FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Charlie]

I think that spring practices for football are almost surely harmless.  But, I can at least understand why NESCAC schools would be hesitant, because then what do you say if soccer teams want spring practices?  Or lacrosse teams fall practices?  How could you say "no" to them but yes to football?  Then it's a matter of the impact on the athletics budget and also, for many schools, insufficient facilities and/or coaches (many of whom coach multiple sports at NESCAC schools).  So I assume this is more than just being about football, at least for some schools, but rather the overall impact that precedent would set for the athletic program, across the board ...

I do not agree with your statement. These kids get 9 games thats all soccer  , basketball etc get over 25 games. The reasoning behind this is that NESCAC does not want to fall prey and become football institutions. In addition there is fear that football will become a click type team and prevent social interaction with other kids which is all BS. This is the preliminary answers to this. In terms of Budgets these Coaches all have stated they love spring football. Every school has paid full time Coaches so their salaries do not change. All of these schools have more than enough athletic space room to accommodate spring practices. Let's keep in mind they only have 14 or so practices. If it is an academic issue than whoever is falling behind simple does not participate in spring ball.

Hasn't lacrosse and baseball always had "fall ball"?

I'm sorry but nearly every high school and definitely college conference has spring football. I don't know why the NESCAC is acting like this is some sort of radical concept. If a player can't manage it with school then I think that says more about the lack of infrastructure in place to support these kids than it does about spring football or any individual kid.

There is no high school spring football in Massachusetts and I assume there is no spring football in any other New England state....

So high Schools play 10 + Games , We are not comparing things equally here. There is also a Spring football league that has started fort he last two years that high school players can plain in Massachusetts.We are talking about 14 days of practices for a couple hours. Not tomention every other sport has much longer seasons ,  tournaments etc. It appears that the NESCAC for an odd reason wants to keep its thumb on football. No reason this makes any sense that this should not occur. In addition if a particular school does not want it thats fine they do not have to have spring practices. I just think if a school wants it , the kids want it and they are paying money to attend College are we not responsible for adhering to their wishes since they are paying for this education. If certain schools are for having spring practices they should be allowed.

You really do not understand how this conference works do you....

Then enlighten us as to what you think the reason is ?

Because they aren't going to let one team practice just because "they want to". The league sets rules and everyone has to abide by them.  In fact, this is pretty standard for pretty much every league, let alone one that prides itself on academics first or something like that.

The question was why cancel Spring practices. I believe we are all understand that there are rules but why implement these rules and then take them away ? If there was some analytical evidence that demonstrated that spring ball is affecting grades the social culture of the school. What could be the rational ?

[Charlie]

I think that spring practices for football are almost surely harmless.  But, I can at least understand why NESCAC schools would be hesitant, because then what do you say if soccer teams want spring practices?  Or lacrosse teams fall practices?  How could you say "no" to them but yes to football?  Then it's a matter of the impact on the athletics budget and also, for many schools, insufficient facilities and/or coaches (many of whom coach multiple sports at NESCAC schools).  So I assume this is more than just being about football, at least for some schools, but rather the overall impact that precedent would set for the athletic program, across the board ...

I do not agree with your statement. These kids get 9 games thats all soccer  , basketball etc get over 25 games. The reasoning behind this is that NESCAC does not want to fall prey and become football institutions. In addition there is fear that football will become a click type team and prevent social interaction with other kids which is all BS. This is the preliminary answers to this. In terms of Budgets these Coaches all have stated they love spring football. Every school has paid full time Coaches so their salaries do not change. All of these schools have more than enough athletic space room to accommodate spring practices. Let's keep in mind they only have 14 or so practices. If it is an academic issue than whoever is falling behind simple does not participate in spring ball.

Hasn't lacrosse and baseball always had "fall ball"?

I'm sorry but nearly every high school and definitely college conference has spring football. I don't know why the NESCAC is acting like this is some sort of radical concept. If a player can't manage it with school then I think that says more about the lack of infrastructure in place to support these kids than it does about spring football or any individual kid.

There is no high school spring football in Massachusetts and I assume there is no spring football in any other New England state....

So high Schools play 10 + Games , We are not comparing things equally here. There is also a Spring football league that has started fort he last two years that high school players can plain in Massachusetts.We are talking about 14 days of practices for a couple hours. Not tomention every other sport has much longer seasons ,  tournaments etc. It appears that the NESCAC for an odd reason wants to keep its thumb on football. No reason this makes any sense that this should not occur. In addition if a particular school does not want it thats fine they do not have to have spring practices. I just think if a school wants it , the kids want it and they are paying money to attend College are we not responsible for adhering to their wishes since they are paying for this education. If certain schools are for having spring practices they should be allowed.

You really do not understand how this conference works do you....

Then enlighten us as to what you think the reason is ?

Because they aren't going to let one team practice just because "they want to". The league sets rules and everyone has to abide by them.  In fact, this is pretty standard for pretty much every league, let alone one that prides itself on academics first or something like that.

The question was why cancel Spring practices. I believe we are all understand that there are rules but why implement these rules and then take them away ? If there was some analytical evidence that demonstrated that spring ball is affecting grades the social culture of the school. What could be the rational ?

I thought NESCAC models its football to that of the Ivy League if this is the case why does the Ivy Legue have spring practices and the NESCAC does not

[lumbercat]

The NESCAC spring practice initiative was a total surprise to me. Historically I hadn't seen changes like that forever in the esteemed and honorable NESCAC. Couldn't figure out how they pulled it off but endorsed it and embraced it. I've followed this league since the early 70's- seen it all.

But also never thought the league would go to 9 games, a shocker to me and many others.

It's truly enigmatic as how to this league functions but its clearly in the hands of the Presidents.  We've got presidential change pending at Bowdoin with Bates to follow, so who knows how things will play out in Athletics after that.

All of the NESCAC Football winners have strong, demonstrative Presidential support.

New Prexys in the last decade or so at Wesleyan and Tufts have facilitated Athletic growth and the move to excellence in the Football programs.

Colby is currently totally in line with that operating philosophy in all sports. Mules new Pres is totally on board with Athletics and wellness as the growth driver for the college. Their endowment is the fastest growing in the NESCAC. Others who lag behind in the Wellness and Athletics arena are seeing less significant endowment growth.

Trinity is 1000% in on Athletics whether the President is Joanne Berger Sweeney or John Wilkes Booth.

Middlebury always committed to Athletics, kind of the Vermont Trinity....... in admissions. Don't say that too loudly around campus.

Williams, I defer to the Jumpshot the consummate Williams hype man, no knowledge here of that administration but they certainly know how to win.

Amherst is the school at the crossroads. To me, their administration and commitment to athletics and Football seems unclear and vastly different from the old Jeffs of the era of our great friend Amherst63.

We will lose 2 anti Football/Athletics Presidents at Bowdoin and Bates. That may bring a profound change on the future direction of NESCAC athletics on a number of different fronts.

If Bowdoin and Bates bring in progressive CEO's with an eye toward the Colby model of a vigorous approach to Health, Wellness and Athletics in conjunction with their Academic excellence we might see change. Possibly we could see the return of short lived spring Football practice or other peripheral changes of that sort...........but don't hold your breath.

An out of conference 10th Football game and participation in the D3 playoffs is currently on the board in Vegas at 1000 to 1 and rising- I'll make no wager here.

[nescac1]

Turning back to football, it's (once again) an absolutely loaded field of candidates for OPOY returning in NESCAC.  Here's how I'd rank them in terms of likelihood of winning (some of the guys on both lists may not be returning but all have eligiblity)

1. Spencer Fetter; 2. David Estevez; 3. Joel Nicholas; 4.  Michael Berluti; 5. Andre Eden; 6. DeVante Reid; 7. Philip Lutz;  8. Logan Tomlinson; 9. William Kirby; 10. Tyler Johnson; 11. Mario Fischetti; 12. Matthew Simco.  That top 7 is crazy loaded. 

The defensive field, while not quite as loaded, looks very strong as well, especially the top five guys:

1. Nick Helbig; 2. Ian Devine; 3. Tony Hooks; 4. Tim Swope; 5. Brian Casangrande; 6. Tomas Kenary; 7. Coleston Smith; 8. Rocco Giandomenico; 9. Danny Banks; 10. Jovan Nenandovic.

Unsurprisingly, five Wesleyan guys, five Williams guys, four Trinity guys, and four Tufts guys on the list, but no other school has more than one (one from Bowdoin, one from Bates, one from Midd, and one from Amherst).  It really does seem like those four schools are well ahead of everyone else heading into the season ... (Tufts still has a lot of defensive questions but man the offense is just loaded with talent everywhere). 

[oxen1999]

Hey guys, newbie here. My son is a DE/DT committed to Hamilton this Fall. I'm a huge football fan and am very excited to learn all about the NESCAC which is very new to us. I'm from NC so I'll be making some long road trips. Best atmospheres for games? Best traditions? I'm excited for the Fall and talking smack with all of you.

[OldCardinal]

Weighing in on the spring practice topic.  I don't have any inside info but I would bet that the spring practice experiment was directly related to covid and the impact on Fall sports in 2020 and lives on campus for students in general.  I'm not at all shocked that they are moving away from it now that things are expected to return to something resembling the way it was.  That said, it's true that new Presidents can change things.  On another note, I would say that the Admissions Dean at these schools has as much or more of an impact on athletics as the president does. 
Just my two cents.

[SpringSt7]

Agreed that in hind sight it seems like the spring practices were always going to most likely be a one time thing. It does just set a weird potential precedent. If I'm the coach of any other sport, I'm asking the president/AD if there is any reason football gets to practice in the offseason other than the fact that it's football. I can't really think of a great answer other than the fact that fall sports got cancelled in 2020 and their spring counterparts did not.

It just doesn't make any sense to put that topic on the table and devote valuable resources towards two weeks of football practices with a limited pay off.

[BigKat]

Oxen welcome to the pack. It's a great league with many great traditions. As someone put it very succinctly last year, this board is mostly dominated by folks with misinformation and disgruntled parents who probably never played a down of college ball in their life. But we love the friendly smack and its usually constructive.

btw have spoken to players at three schools and not one has heard of spring ball being shut down going forward. Totally possible that the info hasn't trickled down to the players but more possible it's bad info. 

[VoodooDoc]

It is foolish to do away with Spring Football.  Unfortunately some people see the D1 spring games on TV and think this is Spring Ball in D3.  These sessions provide opportunities for position coaches to work with, and teach players techniques related to the positions.  There are times when a player may change position and this is the opportunity to teach a player the finer points of a new position. During the winter, coaches often attend conferences and clinics where they learns new approaches.  Spring football provides the opportunity to teach these elements.  In the fall, practice is focused on what went right or wrong in the last game and preparing for the next opponents.  Fall doesn't provide coaches much opportunity to focus on technique.  Spring ball can be an important part of the process for a team along with strength conditioning sessions which are usually year round.  Players who are knowledgeable and well prepared are much safer and more productive in a game environment.  Spring practice has little negative  impact on players in the classroom and the activity and involvement encourage time management and performance with academics.

[lumbercat]

voodoo doc-
Really well stated, couldn't agree more.

[amh63]

Do not know where the topic wrt football/spring football is going here....but will add some more "wood" to the topic fire.   Amherst will be looking for a new prez...search committee established.  Watched the baseball game between MIT and Amherst recently.  New admission head is from MIT. Remember when an Amherst prof. left for MIT to bring some liberal arts to the students.  Remember when MIT added football...played in uniforms  from another school that had dropped football.  Would not surprise me if MIT applies to join the NESCAC.  Amherst's will hold two graduations this Spring....one for the class of 2020...both outdoors on the Quad.  One will give the present Williams' prez an honorary degree....interesting.  Oh, forgot...the Amherst AD was a football coach at Amherst...his son played football at Amherst.

[Pat Coleman]

Why would MIT apply to join the NESCAC?

[RollConts18]

Hello Gentlemen- Long-time reader, first-time poster. Recent Hamilton grad. Some interesting info on Ham if anyone's interested straight from the current players. 1. They've hired a new OC already; he's a very experienced NFL/D1 coach that HCOF Murray knows well and from what I've heard players really like him. New OL guy as well, less info on him though. 2. Some current players read this board, we always found it funny when our names would pop up (mine never did). Hopefully, Hamilton gets it going this year, was really disappointed with them last year and they're losing some of the best players they've had in years (Cairns, Ball are the main culprits). They played a lot of close games, really hope they can grind a few more wins out. Brutal last game at Bates, too.

[mickey12]

Where is the new Hamilton OC coming from DI school or NFL? Change in offensive scheme expected?

[RollConts18]

Not sure about where he coached most recently, and I don't think there's much of a scheme change (at least from what I've heard and obviously subject to change).