FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

I'm sure both Mills and Whalen are concerned about their squads looking ahead to next week. If both the Jeffs and Cards can take care of business on Saturday it will set up quite a scene at Pratt.

Thus far the athletics schedules at the USCGA have not been impacted by the shutdown. However, over half of the civilian employees at the Academy have been furloughed. This has led to an "all hands on deck", pun intended, approach.

For example (as reported in the Boston Globe)  head football coach, Bill George, has been handling the laundry duties for his team because the equipment manager isn't allowed to work!

[AlDavis]

Hype is fun and life is short , so I am not waiting to yell out what is going down ovaaah here......as for Amh63 thinking he is taking the high road by ignoring to fork over some Karma points as I asked him nicely ,  I will try to use my little to no input to have Coach W tack on a score next week just for Amh63.......as for Bates , Wesleyan will not  be looking ahead and are going to crush the shiiite out of Bates , it is more painful breaking down the Bates Caveman Offense on film than it will be playing them and that Pig-Pile Style of football , and yes they have beastly players and yes they have nice coaches and yes they are great human beings.....as for the evil laugh by the Coopster 8.0 , I have shown great respect for Trinity and have not ragged on them once here except for how epic that game is going to be and with their streak being at 50 for that game, but will start dishing now.......as don't go off on admission crap when Trinity has benefited with their juicy players for a decade and more now on easier than average NESCAC admissions over there in the walled off ghetto slum....they are all fabulous schools in the NESCAC and if you have tight wad admissions then too bad about ya.....Coach Whalen should not be undersold in any way shape or form , just look at Williams now , no really go look at them.......Now for the Disclaimer : don't rate all Wesleyan fans over - excitement just based on my posts as I am not normal , but if you met me  , you would like me.....I have asked Amh63 about 10 times now where to meet him with no response.......cause he is afraid and he should be , Amherst be very , very , very afraid next week.......No More Little 3 for you this year , next year and at least the next 4 years ....too bad about ya.

[Trin9-0]

Gee wiz Al, thanks for not picking on me. Not sure why you feel the need to "rag" on anyone?

I think most of the posters here appreciate the fact that the NESCAC is a collection of fantastic academic institutions who have an appreciation of athletics as an important part of the overall educational experience. Granted, some schools have traditionally placed a higher emphasis on athletics (Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Trinity etc.) and not surprisingly those schools have more successful athletics programs.

Undoubtedly, Trinity has benefited from, not only, being slightly less selective than some other NESCAC schools but also from the understanding in admissions that success in athletics is beneficial to the College. I recall a few years ago a poster from Amherst pointing out the paralleled successes of NESCAC football programs to the timing of their capital campaigns.

Winning on the gridiron makes for happy (generous) boosters. Trinity's last two undefeated seasons occurred during their $350 million Cornerstone Campaign. I believe Amherst, had an undefeated season during their most recent campaign. As you likely know, Wesleyan recently launched their $400 million "This Is Why" campaign... what a coincidence!

As for underselling Whalen, my intent was merely to point out that football is about "Johnny's & Joe's not X's & O's". As I previously stated I believe he's "an excellent coach", but without the support he's received from admissions the Cardinals would still be battling against the likes of Hamilton and Tufts.

I do agree, you seem far from normal. I've actually liked all of the Wes alums I've come across however, and I'd be happy to share a beer and a brat with you at the Coop on November 9 at what I like to call "The World's Biggest Little Outdoor Cocktail Party".

[AlDavis]

all righty then Coopster 8.0 ....we cool bro.....but the Streak still ends at 50 November 9th and I might bring Strippers from the Foxy Lady ovaaah dere in Providence for this after party that Gridiron is talking about.

[FourMoreYears]

Strippers or no strippers, I'd like to meet this AlDavis fellow.
Dear Sir, do you attend Wesleyan games home and away?
Or just those on the Wesleyan campus?
Please do share and we'll raise a glass.

On a football-related note, this may be the wisest thing expressed on these boards:
(Gridiron has it nailed)

"In the NESCAC, admissions offices have as much to do with winning as the coaches... sometimes more."

[amh63]

Awaiting the Amherst preview of the Colby game...so will add some info, repost some previous comments and respond to a comment that has irritated me.
Trinity8-0's comments connecting Capital Campaigns with athletic prowess  is what I call " practical fund raising" for schools that need money to meet their stated educational missions/ goals.  It happens in all divisional levels of schools.  Amherst just finished their Capital Campaign started in 2008, in midst of the "depression".  Their two undefeated football seasons and a National BB championship helped raise 500 plus millions and built a new football stadium..I am sure.
All conference schools are in the Nescac because academics come first.  So when one talks about sport recruits and admissions do we need to be reminded that recruits need to meet academic requirements.  I have previously posted that it does not help the school or the student recruit, if once admitted, a student leaves.  Lost in time and effort all around.  Conference coaches do not want to see their efforts to build teams wasted if students leave because they cannot succeed in the classroom.
Gridiron's need to throw in Amherst admissions practices again..inferring that something " wrong" is occurring irritated me. 
I do not question Gridiron's knowledge on football recruits and their talents.  I do question his position to judge the admission polices of schools in general and Amherst's polices and process in particular. It takes great skill and experience to project a student's ability to succeed in school..to graduate and contribute.
Admission to conference schools is quite competitive ..we all know.  I will now point out that Amherst has the the lowest acceptance rate/percentage in the conference...has had it for quite some time..and along with Williams, has had the highest graduation rate in the country..also for quite some time.

[lumbercat]

Is there a better poster than NESCACMan?
Another great weekend preview, much appreciated.

My grasp on the NESCAC is not as expansive as NESCAC man but I do follow the CBB pretty closely. I bristle at the "junk pile" label but can't really contest it.

Some observations on Maine CBB conference-

Saw the Bowdoin -Tufts game last week. There has been a QB struggle in Brunswick for the past couple of years but I give coach Caputi credit for having the conviction to stick with his son. There has got to be a lot of pressure in that equation. The boy has had some tough outings with interceptions. He is competing with a Senior (Romero) and a highly touted FY from Taft (Drakeley). QB Caputi had a decent game against Tufts and appears to the be the guy for the Bears who were lucky to get out Medford with a W.

Bathes had a nice win against the Purple with their dominant running game but they will hit the big leagues this week in Middletown.
They need to do 2 things to have a chance.....
----throw the ball more (15 attempts) and complete 8 or 9 passes at a minimum.
----more importantly they need to get the ball more in the hands of leading rusher Shawn Doherty who leads the conference in all purpose yards. Bates had 70 running plays last week and Doherty had only 11 carries, can't use this guy as a decoy.

Colby has a big win to hang their hat on against Williams. They are very young and seem to be recruiting aggressively. QB Ciero is a great athlete who runs the ball extremely well and is tough and physical but has struggled with the passing game. He looks like a running QB (would be a great fit running the triple option at rival Bates)
Wonder if Mules brain trust will consider moving Ciero into the slot or a multiflex back position as they did with ex QB Dunklee and hand the reigns to blue chip California QB freshman Gabe Harrington who looks to possess some great throwing ability combined with great size.

[amh63]

Amherst has posted its preview of the Colby contest on its website.  Contains a podcast of Coach Mills thoughts on the Midd game past and the Colby game ahead.  Video of the Midd game...highlights that are a little bias . Enjoy!

[AlDavis]

Is there a better poster than NESCACMan?
Another great weekend preview, much appreciated.

My grasp on the NESCAC is not as expansive as NESCAC man but I do follow the CBB pretty closely. I bristle at the "junk pile" label but can't really contest it.

Some observations on Maine CBB conference-

Saw the Bowdoin -Tufts game last week. There has been a QB struggle in Brunswick for the past couple of years but I give coach Caputi credit for having the conviction to stick with his son. There has got to be a lot of pressure in that equation. The boy has had some tough outings with interceptions. He is competing with a Senior (Romero) and a highly touted FY from Taft (Drakeley). QB Caputi had a decent game against Tufts and appears to the be the guy for the Bears who were lucky to get out Medford with a W.

Bathes had a nice win against the Purple with their dominant running game but they will hit the big leagues this week in Middletown.
They need to do 2 things to have a chance.....
----throw the ball more (15 attempts) and complete 8 or 9 passes at a minimum.
----more importantly they need to get the ball more in the hands of leading rusher Shawn Doherty who leads the conference in all purpose yards. Bates had 70 running plays last week and Doherty had only 11 carries, can't use this guy as a decoy.

Colby has a big win to hang their hat on against Williams. They are very young and seem to be recruiting aggressively. QB Ciero is a great athlete who runs the ball extremely well and is tough and physical but has struggled with the passing game. He looks like a running QB (would be a great fit running the triple option at rival Bates)
Wonder if Mules brain trust will consider moving Ciero into the slot or a multiflex back position as they did with ex QB Dunklee and hand the reigns to blue chip California QB freshman Gabe Harrington who looks to possess some great throwing ability combined with great size.

Great observation on Colby as I thought the same exact thing last week as I was standing behind the Colby bench observing how many Midgets they had up close.......Prior to that last drive before that nice looking Cali QB came in Colby only had 2 real positive offensive plays all game both with Ciero running after Dunklee being the decoy....I touted Dunklee as a great player several times in the summer and is a great player but from my observation he wanted no part of that football in his hands all game against the Wesleyan D.......Colby defense pound for pound was very , very tough and proud and Colby does look to have a foundation and some nice engaged coaching as that first quarter was hard and right there for them............also great shout out to NESCACMan as he  is a human God as stated earlier and would wish that he would post at least twice a week , maybe some sort of recap on Monday would be cool...........Amh63 don't you get that you rub people the wrong way with your All-About- Amherst- All- The Time , now I understand I rub some people the wrong way , but I have an excuse , I am a phucked up individual that survives on separating a man from his money , you on the other hand your blaaaah , blaaah , blaaah , blaaah about Amherst all the time is beyond Exasperation.....that's why I am full court pressing your ass , and glad to tell you that there is No More Little 3 for you , No More NESCAC Football Championships for you , No More nothing for you as far as compared to Wesleyan football is concerned for today , tomorrow , especially next week and at least the next 4 years or so .........now how many Karma Points for that , probably none , but Bank it as the Word of God.

[lumbercat]

Al-
I agree with many of your posts and enjoy most of them but I gotta call you out on this one.
Amh63 is a mainstay on this board and on the NESCAC Basketball board. He provides many good posts and insights and is one of the guys that makes the boards go.
Sure he bleeds purple but I respect that- day in and out he's an avid NESCAC follower and his observations are very good.

[AlDavis]

Al-
I agree with many of your posts and enjoy most of them but I gotta call you out on this one.
Amh63 is a mainstay on this board and on the NESCAC Basketball board. He provides many good posts and insights and is one of the guys that makes the boards go.
Sure he bleeds purple but I respect that- day in and out he's an avid NESCAC follower and his observations are very good.

....Ok , my apologies to that respect......but it is the tip of the Iceberg of the fierceness that's coming , it is football , they are student - athletes , but it is football players and it is football being played and football is what you will get now on and this good football has most definitely been overstated from me , so I will relax now then with this duly noted  call out and let it unfold for the record books.

[lumbercat]

Fair enough Al, you seem like a standup guy.....as long you are not being followed by my friends in Providence.....
I'll take a banged up Bates team Saturday but I need some points.....how many will you lay?

[AlDavis]

free money

Hamilton          46
Bowdoin        - 6 1/2

Bates               56
Wesleyan        - 27 1/2

Amherst         - 16 1/2
Colby               47

Trinity            - 29 1/2
Tufts                45

Williams             62
Middlebury       - 12 1/2

next week 0 - 4 Tufts at  0 - 4 Williams    and   4- 0 Wesleyan  at  4 - 0  Amherst where I get to meet Amh63 , can't wait to take a dump at that new field.

Hamilton     45 1/2
Bowdoin      -   6

Bates            56
Wesleyan     - 28

Amherst      - 16 1/2
Colby            47 1/2

Trinity           - 29
Tufts              45 1/2

Williams         62
Middlebury      - 12 1/2

Bates + 28.....you can tease it up to +34 ........( of course not much NESCAC action but wish I could market it )........back when I first started in the early 90's Providence still had some pull over the North End in Boston and such , but being from the nice suburbs we learned quickly we didn't need any lame ass old Italians telling us what to do and how much to pay them ,  we where always outnumbered in every sitdown and/ or surprise meeting and all that b.s. , their strength was always in their immediate neighborhoods , but once people like myself could outsmart them with the lines and moves and such they where dinosaurs , then of course when people went off shore (Jamaica , Costa Rica , Aruba , Panama ) and the advent of websites those clowns where done , every now and then they try to squeeze you or extort you but now you flat out laugh at them and they don't like to be laughed at so to save embarrassment they stay at their local clubs and reminisce of the old days. ( That's those current Providence dudes in a nut shell).....Disclaimer being back in the day I am sure they where the real deal , but not today , not now.

[AlDavis]

...and Lumbercat , just like the Stock Market , inside information helps and I got a text tonight that Bates will not get one first down......now that is scary.....not kidding , not just practicing to win this weeks game , practicing this week not to give up one first down.....so that information goes into line with me having fun with Amh63 telling him to be very , very , very  afraid next week as the past 30 years of doing business in The Little 3 as usual is now gone....."Gone Baby Gone"

[Nescacman]

Some interesting Wesleyan Cardinal fun facts for our friend "Al Davis"....the National D III rankings for Wes' D and QB Warren are indeed impressive no matter who they are playing. Looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Davis, in the tailgate area at Pratt Field in two weeks. Will you be with or without your make-up?

http://articles.courant.com/2013-10-09/sports/hc-state-college-notebook-1010-20131009_1_ladarius-drew-jay-fabien-wesleyan