FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[toad22]

I attended the Amherst-Tufts game with a Tufts friend. It was an astounding game.  Almost no decent defense was played by either team in the first half. Amherst played a little better defense in the second half. Much of the time, Tufts was still communicating the defensive sets from the coaches as the Jeff no huddle offense was snapping the ball. I don't think there is much to be made of this game. Amherst is good, but it is impossible to tell how good, since they are obviously very vulnerable to a good passing attack. Tufts clearly needs to find some defenders and a faster method of communications with the coaching staff. Or maybe let the defensive captain call the defensive sets on the field! Shocking thought --- let the players play the game.

[mullethead]

I agree. Trinity-Amherst should be a heck of a show. If Trinity pulls it out and Amherst beats Williams the week after, that should leave all three teams 7-1. Can someone explain to this new NESCAC fan how the tiebreaker scenario is figured out? Thanks.

[frank uible]

In NESCAC there is no football standings tie breaker -no need for one due to lack of post-season play. A three way tie is a three eay tie. A two way tie is a two way tie even though one of the tied teams prevailed over the other in head-to-head.

[Doid23]

If you had told me that Amherst would have allowed 49 points and 560+ yards passing and would still win, I would have loaded up on lottery tickets.  A few new additions to the Amherst records books today, including the wiping of the 1997 Williams game for most combined points in a game (though really, the record book was always wrong thanks to that embarrassing 102-0 schlacking by Harvard in 1888 that we all remember so well).  119 total points, 1250 total yards, Vetras breaks the Amherst career passing yards mark, team ties the mark for most consecutive wins (14), etc.  Pretty wild one with 35 unanswered points by Amherst.  This one may have broken a bunch of NESCAC single game records as well if we just look at NESCAC conference play. 

Coach 'Stick unleashing his arsenal on the defenseless Jumbos!

[daoustian]

I assume everyone also saw the NESCAC-heavy Tuesday Morning Quarterback ("TMQ") column by Gregg Easterbrook today on espn.com?  Some highlights for Amherst, Bowdoin, Hamilton and mentions of Williams, Middlebury & Tufts. 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/101102_tuesday_morning_quarterback&sportCat=nfl

[mariner75]

That's one long article...thanks.

[Yanks 99]

I cannot believe that I have never seen or heard about this story before ("Picking Up Butch")...but it was beyond touching.  After watching ESPN 60 tonight, for the rest of my life I can promise you that I will never find myself in a situation where I will root agasint Middlebury, in any sport...

http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/mensbasketball/archive/2009-2010/news/node/263603

[amh63]

The Amherst-Trinity game preview is up on the Amherst website.  As nescac 1 noted, expected starting running backs from each school are brothers (Bunkers)
I saw the last part of "picking up Butch".  I had seen a story about the tradition several years ago.  What was neat about the telecast last night was that it included the update of Midd's NCAA MBB session with Butch in attendance.

[labart96]

I cannot believe that I have never seen or heard about this story before ("Picking Up Butch")...but it was beyond touching.  After watching ESPN 60 tonight, for the rest of my life I can promise you that I will never find myself in a situation where I will root agasint Middlebury, in any sport...

http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/mensbasketball/archive/2009-2010/news/node/263603

that is a great one.  my dad went to midd (graduated in '70).  i never heard about this tradition when i visited midd as a football and track recruit.

[nescac1]

Wonderful story.  There are some great traditions in NESCAC football.  Obviously this one stands out, and then of course there is "The Walk" at Williams.  Any other schools have interesting traditions worth noting?

Trinity folks, is Drubosky hurt or was the back-up QB elevated to give the passing game a spark?

Nice article on Dylan Schultz, who will be around for another year, and if he stays healthy will be a three-time all NESCAC guy:

http://www.advocateweekly.com/ci_16511489

The race for offensive player of the year will be the most competitive ever, just about.  Shea Dwyer is still in my mind the favorite given that he is leading the NATION in rushing yards per game.  McKillop has fallen off somewhat, even though I think he is still the best offensive player in the league, he just doesn't have the guys around him he has in the past and his numbers / results have suffered accordingly.  Still, he warrants consideration.  Vetras / Moffitt are both also worthy, Vetras for his efficiency, Moffitt for his big plays.  Two three year starters who will leave MASSIVE shoes to fill next season.  It may come down to the winner of Amherst-Williams to see which is first team all-NESCAC and POY candidate.  Lupo, Fucillo, Hartwell, and the Bunkers would be candidates in a weaker year, but not this year. 

[mullethead]

I believe the coaching staff made a change  at QB at Trinity because the offense was too one-dimensional. They did throw the ball a little more last week with pretty good results.

[Trin9-0]

Its been a busy week here at Trinity with Homecoming tomorrow so I haven't been able to post my thoughts on the big game between the Bants and the Jeffs.  This is the most anticipated Trinity Homecoming game in while and one of the few times a Trinity team could be considered an underdog playing at home in the past few years.

Trinity's 38 consecutive home victories that span nearly a decade has been well documented and the players take a lot of pride and ownership in the streak. With that said, Amherst would love nothing more than to spoil Trin's Homecoming festivities and set their own school record for consecutive victories.

For me the key to the game is the Bantam defense shutting down Vetras and the Amherst passing game. If Trinity can continue its stellar run defense and force 3rd and long situations they should be able to control the ball and the clock with a strong ground game.

If they fail to learn from their early season mistakes and give up devastating long TD passes then the unbeaten streak in "The Coop" will end tomorrow.

My picks for the rest of Saturday's games:
I think Tufts finally pulls out a win at home over Colby.
Bowdoin wins its first CBB game of the year over the Bobcats.
Middlebury takes home the "Old Rocking Chair Classic" with a win at Hamilton.
Williams will romp Wes Tech in Whalen's return to Williamstown.

And finally... while I do think Amherst is a better team I don't think they'll be better than Trinity tomorrow. I'm taking the Bantams to win a close one setting up a potential 3-way tie for the NESCAC Championship.

Can't wait for the game and GO BANTAMS!!!

[nescacsfty]

fantastic finish at tufts today. first time in a while i've seen the game come down to the very last second.the tufts qb was excellent again, but a lack of talent around him made it difficult. Should make for some interesting finishes next weekend. of course the bantams beat amherst...amherst has been able to capitalize on strong defense and excellent field position all year. the bantams are too well coached to consistently give amherst's offense the field position it needs to be able to score. It'll be interesting to see if Williams runs up the score on amherst in an attempt to make a statement from the new coaching staff era to the recruits deciding between amherst or williams.

[Trin9-0]

"PROTECT THE COOP!"

Congrats Bantams on the 39th consecutive win at home; a streak that dates back to October 6, 2001. 

[nescac1]

Congrats to Williams on clinching a share of the NESCAC title and getting some pay-back vs. Whalen!  Hopefully they will finish the job against Amherst next week.  They need to avoid some of the dumb penalties, turnovers, and special teams miscues that have haunted them at times this year; because on both offense and defense, they are better than the Jeffs.  But the Jeffs have been very opportunistic.  I was really impressed by Dwyer at Wesleyan.  Heck of a back, really productive despite few other playmakers on Wesleyan for a defense to focus on. 

Nice job by Trinity beating Amherst.  I was hoping for a 7-0 showdown, but at the same time, can never really root for the Jeffs, especially when their loss clinches a title for Williams.  Seems like little bro won the battle of the Bunkers.  He is gonna have a tremendous career at Trinity based on his frosh year.  Speaking of frosh RB's, I think Scyocurka is going to be a monster once he is a full time starter.  As productive as the last few feature backs, Brian Morrissey and Lupo were, they earned their yardage with toughness, hard running, good balance, and the ability to read holes / rarely lose yardage.  Scyocurka is bigger, faster, and more elusive than either.  Once he gets into the open field (as he did in a few screen plays vs. Wesleyan) has can look really spectacular; he had a few stop-and-start type moves that you don't often see in NESCAC.  He sometimes tries to do a bit too much, which is typical for a frosh accustomed to dominating, but he has the potential to be the best RB in a long, long time at Williams.   

The Ephs have tremendous depth at WR as well.  Both starting (from the start of the season) WR's were out with injuries vs. Wesleyan, but Hartwell is better than either, and Kearney and Stickney are both tremendously difficult covers due to their size and strength (both 6'4 and very athletic, Kearney is a great leaper and Stickney looks like a tight end).  If Williams can find someone to get them the ball, those three plus B.J. Griffin are going to cause defenses absolute nightmares next year.   

Next Saturday should be a fun chance to watch, undoubtedly, the best single group of QB's to graduate NESCAC simultaneously.  McKillop, a four year starter, owns basically every career record for a QB in NESCAC.  Vetras, a three year starter, owns almost every career record at Amherst.  Moffitt, another three year starter, just set the single season Williams record for TD's, beating out the likes of former NESCAC POY's Sean Keenan, Pat Lucey, and Joe Reardon (although I'd still take Lucey out of all the Williams QB's I've seen).  And Fucillo, a two year starter, set the NESCAC record for yards in a game, and leads the conference in passing yardage without a ton to work with this year.  Hard to imagine when we'll see as productive a quarter all graduate at the same time.  It's a shame only one of the four will be first team all league (and if Williams wins Saturday, it has to be Moffitt, if not, any of the four can make a case).