FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[speedy]

Haverford is reputed to be academically better than many (most?) NESCAC schools, but they're recruiting like . . . .

Williams (1), Amherst (2), and Bowdoin (6) are all rated above Haverford, which is tied With Middlebury for # 8 in the US News and World Report ratings. Five NESCAC football-playing schools fall below Haverford in the ratings. Tufts is a university and so is not rated against its NESCAC counterparts by USNWR.

[camper]

I'll take any of the 3 QB's Trinity uses over the kid from Colby.  T

dont you think there is a bit of a bias here, formerbant? dont doubt justin smith, he'll surprise alot of people this year. colby looks to be legit.

[NescacAlum]

I was refering to Bates QB...

[formerbant10]

- Camper:  Of course I'm biased....but 22 wins is better than any stat i know of.  I'm all for Smith having a great year, I like seeing all of the NESCAC do well, as long as they aren't playing the Bants.
- NES:  Sorry for that mistake....I'm still taking the Trinity trio over anyone.

[frank uible]

formerbant: Trinity's 22 wins has largely been caused by its OL, DBs, RBs and front 7 (pretty much in that order) - its QBs have been merely along for the ride.

[formerbant10]

Frank:  Very true, and there were many times last year when the Bants lined up w/o a QB to take advantage of their tremendous running game.  Trinity has so many good players that their QB's get lost in the mix, but Pitcher did lead the NESCAC in efficiency last year. Schweitzer threw extremely well in the Wesleyan game when he was healthy, and Barnard can hurt you with his arm and his legs.  Of course I have a very biased opinion towards them and will back them no matter what. 

[frank uible]

former: Sounds like Trinity has the talent to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

[formerbant10]

I wouldn't go that far......there's a small difference in athleticism and talent b/t the likes of Trinity and say Miami.  But they certainly have the most talent in the NESCAC.  Can you agree on that?

[frank uible]

former: It appears that for at least the last 2 years they have had.

[Jonny Utah]

I think Bates will shock some people this year....probably not trinity, but they are an improved team.

[formerbant10]

Frank, they definitely have the last two years.  Some of the players are pretty confident about this year as well.  But there pendelum always swings back to the other side eventually.  I just hope its not any time soon.

[NescacAlum]

I think Bates will have a historic year in terms of there program, Their QB is an All League player as well as both D ends look for them to do big things

[Trin9-0]

NescacAlum: What would constitute a historic year for Bates? 4 wins? Dare I day a winning season? My only question is if Trinity, Amherst, Williams and Colby are all expected to compete for the Conference title, and Bates and Bowdoin are being hyped to have big turn around seasons... who's going to lose all these games? Are Middlebury, Tufts and Wesleyan really that bad?

[dirtybirds8-0]

Frank:  Not to be putting you down or anything, but Trinity's success has been based on the performance of their defense the last three years.  If you look at the statistics, the 7-1 team allowed 110 total points on the year, the first 8-0 team allowed 30 total points (a NESCAC record, and the best in D3 in several categories), and last years defense was third in the nation in total defense!

[formerbant10]

Trinity's Defense has definitely been its best asset.  When you have players like Mike Blair who are All NESCAC pretty much their whole career and Avon Morgan, who played a limited role behind All NESCAC linebacker Greg Tanner then makes first team All NESCAC in his first year starting it's pretty obvious the Bants have some depth.  It must be nice for the coaches to pick players off an assembly line and have them perform at all conference levels.