FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[gridiron]

Having watched Trinity week 1 and Middlebury week 2 it is clear that Trinity is a much more dominant force.  No way Midd will be able to handle the Bantams.

[polbear73]

I wasn't able to watch the game yesterday as I was driving back from my daughter's x-country meet in Tallahassee. 

From the box score there were few bright spots.  Drakeley was very efficient completing 66% of his attempts but most of those must have been screens or short slants across the middle as we only gained 4+ yes per attempt.  What really stood out was the fact that Amherst rushed for 10x the yards that Bowdoin managed.  I assume that's due to the strength of the LJ's O and D lines and how much the P'bears need to improve in those departments.

Let's hope we can turn it around next week.

For not having watched the game, you nailed the analysis as the only offense Bowdoin could muster were quick passes to the tight end over the middle.  Both of Bowdoin's lines came out on the short end of the battle in the trenches and Bowdoin's secondary was picked apart again with Jackson McGonagle having another big game against Bowdoin.  Reece Foy solidified his hold on the quarterback spot and impressed with his game management as well as his passing accuracy and his running, including a 90 yard run when it looked like Bowdoin had everything shut down.  It should be noted that Nick Kelly didn't play at all for Amherst but Jack Hickey more than made up for that loss. Bowdoin may be struggling to adjust to a new regime, but Amherst, although a little sloppy at times, looks very good and representative of a defending champion.  Middlebury better bring its A game next week.

[ContinentalsMan]

It is amazing what one year under a head coaches belt will do but Hamilton is certainly not the same team they have been in the past. While they still need to learn to finish the game and win and could be 2-0 right now instead of 0-2 after an OT loss to Tufts and a five-point loss to Wesleyan, they have become competitive for several reasons.

They have cut down on their mistakes. The team has just two turnovers. Sophomore Brandon Tobin, who started the season at QB and is out with an injury, threw one pick and junior Chase Rosenberg, who has played since the halftime of the Tufts games, has thrown one interception and came on his last pass in the Wesleyan game. They have not put the ball on the ground once.

The keys to the improvement are throughout. The kicking, while they have missed three field goals, has been much better when it comes to kickoffs and punting. The field position for the offense has changed dramatically as well for the defense compared to years past. Defensively, they are getting pressure on the quarterback, coming from senior Nick Sobczyk and freshman Tyler Hudson among others. Against Wesleyan, they played a bend-but-not-break defense which included coming up with a fourth-quarter fumble at their own 1-yard line late in the third quarter. Bigger, stronger, deeper and more talented at some of the skill positions, Wesleyan had a very hard time shaking Hamilton, who stood toe to toe the entire 60 minutes.

The biggest issue for Hamilton right now is trying to get some time of running game. While running against a Wesleyan team is always tough, Hamilton had just 16 net yards rushing. This is not surprising considering head coach Dave Murray came to the program with the task of not only getting more lineman but also improving the strength and size of the team. That takes time and Hamilton has a very capable running back in LaShawn Ware and fullback in Jason Nastovski. While the running game has not been there, the offensive line has done a good job protecting the quarterback. Hamilton is also benefiting from a strong threesome of receivers in senior Nick Caso, junior Charles Ensley and senior Pat Donahue, the latter who has also become a tremendous punter. All three have very good hands and Donahue has quickly turned into one of the best all-around players in the league.

The Continentals have to travel to Trinity Saturday which will be a very difficult game as the Bantams appear to have the best defense in the league and have not been scored on in the first two games. But regardless of outcome, Murray appears to righted the ship when it comes to the effort the players are giving once they hit the field. While the team had to overcome a 21-point deficit against Tufts and could have won the game on a late field goal, they put a huge scare into a very good Wesleyan team that should be in the thick of the conference title hunt by season's end. Also, it appears the support at Hamilton is finally starting to change as for the second straight game, a large number of students showed up. Interestingly, the stands at Steuben Field got overheated Saturday as there is only one set of stands at the school and Hamilton moved their sidelines to the other side of the field. Wesleyan and Hamilton fans were sitting among each other and Wesleyan's players got a mouth full from several Hamilton students and parents from both schools spent the game throwing verbal jabs at each other. Not that there is anything wrong with any of it as college football brings that out in people but down the road it could lead to a problem. An easy fix is to put the opposing fans in a roped off area.

After Trinity, Hamilton travels to Bowdoin and then comes home for a game with Colby and then a trip to Williams. If Hamilton continues to get better, those are all games the Continentals could win. But the biggest takeaway from a 0-2 start is it appears better days are ahead in Clinton.         

{edited for formatting}           

[RetiredMule]

Well Colby's game was an interesting one, perhaps more promising than the opener against Trinity.  Colby played better at times and the defense looked improved.  Colby was able to contain Middlebury's anemic rushing attack to 54 yards on 35 attempts. But generated lackluster pressure with only 2 sacks in 42 dropbacks.  The young secondary looked to have improved week over week and generated an interception off of Milano.  Another turnover was generated on an interception by Nicholas, a senior d tackle and ex-linebacker.  Also, off the stat sheet, Colby's d held two solid goalline stands.  They were still burned at times by the aerial attack, as evidenced by Midd's 339 through the air.  The second half though gives a lot more hope.

The offense continued their season with another poor showing.  They generated their first points of the season with :30 seconds to play against Middlebury's second string defenders.  They put the ball on the ground another 2 times this week for 5 fumbles (losing 2) in two weeks and threw another two interceptions bringing the total to 5.  Colby's offense turning the ball over 7 times in two weeks will stagger a good offense and will disable a poor one.  Colby's offensive line again let up significant pressure into Harrington's face and negligible help in the running game.  A bright spot was a breakout day for young receiver Mark Snyder (So.) who had 6 catches for 83 yards.  It remains to be seen where the breakdown offensively is coming from, but signs point to the offensive line.

In all, it was an interesting game for a number of reasons.  The offense has seen the same flaws exploited the last two weeks. The defense seemed to solidify at times.  Oddly, there were two safeties in the game, one for each team. 

[NewtoNescac]

ContinentalsMan-I couldn't agree more. Murray has that program moving in the right direction. After this coming week, I see them winning 2 or 3 of their last 5 games. That would give them tremendous hope leading into next season.

[NewtoNescac]

RetiredMule-I agree with much of what you said. But while the O line needs to do a better job, I think the TOs you point out are significant. The O line didn't throw the interceptions, or put the ball on the ground. And let's not forget, with a solid O line last year the O scored only 1 TD per game in 5 games,  and 2 in the last game. 49 Pts in 6 games will not win at any level. The coaches need to find answers.

[AUPepBand]

It is amazing what one year under a head coaches belt will do but Hamilton is certainly not the same team they have been in the past. While they still need to learn to finish the game and win and could be 2-0 right now instead of 0-2 after an OT loss to Tufts and a five-point loss to Wesleyan, they have become competitive for several reasons.

...

After Trinity, Hamilton travels to Bowdoin and then comes home for a game with Colby and then a trip to Williams. If Hamilton continues to get better, those are all games the Continentals could win. But the biggest takeaway from a 0-2 start is it appears better days are ahead in Clinton.         

{edited for formatting}           

Been checking your facts, CM? Where is the only place on Earth where one can achieve a doctoral degree in glass science?

[ContinentalsMan]

AUPepBand. Many apologies for the rip at Alfred. It was a cheap and I am sorry for it. What I meant was that it is not the academic school Hamilton is but then again Hamilton is not the athletic school Alfred is.     

[amh63]

AUPep.....I know!...I Know!    I have a question for you to look up.   I am aware of the special honor given to Alfred U by the the State of NY?  Somewhere in reading about the school, I cam up with Dewy being referred to...yes the man associated with the Decimal System named after him and used for many generations by libraries.  I'm not clear How and when he is associated with the school.  Somewhat of a semi-personal question...since I have a daughter in law that is a outer relation to the Dewy family tree.

[AUPepBand]

AUPep.....I know!...I Know!    I have a question for you to look up.   I am aware of the special honor given to Alfred U by the the State of NY?  Somewhere in reading about the school, I cam up with Dewy being referred to...yes the man associated with the Decimal System named after him and used for many generations by libraries.  I'm not clear How and when he is associated with the school.  Somewhat of a semi-personal question...since I have a daughter in law that is a outer relation to the Dewy family tree.

Yes, Melville Dewey, who first established the Dewey Decimal System in 1876, briefly attended Alfred University in 1870, but did not finish here. According to a sketchy source (Wikipedia), he went from Alfred to Amherst where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1874 and a master's in 1877.

Without checking the AU records, Pep will guess that Dewey's time at Alfred was more likely at Alfred Academy, the prep school that coincided with Alfred University. Dewey was born in Adams Center. There were many Seventh Day Baptists in Adams Center. They are the small protestant Sabbath-keeping Baptist denomination who settled Alfred and founded Alfred University in 1836. He likely was familiar with the weekly Sabbath Recorder, which at the time was published in Alfred and delivered throughout the nation to Seventh Day Baptist families. That publication nearly always included advertising for Alfred Academy.

Clarence Spicer, the inventor of the universal joint and its application to the automobile in 1904, grew up near Edelstein, IL near a Seventh Day Baptist Church (West Hallock) and, quite remarkably, attended Alfred Academy some 700 miles from home, for the same reason as Dewey.

Does that answer your question? BTW, the Alfred University libraries use the Library of Congress categorizing system. 

[NewtoNescac]

Amh63 - A quick search revealed that Melville Dewey briefly attended Alfred University in 1870 before moving on to Amherst College where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1874. That's all I have for you regarding the Alfred connection.

[NewtoNescac]

Sorry, I missed AU's post regarding Dewey.

[AUPepBand]

AUPepBand. Many apologies for the rip at Alfred. It was a cheap and I am sorry for it. What I meant was that it is not the academic school Hamilton is but then again Hamilton is not the athletic school Alfred is.     

While Alfred University is not a Little Ivy, it is a pretty comprehensive university that includes some highly regarded art and engineering programs, a top-notch business school and solid liberal arts college. Elitist it is not. Alfred DOES have admissions standards. It also has a rigorous higher education opportunity program that has transformed many young lives. AU's second president, Jonathan Allen, a local farm boy in the first classes held at Alfred Select School in 1836, who knew the hills around Alfred like the back of his hand, assimilated this little valley surrounded by three hills, as an eagle's nest, as a place of nurture, where young people find their wings.

When it comes to higher education in New York State, it gets no higher than ALFRED. Elevation 1776 feet. 

On Saxon Warriors!

[PolarCat]

I'm sure that Alfred is a wonderful school, and the guy wearing Uggs, the funny hat, the Kim Kardashian gold lame blouse and waving your grandson's toy sword is cute and all, but can we get back to NESCAC?

[AUPepBand]

I'm sure that Alfred is a wonderful school, and the guy wearing Uggs, the funny hat, the Kim Kardashian gold lame blouse and waving your grandson's toy sword is cute and all, but can we get back to NESCAC?

Oh, sorry, Pep forgot the NESCAC season has begun! My bad!