FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[bant551]

I'm doing just fine since my graduation from Trinity.  Thank you for your concern, Trinity 8(5)0, but everyone else seems to be achieving success since graduating, as well.

I know success in the real world (from a monetary standpoint and otherwise) isn't as good a measure of a man than his SAT scores, but I'd rather realize success in the former realm.

Then again, your arguments tend to hold more water in ivory towers than in the real world, anyway... so rock on with the condescending remarks and personal insults to myself and my fellow alumns from the Trinity football team.

[Col. Partridge]

This is the last AI-related post I will make--I know I am more interested in everybody's picks for Saturday.

Trinity 8(5)0:  I would be careful what you wish for.  I understand everyone would be bound by the AI, but as explained in this non-sympathetic article, the majority of recruits would have to fall within a certain range of a particular school's overall admissions standards:

http://www.dartreview.com/archives/2005/01/31/the_fortunes_of_dartmouth_football.php

In other words, the school in the league with the least competitve admissions standards before AI would still have the most leeway after AI, and the school with the most competitive admissions standards would perhaps not be able to let in as many athletes with borderline academic qulaifications.  If you chart the football experience of Yale (granted, not Harvard in terms of admissions) pre AI and post-AI, you can see where this leads: from Calvin Hill and Dick Juaron to losing to U of San Diego in front of 60,000 empty seats at the Bowl.

As the experience of Dartmouth shows, I would argue that Middlebury, Bowdoin, Wesleyan etc. have nothing to gain by AI.  If they improve their overall admissions profile, that will only hurt their football prospects.

[bant551]

Col. Partridge, be fair.  Clowns in ivory towers do not consider real-world examples, statistics, or facts.  They only operate in the abstract.  They only understand theories.  They do not operate or consider thoughts that are not within their pre-defined paradigm of what is right and what is wrong.

Trinity 8(5)0, what do you do for a living?  Are you more successful (economically and otherwise) than the average Trinity football player?

I do know that you are a gutless puke!

[Ephmen1991]

Trinity8(5)0, If you are from Williams then you are a complete embarassment to the football program.  I'll take hard work over excuses and your whining any day.  Trinity gave everyone a work ethic to emulate. I know for a fact that I was below the average SAT's of other Williams students when I went there, and we certainly caused more than our share of trouble.  You seem just like the ivory tower professors and a lot of the students who just want to believe that good football players have to be stupid because they don't want to admit someone else works harder than them.  Two pieces of education that are sorely lacking at Williams are humility and tolerance towards your fellow students. 

I really don't think you would say any of this stuff you're posting about to him Chuck Priore personally, do you?  You can see my real name on my profile here - If you are from Williams and want to let me know who you are you can email me.

[Col. Partridge]

In the interest of historical accuracy, I have demoted myself to Captain.

Aside from Frank's prescient commentary on the cable access show, I have no way of knowing how these teams really stack up against each other.  That being said, The Captain's Week 3 picks:

Trinity - 28
Hamilton - 0
 
Not this week.
   
Tufts   17
Bowdoin 14

I'm guessing a 2-0 team is better than an 0-2 team?
     
Amherst   7
Middlebury 10

Defies prevailing logic, but no one gave Middlebury a shot last week.  Plus, they have a good kicker who will come in handy.
       
Wesleyan 7
Colby  0

Flame away.  That's my prediction, and I'm sticking with it.  Wes played Mid tougher than the Mules did.

Williams  35
Bates 14

Ephs won't allow letdown to happen.

[dirtybirds30-0]

I like the aggressive picks!  I don't think you are to far off excluding Amherst.  If Middlebury pulls that one off it is the second biggest win of the year in the NESCAC...we all know what the first one is

[formerbant10]

Round 3....still upset over last week.

Williams 28....Bates 7.....Ephs show last week was not a fluke

Colby 14....Wesleyan 10....Closer game than expected

Amherst 21....Midd 13....Jeffs take care of business

Tufts 28....Bowdoin 14.....Jumbos have great receivers

Trinity 35....Hamilton 0....Bants beat up on Conts

[Trin9-0]

Trinity        31
Hamilton     0

Williams     21
Bates         10

Colby         28
Wesleyan   7

Amherst      14
Middlebury   3

Bowdoin     17
Tufts           14

[Col. Partridge]

Final scores:

Colby 24
Wesleyan 21

Middlebury 7
Amherst 3

[Col. Partridge]

Trinity 13
Hamilton 0

Tufts 16
Bowdoin 6

[mariner75]

Jumbos 3-0 after beating Bowdoin today.  Especially sweet after consecutive two point losses the past two years.  Tufts will play their 1000th game in their history when they visit the Bants next Saturday.

[Jonny Utah]

Bates was up at the half over Williams.......

should be some upsets this year and some big games at the end.

[tmerton]

How bout those Midds!!?  Their D appears to be very solid this year - shut out Colby and hold Amherst to 3!  I have a hunch where it's coming from.  They have an assistant in his second year named Dan Gritti who, while not having the title of d-coordinator, seemed (at least during recruiting last year) to be the guy working on the schemes.  Very smart guy - was a lawyer for a Wall Street firm before getting into coaching.  A Charlie Weis type in the sense that I don't think he played fb in college but just has a gift for it.  Anyway, I suspect he has something to do with the Midd's showing on D this year.  Good for him and them.

[frank uible]

The stastitics cause me to believe that Middlebury is an "old-fashioned" team. Its emphasis will be on rushing the football a disproportionately high number of times, attempting to have a time of possession advantage; on punting the ball well; on covering its punts well; on playing tenacious defense; and on attempting to maintain an advantage in takeaways over turnovers -  in short, it will try to keep the play at its opponent's end of the field, wait for an opponent mistake and then punch the ball in from a short field. This strategem will only work if the opponent's offense is kept well under control, the opponent's scoring is very limited, and Middlebury is not required to engage in long offensive drives - but it has worked so far this year. Despite its tendency toward low scoring, Middlebury  now is and probably for the remainder of the year will continue to be extremely dangerous!

[Col. Partridge]

After three weeks, Trinity's streak has ended; the 3 Maine schools have a single win between them; Wesleyan lost 2 games by a combined 6 points; and Williams, Tufts and Middlebury are undefeated.

From reports of Saturday's game, it appears Williams is not invincible and I think it is far from a lock that they run the table (although Amherst will not be their toughest competition).

Any new predicitions for final league standings?