FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lobstaman]

It really is a shame that the NESCAC conference is so restrictive for football. I really don't understand why this league continues to restrict the number of games, times of practice, and no playoffs etc. Even with the higher academic requirements there are a lot of "qualified students" who would love to attend NASCAC schools but will not because of these restrictions. Most of the high schools now pay anywhere from 10-14 games depending on the playoff. It is really difficult to recruit given that the league restricts to 8 games. What academically and athletically gifted student wants to go backwards. Doesn't happen in basketball or hockey or field hockey for that matter. There are certainly no post-season restrictions for these sports. Many academically successful students who love football have had a longer season in Pop Warner. The league should review these policies because they are restricitng qualified candidates from even applying. I know that there are some on this board who believe this is the way it has always been...tradition, however  these schools are missing an opportunity to broaden their student base . It can't be economics as most of the schools endowments are among the highest in the country. This league could be the best D-3 league in the country without scarificing academic integrity!!!

[Jonny Utah]

It really is a shame that the NESCAC conference is so restrictive for football. I really don't understand why this league continues to restrict the number of games, times of practice, and no playoffs etc. Even with the higher academic requirements there are a lot of "qualified students" who would love to attend NASCAC schools but will not because of these restrictions. Most of the high schools now pay anywhere from 10-14 games depending on the playoff. It is really difficult to recruit given that the league restricts to 8 games. What academically and athletically gifted student wants to go backwards. Doesn't happen in basketball or hockey or field hockey for that matter. There are certainly no post-season restrictions for these sports. Many academically successful students who love football have had a longer season in Pop Warner. The league should review these policies because they are restricitng qualified candidates from even applying. I know that there are some on this board who believe this is the way it has always been...tradition, however  these schools are missing an opportunity to broaden their student base . It can't be economics as most of the schools endowments are among the highest in the country. This league could be the best D-3 league in the country without scarificing academic integrity!!!

You can make a lot of points about the nescac doing different things, but I don't think those schools are losing great students because of the athletic policies. 

There simply isn't that kid thinking about going to Tufts but then choosing Curry because they want to play a few extra weeks.

[frank uible]

This thread has been over this stretch of ground again and again and again. Nothing new here.

[Doid23]

This thread has been over this stretch of ground again and again and again. Nothing new here.

Although, you've got to admit, Lobstaman came out of NOWHERE with a passionate first post. How long have you been keeping these feelings bottled up inside? +K

[lewdogg11]

This thread has been over this stretch of ground again and again and again. Nothing new here.

Although, you've got to admit, Lobstaman came out of NOWHERE with a passionate first post. How long have you been keeping these feelings bottled up inside? +K

lobstaman says:  'Don't give me sh!t today.  I'm crabby!!!'

[Doid23]

This thread has been over this stretch of ground again and again and again. Nothing new here.

Although, you've got to admit, Lobstaman came out of NOWHERE with a passionate first post. How long have you been keeping these feelings bottled up inside? +K

lobstaman says:  'Don't give me sh!t today.  I'm crabby!!!'

+K

[Jonny Utah]

This thread has been over this stretch of ground again and again and again. Nothing new here.

Yea but lobsterman is saying that kids aren't going to even go to those schools because of football season.  I doubt that. 

[frank uible]

As said, nothing new.

[lobstaman]

Why are New Englanders so arrogant? Do you really believe that the only choice is Nescac or Curry? What about Patriot Leage, Davidson and the Pioneer League, how about Pomona, Whitter, Claremont? I know most in the Nescac can't believe it, but there are some very smart young men who don't go to Choate or Exeter and do attend these other schools because the football is better.

[pg04]

Why are New Englanders so arrogant? Do you really believe that the only choice is Nescac or Curry? What about Patriot Leage, Davidson and the Pioneer League, how about Pomona, Whitter, Claremont? I know most in the Nescac can't believe it, but there are some very smart young men who don't go to Choate or Exeter and do attend these other schools because the football is better.

IMO, if you are D-3 Level, and you are choosing a school based on their football being better, that might be the wrong decision (in most cases).  

[maxpower]

Why are New Englanders so arrogant? Do you really believe that the only choice is Nescac or Curry? What about Patriot Leage, Davidson and the Pioneer League, how about Pomona, Whitter, Claremont? I know most in the Nescac can't believe it, but there are some very smart young men who don't go to Choate or Exeter and do attend these other schools because the football is better.

IMO, if you are D-3 Level, and you are choosing a school based on their football being better, that might be the wrong decision (in most cases).  

+k

[frank uible]

Don't worry about NESCAC. It will somehow muddle through!

[Jonny Utah]

Why are New Englanders so arrogant? Do you really believe that the only choice is Nescac or Curry? What about Patriot Leage, Davidson and the Pioneer League, how about Pomona, Whitter, Claremont? I know most in the Nescac can't believe it, but there are some very smart young men who don't go to Choate or Exeter and do attend these other schools because the football is better.

Ok then, how many New England kids are choosing to go to Whittier, Pomona or Claremont over NESCAC schools because they want to go to the playoffs?  Not many.  Those teams have a .003% chance of winning a national championship anyway.  Some Patriot league schools and all Ivy league schools do not got the playoffs anyway so do you feel the same about them?  Does Mount Union have better football than Harvard because Mount Union gets to go to the playoffs?  The answer is no. 

I have been coaching high school football in Massachusetts for over 10 years.  Off hand I can think of 9 players that I have coached who have played football at nescac schools. Kids in general around here don't even know about the d3 playoffs.  They choose nescac schools because they are great schools and they are 2-4 hour car drives.  But now that I'm thinking about it, I've coached kids who have played at Ivy league schools,  Patriot league schools, Claremont, Gettysburg, Franklin and Marshall, Every NEFC school, Hobart, Bentely, and several other d2 schools.

And the kid who played at Claremont didn't go there because Claremont has the chance to make the playoffs.  He went there because of their computer science programs.

[Yarsan]

Ok then, how many New England kids are choosing to go to Whittier, Pomona or Claremont over NESCAC schools because they want to go to the playoffs?  Not many. ... They choose nescac schools because they are great schools and they are 2-4 hour car drives.....

I absolutely agree.  My son was offered a "slot" at a NESCAC school and at Washington & Lee.  Academically, both are excellent schools but W&L offered a slightly better football program INCLUDING playoffs.   That had zero impact on my son's decision - he preferred the NESCAC school for reasons other than just football. The shorter season was actually a plus - he also wants to play lacrosse, and he is concerned with balancing sports and school.  Ultimately, his decision came down to which school "felt" right, not which had a more serious or challenging football program.

[runyr]

Why are New Englanders so arrogant? Do you really believe that the only choice is Nescac or Curry? What about Patriot Leage, Davidson and the Pioneer League, how about Pomona, Whitter, Claremont? I know most in the Nescac can't believe it, but there are some very smart young men who don't go to Choate or Exeter and do attend these other schools because the football is better.

Amen and +k, lobstaman.  You tell 'em.  Patriot League would be a good choice.  Any UAA team would be a good match as well.