FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

Now Pat, play nice... I think "more common" would be a better word than "normal" to describe the 10 game schedule. 

If you're trying to spin, sure. Let's see, 4.1% of the schools in Division III play eight-game schedules and they're all in this conference. Only one conference (SCIAC) still limits its teams to a nine-game schedule.

It's a fair assessment.

I'm not arguing that the 8 game schedule isn't different. But it seems you're implying that it's wrong and that's debatable.

[tmerton]

Now Pat, play nice... I think "more common" would be a better word than "normal" to describe the 10 game schedule. 

If you're trying to spin, sure. Let's see, 4.1% of the schools in Division III play eight-game schedules and they're all in this conference. Only one conference (SCIAC) still limits its teams to a nine-game schedule.

It's a fair assessment.

I'm not arguing that the 8 game schedule isn't different. But it seems you're implying that it's wrong and that's debatable.

I don't think Pat was suggesting the NESCAC is abnormal - just that a 10 game schedule is the normal number of games normally played - normally.  

Maybe "normative" would put a finer touch on the meaning. 

[Jonny Utah]

I might be wrong but I think Johhny was referring to 87 fans watching a scrimmage instead of an actual game

No, Ive been to a few maine games in the past few years with about 100 fans in the stands in some crappy weather.  That is sure to turn some recruits back towards Trinity and Williams I am sure......

[Trin9-0]

I was up at Bowdoin last week for a conference and was very impressed with the campus. It's funny that as a player you never really get a chance to see much of the respective college campuses because you stay at a hotel then drive to the field and then leave from there after the game.

In the case of Bowdoin, I'm sure the distance of the school from the two major NESCAC alumni cities (NY & Boston), as well as their winning percentage over the past decade are the main factors in their low attendance. Though, I wonder if the distance of the field from the rest of the campus may be a factor as well, as students may be less likely to attend.

I would imagine that having the athletic field in the middle of Trinity's campus has definitely helped their attendance numbers as they get a great deal of students at the games.

[labart96]

I would imagine that having the athletic field in the middle of Trinity's campus has definitely helped their attendance numbers as they get a great deal of students at the games.

That and you might get shot if you left the friendly confines of Trinity to face the harsh streets of Hartford.

[bant551]

Being close to New York and Boston is significant for attendance purposes not only for Trinity alum attendance, but even alums from other NESCACs living in New York and Boston, who will make the drive to Trinity to see their alma mater play (as opposed to going to Maine, etc.).

Also, parents, friends and family of New England kids will make the easy drive to Trinity whenever their own are playing the Bants in Hartford.

Its an easy drive for the majority of the families of NESCACers.

Equals = good home crowd, plus disproportionately large away crowds, compared to the rest of the league.

[Col. Partridge]

Being close to New York and Boston is significant for attendance purposes not only for Trinity alum attendance, but even alums from other NESCACs living in New York and Boston, who will make the drive to Trinity to see their alma mater play (as opposed to going to Maine, etc.).

Also, parents, friends and family of New England kids will make the easy drive to Trinity whenever their own are playing the Bants in Hartford.

Its an easy drive for the majority of the families of NESCACers.

Equals = good home crowd, plus disproportionately large away crowds, compared to the rest of the league.

I'm not bothering to look this up, but I think home attendance at men's hockey games at Bowdoin and Colby (ex. homecoming) are 3x-4x that of football. 

[bant551]

That doesn't surprise me in the least.

[labart96]

Aside from the BoSox, there aren't too many sporting events more New England than seeing the Boston Beanpot or attending a NESCAC hockey game.

With Midd's recent dominance in D3 hockey too, TGP would have to think almost every NESCAC game probably has a Frozen Four feel to it.

[Col. Partridge]

Aside from the BoSox, there aren't too many sporting events more New England than seeing the Boston Beanpot or attending a NESCAC hockey game.

With Midd's recent dominance in D3 hockey too, TGP would have to think almost every NESCAC game probably has a Frozen Four feel to it.

It's a bigger deal at Middlebury, Bowdoin, Colby and Hamilton than the other schools (apparently, those schools no longer dominate the standings, but there is more history). 

[BobcatsDad]

BTW - one of the schools TGP looked at, but didn't apply to, was Bates College.

TGP harkens back in the early 90s, when TGP was a prospective college student,
the Bearcats hadn't won a game in like 4 years.

Based on the results page here on D3FB.com, they STILL SUCK (only averaging about 2 wins a season since 99)!

Why can't Bates field a competitive team?

Lack of interest in football by the college? 
No support from the administration?
Bad coaching?

What's the deal here? 

I wish I knew. The coaching is excellent, the team is growing (there will be 85 showing up for pre-season, so 10 cuts), and there were 4-5 games last season where it really could have gone either way. It is a mystery to me why Bates can field successful teams in so many other sports, but not in football. I would welcome any historical perspective, thoughts, or comments.

[Trin9-0]

I'm not bothering to look this up, but I think home attendance at men's hockey games at Bowdoin and Colby (ex. homecoming) are 3x-4x that of football. 

Not quite 3x-4x the number in attendance for tradition-rich hockey schools, Middlebury,Bowdoin, Colby. However, Midd and Bow do draw a higher attendance for hockey than football on average.

Middlebury
football - 1,701
hockey - 1,886

Bowdoin
football - 933
hockey - 1,024

Colby
football - 1,633
hockey - 780

Hamilton
football - 1,721
hockey - 360

Also for the record:

Trinity
football - 4,275
hockey - 367

Williams
football - 4,220
hockey - 1,132

[speedy]

I'm not bothering to look this up, but I think home attendance at men's hockey games at Bowdoin and Colby (ex. homecoming) are 3x-4x that of football. 

Not quite 3x-4x the number in attendance for tradition-rich hockey schools, Middlebury,Bowdoin, Colby. However, Midd and Bow do draw a higher attendance for hockey than football on average.

Middlebury
football - 1,701
hockey - 1,886

Bowdoin
football - 933
hockey - 1,024

Colby
football - 1,633
hockey - 780

Hamilton
football - 1,721
hockey - 360

Also for the record:

Trinity
football - 4,275
hockey - 367

Williams
football - 4,220
hockey - 1,132

The hockey numbers for Williams are not correct. Williams. although it has a long hockey history, does not support its hockey team. Attendance runs about 200 a game and sometimes falls well below that level . .

[nescac1]

Agree with speedy, other than maybe, maybe, an Amherst or Midd game, I can't imagine Williams ever has had that many people at a hockey game, let alone averaged that (and for a Midd game, half the fans would be Midd fans). 

On another note, great article in espn on Amherst-Williams rivalry:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2945751

The footbal game they highlight is without a doubt in the top five live sporting events I've been to, at any level ...

[Trin9-0]

The hockey numbers for Williams are not correct. Williams. although it has a long hockey history, does not support its hockey team. Attendance runs about 200 a game and sometimes falls well below that level . .

Here's the NCAA link where I got the information from.

http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/ice_hockey/m_w_ice_hockey_records_book/2007/2007_m_w_ice_hockey_records.pdf

(You need to click the "Men's Attendance" tab on the left then scroll to "DIII Average Home Attendance"

As stated earlier regarding the football attendance numbers, I would assume the figures for each game are estimates by the SID. Though, I'd be surprised if someone confused 200 for over 1,100... and I'm not sure why they would intentionally fudge the numbers.