FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[FightingCards]

Tom Parker-who I've never met-has an outstanding reputation from my friends that know him.  When he left Williams, that impacted the student/athlete admissions situation there and obviously enhanced Lord Jeffrey. 

A former HCOF at Williams once told me this story......he called Tom who was then at Williams to discuss a prospective football player.  Rather than Tom asking where he was from, academic background, etc...Tom's first questions was "Do you have any film I can watch on him and what's his 40 speed?"   

Now, the kid had good grades and ended up beng a strong Williams player.....but wouldn't it be nice if all our schools had a person like that near the top?

[amh63]

Fighting Card.....Thanks for sharing the story.  Tom Parker was the only Admission head I did not met personally....having "retired" from admission activities in the D.C. years prior.  However, I will relate a story about a HFC of Williams that should amuse some posters here....leaving Frank to guess who the Coach was...based on the personality.
In any case, when I had business in the Berkshires, I often took my wife along to enjoy the culture and beauty of the area when I was working. One late afternoon, I went over to Williams to look for some info on the swimming pool wall...records.  A classmate of one of my sons and local Md. swimmer, had set a pool record there.  In any case, I ended up somehow in the Football coaches office area.  One of the coaches...the head coach..asked me if he could help me.  I told him my needs and he gave me a set of complex directions to the pool.  Seeing the frown on my face from the directions....the HFC stated that it was also a "test" for recruits at Williams.  If the recruit could follow the directions given, he would be a candidate....if he did not, then he was not Williams material.  We both smiled.  He then asked me if I had any sons that would be interested in sports at Williams.  I say that both my sons were athletic and enjoyed competative sports.....however, they both went to Amherst and that I was an Amherst graduate.  The HFC turned to his fellow coaches and stated that he had just helped the "enemy".  We all laughed about the situation.

[FightingCards]

AMH 63-

How's Bob Odell as a guess?  Another great guy in a long line of great Williams Head Coaches.

Now that we are talking Lord Jeffrey lingo, my favorite story as a player was that our fraternity brothers got together every 2nd year-the night before the Amherst Homecoming game-and took bets on who would be able to jump the fence and steal Coach Ostendarp's hat during the 4th quarter...the same guy won both years...but not sure where the hats are today.....

[lumbercat]

Fighting Cards-
Gotta go back to your account on your '82 game at Williams....trying to pin down the core of your animosity for the Purple beyond the inherent rivalries that we all have for our perennial rivals in the NESCAC.....thought they ran it up on you but that wasn't the case so I was wondering what ticked you off so much in that game........."Wes was ahead 24-21 late in the quarter.....Wes kicked off to Will who took a knee  on their 16 and they subsequently completed 2 long passes to beat us"
And "Dick Farley headed for the hockey rink".....thinking the game was over?  Really?
Why the eternal hatred of Williams based on that game that you "hope they never win a game again".....

[frank uible]

It is my impression that FC's attitude toward Williams arises out of the unsuccessful field goal attempt by Williams in the fourth quarter four years ago, not anything occurring with respect to the 1982 game.

[Nescacman]

2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

Welcome to our final NESCAC Power Rankings for 2013. It was an exciting NESCAC season. We can't wait for 2014. We wanted to give it a week to let the season settle in before having our final word for 2013.

This week we went 3-2 picking NESCAC games, once again pretty close with a number of our scores other than our two loses. Both Colby and Wesleyan let us down, although certainly Colby could have won one of the more bizarre game endings you will ever see. Hats off to the Bantams for taking it to the previously unbeaten Wesleyan Fighting Cardinals. No excuses for the Cardinals, but it is very difficult to play back-to-back emotionally packed championship games especially against a rival riding a 50-game home winning streak. Unfortunately for the Cardinal faithful, they did not get it done. The silver lining, they will be very motivated going into the 2014 season. 

A word on our final rankings. Our editorial board has made a commitment to have a definitive #1 team devoid of ties. Therefore, despite 3 "7-1" teams in the NESCAC, we will be picking a definitive #1 ranked team.

Final 2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

1. Wesleyan (Last Week #1): An historic season for the Wesleyan Football Cardinals. Consider these facts: Wesleyan won their first Little 3 championship in the modern era (since NESCAC started), won at least a share of the NESCAC crown for only the second time ever, had 7 wins in a season, for the first time since 1997 and for the first time since 1969 had a chance at an undefeated season. They were ranked #1 in the league for more than half the season and were 1-0 against other 7-1 teams in the league (Middlebury and Amherst). They were the #1 D3 team in New England in the coach's poll for two of the last three weeks of the season and were ranked as high as #6 in the Lambert Meadowlands D3 Poll for best team in East and as high as #31 nationally. Although they did not finish the season well against Trinity, they still led the NESCAC in total defense and were #3 in total offense. They had some exceptional individual performances and could have as many as 8 first team NESCAC performers (Sheffer, DiMase, Hughes, Drew, Bussani, Cimino, Powers, Aguire). Should be a very interesting game #1 next September as Wesleyan will travel to Middlebury to face the Panthers. 

2. Amherst (LW #2): Amherst clinched second place in the Little 3 with a sound defeat of Williams in the last game ever on the old Weston Field. A sound effort by the LJ's as they were plus 4 in turnovers and won both time of possession and penalties. Amherst still tied for the league title as a result of the Wesleyan loss. Amherst went 1-1 in the battle of the 7-1 teams with a win against Middlebury and loss at home to Wesleyan. Solid year for Amherst, in particular on defense, leading the NESCAC in points allowed.

3. Middlebury (LW #3): As expected, they crushed Tufts for a share of the NESCAC title. They ended the season with their second consecutive 7-1 season. They went 0-1 in the battle of the "7-1's" with a loss to Amherst. They unfortunately did not play Wesleyan. MR. NESCAC Commissioner, can we please go to a 9 game schedule in 2014 so that every team play everyone and we have a true league champion (it could easily be done by eliminating the silly inter-league scrimmage and starting the season a week earlier or going one week later if they want to preserve the pre-season schedule)? Hats off to Mr. Foote on a great career. He will undoubtedly be named the NESCAC offensive player of the year for the second straight year this week when the announcement is made. The big question is how do they replace him in 2014 after leading Middlebury's #1 ranked offense to a tied for a NESCAC lead 31 TD's (with Wesleyan) of which 26 were accounted for by him.

4. Trinity (LW #4): Trinity went 1-2 against the 7-1's (Middlebury, Amherst and Wesleyan). Another strong year for Coach Devanney and the Bantams going 6-2. They certainly saved their best for last as they extended their home win streak against their in-state rival Wesleyan to 51 games. Trinity led the NESCAC in scoring offense, was third in scoring defense, was second in total offense and tied for first in turnover differential. Hats off to Senior RB Evan Bunker for setting the all-time NESCAC rushing record. The future is bright with frosh QB Sonny Puzzo at the helm for the next three years.

5 (tie). Colby (LW#5): Very tough loss for them at Bowdoin. After coming back to lose the way they did, is very tough. Colby could have easily been 5-3 with loses to Wesleyan, Amherst and Middlebury. Bowdoin would have none of that. With QB Justin Ciero only being a sophomore, Colby will be looking to get over .500 in 2014. They will need to do a better job in the turnover department to get there.

5 (tie). Bates (LW #6): As predicted big win for them against Hamilton. They once again combined efficient passing and effective running into a winning formula. They finished the season 4-4 in front of 371 hearty fans in Clinton, NY.

7. Bowdoin (LW #8): Very exciting win with a crazy ending against Colby. If you have not seen it, we suggest you go to YouTube immediately and watch it. We will see if this 3-5 team progresses in 2014. In order to do so, they will have to address their QB situation. Until they upgrade that position (since Caputi is a junior and is the coaches son, that is not going to happen until the 2015 season) their offense will languish.

8. Williams (LW#7): A last place finish in the Little 3 and a very un-Williams-like 2-6 record is what 2013 will be known for in Williamstown. Placing the blame for the demise of the Williams College football program on anyone other than the coaching staff is, in our opinion, unfounded. They have a lot of talent on this team (although they need to address QB and their O-line situations). I will again note that Coach Kelton previous job as HCOF at Williams was as Defensive Coordinator at that hot bed of Ivy League Football (2008 and 2009); Columbia. His combined record during those two years was 6-14 with 465 points allowed (23 points per game). Once again, is this guy deserving of one of the best D3 head coaching jobs in the country? Was this some sort of affirmative action hire by Williams new President and AD at the time in 2010? In our opinion, yes. They are right now "King of the Scrap Heap" with Tufts and Hamilton. They were last in the NESCAC in turnover differential at an incredible -15. They will need to do a lot to reverse their downward slide and turn things around in 2014.

9. Connecticut College (LW #9): Have lost "0" straight.

10. Hamilton (LW #10): An 0-8 season they would like to forget. They were second to last in the NESCAC in scoring offense and scoring defense. They will have to replace their best offensive player, all league performer RB Stanell in 2014. Not sure 2014 will be their year.

11. Tufts (LW #11): 31 in a row and counting. They completed their third straight season 0-8.They finished the season last in the NESCAC in scoring offense and scoring defense. They have theoretically had two good recruiting classes. For Coach Civetti's case, they better have another good one this off-season and start to put some wins on the board in 2014 or something tells me he will be looking for another job along with HCOF Kelton.

NESCAC Man's Picks
Last week: 3-2
Season (through eight weeks): 32-8

2013 NESCAC Season Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: McCallum Foote, QB, Middlebury College
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Kukesh, DB, Bates College
Rookie of the Year: Sonny Puzzo, QB, Trinity College
Team of the Year: Wesleyan University
Coach of the Year: Mike Whalen, Wesleyan University

See you all next Fall!

[Vandy74]

2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

Welcome to our final NESCAC Power Rankings for 2013. It was an exciting NESCAC season. We can't wait for 2014. We wanted to give it a week to let the season settle in before having our final word for 2013.

This week we went 3-2 picking NESCAC games, once again pretty close with a number of our scores other than our two loses. Both Colby and Wesleyan let us down, although certainly Colby could have won one of the more bizarre game endings you will ever see. Hats off to the Bantams for taking it to the previously unbeaten Wesleyan Fighting Cardinals. No excuses for the Cardinals, but it is very difficult to play back-to-back emotionally packed championship games especially against a rival riding a 50-game home winning streak. Unfortunately for the Cardinal faithful, they did not get it done. The silver lining, they will be very motivated going into the 2014 season. 

A word on our final rankings. Our editorial board has made a commitment to have a definitive #1 team devoid of ties. Therefore, despite 3 "7-1" teams in the NESCAC, we will be picking a definitive #1 ranked team.

Final 2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

1. Wesleyan (Last Week #1): An historic season for the Wesleyan Football Cardinals. Consider these facts: Wesleyan won their first Little 3 championship in the modern era (since NESCAC started), won at least a share of the NESCAC crown for only the second time ever, had 7 wins in a season, for the first time since 1997 and for the first time since 1969 had a chance at an undefeated season. They were ranked #1 in the league for more than half the season and were 1-0 against other 7-1 teams in the league (Middlebury and Amherst). They were the #1 D3 team in New England in the coach's poll for two of the last three weeks of the season and were ranked as high as #6 in the Lambert Meadowlands D3 Poll for best team in East and as high as #31 nationally. Although they did not finish the season well against Trinity, they still led the NESCAC in total defense and were #3 in total offense. They had some exceptional individual performances and could have as many as 8 first team NESCAC performers (Sheffer, DiMase, Hughes, Drew, Bussani, Cimino, Powers, Aguire). Should be a very interesting game #1 next September as Wesleyan will travel to Middlebury to face the Panthers. 

2. Amherst (LW #2): Amherst clinched second place in the Little 3 with a sound defeat of Williams in the last game ever on the old Weston Field. A sound effort by the LJ's as they were plus 4 in turnovers and won both time of possession and penalties. Amherst still tied for the league title as a result of the Wesleyan loss. Amherst went 1-1 in the battle of the 7-1 teams with a win against Middlebury and loss at home to Wesleyan. Solid year for Amherst, in particular on defense, leading the NESCAC in points allowed.

3. Middlebury (LW #3): As expected, they crushed Tufts for a share of the NESCAC title. They ended the season with their second consecutive 7-1 season. They went 0-1 in the battle of the "7-1's" with a loss to Amherst. They unfortunately did not play Wesleyan. MR. NESCAC Commissioner, can we please go to a 9 game schedule in 2014 so that every team play everyone and we have a true league champion (it could easily be done by eliminating the silly inter-league scrimmage and starting the season a week earlier or going one week later if they want to preserve the pre-season schedule)? Hats off to Mr. Foote on a great career. He will undoubtedly be named the NESCAC offensive player of the year for the second straight year this week when the announcement is made. The big question is how do they replace him in 2014 after leading Middlebury's #1 ranked offense to a tied for a NESCAC lead 31 TD's (with Wesleyan) of which 26 were accounted for by him.



See you all next Fall!

Nescacman...Always enjoy your posts and respect the scholarship upon which your conclusions are based.  I respectfully beg to differ in this case.

Wesleyan had a fine season.  They have "rejoined" the Little Three announcing their presence with authority (to quote a favorite movie of mine.)   However, through no fault of their own they did not play Middlebury this season (are you listening Oh Imperial Gods of the NESCAC?) and in light of their weak finish to the season, IMHO, hardly deserve to be declared Top Dog.  I do indeed expect them to be worthy contenders for the honor for many years to come.  But such a rank should be based on accomplishment, not on what might have been (had the NESCAC gods seen fit to allow it).  All of your noted 1st's et al are nice little additions to the bottom half of the award plaque.  They are meaningless as criteria for an honor not decisively determined by competitive accomplishment throughout the season in it's entirety.

Amherst lost two games last season and the coach designated both rematches as target games.  Both were won.  Middlebury was made to look like a bottom of the conference team before it was over in their only loss of the season.  Granted Wesleyan beat the Lord Jeffs but only by 6 points.  Hardly a beating at the hands of the juggernaut Wesleyan at that point of the season was hyped as having become.  Wesleyan finished their season quite unimpressively, not simply by being trounced by Trinity, admittedly a  traditional rival, but also by only defeating Williams, that's 2-6 Williams, Big Game Williams, by 2 points, AT HOME.  True, Wesleyan made 5 of their opponents look hapless but in the three games that mattered most to them they were 2-1 and outscored 46-68.  Wesleyan, I repeat, is for real and will continue to be so, but the clear cut best team in the NESCAC this season?  Clearly not.

Middlebury cannot be blamed for the fact that unlike it's NESCAC competitors they can no longer finish up their season against their long-time rivals, thereby allowing them to close out looking strong against the lesser teams in the conference while the traditionally top teams play their most meaningful games.  Although they won every contest but one they failed to show up against Amherst and they did not have to play Wesleyan (I beseech thee oh Imperial Keepers of the NESCAC Athletics-in-it's-proper-place Ideal.   Please allow a touch of fairness to prevail in this oh so unworthy universe, or in this case, athletic conference). 

I just don't see the "definitive # 1 ranked team" being awarded on the results of the first 6 games of an 8 game season, especially when the most important of the first six is a narrow margin of victory in contrast to decisive wins over much weaker opposition.  To have this followed by a two point victory over a 2-6 team, regardless of the rivalry involved, and a 30 point loss to finish the season, the "definitive # 1 ranked team" award looks more like the "Coulda, Shoulda, but Didn't Award".

While admitting that three 7-1 finishers who did not play a full conference schedule make the final decision somewhat meaningless, I feel that all of the facts resulting from actual on-field combat lean toward Amherst.  Assuming your "no ties" refers only to the # 1 pick it is unfair to give an edge to either Wesleyan or Middlebury.  Wesleyan beat Amherst, who trounced the Panthers.  Middlebury beat Trinity, who trounced Wesleyan.  Nobody trounced the Lord Jeffs.  They lost one game by six points. 

Btw, Middhoops and I just spent the weekend in Lancaster PA watching the Panthers play some serious hoop.  On Saturday we also took in the Franklin & Marshall-Gettysburg football game.  We left with no doubt in our minds that Amherst, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Trinity, if not a few other healthy NESCAC teams would have made short work of the 6-4 overall.... 6-3, tied for 3rd place in the Centennial Conference Diplomats.  But for now that is an opinion based on mere conjecture.

[frank uible]

The tone of Nescacman's hatchet job on Kelton is despicable, the substance merely in error.

[Nescacman]

2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

Welcome to our final NESCAC Power Rankings for 2013. It was an exciting NESCAC season. We can't wait for 2014. We wanted to give it a week to let the season settle in before having our final word for 2013.

This week we went 3-2 picking NESCAC games, once again pretty close with a number of our scores other than our two loses. Both Colby and Wesleyan let us down, although certainly Colby could have won one of the more bizarre game endings you will ever see. Hats off to the Bantams for taking it to the previously unbeaten Wesleyan Fighting Cardinals. No excuses for the Cardinals, but it is very difficult to play back-to-back emotionally packed championship games especially against a rival riding a 50-game home winning streak. Unfortunately for the Cardinal faithful, they did not get it done. The silver lining, they will be very motivated going into the 2014 season. 

A word on our final rankings. Our editorial board has made a commitment to have a definitive #1 team devoid of ties. Therefore, despite 3 "7-1" teams in the NESCAC, we will be picking a definitive #1 ranked team.

Final 2013 NESCAC Power Rankings

1. Wesleyan (Last Week #1): An historic season for the Wesleyan Football Cardinals. Consider these facts: Wesleyan won their first Little 3 championship in the modern era (since NESCAC started), won at least a share of the NESCAC crown for only the second time ever, had 7 wins in a season, for the first time since 1997 and for the first time since 1969 had a chance at an undefeated season. They were ranked #1 in the league for more than half the season and were 1-0 against other 7-1 teams in the league (Middlebury and Amherst). They were the #1 D3 team in New England in the coach's poll for two of the last three weeks of the season and were ranked as high as #6 in the Lambert Meadowlands D3 Poll for best team in East and as high as #31 nationally. Although they did not finish the season well against Trinity, they still led the NESCAC in total defense and were #3 in total offense. They had some exceptional individual performances and could have as many as 8 first team NESCAC performers (Sheffer, DiMase, Hughes, Drew, Bussani, Cimino, Powers, Aguire). Should be a very interesting game #1 next September as Wesleyan will travel to Middlebury to face the Panthers. 

2. Amherst (LW #2): Amherst clinched second place in the Little 3 with a sound defeat of Williams in the last game ever on the old Weston Field. A sound effort by the LJ's as they were plus 4 in turnovers and won both time of possession and penalties. Amherst still tied for the league title as a result of the Wesleyan loss. Amherst went 1-1 in the battle of the 7-1 teams with a win against Middlebury and loss at home to Wesleyan. Solid year for Amherst, in particular on defense, leading the NESCAC in points allowed.

3. Middlebury (LW #3): As expected, they crushed Tufts for a share of the NESCAC title. They ended the season with their second consecutive 7-1 season. They went 0-1 in the battle of the "7-1's" with a loss to Amherst. They unfortunately did not play Wesleyan. MR. NESCAC Commissioner, can we please go to a 9 game schedule in 2014 so that every team play everyone and we have a true league champion (it could easily be done by eliminating the silly inter-league scrimmage and starting the season a week earlier or going one week later if they want to preserve the pre-season schedule)? Hats off to Mr. Foote on a great career. He will undoubtedly be named the NESCAC offensive player of the year for the second straight year this week when the announcement is made. The big question is how do they replace him in 2014 after leading Middlebury's #1 ranked offense to a tied for a NESCAC lead 31 TD's (with Wesleyan) of which 26 were accounted for by him.



See you all next Fall!

Nescacman...Always enjoy your posts and respect the scholarship upon which your conclusions are based.  I respectfully beg to differ in this case.

Wesleyan had a fine season.  They have "rejoined" the Little Three announcing their presence with authority (to quote a favorite movie of mine.)   However, through no fault of their own they did not play Middlebury this season (are you listening Oh Imperial Gods of the NESCAC?) and in light of their weak finish to the season, IMHO, hardly deserve to be declared Top Dog.  I do indeed expect them to be worthy contenders for the honor for many years to come.  But such a rank should be based on accomplishment, not on what might have been (had the NESCAC gods seen fit to allow it).  All of your noted 1st's et al are nice little additions to the bottom half of the award plaque.  They are meaningless as criteria for an honor not decisively determined by competitive accomplishment throughout the season in it's entirety.

Amherst lost two games last season and the coach designated both rematches as target games.  Both were won.  Middlebury was made to look like a bottom of the conference team before it was over in their only loss of the season.  Granted Wesleyan beat the Lord Jeffs but only by 6 points.  Hardly a beating at the hands of the juggernaut Wesleyan at that point of the season was hyped as having become.  Wesleyan finished their season quite unimpressively, not simply by being trounced by Trinity, admittedly a  traditional rival, but also by only defeating Williams, that's 2-6 Williams, Big Game Williams, by 2 points, AT HOME.  True, Wesleyan made 5 of their opponents look hapless but in the three games that mattered most to them they were 2-1 and outscored 46-68.  Wesleyan, I repeat, is for real and will continue to be so, but the clear cut best team in the NESCAC this season?  Clearly not.

Middlebury cannot be blamed for the fact that unlike it's NESCAC competitors they can no longer finish up their season against their long-time rivals, thereby allowing them to close out looking strong against the lesser teams in the conference while the traditionally top teams play their most meaningful games.  Although they won every contest but one they failed to show up against Amherst and they did not have to play Wesleyan (I beseech thee oh Imperial Keepers of the NESCAC Athletics-in-it's-proper-place Ideal.   Please allow a touch of fairness to prevail in this oh so unworthy universe, or in this case, athletic conference). 

I just don't see the "definitive # 1 ranked team" being awarded on the results of the first 6 games of an 8 game season, especially when the most important of the first six is a narrow margin of victory in contrast to decisive wins over much weaker opposition.  To have this followed by a two point victory over a 2-6 team, regardless of the rivalry involved, and a 30 point loss to finish the season, the "definitive # 1 ranked team" award looks more like the "Coulda, Shoulda, but Didn't Award".

While admitting that three 7-1 finishers who did not play a full conference schedule make the final decision somewhat meaningless, I feel that all of the facts resulting from actual on-field combat lean toward Amherst.  Assuming your "no ties" refers only to the # 1 pick it is unfair to give an edge to either Wesleyan or Middlebury.  Wesleyan beat Amherst, who trounced the Panthers.  Middlebury beat Trinity, who trounced Wesleyan.  Nobody trounced the Lord Jeffs.  They lost one game by six points. 

Btw, Middhoops and I just spent the weekend in Lancaster PA watching the Panthers play some serious hoop.  On Saturday we also took in the Franklin & Marshall-Gettysburg football game.  We left with no doubt in our minds that Amherst, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Trinity, if not a few other healthy NESCAC teams would have made short work of the 6-4 overall.... 6-3, tied for 3rd place in the Centennial Conference Diplomats.  But for now that is an opinion based on mere conjecture.

Vandy,

Appreciate your feedback and opinion. The "beauty" of what the "NESCAC Gods" did manifests itself in the debate, which undoutedly will last all winter, spring and summer until we are able to put 2013 in the rearview mirror and buckle it up for 2014. The bottom line is a three way tie is no way to finish a season. Imagine if NESCAC teams were eligible for the NCAA Tournament or the ECAC D3 Bowls. Who would have received the automatic bid? Would there been any at-large bids? Who would have have played in the ECAC Bowl? Our sense is that probably 1 of the 3 would have been left out which would have been an even bigger travesty.

More importantly you beat me to the punch! We were also at the Gettysburg/Franklin & Marshall Centennial Conference Game in Lancaster, Pa. this past Saturday. We were guests of one of our neighbors from North NJ whose son is a frosh for F&M. We too were underwhelmed by the brand of football being played in that conference. IMO, Gettysburg was at the level of Williams or Bowdoin and F&M was at the level of Bates/Colby. Either of those teams would have been crushed by any of the 2013 upper echelon NESCAC powers (Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, Trinity). The fact that F&M has beaten Johns Hopkins in the past and gave them a bit of a game this year makes me question how good Hopkins is. We will see how they do in the "Tournament". A few  additional comments: good parent tailgate, nice setting, awesome day, poor student support, and great dinner post game in Lancaster ("Pour"...check it out if in Lancaster). There is a rumor that F&M might get an ECAC Bowl bid. We will see how they do against some stiffer out of league competition.         

[iamhuge]

F&M and Coach Troxell runs a great program.  I don't think that the NESCAC plays with the same physicality that the Centennial Conference does.  There's no way to say which teams are better until the NESCAC decides to play out of conference.

I will say that the NESCAC has an abundance of ISL and other private school kids, who just aren't as tough as the kids from the big public and parochial schools that feed the Centennial Conference.

[Trin9-0]

Regarding Nescacman's "Power Rankings" I'd have to agree with Vandy. Amherst played the closest games against the best competition. Of course, I also agree with everyone else that a 9 game schedule is long overdue.

I've enjoyed Nescacman's posts throughout the season. However, it seems a bit self-aggrandizing to list among Wesleyan's accomplishments:

They were ranked #1 in the league for more than half the season

Considering this "ranking" was according to your opinion, does it really belong among the Cardinal's list of notable 2013 successes?

Also, I'm in full agreement that Kelton is not the right man for the job in Williamstown, but to suggest that he was an affirmative action hire seems a bit off-sides to me.

Those who subscribe to Sports Illustrated may have noticed this gem from last week:


And finally, to show that I can poke fun at my alma mater... last night the @BantamSports twitter account appears to have botched a direct message and instead tweeted to it's 1,859 followers "See you soon baby". Yikes! The tweet was deleted this morning and hopefully they'll be a little more careful in the future before hitting send.

[All NESCAC]

Had to tip the hat to "Fightingcards" memory of November 1982 vs the Ephmen, although being on the other side of the result it was a "gloriously sunny day in Billsville"....that said, "congratulations" to the Cardinals for their Little 3 Championship this year...well deserved.

[FightingCards]

My friend Nescacman: 
As you well know I coached at Columnia University in late 80's, early 90's, and 6-14 giving up 23 points per game is not terrible at "Roar Lion Roar".

Lumbercat and Sir Frank (4000 posts allows you the Sir title):
4 years ago with the FG attempt by purple increased my animosity....but it did begin in 1982 on that cold day in November.  Down 21-0 in the 4th, the purple kingdom began the "Goodbye Wesleyan Cheer", and then as you know the FC's took the lead with 24 secs left and lost.  I have no ill will to anyone at purple or any of the alumni-friends with many.  But that game was the worst day of my life at age 21 and until family members departed us for the great gridiron in the sky, it remained my worst day.  So, nothing against anyone at Williams, but they happened to be our opponent on that day.  I honestly think more of the problem is with me than with the rest of the football world.....which is why November 2nd at 2:30pm became one of the best days of my life.......

[FightingCards]

PATRIOTS, CAROLINA, and WESLEYAN FOOTBALL:

Anyone watch the Monday Night Preview minutes ago on ESPN (located by the way 15 mins from the best football program in the land).......there was a feature on Amanda Belichick that featured "In Bill We Trust" and Coach Whalen........

The FC's are going national. We may need to play The Lord Jeffrey game at Gillette next year. 

[frank uible]

In the post-game interview Belichick looked exhausted in the extreme. How much longer can he keep it up?