FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Scoops]

It's amazing how bad the takes are here regarding Coach Cosgrove. Colby was a wasteland in the NESCAC for the last decade+ prior to his arrival. If you judge him based on his success relative to the history of the program, he has done a good job there. Consecutive 5th place finishes in the league, where the last time they were ranked that high was 8 years prior to his arrival. Had they started healthy down the stretch in 2022 they would've had their first winning season in almost 20 years. The team has had poor quarterback play, which has largely crushed their hopes of success. But even with that, they've been the best team in the CBB, and consistently one of the best of the middle tier programs in the league. He should retire, but not because of anyone football related. His health has to be a priority, and I don't think the program can have success if he's not healthy enough to lead them. But the program has done well when you compare him to his predecessors

[lumbercat]

Good points Scoop. However, if you are going to use the CBB as a measuring stick Cosgrove has brought some improvement but it's not as convincing as you state. Prior to Cosgrove's tenure it was Bates that dominated the CBB winning 6 straight titles.
 
In Cosgrove's 5 year tenure at Colby beginning in 2019 they have won 2 CBB titles- not dominant by any means.

This years drubbing by Bowdoin seems like a low point for the Mules. They were very flat in a significant rivalry game- they didn't look well prepared or committed to winning at all.

Colby has recruited extremely well during Cosgrove's tenure in conjunction with the completion of the new Athletic facility but it just hasn't translated to the field as I thought it would.
I think it's the Mole who has been spot on in calling me out for my predictions in recent years that Colby would move into the upper echelon of the NESCAC. It hasn't happened for the Mules which brings disappointment to those associated with the program given the level of expectation they had for the Cosgrove era.

[Scoops]

I wasn't so much using the CBB as a measuring stick, as I was making the statement that of the CBB/Lower-tier teams in the NESCAC, they've pretty clearly been the best. A "best of the rest" if you will. If you look at the NESCAC during Cosgrove's tenure as the HC at Colby, it's not a ridiculous argument to say they've been better than half of the league. Between the downfalls of Amherst and Williams, and the consistent mediocrity of Bates Bowdoin and Hamilton, they've been one of the more consistent programs in that time. They've given every upper-ecehlon team a scare/loss in his time there as well. Again, not to say they're an elite team, but if you judge Cosgrove on the history of Colby and the teams that are on their level, he's done a consistently good job there.

[lumbercat]

Cosgrove had underachieved at Colby- Colby supporters and alums will be the first to tell you this. It's been all in on Mayflower Hill on Football with mediocre results- they have nothing in their body of work in the way of top tier NESCAC wins and still struggle with Bates and Bowdoin.

You're wearing the same rose colored glasses I was accused of sporting when I began touting the Mules potential early in Cogrove's tenure.

[NescacNewbie]

Where there is smoke there is fire. With the coaching exodus and more to follow, AD Wisecup needs to do the right thing.
Cos missed the last game because of his health last season, and was showing it all season with energy, enthusiasm, etc.
Remember though, Cos was not hired by Wisecup. Cos started in 2018 season and Wisecup was AD starting in 2019.

[The Mole]

Cosgrove 2018-2023 16-29
Michaeles 2012-2017 14-35
Mestieri 2004-2011 31-33 (2 winning seasons and a pair of 4-4 years)
Austin 1998-2003 (could not find data prior) 25-23 (2 winning seasons, shared title and 2 4-4 slates)

[The Mole]

TEAM RECORDS 2018-2023

1. Trinity 38-7
2. Middlebury 32-13
3. Wesleyan 31-14
4. Tufts 27-18
4. Williams 27-18
6. Amherst 23-22
7. Colby 16-29
8. Hamilton 14-31
9. Bowdoin 9-36
10. Bates 8-37

[westcoastnescac]

Here to add to the drubbing of Colby- they always look the part and try to act the part - fakest tough guys in the nescac

[lumbercat]

WestCoast-
How so?

[GroundandPound]

4/17/24 TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Middlebury, Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
TEs:
OL: Middlebury, Trinity, Williams
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Colby, Wesleyan, Williams
DBs: Middlebury, Tufts, Trinity
Kicker: Trinity, Middlebury,
Punter:  Hamilton,
 

[GroundandPound]

4/17/2024 UPDATED LIST OF RETURNING ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS FOR 2024 (Any mistakes will be duly corrected...if brought to my attention; Wesleyan has two all conference players from 2022 playing in 2024. (? = seniors this year who have another year of eligibility but not sure if returning. Per Nescac1's 3/30/2034 post of transfer portal participants, Tyler Jameson removed from Trinity, Joshua East removed from Colby, Mark Howrigan removed from Hamilton, and Thomas Elkhoury removed from Wesleyan)

Middlebury (8):Levy K; Daniel DB; Fink OL; Jamin WR; Stola DB; Kenary DL; Filias DL; Perry OL
Wesleyan (7): Lockwood? OL; Wilson WR; Carbeau LB; Edwards LB; Abraham DB; Welch DL; Rowan DL
Tufts (7): Luteri DL; Garza ?DB; Timmins DB; Smith RT; Berluti QB; Reece RB; Cade-Moore WR
Trinity (5): DiNapoli RB; Clapp WR; Casillo OL; Donvan-Jenkins OL; Jumes K;
Bowdoin (4): Fahey?WR; Brill?OL; Jacobs LB; Price DL
Colby (3): Robbins?DL Sawyer RT/WR; Young LB
Williams (3); Forth OL; Smith DL; Scott LB
Hamilton (2): Hoey P; Kurzman (ROY QB)
Amherst (2): Skirzenski?LB; Harmon DB

[nescac1]

Given that you are looking at past years, Ivan Shuran is a 2x all-conference kicker for Williams. 

Also I think Amherst is pretty loaded at DB, led by Luke Harmon, with Riding, Christopher, Agnew and both Monteleones returning - so essentially everyone back from a unit that was second in the league in passing yards allowed, and did it without a single top-tier pass-rusher (no one on roster had over 2.5 sacks).   

[GroundandPound]

Thank you nesacac1.  I agree. 
Shuran is two time first teamer, should be in top 3 (I think 2nd)
Amherst has one returning first teamer DB and since I am giving the most weight to returning all conference players and Trinity does not appear to have any at DB, as for now, I will put them at 3rd.
Some suggested I should rank Tufts RBs ahead of Trinity RBs because they believe Reece is better than DiNapoli.  I do not know who is better and the coaches thought it was Dinapoli last year since he was first team and Reece was second team.   It does not matter because Trinity also has McCabe returning to their backfield.  Hence, I keep Trinity at #1 for RBs. Also, Trinity is returning two all conference OL and Tufts is losing two all conference OL so the holes might open up a bit more for the Trinity RBs.  Any returning TE's to add?

4/18/24 TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Middlebury, Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
TEs:
OL: Middlebury, Trinity, Williams
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Colby, Wesleyan, Williams
DBs: Middlebury, Tufts, Amherst
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury,
Punter:  Hamilton,

[lumbercat]

Ground & Pound-

I don't see any TE's on the list. Let me add one, Steven Guerette- Bates.
Co-Captain at Bates who will be returning for a 5th year.
Don't know how he was overlooked in the All Conference selections. Clearly better than either of the 2 TE's chosen for the second team.

Guerette stats:
8 games
27 receptions for 322 yards
3 TDs
40.3 rec yards per game

All Conference TEs-

Howrigan- Hamilton (Don't know how he got selected)
9 games
17 Recptions for 181 yards
Zero  TDs
20.1 rec yards per game


Zalankas- Trinity
9 games
11 receptions for 200 yards
4 TDs
22.2 rec yards per game


First team TE selection King of Bowdoin is a great player who had an excellent year. Despite being listed as a TE he lined up in the slot or as a split end. Very few reps lined up next to offensive tackle with blocking assignment and his hand on the ground. He was essentially a WR.

[GroundandPound]

4/19/24 TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Middlebury, Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
TEs: Bates,
OL: Middlebury, Trinity, Williams
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Colby, Wesleyan, Williams
DBs: Middlebury, Tufts, Amherst
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury,
Punter:  Hamilton,