FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

No more than one QB qua QB can play in a game at a time. The vast majority of the QB reps (say, 85% + or -) needs to be given to the most likely starter at QB - especially true when no QB has any considerable game experience.

[Trin9-0]

No more than one QB qua QB can play in a game at a time.

Good news Frank; the New Jersey Jets are currently hard at work trying to solve that dilemma.

[nescac1]

Trin8-0, are you suggesting that Tim Tebow qualifies as a QB?  Because visual evidence is to the contrary. 

[pg04]

Trin8-0, are you suggesting that Tim Tebow qualifies as a QB?  Because visual evidence is to the contrary.

Zing! +1

[amh63]

Interesting sports related tweet today.  There is a "sports administrators" meeting of the conference  being held at Amherst today....first of the academic year.  Wonder if that includes the "CAC" presidents.   One wonders what is on the table for discussion....one can dream.

[river]

Interesting sports related tweet today.  There is a "sports administrators" meeting of the conference  being held at Amherst today....first of the academic year.  Wonder if that includes the "CAC" presidents.   One wonders what is on the table for discussion....one can dream.

Re the 8 game, 75 player, and conference games only limits, the posting alumni appear strongly in favor of more liberal policies.  The presidents clearly favor the limits.  What about the ADs and coaches?  And why?

[frank uible]

About 3-4 years ago the ADs and coaches recommended 9 within conference games but were voted down. My SWAG is that the Presidents don't want the camel's nose in the tent.

[frank uible]

My further SWAG is that within 25 years as over time the influential alums of the NESCAC colleges become proportionately more female and more international (2 groups which tend to be at best indifferent to football and may regard it as undeservedly absorbing scarce resources) many NESCAC colleges will drop football. How's that for a depressing thought with which to kickoff the season? But less depressing for a 77 year old for one obvious reason.

[lumbercat]

I've had that thought myself Frank. The diversity on these campuses, while it's a great thing, could erode support for costly endeavors like football in future years.

However, being a CBB guy I never realized the extent of anti-football sentiment that exists at places like Amherst, Williams and Wesleylan. I know first hand that kind of sentiment exists in the CBB. As I have scratched below the surface relative to other NESCAC cultures in recent years I see that atlhletic apathy, if not dislike, is prevalent on NESCAC campuses where I never imagined it existed. My view came from afar, one of two recruiting visits to a campus or road games over a 4 year period provides a limited prospective at best.

It seems that Trinity may be  the only place in the conference where anti athletic sentiment doesn't exist or is just squelched by the majority but that is my perception only.

For the past 40 years from my ethnocentric position in eastern New England I have sat in envy of the mighty Amherst and Williams football cultures where I perceived that the athletes were kings on those campuses. As I drill down on it through the years I've found that these perceptions where not totally accurate and Frank's candid posts tend can confirm this.

At the end of the day however, despite any negative sentiment, there is not a Football player or alum anywhere in the conference that would not relish an opportunity to play in the Amherst-Williams game. They do a pretty good job of displacing any detractors on that day and it's a beautiful thing.

[banfan]

I will just mentions this again. I spoke with a former long time head football coach this year about the special limitations on football and he said that it originates from the FACULTY.  And the powers in meetings are Amherst and Williams. 

Also, I understand the diversity point and how it may affect football, but these schools are competing at the national level for national championships in many mens and womens sports.  In some schools virtually 50% of the enrollment is playing on a varsity team.  I do not think that will lead to a decline in athletics.  On the contrary.  You could easily make the argument that other sports would criticize the athletic departments for their restrictions on football while they have 30 games and travel to the NCAA D3 tournaments.

And, every AD and football coach wants another CAC football game, at the very least.

[frank uible]

banfan: I wish my perception of realities permitted me too to be a "glass half full" guy.

[banfan]

Frank, I am not saying anything is going to change.  I am saying that ATHLETICS are stronger than ever.  I am saying that AD's and coaches want it and I am saying that this former long time head coach said that most of the negativity about football comes from the faculty, not elsewhere.  If you knew me at all, you would never call me a glass half full kinda guy.  Generally I am cynical about cynics.

[amh63]

Gosh Frank.....after to much convention watching, I too am somewhat depressed about the state of the USA.  However football....american football is here again.  The NFL is selling out its ad spaces and college football, the BCS type, continues to provide drama and mystery shows.  The WSJ had today,
an article about the state of football for 4 Div.1 schools...Duke, Stanford, Vandy and Northwestern.  These private schools in power conferences have the same academics and diversity numbers as those in our "CAC".  Except for Stanford, the winning records of the schools are not good.  Football is still strong, etc.
IMO, the diversity and the females at the "CAC" schools will NOT hurt football.  The female sports and diverse male teams such as soccer and so on generate school spirit and pride.  These proud graduates go on to support their schools and sports.  Graduates become soccer parents and american football parents.  Yes soccer moms are also football moms.  I have met many of the football parents and the moms are even more supportive of their sons.  Do not mess with moms...I have experience here. 
In short Frank, I will bet you that in 25 years, Amherst and Williams will still be going at each other on the upgraded football fields.  I hope to collect from you then.

[frank uible]

amh63: I'm not sure that in 25 years you will want to follow me to whence I've gone.

[amh63]

Sports tweeter has a sense of humor.....
Tweets that in an inter-squad scrimmage, the defense has been given the offense a hard time for wearing white after Labor Day.
Tweeter knows proper fashion rules!