FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

I'm fairly sure that many (if not most) 20 year old footballers aren't mature enough to refrain from creating bulletin board material, via tweet.

[nescac1]

Moreover, the inevitable tide of attractive female Twitter followers can get players in hot water.  See, e.g., this classic prank:

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/victorias_secret_basketball_prank/

[banfan]

amh63 - Interesting you joke about the football-social network connection. This week I saw that USC put out their roster and on it they included the twitter handles for players that had twitter accounts right next to their high schools, position, etc.  They do a lot of media training with their players so they feel comfortable enough to actually promote the player's personal accounts.

I use twitter a lot (@madzillagd) so I personally love the idea.  I'm in Sacramento and the Kings have been last on the court but first in social media the past several years.  They don't require players to tweet but they do end up having about 80% of the team and coaches on twitter, so you get some great interaction and insight.  Definitely adds a great element for fans to be more involved in what's going on.

Is twitter on college football by the players anything more than trash talk?  They, schools like USC, probably do a lot of "media training" because of the HUGE pitfalls that are connected.  And because it is otherwise not controllable. No? 

[madzillagd]

I don't follow a lot of football guys so I can't really say.  From the athletes I do follow that are pro/college, they typically are not talking about their opponents at all.  It's more about what they are doing everyday and their team is doing.  For example, nephew's AAU teammate is going to play for Wazzu and they just spent 2 weeks in Australia playing games.  He was posting pics from the trip, some links to game stories, etc. - interesting stuff for people that know him or are interested in the program.

Some guys are more interactive with the fans, others hardly tweet and when they do they never respond to anyone.  One of the funniest I've followed is Donte Greene - who was with the Kings and now signed with Brooklyn.  He is on twitter all the time interacting with the fans, giving away free tickets to games, etc.  Last summer he tweeted out he wanted to play kickball, gave a time and a place for people to meet up.  Couple hours later he's tweeting out pics of himself playing kickball with a couple dozen people.  Funny stuff.  Isaiah Thomas tweets out all the time asking folks where there are pick up games to play.  If you've got a twitter account, a court and some friends you too can play with an NBA point guard; just don't be upset if he calls your game weak on twitter after he's done.

[nescac1]

Interview with Williams coach Aaron Kelton regarding the upcoming season, for the most part, he is typical-football-coach-vague, but does mention a few of the key offensive returning players by name ... he notes also the many big holes on defense, without specific mention of the top candidates to step up: 

http://noontimesports.com/2012/08/28/catching-up-with-aaron-kelton-williams-college-football/

http://noontimesports.com/2012/08/28/catching-up-with-aaron-kelton-williams-college-football-part-ii/

[amh63]

nescac1....thanks for the reports.  Writer spells worst than me and I not very good...."air" vs. heir and "parody" vs. parity.  Seems Williams' coach is using the Amherst lost to motivate his team this season.  Isn't that a mistake...over looking Trinity and Wes?

[nescac1]

I don't think you have to worry about them overlooking Trinity (ever) or an ascendent Wesleyan with a few Eph defectors at the helm, which also happens to be the Homecoming game.  But it's only natural to use the last game of the season, a home loss to an arch rival, which was the most lopsided loss to Amherst since 1985(!), to motivate the troops.  Amherst I'm sure used a similarly lopsided home loss to Williams to propel them to an undefeated season last year, and I would think that Williams' players were highly, highly motivated this off-season. 

There was one other Kelton interview on the same site where he talked about the impact of the lack of availability of practice fields (due to the hurricane) for most of the 2011 fall season on the program.  Last fall was probably the worst season for fall athletics I can recall at Williams, and also one which featured, across the board, an inordinate number of injuries.  Obviously, a lot of factors go into that, but certainly the lack of any outdoor practice facilities last August and September could not have helped with both fitness and preparation. 

Of course, it would be nice if Williams would finally build the long-awaited turf football field (as Amherst has announced it is doing), which would resolve at least some of the weather-related issues with a turf field and avoid some of the ugly mud bowls we've seen on Weston over the years.  It's to the point where historically one of the top two NESCAC football programs is now in the bottom half of the league (at best) in terms of facilities.  In all events, I expect the fall teams, including football, to be rearing to go next week. 

[madzillagd]

http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/general/20120829webcast

Bowdoin Announces Extensive Webcast Schedule For Fall Sporting Events

BRUNWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College Athletic Department has announced extensive live coverage plans for its fall sports.

In all, Bowdoin will provide live coverage for 35 home games this autumn, including 22 video webcasts through its official website, www.goubears.com.

Every home football and women's volleyball game will be available via video webcast while selected games in field hockey, men's soccer and women's soccer will be streamed. Every home field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer and football home game will be available via live statistics coverage.

For a comprehensive schedule of webcasts, visit the webcast home page.

Live statistics links can be found on each sport's home page, with upcoming games found at the live statistics home page.

[met_fan]

A Hamilton preview from the Utica paper

http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x218318577/Hamilton-football-attempts-to-take-another-step

[frank uible]

nescac1: Since and including 1951, Amherst defeated Williams 52-26 (1982), 35-7 (1970), 56-25 (1969), 54-21 (1966) and 42-8 (1965), among other occasions. Jim Ostendarp was the author of all five of those lopsided Amherst wins.

[nescac1]

Frank, I said most lopsided since 1985 ... no doubt each team has had plenty of lopsided wins over the other, but Amherst hasn't had many at all in the last 30 years. 

[quicksilver]

http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/general/20120829webcast

Bowdoin Announces Extensive Webcast Schedule For Fall Sporting Events

BRUNWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College Athletic Department has announced extensive live coverage plans for its fall sports.

In all, Bowdoin will provide live coverage for 35 home games this autumn, including 22 video webcasts through its official website, www.goubears.com.

Every home football and women's volleyball game will be available via video webcast while selected games in field hockey, men's soccer and women's soccer will be streamed. Every home field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer and football home game will be available via live statistics coverage.

For a comprehensive schedule of webcasts, visit the webcast home page.

Live statistics links can be found on each sport's home page, with upcoming games found at the live statistics home page.

Hope Bowdoin is planning some major upgrades in terms of the quality of their webcasts. SO many unwatchable webcasts in the past . .

[amh63]

One has to count one's blessings when they come around.  I agree that watching some of the Polar Bear webcasts in basketball last year, I found it better to turn off the sound....to avoid the announcers that were not engaged or knowledgeable about the game.  Even the broadcast of some Amherst games varied in quality depending on the students and or technical issues.  It is always best to watch live but  I cannot convince my wife....yet....of buying a place in New England.  She cannot understand why I want to go North in the cold months rather than South (she was raised in CT!).
Only planning on attending the two "Little Three" games this year live.
Met_fan....thanks for the info.  It is interesting that the article stated that Hamilton has 71 players....the largest squad in awhile.
Found on Twitter that it was "headshots" yesterday.....indicating that news should be showing up on the Fall teams soon, after picture taking!

[frank uible]

A recent development concerning a certain Notre Dame football broadcaster has impelled your correspondent to expressly confirm that likewise Williams needs more criminals on its team in order to beat Amherst.

[amh63]

Frank....your recent post have included terms/words such as "scandal" and "criminal" with a connection to Amherst.  I will admit that I find it most difficult trying to interpret your cryptic posts.  Suggest you watch big time football starting tonight....can you believe it.
Will watch my first college football game on Sat.......supporting my brother's Alabama "Crimson Tide" team (he traded his Harvard Crimson loyalties when he moved South)  The majority of his children and now grandkids support Auburn.  That is like having my kids root for Williams!
nescac1....your thoughts on the failure of Williams' teams relating to the facilities/fields is most interesting.  Suggest that you make a large contribution to your school to help out....or stop the rain dancers in the "purple hills".  Will quit posting for awhile.  Too much convention watching or something.