FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[banfan]

TO ALL HAMILTON FANS.

I am very happy for you! You seem to have found a coach who has/will make a difference in your football program. There is real change at Hamilton.  I did not go to the game but watched it at home after the Bates Williams game.

Coaches get the best from the kids that they have and Murray seems to be doing just that.

I won't say anything about how Trinity's offense played.
I won't say anything about how pathetic the officiating was and that the Ham touchdown was not a touchdown.

Again, I watched two NESCAC games yesterday and I could taste the vomit (is that too strong a word for this board?) in my mouth on several occasions watching those officials. Each of the 4 team's fans had every right to pull their hair out!!!!!!

The only good thing I can say is that I do not think that they affected the outcome. But the kids and coaches work hard and the officials do not seem to. Obviously I am not talking about every official on the field, just the ones in the striped shirts. 

[ContinentalsMan]

Officiating is always terrible pretty much no matter where you go ... Trinity has an impressive group of athletes and their outside linebackers are as good as you will see in the NESCAC ... watching the game, it was there was a huge difference in the talent on both sides but Murray and his new coordinators can match up with any coaches on the other side ... the only game Hamilton was in last season was the Bowdoin game and everything else was a blowout ... coaching means more in the NESCAC than in many of the other leagues ... reason is most the kids in uniform are pretty smart ones and Saturday proved that despite very outmanned, Hamilton could hang with a good game plan... take away two of those bad punts and that game may have come down to final series ... after seeing both Trinity and Wesleyan, I give neither the edge ... Trinity as usual has more talent and both quarterbacks are average... should be a very physical game but the difference may be those backers for the Bantams ... their pressure in the second half against Hamilton is going to be tough for any team to deal with it ... if i am Trinity I go cover 1 or 3 and pin my ears back and go get the QB ...   

[Nescacman]

For the Kelton countdown folks, today's game may be the last straw

I sure hope not.  Kelton needs a long leash to show what he can do.  It's pretty clear from his two years as a defensive coordinator at a premiere I-AA team like Columbia that he has the talent, and he just needs a few more recruiting classes under his belt.  Be patient Williams fans -- you'll always have women's crew in the meantime.  #AmherstFansForKelton

We usually try not address individual posts here and especially this early in the week (Banfan, all of your questions will be answered in our weekly post), but we had to make an exception in Daoustian's case. I sense a hint of sarcasm....at least we certainly hope so. Just in case he was serious...

-A long leash to see what Kelton can do? This is his 5th year. He has gone 8-0 (which was done 100% with a team Coach Whalen recruited and was a big reason why Whalen very nearly did not go to Wesleyan), 5-3, 4-4, 2-6 and thus far he is 1-2 in 2014 (can anyone see a trend?). He will fall to 1-3 this week against Middlebury. His career record at Williams is 20-15. Take out the 8-0 team and he is 12-15 on his way to a second straight horrendous losing season (by Williams standards). Contrast that to Coach Whalen's record at Wesleyan. In the same 5 year period Coach W is 22-13. We would argue that it is slightly tougher to recruit at Wesleyan than it is at Williams. It should also be noted in his 6 years as Ephman head man, Coach W was 38-10.
-Columbia a "premiere" (sic) I-AA (or FCS as it is now called) football program. Really? Seriously? We think most people on this board recognize that is maybe the most absurd statement ever made on the Board. Hopefully, that was in jest. As far as how Kelton's defenses performed when he was D coordinator at Williams, that was well documented in some of my weekly posts last year. I suggest you check it out before making comments about how much talent this guy has as a coach. I'll give you a hint, his results where not good very good for the Lions either.
-A few more recruiting classes under his belt? See my first bullet comparing Kelton to Whalen. It should be interesting to see where Hamilton is in 5 years after Coach Murray does his thing. Maybe Williams should hire him?

With all that being said, we are sure most 'CAC fans are rooting for Kelton to go 4-4 every year and keep his job. It's sort of fun beating up on Williams rather than the other way around. Unfortunately, we don't think that is going to continue. Oh well.

[mullethead]

Daoustian's post was dripping with sarcasm. My sense is that he would love a long Kelton leash so that Amherst can keep whipping his ass. Just check out recent Columbia's won-loss records  to get the full flavor of his post (2-8 and 4-6 while Kelton was d-coord.)

[hamgrand]

I give Trinity the edge over Wesleyan ... most certainly in Class!

Trinity vs Hamilton was a hard hitting and hard fought game ... but clean!  The Trinity O-Line was huge, but the Hamilton defense played outstanding. 3 - 0 at the half!  The Trinity defense gave Hamilton fits all game but really turned up the pressure in the second half - Shut down the run game and put a lot of pressure on the Hamilton QB.

It was great to see the Hamilton kids play so hard against a talented Trinity team.  I agree that a couple of poor Hamilton punts had an impact on the game.  But if this team keeps improving, the wins will definitely come.  As I said last week, Hamilton will be competitive and has as good a chance as any to win each of their last 5 games.  Now wouldn't that be something!

On to Trinity vs Wesleyan:
I was quiet last week on the whole fight song subject - but I agree with ContinentalsMan that coaching matters a lot.  I have had the opportunity to meet the Trinity and Wesleyan Coaches on a few different occasions.  Every time I met the Wesleyan coaches I felt they displayed a significant amount of arrogance - and that obviously flows down to their team.  They have certainly had success, but it is how you win and lose that matters as well.

So from now on I am routing for Hamilton - and anyone that is playing Wesleyan!

[amh63]

Nescacman...to clarify your thoughts wrt to the honorable Daoustian.  He is an Amherst grad with outstanding careers  in two sports...football and basketball. He played in the backfield and in the backcourt....may still hold the record for 3-point shots made in a game and was a Captain on the football team, I believe. 
Anyway, he does try to be witty at times and has butted heads with Eph posters on another board.
His post did bring a smile to my face with the women crew reference.  A point that focus in an area that is basically between Amherst and Willians sports fans.
To the Bates fans...any info wrt to the status of the injured QB?

[Gr8ful1]

How common is it in NESCAC sports,football in particular, for the head coach to be unable to bring in his own staff, coordinators to position coaches?  Also, how common is it to have members of said staff be coaches for other programs at the same school?  Lastly, how common is it to have staff be the spouse, son/daughter, recent former player, or other near nepotistic affiliation?  Please enlighten me folks.  I'll take it from there.

[warriorcat]

Nescacman...to clarify your thoughts wrt to the honorable Daoustian.  He is an Amherst grad with outstanding careers  in two sports...football and basketball. He played in the backfield and in the backcourt....may still hold the record for 3-point shots made in a game and was a Captain on the football team, I believe. 
Anyway, he does try to be witty at times and has butted heads with Eph posters on another board.
His post did bring a smile to my face with the women crew reference.  A point that focus in an area that is basically between Amherst and Willians sports fans.
To the Bates fans...any info wrt to the status of the injured QB?

No update today but the word yesterday after the game was a severe high ankle sprain.  Evaluation of the severity of the injury should take place today and tomorrow.  A fracture was still an option as of 5 PM last night.

[NothingButNESCAC]

And btw, what happened to Nothingbutnescac???...enjoy their perspective, but the lack of consistency week to week in their posts is a killer.

The short story is midterms are happening. The longer one involves procrastination, friends leading me astray, and staying up until 3 AM Thursday.

Anyway, I'll write something up by tomorrow but wanted to get some quick thoughts out there.
1.Happy to see Bowdoin get their first win. Their offense was nearly perfect. Here is to hoping Tyler Grant gets in the ice bath enough times to be ready for Hamilton next week.
2. This is the same Amherst team as last year- Some of the faces have changed, but Amherst is once again all about the defense and an offense that has a big question mark at QB.
3. Williams has been a huge disappointment the last two weeks. The difference between Williams and Amherst is in large part the different results the two teams had against Bates. Both were low scoring games but Amherst always finds ways to win those games while Williams just doesn't.

[PolarCat]

Hamgrand, happy to have you tooting for the Bobcats next week.  We're next in the box against the Cards.  It's Parents Weekend in Lewiston, so hopefully the 'Cats will build on this week's momentum.

In addition to Cannone's high ankle sprain, Bates had two possible concussions against the Ephs.  Too soon to say what the impact may be, and whether either player will be cleared to return next week. 

[PolarCat]

Hamgrand, happy to have you tooting for the Bobcats next week.  We're next in the box against the Cards.  It's Parents Weekend in Lewiston, so hopefully the 'Cats will build on this week's momentum.

In addition to Cannone's high ankle sprain, Bates had two possible concussions against the Ephs.  Too soon to say what the impact may be, and whether either player will be cleared to return next week. 

Hamgrand, happy to have you tooting for the Bobcats next week.  We're next in the box against the Cards.  It's Parents Weekend in Lewiston, so hopefully the 'Cats will build on this week's momentum.

In addition to Cannone's high ankle sprain, Bates had two possible concussions against the Ephs.  Too soon to say what the impact may be, and whether either player will be cleared to return next week. 

* Rooting. Damn auto correct.

[lumbercat]

Despite Bates 1-2 record QB Cannone has repeatedly made clutch throws all year. He's been great especially on key 3rd and 4th down situations. He came off the bench in the 2nd half Saturday hobbled by an ankle injury but ran great drives with the game on the line, playing on one leg. 

The play of the game  was a superbly thrown 55 yard bomb to league leading receiver Riley leading 13-12 with 2 minutes left. This throw in a 3rd and 12 situation set up his own one yard sneak for the TD. Huge clutch throw to win the game.

I hope the kid is ok - he throws the ball extremely well and has great instincts in the pocket. He feels the rush and knows when to step up in the pocket or bounce it outside with a rollout. His loss would be devastating for the Bates offense.

Bates punter Kurey pounded the ball again averaging 44+ yds per kick which was key in a tight low scoring game where field position was vital in sealing the Bates win.

Would like to know the prognosis for Cannone if anyone knows- a shame to see him down for an extended period of time.

[lumbercat]

Geez-- I left out the Bates swarming defense- they play 5 athletic linebackers with 3 quick deep guys but what makes it work is the intensity in their front 3---Sam Hundley is a 265 lb DL all conference candidate who has carried the load for the Garnet this year- Hundley is big and quick as a cat in the Bates D.
Chris Kempton's defensive program at Bates is based on bringing in top student athletes with a potential to work in the weight room with the Bates athletic training staff to move into a contributing position in the Bates program. Formal off season workouts  are prohibited in the NESCAC but the Bates Football Weightroom bleeds with total intensity year round. Many athletes come into the Bobcat program and "play up" with the Bates Football conditioning commitment. The Bobcats pride themselves on working harder than their NESCAC peers in terms of conditioning and off season workouts.
In conjunction with the intensity of their overall conditioning  program the Bates Football Program has also engaged the support of their alumni network along with their Greater Boston alumni group to effort to keep momentum in the Bobcats program on the upswing.

[frank uible]

lumbercat: I know of only one person who keeps worse hours than you.

[amh63]

Frank U....VANDY74, who posts mainly on other boards have both of you beat wrt staying up.
I know your brevity with respect to posts and your stated views on Williams' coach and a nine game season....still, any comments on the Bates vs Williams game?