FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Garnet]

Eck: ruptured appendix a couple of weeks before pre-season camp started. He is out for the season

[LiveforSaturdays]

Tufts
Wesleyan - Wes in a close one


Williams - Williams in a romp
Colby


Middlebury
Bowdoin - Bowdoin in a close one



Amherst - Amherst in a romp
Hamilton

Trinity - Trinity
Bates

[met_fan]

Eck: ruptured appendix a couple of weeks before pre-season camp started. He is out for the season

yep:
http://www.wktv.com/news/sports/local/60845427.html

[Trin9-0]

That's terrible news about Eck.  Hamilton's breakout season may have to wait another year. 

I'm excited for the NESCAC football season to FINALLY start! Here's my week 1 picks:

Wesleyan 13
Tufts 10

Trinity 24
Bates 3

Amherst 20
Hamilton 10

Middlebury 31
Bowdoin 24

Williams 21
Colby 7

GO BANTS!

[Trin9-0]

Colby has a 7-3 halftime lead over Williams.

Middlebury's up on Bowdoin at the half 28-21.

Trinity has a 14-7 lead over Bates late in the first half. Ollie Starnes with a TD, and Winston Tuggle scored on a 71 yard TD catch for Trinity.

BTW, for those on twitter most of the NESCAC schools have an account for athletics. Some update more often than others. I couldn't find a page for Tufts, Colby or Hamilton.

[LiveforSaturdays]

Wesleyan 7 Tufts 3 at the half

[LiveforSaturdays]

Wesleyan 7 Tufts 3 Final

[LiveforSaturdays]

Looks like the league is a tossup. No one will run away with it based upon the first week results.

[speedy]

Quite the defensive match-up as Bowdoin downs Middlebury 50-35, with crazy passing yards by both QBs (420 for McKillop and 374 for Kell).

[nescac1]

Given that Trinity hasn't lost in more than a year and had the only dominating win in week one, they clearly established themselves as the front-runner: if they beat Williams in week two, are likely headed for another 8-0 season.  The rest of the league looks more even ... Amherst's rushing attack seems a bit down after losing four o-linemen, but they have a lot of very good receivers and now an experienced QB.  Midd and Bowdoin will probably both be in a lot more high scoring games ... Tufts may have trouble scoring until their QB returns, no one stepped up in week one to replace all those star skill guys they lost ...

Williams unexpectedly struggled with Colby but I think will play better against Trinity; apparently lots of crucial penalties, dropped passes, stopped on a few short fourth downs, etc.  They'll have to play a LOT better, though, to even keep it close.  I imagine they'll stack up against the run and dare Trinity to throw against a very experienced secondary.  As expected, the Ephs' running game struggled a bit after losing the top three TB's and three all-conference blockers.  hard to imagine them running for many yards vs. Trinity's front seven.  Seems like the Ephs will be alternating QB's this year, kinda similar to the situation a few years ago, with one QB a dual-threat, one more of a pocket passer.  The Ephs do look very solid on D, especially once their two starting outside backers return.  Lots of young talent there.   

Can't believe Urey on Amherst got four sacks and didn't even warrant a co-player of the week!  Of course Fallas had a huge game -- Trinity's defense is absolutely loaded with all-conference guys, yet again. 

[JustAFan]

Williams announces its new president, Adam Falk, currently dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins (http://www.williams.edu/admin/president/17/).  He grew up on the UNC campus, where his father was a professor.

Time will tell whether this selection has any impact on the Williams athletic program in the post-Morty era, but the encouraging aspect of his background is that he both grew up and taught at schools at which a strong athletic program complimented a great academic program. Hopefully he is comfortable in that kind of environment and believes that the two are not mutually exclusive.

[lefrakenstein]

Tufts loss to Wesleyan: more of a reflection on the Jumbos or the Cards? (are the Cards going to actually be decent this year, or does Tufts really suck?)

[LiveforSaturdays]

The Wes defense is very good and should keep them in the game. If the offense can score a few points they should win a few games.
Tufts is noticibly weaker on the line this year than they were a year ago.

[nescac1]

Just a Fan, this an excerpt of a summary of the new President's speech.  Sounds encouraging to me:

Second: I am as committed to life outside of classroom as I am to life within the classroom. This includes athletics at all levels. Our bodies are to be developed at the same time and in concert with the development of our minds. Thrilled that Williams seems to understand that. Looking for a pickup basketball game.

He also made the obligatory comments about kicking Amherst's butt ...

Any thoughts on the big Williams-Trinity game this weekend?  Obviously Trinity looked stronger in week one; if Trinity gets strong QB play Williams could be in trouble as that seems to be the only area right now Williams has an advantage. 

[nescac1]

Lucky 31 for the Ephs? 

-- Williams ended Trinity's 31 game winning streak in 2006
-- Trinity is 31-0 on its home field since it was resurfaced
-- Williams scored 31 points in Trinity's last home loss (in -- incredible -- 2001)
-- Coach Whalen entered this season 31-4 against non-Trinity teams only 1-4 against Trinity

Hey, gotta hang your hat on SOMETHING against a team that hasn't lost at home in nearly a decade ... unfortunately, the Ephs don't have a 31 on their roster ... maybe it's time for a quick number switch.