FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[amh63]

Thanks Frank for the info.  Does "crowning" the field cost that much?  Just kidding.  Cost at Amherst includes a new fieldhouse. 
Maybe the new facility will have a stadium with box seats.  Will it also have levies around the field?  I'm jealous that Williams has plans for a more expensive football stadium...I guess it is more expensive in Williamstown.  I guess, your poor cousins down south are more cost efficient.  I know, a heated field and heated seats.
All kidding aside, that is great news for Williams and for the conference.  I do remember the "Mud Bowl" that ended in a tie game.

[Yarsan]

Hamilton will scrimmage the Colgate JV on Friday.

[lumbercat]

Frank- thanks for the enlightening information on the Williams facilty upgrade. Geez, I didnt realize this has been in limbo sice 2008. This is baffling to me. I'm a guy who has always viewed Amherst and Williams as being closely intertwined as the top schools in the NESCAC. They are alike in my mind as the most prestigious schools in the conference with the largest endowments, greatest national reputations etc so I guess I assume they would be lockstep with each other in bringing about Athletic upgrades like this....

What baffles me is the vastly different characterization of the move to upgrade the Football facilities at each school.

The Amherst project sounds to me like they put out the word that they were considering an upgrade of the stadium and surrounding infastructure. The word hits Wall Street and in no time at all they have 2 anonymous major contributions--  something like of 4 to 5 mil each along ample peripheral funding.  It seems that in short order the deal is off and running, fully funded and ready to go.

Isn't it the same deal at Williams or there is a difference between the schools that I have never saw from my distant NESCAC perspective. Why the heck would the Williams project be delayed....maybe I'm overlooking zoning or environmental issues in Williamstown?? 

[frank uible]

As far as I know or can reasonably surmise - Locker rooms for football, track and field (M&W), lacrosse (M&W) and field hockey. Offices for coaches of those sports. Meeting rooms. Locker rooms for visiting teams. Training rooms and offices for trainers. Fitness facility. Storage rooms. Two grandstands (including press boxes and presumably rest rooms and refreshment stands) - one grandstand facing football field, the other the lacrosse field. Artificial turf footballl field (including running track). Grass practice field. Lights. Destruction and removal of old main grandstand (plus old restroom shed?). Moving of Peck Grandstand across football field. Parrking space.

[frank uible]

The football field project at Williams was delayed due to the national economic downturn of 2007 along with the occurrence of the delay or elimination of many other items of Williams expenditure at the time.

[lumbercat]

Thanks Yarscan- so, the Buff n' Blue scrimmage Colgate JV's, interesting. Wonder why they don't hook up with Middlebury.

Your QB Eck is one of the underrated QB's in the NESCAC. The other one is Trevor Smith at Bates. At the end of the year I think they will be right behind Middlebury's Foote and each will surprise many around the league this year.

Anyone know who is Middlebury's dance partner this weekend??? Dartmouth JV's?? UVM Catamounts Alumni?

[lumbercat]

Thanks for the clarification Frank- thats a more elaborate project than the Amherst plan but the Jeffs nailed the 12 mil for their deal in no time. Surely the Ephs could raise twice that given the 5 year timespan since the inception of the initiative back in 2007---there must be some political issues here as the fiscal side of it should be a cakewalk for the Eph nation which, form my distant perspective, seem to place athletics on a higher level of importance than the Jeffs.

[banfan]

Historical times for football stadia.  Get to see the last years and first years at the Jeffs and the Ephs.

Colgate being Colgate and Hamilton being Hamilton, I hope the injuries are minimal.  JV's will still be bigger and faster and stronger.  Is this their traditional scrimmage partner?

I can tell you who Midd would love to scrimmage and that is Norwich.  The fact that they do not have that game on the schedule may be their biggest disappointment in the formation of the NESCAC.  The Cadets have already played two games and have two wins.  Ahhhh, what life could be......

[nescac1]

Frank, thanks for the details.  Sounds amazing, although I don't really understand how there is enough room in the Weston field area to build something of that magnitude / scope, isn't the space fairly constrained by the road on one side, golf course on the other? I know the school bought a few houses to increase the size of the area of construction, but still surprised there is room for two fields plus all those other facilities. 

Lumbercat, remember that Williams had two major projects set to go that were delayed ... a 100 million plus new library, and the field.  The library reconstruction was clearly the fund raising priority, and not just in terms of targeting donors, but in terms of optics as well ... would not have looked good to many to be building a football field until the new library was substantially under way (it's now over half-way completed). 

More generally, even though Williams has traditionally the most successful athletics program overall in the NESCAC, my sense that there was a LOT of discomfort among many faculty on campus with just how dominant Williams was in the 1990's and early aughts, and a conscious effort to bring Williams back to the pack a bit.  Despite Williams' enormous resources and athletic reputation, it has done a lot to restrict both athletic recruiting (eliminating the low band tips it used to recruit in certain sports, limiting overall tips to 66 while most in NESCAC have 72, etc., almost non-existent recruiting / travel budgets) and expenditures (Williams clearly now has some of the worst overall athletics facilities in NESCAC, none of the major facilities have been seriously upgraded in decades, and finally it got to the point where this football project just had to happen or Williams would be egregiously outclassed by the rest of NESCAC, Chandler / Lasell is not quite to that point yet, but will be within 10-15 years so I'm guessing the next capital campaign will start planning on that front). 

So a football stadium was always going to be a last priority on campus, for optics as much as resources.  At this point, though, virtually every other building on campus is newly constructed or has been gut-renovated, and I have a feeling that once Amherst announced its project, the trustees probably felt some pressure to finally go ahead and make this happen.  I am glad that after the long delay, this will be a really spectacular facility (from the sound of it) that will serve the school well for many decades in the future, and which will help not just football, but track (which is most in need of new facilities) and athletics overall. 

[amh63]

All interesting stuff to me who is involved in a little fund raising for Amherst.  Thanks to both Williams posters for the "inside " look.
Amherst's effort was primarily pointed to the football area. As described in the posted effort, it also includes dressing rooms for field hockey, lacrosse, track, etc., coaches and medical facilities.  Amherst did a major upgrade to its sports complex over a decade ago and since has added a turf field with lights for lacrosse/field hockey and a new softball field.  It also had added a major fitness center awhile back before the new ones recently added to Conn. College and Tufts. 
I, like nescac1, was puzzled a bit about the land available for the project around Weston, Frank.  I'm sure it will not cut into its championship golf course...I have walked that course and wish that Amherst upgrades it's 9-hole course to 18-holes. 
Anyway, more random thoughts before the scrimmages this weekend and hope that no injuries occur for all teams involved.
Amherst was also hard hit in 2008 by the economic downturn and is slowly recovering.  Amherst started a major capital campaign in late 2008 with particular priorities....new football facilities were not high on its list at the time.  Amherst has reached its initial goal one year in advance and recently added a 75 million addition for the fifth year.  I point this out since the new goal does seek in part, funds for the Athletic Department!
Lumbercat..Amherst's approach to finding funds for its football facilities was because Amherst had higher priorities.  A 220 million dollar new science facility (Williams upgraded its facilities about a decade ago) and unlimited budget in recruiting the kind of student body it envisions it wants on campus.
The latest Amherst Alumni publication had a most interesting article on Title IX's impact at Amherst.  Surprising takes for me...
Today, all sports-teams have to recruits its players...both men and women.  The level of competition in the "CAC" require it.
The pay for coaches have risen so that more men are seeking jobs coaching women teams.
Women teams still do not have the fan following of men's teams...even after they win National titles....except maybe at Midd.
Good sports programs over time are the result of good coaches...not facilities. 

[frank uible]

The Dartmouth website states that the Dartmouth football JV plays Middlebury at Hanover on Sunday, 9/16. Good test for Middlebury - if it is going to beat several of the big boys in NESCAC,  Middlebury should prevail against the Dartmouth JV unless Dartmouth plays a number of "ringers".

[lumbercat]

Thanks to all for the clarification. Despite all the complexities I guess I'm just blown away by the 2 large anonymous contributions specifically targeted for Athletics that will fund the Amherst project. Thats impressive to me.

AMH63-I don't think that Williams wil do anything to alter Taconic Gof Course- at least I hope not.- that course is a true treasure and one of the finest courses in the country. Played it several times and it is among the classics. What an asset for the college.
I was not aware that Amherst had a golf course on campus.

Banfan- so true about the Norwich-Middlebury game. That was a truly great rivalry that became a casualty of NESCAC restrictions. That rivalry used to mirror the great hockey rivalry that continues between the 2 schools.

There have been several scrimmages over the years among NESCAC teams and Ivy B teams or jayvees and I believe the better NESCAC teams generally held their own though scrimmage "scores" are seldom logged or reported and the outcome becomes a product of heresay.
Others may have specific memory of past matchups.

[amh63]

The Amherst golf course is about a 100 yards or more down the road south of the main sports complex, on the right up the hill.  There is land surrounding the golf course that the school acquired awhile back....a large estate that came up for sale.  The school bought the land to prevent local developers from building expensive houses.  So watch out if you drive the road to South Hadley.  You may see golf balls flying over the road.  There are two championship quality golf courses near by so there is no interest at Amherst to build up the course.  Dues are cheap for the locals and it is free for students....at least during the week.  It was during the years that my sons played it and caused havoc to drivers.
The best golf course is in South Hadley....owned by Mt. Holyoke, I believe.  I believe that the MA. State championship tourney has been played there in the past.
The AD at Dartmouth should warn the JV football team not to cause harm to the Midd. players....in spite of the fact that he is a Williams grad.  Good guy....must be because he talked to me after a football game at Amherst when I was depressed over a Williams win. We talked about the upcoming basketball season.

[lumbercat]

AMH63- thanks for the info on the Amherst golf course. What a great deal for Amherst students to have the opportunity to play the course for free!
I think the other course you are referring to in South Hadley is The Orchards which is another great track but can't touch Taconic which is the crown jewel of the region.

[amh63]

Back to football chatter.  The Cardinals of Wes. has posted a preliminary roster as of 8/1/12 on its website.  It has over 90 players listed.  The majority of the FY players are linemen and defensive types.  The large number of new OL are huge...not surprising since HFC is also the offensive line coach.
Amherst in its preseason video/news talks about FY players but to date has NOT listed its candidates.  Probably will list the roster after this weekend scrimmage....and when the "cuts" are made to 75.  Sad that candidates have to be cut after all that energy, etc. given to participate.