FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Ctfootballfan]

To address the question regarding what recruits are being told regarding having one of the 14 slots on the team during the recruiting process I can tell you based in sitting in three coaches offices with my son that when in the process they do I fact speak specificity of having a position on the team there is discussion of what band your son is regarding admissions and that he is being offered based on the 14 positions/players that they are bringing in to have a jersey and be on the team. No mention ever of trying out. These are coaches going after the same players and they know who is their compition amongst NESCAC schools trying to land these kids. I can tell you being from CT we saw the same CT kids at summer camps, recruiting weekends and they know each other too.

[PolarCat]

Not sure we have the same understanding about the number of recruits.  I think 14 is the number of "tips" that the coach gets with Admissions, not necessarily the number of recruits.  If College X starts training camp with 96 kids, logic dictates that there have to be at least 24 freshmen in that mix.  (Probably more, since some of the upper-classmen will wash out or transfer, often because they could not keep up academically, or they committed some infraction in this Title IX crazy world). 

My guess is the schools with big rosters in camp probably have 30 or more first years.  Sure, a handful of them will be walk-ons, but I doubt 10-15 of them will fall into that group.

If the 14 tips are being promised a jersey and a roster slot, what happens to recruits #15 through 25?

[nescac1]

One more bit of Williams recruiting news: Gilman (Md) wide receiver Amyhr Barber also cemented his commitment to Williams College. 

[Ctfootballfan]

Polarcat I see the numbers you are looking at regarding the possible number of players that could show up for the first day. I guess my experience is that of a "supported" player who did not experience risk of not making the team. As you know these "supported" athletes who are making the choice to attend NESCAC schools are doing so for the educational opportunities that the game of football has provided for them. Many could have chosen schools who have reputations for stronger football programs or D1. I would think it is fair to say that being part of the team is important, that many are well aware that there is no guarantee of their future in the program but their choice of schools are based on the schools reputation and opportunities that they can provide for their future. What stands to to acknowledged it the fact that NESCAC schools pull in great players who have all been stand out players in high school and provide us with great competitions. We are seeing this by this years list of commits. Let's hold off judgement of the incoming players knowing that the next level is a big jump and not all schools play in leagues that have strong teams.

[amh63]

Nescac1....recruit is from a school that has produced many talented athletes for the CAC....just like the Mass school of Williams RB recruit.
Yes, the CAC coaches go to the same schools that have produced top academic qualified football talent in the past.  There are the private and parochial schools in N.J., Mass and CT that year in and year out that send a number of players to the CAC.  So it is not a surprise to see coaches compete for the same players. 
What is often overlooked in the discussions to date wrt to tip numbers and players brought in is the number of players NOT needing a football tip....multi- sport student...academic qualified student, etc.
I often think that parents that have academic qualified kids send their sons to particular private, parochial and even public schools that have fine football programs....that CAC coaches go to.
Staples in CT, in Fairfield county has sent a number of players to Amherst, as has Taft over the years. Gilman in Baltimore is another. 

[PolarCat]

Let's hold off judgement of the incoming players knowing that the next level is a big jump and not all schools play in leagues that have strong teams.

I don't think any of us are passing "judgement" on incoming players.  There are walk-on's at any level - even in DI, and in rare cases the NFL - and I think it's safe to say we all admire ANYONE who makes the commitment to play.

My son, like yours, was supported with Admissions.  I think many / most of us here have had similar experiences, and "know the drill" in that regard.  The question I raised was what's being told to the recruits who are not on the "supported" short list.  Perhaps there is another new member here who's son fell into that category, that could share his experience?

[Nescacparent]

The NESCAC football coaches get 14 "slots" . How many tips they get depend on a number of things (legacy/URM status are the big ones) and thus the successful tips could and probably do vary from school to school. So for example, if you have an alumni kid with GPA/standardized test scores in a reasonable range but not outstanding, that kid gets a tip from the coaches combined with the legacy status that pushes him over the hurdle in many (most?) cases. What coaches tell the "tips" about roster slots I do not know, my son had a slot. 

[nescac1]

Yet another RB recruit for the Ephs ... looks like plenty of frosh will be contention to fill the big void in the backfield:


Dumont to Williams

Former Manchester Essex standout Chris Dumont signed his letter of intent to play football at Williams College starting in the fall.

Dumont graduated from Manchester Essex in 2014 and is currently doing a post graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Dumont was a Cape Ann League All Star running back for the 2013 Hornets football team. He ran for 1,161 yards and had 22 total touchdowns in helping the Hornets to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Division 5 North Semifinals. His 246 yard, five touchdown performance in the Hornets' Division 5 North Quarterfinal win over Brighton was the highlight of the team's season.

[NewtoNescac]

Former Manchester Essex standout Chris Dumont signed his letter of intent to play football at Williams College starting in the fall.

What "letter of intent" are you talking about. I thought D3's do not have a "letter of intent".

[madzillagd]

They don't but it's a concept that every reporter and parent understands.

[NewtoNescac]

I've never understood it to be a "concept". Every coach I've dealt with has said they will support your application. That's usually good enough, but not a guarantee. Nescac Admissions does not want any coach telling a kid he's in. Same goes for the Ivies. But with the Ivies you can get a likely letter. But again, that comes from Admissions and is not a guarantee either. So suggesting D3's have anything remotely similar to a letter of intent is just incorrect and misleading.

[quicksilver]

NewtoNESCAC, because most NESCAC athletes apply through the early decision process, the athletes participating in these ceremonies likely already have been admitted so these ceremonies are a nice way of acknowledging what is, in realty, a commitment for both the athlete and the school . . The agreement signed by the athlete as part of the ED process is in fact very binding  . . 

[PolarCat]

^ This

[NewtoNescac]

Quicksilver, I'm sure we 're all familiar with applying ED. It is in no way similar to a letter of intent. ED is unilateral, and letters of intent bind the school and athlete. I guess a student athlete can sit down for this ceremony anytime after  acceptance. The point is that it's not a signing day for D3 athletes, so why pretend it is and confuse the heck out of people that are looking at these photos. Then when their child's time cones they'll be wondering why they're not sitting and signing.

[quicksilver]

Huh? -- once the letter of acceptance is issued in December in response to an ED application both student and school are as bound as they would be if there were a LOI . . . .There is a reason why NESCAC schools use the ED process to admit most of their recruited athletes . .