FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[jumpshot]

As perspective while launching the 2013-2014 year:

Williams: 30 National Team Championships in 9 differnt sports, 16 Directors' Cups;

Middlebury: 33 National Team Championships (14 in ice hockey), 1 Directors' Cup;

amherst: 9 National Team Championships, 0 Directors' Cups

[hamfan88]

NESCAC football teams, as it stands currently, are unable to compete for national championships. That nfo is more relevant when discussing other sports.

[AlDavis]

NESCAC football teams, as it stands currently, are unable to compete for national championships. That nfo is more relevant when discussing other sports.

For Sure , For Sure.....Williams is great and all that which is great and we all know it , and they can have the Governors Cup and Tennis , Squash , Volleyball and Golf championships out their gills but with football season approaching who gives a phuck because Williams no better than 4 - 4 this year.

[nescac1]

Keep saying the best case scenario for Williams is 4-4, Tufts.  I'm sure Williams is enjoying, for once, being a bit under the radar this year.  The Ephs' pool of talent didn't suddenly dissappear, just because they had a single down year.  Yeah, they need the QB position to bounce back from a dismal collective season, but that is certainly possible -- after all, Marske was highly-regarded and put up very solid numbers as a Sophomore, and I'm sure there is some talent we don't yet know about at the position who will compete.  The Ephs may not be as loaded as they have been in years past, but a 6-2 record, or even 7-1 if they have better breaks with injuries, is not out of the realm of possibility.  And if they do win more than four, I look forward to seeing your excuses (other teams choked, etc. etc.) for how that could have happened ...  I expect Williams to have a strong, deep and far more balanced receiver core this year.  Greg Payton and Beaton could both have big years, and a few other guys like Brewington and Sime may well step up into big roles.  The OL does need to improve, but the rising Junior and Sophomore O-Line groups both have a lot of size and talent, and I expect the pass protection will be better.  If he can finally stay healthy, Scyocurka is as talented as any back in NESCAC, even the Trinity guys, and Hernandez and Lapointe offer proven veteran depth behind him. 

The Williams defense needs to make big strides but again, there is no shortage of talent.  Saffold, Cabarle, Kim, and Lafontant could be the top secondary in NESCAC -- tons of experience there.  The front seven definitely has some big question marks in the middle at MLB and DT, but again, some very good young players up front in James Howe, Jack Ryan, Mike Flynn, Adam Datema, Antonio Blanco ... if a few of those guys (Howe in particular) step up into all-NESCAC level performers, the Ephs could really surprise.  The Ephs will go as far, ultimately, as their (hopefully) improved QB play and young DL/LB core can take them.  Worst case, that could be easily be as few as 3-4 wins.  But I wouldn't assume that this team is going to just hand games over, and I guarantee they will be especially motivated vs. Bates and Amherst after recent results, and also Wesleyan in the final home game on the current version of Weston Field. 

And as discussed before, it's not like the other top teams don't have question marks, too: Trinity is Trinity and has to be favored, but replacing 4 OL and a solid QB could possibly lead to some early season adjustment period.  Midd will be good no matter what due to the QB, but does need to figure out go-to receivers plus loses the superb OT.  Amherst loses some very good linemen on both sides of the ball.  Wesleyan while on the ascent did very little vs. Williams last year, and unexpectedly loses two of its key defenders to transfer.  Bates has a big hole at QB.  And so on. 

[AlDavis]

changed my Handle , so not as to give Tufts University a bad name , having lived in Medford at one time I root for them.....Great Report Nescac1 , that's what I love to read , great reports.....just stirring it up as the NESCAC crowd can be snooty , I am rooting for Coach Whalen and Wesleyan this year and they are trying extremely hard and looking at there incoming class compared to the bits and pieces of info coming in on the others , they should be able to fill what few voids  from last year including UCLA and Miami Hurricane transfers.....the Night Game at Andrus Field will be spectacular

[quicksilver]

Hope I'm not repeating things but Wesleyan will open the season with the first-ever NESCAC night game, hosting Tufts for the season opener on Sept. 21 at Andrus Field. It is actually more of an evening game since game time is 6:00 pm.

[lumbercat]

To my knowledge Wesleyan doesn't have lights so they must be bringing in temporary lighting.
What a great way to kick off the NESCAC season at Wesleyan. Great for the program and the student body in general. I hope they get a great crowd. I recollect historically thin crowds in Middletown but this is clearly a new era. Good to see something a little different in the NESCAC.

Ironic that the schools with lighted fields didnt take this step. When Bates and Colby got lights in the last few years I thought they would be the logical choice for the first NESCAC night game. I hope it's a great event at Wesleyan and others follow suit.

On the topic of Wesleyan it's been accurately reported on this board that they lost DE Zach Vinci to UCLA. He transferred to Wes last year, maybe from Rutgers though I am not totally sure. How many times can a guy transfer?

They also lost LB Jared Goldenberg (Don Bosco) to Miami Fla.

I saw Wes play twice last year and both were fine players though in my opinion neither was the best on their team at their respective position.

This leads me to wonder if the caliber of the NESCAC could be better than generally perceived. Both of these guys are listed on the rosters of major national programs. While they may never see any game time they are evidently not out of place at the highest level.

This is more fodder for the perennial debate among D3 followers regarding the quality of NESCAC football vs other D3 conferences throughout the country. As we all know its highly likely that this will never be resolved on the playing field.

Wes also lost 2 other unerclassmen starters- OG Radespeil and TE Baker. Not sure if they hit the transfer trail as well.

Wes certainly continuing to taking decisive steps to compete with Trinity and the Little Three which collectively represent the strength of the NESCAC. They have their work cut out for them. I wish them well.

In Hartford Trinity loses 2 fine players,underclassmen starters from last year: DE Lyle Baker and LB Stephen Goniprow- not sure if they my have transferred.

[gridiron]

Lumbercat--great info/detail  on Wes and Trinity.  Only point I'd add is Midd needs to be included in the strength  of the league right now.

Would still like to see what Colby has for incoming frosh as well.

[Panthernation]

On the topic of Wesleyan it's been accurately reported on this board that they lost DE Zach Vinci to UCLA. He transferred to Wes last year, maybe from Rutgers.

Colgate

[frank uible]

While this season's Wesleyan/Tufts game may be the first all NESCAC night game, in 1985 Colby played a night game against UMass-Lowell at UMass-Lowell. There may have been others of that ilk. For instance, Springfield College has played some night games at home for a good number of years and not infrequently played NESCAC colleges (possibly occasionally at night) before the NESCAC colleges went exclusively to incestuous scheduling in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

[iamhuge]

While this season's Wesleyan/Tufts game may be the first all NESCAC night game, in 1985 Colby played a night game against UMass-Lowell at UMass-Lowell. There may have been others of that ilk. For instance, Springfield College has played some night games at home for a good number of years and not infrequently played NESCAC colleges (possibly occasionally at night) before the NESCAC colleges went exclusively to incestuous scheduling in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

How did the NESCAC teams fare in non-conference games in the mid-80's?  I know Middlebury used to play Norwich...I don't know who used to win.

[gridiron]

The time has arrived...NESCAC players begin reporting today, tomorrow, Tuesday...

The fun begins!!!

[frank uible]

huge: Both NESCAC schools and also other currently DIII regional schools which NESCAC schools may have likely played in football probably have failed to keep (or certainly fail to make available on the internet) records of football results going very far in the past. My superficial search reveals that of those NESCAC and other schools the Coast Guard shows the oldest records of this sort (back to 1991 but no further). 1991 was the last year in which Coast Guard played a current NESCAC school in football (Wesleyan and Trinity). Thus it is surmised that 1992 is the year in which the NESCAC schools went to an exclusive NESCAC football schedule. Mid-1980s results in this vein haven't been found. Of course if one retreats far enough, results can be found for games between NESCAC schools-to-be and Ivy League and other major football schools.

[frank uible]

huge: It turns out that it appears that Wesleyan has kept good results records since the beginning. The only non-NESCAC school which it played during the mid-80s was Coast Guard - an annual event. You are referred to the Wesleyan football website for more info.

[quicksilver]

Bowdoin also keeps full record of game scores on its website. Its schedule in the 1980s mostly consisted of other NESCAC schools (except for Middlebury, which does not appear on the Bowdoin schedule in the 1980s until 1988), with WPI, Lowell, and Coast Guard being the most frequent non-NESCACers on the schedule in the 1980s.