FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[gridiron]

Regarding Colby, confirmed exodus of OC.  Don't have details but as accurately reported, offense underperformed last season and many close to the team considered the first-time OC as a big part of the problem.  Offense returns most all in the skill positions with the notable exception of Dunklee.  Regardless of who fills the OC role, it will now be the third for the Mules in three years.  Challenging to build momentum under the circumstances and unfortunate, especially for the upperclassmen.  Perhaps HC Michaels will once again take the offensive reigns.

[lumbercat]

Gridiron
As usual you are right on top of things- thanks for your insight. Assume the announcement of Fogartys departure will flow slowly from Mayflower Hill and his replacement will be revealed in the Colby preseason forecast in August.

[NewtoNescac]

Thanks for the info. Just my two cents, but given all if the turnover the past year or two, Michaels should immediately announce he's assuming HC/OC role. Program cannot afford to wait until August. I sense a total lack of direction right now, and the HC is the only one that can change it. He needs to step up. And while the OC should shoulder much of the blame for last year's anemic offense. The QB play, with the exception of one game, was ineffective. And apparently he was made a captain as a junior. Now they are locked into Harrington. It sadly looks like a mess at a Colby.

[nescac1]

A bunch more Williams recruiting news over the past few months.  Hopefully there are several guys who can make a fast impact here, since the Ephs obviously have a lot of holes.  In particular, the Ephs could benefit from an early impact from some of the RBs and linemen on either side of the ball.  Here is the full list of who I've seen, including those previously reported.  I believe Loughran is the third of three brothers who have played for the Ephs, all on the OL.  Lots of two-sport guys, and most of the recruits seem to be from outside of New England. 

Jaelon Moaney, 5'10, 170 QB, Easton, MD
Karsten Salveson, 6'4 280 OL from Breck (MN)
Joachim Cendergren, 6'2 240 DE from Loomis Chaffee
Eric Smith, 5'9 185 RB Episcopal (Virginia)
J.J. Dunn, 6'2 185 QB  Canterbury
Austin Thomas,  6'2 230 DE from Servite High (California)
Kellen Hatheway, WR Byram Hills (also a baseball recruit)
Noah Sorrento, RB Xaverian
Amyhr Barber, WR, Gilman (MD)
Chris Dumont, RB, Phillips Exeter
Pat Loughran, 6'2 255 OL, Shady Side (PA)
Sebastian Dziadkiewicz, LB, Tabor (also a wresling recruit)
Jack Overholt, 6'1 190 WR, Hill School (also a baseball recruit)
Stuart Read, WR/LB, Potomac School (also a baseball recruit)

[amh63]

Nescac1...thanks for the update.  Counted the listed number of "recruits"....got 14...the number allowed for football "tips".  Noticed the number of baseball players....assume that baseball has no more than 2 tips?  Some historic rich football-talent schools, like Gilman in Baltimore and Xaverian in Mass.  The Potomac School....relative new school in MD does not have a strong football tradition.  See the recruit is also a baseball player....means speed and quickness to me..speed is a good thing on the field...both sides.
Based on my limited knowledge of Amherst players over the years....FY Impact lineman are rare...especially on the offensive side.  There were/ are freshman on the defensive side that have contributed.  However, with that said, the Big lineman from Minn looks like a fine recruit.  Amherst has had excellent players from that state....but not in that SiZE!....a legacy?

[PolarCat]

Did some (very) quick checking and the players from Exeter and Tabor were PG's, so they are older and have another year experience under their belts compared to typical FY's.  Did not have time to check the others.  Looks like a very strong recruiting class.

[nescac1]

That is in no way official; I'm sure there are many more recruits that I just haven't read / heard about, and for some, maybe all, of those two sport recruits, I think football is the second sport, so likely they are not football TIPS. 

Unlike some other sports, it's very, very hard to project immediate impact of football recruits.  I'd be willing to bet, however, that at least one of the RB recruits gets massive playing time, just because of the dearth of upperclass talent at that position.  Both Sorrento and Dumont has very, very productive H.S. careers and played well in very competitive settings, so I have a feeling we will see one or both of them getting a lot of carries next year.  As for the rest, who knows.  Austin Thomas, Loughran, and Moaney could be names to watch, but that is very, very speculative, and I'm sure there are some prominent recruits who aren't on this list. 

There is a lot of uncertainty heading into the season for the Ephs next year ... TB is wide open, OL loses a few guys and a few more may get challenged for playing time, QB has two candidates for playing time, and there are huge question marks in the secondary and on the DL.  LB, WR, and TE are the only positions where veteran, stable units return, and WR is the only unit that looks like it has the potential to be among the top in the NESCAC.  Williams needs to find a way to get James Howe back to his sophomore level of performance, which is a key to defensive improvement; he needs a lot more help up front than he has gotten over the past few years. 

Coming off two straight losing seasons, really, no job (including coaching jobs, of course) is likely to be all that safe, and I think there will be a long and very competitive pre-season, with a lot more underclassmen seeing extensive playing time than Williams fans are accustomed to.  Obviously, the goal is to return to .500 or better, and of course to break heretofore unthinkable four game losing streaks to Bates and Amherst.  Motivation at this point must be very high.  On paper, I thought last year's squad looked like it would be an above .500 team, and I turned out very wrong.  Williams continues to lose a crazy number of close games, year after year, that go down to the final possession or two ... at SOME point, you'd think that would start to even out a bit, but after four years, you can't chalk it up to only bad luck. This squad has a lot more uncertainty on paper than last year's, so hard to get too excited, but things can hardly get worse in terms of W-L record (right ).   In all events, if Williams is going to improve, frosh are going to have to make an impact at several positions, no question about that.   

[NewtoNescac]

Nothing but NESCAC is reporting Hamilton has a transfer QB coming from Pace University. Anyone see that report?

[gridiron]

Still awaiting insight on the Colby OC departure but am hearing Coach Michaels is not happy about whatever went down.

[NewtoNescac]

Michaels is the HC and the buck stops with him. By all observations he's created a mess. He could have promoted from within, rather than hire an unproven outsider in Fogarty. Why didn't he? I have a theory, but obviously can't be sure.

[gridiron]

Agreed that Michaeles is the one whose program it is to lead and is the one to solve this most recent issue.  Way too many distractions in the coaching ranks for too many seasons in a row.  Coaching staff clearly not all on the same page--and players sense it.  Would be interested to hear your theory on Fogarty...

[hamfan88]

I am pretty certain the AD makes the final call as to hiring decisions, including the OC. This is the NESCAC, not the SEC. The HC obviously has a high level of influence in those decisions, however. I don't think its fair to place the entire blame on the HC Michaels for this "mess" you perceive.

[NewtoNescac]

Of course the AD makes the ultimate call on hiring. But, unless the AD has a good reason, he is rubber stamping the HC's call on hiring. Otherwise the program will not be successful.

[gridiron]

Heard the former Colby OC is heading to Fordham.

[NewtoNescac]

The bigger question is who's the next Colby OC? Any word on that? With the turnover in coaches the past two seasons Michaels would be well served by making a very quick decision. Even if it means he has to take over as OC. I see this as a clear test of his HC ability. He must show leadership and act decisively.