FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Wesleyan is going to be hard to evaluate this year just because its schedule is so back-loaded ... but it does seem like they have a great receiving duo. 

Speaking of DeVante Reid and Bowdoin, I'm kind of surprised Bowdoin wasn't a bit more attuned to Reid after the hurting he put on them the last time they played.  In two games vs. Bowdoin, Reid has over 450 yards receiving and 5 TDs.  Ouch.

Having watched the game, our take on Reid v The Polars...they just do not have the personnel right now to cover both a Girard AND a Reid...thus, one of them is going to end up burning them...pick your poison, if you will...

[polbear73]

Could not agree more, Nescacman.  Those two are studs!

[wally_wabash]

Here's your Week 2 NESCAC Football Uniform Report:
...

This is outstanding content and why I love logging in to d3boards dot com. 

[The Mole]

JEFFFAN,

I will politely disagree with you.  The Inter-Ac is indeed under recruited for football. You are spot on with respect to Malvern, they routinely re-class student athletes and have twice as many boys as the other schools (Except Haverford) providing a significant competitive advantage.  Don't forget about SCH too . It is a great lacrosse league. The level of play in football is very high the last several years despite smaller enrollments.

Point of clarification: perhaps the Inter-Ac is recruited by NESCAC for football but many of these "cough cough" families decide "I paid all this money for Johnny to get a scholarship" and have a D1 or bust mentality or have sights set on the Ivy League. The level of play in the Ivy has never been higher, it is HARD to get a spot and then to earn a starting or contributing role. If that does not materialize many times those kids take the PWO at a Patriot League school instead of the probable better chance to play at a NESCAC with multiple sport opportunities and a better overall balance of sports and academics.

I am fascinated by the topic and dynamics of the choices kids and families make. Love the discussion and subject



Re St joe Prep, it is an historically public school complaint in Philly that the Prep, LaSalle and the Interac "steal" good athletes.   It has been this way forever so nothing new on this front.   Same for northern Jersey re Delbarton and LI for Chaminade.   In terms of academics, the Prep is very good academically or parents wouldn't pay the money to send their kids there.   Finally, regarding the Interac, the NESCAC programs are fully aware of their players in all sports and recruit them actively.   I could name a dozen terrific NESCAC athletes from the Interac,  It is not a league that is under-recruited.  However, in football there is only one great Interac program – Malvern – which happens to be by far the least formidable academically.   Haverford School, PC, GA, EA periodically have kids worth recruiting in football but remember that these are very small schools.
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[Nescacman]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-Week 2

What we learned in Week 2:
-Tufts is solid and will win their share of games this year.
-Ephs may not be totally invincible.
-Wes defense looks tough.
-Hartford State looks like they have found a QB; Lord Mammoths are still looking.
-Colby might be ready to move out of the bottom tier of the NESCAC; clearly the favorite in the annual C-B-B pillow fight.
-Same old story in Lewiston and Brunswick.

1). (Tie) TTUN (2021 Record: 2-0; Last Week Rank: 1): Ephs win tough one in OT on the road at Tufts...big week for rookie K...Ephs getting it done with 2nd ranked offense/rushing attack led by QB Maimaron...lead league in sacks and O-line getting it done only allowing 1 sack thus far...need to clean-up penalties (last in the league)...+3 in turnovers...next up: @Bowdoin

1). (Tie) Wesleyan (2021 Record: 2-0; LW Rank: 1): Another good win this time at home for the Cards...defense again played well and offense starting to get it going...Wes is 1st in scoring D, total D and turnover ratio (+5)...two-headed monster at QB is third in the 'CAC in passing...next up: @UBates

3). Hartford State (2021 Record: 2-0; LW Rank: 3): Fetter continuing to look impressive...O-line playing better than 2019 (2nd in sacks against although not running the ball well yet-6th in the 'CAC)....1st in scoring O, total O and passing O...9th in passing defense...this week should be a good test...next up: v. Middlebury 

4). Middlebury (2021 Record: 1-1; LW Rank: 4): Back in the win column against UBates...Uncharacteristically, MID is 6th in total O and 5th in passing offense...middle of the pack in total defense and last in passing D...5 turnovers is next to last in the league...important game against Hartford State; they lose and opportunity for back-to-back titles is probably gone...next up: @Hartford State   

5). Tufts (2021 Record: 0-2; LW Rank: 5): Best 0-2 team in New England...almost got it done against the Ephs...looks like the end of the QB rotation...losing running QB will put a lot of pressure on Soph QB Crowley....offense playing well...3rd in total offense and 2nd in passing offense...last in total D and passing D (of course they have played against two very good offenses)....they are last in sacks allowed (7) and last in sacks by (1)....yet to get a turnover...next up: @Lord Mammoths

6). Colby (2021 Record: 1-1; LW Rank: 7):  1st win over the Lord Mammoths in 22 years....defense has played great (2nd in scoring defense, 3rd in total defense, 2nd in sacks by)...offense has not played well (last in scoring, last in total offense, last in rushing)......next up: v. Hamilton

7). Amhurst (2021 Record: 1-1; LW Rank: 6): Tough loss to the Mules...won't get any easier this week against a hungry Jumbo squad...lose this week and have to start wondering where the wins are going to come from......Defense has played well (3rd in scoring D, 2nd in total D, 2nd in rushing D)...turnovers have killed the LMs (-5 in turnover ratio is last in the 'CAC)...next up: v. Tufts

8). Hamilton (2021 Record: 1-1; LW Rank: 8): QB change definitely helped them...need to get offense going (9th in total O, 9th in passing O, 9th in rushing O)...they are also 8th in total D...only 2 sacks for them...-4 in turnover ratio...next up: @Colby

9). University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(2021 Record: 0-2; LW Rank: 9): Result as expected against MID last week...another tough one this week against Wes at home...Probably worst defense in the league (9th in total defense but 10th place Tufts schedule has been much more difficult)...only 9 for 32 on 3rd down...next up: v. Wesleyan

10). Bowdoin (2021 Record: 0-2; LW Rank: 10): We think it's time for a QB change in Brunswick (QB last in 'CAC in passing efficiency, yet to throw for a TD)...they are 8th in scoring O and 9th in scoring D...RB Andre Eden has been bright spot for the Polars (3rd in 'CAC in rushing)...next up: v. Ephs

[Nescacman]

Here's your Week 2 NESCAC Football Uniform Report:
...

This is outstanding content and why I love logging in to d3boards dot com.

Hey Wally, can HCOF Hammer have his old job back?!? Asking for a friend...

[xPolarDadx]

Having watched the game, our take on Reid v The Polars...they just do not have the personnel right now to cover both a Girard AND a Reid...thus, one of them is going to end up burning them...pick your poison, if you will...

Who does?  Pretty much the opposite happened to Tufts.  Reid was held to 3 catches for 50 and no TDs, but Girard had 10 catches for 118 yards and 3 TDs.

[bantamweight]

Who does?  Pretty much the opposite happened to Tufts.  Reid was held to 3 catches for 50 and no TDs, but Girard had 10 catches for 118 yards and 3 TDs.

Lot of season left, but I think they could merit co-player of the year honors.

[Nescacman]

Who does?  Pretty much the opposite happened to Tufts.  Reid was held to 3 catches for 50 and no TDs, but Girard had 10 catches for 118 yards and 3 TDs.

Lot of season left, but I think they could merit co-player of the year honors.

Why wait...let's just give it to them right now! 

[lumbercat]

The EPHS look strong and a big part of their success is the extensive returning group from the class of 2021.
Williams HC really managed this transition very well as reported by a poster on this board.

What many may not realize is that most/all of those EPHS, Maimaoron, Stola etc walked through the graduation ceremony and received their diplomas.......I have no problem with this 'concession' but believe it be very Un-Nescac like---and surprised it occurred in Williamstown.......This arrangement not allowed at any other school including board scapegoat Trinity.

If these guys are all enrolled in Williams grad program strike these comments, but don't think this is the case.
Just wondering if other NESCAC HC's might have retained more kids from the class of 21 if those kids were allowed to "graduate" with their classmates and the enjoy the graduation weekend and ceremony with their families and still return in the fall for their senior year of Football. This option did not exist elsewhere to my knowledge.
Kudos to Raymond for pulling this off in the last place I would suspect.

[Nescacman]

The EPHS look strong and a big part of their success is the extensive returning group from the class of 2021.
Williams HC really managed this transition very well as reported by a poster on this board.

What many may not realize is that most/all of those EPHS, Maimaoron, Stola etc walked through the graduation ceremony and received their diplomas.......I have no problem with this 'concession' but believe it be very Un-Nescac like---and surprised it occurred in Williamstown.......This arrangement not allowed at any other school including board scapegoat Trinity.

If these guys are all enrolled in Williams grad program strike these comments, but don't think this is the case.
Just wondering if other NESCAC HC's might have retained more kids from the class of 21 if those kids were allowed to "graduate" with their classmates and the enjoy the graduation weekend and ceremony with their families and still return in the fall for their senior year of Football. This option did not exist elsewhere to my knowledge.
Kudos to Raymond for pulling this off in the last place I would suspect.

Lumber...serious response for a change to your comment...we strongly believe it is both an NCAA and NESCAC regulation/rule that you must be an enrolled student at a college/university WITH eligibility remaining in order to play sports for that school...you can't just show up to play sports...

Eligibility shouldn't be an issue for any of these student-athletes since the NCAA granted Fall athletes an extra year of eligibility...all of the student athletes that we are aware of that are back at their current schools either have undergraduate credits left to complete or are attending graduate school at their college/university...

If they "walked" with their friends in the Spring, it was either a courtesy that the school extended to them and they won't officially graduate until they finish up this fall (or Spring if they skipped a Full year) or they graduated last Spring and are graduate students right now...

One additional comment, there are plenty of student-athletes who are listed as Senior, Juniors, and maybe even Sophs who will be around for another year since they skipped attending school last Spring and are going to use the extra year of eligibility...

[SpringSt7]

The Class of 2021 had a graduation ceremony as a group in large part due to the fact that so many of the seniors took a semester off in order for them to return for a 5th year and play in their final season. This is not limited to the football team---men's and women's basketball players, women's ice hockey players, and men's and women's soccer players all participated in the ceremony despite having another semester of academics to complete. The school felt that their class would be better off celebrating prematurely but together, instead of half the class doing the ceremony in June and the other half getting their diplomas in December without any fanfare. The bottom line is that Maimaron/Stola/etc. are still taking classes and finishing their degrees, and their decision to take a semester off last year was made almost a year before their quasi graduation ceremony.

[lumbercat]

Kudos to Williams. This was not an option at other schools.

[Nescacman]

Kudos to Williams. This was not an option at other schools.

What wasn't an option at other schools? The graduation ceremony or taking the semester off and playing in the Fall?

[Nescacman]

The Class of 2021 had a graduation ceremony as a group in large part due to the fact that so many of the seniors took a semester off in order for them to return for a 5th year and play in their final season. This is not limited to the football team---men's and women's basketball players, women's ice hockey players, and men's and women's soccer players all participated in the ceremony despite having another semester of academics to complete. The school felt that their class would be better off celebrating prematurely but together, instead of half the class doing the ceremony in June and the other half getting their diplomas in December without any fanfare. The bottom line is that Maimaron/Stola/etc. are still taking classes and finishing their degrees, and their decision to take a semester off last year was made almost a year before their quasi graduation ceremony.

Thanks Spring (Jack?)...that was our understanding....several schools also offered the graduate school option (Wes, Tufts, etc.) so their student-athletes could take advantage of the extra year of eligibility....