FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Marty Peretz]

Longtime peripheral follower of 'Cac athletics, every three years or so poster...

Is it a done deal that Kelton is done come next Monday? It's been fascinating to see Williams go from powerhouse to bottom feeder and I've been wondering since probably mid 2013 whether he'd be canned. Sounds like now he will be? Or is there a chance he's given more time. If you graduate kids and keep them out of trouble, it's always tricky to fire a guy in D3. Who are the $$ people asking the pres to get rid of him? If he won this wknd, could he save his job?

Also: as a longtime UMass fan, you're utterly deluding yourselves if you think Kevin Morris is the answer. By all means, do what you want. I don't have a dog in this fight (grew up in WMass, went to a UAA school in a different part of the country, married a Williams grad, happen to be a huge UMass supporter since childhood), but Morris was widely regarded as being about the polar opposite of a people person. Carried himself as if he was above it all and was condescending to press and media alike. Excuse after excuse for poor performance. And his play calling was maddeningly frustrating. No rhyme or reason to it whatsoever. He got a bit of a raw deal at UMass in that his tenure was sandwiched between talk of dropping down to non-scholarship ball and then robust upgrades in order to go FBS, but he could have had Alabama's resources and he still wouldn't have been successful.

Yes, Williams is very different as an institution than UMass, but a lot of the traits of great coaches are universal and it never seemed like Morris possessed them. Just didn't seem able to motivate kids.

[PolarCat]

Amen, Eagle322.  plus k

I'm piling on, here.  In NESCAC, there are 2-sport athletes, so some of the kids on the football team play lacrosse or baseball, and get a shot at post season play that way.  And on some campuses (campi?) there is a jocks vs. NARP's dynamic that breeds solidarity among the teams.

Plus the football houses often throw the best parties, and all the other athletes want to get past the bouncers.   

With the 75 (76?) man roster limit, a lot of CAC football teams are mighty banged up by November, as evidenced by the number of FY's and sophomores playing the last couple weeks.  I'm not sure they could even field a team if they made it to the playoffs - not a problem the Hobart's, MUC's, and MIT's of this world face.

[NewtoNescac]

Hamgrand is spot on.  The extra game or two would be embraced in a big way.  Currently, NESCAC football gives the coaches no evaluation games prior to.  This puts kids fighting for a starting spot or more playing time at a big disadvantage.  The D1 or D2 programs schedule games that won't necessarily hurt them in conference championships standings that allow the kids to see different schools, regions, etc.  Would be nice to see Amherst play an MIT or John's Hopkins.  Scheduling a game where plane travel might be in play.  But, most importantly, evaluation period.  Since there isn't spring ball ....when do the 2s and 3s have a real live action game to show their merit without the coach worrying about "losing"?  Hope that makes sense.  I just know first hand that is what my son faced.  No playing time as a frosh.  No spring ball.  Comes in as a soph still in same spot as he left last November lol.  Lots of kids in that boat.  Just my 2 cents.

I couldn't agree more. Some players are "practice players", and some are "game players", and some are both. If you never get into a game, it may be hard to show what you can do.

[Nescacman]

Hamgrand is spot on.  The extra game or two would be embraced in a big way.  Currently, NESCAC football gives the coaches no evaluation games prior to.  This puts kids fighting for a starting spot or more playing time at a big disadvantage.  The D1 or D2 programs schedule games that won't necessarily hurt them in conference championships standings that allow the kids to see different schools, regions, etc.  Would be nice to see Amherst play an MIT or John's Hopkins.  Scheduling a game where plane travel might be in play.  But, most importantly, evaluation period.  Since there isn't spring ball ....when do the 2s and 3s have a real live action game to show their merit without the coach worrying about "losing"?  Hope that makes sense.  I just know first hand that is what my son faced.  No playing time as a frosh.  No spring ball.  Comes in as a soph still in same spot as he left last November lol.  Lots of kids in that boat.  Just my 2 cents.

I couldn't agree more. Some players are "practice players", and some are "game players", and some are both. If you never get into a game, it may be hard to show what you can do.

You are both missing a key point. A number of NESCAC schools play a limited (3-5 game) JV schedule. That gives those FY's, 2's and 3's an opportunity to actually hit someone with a different colored jersey, get some college game experience, and make an impression on the coaching staff. What's interesting is that most of those JV games are played "out of conference" and to the extent this means anything, the NESCAC schools do pretty well in those games against some pretty good out of conference competition (WNEC, Endicott, WPI, Springfield, etc.).

[Jonny Utah]

Longtime peripheral follower of 'Cac athletics, every three years or so poster...

Is it a done deal that Kelton is done come next Monday? It's been fascinating to see Williams go from powerhouse to bottom feeder and I've been wondering since probably mid 2013 whether he'd be canned. Sounds like now he will be? Or is there a chance he's given more time. If you graduate kids and keep them out of trouble, it's always tricky to fire a guy in D3. Who are the $$ people asking the pres to get rid of him? If he won this wknd, could he save his job?

Also: as a longtime UMass fan, you're utterly deluding yourselves if you think Kevin Morris is the answer. By all means, do what you want. I don't have a dog in this fight (grew up in WMass, went to a UAA school in a different part of the country, married a Williams grad, happen to be a huge UMass supporter since childhood), but Morris was widely regarded as being about the polar opposite of a people person. Carried himself as if he was above it all and was condescending to press and media alike. Excuse after excuse for poor performance. And his play calling was maddeningly frustrating. No rhyme or reason to it whatsoever. He got a bit of a raw deal at UMass in that his tenure was sandwiched between talk of dropping down to non-scholarship ball and then robust upgrades in order to go FBS, but he could have had Alabama's resources and he still wouldn't have been successful.

Yes, Williams is very different as an institution than UMass, but a lot of the traits of great coaches are universal and it never seemed like Morris possessed them. Just didn't seem able to motivate kids.

I didn't pay too much attention to Kevin Morris and his relationship with the media at UMASS, but I've met him a few times and found him to be a real nice guy, one of those personal guys who went out of his way to be hospitable and friendly.  I never heard anything like you mentioned.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN Bonus Coverage: NESCAC Coaching Carousel

SAFE
o   Amherst (Mills): All he does is win.
o   Middlebury (Ritter): It's his job until he retires. The question is will they give Caputi a second chance when he does retire. The rest of the NESCAC sure hopes so.
o   Hartford State (Devanney): See Amherst above.
o   Tufts (Civetti): Just renewed his contract. Has turned around a moribund program. Trying to move Tufts into the top tier.
o   Hamilton (Murray): Still new coach. Gets a pass for the time being due to the historical losing culture in Clinton. At some point he needs to start showing results via the win column.
o   Wesleyan (DiCenzo): FY coach. 5-2 thus far and winning while rebuilding. Graduated 18 starters. Next year, he returns 19. KC Royals of the NESCAC. 2015 NESCAC coach of the year? 
o   Bowdoin (Wells): FY coach. We think he is going to need 3 or 4 years to build it, if he can.

50/50
o   Bates (Harriman): In the third year of a three-year contract. Career record is 41-102. Just won his eighth CBB title in 18 years (I guess that's sort of like being king of the midgets). Gets good players to come to Bates, which is not easy and they always play hard for him. Problem is they run the wrong offense and are way too predictable. Best season was 5-3 in 2012. Might be time to move on since they have never broken into the upper echelon of the NESCAC.

MIGHT BE GONE
o   Colby (Michaeles): May have worn out his welcome. Looking at a 1-7 season if they lose this week (after going 2-6 last year). In the last year of his contract. Time for a change?

GONE
o   Williams (the HCOF): No comments necessary.

Summary: There will be at least 1 and possibly up to 3 coaching changes in the NESCAC this off-season.

[amh63]

Been some interesting posts here on midweek timeline.  This post is to inform posters that the Amherst sports "marketing" machine is NOT taking the annual Williams game lightly.  First, it seems there is a local gathering of Amherst football fans today in a downtown D.C. sports bar...must be for the younger crowd.  Then there is the e-mail to alum to remind all about the gathering of Williams and Amherst fans at locations around the country and over seas and to register.  The game will be covered by NESN....not online.  Yes, it is a game that you "pay to watch"....like the old days.  However, was notified that the game will be available online AFTER the game!  Therefore CAC fans can see two games on Sat.
Going to watch the Wes versus Trinity game first!....have to be in Annapolis, Md on Sat
Anyway, on the Amherst football webpage there are two features that have inference to WestcoastDad's post that the Williams game is a HUGE one for the players.  One is the highlights of the Trinity Game with a overlay song near the end that mention a big ring....a championship ring is my take.  The other is a feature on the 3 seniors starting in the Amherst backfield.  They want to go out with a win!  It is also interesting that Spears, Fairfield-Sonn and Gow all have relatives at other CAC schools.  Gow has a father and brother that played for Williams.  That makes two SR Amherst starters that have fathers that were Williams football players....mmmm...interesting....choices made during the Kelton era.

[NewtoNescac]

NESCACMAN Bonus Coverage: NESCAC Coaching Carousel

SAFE
o   Amherst (Mills): All he does is win.
o   Middlebury (Ritter): It's his job until he retires. The question is will they give Caputi a second chance when he does retire. The rest of the NESCAC sure hopes so.
o   Hartford State (Devanney): See Amherst above.
o   Tufts (Civetti): Just renewed his contract. Has turned around a moribund program. Trying to move Tufts into the top tier.
o   Hamilton (Murray): Still new coach. Gets a pass for the time being due to the historical losing culture in Clinton. At some point he needs to start showing results via the win column.
o   Wesleyan (DiCenzo): FY coach. 5-2 thus far and winning while rebuilding. Graduated 18 starters. Next year, he returns 19. KC Royals of the NESCAC. 2015 NESCAC coach of the year? 
o   Bowdoin (Wells): FY coach. We think he is going to need 3 or 4 years to build it, if he can.

50/50
o   Bates (Harriman): In the third year of a three-year contract. Career record is 41-102. Just won his eighth CBB title in 18 years (I guess that's sort of like being king of the midgets). Gets good players to come to Bates, which is not easy and they always play hard for him. Problem is they run the wrong offense and are way too predictable. Best season was 5-3 in 2012. Might be time to move on since they have never broken into the upper echelon of the NESCAC.

MIGHT BE GONE
o   Colby (Michaeles): May have worn out his welcome. Looking at a second straight 1-7 season if they lose this week. In the last year of his contract. Time for a change?

GONE
o   Williams (the HCOF): No comments necessary.

Summary: There will be at least 1 and possibly up to 3 coaching changes in the NESCAC this off-season.

Colby was 2-6, not 1-7 last season. I know it doesn't make much of a difference, but why short change them. It's bad enough. Quite honestly, With the last game of this dismal season coming up on Saturday, I am extremely depressed about football. It is another wasted year for the players at Colby, especially the seniors. My heart tells me Michaeles should be retained, but my head just doesn't know. Especially if he's in the final year of his contract. Are you sure of that? My conflicted feelings are part of what's got me so depressed about football. This is supposed to be fun, and it's just not.

[amh63]

Happy Veterans Day!
I was reminded by an Amherst Football Team Instagram on the team website. 
Dumb on my part since it was the Marine Corp's Birthday on Tuesday.  Worked with many Vets and Marines and Navy personnel most of my career.

[westcoastDad]

Hamgrand is spot on.  The extra game or two would be embraced in a big way.  Currently, NESCAC football gives the coaches no evaluation games prior to.  This puts kids fighting for a starting spot or more playing time at a big disadvantage.  The D1 or D2 programs schedule games that won't necessarily hurt them in conference championships standings that allow the kids to see different schools, regions, etc.  Would be nice to see Amherst play an MIT or John's Hopkins.  Scheduling a game where plane travel might be in play.  But, most importantly, evaluation period.  Since there isn't spring ball ....when do the 2s and 3s have a real live action game to show their merit without the coach worrying about "losing"?  Hope that makes sense.  I just know first hand that is what my son faced.  No playing time as a frosh.  No spring ball.  Comes in as a soph still in same spot as he left last November lol.  Lots of kids in that boat.  Just my 2 cents.

I couldn't agree more. Some players are "practice players", and some are "game players", and some are both. If you never get into a game, it may be hard to show what you can do.

You are both missing a key point. A number of NESCAC schools play a limited (3-5 game) JV schedule. That gives those FY's, 2's and 3's an opportunity to actually hit someone with a different colored jersey, get some college game experience, and make an impression on the coaching staff. What's interesting is that most of those JV games are played "out of conference" and to the extent this means anything, the NESCAC schools do pretty well in those games against some pretty good out of conference competition (WNEC, Endicott, WPI, Springfield, etc.).

NESCAC man.... Amherst played 2 "JV" games last year against Williams and Wesleyan.  This 1 JV game versus Williams.  They were scrimmages and played on Sunday.  It's nowhere near to be taken as seriously as a REAL game versus an opponent outside of the conference  against players that start and want to start.  Not missing the point at all.  Just going by what I've seen last 2 years.  The pine players need a venue to get some real game footage. 

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN Bonus Coverage: NESCAC Coaching Carousel

SAFE
o   Amherst (Mills): All he does is win.
o   Middlebury (Ritter): It's his job until he retires. The question is will they give Caputi a second chance when he does retire. The rest of the NESCAC sure hopes so.
o   Hartford State (Devanney): See Amherst above.
o   Tufts (Civetti): Just renewed his contract. Has turned around a moribund program. Trying to move Tufts into the top tier.
o   Hamilton (Murray): Still new coach. Gets a pass for the time being due to the historical losing culture in Clinton. At some point he needs to start showing results via the win column.
o   Wesleyan (DiCenzo): FY coach. 5-2 thus far and winning while rebuilding. Graduated 18 starters. Next year, he returns 19. KC Royals of the NESCAC. 2015 NESCAC coach of the year? 
o   Bowdoin (Wells): FY coach. We think he is going to need 3 or 4 years to build it, if he can.

50/50
o   Bates (Harriman): In the third year of a three-year contract. Career record is 41-102. Just won his eighth CBB title in 18 years (I guess that's sort of like being king of the midgets). Gets good players to come to Bates, which is not easy and they always play hard for him. Problem is they run the wrong offense and are way too predictable. Best season was 5-3 in 2012. Might be time to move on since they have never broken into the upper echelon of the NESCAC.

MIGHT BE GONE
o   Colby (Michaeles): May have worn out his welcome. Looking at a second straight 1-7 season if they lose this week. In the last year of his contract. Time for a change?

GONE
o   Williams (the HCOF): No comments necessary.

Summary: There will be at least 1 and possibly up to 3 coaching changes in the NESCAC this off-season.

Colby was 2-6, not 1-7 last season. I know it doesn't make much of a difference, but why short change them. It's bad enough. Quite honestly, With the last game of this dismal season coming up on Saturday, I am extremely depressed about football. It is another wasted year for the players at Colby, especially the seniors. My heart tells me Michaeles should be retained, but my head just doesn't know. Especially if he's in the final year of his contract. Are you sure of that? My conflicted feelings are part of what's got me so depressed about football. This is supposed to be fun, and it's just not.

Good points...fixed.

[Gr8ful1]

Hamgrand - "...most NESCAC kids are trying to go Ivy..." my attorney, a Patriot League (Lehigh) graduate once said to me when discussion about my son's recruiting options, which was narrowed down to Princeton, Penn, Holy Cross, Bucknell, and Williams at the time, said to me, "the kids that can't get into the Ivy's go to Patriot league schools.  The kids that Princeton wanted go to Williams." 

To the board as a whole...don't beat up on the players even if the statistics prove you correct. It's really poor form and does not show you in your best light. Same with the head coaches, especially Kelton. Jeez...if you are a Williams fan you're frustration is shared without need for blog statement. If you are not, what do you care? Why do you care? Let sleeping dogs lie my brethren. If the HCOF goes, may he do so with our well wishes. Either way, all great programs have their downturns, Williams will be back sometime soon as the alpha male of NESCAC football. "He who laughs last, laughs loudest."

To the senior mom's & dad's...enjoy every play this weekend. Star, starter, non-starter doesn't matter. Your kid put it out there as best he could. Be loud and be proud. Life does go on. Peace.

[quicksilver]

Great story from the Bowdoin website about the history of football at Bowdoin, with a focus on the UMaine-Bowdoin series that ended in 1963. There is a photo associated with the article that shows the visitors' stands running the full length of the field and every inch occupied for the 1952 game with UMaine. The article notes that 11,000 people attended that game -- those were the days!!!

[NewtoNescac]

Hamgrand - "...most NESCAC kids are trying to go Ivy..." my attorney, a Patriot League (Lehigh) graduate once said to me when discussion about my son's recruiting options, which was narrowed down to Princeton, Penn, Holy Cross, Bucknell, and Williams at the time, said to me, "the kids that can't get into the Ivy's go to Patriot league schools.  The kids that Princeton wanted go to Williams." 

To the board as a whole...don't beat up on the players even if the statistics prove you correct. It's really poor form and does not show you in your best light. Same with the head coaches, especially Kelton. Jeez...if you are a Williams fan you're frustration is shared without need for blog statement. If you are not, what do you care? Why do you care? Let sleeping dogs lie my brethren. If the HCOF goes, may he do so with our well wishes. Either way, all great programs have their downturns, Williams will be back sometime soon as the alpha male of NESCAC football. "He who laughs last, laughs loudest."

To the senior mom's & dad's...enjoy every play this weekend. Star, starter, non-starter doesn't matter. Your kid put it out there as best he could. Be loud and be proud. Life does go on. Peace.

I understand what you're trying to say, but what you're not recognizing is that the players are hurt most by poor coaches and/or AD's that tolerate them.

A player has but 4 years to enjoy football. Most NESCAC kids are playing because they love the game, and want to continue while getting a top flight education. If they only win a handful if games in 4 years, they are stuck. Coaches get a pass, or move on. Their always seems to be a place waiting for even the worst coaches. Yet the kids' careers are over.

If a team is losing because a coach just can't do the job, he steals the few years that those kids have in football. Yes they have lots of other positive things, but we're talking football impact.

And I doubt many of the posters that are critical of coaches are just spirited people, at least I hope they're not. They just want the best for the kids from a football perspective.

Look at the track records of some of these coaches, set aside sentimentality, and objectively justify how they can be retained if what's best for the players and the program is what's desired.

I just don't see the kids being the priority.

[Gr8ful1]

Same holds true at every level from pop warner to #26 in D1. Limited playing time for the player; options a plenty for the coaches. My NESCAC kid, a fierce competitor HS all-state and state champion, and 2 year all-NESCAC player, hated the losing. However, to this day he insists he would not do things differently if he was able to go back in time. I beg to differ that I am missing the point. Your point appears to be wins and losses. My point goes to fighting the good fight, all the fight you had in you, despite obstacles/reasons/results, with a group of guys you would be willing to do most anything for the rest of your life.