FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[PistachioX]

I thought Trinity has only partially updated their roster, as well.

Graduated Seniors remain for now, and it looks like all but 12-13 FY's Soph's & Jrs from last year have had their grade/class dialed ahead.   Could be attrition, the need to try out for a spot or an administrative pause - who knows.  They'll figure it out and post the final roster soon enough.

[frank uible]

By NFL standards almost all D3 players are goofy and unathletic - but that does not exclude them from being worthy human beings.

[nescac1]

Here is Trinity's preliminary roster for next year:

http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/roster

36 (!) first years listed, just an enormous incoming group.  92 kids total, so yes, there will be a fair number of cuts to get to 75.  But after pre-season injuries / attrition from frosh who decide not to play, it probably won't be all that many in the end. 

[lewdogg11]

Here is Trinity's preliminary roster for next year:

http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/roster

36 (!) first years listed, just an enormous incoming group.  92 kids total, so yes, there will be a fair number of cuts to get to 75.  But after pre-season injuries / attrition from frosh who decide not to play, it probably won't be all that many in the end. 

Do they literally cut people and just not allow them to be a part of the program or do they place 75 on the roster, and keep the leftovers for practice/scout teams and give them another shot next year?

[PistachioX]

Agreed, Nescac.

Here is Trinity's preliminary roster for next year:

http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/roster

36 (!) first years listed, just an enormous incoming group.  92 kids total, so yes, there will be a fair number of cuts to get to 75.  But after pre-season injuries / attrition from frosh who decide not to play, it probably won't be all that many in the end. 

Do they literally cut people and just not allow them to be a part of the program or do they place 75 on the roster, and keep the leftovers for practice/scout teams and give them another shot next year?

[nescac1]

I think (but I'm not sure) that if someone leaves the team (and possibly suffers a season-ending injury) during the season, they can be replaced.  I've certainly seen guys join the Williams roster who were not on the roster at the start of the season, although it is uncommon and never more than a few per year.  It does not, however, (I am fairly certain) function as an active roster, where guys can practice with the varsity team, but aren't listed as a roster.  If you aren't in the 75 guys listed, you aren't on the varsity, period.  So if you are joining the roster, someone else is off the team. 

Williams and some other NESCAC schools (not all, I don't think) has a JV program so some frosh who don't make the varsity can play JV, and occasionally can play varsity the next year.  Also, there is certainly nothing to prevent a guy who doesn't make the team from trying again the next year.

In all events, it is really pretty rare for a guy who is at the borderline of the 75 guys to ever make a substantial impact.  Tomas Kearney is one example at Williams of a kid who worked hard and managed by junior year to have a significant role on the team ... I don't think he made the varsity roster as a frosh.  But realistically, the guys who are starters or key subs are generally guys who made the final varsity roster as first years. 

[lewdogg11]

I think (but I'm not sure) that if someone leaves the team (and possibly suffers a season-ending injury) during the season, they can be replaced.  I've certainly seen guys join the Williams roster who were not on the roster at the start of the season, although it is uncommon and never more than a few per year.  It does not, however, (I am fairly certain) function as an active roster, where guys can practice with the varsity team, but aren't listed as a roster.  If you aren't in the 75 guys listed, you aren't on the varsity, period.  So if you are joining the roster, someone else is off the team. 

Williams and some other NESCAC schools (not all, I don't think) has a JV program so some frosh who don't make the varsity can play JV, and occasionally can play varsity the next year.  Also, there is certainly nothing to prevent a guy who doesn't make the team from trying again the next year.

In all events, it is really pretty rare for a guy who is at the borderline of the 75 guys to ever make a substantial impact.  Tomas Kearney is one example at Williams of a kid who worked hard and managed by junior year to have a significant role on the team ... I don't think he made the varsity roster as a frosh.  But realistically, the guys who are starters or key subs are generally guys who made the final varsity roster as first years. 

I was just wondering because most teams list the majority of players in a program(usually everyone with a number and who dresses for home games), but there are probably 50-60 players that actually see the field over the course of a season.  In most cases, there are still another 30-50 kids that practice every day, play scout team, play JV, etc etc.  So I was wondering if the NESCAC actually sends kids packing, or if they just aren't on the 'active' Varsity roster. 

[amh63]

Last year, while visiting my daughter and her family in the Ithaca NY area, I took in the Cornell Homecoming game.  Sat on the Yale side as usual since it had fewer fans and better seats.  Saw a large number of Yale players wearing jerseys but no pads, etc. on the sidelines/field watching.  Spoke to a Yale football family about them and the traveling/playing size of the team (Cornell had unpadded players on the opposite side}.  Since I have a faulty memory, I recall that the football parent's response was....Yale carries a squad size of around 90 plus and dress over 60 for the game (traveling squad?)  I took the response as typical for the Ivies.  At Amherst, I often see a number of injured players on the sideline, but in general the players are not in any numbered uniform....more than not in sweats or cover jackets.

[iamhuge]

Here is Trinity's preliminary roster for next year:

http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/roster

36 (!) first years listed, just an enormous incoming group.  92 kids total, so yes, there will be a fair number of cuts to get to 75.  But after pre-season injuries / attrition from frosh who decide not to play, it probably won't be all that many in the end. 

I noticed Nate Fujita is still listed on the roster...just sayin

[amh63]

More bits for the preseason football stewpot.  Amherst's only specific announcement so far is their post of three new coaches.
In September, when the students are in and weights/size are accounted for....Amherst and other schools provide preseason projections.  This allows the coach to announce any transfers.....yes they are few and far between.  Several years ago, Jeff Katz'11, a defensive player that played pro ball with the Braves and two years for Lafayette joined the team for two final years. Last year, Matt Pieterse'13, transferred in from Springfield College where he led the team in tackles as a FY linebacker and, I believe made Rookie of the Year in the league..
The present Amherst preseason squad list 60/61(counting confusion).  Amherst doesn't need to bring in any more than 20 players.   There are always injuries and some surprises.  There is the 6'6" WR from WV that missed his soph year and returned to play last year.  Hopefully, he will reach his potential this final year under the new WR coach.   Oh yes, there was a Div.1 transfer player that graduated this Spring that arrived with high hopes.  A scholarship player at TE that was redshirted at the U. of Cinn.  A star football/BB from Md. who hoped to do as well as his father at Amherst.  The 6'5" 240 pound student due to back injuries, did not play at Amherst in football and/or basketball.  His father starred for Amherst in the 70's and went on to play in the NFL for both the Cowboys and the Redskins.  There are always surprises around the league.

[nescac1]

Interesting move by Ivy League, limiting full contact practices to two-per-week in an effort to address head injuries caused by repetitive contact.  I would not be surprised (or unhappy) to see NESCAC follow suit at some point, especially since NESCAC football teams are currently prohibited from competing in playoffs / against other conferences (so any competitive effects would be irrelevant, since all conference teams are subject to the same rules). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-to-protect-players-ivy-league-to-reduce-contact.html?_r=1&hpw

[lewdogg11]

Interesting move by Ivy League, limiting full contact practices to two-per-week in an effort to address head injuries caused by repetitive contact.  I would not be surprised (or unhappy) to see NESCAC follow suit at some point, especially since NESCAC football teams are currently prohibited from competing in playoffs / against other conferences (so any competitive effects would be irrelevant, since all conference teams are subject to the same rules). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-to-protect-players-ivy-league-to-reduce-contact.html?_r=1&hpw

I think making this official is cool, but most college teams have full contact only 2 times a week anyway.  In St. Johns case, I don't think they have full contact at all.  And it hasn't hurt them competitively.

[Jonny Utah]

Interesting move by Ivy League, limiting full contact practices to two-per-week in an effort to address head injuries caused by repetitive contact.  I would not be surprised (or unhappy) to see NESCAC follow suit at some point, especially since NESCAC football teams are currently prohibited from competing in playoffs / against other conferences (so any competitive effects would be irrelevant, since all conference teams are subject to the same rules). 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-to-protect-players-ivy-league-to-reduce-contact.html?_r=1&hpw

I think making this official is cool, but most college teams have full contact only 2 times a week anyway.  In St. Johns case, I don't think they have full contact at all.  And it hasn't hurt them competitively.

I was going to say.  We only had 3 days of contact back in the 1990s, and I assume most teams do the same thing (film and special teams review Mondays with a workout, and Fridays are no pads walkthroughs).

And there was never really that much "contact" anyway.  How oftend is there live tackling or hitting during team practices?

[frank uible]

What constitutes "full contact practice"? One-on-one  or three-on-three line scrimmages? "Thud" where it is not intended that anyone "go to the ground"?  Practice in pads against hand held dummies? Practice iin which free standing dummies are knocked to the ground by players in pads going to the ground? Seven-on-seven bump-and-run practice without pads but with helmets? Et cetera.

[lewdogg11]

What constitutes "full contact practice"? One-on-one  or three-on-three line scrimmages? "Thud" where it is not intended that anyone "go to the ground"?  Practice in pads against hand held dummies? Practice iin which free standing dummies are knocked to the ground by players in pads going to the ground? Seven-on-seven bump-and-run practice without pads but with helmets? Et cetera.

I always thought of 'full-contact' as meaning you can take someone to the ground. Maybe the 'non full-contact' days are helmets and shoulder pads?  Don't know. Good question. But I'm sure an ivy scholar will draft up a very detailed addendum.