FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[banfan]

amh63 are the stands at the football field on the track?  It looks that way in the picture on your site.  I think that is great for watching a game.  I really don't like being beyond a track.  I understand it but I don't like it.

By the way, watching a game at Middlebury was great!  Beautiful site lines up high.

If one is an Amherst fan, consider not reading the Week 7 preview article on the school site.  It sure does not spare the favorable stat history for Trinity.  I love the honesty but I admit that if I were writing it, my slant would have been more purple, or is that mauve?

Will I see you at THE GAME?

[Trin9-0]

The track at Amherst actually goes behind the stands. Those tight turns probably make it difficult for the track athletes but I admit it makes watching the football games much more enjoyable. I also enjoyed playing when the fans were right on top of you. I wonder if the coaches enjoy it though? Some of the team meetings on the sidelines can get heated with some, let's say, colorful language.

Even better than the proximity of the seating is the location for tailgating at Amherst. If you arrive early enough to get a spot in the endzone you can watch the game from there.

It seems to me the Amherst preview presents all the facts regarless of who they favor. And, technically, even recent history should have no bearing on Saturday's outcome.

[amh63]

BanFan.....alas, I will watch the game on-line.  I normally try to make it up to the Wes. and Williams games...sort of "Little Three".  It is getting harder to travel up to NEngland these days without my wife.....she is not really a football fan.  The closest she got to watching a brutal sport is when she watched our oldest son play Rugby....wingback type.  That was enough, especially when he suffered getting his two front teeth dislodged when he lost his mouthpiece  I save my "chits" to watch MBB games during the season.  Even went to several Trinity games during the winter when Amherst challenged the Bantams.  May go this season to Hartford, if Trinity has a good team.
Anyway, to answer your questions......The Amherst football stands are inside the track.  The track was added outside at a later date.  This means the Amherst track will never be used for mult-team track events.  The stands and the other buildings block the view of officials during long races......as if the runners are going to cheat.  The field is the third oldest in the land that is still being used.  It is also situated funny....don't ask.  However, the visiting team side is the sunny side and the side for the dressing rooms.
With regards to the color purple.....there are all sorts of variation of the color....ranging from almost "dark blue" in my days to almost lavender.....depending on the fabric, manufacturer, etc.  Mauve....really!  Did you check out the Homecoming video by a student on the website.  It gives you another perspective of the playing field, range of colors and even the pink wrappings worn in the Wes. game by the players.  When I made my remarks about it, I got many stares/remarks from women.

[FourMoreYears]

A bit off topic, but a wonderful, bittersweet article on a former Williams football player.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1191803/index.htm

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20111102ip7t7d

What a tremendous article, and one that was bittersweet for me as well on a personal level.  By all accounts, it appears that my father played against Reily in the trenches, and undoubtedly tangled with him for several seasons in the Bowdoin-Williams game.  They graduated the same year.  Both were fierce competitors.  Yes, they must have battled and battled well.  Ironically, my father was also named to the AP All-New England team and was a 1st team small-college All-American, albiet not in the 1961 season.  And from what others have told me, he was the same sort of character as Reily ... leaving a lasting impression on his teammates and classmates.  Heck, my father even went into banking as Reily had planned to do.  It's all bittersweet as my father passed away this past year, though after reading this article, there is a good chance the two former competitors are on the other side, enjoying a drink and laughing at the mortals they have left behind.  Thanks for sharing JustAFan.

[amh63]

Last post until the the post-game periods on Sat.  Looks like it will be a fine Fall day at Amherst for the game.  Hope all the posters enjoy their games.
There is a great deal of press for the BCS rivals in the SEC....LSU and Alabama, both undefeated, in their game this weekend.  I rather consider it a copy of the NESCAC game this weekend.....Trinity and Amherst, both undefeated.  With respect to quality of play and the coaches and the intensity of the players' play on the field......I believe the game to be held in Amherst is the purer form of college football for students who are also athletes.
Now BanFan....THE GAME?  You are pushing the envelope a bit.  That phrase is reserved for the Crimson and Doggies.  My older brother who is a Harvard man and an Alabama fan (he likes to stick with the Crimson color) would get annoyed when I would refer to the Williams-Amherst game as THE GAME.  I digress too much.  I will probably walk away from this weekend's game and watch some local college game.

[banfan]

amh63 if this is not THE GAME to you and me, than what is?  Tuscaloosa?  Is that where you would rather be?

LSU VS. 'BAMA was great 30 years ago.  It isn't college football anymore.  What is wrong with you big brother?  Does he choose his football teams based on the color of their uniforms?  He is not the only one who would object to the Willies vs the Jeffs as THE GAME.  If you were to enter that game 7-0 and the Willies had something to play for, it would at least be interesting, but.........the is highly unlikely.

I remember listening on the scratchy radio in my room in prep school in Maine in the fall of 1968?  That was the last GAME that I recall.  "Harvard Wins 29-29" if I recall at all.

Anyway, I digest too much.

"Walk away from this weekend's game" not sure I follow. 

I do feel confident if not Cock sure, that the Trinity Bantams will prevail.  Just find it hard to think that we can be outscored with our D.  Heck, our D outscored Middlebury in VT last week.

Have fun where ever you are this weekend.

[amh63]

Trinity posters who plan to attend the game.....ALERT!  Field conditions are such that on field parking will not be permitted.....notice to parents, etc. on the website.

BanFan.....Thanks......Yes, my older brother likes the Tide.  He lives in Huntsville. Alabama.  Was stationed there after Harvard and got his PHD at the U. of Alabama.  When he was given a Sloan Fellowship to business school.....went to Stanford (more red than crimson)
With regards to the '68 GAME in Cambridge, I tried to go but it was sold out.....student tickets were being sold for 1000 dollars in the proper clubs in NYC.  Did buy the DVD of the GAME which included interviews of famous players that played (don't know where it is at this time)  In tense games, I often WALK away from watching.  If I am in the bleachers, it is best that I leave since I can become loud and verbal with the folks in stripe uniforms......and get a penalty.

[frank uible]

In 1981 Alabama had a 9-2-1 record, and LSU 3-7-1. They opened their schedules with each other, Alabama winning 24-7. What is great depends on one's perspective.  For some Amherst-Williams is always great, irrespective of the records; for others Ohio State-Michigan; for further others Canton McKinley-Massillon; etc.

[NESCACInsider]

Anyone from Wesleyan here who can shed light onto why LaDarius Drew isn't listed as the starter on Williams' website for the game this weekend? http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20111031gysyai

He got 18 carries for 48 yards last week against Bowdoin. Did something happen during the week, or is this a mistake? Could be a big blow for the Cardinals on Homecoming if he's out or gets limited carries.

[frank uible]

Despite being Wesleyan's leading rusher in number of carries and yardage for each game, Drew has not been listed as a starter by Wesleyan for any game.

[frank uible]

I take that back. Drew was not Wesleyan's leading rusher in its first game of the season - against Middlebury.

[nescac1]

A few interesting tidbits from this article:  Wohlwender is back for Williams, which is good, they will need both he and Hernandez running with authority the next few weeks.  Cleary will continue to split time at QB with Marske.  And Scyocurka, who has missed virtually the entire year with an injury, will most likely get another year of eligibility (probably taking one spring semester off so that he graduates in the fall), leaving him with three years left to play, which should help ensure that Williams has a very strong running game for quite some time, given that they return every back on the roster from this year, to boot. 

http://www.thetranscript.com/sports/ci_19264718?source=rss

The Williams offense finally has all of its weapons healthy (save for Scyocurka of course) and I look forward to seeing what they can do in the last two weeks with plenty of combined experience at the QB spot.  The D, especially the run D, has really come around to the place where I thought they'd be at the beginning of the year, but I still think the Ephs may be vulnerable to deep passing plays downfield (may not be an issue vs. Wesleyan).  FG unit remains a concern in close games ...

I think Trinity barely knocks off Amherst, but it won't be easy playing on the road.  Very similar teams with great running games and QB's who can run, but defenses which are nearly impossible to run against, and no doubt will be stacking the line of scrimmages daring one another to pass.  Both teams would probably have better luck vs. the air, and the winner will likely have to open things up / take a few risks downfield.   I think Trinity is a bit stronger on the oline and will give their QB's more time to make plays downfield, which will be the difference.  But really a very even match-up. 

I can never root for Amherst, but it would be interesting for Williams to have a shot at spoiling a perfect season for Amherst (they failed to do so two years ago in a game they easily could have won).  In that scenario, I am not sure Amherst would be happier 7-1 with a NESCAC title and a loss vs. Williams than Williams would be 6-2 (or even 5-3) while knocking off Amherst.  After an era of home team dominance, in recent years, the road team has won the Williams-Amherst game three years in a row, meaning if Amherst wins, seniors from both teams would graduate having never defended their home turf in that match-up ... wild. 

Nice article / video on Eph Tomas Kearney, who has worked very hard to make an impact after being cut as a frosh, and has made some incredibly tough catches over the years:

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/2011110378lloo

[amh63]

Amherst 35-Trinity28!   Amherst wins in a tense game with two knee-downs to run out the clock on their 14 yard line.  For a game that everyone expected to be close between the two best defensive teams, stat. wise, it ended up to be a rather explosive offensive game of big plays with great defensive play by both sides.
Amherst won the first half 21-0.  Trinity won the second half 28-14.  Amherst in the 4th quarter could have iced the game with a field goal well within the range of Rawson.  Trinity blocks the kick and gets the ball with about two minutes to go and the score 35-28.
Several long runs by Trinity's Bunker and QB and Trinity is near midfield, with less than 1 and a half minutes to go.  Trinity goes for a long bomb and the pass is intercepted by CB L. Lewis near the Amherst 20 yard line.  Amherst calls a time out and Trinity, I believe calls its last time out after an Amherst QB keeper for a loss.  Amherst calls another time out and then takes two knee downs to run out the lock.
The Bunker RBs parents could be proud of their player sons.  Both Eric and Evans ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns each.  Eric started to turn it on in the second half, like he did last year, when he ran for 211 yards, threw for a TD and Trinity outscored Amherst 21-0 in the 4th quarter.
It was a game of mistakes, turnovers, and great plays by both sides.  Amherst's Bunker had over 100 yards in only 9 runs going into the second half due to a 75 yd touchdown.  Trinity's QB ran for a 59 yard TD to open up the second half to make it 21-7.  Amherst came right back with a long pass and a tD run, I believe. 
Trinity's defense stepped it up and blocked a punt, a field goal, and picked up 2 interceptions and several sacks.  Amherst answered with two picks of their own and caused a fumble on on a punt which they turned into a short TD pass.  It seemed if the game had gone to OT, Trinity would have won....at least the edge.  The announcers pointed out that Trinity's big OL was wearing out Amherst's defense and that Trinity's RBs were getting longer runs due to breaking arm tackles....a sign of tired defenders.  Oh yes, Amherst had at least 3 sacks....or as many as Trinity.  This is my rambling dialogue which is more than likely filled with many errors.
It was a fine football afternoon with a tense exciting game.  For the Jeffs Fans it was a most welcomed outcome.

[PistachioX]

Amherst V. Trinity... the better team won yesterday. 

Trinity played without Fallas, who reportedly had been sitting out since sometime in the first quarter of the Middlebury game.  But it was penalties and turnovers that did the Bantams in.  Thank goodness they didn't continue to roll over in the second half, and at least made the game interesting.  It was a tough game to watch from the visitors stands.

[banfan]

Sorry, but the better team did not win yesterday.  The better coached team.  The more disciplined team.  The best team we played this year.  OK

Trin ran the ball for 286 yards.  Except for a 75 yard up the gut td by Bunker in the 3rd qrtr, Amherst would have lost and Eric would not have had 100 yds on the day.

Heck our special teams out played Amherst.  Punts 6/44yds. vs 8/37 yds.  Return yds. 168 vs. 76.  We blocked a punt when we needed to.  We partially blocked a PAT and the Jeffs all world kicker had to have luck on his side to make another PAT.

Trinity had 11 penalties for 96 yds.  We have been giving up more penalties for more yds in every single game except Tufts.  And although some would talk about a certain bias, I will only say that those penalties were STUPID!!!!!!!  And you don't get away with that against a good team!!!!!!! 

Regarding coaching, I will only say that play calling was slow and not very effective.  We did not appear to have a 2 minute offense.  And we went away form things that worked all year on Defense.

Amherst had a good passing game plan that was reasonably effective with a 50% completion and 2 ints with 2 tds.  Their running was not even good with 29/147.  Take away a 75 yd play and they look bad.

Yes, statistics are for losers.