FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[amh63]

Vandy74..... welcome back!  This board misses your well written and witty posts...at least I do.
Your post gives me hope wrt Amherst's chances down in Middletown against the scary Cardinals.
Anyway, for those who want to read and hear a better report of the Amherst vs. Colby game, go to the Amherst Athletic Website.  There is the SID writeup and a surprising early video of the game with Coach Mills' recap.  Coach Mills explains the absence of QB Lippe in earlier games and a senior RB in the Colby game.  The writeup mentions some new names on both sides that made contributions.  Though there were subs in the second half at key positions...like RT to avoid injuries in a game that Amherst controlled..late in the game..I did notice the absence of some starters at the start of the game...and worried a little.
Meg Robertson'15, the video producer, is a busy senior who is one of Amherst's first Statistics Major. She is also an All-American WBB center at Amherst who was missed dearly late last season. I have
been a fan of her efforts for three years, both on and off the court.  She represents the kind of student-athletes found in the NESCAC.

[P'bearfan]

erhaps some others can shed light ... is there a rule in college football that allows a player receiving a kickoff to have his knee on the ground while catching the ball and return it? I always thought they were down at that point, in college at least.  Weaver from Hamilton did just that on the 85yd return.  It was a short kick and he had to run forward a bit to get under it.  I was standing on the grassy knoll (fonder for conspiracy theorists) at the 15yd line and had a pretty good view. 

As far as the Hamilton QB, my memory tells me he was under ZERO pressure.  It was almost like they had a play drawn up and the receivers weren't in the end zone where they thought he would be.  Strange play call ... Hamilton had been throwing the ball to wide open receivers with access to the sidelines all day long.  Thought they had time to do just that and set up a much closer play into the end one.

Thanks for the additional insight.  I didn't see the very beginning of the kick off so I looked up to see Weaver sprinting down the field.  I'm not sure what the rule is either but would guess that you're down.  Interesting.

Regarding the last play, it was frustrating not to be able to see that play unfold.  It sounds as if Bowdoin dropped at least 8 into coverage but I agree Hamilton had good success passing most of the day so it was very strange to hear that no receivers were near the ball.  Sounds like a mis-communication which you hate to see with the game on the line.

[banfan]

He would be down. A hand is ok, not a knee. Maybe the official was not looking where he should have been? Hard to imagine?

[PolarCat]

I had the rare treat of watching 2 Bates Football games in the same weekend.  They hosted a "JV" game today vs. Husson.  Bates doesn't actually have a JV team, but it was a classy move for Parents Weekend, so the parents whose sons didn't play Saturday could see them in action today.

Husson brought a HUGE team (they have 120 kids on their roster) vs.+/- 30 Bobcats.  Bates won 7-0 with another fine defensive effort, including several key stops in the red zone.  Bodes very well for the future of the program.  Hopefully our DC won't get lured away to be HCOF at another school.  (Guess I will switch gears and start rooting for Kelton!)

The other surprise was Bates 3rd string QB. He ran the option offense beautifully, and threw some beautiful long bombs with pinpoint accuracy and great touch.  The score could have been 21-0, except two freshman WR's made inexcusable drops.  It will be an interesting battle between him and Dugan next year.

Today's refs were amazingly good.  Too bad they didn't work more of our games this year.

Beautiful afternoon for football. Game didn't count for anything but bragging rights so there was good sportsmanship all around, and we met several really nice Husson families in the grandstands.  Wes and the Whale could learn a thing or two.  Wish we could do this every weekend.

[Go Continentals!]

The players knee did not touch the ground.  He did bend his knee and came to within a couple of inches to the ground.  Also, an official was right there with a perfect view of the play.  On the lay play of the game(there was enough time to run two pass plays) the QB threw the ball directly into the middle of three wide open Bowden players.  There wasn't a Hamilton player within 20-25 yards of the ball.  There was no pressure on the QB at all.  The QB was limping throughout the game so he probably wasn't able to put anything into the throw.  Hopsicker was better suited to make the throw.  Or, the 6'5" QB from California. 

[FourMoreYears]

The players knee did not touch the ground.  He did bend his knee and came to within a couple of inches to the ground.  Also, an official was right there with a perfect view of the play.

In the end, it doesn't matter because the ref didn't call it.
Given the inconsistent nature of the officiating in the NESCAC, one might suggest that an official being "right there" will not always result in a correct call. Just sayin'. ;-)

But I was standing directly on the 15 yd line with nobody between me and the player.
In fact, one of the guys on the Hamilton sideline (not sure if he is a coach) came over to the sideline to his buddies standing outside the fence and asked: "Did his knee touch the ground?", in a tone that implied he sure thought it did.  That's how close I was ... I could hear him even above the raucous cheering coming from the large Hamilton Fallcoming crowd at that end of the bleachers.   So I wasn't the only one, and some that did had an "H" on their hats ... :-)

Hey, when we're rooting for a team, we all see what we want to see! haha
It was an entertaining game ... Hamilton almost came away with the win.

I wish Hamilton the best the rest of the year and in the future.
Hopefully they can break that 16-game losing streak soon ... perhaps at Colby this weekend?

[amh63]

on Sunday, went on a walk to and on nearby city park.  Peeled off to check out the new expanded athletic HS facilities....brand new HS building too. Came upon a plaque near the new baseball and softball fields.  Inspired by Frank U's last post, I am posting an Abe Lincoln remark on the plaque...by the sport facilities....."Character is like a Tree; Reputation is like the Shade.  Reputation is what you make of it.  The Tree is the real Thing."
Also watched for a few minutes, several HS kids working out...a passer throwing long passes to a tall fast receiver.  Maybe will check out the next high school home game...even at the cost of five bucks!.  Refreshments only from the concession stands/huts..newly built.  New policy...new prices

[middhoops]

You are a good man amh63.  They don't charge us old guys $5 to go to a high school football game.  There is a "seniors" price that Vandy74 and I choose to pay.  Cuz we're cheap old guys.  Kudos to you for supporting your local sports.
I guess most NESCAC games are free, but the fancy food at Amherst football games can get pricy (the pulled pork sandwich is def worth it).

[P'bearfan]

I guess most NESCAC games are free, but the fancy food at Amherst football games can get pricy (the pulled pork sandwich is def worth it).

I do think it's great that NESCAC games are free (at least the ones at Bowdoin are).

However, having lived in the South for quite a while now, I have to cringe at the thought of eating a pulled pork sandwich in New England.....

[amh63]

MIDDHOOPS....the fact that you had the sandwich, tells me that you and VANDY were at the Panthers game last season at Pratt field.  Hope you'll enjoyed the experience
P'Bear.....the pulled pork sandwich from a local place is the Real Deal!  I'm a fan of such food and have tasted versions in Richmond, New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah, etc...but never in the more noted places in Cinn., Ohio or Tenn.  I prefer the Carolina version with Vinegar vice a sweet spicy version...did I have that in Florida?  Like discussions of Pizza and Chili...only meat in real chili , no particular locations have the lock on good food.  Stated by a father of two sons living now in Brooklyn who are both foodies and have passed Luke's...the one by the Brooklyn Bridge park...a place that have great lobster rolls...maybe as good as Libby's...maybe?

[P'bearfan]

I prefer the Carolina version with Vinegar vice a sweet spicy version.

Yes this is my favorite as well....it's called "Low Country BBQ" and it's origins are in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina

[PolarCat]

While it's great to know Luke's makes a good lobster roll, there is only one Libby's.  Lobsters across Maine vie for the right to be trapped and prepared by them.  There is no higher honor in Crustacean-dom.  The location of Libby's traps are a secret handed down from generation to generation, and competition for "Admission" is as fierce as Bowdoin's.

Getting hungry just thinking about it.   

[amh63]

PolarCat....apologies to not spelling Libby's properly...and thanks for not ragging on me for the error. Will correct my post.
Maybe later this season during another quiet period, will relate some more seafood stories...especially lobster related ones in New England...yes SO New England...happy memories.
Some thoughts on football.
Noticed on the Wesleyan website that the game in Middletown will also be carried by a Connecticut commericial TV station..CPTV, I believe.  Glad the fan base at Wesleyan is growing.  Prior "little three" games, I attended  were called Family and Homecoming ones.  This season it is just Homecoming.
Winning teams does bring out the fan base.  The Amherst fans do not flock to the game historically.
The few classmates, I did see there were CT residents on their way up to the Head of the Charles event.  This year, my planned vist has been canceled.  My host and "body guard" is presently in the Chapel Hill area...looking for a house and visiting my god daughter.
Counting on Amherst's coaches to make the "detail" adjustments needed during the upcoming battle in Middletown.  For example, in the Colby game...my take only..an adjustment made on the special teams was key to Amherst's surge in the second half.  Colby's talented player Joseph was hurting the LJs.  He caught passes as a WR, made stops as a DB...and great returns as a return man.  His returns were long and set up Colby's offense..good field position.  Yes, football is like War and field position can never be over-rated.  Anyway, I believe that adjustments were made to coverages on the special team.  In the second half on two consecutive kicks downfield by Amherst, Joseph was stopped cold.  One hit was clearly noticed by the announcer.  The other also saw no advancement...stopped by several Amherst players.  Colby had to start deep...one on the 15 yard line....their first possession of the 2nd half.  Next play, Amherst co-captain LB Deane .. Rushes the QB, hands up to block th pass, and collects the tipped pass and runs in for a TD..pick 6.
Field positions..as you posters know...will change the play calling..can change games...all from small adjustments.

[P'bearfan]

http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20141013aactdb

Bowdoin's HCOF Dave Caputi will step down at the end of this season - his 15th in Brunswick.  The school will conduct a national search for his successor.

[Nescacparent]

Best wishes to Coach Caputi. I hope that maybe another NESCAC school might be a landing spot for him or possibly within the administration at Bowdoin.