FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Earlier today Trinity sent an email about Homecoming Weekend, October 1-3 (the Bantams welcome Middlebury to the Coop). The note included the following mask rules for campus events (emphasis added):

"Masks are required at all on and off campus college-sponsored events; masks must be worn in all indoor locations and all outdoor college- and student-sponsored events and gatherings including designated outdoor athletic events based on expected crowd size.

I'm unclear if that means masks will be required for spectators at Jessee-Miller Field. There is no mention of a tailgating policy and while proof of vaccination is required for visitors it appears that will only be enforced for those attending indoor events or events with a rain location.

the Cards are in excellent hands with the most successful coach in program history (based on winning %-min 40 gms coached), Coach Dice, leading the "mysterious ministers of Middletown"....   

DiCenzo's .697 winning percentage is impressive. That actually puts him ahead of Ritter who is at .658. Granted that has been sustained over a 20 year coaching span. They're both looking up at Mills (.764 over 22 seasons) and Devanney (.834 over 16 seasons). Raymond is one game over .500 which is saying something considering the mess he had to clean up.

Here's another impressive coaching stat....HCOF Civetti, after starting his Jumbo career 0-24, has pulled himself within 9 games of .500 at 33-42...

[Trin9-0]

Earlier today Trinity sent an email about Homecoming Weekend, October 1-3 (the Bantams welcome Middlebury to the Coop). The note included the following mask rules for campus events (emphasis added):

"Masks are required at all on and off campus college-sponsored events; masks must be worn in all indoor locations and all outdoor college- and student-sponsored events and gatherings including designated outdoor athletic events based on expected crowd size.

I'm unclear if that means masks will be required for spectators at Jessee-Miller Field. There is no mention of a tailgating policy and while proof of vaccination is required for visitors it appears that will only be enforced for those attending indoor events or events with a rain location.

the Cards are in excellent hands with the most successful coach in program history (based on winning %-min 40 gms coached), Coach Dice, leading the "mysterious ministers of Middletown"....   

DiCenzo's .697 winning percentage is impressive. That actually puts him ahead of Ritter who is at .658. Granted that has been sustained over a 20 year coaching span. They're both looking up at Mills (.764 over 22 seasons) and Devanney (.834 over 16 seasons). Raymond is one game over .500 which is saying something considering the mess he had to clean up.

Here's another impressive coaching stat....HCOF Civetti, after starting his Jumbo career 0-24, has pulled himself within 9 games of .500 at 33-42...

The fact that Raymond has a winning record after the mess he inherited at Williams is also remarkable.

[nescac1]

Wesleyan is the first of its contenders to post its 2021 roster.  Things to note for Wesleyan (and for any roster posted):

https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster

Seniors returning for a fifth year: at least six (six guys listed as "GR")

Impact players returning for a fifth year: DL Jackson Eighmy, LB Nick Livington, OL Justin Cabral, all-NESCAC OL Bryce Jenkins

Players of note choosing not to return despite being eligible: WR Joe Scancarella, RB Glenn Smith, RB Sean Penny, LB Babila Fomuteh, WR Delando Clarke, all-NESCAC DL Taj Gooden

Now, there is still a huge amount of uncertainty with two full classes of recruits no one has seen on the field with for any of these teams.  But this gives a better picture of what to look out for with Wesleyan.

The Cards seem pretty loaded on offense returning three superstars in Simco, Estevez, and Scott, plus a veteran OL including two grad students.  The only question on offense is who will be the complementary receivers and the primary tailback, unless the Cards decide to use Estevez more in that role, but that takes away from the versatility that makes him so special.  TB is an area where guys make an early impact in NESCAC so fair to expect some new faces to emerge there. 

Defense is where Wesleyan has a lot more questions.  Last year Wesleyan had a sort of bend-but-don't break defense, giving a fair amount of yardage especially down the stretch (Amherst, Williams and Midd combined to average well over 400 ypg), but making a lot of timely big plays, and now they are going to have a lot of new guys on D.   Helbig, Miller, Banks and Livingston are a strong core, but if I'm not mistaken 11 of the remaining 15 top tacklers from 2019 do not return.  Among those are some very major-impact players (Pratt, Kearney, Thaw, Gooden, Richards) who will be tough to replace.

Wesleyan is gonna score a ton but and have elite special teams, but defense will be the question.  Likely, the Cards are going to again be in a fair number of high-scoring affairs.  Fortunately for the Cards, the schedule is as always completely back-loaded, so there is plenty of time for a young D to gain experience. 

[Trin9-0]

Good info nescac1. Two of the Cardinals' returning Graduate Students were team captains last year; Jackson Eighmy and Bryce Jenkins.

I'll add that it's worth remembering five of Wesleyan's wins in 2019 were one score games. This includes two that went to overtime and a mere 7 point victory over Bowdoin(?!). I agree they'll likely be one of the contenders this year, but it also wouldn't shock me to see them with at least three losses which is what they averaged per season through DiCenzo's first four years as HC.

[The Mole]

This is indicative of the competitive balance in the League. In 2019 Middlebury had 6 one score wins. Wesleyan had 5 one score wins. Trinity had 5 one score games (4 losses 1 win). Tufts also had 4 (2 wins and 2 losses) as did Hamilton (1 win and 3 losses). Amherst had 3 one score losses. Bates had 3 one score games (1 win and 2 losses). Both of Williams' losses were one score. Colby had one of each and Bowdoin the aforementioned single loss by one score.

The league is good and you have to bring it every week. Early in the season as squads are figuring out personnel and rosters without the benefit of a scrimmage against another opponent, these games can be tricky. Especially this year with 2 unknown recruiting classes, larger rosters and what fifth years are returning. It is already very difficult to go undefeated, but it would not be a shock to see multiple teams with two losses and a shared title in this season. Will come down to the wire and be very exciting. Just keeping fingers crossed the whole season gets played. Cannot wait.

Good info nescac1. Two of the Cardinals' returning Graduate Students were team captains last year; Jackson Eighmy and Bryce Jenkins.

I'll add that it's worth remembering five of Wesleyan's wins in 2019 were one score games. This includes two that went to overtime and a mere 7 point victory over Bowdoin(?!). I agree they'll likely be one of the contenders this year, but it also wouldn't shock me to see them with at least three losses which is what they averaged per season through DiCenzo's first four years as HC.

[nescac1]

Noontime sports pre-season all-New England team features three Ephs, two each from Wesleyan and Tufts, one each from Trinity and Midd:

https://noontimesports.com/2021/08/27/noontimes-new-england-d-iii-preseason-team/

[amh63]

Seems about right....noontime tends to pass the info through vice up to date research/visits.  We all do to various degrees .  Mole, Trin 8-0, Lumbercat and Nescacman are better.

[Trin9-0]

This article outlines the full COVID protocols for the beginning of the fall semester at Amherst as well as a link to the subsequent open letter from students asking administrators to reconsider many of the restrictions. For those hoping to catch a game here is the relevant portion:

"Events and sports competitions are slated to take place as scheduled. Spectators are allowed but must be masked. No pre or post-game tailgating or celebrations will be permitted."

It all does seem a bit excessive for a campus that will be fully vaccinated. Either way, I'm glad the Mammoths are travelling to the new Coop this fall.

[bantamweight]

This article outlines the full COVID protocols for the beginning of the fall semester at Amherst as well as a link to the subsequent open letter from students asking administrators to reconsider many of the restrictions. For those hoping to catch a game here is the relevant portion:

"Events and sports competitions are slated to take place as scheduled. Spectators are allowed but must be masked. No pre or post-game tailgating or celebrations will be permitted."

It all does seem a bit excessive for a campus that will be fully vaccinated. Either way, I'm glad the Mammoths are travelling to the new Coop this fall.

Per a letter from the Trinity administration, there will not be any pre or post-game tailgating at any of the NESCAC schools.

[Nescacman]

This article outlines the full COVID protocols for the beginning of the fall semester at Amherst as well as a link to the subsequent open letter from students asking administrators to reconsider many of the restrictions. For those hoping to catch a game here is the relevant portion:

"Events and sports competitions are slated to take place as scheduled. Spectators are allowed but must be masked. No pre or post-game tailgating or celebrations will be permitted."

It all does seem a bit excessive for a campus that will be fully vaccinated. Either way, I'm glad the Mammoths are travelling to the new Coop this fall.

Per a letter from the Trinity administration, there will not be any pre or post-game tailgating at any of the NESCAC schools.

Nothing will get stop NESCACMAN from tailgating!

[Hawk196]

I bought a tent for tailgating, I hope this is not the case. If I can go to costco or home depot with a mask on, why not when outside with a mask on 

[nescac1]

My philosophy on this stuff is that it's very clear that COVID is far more transmissible indoors.  Kids (and others) on college campuses are going to find ways to entertain themselves.  Therefore, policies should be oriented around encouraging as much of that entertaining as possible to occur outdoors, especially in the fall when the weather is great.  Tailgating with reasonable precautions seems like something that should be encouraged accordingly. 

A lot of the bad thinking (in my view) about these sort of policies is to look at them too narrowly: like is there some incidental benefit to preventing outdoor tailgating?  Maybe some VERY marginal benefit, if you are looking at in isolation.  But there is a real public health cost incurred by making being indoors a more appealing option than being outdoors.  Because the college students who would be outdoors tailgating will instead probably be drinking in small groups in tiny dorm rooms.  Teenagers are GONNA find a way to let off steam, one way or another.  Where is COVID more likely to spread??  Again, attending non-tightly-packed outdoors sporting events (which basically all NESCAC sporting events are) is something that should be incentivized and encouraged. These schools think they are being risk averse without understanding that they are only creating more significant risk through the types of behavior they implicitly promote. 

[lumbercat]

To Nescacmans comment I think you will see some creativity at NESCAC venues in terms of circumventing this ban. Public streets border a number of NESCAC stadiums.

[Nescacman]

At the risk of being accused by some of you of making sh*t up, we have checked with our sources on the rumored tailgate ban...

"...It is still being discussed with the NESCAC Presidents. I think they are most concerned with the team tailgates as they are trying to avoid large gatherings.  My thinking is that some NESCAC schools will say no to all tailgating but hoping we're not one of them..."

So there is the latest...we think this whole discussion is ridiculous...if you want to somehow control and limit this, require all tailgaters to be vaccinated...the death rate for vaccinated individuals in New York State is .003%...we'll take our chances to have a beer, eat some turducken, smoke a cigar and watch our favorite teams beat Hartford State with our friends...

[bantamweight]

At the risk of being accused by some of you of making sh*t up, we have checked with our sources on the rumored tailgate ban...

"...It is still being discussed with the NESCAC Presidents. I think they are most concerned with the team tailgates as they are trying to avoid large gatherings.  My thinking is that some NESCAC schools will say no to all tailgating but hoping we're not one of them..."

So there is the latest...we think this whole discussion is ridiculous...if you want to somehow control and limit this, require all tailgaters to be vaccinated...the death rate for vaccinated individuals in New York State is .003%...we'll take our chances to have a beer, eat some turducken, smoke a cigar and watch our favorite teams beat Hartford State with our friends...

From an email to Trinity coaches from AD Galbraith, dated 8/27:

"By agreement of the NESCAC Presidents, there will be no tailgating or pre-/post-game gatherings. Along with that, Trinity College will not be providing tents, tables or grills to groups for game-related gatherings and will discourage groups from using their own on campus. We will not be reserving campus spaces for gatherings – indoor or outdoor."

I agree with other posters that creative off-campus options will emerge and I hope that on campus gathering bans are reconsidered.