FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

AUPepBand · May 23, 2014, 12:02:42 AM

Quote from: frank uible on May 19, 2014, 06:27:38 PM
It is suspected that Murray would not have made the move without credible assurance from the Hamilton administration of substantially increased support for the football program.

Six full-time assistant coaches is substantial support, in Pep's estimation, particularly with a maximum roster of 75. AU had TWO full-time assistant coaches until an alum put up money for a third sometime ago with roster numbers exceeding 200 at times.

amh63 · May 23, 2014, 04:32:27 PM

AUPep....thanks for putting a little perspective on things. Everything is relative in a sense. It is hard to organize squads that size and get to know one's players.

frank uible · May 24, 2014, 01:15:08 AM

If your correspondent was considering accepting a HFC post at a NESCAC college with an historically run down football program, the first type of administrative support which he would expect would be a significant loosening of admission standards for football players.

amh63 · May 24, 2014, 11:13:28 AM

Seems that the new HFC at Hamilton has made some new coaching changes prior to June 1. Of the six assistants on his staff, three are new...including the offensive and defensive coordinators. These key assistants arrive from Patriot league positions, I believe. Encouraging signs of school support. Will know further when the roster is available...if the roster is up to 75 players. Hamilton had a roster of under 70 the past season. If the roster shows transfers...including some from AU...it would point to the direction that Frank U. mentioned...IMO.

AUPepBand · May 25, 2014, 05:52:29 PM

Quote from: amh63 on May 24, 2014, 11:13:28 AM
Seems that the new HFC at Hamilton has made some new coaching changes prior to June 1. Of the six assistants on his staff, three are new...including the offensive and defensive coordinators. These key assistants arrive from Patriot league positions, I believe. Encouraging signs of school support. Will know further when the roster is available...if the roster is up to 75 players. Hamilton had a roster of under 70 the past season. If the roster shows transfers...including some from AU...it would point to the direction that Frank U. mentioned...IMO.

What's your source on the new coaching changes, amh63? Pep is wondering whether the list of assistant coaches on the Hamilton website has even been updated since Murray's appointment. Not familiar with the previous coach's staff, but Pep thinks you may be jumping the gun. Pep has heard that AU's incoming 90 recruits have been contacted and that the coaching change has not altered their plans. As for transfers from AU? Time will tell but Pep doesn't anticipate a lot of that will happen.

On Saxon Warriors!

amh63 · May 25, 2014, 08:14:18 PM

AU prep... I looked on the Hamilton football website, under coaches. The other "stuff" looks the same. The coaches section has the new head coach bio. The other coaches bio appears to be updated....I.e. With reference to years. When an assistant has first year, I would take it as true...since the previous HFC left over a year ago and the past year under the interim coach...the AD...would not be one in which the acting head coach would hire assist coaches while looking for a head coach. Makes no sense.
I maybe very wrong. I maybe also incorrect that your former coach would raid his old roster. The point is that the roster for last season was under 75 and no info as to what the size of the incoming class. To compete in the Nescac, one needs to reach 75 players on the roster. The upper tier schools has that number of players.
FYI....Amherst has at least 7 assistants...paid...there are other ones but I do not know the funding source for those positions....as a reference.

AUPepBand · May 26, 2014, 09:50:22 AM

Quote from: amh63 on May 25, 2014, 08:14:18 PM
AU prep... I looked on the Hamilton football website, under coaches. The other "stuff" looks the same. The coaches section has the new head coach bio. The other coaches bio appears to be updated....I.e. With reference to years. When an assistant has first year, I would take it as true...since the previous HFC left over a year ago and the past year under the interim coach...the AD...would not be one in which the acting head coach would hire assist coaches while looking for a head coach. Makes no sense.
I maybe very wrong. I maybe also incorrect that your former coach would raid his old roster. The point is that the roster for last season was under 75 and no info as to what the size of the incoming class. To compete in the Nescac, one needs to reach 75 players on the roster. The upper tier schools has that number of players.
FYI....Amherst has at least 7 assistants...paid...there are other ones but I do not know the funding source for those positions....as a reference.

Cohen resigned Feb. 1, 2014. Hind was then appointed "interim head coach" and as AD, likely oversaw the search for a new head coach. Agreed that Hind would not appoint assistants were he searching for a HC.

Pep believes the assistant coaches on the website are likely unchanged from Coach Cohen's administration...and that Coach Murray is working now to build his own staff of coaching assistants. Pep has heard that two of his assistants at Alfred will go with him to Hamilton and neither of them are among the six currently listed on the website. That listing of assistant coaches won't be updated until Murray has his staff in place.

You are correct, amh68, you may be very wrong.

On Saxon Warriors...and Continentals!

amh63 · May 26, 2014, 10:54:17 AM

AUpep...thanks for the update...and correction

. This change has helped me learn something, besides not checking dates. I hope for the best for the new coach. Amherst does not have Hamilton on its schedule this season. There is a rotation of schools in a conference where One school does not have a football team and only 8 games are played....resulting in a push for a nine game schedule where there is no need to rotate schools.
I hope Hamilton gets a strong program for it will help in the push for a 9 game schedule....the prez of the schools vote on such sport things.
Anyway...I looked up the number of coaches on the strong football programs in recent years. Correction...Middlebury has only six assistants. Amherst, Williams and Wesleyan , each have over seven, while the traditional powerhouse, Trinity, is on another level

. Tufts is rebuilding hard and their rosters contain better players and higher numbers. The Maine schools are challenging now and should be stronger under new administrations...all comments are my opinions only and you know how wrong I can be.
Go Saxons! I'm a reader of the "Saxon Tales" books and a student of King Alfred's efforts to form England and to make it a Christian nation.

frank uible · May 26, 2014, 03:02:41 PM

"It ain't the X's and the O's; it's the Jimmies and the Joes."

amh63 · May 26, 2014, 03:35:07 PM

Frank U....quite true, as always and in today's world, the Alex and the Joses too...but good ones. Plus K. I will add, it also takes a coach that can produce. A competitive Team with the talent on hand/available.

AUPepBand · May 26, 2014, 05:32:20 PM

Quote from: frank uible on May 26, 2014, 03:02:41 PM
"It ain't the X's and the O's; it's the Jimmies and the Joes."

Been doing some reading on the history of college football. W.W. "Pudge" Heffelfinger wrote that Frank Thomas said a successful football coach is based on:

60% material
10% coach's knowledge
10% coach's personality
10% coach's ability to impart knowledge to players
10% coach's ability to organize practices
....and throw in a little luck!

So Frank, you got that about right! +K

On Saxon Warriors!

frank uible · May 26, 2014, 08:01:08 PM

amh63: When NESCAC goes to 9 game football schedules, please come, knock on my coffin and wake me. I won't complain.

frank uible · May 26, 2014, 10:53:45 PM

Murray's bio reads great. The SWAG here is that within 5 years Hamilton will have at least one 5-3 (or better) season.

AUPepBand · May 28, 2014, 03:56:23 AM

Quote from: frank uible on May 26, 2014, 10:53:45 PM
Murray's bio reads great. The SWAG here is that within 5 years Hamilton will have at least one 5-3 (or better) season.

It will likely be a bit more challenging for Murray in recruiting, without being able to visit kids (he's a likeable guy in person)...but he's up to it. What you'll find immediately, with the material he has to work with, is that they will play hard for him.

A prime example: Alfred lost at Union 43-0 in the 1997 season finale (Moretti's last year of coaching and first year as AD). Working with arguably the same kids, Murray's first meeting with Union 11 months later was a 28-9 win on Merrill Field. Remarkable. Not saying Hamilton will win the NESCAC this fall. Nope. But the Continentals may surprise some teams.

Pep hopes to catch the Bowdoin and/or Middlebury games at Steuben Field.

amh63 · May 28, 2014, 09:32:38 PM

Frank U....the only time I plan to knock on your place of residence is next season when I plan to take a visit to Williams' new football field. How is it going..on schedule, I hope.
Do expect you to drop by my class tent during Amherst's Homecoming...and sit on the Sunny side of the stands.
AUPeo....Clinton is a fine NY village with some nice places to eat. Will miss visiting the town. Not the stands on the visiting team side. Then you will be on the Hamilton side.

. No bands, I fear in the Nescac.