FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Rick Vaughn]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-11-09-aaron-kelton-williams-football-coach_N.htm

Nice article on Kelton.

[maxpower]

So earlier today I was talking to a seminar at Amherst, and I asked if people got schwasted for the "big game" there like they do other places. The kids said something like "well, there's peppermint schnapps..." Has this game survived for 115 years without copious drinking?? Or are these the "uncool" kids??

[Frank Rossi]

So earlier today I was talking to a seminar at Amherst, and I asked if people got schwasted for the "big game" there like they do other places. The kids said something like "well, there's peppermint schnapps..." Has this game survived for 115 years without copious drinking?? Or are these the "uncool" kids??

B.

[frank uible]

These kids are Arthur Miller's Bernard.

[Trin9-0]

What a great day in the NESCAC. While I'm sure that the Williams, and certainly Amherst, folks would have loved to see two unbeaten teams playing for the title I think having a meaningful Trin-Wes game adds a little something. But of course I'm a bit biased.

I can't speak to the level of imbibing at an Ephs-Jeffs game as I've never attended (and unfortunately I probably never will). Though I can say that tailgating at Pratt Field is significantly better than at Weston Field. And if the Williams-Amherst game is "The Biggest Little Game in America" then Trinity-Wesleyan, especially when it's Trinity's Homecoming game is "The Worlds Biggest Little Outdoor Cocktail Party" (apologies to Florida-Georgia).

However, I will say that last week's Trinity-Amhest game was the first time there were more people actually watching the game then out in the parking lots tailgating.

As for the action on the field:
Over the past few years Hamilton's offense has struggled mightily but their defense has somewhat kept them in games. This year they're allowing 30 points per game and the offense has continued to struggle. The good news for the Continentals is that Bates can't score either. Sadly I think the Bobbies will go winless in their first year at the "new" Garcelon Field.

I expect Middlebury and one of the great NESCAC quarterbacks of all-time, Donald McKillop, to go out on a high note against Tufts. The Jumbos have struggled through one their worst seasons in recent memory and will likely lose their 7th straight game. I've said before that I'm always surprised Tufts regularly compete for championships in the NESCAC. I wonder if/when they'll consider making a serious commitment to football the way Wesleyan did last year.

Unlike last year's hilarious 3-way tie for the 3-team CBB title there will be an outright winner as Bowdoin travels to Colby. I think the Mules are a better team but this game, more than any of the other big NESCAC rivalries, seems to produce more upsets. With that said I'm still picking Colby in a close one.

Williams and Amherst play for the 125th time and it should be a dandy. I'll be checking my phone often for score updates and I think when the dust settles the Jeffs will find a way to win. It would be a tough way to finish what has been a fantastic first year for Aaron Kelton and the Ephs. I just have a feeling that Amherst will prevent the big pass play and be able to move the ball on the ground. Vetras is a winner and I think he goes out with at least a share of the title because...

Trinity is going to wallop the Cardinals today! I know Wesleyan is a much improved team and they took the Bants to double OT last year in The Coop. However, Trinity is playing a punishing brand of football on both sides of the ball and Wes has really struggled against the top-tier teams. I expect this rivalry to return to a relevant match-up in the next few years but today's 110th game will go to the Bantams as it has for the past decade.

Interesting side note there will be a reunion of both Trinity and Wesleyan football alums to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the only tie in the history of the rivalry (22-22) in 1960. 

We NESCACers catch a lot of flack on this particular message board for our little 8 game schedule and silly exclusionist rules but whatever your thoughts are on those issues you've got to love how meaningful these end of the year rivalry games are. That's not to say that other teams and leagues don't have fantastic rivalries and traditions but there's just nothing like playing that final game against your arch rival and knowing it's the last game you'll ever play.

Enjoy the games and GO BANTAMS!

[jumpshot]

Congratulations to the Williams College Ephs for a great undefeated season concluding with a memorable win at Amherst. Certainly a cohesive effort with contributions from so many players --and hard work by an energetic and effective coaching staff. Lots of "accidential education" and lessons lasting a lifetime start everyday at 4:00 P.M. at Williams College. 

[nescac1]

Congrats to the Ephs and Coach Aaron Kelton on a truly amazing year. Great showing today vs. a solid and determined Amherst team, who hung tough for awhile, but just didn't have as many weapons as the Ephs in the end.  Not sure WHAT Kelton can do for an encore, but he proved to be a great hire who knows how to fire up a team, and the players' affection for him is readily apparent.  He was fortunate to inherit the most talented roster in NESCAC, but he molded that talent into a team that raised its level in the biggest situations and always remained poised. 

A few thoughts from the game:

-- defensive MVP for Williams was DE Dan Canina.  One monster sack and another huge tackle for loss, but the stats don't really tell the story.  He was a man among boys out there.  He drew one holding penalty and was blatantly held (despite no penalties called) on at least three other plays.  Gave the Amherst line fits all day.  Also playing great for Williams, the DT rotation totally shut down the Amherst running attack, Schultz was his usual stellar self and proved he is the best defender in NESCAC, and Ben Oliva broke up a ton of passes, was blanketed all over whomever he was covering all day.  Kudos to frosh Andre Lafontant who had to sub for Williams' starting corner, who got hurt midway through the game.  The Jeffs targetted him quite a few times and generally he performed well in a high pressure situation. 

-- Vetras was a bit off with some high throws that led to INT's (one of them wasn't really his fault though), but even still, I was very impressed.  Made some fantastic running plays and was fearless both in and out of the pocket, and other than the INT's, he threw some beautiful and very accurate passes.  His stats were hurt by several drops of very catchable passes, but he is a heck of a QB and a big loss for the Jeffs. 

-- nice day for P/K Chris Cleary.  Had his best day of the year punting and hit all of his XP's and FG's, giving the Ephs a boost in an area that has hurt them all year.  Speaking of kicking, Amherst's frosh kick-off specialist has a heck of a leg, WOW. 

-- Ryan Lupo was tremendous in the second half.  He was basically shut down in the first half but you could see that the Ephs sticking with the run began to take its toll on the Amherst defenders.  In the second half, he was an insanely determined runner, breaking tons of tackles from worn down defenders, and displaying incredible balance in escaping crowds at the line of scrimmage and turning broken plays into 5-10 yard runs.  He was the biggest difference in the game.  Not the fastest or biggest guy, but his balance and determination made him a star. 

-- Ephs' passing offense was spectacular as usual, led by Pat Moffitt, who I now believe deserves NESCAC OPY -- averaging 300 yards per game plus 3 TD's per game is incredible, especially when he often sits (or just hands the balll off)in  the fourth quarter during the many Eph blow--out wins.  I think this group of WR's at least rivals and may be better than the incredible 2006 team with Drenkhan, Fulmer, and O'Leary.  So deep, even without two starters, the top three Eph receivers were very, very hard for Amherst to deal with today.  Hartwell was tremendous as usual (and deserves to be a pre-season All American next year), but the real star today was Junior JC Stickney, who has really come on in recent weeks.  He is built like a tight end and consistently outfaught Amherst defenders for balls, and once he caught the ball, was very difficult to tackle.  The key play of the game was early in the second half, when Amherst had a lot of momentum and could have pinned the Ephs back.  Stickney took a quick five yard pass and broke about four tackles, for a 30 yard gain.  From there on out, it was virtually all Ephs. 


Go Ephs! 

[maxpower]

And if the Williams-Amherst game is "The Biggest Little Game in America" then Trinity-Wesleyan, especially when it's Trinity's Homecoming game is "The Worlds Biggest Little Outdoor Cocktail Party" (apologies to Florida-Georgia).

Insert: apologies to Ithaca-Cortland. At least according to SI  .

[Pat Coleman]

Just 'cuz SI said it doesn't make it so. Clearly there were some Ithaca or Cortland grads on staff.

[maxpower]

Just 'cuz SI said it doesn't make it so. Clearly there were some Ithaca or Cortland grads on staff.

Cortland grads? Please.

[magicman]

Just 'cuz SI said it doesn't make it so. Clearly there were some Ithaca or Cortland grads on staff.

Cortland grads? Please.

Had to be Cortland grads. The Ithaca grads end up as interns at ESPN.

[iamhuge]

Congrats to Williams.  Wouldn't it be great if we could tell how good this team REALLY is?  Come on..play in an ECAC bowl game...just one more week of practice.

[Bombers798891]

Just 'cuz SI said it doesn't make it so. Clearly there were some Ithaca or Cortland grads on staff.

I think Ithaca students are just ignorant to the fact that it's a changing designation or arrogant about it. But it was true in 1988, when those two teams were probably the best in the country and the time when the quote was used, I believe

[Pat Coleman]

I lack the ability to research fully when it was first used in reference to Amherst-Williams.

[frank uible]

Woodsy lore has it that the phrase, "the biggest little game in America", was first used with respect to the Williams-Amherst football game about 25 years ago by Dick Quinn, Williams' long standing, peripatetic and then and now highly esteemed SID.