FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[banfan]

I stop by and try and pick up some information from time to time.
But, most of the posting is bitching and moaning and pot shots. When Williams was on top with the now retired Wes coach I guess they sucked and now that they are losing, I should admire them?
Way too much bitterness and way too little football.
It takes away from the site.

[quicksilver]

PolarCat -- I don't know about Trinity in particular but am aware of NESCAC coaches in other sports being quite clear in telling a potential applicant that he is welcome to try out for the team but that he is not a "recruit" and that there are no guarantees . .

While I appreciate your answer, that was not what I was asking.  There is a huge difference between the walk on scenario you describe, and a kid who was recruited (i.e. on the list the coach sends to Admissions). 

My question was what does the coach at Wes or Trinity tell the kids who are truly recruited?  That they're guaranteed not to be cut if they pass the strength and conditioning tests?  That 95 kids show up for camp, and only 75 of them make the roster, and you could be one of them?  Or is it a topic that just isn't discussed while the kid's being wooed by the program?

If they are playing by the rules, the names of the walk-on recruits should not be on the list sent to admissions as those are subject to numerical limits and subject to enforcement by the NESCAC through frequent data sharing meetings. . .

[PolarCat]

Quicksilver, I get that.  My question is not what happens to kids who are walk ons.  My question is what is told to the RECRUITS (the kids whose names are sent to Admissions and NESCAC) when there are 96 kids coming to camp and only 76 roster slots. 

[PolarCat]

I stop by and try and pick up some information from time to time.
But, most of the posting is bitching and moaning and pot shots. When Williams was on top with the now retired Wes coach I guess they sucked and now that they are losing, I should admire them?
Way too much bitterness and way too little football.
It takes away from the site.

Reminds me of a story our prior Rector liked to tell.  He met a woman at the grocery store who confided she didn't attend church because "there are too many hypocrites there."  To which he replied "You should stop by on Sunday.  We always have room for one more!"

[quicksilver]

Quicksilver, I get that.  My question is not what happens to kids who are walk ons.  My question is what is told to the RECRUITS (the kids whose names are sent to Admissions and NESCAC) when there are 96 kids coming to camp and only 76 roster slots.

The number of tippable slots per year is 14 per school -- the excess numbers should be for kids who do not need a slot. Supposedly the "A" band category is not subject to numerical limits -- those would be the kids whose stats (GPA and stats) fall in the middle range or above for the school (fully qualified for admission without a tip). This could be the problem area that you cite as, in theory, there could be 14 B- and C-band recruits and then another 20 A-band recruits. I don't have an answer as to whether the stronger football schools are, given their records of success, able to over recruit A-band recruits (as opposed to true walk-ons) although I would think we would see more transfers within the NESCAC than we do if that were the case.

[amh63]

Oh time for the Good OLD DAYS comment here....the days when there was no 75 team limit..when did it go to 76?.  Remember not that far back when Amherst and Williams would play each other with squads of 90 plus.  To make it equitable for the conference...the Prezs set the 75 player cap...is my understanding.  To make recruiting of good football recruits more equitable the limit of tips for football was agreed upon among the schools.  Still, it became interesting when some schools in the CAC as it was done in the Ivies decided not to use SAT scores for evaluation...like Bowdoin and Brown for example.  Know for sure Brown did it to increase applications and actually improved the quality of students applying.  I admit that I'm not sure Bowdoin was the first in the CAC.
In any case....in the steps that were taken...for fairness, today's preferred term..where does the school's stand in fielding competative teams?  Not much changes over the past decade, IMHO. Some exceptions maybe...but not many.  Until recently, there are still schools that still do not field teams of 75. 
Just some food for thought here.

[quicksilver]

Bowdoin went SAT optional in 1969 but most applicants submit SAT or ACt scores. . .

[meguloki]

It's official:

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/news/2015/02/whalen-dicenzofootballcoachingchange020215.html

[amh63]

Thanks Quicksilver!....has it been that long?...would have thought it was done in the mid 70's.

Guess the anticipated turnover of the HBC at Wesleyan is done! 
It would not have been "right" for the conference to have another Trinity educated alum as a head football coach...especially at a Ct. School.......just kidding here . Was the position ever advertised?
Am I to infer that there will Not be an advertised vacancy for the HFC at Williams?  Timing is interesting...recruiting over for the Cardinals? 

[Trin9-0]

I know for a fact that Trinity recruits are told by coaches that roster spots aren't guaranteed yet many still choose to attend Trin. While, the vast majority of players who get cut are walk-ons and not recruited players it does happen.

Last year two RB recruits from CT. Both had the option of choosing other NESCAC schools but both chose Trinity and yet only one made the 75 man roster. For what it's worth; Trin players who don't make the 75 man roster, while they can't practice or play, still have access to the team's academic counselling and get a ring if the team goes undefeated.

I think it's safe to say that most kids want to be a part of a winning program, and no class has graduated from Trin without at least 1 ring in the last 15 years. That's one reason why a player will choose Trinity over Bates; for the chance to earn a spot on a championship team rather than spend 4 years on an average squad.

It's also important to note that the commits I listed are based on media reports. This doesn't mean that all of those players were recruited by the respective schools. It simply means that they're attending those schools with the hopes of making the team. Also, the media picks which position to list for the player. A player could be listed as a RB in the paper but was being recruited as a WR or DB.

[PolarCat]

Trin 8-0, thanks for the clarification.  That's about what I expected (though giving the kids who don't make the roster rings is a very nice touch indeed).

Interesting perspective about the kids who'd rather ride the bench in a winning program than be on the field in another program.  I know others who've made the exact opposite choice.  I can't help but wonder if Russell Wilson would be holding the Lombardi Trophy today if Malcolm Butler opted to ride a DI bench, rather than play at (Division II) West Alabama?

[Trin9-0]

Some more commitments being announced by CT high school football players. Looks like Trinity went heavy after Cheshire Academy. I wonder if they really wanted all these kids or if there was one or two they really liked and recruited them all as a package deal.  Also interesting to see four Darien kids committing to NESCAC programs thus far. For those who don't know, the Blue Wave produces a ton of talent and is a very affluent community.

Sam Bowtel, OL, Darien – Trinity
Rob Parra, WR, Hall — Trinity
Ryan Brown, WR, Fairfield Warde – Trinity
Chandler Colberg, RB, Cheshire Academy – Trinity
Eric Saches, K, Cheshire Academy — Trinity
Sean Smerczynski, LB, Cheshire Academy — Trinity
Bradley Whitman, QB, Cheshire Academy — Trinity

Other NESCAC commits from CT:
Mark Piccirillo, QB, Shelton – Wesleyan
Tim Jambor, LB, Notre Dame-West Haven – Wesleyan
Jack Whiting, CB/WR, Fairfield Warde — Bowdoin
Griffin Ross, WR, Darien – Bowdoin
Jack Tyrell, OL, Darien — Amherst
Jack Griffiths, OL, Darien – Amherst
Chris Taylor, OL, St. Joseph – Middlebury

Here's a few more NESCAC commits out of Cheshire High School (alma mater of Trinity DC, Associate HC and Recruiting Coordinator Lew Acquarulo:

Jack Cunningham, RB, Cheshire - Trinity
Matt Covel, TE, Cheshire - Trinity
Andrew Yamin, RB, Cheshire - Amherst

A few more NESCAC commits both from Fairfield Prep out of CT:
AJ Mansolillo, OL – Bowdoin
Connor Roche, OL – Middlebury

[Trin9-0]

It's official:

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/news/2015/02/whalen-dicenzofootballcoachingchange020215.html

Congrats to Dan. He was on the Trinity staff when I played for the Bants. He's a tremendous recruiter and the players loved him.

I can't help but wonder what he'd do if/when the Williams job comes open. While I'm sure he'll have some loyalty to Wes and Whalen for giving him this shot, but I know he LOVES Williams. If he has some success as HC at Wesleyan it wouldn't surprise me at all if (much like Whalen) he was lured back to his alma mater. Turnabout is fair play I suppose!

[amh63]

Good points Trin8-0.  Especially the one that recruits want to be on a championship team, etc.
As I scanned the Amherst website for news and changes, came upon a "new" site on the football section.  Titled "Crank It "..guess it is derived from an expression of Coach Mills.  My take is that it is a recruiting "tool" in this new world of "social media" self promotion....by recruits and schools.  One of the areas directed to interested recruits is the history of Amherst Football and its most recent success on the field.....a winning tradition and program.....FYI. 
Did check some other school websites to see if there were similar promotion specific sub-sites.

[Trin9-0]

Some more commitments being announced by CT high school football players. Looks like Trinity went heavy after Cheshire Academy. I wonder if they really wanted all these kids or if there was one or two they really liked and recruited them all as a package deal.  Also interesting to see four Darien kids committing to NESCAC programs thus far. For those who don't know, the Blue Wave produces a ton of talent and is a very affluent community.

Sam Bowtel, OL, Darien – Trinity
Rob Parra, WR, Hall — Trinity
Ryan Brown, WR, Fairfield Warde – Trinity
Chandler Colberg, RB, Cheshire Academy – Trinity
Eric Saches, K, Cheshire Academy — Trinity
Sean Smerczynski, LB, Cheshire Academy — Trinity
Bradley Whitman, QB, Cheshire Academy — Trinity

Other NESCAC commits from CT:
Mark Piccirillo, QB, Shelton – Wesleyan
Tim Jambor, LB, Notre Dame-West Haven – Wesleyan
Jack Whiting, CB/WR, Fairfield Warde — Bowdoin
Griffin Ross, WR, Darien – Bowdoin
Jack Tyrell, OL, Darien — Amherst
Jack Griffiths, OL, Darien – Amherst
Chris Taylor, OL, St. Joseph – Middlebury

Here's a few more NESCAC commits out of Cheshire High School (alma mater of Trinity DC, Associate HC and Recruiting Coordinator Lew Acquarulo:

Jack Cunningham, RB, Cheshire - Trinity
Matt Covel, TE, Cheshire - Trinity
Andrew Yamin, RB, Cheshire - Amherst

A few more NESCAC commits both from Fairfield Prep out of CT:
AJ Mansolillo, OL – Bowdoin
Connor Roche, OL – Middlebury

More CT NESCAC commits:
Patrick Leone, Avon Old Farms, DB, 6-2, 190: Wesleyan
Ryan Phelps, Salisbury, WR,, 6-1, 190: Hamilton
Tom Reardon, Glastonbury, LB/RB, 6-0, 190: Tufts
Colin Rissilo, Avon Old Farms, WR, 6-0, 180: Amherst

Ran across this article on Trinity WR commit Rob Parra:
http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-trinity-football-rob-parra-0203-20150202-story.html

Also, Trinity commit: Danny Hernandez, QB/DB from Belen Jesuit High School in Miami, FL.