FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

Agree with PC -

the Wiliiams transmission of the Bates game was awful- I was at the Tufts -Bowdoin game trying to keep an eye on the Garnet and Black.....I met 3 other Bobcat followers in the stands by accident because we were all cursing at our cell phones......it was really funny.
Also checked with my usual Bobcat connections outside the area who where trying to catch the game on the internet and all were frustrated by the Williams webcast. I'm sure the Williams tech staff were doing their best but I guess the whole tech webcast deal has its issues.

Nothing more frustrating than watching a game and have the feed cut in and out- reminds me of my youth with early UHF broadcasts of Bruins and Celtics games in Boston back in the day.

However we have come a long way from the pre internet days when Nescac alums, myself included, would either wait for the Boston Saturday night Tv news at 11 or the Early Globe on Sunday morning to see how the Bobcats fared. The more creative alums would call a dorm pay phone and ask an unsuspecting underclassman what transpired that day on Garcelon.

In my experience the games on NSN are archived and are available on DVD for about $25.

[lumbercat]

Thanks Pat
Appreciate your take- as usual its a bit vague and somewhat unknown with the Nescac.

Also.....Total non sequitur Pat but who functions as commissioner or in an authoritative role in various D3 conferences you encounter across the country- how do D3 conferences govern themselves?

[amh63]

Caught the posting late..watching some Monday Night football.
Believe you can get a DVD of a past broadcast NSN after a time period....guessing around 2 weeks. 
Did see the pic of the Williams marching Band!  Guess like the Cornell Marching Band.....only one. 
Come to think....are there any other bands in the CAC...so much music talent around. 

[amh63]

Did a search of the NSN DVD store...went to Amherst and there to sports.....No listing of football at all.  Plenty of other sorts, etc. 
do not know why....limited demand?....costs for production? 

[NewtoNescac]

NSN has football DVDs, but for some reason they don't list football. I found it very confusing.

[RetiredMule]

As an interesting note to add fuel to my previous post about the coaching situation on Mayflower Hill.  According to people at the game this past week in Middletown, CT.  The Athletic Director at Colby made the 5 hour trip, separate from the team, to watch football specifically.  Was this a good natured fan trip or an evaluation? It remains to be seen.

[lumbercat]

RetiredMule
From a distant perspective I don't think Michaeles job is in jeopardy at all. It's not uncommon for an AD to make that trip- And by the way, that showing last week at Wesleyan would be a plus for Micheales.
I can't call the Mules underachievers following losses to Middlebury and Trinity with a good showing on the road against Wesleyan.

He has recruited well and has some real quality and depth especially at the skill positions which is typically a good recipe for success in the Nescac.

[NewtoNescac]

lumbercat - Without commenting on Michaeles' situation, as I have no idea regarding the status (I do wish him well).

Having attended the first 3 games, I will tell you that they have been a major disappointment. Make no mistake, the coaches are trying, and the kids are playing hard. But, moral victories should not be good enough at this point, and doubt they are for the AD.

It is a replay of last season's 2-6, and may even end up worse if they don't fix the offense. They had the NESCAC OPOW this past week, who ran for 202 yards, and they still didn't win. The offense has produced only 3 offensive TDs in 3 games. No passing TDs.

They are a very capable team that needs to "learn how to win". And, it needs to start soon. But, I have not given up yet.

[PolarCat]

I am wondering whether both Bates and Colby need new Offensive Coordinators, rather than new Head Coaches?

The third member of the CBB has a different impediment.  Bowdoin has a new HC and a new OC, but they need time to recruit and turn things around.

All three share one problem: winning begets winning, and it's easier to recruit kids to join a team that is 6-2 than to a team that is 2-6 (or 0-8, as one or more of these may finish this year).

[Jonny Utah]

I am wondering whether both Bates and Colby need new Offensive Coordinators, rather than new Head Coaches?

The third member of the CBB has a different impediment.  Bowdoin has a new HC and a new OC, but they need time to recruit and turn things around.

All three share one problem: winning begets winning, and it's easier to recruit kids to join a team that is 6-2 than to a team that is 2-6 (or 0-8, as one or more of these may finish this year).

Bates is two or three goofy plays from being 2-1.  They are in a much better place than they were before 2010.

[PolarCat]

Completely agree, and I am wondering if a different OC could have avoided calling those goofy plays?

[Jonny Utah]

Completely agree, and I am wondering if a different OC could have avoided calling those goofy plays?

Well their offense is kind of goofy too, and I'm specifically thinking about the 4th quarter fumble in the Tufts game, which I understand wasn't a goofy play call (but I didn't see it either).

I got to see some Bates on hudl the other day and they run pretty much the same stuff their system allows.  They move the ball ok, I'm not sure if goofy playcalling is the reason they have been losing.  I dunno, you tell me.

[NewtoNescac]

Colby had a new OC last year, and Michaeles took over as HC/OC this year. Same result so far.

I am not willing to throw him under the bus as he's had success in the past as OC, but I will say everyone in the stands knows what the play call is going to be 90% of the time. And, that's not a good thing. And when the unexpected is called, it leaves you shaking your head at times. For example, I will never understand throwing a middle screen on Wesleyan's 11 yard line. Result, no TD and a FG. It's a bland predictable offense so far. They need to start playing offense to win, and stop playing not to lose. They have the players to do it.

Maybe this weekend will be different. I hope so.

[PolarCat]

Jonny, I was responding to your earlier comment about being 2 or 3 goofy plays away from 2-1.  I was assuming you were referring to electing to run the ball against Tufts on 4th and goal from the one, instead of kicking the FG for the lead, and the play selection in that last series against Williams that took Bates out of FG range.

There were other factors in both games (fumbles, blown coverage, penalties), but when you said "goofy plays" I assumed you were referring to play selection, not miscues.

[Jonny Utah]

Jonny, I was responding to your earlier comment about being 2 or 3 goofy plays away from 2-1.  I was assuming you were referring to electing to run the ball against Tufts on 4th and goal from the one, instead of kicking the FG for the lead, and the play selection in that last series against Williams that took Bates out of FG range.

There were other factors in both games (fumbles, blown coverage, penalties), but when you said "goofy plays" I assumed you were referring to play selection, not miscues.

Ah no, I meant goofy mistakes/miscues that I wouldn't consider the fault of the OC or head coach.  Although for an offense like Bates, trying to score with less than 2 minutes on your own 20 yard line is almost impossible to do (without timeouts as well).  Sometimes the option offenses are better off running the ball even.

But again, I've only seen a few plays on hudl from the Amherst game, so I trust your judgment..