FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Gr8ful1]

All-conference picks: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2013/11/11/2013-all-nescac-teams/

I'm curious to know how the D-backs positions are determined as the players do not appear to be specific to CB or safety? Unless you guys are REALLY on top of the rosters...which would come as no surprise to me Lots of very good insight here most of the time.

[lumbercat]

Middlebury- thanks of posting the all conference team. Appreciate the time you put into it and enjoyed reading your comprehensive selection and great narrative.
There will always be disagreement on selections as we all have our favorites but I am in agreement with most of your selections.
As a CBB follower I can't agree more with the Ciero pick- this kid can beat you with his legs and threw very well this year -- in tandem with Dunkerley the Mules will be an offensive force in the next 2 years.

The most notable snub, which you acknowledge, is the omission of Bates SlotBack Shawn Doherty- respectful disagreement here as this is a guy who led the conference by a landslide in all purpose yards by a landslide and rushed for 5.7 yards per carry....should be somewhere on the team. You will see him on the official All Conference team. Doherty missed his entire sophomore year due injury and has another year of eligibility- no indication that he will return as he is a fine student who will meet all his academic requirements for graduation this year.

Trinity FB Budness is a fine player and quality blocker but he carried the ball 9 times in 8 games for a season total of 20 yards. Would suggest the insertion oh Bates dive back Ryan Curit in that FB slot. In the triple option the dive back is essentially a FB. Curit is big 225 lb power back who rushed for something like 550 yards- he was the go to guy for Bates in short yardage situations and performed extremely well carrying the ball in addition to his blocking assignments where he produced a number of pancakes--check the film on this guy if you can get access.

Al Davis-
You talked big about your Wesleyan club all year but you are sticking around to take the heat, in your terms "I respect that Bro.... We cool on dat".

It's never easy to lose the big one but I sincerely wish you and the Wesleyan program the very best. They have done a commendable job down there at a fine institution that was indifferent for many years in terms of their commitment to Football.

I saw both teams in person and saw multiple games of both teams  on film. If you approached me before the game with a Wes bet +5 I would have laid it in big---would have given back the points and looked for a money line.

In the end it's a credit to a great program at Trinity where they know how to win but I still can't believe how Trinity dominated the Cards...did they let down after winning the Little 3???

Rumors abound that Whalen will have offers from the next level as collegiate football channels throughout the eastern US continue to buzz about his reclamation of the Wesleyan program with a particular recognition of his ability to deploy a very effective recruiting regimen. He's become recognized as a great recruiter who is able bring in players who may appear to above or beyond the normal scope of his league and that's invaluable at the next level. While he may be in his dream job at his alma mater the offers will come.

[FightingCards]

Mr. Trin 8-0:

Congratulations on ur dominating victory. You deserved to win by 30 points.  Between Sonny and the Bunker, along with the pass rush, man to man stingy defense, the emotionally drained FC's were completely outplayed.  Please accept congratulations from the Whalen Mafia-a job well done.

Now, please also share this with your Bantam Brethren:  no one from Wesleyan wrote "6-2 Losers" on the board.  This is not Whalen's style. All of us would like our children to play for such a positive and inspiring coach.  Also, the shirt rumor prior to the Trinity game is another falsehood.  Did not happen.  Now, if u asked a week ago did we pint Little 3 Champion Shirts prior to kickoff, we did.  I was at the center of that.  43 years is a long time, but we were prepared to toss them if we lost. They remained in my trunk until the fat lady sang..just like in the World Series when hats and shirts are printed ahead of time.  But we would not do this when facing Trinity.  I go way back to the Chuck Priore days...a former roommate and great man/coach/friend. Trinity is well coached and always, always a team to fear..especially in the coop. 

Future:Wesleyan is a bunch of young 19 and 20 yr old boys with 3 strong classes on the Middletown Campus. How many we win in 2014 will be determined, but as long as the Roth/Whalen ( and more than likely DiCenzo) group stays in tact, this will be a team to be reckoned with.  Maybe I will grow to love the Trinity rival...not to upset you..but it's all about the Little 3 as far as the mafia is concerned, and we are proud to hoist the flag.   Out.....

[FightingCards]

Well said Lumbercat.  I am new to this board and appreciate your intelligent posts.  Nice job in congratulating both Trin and Wes.  How did they lose by 30?  The FC's did not expect the physicality of Trinity and it just spiraled out of control.  It's football.  We've all seen it happen.  And BTW, Coach Whalen is going nowhere.  We expect him to coach 3-6 more years and then entrust the program to Dan DiCenzo.  He will continue as AD until its over.  all the Wesleyan programs are improving.  Coach Whalen recruited Dan Dicenzo at Williams, and he came to Wesleyan with Whalen. He loves it in Middletown and will stay.  Coach DiCenzo runs the defense.  And don't underestimate President Roth.  He held a "Go Wes" sign at the Amherst game in Pratt Field and took the red eye in from CA to sit on the 50 at Trinity.  His motto is "Wesleyan is a school of excellence and we want to be great at everything that we do...and that includes football".

[lumbercat]

Fighting Cards-

First a response to your post to Mr. Trin -it was reading like a classy post but you were out of character when you implied at the very end that it was "all about theLittle 3" ......I don't buy that, though I am far away and not connected with Wesleyan football.

I know Whalen and I know his drive for winning and excellence.  While the Little 3 is huge for Wes and your Prexy you lost a huge game in Hartford with the chance to go 8-0.......After the Williams win, which was a foregone conclusion, the challenge was Trinity. Trinity became  "The Game"  for Whalen and Wesleyan Football though the President may have valued the Little 3 crown more and I can understand that.

You guys had a great year and I was pulling for the Cards to go undefeated and upset the NESCAC status quo. I understand the need to take the "half full" perspective but I guarantee that Whalen and those on the field wearing red an black are writhing over the Trinity loss as they resolve to continue their quest for a perfect 8-0 season and an undisputed NESCAC crown.....They are the clear favorite to achieve that goal next year.

Too bad the 2 biggest games in the last 40 years of Wesleyan football had to fall on consecutive weeks.

I don't think the big guy is going anywhere either but the phone has rung and it will ring again in the football office at Wesleyan.

[AlDavis]

..0k so whatever the Bucs are going to win a game.....I am glad a Whalen Mafia Top Consigliere backed me up quickly on the supposed Blackboard Scrawl and thanks Lumbercat and with some good characters now here posting this is the Number 1 ranked D3 Football Message Board in the Free World and might become a new TV show......I think USC would have to give Coach W about 30 Million a Year for him to accept that Job and now with some still unfinished business and still very fresh juicy storylines and exciting things to accomplish and conquer yet and then back them achievements up a couple times , I might have to have a Clandenstine Whalen Mafia meeting to disconnect some phone lines to keep USC , Texas Longhorns , Florida Gators , Maryland and even UConn and UMass at bay....... if I have left some directness toward me unanswered please let me know as this will now be some of my last posts for 2013 and will go on my way for a while and hope others here keep the Amherst / Williams Love Orgy with themselves under control , can some of you please keep the ph balance steady there as she goes......this song I choose to sing to myself over this loss for eternal greatness for this 2013 Season which still goes down as EPIC but not Perfect.............so for anyone that thinks they got something on me on this loss I go now and sing this song to myself as always Epic is as Epic does------------> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWv7l8Lm_A

[frank uible]

The Smart Money says that Whalen stays one last successful year as Wes HFC, then turns the "cupboard-is-full" job over to DiCenzo, remains as AD and in the fullness of time rides off into the sunset secure in the knowledge that with help from others he has rebuilt the Wes program.

[PistachioX]

All-conference picks: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2013/11/11/2013-all-nescac-teams/

I'm curious to know how the D-backs positions are determined as the players do not appear to be specific to CB or safety? Unless you guys are REALLY on top of the rosters...which would come as no surprise to me Lots of very good insight here most of the time.

The Panthernation "we" has a fairly myopic view of such things, but as implied by "them"...  they fortunately don't get a vote in the matter.  "Their" ramblings do add value, however, in fostering some spirited dialog.

[maineman]

2013 NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III FOOTBALL POLL


Week #9 - 11/11/13
Rank    Team    Record    (First-Place Votes)    Points    Last Week's Rank
1    Framingham St.    8-1    (14)    189    2
2    Salve Regina    7-2    (3)    147    3
3    (tie) Middlebury    7-1    (1)    138    5
   Wesleyan    7-1    (1)    138    1
5    Amherst    7-1    (1)    135    4
6    Endicott    7-2       111    6
7    Trinity    6-2         88    8
8    Western Connecticut    7-2         82    7
9    Springfield    5-3         40    10
10    Bridgewater St.    5-4         16    9
Also Receiving Votes (to be listed a team must receive at least one percent of the available points and appear on at least two ballots):  Norwich (15).

[Trin9-0]

To the Whalen Mafia; don't shoot the messenger.

While I agree that the Wes coaches would neither encourage nor condone the message that was left. I also think it's a bit naive to think your boys are incapable of scribbling insults on a chalkboard. Which scenario seems more plausible to you?

A: An emotional 18-21 year old who's angry after seeing his perfect season thwarted in dominating fashion takes out his aggression with a derogatory message just before leaving the locker room?

B: Someone associated with the Trinity program goes into the visiting locker room, writes a message insulting to their own program in attempt to pin the actions on a team who they've just beaten handily.

There was plenty of eating, drinking and celebrating to be done in Hartford after the game for the Bantams. I think it's very unlikely that they would take up their time to hatch this scheme and forgo even one minute of the post-game merriment to frame the defeated Cardinals. What would be the point? My guess is that one or two bitter young men from Middletown grabbed a piece of chalk and before walking out to their bus decided to take a shot at the Bantams 6-2 record as a way to make themselves feel better for squandering their chance at perfection.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion on which is the more likely scenario. At the end of the day it's really not that big of a deal. All I know is that, to me, the former story seems far more likely and regardless it will be used as motivation early next November.

With regards to Trinity's place in Wesleyan's rivalry rankings, I agree the Little Three is of paramount important to Wes and winning that for the first time in 43 years is a big deal. However, your irrelevance for the past several decades is what has caused the relative tameness of the Trin-Wes rivalry, not to mention your games with Williams and Amherst.

After all, it's difficult for a hammer to have a rivalry with a nail and outside of this year no one really cared much about playing Wesleyan because it was just another W on the schedule. That clearly has changed and I honestly couldn't be happier. Playing Williams was always the biggest game on the schedule for Trinity and depending on the respective records Amherst was a big game as well. However, I look forward to Trin-Wes being an important game not just as a rivalry but for determining the NESCAC championship.

[Go Continentals!]

Panthernation was one of my favorites and I found myself checking the site regularly to see their Fantasy Football picks and their weekly updates.  They really did a phenomenal job and I'll be looking forward to their continued reporting on NESCAC football in 2014. 

[jumpshot]

Daoustian, since you requested responses from those knowledgeable of amherst ---

Core issues for lord jeffs include nationally-reported student behavior, financial position discussed at recent faculty meeting, $19 million write-off of proposed science complex, recent email sent to students warning about amherst alums on campus, condition of buildings and dorms (have you been on campus recently?), unresolved fraternity issue, etc.

amherst is a fine college ---just going through a difficult period ....

The issue is not athletics --after all it is Division III ....

[Panthernation]

All-conference picks: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2013/11/11/2013-all-nescac-teams/

I'm curious to know how the D-backs positions are determined as the players do not appear to be specific to CB or safety? Unless you guys are REALLY on top of the rosters...which would come as no surprise to me Lots of very good insight here most of the time.

The Panthernation "we" has a fairly myopic view of such things, but as implied by "them"...  they fortunately don't get a vote in the matter.  "Their" ramblings do add value, however, in fostering some spirited dialog.

Gr8ful1: The first team has three corners and one safety (Kukesh), while the second team has one corner (Leedy) and three safeties. We chose not to subdivide for any positional group (guards/tackles/centers, tackles/ends, Sams/Mikes/Wills, etc.). Mostly by convention, as that is how they usually do it.

PistachioX: About what things do we have a myopic view? Is it the question of whether the players are corners or safeties? Not sure what it means to have a myopic view of whether they are corners or safeties, since that's a pretty straightforward matter. Would you mind clarifying?

[Panthernation]

Panthernation was one of my favorites and I found myself checking the site regularly to see their Fantasy Football picks and their weekly updates.  They really did a phenomenal job and I'll be looking forward to their continued reporting on NESCAC football in 2014.

Thank you. We're both graduating this year, so this might actually be the last season of reporting. Trying to find some replacements, and have had two writers contributing who could take over next year. Hope that works out!

[FightingCards]

Mr. Trin 8-0:

I'll give you that an angry 19 yr old could do a little chicken scratch in the coop, but I doubt it...just saying this was certainly not endorsed by Coach Whalen-never.  Look forward to the Wes-Trin rivalry, and I think you clearly understand that the 43 year drought not only resides in our mind but literally has become part of the "FC Soul"...a deep, embarrassing hurt that is finally over....so the release and excitement over defeating the world of purple was beyond our dreams.  Tears flooded Middletown....

A Wes-Trin rival is great and we look forward to the challenge of competing against the Bantams...it would be nice if trin played a couple of starters in the pre-season scrimmage....the Whalen Mafia will be recommending to the Coach to delete the Trin scrimmage...It's a bit of a joke and only lasted 3 quarters this year....

On the rumor front, though the odds are that Whalen eventually retires from Wesleyan, always keep an eye on the Big Green Wave up in Hanover NH.  Buddy Teevins seems to have turned things around up there...4-4 with a few tough losses...but if things go south up in ski country, Harry Sheehy is an extended cousing of the Whalen Mafia and knows "Big Mike's" game.  He would certainly consider offering Mike a job..though I think he would turn it down....Look forward to talking baseball in the Spring when Wesleyan defends it's Little 3 Title and their regular season best Nescac Record; Amherst is good and very well coached...and performed well in the national playoffs.  I did witness the 36-7, 3 game slashing of Wes over Williams in Middletown...it was embarrassing for the purple people and another nice chapter in the athletic resurgence of the "Fighting Cardinals".  "Hey Al Davis"-make the Tuscon Baseball trip...it's not quite as good as winning the Little 3 Pigskin match, but a fantastic time.....we can plan the September trip to Middlebury for the gridiron opener as we sit by the pool....