FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[gridiron]

Four weeks of pent up frustration was unleashed on the Continentals on homecoming weekend in Waterville Saturday.  Tough opening schedule combined with injuries to six of the starting eleven Mules on defense (no excuses as it is all part of the game) led to an opportunity to demonstrate the pride the coaches, players and fans have in the Colby football program.  Unfortunate it had to be against Hamilton, as they try to get things on the right track themselves.  Ironic side note the new Colby president, visible at the home football games, is a Hamilton grad himself.

Confirming what several previous posters referenced, according to the Ham players with whom I spoke, they believe in the new coaching staff and the direction the program is taking.

[warriorcat]

I concur with the previous poster on the impressive permance by the Panthers yesterday.  The game plan and execution by the home team was superb and they made numerous key plays on third down that kept them in control from start to finish.

The Bobcats played hard but with a offense that relies on a a quarterback who can run they are severely limited due to Cannone's injury.  A gutsy competitor, it was sad to see him try to play on an ankle that prevents him from doing anything but throwing the ball.  Bates will regroup this week as they prepare for their Homecoming game vs. Colby and the start of the CBB (Bowdoin on the road next week) There still is something for them to play for and I for one believe in this group of players and coaches.

[lumbercat]

Warriorcat-
Thanks for the post. I did not see the Bates game -Can you clarify what the QB situation is- from box score it appears they brought in Deciina who is a slot back when Cannone left the game. Were they running the Wildcat? Is Dugan hurt?

[amh63]

Have to provide my daughter...an avid Amherst football fan...a blow by blow account of the game.. She was tooling around Ithaca with her family doing her chores and missed the game.  Checked the stats that came in late last night.  There is a SID writeup posted and a very long stat sheet info via the normal box score label. 
Anyway...some comments wrt to the game and atmosphere from bias eyes.
The announcers saw the Amherst kicker make an extra point kick that sailed a distance and one stated that the kicker may determine the outcome of the game.  Mark it down was his comment early in the contest. 
Saw Coach Whalen walk the sidelines in short pants...but had a jacket on late in the game as the rain came down.  The announcers were checking the direction of the wind and rain as Amherst was driving down the field with less than two minutes to go.
Amherst's WR Ragone, a starter was hit hard and had to leave the game.  Did not return.  RB Kelly became the safety valve for QB Lippe in the second half, imo, as he lost one of his primary receivers.
Missing players....saw Berluti on the sidelines, dressed but no helmet or pads.  Stats showed one of Amherst's DL missing...all conf. Player and a capt.  Only two RBs used...also worrisome...injuries?
Refs in the game held many huddles after a play.  Announcers started to comment on their gatherings and joke about it.
Last comment...my lead sentence wrt to the fight song was partly to be witty.  Do not know if the Cardinals sang later.  Actually, when a poster mentioned the words, I realized that it was one of the songs that I would sing in the Little Three Medley..at school functions...songs from all three schools.
Amherst website has an article about when Amherst went coed and the faculty also becoming coed.
Historical point....when the Trustees voted to have Amherst go coed, there were two conditions made by the alum and accepted.  That there will always be a Football Team and that the Glee Club would remain all male.  The Glee Club celebrates its 150 years soon.  Many favorite songs are football related songs.

[quicksilver]

Here's an article from the Portland Press Herald on Dave Caputi's  departure from Bowdoin as the HFC. It's still hard to figure out what this change signals (a new commitment by Bowdoin to football or just an exhausted Caputi?). Anecdotally, we hear of admissions as an obstacle at Bowdoin to success on the gridiron but then again it is hard to believe that there is that big a difference between the credentials of, lets say, the average incoming Middlebury fball player.

[gridiron]

Quicksilver--others in the NESCAC football community understand the move at Bowdoin to be major "house cleaning"--very unusual move for a NESCAC football school.

Regarding admissions, IMO it is almost always largely about admissions.  As pointed out by previous posters, the system put in place to try to level the playing field for NESCAC schools is not necessarily adhered to rigidly at all schools.  One can argue how much Coach Caputi contributed to the football mediocrity at Bowdoin over the past 15 years (from what I've heard there is significant culpability), but without question admissions contributes as well. 

Similarly, I strongly suspect that while HCOF Kelton has caught heat on this board, admissions at Williams is a major contributing factor to its recent struggles in the league.  No direct knowledge of specifics around Williams but have seen enough around the rest of the league to come to that conclusion.

[quicksilver]

Quicksilver--others in the NESCAC football community understand the move at Bowdoin to be major "house cleaning"--very unusual move for a NESCAC football school.
. . .

That's my educated guess too but would hope that Bowdoin will address the recruiting part of the puzzle as part of any house cleaning as there is not much to be gained from moving from a .300 to a .350 record.

[Nescacman]

Observations from the epic Wes/Amherst battle in Middletown yesterday:

1. This game is what small college, D3 football in the NESCAC is all about. Great game between two really good D3 teams. Hard fought, back and forth, well coached, clean (for the most part) played by skilled and motivated student athletes. Both teams gave it their all and it is a shame someone had to lose.
2. Game was close as we thought it would be but both offenses adapted well to two excellent defenses and scored enough points to win, which frankly we were surprised about.
3. Game came down to a less than stellar effort by the Cards kicking game. A missed extra point was ultimately the difference (wonder if stats show how many times a missed PAT kick comes back to haunt you). However, that wasn't the only kicking game mistake by Wes. With less than 2 minutes left, Wes punter Warren (yes, the same Warren that is their standout QB), shanked a punt that would have forced Amherst to drive 70 yards or more with only 1 timeout. Instead, the Lord Jeffs had a short field and a short drive to get into field goal range for the game tying kick. Lack of confidence in the kicking game forced Coach W to alter his strategy numerous times during the game including in OT (see 4 below).
4. Unfortunately, as has been the case with most NESCAC games this year, the officials made a bad call that impacted the game. In the first OT, Wes had the ball inside the Lord Jeffs 5 on 4th and 1. Wes went for it (see 3 above) and appeared to easily make the first down. The refs gave Wes a very poor spot (watch the game replay) and Wes ended up being short. Amherst ball, a short drive and a chip shot field goal for Amherst's very talented kicker.
5. We are looking forward to the last 2 meaningful games on the NESCAC schedule this year; Amherst v. Trinity and Trinity v. Wes.
6. Nice job by the Lord Jeffs and in particular their kicker who should be NESCAC special teams player of the week.

[warriorcat]

Warriorcat-
Thanks for the post. I did not see the Bates game -Can you clarify what the QB situation is- from box score it appears they brought in Deciina who is a slot back when Cannone left the game. Were they running the Wildcat? Is Dugan hurt?

Lumbercat-
Cannone started the game at QB.  He threw a great pass to Tomaino across the middle -about 20 yds downfield - and he took it 76 yards for Bates' only score of the day. 7-6 at the time.  Early in the seond quarter, Cannone hurt his ankle once again.  He limped off and collapsed on the sideline.  Decina came in and the offense did very little for the next couple of possesions.  Cannone came back in late in the period and with the score 14-6 he mishandled a high snap in the end zone, tried to bat it out of bounds, but Midd recovered for a TD with 47 seconds left in the half.  He started the second half but played in only one series and sat the rest of the game.  This is a tough young man who is in considerable pain.  I would not be optimistic about seeing him next week against Colby.  I have no idea why Coach Harriman went to Decina rather than to Dugan.  I hope for the best for Matt Cannone and if he is able I would like to see a senior finish his career on the field against Hamilton. 

[warriorcat]

Quicksilver--others in the NESCAC football community understand the move at Bowdoin to be major "house cleaning"--very unusual move for a NESCAC football school.

Regarding admissions, IMO it is almost always largely about admissions.  As pointed out by previous posters, the system put in place to try to level the playing field for NESCAC schools is not necessarily adhered to rigidly at all schools.  One can argue how much Coach Caputi contributed to the football mediocrity at Bowdoin over the past 15 years (from what I've heard there is significant culpability), but without question admissions contributes as well. 

Similarly, I strongly suspect that while HCOF Kelton has caught heat on this board, admissions at Williams is a major contributing factor to its recent struggles in the league.  No direct knowledge of specifics around Williams but have seen enough around the rest of the league to come to that conclusion.

My two cents worth on the admissions discussion.  When my son was looking at NESCAC schools four years ago, he visited Bates, Colby, and Bowdoin.  He was told by the Bowdoin and Colby coaches that his SAT's were not high enough for them to sriously recruit him.  Bates, being SAT optional, told him his application would get their support and if his SAT's were to improve it would help his case but his grades (A;'s and B's at a good prep school), recommendations,  and leadership (he was the Head Proctor of the entire school) were what his application would be based on.  When he went to the CBB combine before his senior year the coaches repeated pretty much the same message but the Colby and Bowdoin coaches were more interested at the end of the day.  Long story short - he applied and was accepted at under the ED plan.  His first term GPA at Bates was a 3.20 and he entered his senior year with a 3.17 GPA in History.  He has never been a superstar student but he has always worked hard and been successful in the classroom.  On the field, he has been a three year starter and part of a great group of kids who have had a profound effect on the Bates program. 

In the end, he never felt slighted by the other Maine schools.  The coaches were upfront and kind in their dealings with my son.  They do things their way and have the students they want at their schools.  In my humble opinion, each school should make it's own policies and do what they think is right. 

[Nescacman]

Highlights of the Amherst/Wesleyan Game yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW1j1YgS7pI&feature=youtu.be

[Gray Fox]

Highlights of the Amherst/Wesleyan Game yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW1j1YgS7pI&feature=youtu.be

A  scoreboard would be nice.

[iamhuge]

Here's an article from the Portland Press Herald on Dave Caputi's  departure from Bowdoin as the HFC. It's still hard to figure out what this change signals (a new commitment by Bowdoin to football or just an exhausted Caputi?). Anecdotally, we hear of admissions as an obstacle at Bowdoin to success on the gridiron but then again it is hard to believe that there is that big a difference between the credentials of, lets say, the average incoming Middlebury fball player.

Coach Caputi is a really terrific guy.  I dealt with him directly when my son was being recruited in 2009.   Here's a factoid relevant to this discussion.   All of the NESCAC schools gave my son a favorable admissions pre-read (ie if he applied early, he'd be admitted) with the exception of Bowdoin.  So, at least in the case of my son, Bowdoin had the most rigorous admissions requirements.

[PolarCat]

Delayed post as I was travelling Saturday, caught a flight right after the games, and spent Saturday night watching the Florida State Notre Dame game in a Detroit airport cafe.  (I am getting way too old for this road warrior stuff).

I watched the first half of the Bates-Midd game at home, and listened to the second half in my car en route to the airport.  Great job by the Northeast Sports Network.  But for the life of me, I can't figure out the Bates play calling.  Bates got the ball inside their own 10 yard line with 46 seconds left in the first half, and the score 14-6 (due to a missed PAT by the kicker who seems to miss as many as he makes).  Still a one score game, assuming Bates could get a 2 point conversion on their next score. 

Bates would be receiving the second half kick-off, so in my mind, there were really only two options: air it out up the sidelines a couple times, or take a knee, regroup at halftime, and come out in the 3rd quarter and try to tie the game up.  Instead, Bates ran the ball on first down, taking time off the clock, but not accomplishing anything.  "Okay", I said to myself, "Cannone will take a knee here."  Instead they passed on 2nd down, but instead of throwing deep down the sidelines, they threw short to the flat, where an INT would have given Midd a pick six.  Luckily, Cannone and his receiver weren't in sync, and the ball sailed incomplete.

I told myself, "Surely Cannone will line up under center and take a knee here."  Wrong again.  Bates lined up in the triple option, fell victim to a high snap, and a clearly hobbled Cannone could only try to bat the ball out of the end zone.  Midd fell on it, and went into the locker room with a 21-6 lead.  You could see the wind come out of the Bobcats at that moment.

My wife (who is not much of a football fan) called me in the car to ask me why they did that, and stated that even she knew enough about football to know it was bone-headed.  It was a shame, because up to that point Bates had played well, giving up the first two TD's to exceptionally well-thrown Milano passes.  But that series really sank them.

Here's a highlight clip from Midd's local TV station (Different camera angles than those in the NSN broadcast, so there must have been TWO camera trucks at the game!)  http://www.wptz.com/sports/local-sports/middlebury-downs-bates-in-football-and-field-hockey/29216612

[amh63]

Nescacman....thanks for the link...first in a couple of things.  Your call on conference special team winner was correct.  I saw the highlights of the battle in Middletown via a Twitter post from CPTV on the Amherst website last night.  Was thinking of making a reference to it but you were first.
The Amherst kicker...from a local MD prep school...was an All-conference pick last season.  He worried me this season.  He missed two short FGs this season....one up in Middlebury in the rain and in a game where any points would help.  The other was in the Colby game in the first half when Amherst was behind, I believe.  Wet weather worries on a grass field and the "plant foot" led to my footwear inquires here on this board.
Your concern with the Cardinal kicking game leads me to my last comment on football.
Amherst HC has commented several times that Amherst prides itself on having good special teams.  Yes it is one of the Three important "teams" needed for a winning season....offensive team, defensive team and the special team.  Many impact Amherst players showed their talents and got PT on special teams.  All conference RB Bunker shined when he blocked a kick, picked up the ball and ran for a score...is an example...or how I remember it