FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[iamhuge]

Pretty good game for #7 of Hamilton today!

http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2013/contrib/20130921kc145j

[pumkinattack]

Too bad only the other 74 guys on the roster lost by 16...

[amh63]

My take of the Hamilton game....though the story is posted on the Amherst website.
The rain held off for the game, but the winds cutting across the field may have had an impact on the Amherst passing attack.  I believe there was a preferred side for the special team....downwind.....though it was shearing across the field.  Anyway, the more experienced offensive side was having trouble, while the younger defensive side stepped up for Amherst.  Special teams seem good and the kicking game was fine.  The only trouble was the wind knocking over the ball on kickoffs for Amherst.
Lippe, appeared tentative....checking off often....trying to adjust with the Hamilton defense is my sense.  Amherst running game was not going well and the passing game followed.  The defense had five picks and kept Amherst in the game until the offense woke up.  Hamilton's touchdown was set up by a bad snap to the punter by Amherst leading to Hamilton recovering around the 6 yard line.
Hamilton's defense was solid most of the time, even stopping Amherst on the goal line.  Amherst's red zone offense needs work.  Amherst's running game needs work.  With a freshman RB, Gaines, that was very quick to the hole....the running game started to go.  Amherst with a faster tempo in the second half started to move the ball well.  The passing attack improved and therefore the running game.
In short, Amherst needs to work on a number of things.  Hamilton's defense caused most of the problems...good effort by the players and the HFC who is known to be a defensive minded coach.
L. Lewis, the returning defensive star and leader led the way and amused some of the Amherst fans with his remarks.
After the offense sputtered again, #1, told the defense that it was up to them to get a score.  Soon after, Spears picked off a pass and almost ran it back for a touchdown.  Leadership!  After the 5th pick, Lewis told his LBs and backfield mates...."am I the only one that has not got a pick?"  Those in the stands nearby, smiled.

[Go Continentals!]

13-7 through 3 quarters despite spotting Amherst  13 points was not too shabby .  Either Hamilton is a much better team or Amherst is awful this year.  Which is it?  Personally, I think Amherst is a very good team and Hamilton has gotten better.  I also think that switching out the QB every series is a big mistake and that they need to pick a guy and let him run the offense.   I just watched the game again and the Hamilton receivers were open pretty much every play but the QB's hesitated much too much.  Then, when they did pull the trigger, they telegraphed their throws.  Amherst was blitzing somebody nearly every down and the Hamilton O- line did a great job picking them up.  At the same time, Stanell had a tough time getting through the Amherst linebackers. 

I really do believe that Hamilton has a good team this year.  I think that Pastorella had the better game over Rosenberg and that he deserves the next start.

[gridiron]

Williams is nearly finished with the worst half of offensive football I've ever seen from an Ephs' team.  So far, NO first downs, two interceptions, and a safety given up on a punt play.  Colby's defense has played very well, a lot of good, young fast players, they have sniffed out EVERY gimmick Williams has tried.  But Williams has been plagued by the same three problems as last season: poor offensive line play (Colby has absolutely dominated up front), poor QB play, and terrible play-calling.  Colby is putting eight men up and all the dive plays, screens, and passes in the flat in the world are not going to do anything unless Williams can manage to throw the ball down the field in the second half.  Unfortunately, Williams has barely tried to look down the field, and when they do the O-line can't protect and the QB can't put any mustard on the ball.  Ugly. 

Williams down big (12-0 with Colby driving), the Williams D has been fine and the Colby offense just OK, but Williams has just been gifting Colby points so there is really nothing more that the D can do without a bit of help. 

The game was not nearly as close as either the 25 0 halftime lead or 31 8 final score would indicate.  Colby dominated Williams in virtually every aspect of the game. and, with all due respect, was far from "handed" its scores. 

Credit must be given where credit is due.  Kudos to the Mules who had been largely overlooked in the preseason.

Sorry, but I "calls em as I see em."

[warriorcat]

Trinity 28 Bates 17

The game was played in Lewiston on a perfect day for football.  A supportive home crowd was treated to a very competitive game which demonstrated, I believe, that Bates's success last year was no fluke.  Obviously a Bobcat win would have been a major step forward  for Coach Harriman's program but the well deserved win went to the deeper and more talented team.  Bates had leads of 7-0, 14-7, and 17-14, but each time they went ahead  Trinity answered with a score of their own.  Bates led 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter but Trinity had already changed their quarterback and tactics and they were in control throughout the final period.  The Bates players and coaches were disappointed by the result but they were also aware that to beat a team like Trinity they need to play relatively mistake free football.  Four turnovers proved to be fatal.  They are excited about the season and they know that they are capable of bigger and better things in 2013.  This was a long way from where the program was just three years ago.

[gridiron]

Congrats too to the Bobcats.  Long time coming and awesome to see some momentum to change what appears to be the preordained pecking order in the league.  Notice being served to the league not to forget about the Garnett colors.

[Vandy74]

I grew up watching Middlebury teams play a schedule that included very few of the present day NESCAC members.  Besides that I  haven't followed D3 football closely for a number of years so I have been reluctant to throw in my 2 cents on the subject.  Having decided to get back into the game this season and doing a bit of research I believe we have a very exciting season ahead.  Trinity returns as the team to beat with Amherst appearing to be the best bet to do so.  Middlebury's Mac Foote has lost several key partners in crime from last year's offence but the replacement parts proved to be quite adequate in Week 1.  Everyone should have seen Wesleyan and Bates coming on strong.  At least one D3 site ranked the Bobcats #3 in the conference.  Regardless of their recent downturn it's very hard to believe that Williams is as bad as Colby made them look.  The Mules might not be someone for the Panthers to take lightly next Saturday.  Or anyone else for that matter.  Williams being Williams, they will figure out what's wrong and fix it.  I expect they remain dangerous on any given Saturday especially against Amherst and Wesleyan.  If NESCAC football can be as competitive as the first weekend's results suggest this should be a fun ride.  Growing debate over the wisdom of the 75 player limit, the 8 game homogenous schedule and exclusion from post-season competition is a likely consequence. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

I grew up watching Middlebury teams play a schedule that included very few of the present day NESCAC members.  Besides that I  haven't followed D3 football closely for a number of years so I have been reluctant to throw in my 2 cents on the subject.  Having decided to get back into the game this season and doing a bit of research I believe we have a very exciting season ahead.  Trinity returns as the team to beat with Amherst appearing to be the best bet to do so.  Middlebury's Mac Foote has lost several key partners in crime from last year's offence but the replacement parts proved to be quite adequate in Week 1.  Everyone should have seen Wesleyan and Bates coming on strong.  At least one D3 site ranked the Bobcats #3 in the conference.  Regardless of their recent downturn it's very hard to believe that Williams is as bad as Colby made them look.  The Mules might not be someone for the Panthers to take lightly next Saturday.  Or anyone else for that matter.  Williams being Williams, they will figure out what's wrong and fix it.  I expect they remain dangerous on any given Saturday especially against Amherst and Wesleyan.  If NESCAC football can be as competitive as the first weekend's results suggest this should be a fun ride.  Growing debate over the wisdom of the 75 player limit, the 8 game homogenous schedule and exclusion from post-season competition is a likely consequence.

Perhaps I am in the minority - actually I know that I'm in the minority - but I don't see the NESCAC's decision to stay out of the playoffs as a big deal.  If you attend a NESCAC school to play football, or take a coaching job at a NESCAC school, you know going in that the post-season is not an option.  Presumably you have chosen this institution for a number of other reasons and getting to play there is just a nice additional perk.  If the playoffs are a priority to you - go somewhere else!

I do see the 8-game schedule as a bit of a curiosity.  I would like to see a full 9-game round-robin, which seems perfectly reasonable.  The 75-player limit, while it's smaller than some other D3 schools' rosters, is also reasonable, being that it keeps everyone on a level playing field and it still does allow the teams to go three-deep on each side of the ball plus some specialists and a few extras at QB or other positions of need.

[lumbercat]

I was also at the Bates-Trinity game and Warriorcat's comments are right on. I was with the Trinity contingent and they were thrilled get out of town with a win.

At the end of the third quarter you would give the clear edge to Bates on both sides of the ball. I'm sure that Bates expected a strong Trinity surge in the 4th quarter but the difference was 3 fumbles by young Bates QB in executing  the option in Trinity territory.

Bates started a sophomore at QB and he played very well. I think the lack of experience hurt during crunch time as the kid made a couple of ball handling miscues to turn it over 3 times. He had never taken a varsity snap before Saturday.

We all know that ball handling and execution problems can be an issue in running the triple option but its clear that these execution errors can be fixed.

If Bates can move the ball on the Trinity D so effectively it bodes very well for the rest of the season for the Bobcats.

There's a different feel at Garcelon Field these days. Bates clearly expects to win every game. At the opening kickoff, at half and beyond they expected to win on Saturday.

I had some interaction with Trinity players and was told that their staff was very impressed. Well coached on both sides of the ball, very difficult to defend and if they can overcome the inexperience in the QB slot they are "scary". The Bantams were happy to get this one out of the way - "we wouldn't want to deal with this team down the road when the young QB develops further with the option and on the D side they have great talent"

The best player on the field Sat was Bates' Kukesh with 15 tackles was all over the field.

[PistachioX]

Trinity started a FY QB, as well... and then went to Soph, Foye in the 2nd half... who had very limited reps from last season.  Bantams were also without Cde Baca on defense, which was a void. 

It was an ugly win for Trinity...but I'm glad they made the necessary adjustments and were able to pull it together for the dubbya.

Bate is a very good team - they have improved immensely in just the past few seasons.

[gridiron]

I grew up watching Middlebury teams play a schedule that included very few of the present day NESCAC members.  Besides that I  haven't followed D3 football closely for a number of years so I have been reluctant to throw in my 2 cents on the subject.  Having decided to get back into the game this season and doing a bit of research I believe we have a very exciting season ahead.  Trinity returns as the team to beat with Amherst appearing to be the best bet to do so.  Middlebury's Mac Foote has lost several key partners in crime from last year's offence but the replacement parts proved to be quite adequate in Week 1.  Everyone should have seen Wesleyan and Bates coming on strong.  At least one D3 site ranked the Bobcats #3 in the conference.  Regardless of their recent downturn it's very hard to believe that Williams is as bad as Colby made them look.  The Mules might not be someone for the Panthers to take lightly next Saturday.  Or anyone else for that matter.  Williams being Williams, they will figure out what's wrong and fix it.  I expect they remain dangerous on any given Saturday especially against Amherst and Wesleyan.  If NESCAC football can be as competitive as the first weekend's results suggest this should be a fun ride.  Growing debate over the wisdom of the 75 player limit, the 8 game homogenous schedule and exclusion from post-season competition is a likely consequence.

Perhaps I am in the minority - actually I know that I'm in the minority - but I don't see the NESCAC's decision to stay out of the playoffs as a big deal.  If you attend a NESCAC school to play football, or take a coaching job at a NESCAC school, you know going in that the post-season is not an option.  Presumably you have chosen this institution for a number of other reasons and getting to play there is just a nice additional perk.  If the playoffs are a priority to you - go somewhere else!

I do see the 8-game schedule as a bit of a curiosity.  I would like to see a full 9-game round-robin, which seems perfectly reasonable.  The 75-player limit, while it's smaller than some other D3 schools' rosters, is also reasonable, being that it keeps everyone on a level playing field and it still does allow the teams to go three-deep on each side of the ball plus some specialists and a few extras at QB or other positions of need.

I tend to agree with you.  Lack of playoffs doesn't trouble me, but the short schedule does.  Nine games should be a no-brainer.  For me, the perfect set-up would be playing each team in the league once (nine games) and one out of league game--local rivalry, etc.  The tenth game is probably getting greedy on my part, but the ninth game is a must.  It would be interesting to poll the football alum on that question.

No playoffs doesn't hurt the Ivy League, and shouldn't hurt the NESCAC either.  But an extra-short schedule is illogical when considered from virtually every possible angle, with the exception of financial, of course.

Ironically, if the league wanted to keep games to a minimum, adding playoffs would add fewer games than would a nine game schedule, as only one team each season would get the extra game(s).  The rest would still only have eight.

[iamhuge]

Lest any Trinity or Amherst lovers think that these NESCAC teams can compete with the Ivy League teams.......Dartmouth, a middle of the pack Ivy team,  defeated Butler on Saturday.  Butler had defeated the #10 (Wittenberg) and #13 (Franklin)  D3 teams in the two previous weeks.

NESCAC football is good football and there are a few great players on these teams.  Let's leave it at that.

[Jonny Utah]

Lest any Trinity or Amherst lovers think that these NESCAC teams can compete with the Ivy League teams.......Dartmouth, a middle of the pack Ivy team,  defeated Butler on Saturday.  Butler had defeated the #10 (Wittenberg) and #13 (Franklin)  D3 teams in the two previous weeks.

NESCAC football is good football and there are a few great players on these teams.  Let's leave it at that.

I think Bates could give Boston College a game this year.

[gridiron]

Lest any Trinity or Amherst lovers think that these NESCAC teams can compete with the Ivy League teams.......Dartmouth, a middle of the pack Ivy team,  defeated Butler on Saturday.  Butler had defeated the #10 (Wittenberg) and #13 (Franklin)  D3 teams in the two previous weeks.

NESCAC football is good football and there are a few great players on these teams.  Let's leave it at that.

Summed up nicely.  Apples to oranges.  Zero chance.