FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

NESCAC, contrary to being an Ivy aspirant, goes several steps farther than the Ivy League: 8 game schedule per team vs. Ivy's 10, no out-of-conference games vs. Ivy's 3, only 1 day of "no pads" spring practice per team vs. Ivy's full spring practice. It is your correspondent's belief that in the short term NESCAC will stick with its current posture on football (no matter how misguided), irrespective what others may do. In the indefinite longer term the next major step for certain NESCAC colleges will be the dropping of football - a step which may cause the survivors to rethink NESCAC football but probably not in an expansionary way.

[Pat Coleman]

Frank:

Ivy, two fewer games than Division I rules.
NESCAC, two fewer games than Division I rules.

Not sure that's a step further other than it being right in line with Division III being more restrictive than Division I as a whole.

[banfan]

I have heard the talk of NESCAC schools dropping football but wonder who you think that might be.  Bates is a weak member which just built a new field and stadium and as you know, it is in the middle of campus.  When I look at the facilities for football throughout the league it seems an odd possibility.

Also, I understand that the AD's or Presidents are doing a study to add a 9th game so that all the football teams in conference can play each other each year.  The present set up is nuts.

Just curious also why folks in other sports can have 18 regular season games and then enter the D3 NCAA playoffs while football is, well, left out?

[frank uible]

It is my surmisal that the majority of the NESCAC Presidents are leery of the possibility that their alumni will place undue emphasis on football and consequently subordinate more important subjects to it.

[dlippiel]

It is my surmisal that the majority of the NESCAC Presidents are leery of the possibility that their alumni will place undue emphasis on football and consequently subordinate more important subjects to it.

Or because a 9th game will interfere with their afternoon tea 

[frank uible]

Clearly NESCAC rightly believes that the hands that rock the cradles and are involved in afternoon tea are more important (and wealthier and more powerful) than those involved in the neanderthal pursuit of football.

[dlippiel]

Clearly NESCAC rightly believes that the hands that rock the cradles and are involved in afternoon tea are more important (and wealthier and more powerful) than those involved in the neanderthal pursuit of football.

This is true 

[banfan]

Well, I must say that I did not consider out of control football alums.  I have not had any chats with any nescac presidents regarding such pressures.

I have on good authority that at least one former president was against the 9th game.  With his/her passing the "study" of whether and how is underway.

Anyone else heard such a rumor?

[pumkinattack]

It is my surmisal that the majority of the NESCAC Presidents are leery of the possibility that their alumni will place undue emphasis on football and consequently subordinate more important subjects to it.

Or because a 9th game will interfere with their afternoon tea 

Dood, not this season.  Wait until Bart gets back to 9 or 10 games before mocking the NESCAC in all their little ivy glory.  And we are enjoying our tea time.  It's a special brew that comes with a fungi and inspires us to do great things like FolkFest. 

[amh63]

Well, hope all the conference schools survived "Irene" in all its forms.  Amherst's FY's lost the first day of orientation.....since check in day was Sunday when the storm was passing.
Noticed that the Bate's football website posted it's preliminary roster.....it shows 32 freshmen players...with a total of 76 players.  Need to "cut" only one person if there are no injuries, etc.to reach a full allowed team.  Seems that the updated football facilities have helped in the recruiting efforts.  Its good that the conference is improving.

[amh63]

The Amherst Fall Sports Previews.....including the Football one..are now posted on the Amherst website.  The SID came through!.  Hope none of the freshmen players are on the overnights to Mt. Greylock and or canoeing down the Conn. river.....option part of orientation.  Posted news on the MBB board indicates that roads to Midd. are still rough and limited and that the fall athletes are sandbagging the local town....the local river is still rising.

[TheHerst2and4]

I like to do a quick read through of the Amherst pre-season write up to see some of the new names. Looked up Jamal Mtshali '15 d lineman on google and the name comes up as an athletic looking d-lineman that was at Delaware last year. Not sure if its the same kid but the name seems pretty uncommon. Anyone have any insight? Looking forward to the teams starting up

[amh63]

A follow-up to my previous post.  The Amherst preview mentions 23 freshmen players.
To make the post from TheHerst......more intriguing, I went to the Un. of Delaware website and looked at the football media guide for 2010.  Listed as a scholarship freshman is the DL  with the unique name.  He is listed as 6'2" 246# player from Columbia S.C. who went to Army Prep in Md.  If he is the same person, we will know in a few weeks.

[nescac1]

I'd bet it is the same guy.  First, he is not on the current Delaware roster and didn't play last year, so he would have frosh eligibility.  He played DL in high school, same thing he is listed at for Amherst.  His bio says his Dad is a professor, so obviously academics would be important and he would know about NESCAC.  The odds of there being two different guys with the same unusual name, same age, same position, one of whom apparently left UD and another who simultaneously joined the Amherst program, are infinitesimal. 

http://www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/football/roster10-mtshali.html

He is listed in Scout as a three star recruit, 6'1 225 and runs a 4.69 40.  You don't see many athletes like that in NESCAC (heck 4.69 is good enough to play DB in NESCAC) ... could be a big time player for Amherst (especially after essentially redshirting for a year at a D-1AA program). 

[banfan]

Jamal undoubtedly is a big football pick up for Amherst.  However, there are a lot of question marks.  Why has he been to 5 schools in 5 years?  Why, if ranked 33 in country did he only choose Del?  A kid who plays as much as he did in HS and was rated highly should be able to go to a better level than CAA.  Rivals did not rate him and had him listed as offered only by Army.  If Rivals gave him 3 stars like Scout did and he was a good student as I assume he is, he should have had offers from 10 good (as in VA. Wake. Vandy or NC) D1 schools never mind all the good schools in the Patriot.

It will be interesting.  I think there is a story in there.