FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[TheHerst2and4]

Amherst Recruit update...kind of
Malcolm McClain will be heading to Amherst after taking a year off upon graduating from Phillips Exeter in 08. He's a WR/DB originally from Ohio. Not sure where Amherst will use him.
For anyone interested his soph/Jr year highlights can be found here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3636458784415814574

[Trin9-0]

According to the Trinity Football website, the golf tournament took place yesterday, any updates on what was said by the coaching staff about their incoming recruits?

The Trinity football golf tournament was fantastic.  They do a great job of putting on a first class event.

The coaches seemed pleased with their recruits and about the upcoming season in general.

Trinity is bringing in 27 freshmen from 11 states;  9 from CT, 4 from NY, 3 from NJ & MA, 2 from MD and 1 each from CA, IL, NH, OH, OK & PA.

A few interesting points:
- They're bringing in quite a few wide receivers (six) 2 from CT and 1 each from IL, OH, NJ & NY. There are also five offensive linemen 2 from CT and 1 each from CA, NJ & NY.
- Surprisingly no running backs in this year's freshman class. 
- There are shockingly only 3 players in the Class of 2013 from Massachusetts (traditionally a huge recruiting state for Trinity).
- Two of three MA kids are linebackers.  There are four linebackers total (3 inside, 1 outside). 
- Trinity brings in its first recruit from OK in a long time, a 6'3'' 212lb safety.
- The Bantams are bringing in 3 QBs in addition to the transfer from UNH.
- 3 cornerbacks (1 NY, 1 MD, 1 CT), 2 defensive ends (both from CT) and a tight end (NY) round out this year's recruiting class.


In my opinion bringing in 6 WRs and no RBs is indicative of the transformation over the past few years from a ground oriented offense to a pass-happy offense.  Having Ollie Starnes and Bobby Jackson in the backfield this year should create a formidable threat this year, though the offensive line will have to be rebuilt almost from scratch.

Another interesting thing to watch for is the development of upper classmen who don't have much playing experience.  Unlike many of Trinity's prior undefeated teams (who won most of their games by blow-outs) the 2008 squad played close games virtually every week.  This means that many of the back-ups and underclassmen haven't gotten any significant playing time.

It's going to be vital for these players to step up, now that it's their opportunity, if Trinity hopes to repeat as NESCAC champs.

[met_fan]

I have heard that a Hamilton donor has offered a large sum of money to build a turf stadium if the school/football program can raise a certain amount of matching funds.  The person I was talking to about this didn't know how the money-raising was going, though.

[met_fan]

I have heard that a Hamilton donor has offered a large sum of money to build a turf stadium if the school/football program can raise a certain amount of matching funds.  The person I was talking to about this didn't know how the money-raising was going, though.

And today the school announced it, so I guess someone gave some money.

[frank uible]

Will there be any football wins rolled up in that carpet?

[met_fan]

Will there be any football wins rolled up in that carpet?

I would think there can't be any fewer than there were in the grass

[Trin9-0]

Here's the article about the new field:
http://www.hamilton.edu/news/more_news/display.cfm?id=15951

Good for Hamilton. They needed a turf field, and it can't hurt in terms of recruiting.

[TheHerst2and4]

Got word on a few more Amherst recruits

2 LBs from Phillips Andover Sam Clark 6' 210 from Andover MA
and Louis Jacoubs 6' 220 from Brockton, MA

DE/RB Akeem Oblaise Mercury from Acton-Boxboro 5'10 195 (who gets my vote for best name in the NESCAC by the way)

[zmanband]

Class of 2013 Eph - Peter Christiani
School: Fairfield College Prep 
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 265 lbs.
Captain Football Team
All SCC Academic Team
National Honor Society
Cardinal Key Society
Magna Cum Laude
Basketball and Track Letterman
SCC Scholar athlete of the month of September
Offensive Position(s): offensive tackle, offensive guard
Defensive Position(s): defensive end

[frank uible]

Best of all that "Magnum Cum Laude" part.

[zmanband]

A few other CT NESCACers, class of 2013
Mike Velenti - Bethel HS - OL/LB - 6'2" 240 - Trinity
Tyrell Moore - Ansonia HS - WR - 5'11" 170 - Trinity
Tom Hyde - Ansonia HS - DL - 6'3" 242 - Trinity
Matthew Sponheimer - Notre Dame HS - OL - 6'1" 250 - Amherst

[Trin9-0]

Looks like the Bants are adamant about bringing a CAA transfer quarterback to Hartford. 

I heard a rumor that Kevin Decker, a redshirt freshman at University of New Hampshire who went 34-1 as the starting QB at The Brunswick School, will be transfering to Trinity for the fall semester.

http://www.unhwildcats.com/index.cfm?id=F84DA6E8-041B-2D0B-D1FD4FF3B8D34980&profile=B61443C6-E2CA-E226-91CF705ACD952B01

The Bants are 0 for 2 with CAA transfer quarterbacks. I heard through the grapevine that former UNH back-up Kevin Decker bailed out. Craig Drusbosky will likely be the starting QB for Trin this fall.

[nescac1]

Interesting re: Trinity's QB situation.  Why did those guys back out?  Not a huge vote of confidence in the QB on the roster, but maybe this will inspire him to prove his doubters at Trinity wrong.

Each of the NESCAC contenders has some MAJOR holes to fill on offense, should be interesting.  Williams loses basically its entire running game, including the top back in NESCAC, both of his back-ups, and three all-conference blockers.  Amherst loses its top back and three linemen who have been all-conference.  Midd loses several of its key skill guys.  Tufts loses its star running back and receiver.  Trinity loses the best QB in the conference.  Could be a more defensive year next season ...

[cruiser]

colby captain honored http://www.colby.edu/athletics_cs/news/bel8-14-09.cfm

[Trin9-0]

Trinity and Wesleyan have each posted thier preseason outlook for 2009:

Trin -  http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2008-09/news/Football_10910

Wes - http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/football/09season/2009fbprospectus.pdf