FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

IslandTime, actually, no.  Only one school from NESCAC (Amherst) could have gotten points from football assuming NESCAC teams were eligible for the NCAA tourney, and given that no NESCAC team would have even a remote chance to go deep into the NCAA tournament in Division 3, Amherst would have received only a small bump, if any, in the standings -- and no other school would have received any bump whatsoever.  Williams would have finished first in the Director's Cup, either way.

All NESCAC, any more detailed reports on the new coaching staff at Williams?  I don't have high hopes in terms of a massive W-L improvement in year one: the rising senior class at Williams is as devoid of elite talent as any that I can recall, and I imagine the incoming frosh talent has been hurt by a coaching transition at the worst possible time.  Also, there is the minor issue of having no returning QB with any experience or any real reputation whatsoever.  I see this as at least a 2-3 year rebuilding process, but I would like to see the team to show more discipline and creativity on the field next season, regardless of wins and losses, and I'm confident that will occur under the new staff ...   

I'll echo others who have given kudos to the folks at Nothing But NESCAC.  Tremendous job, folks! 

[IslandTime]

I knew that.....just a friendly dig at the Ephs

[fulbakdad]

Hamgrand, What was Eggerling's record at St A's?  My memory tells me it was not very good.

[fulbakdad]

I looked it up.  The time he was coach there they were 2-8 most years, on 1-9, and then in '14 they got up to 6-5.....the last 4 years he was there as defensive coordinator they gave up 566, 548, 425, and 400 yards per game....Guess you could say they were improving, but not quite a defensive juggernaut...

[All NESCAC]

IslandTime, actually, no.  Only one school from NESCAC (Amherst) could have gotten points from football assuming NESCAC teams were eligible for the NCAA tourney, and given that no NESCAC team would have even a remote chance to go deep into the NCAA tournament in Division 3, Amherst would have received only a small bump, if any, in the standings -- and no other school would have received any bump whatsoever.  Williams would have finished first in the Director's Cup, either way.

All NESCAC, any more detailed reports on the new coaching staff at Williams?  I don't have high hopes in terms of a massive W-L improvement in year one: the rising senior class at Williams is as devoid of elite talent as any that I can recall, and I imagine the incoming frosh talent has been hurt by a coaching transition at the worst possible time.  Also, there is the minor issue of having no returning QB with any experience or any real reputation whatsoever.  I see this as at least a 2-3 year rebuilding process, but I would like to see the team to show more discipline and creativity on the field next season, regardless of wins and losses, and I'm confident that will occur under the new staff ...   

I'll echo others who have given kudos to the folks at Nothing But NESCAC.  Tremendous job, folks!

Nescac1--all the chatter I've heard from Williamstown is how the returning players have "bought in" to the new coaching staff and the "new routine" and expectations for the offseason.  The Alumni base has been reengaged by the new coaching staff which had not been the case with the prior HFC.  One step at a time, but all is moving forward and the building blocks are being put into place.  Doubtful you will see a tremendous turn around in W/L in Year 1, but we are hopeful and energized that we will see improvement.  The big jump should be in the next 2 years with a revised and revitalized recruiting effort which was lacking in the past.  Go EPHS!

[nescac1]

Thanks All NESCAC, very very good to hear!  With a tremendous football tradition, the top football facilities in the conference, a strong new coaching staff and a chance to play right away and turn the program around quickly, I would think Williams presents an appealing destination for any star recruits, and the days of losing out on recruits to other NESCAC powers will stand as a six-year blip on the radar of the history of Williams football, and the Ephs will return to the old dominant ways.  The biggest issue is QB: before Coach Kelton, Williams always seemed to have at least two all-NESCAC caliber QB's on the roster.  He failed to recruit a single one in six years.  I have a feeling that Raymond's first recruiting class is going to have a lot of guys who see the field very early in their career at Williams. 

[Ephpapa20]

Hey all my first post. From my name you can tell that I am biased. I predict the Ephs going 5-3 next season. Great recruiting class and great coach. They will be back to contending for hardware in two seasons. #GoEphs

[Ephpapa20]

Thanks All NESCAC, very very good to hear!  With a tremendous football tradition, the top football facilities in the conference, a strong new coaching staff and a chance to play right away and turn the program around quickly, I would think Williams presents an appealing destination for any star recruits, and the days of losing out on recruits to other NESCAC powers will stand as a six-year blip on the radar of the history of Williams football, and the Ephs will return to the old dominant ways.  The biggest issue is QB: before Coach Kelton, Williams always seemed to have at least two all-NESCAC caliber QB's on the roster.  He failed to recruit a single one in six years.  I have a feeling that Raymond's first recruiting class is going to have a lot of guys who see the field very early in their career at Williams.

They have a strong recruit in Pete Cahill from Phillips Exeter. He will develop into a solid starter in a year or two.

[nescac1]

Welcome aboard, Ephpapa!  It's been awhile since we had an Eph family member post here; look forward to hearing your perspective over the next four years.  And glad to hear about Cahill, I had not previously heard about him. 

[Ephpapa20]

Welcome aboard, Ephpapa!  It's been awhile since we had an Eph family member post here; look forward to hearing your perspective over the next four years.  And glad to hear about Cahill, I had not previously heard about him.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to being in the stands the next four years. He's not my son, but he can play. Dual threat with a rocket arm.

[amh63]

Welcome aboard Ephpapa20....always good to hear from a parent.
Remember such posters from Tufts and Wesleyan and now finally one from Williams.
Plus K to you.   
Cahill.....name sounds familiar.....have to inquire a bit.
Must say....the latest posts from EPH supporters wrt to next season are both optimistic and interesting! ....5-3, really?  Guess a glove has been thrown .

Oh yes....IslandTime....seems someone gave you a smite.  Must alert you to that there are some sensitive posters here that do not seem to have their school even poked in any manner.
Plus K to you too!

[Ephpapa20]

Welcome aboard Ephpapa20....always good to hear from a parent.
Remember such posters from Tufts and Wesleyan and now finally one from Williams.
Plus K to you.   
Cahill.....name sounds familiar.....have to inquire a bit.
Must say....the latest posts from EPH supporters wrt to next season are both optimistic and interesting! ....5-3, really?  Guess a glove has been thrown .

Oh yes....IslandTime....seems someone gave you a smite.  Must alert you to that there are some sensitive posters here that do not seem to have their school even poked in any manner.
Plus K to you too!

Thanks for the "warmish" welcome. Cahill was a Boston Latin Kid, did a post grad at Exeter. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/6384188/peter-cahill While the 5-3 seems optimistic, I thing it's extremely possible to reach that goal. I predict to be back on top within two seasons of Coach Raymond.

[nescac1]

I love the optimism and enthusiasm!  I'm glad to hear Williams got a promising QB in.  It must have been very tough for the Ephs to recruit given the uncertainly surrounding the coaching transition (I'm curious to hear if you'd like to share how they could even sell a situation like that, other than by selling the school itself), but there do seem to be some promising players coming in, which is good to hear.  Some interesting linemen prospects, in particular ...

I think in some sports, two years would be a realistic timeline, but right now Amherst, Trinity, and Wesleyan, and to some extent Midd, have such massive advantages in talent that it will take a bit longer than that.  Tufts, Hamilton and Bates are also all programs on the rise who won't succumb easily.  Even assuming Raymond brings in two top-notch classes the next few years, it will take a few years for those players to grow into major contributors at the varsity level.  There is also the issue of players adapting to an entirely new coaching regime / system for this year.  I'd be very happy if Williams could simply improve from last year's 2-6 season, and a winning record would be truly a spectacular accomplishment.  It's hard to realistically expect Williams to be competing at the very top tier of NESCAC until, at the earliest, the 2018 season, but perhaps the Ephs will surprise me. 

Williams has certainly had a TERRIBLE record in games that went down to the last possession over the past five years, so if the Ephs can just close out games a little stronger and win their expected share of games that come down to the last two minutes, that alone would be worth a win or two per season ...

I will be very curious to hear how Raymond's first recruiting year goes and to see whether he can bring in some big-time dudes starting next fall ...

[Cac7]

With a tremendous football tradition, the top football facilities in the conference, a strong new coaching staff and a chance to play right away and turn the program around quickly, I would think Williams presents an appealing destination for any star recruits

I'm going to have to strongly disagree with you about facilities. I may officially be new to the board (I have been reading posts for a while but until yesterday never set up an account), but it seems that no one has ever brought up Middlebury's new athletic facilities, which include a new field house with an indoor field. Middlebury has an indoor training facility for its teams, primarily football and lacrosse. While Williams certainly has a nice stadium and weightroom, I don't think its facilities are as good as Middlebury's which are practically D1 FCS level.

If you haven't seen it yet, google Virtue Field House. It's not too shabby.

[IslandTime]

With a tremendous football tradition, the top football facilities in the conference, a strong new coaching staff and a chance to play right away and turn the program around quickly, I would think Williams presents an appealing destination for any star recruits

I'm going to have to strongly disagree with you about facilities. I may officially be new to the board (I have been reading posts for a while but until yesterday never set up an account), but it seems that no one has ever brought up Middlebury's new athletic facilities, which include a new field house with an indoor field. Middlebury has an indoor training facility for its teams, primarily football and lacrosse. While Williams certainly has a nice stadium and weightroom, I don't think its facilities are as good as Middlebury's which are practically D1 FCS level.

If you haven't seen it yet, google Virtue Field House. It's not too shabby.

When my son visited he went to 3 schools. We were blown away by Middlebury's indoor facility. I could not believe they facilities they had for a school with just over 2000 kids. I believe one of the founders of New Balance is an alum and Coach Mandigo told us they sport the school heavily. Middlebury's weight room however was the worst of the 3. We also visited AMHERST that had, in my son's opinion (and mine) the best combination of Facilties (Pratt Field is awesome, nice 2 level weight room over looking ahuge indoor multi functional fieldhouse), cool campus and great college town being that UMASS is walking distance. The vintage feel of Alumni Gymnasium with pictures of baseball and football teams and track and field teams with black students from all the way back in the 1800's is super cool. That is why my son chose AMHERST over the other schools that recruited him. The best combination of all factors.

Williams, in my humble opinion had the worst of the 3 Facilties. Although nice, the field facility was not as well kept as Pratt and the weight room, while also being in a really neat old, historical building, was split into 2 completely seperate sections. Granted all 3 schools floored us based on what they versus only having 1800-2400 students. I don't get where the sentiment comes from that Williams has the best. As mentioned above, Middlebury's athletic complex is amazing and is tied seamlessly together with the indoor hockey rink, indoor Olympic pool complex and basketball complex. Very well done!

Just my 2 cents. Go AMHERST !!!!