FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Amh63, I wouldn't take the "listed" starters in the Williams game preview too seriously.  Over the years guys have been out with injuries for weeks, or never seemingly played much at all when healthy, and have nevertheless been listed as starters on the game previews.  Not sure why the projected starters are even listed week-to-week, since that information is typically so unreliable. 

At the start of the year, Frank U. predicted that Williams would win no more than 4 games.  I thought that was crazy with the experience returning, but obviously I was way, way off and Frank was on target.  The fact is that in a time when many NESCAC programs have been on the rise -- Midd, Bates, Tufts in particular -- joining perennial stalwarts Trinity and Amherst, Williams seems like the only school moving backwards over the past five years, other than of course in facilities where it has jumped from the back of the pack to the front. 

Wish I could say I was optimistic about this week's showdown, but the reality is that Williams has had trouble all year and especially of late winning the battle up front -- there have been few running lanes and the QBs have had little time to throw, and they haven't generated much pass rush or been able to stop the run.  With all five offensive line starters, and 3/4 defensive line starters returning, including two returning all-NESCAC guys, that has really been a surprise and disappointment.  Amherst is as always very fundamentally sound both running the ball and stopping the run, with very strong line play on both sides of the ball.  That is not a recipe for a good outcome for Williams, but anything has been known to happen in rivalry games and I'll hope for a miraculous Eph upset in what seems likely to be the last game before some major changes to the program. 

As for the future, Williams returns both QBs and I think Austin Lommen has the potential to be a very solid QB next year if he gets more protection.  Sime, Way, Brown, Regesnburg, and Hayes are a very nice crew of returning receivers, certainly among the more talented groups in the league.  Connor Harris had great potential and should be a nice change-of-pace scatback as a sophomore but otherwise RB is a glaring hole.  Williams will need to find a stud workhouse RB who can play right away in recruiting, improve its offensive schemes and level of discipline, and get dramatically better Oline play (what else is new) to improve next year.  Likewise, there is some talent returning on defense, especially in the secondary, but Williams needs more speed in the defensive front seven and a far more creative and aggressive scheme up front, plus a return to elite form from James Howe on the DL.  Fortunately, as we've seen at Wesleyan, Bates, etc., with the right coaching staff and a few strong recruiting classes, it's pretty easy to turn a program around quickly.  Amherst in the early 1990s is the best example.  With among the best if not the best facilities and football tradition in NESCAC, as well as being a very appealing destination for all student athletes, there is really no reason that Williams couldn't return to a winning program quickly, and a NESCAC contender within 3-4 years, with the right leadership and with perhaps a few years of a bit of extra help from admissions.  Certainly, there is no way that Williams should ever again win 4 games or less over a two years stretch ...

One last Williams note, the Ephs seem to have secured the commitment of what appears to be a smallish running QB from Maryland ... perhaps amh63 is familiar with his high school:

Easton quarterback Jaelon Moaney has committed to Williams College in Williamstown, MA.

[gridiron]

While not directly football related, thought worth sharing that Massachusetts' newest Governor Charlie Baker wishes he had attended Hamilton College instead of Harvard.  A feather in the NESCAC cap I suppose.

[Vandy74]

 
Mich has the biggest endowment in the conf...even for a public school.  Top academic rep. And top facilities.  It's stadium...I have walked it...was the largest for decades...the first 100,000 plus seats..setting the standard. 

[/quote]

Amh63.....Did you also happen to check out the U. of Mich. Baseball Stadium named in honor of ex MLB pitcher, legendary Michigan baseball HC, Middlebury VT native and MC grad Ray Fisher?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Fisher

To keep this post OT Fisher was also the asst. coach for the basketball and football teams and while serving as the latter coached Gerald Ford and Tom Harmon.

On another matter, you asked me a while back if my brother Peter's Amherst football playing days had overlapped with those of Jean Fugett.  I got back to you that they had not but I recently talked to Pete and he recalled that he was a freshman when Freddie Scott was a senior.  If you are not aware of this link you might find it interesting.

usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-08-16-amherst-nfl-alumni_N.htm

[amh63]

Nescac1....Easton is now a upscale town on the Eastern Shore of MD.  Not familiar with the HS...but have several friends in the area. 
VANDY 74....am well aware of Freddie Scott....from Arkansas.  Walk on in football.  Son did not want to come to Amherst but went to Penn State.  Left after his Junior year for the NFL...the son...but never made it.  Freddie still holds a number of records at Amherst. 
Did not check out the Baseball Facility.  Was attending technical conferences in Ann Arbor and visiting some faculty friends..

[middhoops]

Vandy mentioned Michigan's endowment.  Impressive.  Couldn't help but notice MIT on that list.  My eyes popped.  As of 2012 its was about half again bigger than Notre Dame's.
And I thought Williams was the king of D3 endowments.
Must be a Boston thing.  Keeping up with the Harvards......

[NothingButNESCAC]

Know that most everyone is concentrating on the games tomorrow, and we have put up plenty of stuff to get you ready for them, but if you read just one article on the site today make sure it is the one about the semi-pro football Boston Colts.

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2014/11/07/hamilton-alum-founding-more-than-a-football-team/

[PolarCat]

Love the story about the Boston Colts, particularly the piece about mentoring HS players in the recruiting process.  What a fabulous idea!  Hope it all works out well for Kori Brown.

[AmherstStudent05]

Very excited about tomorrow's game!  Obviously, I really like our chances tomorrow, but, as nescac1 posted above, you can never take anything for granted in the Biggest Little Game in America.

Still, it is just next to impossible for me to envision the Williams offense moving the ball with any consistency against our defense.  Sure, they can beat us with a big play (like they did last year) or get points off turnovers, but it is hard to see Williams winning any game where the score gets above 17 or so.  However, it is no sure thing that we reach this 17 point threshold.  Our offense has struggled a fair amount in recent weeks, and Williams has lots of talent on the defensive side of the ball even if, for whatever reason, they haven't always played up to that ability (particularly in the run game) this year.

Anyway, should be a lot of fun.  And the late start adds some intrigue, even though I hope they don't make a habit of it.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it up to Amherst for the game, but I am looking forward to the local viewing party.

Go Jeffs!!! 

[ECoastFootball]

Know that most everyone is concentrating on the games tomorrow, and we have put up plenty of stuff to get you ready for them, but if you read just one article on the site today make sure it is the one about the semi-pro football Boston Colts.

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2014/11/07/hamilton-alum-founding-more-than-a-football-team/

Awesome story, thanks for the read. Nice to see a MASCAC alum right in there as the co-owner.

[Vandy74]

Vandy mentioned Michigan's endowment.  Impressive.  Couldn't help but notice MIT on that list.  My eyes popped.  As of 2012 its was about half again bigger than Notre Dame's.
And I thought Williams was the king of D3 endowments.
Must be a Boston thing.  Keeping up with the Harvards......

Actually amh63 supplied the Michigan endowment data.  I must have deleted the link that referenced him as the original poster.  I still only half know what I'm doing on these machines.   The two links I posted didn't come through in clickable format either.  Both are quite interesting and worth the effort of typing in manually.  Amherst had quite a run of producing NFL players for about a decade.  Another story I found regarding Ray Fisher (but can't find at the moment to give specifics) mentions a choice he made that directed him to Michigan rather than returning to Middlebury as a coach.  He retired a few years too early to have mentored Old Guy so there is no point in speculating what might have been.

[PolarCat]

Kind of sad to think the boys are out on the fields right now for their last practice of the year (for some, the last practice of their LIVES!)  Where did the season go?

Here's hoping for:
- 5 clean games tomorrow
- No injuries - on the field or in the tailgates!
- Great reffing in every game (I can dream, can't I?)
- No game decided by a miscue, so no player wears the mantle of scapegoat all winter.

Thanks to all who've made this board so enjoyable this year!

[maineman]

Kind of sad to think the boys are out on the fields right now for their last practice of the year (for some, the last practice of their LIVES!)  Where did the season go?

Here's hoping for:
- 4 clean games tomorrow
- No injuries - on the field or in the tailgates!
- Great reffing in every game (I can dream, can't I?)
- No game decided by a miscue, so no player wears the mantle of scapegoat all winter.

Thanks to all who've made this board so enjoyable this year!

Why not 5 clean games?

[Go Continentals!]

I'll be rooting for Hamilton to beat Bates this weekend.  I'd like to see the fresh QB from California get a shot.  Hamilton has some exciting running backs and a receiving corps that is as good as any in the league.  Hopsicker did a great job but hey, injuries happen.  The defense simply needs to stop the pass and they win this game.  I know the Continentals are going to come out hungry for the win.  This could be their time.  Go Continentals!!!

[PolarCat]

Why not 5 clean games?

Because I have fat fingers, don't type well, and that's not the type of mistake my spell-checker would catch?

[gridiron]

A call for Ivy League football playoffs---sounds a bit like some NESCAC fans.  See link.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/11/7/lift-the-ban-football/