FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[AUPepBand]

The NESCAC change which is least unlikely is the dropping of intercollegiate football by one or more NESCAC  colleges.

Is "least unlikely" the same as "more likely"? Double negatives sometimes cloud Pep's mind. 

[amh63]

Frank U.  ......your phrasing of a possible event can be confusing at times .
Anyway, any post-season play will NOT happen, IMO.  A possible 9 game season will be  more likely.  Had hoped discussion of such an item would have occurred during Amherst's Prez term as CAC host.  Fear the high number of president changeovers delayed a vote.  Still the support at Hamilton, Tufts and elsewhere is most encouraging.  Do not know where the new Bowdoin CEO is thinking wrt to Football.  One thing the CAC schools do not lack for are funds for football...except possibly Conn College.
The Nescac Presidents will use the Ivy League position when it comes to Football and the post- season.  Even in the Div1-AA level, and no post- season, I believe there are few Ivy football players going out for multi-sports. 
Yes, RPI went on a big facilities/ campus upgrade under its present President.....that included a new football stadium up on the hill.  Still, RPI's football program has not improved much.  Union College, a former CAC member, has not fared any better outside the CAC.
By Monday...the 2015 season will begin! In another week, rosters maybe posted.  Soon afterwards...improved speculations! . Is that a double negative?.

[PolarCat]

AU Pep, it's a thinly veiled secret that Frank was the inspiration for Yoda.  "A teacher Yoda is.  Yoda teaches like drunkards drink, like killers kill."

amh63, for some reason your quote reminded me of 1970, when the Lambert Trophy for the #1 East Coast Division 1 team went to Dartmouth, repeating their 1965 results, and interrupting a run by Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions that began in 1967 and lasted through 1975. 

That was an amazing Indians team (before the College became PC and rebranded the team as the insipid Big Green).  The Indians led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 42 points total on the season, for an average of 4.7 per game.  One of the stars of that team was Murry Bowden.  A lot of us expected him to go into the NFL.  Instead he became a real estate developer, and made a boatload of money instead of getting his brains scrambled and his knees wrecked.  Smart man.

It's a little depressing to look at the list of Lambert Trophy winners and how they did in the post season: "Won Orange Bowl."  "Won Cotton Bowl."  "Lost Sugar Bowl".  "Tied Gator Bowl".  But next to Dartmouth's name?  "No Bowl".  Can we relate?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert-Meadowlands_Trophy

Oh, and before anyone says "So what does this have to do with NESCAC?", the 4th string QB on that 1970 Lambert Trophy team was one Steve Stetson.

[lumbercat]

Great post polar cat-

as a kid in the Boston area in the 60s and 70s the Ivy league really mattered.

The Harvard-Yale game in 69 was the pinnacle but it was the beginning of the end for the Ivies.....the service Academies also began to decline thereafter.

The 1969 Harvard - Yale game extended the Ivy Leaugue mistique only briefly and the Dartmouth surge in 1970 didn't get all of the recognition that the Indians deserved.

Maybe I'm way off but no better football helmet than the big "D" on the front of the helmet with the diagonal green stripes extending over the crown of the helmet.

From a Nescac perspective Bates hired a guy named Vic Gatto who was the captain of the Harvard 69 team. He was the youngest coach in the NCAA at that point and he turned the Bates program around.
I remember Murray Bowden and that great Dartmouth team featured in Sports Ilistrated.....

[PolarCat]

My favorite story about Murray Bowden, though I don't know if it is true or just urban legend:

In 1971, Cornell's Ed Marinaro won the Maxwell Award and the UPI College Football Player of the Year Award, and was runner up for the Heisman.  Cornell's only loss that season was to Dartmouth, and the Indians and the Big Red finished the season as Ivy co-champs. 

As legend has it, in the Cornell-Dartmouth game, Marinaro carried on Cornell's first play, and was stopped by Bowden at the line of scrimmage.  Bowden took off his helmet, extended his hand, smiled, and said "Mr. Marinaro, my name is Murray Bowden.  You're going to be seeing a lot of me today."  And he did.

I don't care if it's true or not.  It's one of my favorite college football stories of all time.

And no, I don't have any way to tie this particular story into NESCAC.  (Though Marinaro the actor did go on to play the head coach in the cult classic Blue Mountain State.  So there is a DIII connection, however tenuous).

[polbear73]

Another great post, PolarCat.  The late 60's and early 70's were truly great times in the Ivy League.  They were also good ones for teams that would later comprise NESCAC  as players such as Maitland, Swift, Fugett, and Scott, among others made their marks then.  There were only two designations back then, Major and Small College and it was a strong era for New England college football.

[PolarCat]

Would love to hear anecdotes about Maitland, Swift, Fuguet, Scott and others as we wait patiently for the new season to take birth.

Bates' move-in day is today, and first team meeting is tonight.  Testing Day takes place tomorrow in the weight room and field house, and first practice is Wednesday.  Bates typically posts a Testing Day video to the team page, and it's fun to see the looks on the freshmen's faces.  "My God, what have I gotten myself into?"

And speaking of great NESCAC players: Did anyone else see Steven Hauschka's 60-yard game-winning FG against San Diego?  http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/08/30/locker-room-sound-chargers-we-always-count-hauschka

[jumpshot]

There is no question that one or more NESCAC schools will drop football, and some will re-structure their athletic programs in the foreseeable future. In the interim, there is no chance that a 9th game will be added.

[NewtoNescac]

There is no question that one or more NESCAC schools will drop football, and some will re-structure their athletic programs in the foreseeable future. In the interim, there is no chance that a 9th game will be added.

While this may happen, most indications are that the teams most likely to drop football, have made efforts to improve their programs. So, I just don't see it in the foreseeable future. I really hope for the kids playing that it does not happen.

[amh63]

Ah memories....have many from the 60's and 70's of NE football.  Tried to get a ticket for the '69 Harvard-Yale in Cambridge.  Two undefeated teams fighting for the Ivy title.  Harvard thinking about adding its old steel stands at the open end of its horseshoe stadium...10,000 more seats to be had.  New York papers reporting that alums offering up to 1000 bucks at the Harvard and Yale Clubs in the city.  A number of NFL players on both teams.  I digress...as usual.
PolarCat....your request for stories of NFL players from "Nescac" may annoy some posters here .
What the heck...will mention one now...Amherst's Doug Swift'70.  Swift was a six year starter '70-'75 for the Miami Dolphins at outside linebacker.  He got a look at the Dolphins camp for several reasons other than the fact he was a big linebacker prospect that raised havoc in college.  HFC Ostendarp asked Miami's Head coach Shula for a favor.  The Amherst legendary Coach "DARP" was a fellow backfield player with Coach Don Shula on the NY Giants.  The second reason was that the NFL players were on strike.  The Pro coaches were looking for replacement player prospects.  It is somewhat ironic in that Doug Swift in 2010 won the first NFL Union Leader Award for his efforTs for the Players Association. During his playing days he was considered by the local papers as one of the most underrated if not the best strong side linebackers in the NFL. Doug retired in 1976 to go to Medical school.....he is now an anesthesiologist at Penn Hospital in Philly.  Yes he is a member of the only indefeated NFL team...17-0.  I believe, his success led to a slew of Nescac players getting a look by the NFL....especially in the 70's.
Oh yes....polbear'73.....the Amherst QB you faced for several years is Rich Murphy'73.....Rich was signed by the Colts to a pro contract, but never player in the NFL.

[polbear73]

Thank you, amh63; I remember Rich Murphy all too well.  I still have nightmares of Murphy to Scott against us-and I played offense!. 

[PolarCat]

There is no question that one or more NESCAC schools will drop football, and some will re-structure their athletic programs in the foreseeable future. In the interim, there is no chance that a 9th game will be added.

At first, I didn't want to believe you, but the more I think about it.....

Since Williams is so incredibly obsessed with The Director's Cup, and since the football team is doing nothing to help them in their annual crusade, it makes perfect sense to evict football from Willytown.  Numerous posters (though not this poster) talked of a "Kelton Watch" last season, and were perplexed that there were no changes in the HCOF position.  This could explain it!  The Ephs could pull a Northeastern, close down the program overnight, and put that beautiful new Farley Lamb field to use for soccer, lacrosse, and maybe even ultimate Frisbee.  All of which would likely help them more in their annual quest for the Grail.

jumpshot, I think you are on to something!




(How's that for stirring the pot?  I will now sit back and await the deluge of -K's from a certain quarter).

[polbear73]

There is no question that one or more NESCAC schools will drop football, and some will re-structure their athletic programs in the foreseeable future. In the interim, there is no chance that a 9th game will be added.

At first, I didn't want to believe you, but the more I think about it.....

Since Williams is so incredibly obsessed with The Director's Cup, and since the football team is doing nothing to help them in their annual crusade, it makes perfect sense to evict football from Willytown.  Numerous posters (though not this poster) talked of a "Kelton Watch" last season, and were perplexed that there were no changes in the HCOF position.  This could explain it!  The Ephs could pull a Northeastern, close down the program overnight, and put that beautiful new Farley Lamb field to use for soccer, lacrosse, and maybe even ultimate Frisbee.  All of which would likely help them more in their annual quest for the Grail.

jumpshot, I think you are on to something!




(How's that for stirring the pot?  I will now sit back and await the deluge of -K's from a certain quarter).

You are a brave man, PolarCat!  Funny post and I'd give you a plus k if I could.

[PolarCat]

Thank you.  I am available for Bar Mizvah's and Bachelorette Parties.  Unlike The Donald, my act is not quite ready for the Catskills, but I'm working on it.

And Frank / Yoda: ONLY KIDDING WAS I!  GRIEVOUS OFFENSE TAKE NOT!

[gridiron]

Ah, the nine-game season topic again...

Nine game schedule should have happened some time ago.  Only conceivable reasons not to are economics, fear of more concussions and/or predisposition of some college administrations against football.  Any academic argument holds no water--just look to the Ivy League for affirmation.

Playoffs are a greater hurdle to overcome, but not playing everyone in your conference by adding a ninth game???