a big day last year against Wes but has struggled offensively the last few weeks (he was special teams player of the week last week)...For Wes to win, they will need to get creative to get the ball into the hands of the their play makers against a very good Williams D, put pressure on Maimaron and force some turnovers...For Williams to win, they will need to force Wes to pass, get Stola the ball, and stay poised...we think Wes scores enough and plays their best defense of the season in a close win....

Wesleyan 17 TTUN 16
Point Spread: Pick 'em.
Weather: Mostly sunny. High of 53.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2019 Season: 26-9
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: 221-64 (.775 winning percentage)

[SpringSt7]

Can't believe he picked Wesleyan, who saw that coming.

But on a serious note--it will be very interesting to see how the past history of this rivalry affects today's game. The last two years you probably could've said the Ephs were the favorites and they just got straight up punked--the offense honestly moved the ball better after Maimaron got hurt that day. Two years ago Wesleyan could have scored 100 points if they wanted to (56-14 at the half). Not even remotely exaggerating. I think Williams is the better team of the two again this year, but would not be surprised at all to see the confidence and, quite frankly, hatred of past history play a huge role.

[JEFFFAN]

Great clip from the recent ESPN special on the Williams-Amherst football rivalry.  Did anyone catch the entire thing?  Hopefully it will become available online ...

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/27977345

That game was without question one of the five best live sporting events I've ever attended (although it didn't QUITE top the Giants beating the 18-0 Pats in the Super Bowl ...).

Conversely, of course, the worst game of my sporting career from a spectator standpoint.   Was there with my dad, Amherst 44, for what turned out to be the last A-W game he ever attended.   Extraordinary game of back and forth with huge lead swings.   Amherst pulled the old "hidden wide receiver" on an extra point to take the lead, only to watch Williams start driving.   Game was over until an Amherst player decided on fourth and forever to whack a Williams player out of bounds - completely legitimate call - on fourth down with the Williams player short of a first.   Drive continued, kid made the kick, and we didn't speak for the first two plus hours of the ride back south.   Cool game other than the end result!  Still played on NESN as one of its best games ever.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=amherst+williams+vataha+kick&&view=detail&mid=713D36088A7AE825A658713D36088A7AE825A658&&FORM=VRDGAR

[nescac1]

Unbelievably frustrating game for the Ephs.  I think there were five different plays Williams could have put the game away as they dominated most of the game.  But kept stalling out in Wesleyan territory, and gave up two massive plays in the first half, including a kick return TD.  And just could not close it out despite so many chances to do so.  A blocked field goal that would have sealed the win.  An utterly ridiculous phantom holding call that ended up costing Williams a very likely, game-determinative TD as they would have had the ball at the goalline. But in the end, Wesleyan had an absolutely massive clutch drive to tie the game in the fourth quarter, including a huge fourth down conversion.  After getting to the passer all game, the Eph pass rushers seem to have run out of steam.  Headed to OT ....

Both Maimaron and Scott have been tremendous today.  But for a few dropped passes Scott would be having a massive day.   Maimaron also not gotten nearly enough help from his receivers.  Sure look like the two best QBs in NESCAC.  Where the heck is Stola?  Not sure if he's getting doubled or what but barely targeted at all. 

Quite something hearing Whalen on the color.  He's awesome, like NFL caliber as an analyst, and incredibly candid in his assessment of his team's players.  He's been pretty harsh on Taj Gooden, who seems to have been benched after a personal conduct penalty.  Even without him, Wes dline has really stepped up late in the game after being pushed around for most of the second half.