FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacparent]

Joe and I won't post too often on here because you know, we have our own place to write about this stuff, but we did want to post the link to our first article about football this fall. http://nothingbutnescac.com/2015/09/01/welcome-to-2015/.

@NothingButNESCAC thanks for another great season preview! Let me echo the sentiment that you guys should "go pro" at some venue like ESPN and the hope that you are grooming replacements.
A quick question- is the Patricia you mentioned on the Midd team any relation to the former Amherst Assistant Coach and present Patriots defensive coordinator? It is an unusual surname.

[amh63]

Taking about shirts....with today's technology, saw a video and pic of Coach mills asking a question at the first mtg of the team....minus the new players....yesterday.  Got a kick out of the variety of shirts the players were wearing...t- shirts and such.  Besides the UNC shirt....must be the Chapel Hill player....there was the one with the Captain America Shield emblem.  How appropriate...front row..seniors I bet.  Coach Mills impressed with the shortest hair cut one can get without calling it a shaven head.  Have to ask about that when I next meet his wife...classmate of one of my sons.  Wonder if it is to indicate that Boot Camp awaits...the rookies

[PolarCat]

And now for something completely different:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FPpB0lFmco&feature=youtu.be

[Nescacparent]

Clearly I do not know how to work the quotes on this board!

@NothingButNESCAC thanks for another great season preview! Let me echo the sentiment that you guys should "go pro" at some venue like ESPN and the hope that you are grooming replacements.
A quick question- is the Patricia you mentioned on the Midd team any relation to the former Amherst Assistant Coach and present Patriots defensive coordinator? It is an unusual surname.

[amh63]

Well its day 1 for Fy's to try out for the Fall teams.....started at 6:30AM for Amherst.  Read a WSJ article on NFL football, short one...by the friend of one of the board posters.  Subject was the use of no-huddle offense in the NFL....featuring the fast paced offense used by the Eagles and brought from Oregon by HFC Kelly.
Question for discussion here.....how many conference teams use a form of the no huddle offense presently?  I remember a number of seasons past that Amherst had a form of it.  Was not a fan of its use at the time.  Remember signals were sent in by whatever means....the QB and the WRs looking at their wrists to figure out the specifics of the play...I guess.
Did not seemed to me at the time to speed things up or help....maybe confuse the offensive players more.  No question here wrt to the ability of the QBs in the conference to understand the signals given on the sidelines. 
In today's gadget/technology......maybe the signals can be passed directly to the QB, etc. by electronic means vice gyrations on the sidelines....like in the NFL?
Having forgotten PolarCat's request...only a short time left before Labor Day....ah yes, a day off for a retired man
Next post will be polbear's offensive favorite...Freddie Scott!

[polbear73]

amh63: if anyone can do justice to Freddie Scott's greatness, it is you. Even though he ruined a couple of Saturday afternoons, one could not help but to admire and respect a great athlete. Will look forward to your post.

[gridiron]

Retiredmule--great post providing a window into what college football means to the players themselves.  Much more always takes place off the field than on.  Ask anyone who has every played, and many more memories are from non-game related events.

Amh63--the no huddle is becoming more and more prevalent throughout college football including the NESCAC.  Colby, for one, used a form of it last season, but not everyone was sold on its effectiveness.  No electronics--just signals from the sidelines.  Expect to see more and more from teams this and in coming seasons.

[RetiredMule]

Polarcat - That video hurts...a lot.

amh63 - In terms of no huddle across the NESCAC, there are several examples to varying degrees.  All teams will have some form of no huddle for the infamous two minute drill if necessary.  This has been the case since McMahon led BYU in the Miracle Bowl in 1980 (and even before).  Teams in the NESCAC that feature it more prominently, to my best recollection, have been Colby, Amherst, Middlebury, and Bowdoin, to varying degrees.  Some of these teams used it to force tempo changes drive to drive and some went by it every drive (Colby). 

Teams can run no huddle in a number of ways. 1) Wristband commands: a signal of some kind, generally a Number/Letter/Color combination alerts all players to track the play on their wristbands. This allows all players to see the call with little-to-no communication.  Requires a memorization of plays but they can be spelled out exactly and cards can be changed at quarter/half so the other team cannot catch on.  2) Multiple signal combination (pictures): think of Oregon holding up their signs with 4 seemingly random pictures that somehow translate to a play.  These pictures will general relate to a formation, play, audible, or a negation.  These can be changed week to week and just need to be drilled during the week.  3) Hand signals coming from the sidelines.  These signals can be a combination of one person, or come from multiple people.  Generally, teams employ a dummy caller who is giving fake signs so the other team does not know who is live.  These signals can be seen and interpreted on field. 

One modification that you sometimes see is that the offensive linemen will receive no signals or notification of any kind.  All they are given is a verbal cue from the quarterback regarding the play and direction or protection type and direction.  This intended to allow the oline to set themselves on the ball as quickly as possible while not worrying about formation or other factors.  It allows the oline to also recognize defensive fronts faster.

Now, fast tempo, no huddle offenses are run for one of two reasons.  1) "If I run faster than you, you cannot change or be fancy."  This philosophy forces defenses to revert to more basic looks and personnel groups as they do not have time to substitute or set up odder combinations of coverages and blitzes without making them obvious preplay.  Oregon is the big recognizable point for this one.  They intend to run the field so quickly that defenses cannot sub or dial up odder looks.  These type of teams assume the speed will simplify the game or cause their opponents to err more often than normal.  2) "If we are ready quickly, we can force you to show then adjust."  Think of a game of chess for this one.  The intent of this strategy is to get to the line and do one of two things: draw the other team offsides with a dummy call or force them to tip their hand.  Then the quarterback will look back to the sidelines for an audible or not call from the OC.  This becomes a game of chess where the OC has to recognize the tip off, figure the correct call against it and then decide if the other team will adjust or remain in it.  This requires an OC who can do all of this lightning fast and do it well.  These type of teams will rely on smart thinking and game planning to succeed. 

Now you can basically combine these types to get the full range of major no huddle offenses out there.  Three major signal types, show/tell oline, and two methodologies give you 12 major types to combine between without other subvariations to consider. 

In terms of Colby, they fell into the hand signal, tell the oline and play chess variation under a not overly intelligent OC last year.  I think this added to some of Colby's offensive woes last year.  While I believe in these styles of offense, I do have my personal preferences in how they can/should be run.  If anyone has any further questions about the strategy/form of football, it is one of my favorite topics to discuss!

[RetiredMule]

And to gridirons point about electronic communication to lead a no huddle offense. This is currently employed in the NFL where one offensive and one defensive player on the field are allowed an earpiece and mic in their helmets at a time.  These players are denoted by a green dot on the back of their helmets.  Multiple coaches and conferences in D1 college football are pressing for this system in the NCAA but we will have to wait to see if it gets approved.

[amh63]

RetiredMule....wow...so many options and one has to get permission to use electronic means?  Wasn't there controversies in the NFL wrt to spying/ stealing plays/ signals...with the Patriots involved?  Oh those Bad N.E. Patriots .
Plus K for the schooling.
Anyway...now my post on Amherst's Freddie Scott'74... Who was drafted in the 7th round of the 1974 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts.  Scott was inducted into College FootballHall of Fame in 2001.  To the best of my faulty memory and info from Amherst...here goes.
Freddie was a WALK- on who came to Amherst from Akansas.  He was introduced to New England via attending a MIT program.  How he got to Amherst is muddled for me.  Believe the Admission Dean at MIT was an Amherst Alum at the time...is my guess.
Freddie went to a football practice with his room mate and decided...as the story goes...he could make the team.  Scott still holds ThREE football records while playing only three seasons.  They are 143 career receptions;2.336 career yds; and 12 TDs in a season in 1972.  Freddie spent 10 Years in the NFL....4 with the Colts and 6 with the Lions. Scott caught 262 passes for 4,270yds and 20 TDs in the NFL.  I recall, he was voted MVP once ...maybe the I981 season with the Lions.  I also remember stories that he was taking Medical School courses in the off- seasons.  Freddie has returned to Amherst to chat with the football team.  I recall a story that may be of value on this board.  Freddie has a son that played at Penn State...he did not want to play in Div.3. The young man left PSU to enter the NFL in/after? his junior year.  Never heard how the story ended with the son in the NFL.

[polbear73]

While not very big, even by the standards of the 70's, Scott used a lethal combination of speed, great hands, toughness, and the ability to run great routes to be virtually unstoppable.  He certainly had break away speed, but was very effective in running short out patterns in Coach Ostendarp's ball control offense.  The statistics, while impressive forty plus years later, really do not do justice to Freddie Scott's college career. 

[amh63]

Polbear'73.....thanks for confirming his size.  I see him as a "slightly built" person at maybe just over 6 feet during his early years.  The pics of him show him with a BIG  Afro hairstyle...the haircut of choice then. The biggest thing outward in appearance.  Inward it was his heart, his toughness and the desire to excell/compete at any level of play. 
Next write-up will be Jean Fugett...a favorite of mine since he is a local boy of sorts....Baltimore kid with size...played football and BB at Amherst.
Oh yes....Freddie has a classmate...Rich Klonoski who also signed a pro contract...Denver Broncos...but never played in the NFL.
The Amherst teams in those days had talent....YET...between 1971-1974...Amherst was beaten by Williams..several lopsided scores...go figure

[quicksilver]

Here's a nice 2010 story from USA Today that nicely knits together the stories of four Amherst players who made the Big Show -- Scott, Fugett, Doug Swift, and Sean Clancy.

[PolarCat]

Quicksilver, great find.  +K

[amh63]

Going to be a scorcher here today....not much better in NE. It appears.  Coach Mills been interviewed on local TV..Channel 22?.....discusses the need to be hydrated!  Guess Amherst is up to date in that area . Pic of first practice shows players not in pads....according to rules.
Thanks Quicksilver for the article....never saw it before.  Will bring the history of the NFL players up to date with some next generation info.
First....it is Jean Fugett'72 ....need to correct my mistake...dumb...dumb.  While he was helping his brother's widow run her business, they made an offer for the MLB Baltimore franchise.  Jean's kids has his athletic skills.  His daughter played Div 1 basketball at GWU.  His son who is at least 6' 5", went to the Un. of Cinn.on a football scholarship...redshirted his first year...made the honor roll.  Transferred to Amherst to join his cousin on the football team.  Due to a serious back injury, never play BB or football for the Jeffs.  Remember talking to him at Amherst.  He mentioned that he had "orders" from his dad that if his grades slipped...he could Not participate in sports.  Sad that injuries hindered him.  Selfishly, I would have liked to see him at the TE position and on the hardwood.
Sean Clancy'78 was last seen at Amherst in  May of this year.  His youngest child was graduating from Amherst in the Class of 2015.  The College made him an Honorary Marshall at graduation.  That allowed him to march with his daughter's class and sit on the stage to see and hug her after receiving her sheepskin.  I remember sitting behind the Clancys at a Homecoming Concert.  She was not yet a teen then.  She was watching her oldest brother on stage..in the bass section.  At intermission, I chatted with some baseball players who were there to support their teammate...the Clancy student- athlete playing the Double Bass.  Yes, they did Not know about the exploits of Sean Clancy.....as it should be...a sort of Amherst Tradition and probably at all CAC schools.  Even in my era, we were judged by what we did....not who our parents/guardians are.   Thank goodness for my kids!