FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[bman]

While it's an interesting post, I think you over-estimate the ability of a HS student and his parents to fully and thoughtfully evaluate a college program.  I know in my kid's case, he fell in love with 3 or 4 schools, and when his HS coach told him that his #1 choice wanted him, there was no researching the ability to play post-season

Look, if parents and players don't look into whether a team can be in the playoffs, that's their decision. Maybe they don't care, or maybe they just assume they'll be able to play, because that's the obvious answer.

But if you make that assumption or neglect to do the research, and then you show up and don't like the reality, well, I say that's a you problem and not a NESCAC problem. If you're that concerned about only playing eight games and not playing in the postseason, why wouldn't you have done this research? It's 2015, the concept of the NESCAC playing 8 games is not a state secret, and it's not like you have to look real hard to find out a team's postseason history (or lack thereof).

...and this isn't the 60s when the only mention of Division III college football aside from local coverage was a long list of Saturday's scores in the Sunday morning paper. Information is readily available today for anyone who wants to know. Case in point, what Alfred professor artificially inseminated a bee? On your mark, get set go......first to answer gets +K

Who is Dr. Lloyd Watson... Alex

[AUPepBand]

While it's an interesting post, I think you over-estimate the ability of a HS student and his parents to fully and thoughtfully evaluate a college program.  I know in my kid's case, he fell in love with 3 or 4 schools, and when his HS coach told him that his #1 choice wanted him, there was no researching the ability to play post-season

Look, if parents and players don't look into whether a team can be in the playoffs, that's their decision. Maybe they don't care, or maybe they just assume they'll be able to play, because that's the obvious answer.

But if you make that assumption or neglect to do the research, and then you show up and don't like the reality, well, I say that's a you problem and not a NESCAC problem. If you're that concerned about only playing eight games and not playing in the postseason, why wouldn't you have done this research? It's 2015, the concept of the NESCAC playing 8 games is not a state secret, and it's not like you have to look real hard to find out a team's postseason history (or lack thereof).

...and this isn't the 60s when the only mention of Division III college football aside from local coverage was a long list of Saturday's scores in the Sunday morning paper. Information is readily available today for anyone who wants to know. Case in point, what Alfred professor artificially inseminated a bee? On your mark, get set go......first to answer gets +K

Who is Dr. Lloyd Watson... Alex

Excellent!
Elementary!
Indeed 'twas Dear Dr. Watson
+K

[amh63]

One thing for sure on this board....the rate of increase of board's pages....never will catch up with the Empire 8 and other boards that have post season football opportunities.
In any case, expect the next rise/ bump on this board will be in a week or so....when the rosters of all teams are posted.  Then another rise after the scrimmages.  Not really...historically, scrimmage posts are few and of little value.  The best info after an Amherst- Williams scrimmage is which team had the best practice uniforms...most players with facial hair, etc.  Just kidding here...a little.
Do expect a report after the first game on the best tailgate affair...fixings/ Ambiance only.
Going to watch a little CAC sports tonight..online hopefully.  Ithaca is a place that has its 50's charm, broken only by the brash realities of NYC  students .

[PolarCat]

Maybe you should have gone to Union or RPI or Hobart or Rochester if you wanted to play nine or ten games with a post season.       

Wait.  Union plays football in the post season??  Are we talking about the same Union?

[Pat Coleman]

But but but you're not willing to consider the small change of an earlier start to the NESCAC season!! Seriously, I don't think that that should be as problematic in cost terms as it seems to be since many of the NESCACs do not truly close for the summer and the freshmen arrive earlier and earlier every year. . Somewhere I read that a 9-game regular season schedule is a precondition for participation in the NCAA's D3 football play-offs so that needs to be put in place first.

This is actually not true, for what it's worth. You can go to the playoffs with eight games. The only thing holding the NESCAC back is lack of will to file paperwork to get an automatic bid.

[Pat Coleman]

As a rule, colleges do not scrimmage against other schools, certainly not against seasonal opponents and definitely not against traditional long time rivals.  Every head or assistant NESCAC football coach with whom I've spoken over the years would gladly forgo the scrimmage for a 9th regular season game. 

Colleges absolutely scrimmage against other schools. But no, never against schools in their own conference.

[polbear73]

I stand corrected, Pat,  thanks. I stand by my other comments, though.

[PolarCat]

Colleges absolutely scrimmage against other schools. But no, never against schools in their own conference.

Never say "never". Bates scrimmages Colby every year.  Pretty sure there are other NESCAC schools that also scrimmage their in-conference rivals, too.  This may be because all the surrounding conferences have already started their seasons when the 'CAC players are arriving on campus.

[quicksilver]

But but but you're not willing to consider the small change of an earlier start to the NESCAC season!! Seriously, I don't think that that should be as problematic in cost terms as it seems to be since many of the NESCACs do not truly close for the summer and the freshmen arrive earlier and earlier every year. . Somewhere I read that a 9-game regular season schedule is a precondition for participation in the NCAA's D3 football play-offs so that needs to be put in place first.

This is actually not true, for what it's worth. You can go to the playoffs with eight games. The only thing holding the NESCAC back is lack of will to file paperwork to get an automatic bid.

Thanks, Pat, for clearing that up. I read about the 9-game requirement in a secondary source and was not sure that it was correct . .

[Pat Coleman]

Colleges absolutely scrimmage against other schools. But no, never against schools in their own conference.

Never say "never". Bates scrimmages Colby every year.  Pretty sure there are other NESCAC schools that also scrimmage their in-conference rivals, too.  This may be because all the surrounding conferences have already started their seasons when the 'CAC players are arriving on campus.

Since you had already said the NESCAC was an exception, I didn't think I needed to repeat it.

[gridiron]

Off season fodder.  NESCAC tailgate reviews are from visiting fan perspective.  Venues listed in reverse alphabetical order.  Other opinions are of course encouraged.

Williams:   Visiting tailgaters have nice proximity to field.  Location is such that visiting team walks by on way from locker room to field, which the tailgating fans enjoy.  However, beware of the most restrictive tailgating policies in the league (save possibly the new ones at Middlebury).  Many complaints as employees relentlessly enforce causing most all to wonder why it needs to be so different in Williamstown.  Note: review is prior to new field completion.

Wesleyan:   One of the few remaining grass fields in the league as well as one of the few that charge spectators.  Ample parking with one section dedicated to the visiting team fans.  Teams walk by on way to field (similar to Williams) which is nice as well.

Tufts:   Old school grass field makes the games entertaining with grass stains on the uniforms, etc.  Another school that charges admittance to games.  Visitor tailgating is nearby and provides a nice view to the field.  Parking can get tight, so get there early.

Trinity:   Fun to watch a game at the field (despite the sound effects over the loud speaker).  Be prepared to pay to get into the game.  Parking gets extremely tight for tailgating, so if you have much to unload, get there early.  The visitor tailgating area is WAY across the fields requiring a lengthy walk.  Home tailgaters have a bit of a walk as well.  Grounds personnel are very helpful and, if requested, will arrange a ride to the field for grandparents, etc.

Middlebury:   Attractive setting for tailgaters on a rise behind the concrete stadium.  Plenty of parking.  However, the parking attendants restrict entrance to the area until two hours before kick-off.  Additionally, the new no-alcohol policy for tailgaters has many disappointed.  Enforcement is much less aggressive than at Williams.

Hamilton:   Attractive venue with buildings surrounding much of the field.  Visitor tailgating area is close to the field in the end zone, and parking is ample.  One of the easiest places to tailgate and still see the game without leaving the tailgate area, if you so desire.

Colby:   Very pretty setting on a hill.  Tailgaters are nearby with a short walk down the hill through trees to the stadium stands.  Plenty of parking and tailgating area.  Although there is a track around the field, there is an elevated sidewalk in front of the stands facilitating good viewing lines.

Bowdoin:   Grass field and very old feeling venue.  Parking gets tight for tailgaters but the location is close to the field.  Watching games there feels like going back in time to high school days—appealing to some and not to others.

Bates:   Probably the most viewer friendly field in the league as spectators are able to surround the field at a very close distance.  The visiting tailgate area has ample parking, is close to bathroom facilities and is relatively private being behind a building.  The walk to the field, though, takes some time which really is the only complaint.

Amherst:  A tale of two fields.  The new facility results in visiting tailgaters being relocated to an area up the street and by the gymnasium.  Amherst home team tailgaters now reside in both end zones.  While parking is ample in the designated area for visitors, the distance from the field is MUCH less desirable than the old field where the proximity was ideal.  Not a "grandparent friendly" locale either, as those in that category must choose between attending the game or tailgate.  Logistics of doing both will not work.

On the topic of tailgating, a re-post.

[ContinentalsMan]

Hamilton will scrimmage Cornell Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Ithaca. You can get more info on the team at HamiltonContinentalsFootball.com. The team has not posted their roster yet as for perhaps the first time ever they are trying to get down to 75 players.
 

[jumpshot]

Football in the NESCAC will not increase in number of games, playoff participation, etc., in the foreseeable future. Expanding football would be entirely inconsistent with the present scope of student size, athletic programs, emphasis on academics and amateur sports, medical evidence, etc. For example, Williams College has athletics and academics correctly positioned with 16 of 18 Directors' Cups and a 13th consecutive year announced today by U.S. News as #1 liberal arts college. Several other leading NESCAC schools are settling into a better balance after "noble experiments" of hyper-promotion, with a few notable exceptions still trying to be something they're not within a comprehensively competitive landscape in higher education.

[gridiron]

Bowdoin Tufts is (or at least was) an annual scrimmage as well.

[polbear73]

Not for the last two years.  Bowdoin's reserves scrimmaged Bridgeton Academy; no scrimmage for starters and seconds.