FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[amh63]

PolarCat....well said...plus K.
I believe there HAS been only two night games to date so far.  First one was at Wesleyan and they brought in temp lights for the occasion.  The second one was the Amherst- Williams game on the new Pratt field.  Was surprised a bit that last year's game in Willytown was not a night game...being on Willams touted "Best in the Confrence" new field with lights.  Yes the game was in November and such games need to be coordinated wrt to be shown around the world to alum gatherings.
Last year, the Amherst soccer team played a night game at WPI and in the Title game out West.  Night games maybe a good thing at Middlebury in that the booze patrol in Vermont would have a more difficult time . Please note that this not an anti-police comment.

[polbear73]

On the subject of night sports events, there is a Maine school that is planning night contests for one women sport this Fall.

Night games are nothing new for MLAX and WLAX.  From a fan's perspective, the best venue may be Bates, since spectators can watch from inside the second floor of Commons.  And don't talk to me about "cold".  Bates and Bowdoin MLAX and WLAX played in a mini blizzard this year, with the women's game (in Brunswick) called early due to conditions.  There were only a dozen or so hearty spectators left on the sidelines for that one. 

A night game in November could be painful.  But an Indian Summer Saturday night game in October?  Count me in!

While the idea of a NESCAC Bowl is intriguing, I think you'd wind up with happy fans and parents from 2 schools, and miserable fans and parents from the other 8.  IMO far better to play a full rotation, facing every school in the conference.  A full rotation removes any question of School X being the champion because they had an easier schedule than School Y.  If we could play a full rotation AND have a Bowl, OR do NCAA postseason, I'd feel differently.  But I doubt I will live long enough to see that.  One step at a time.

Totally agree, PC; If a 9 game season comes to pass (it is well overdue), I strongly believe that there will be no more enhancements to the schedule for a very long time.  Even an intermediate step to NCAA post season play, a 10th game against a non conference opponent is an extreme long shot.  Night games and perhaps upgrades to the venues requiring them (!!!!!) may be the best we can hope for. 

[amh63]

Amherst on it's football tweeter site announced two new assistants...one a Former CAC POY...Middlebury player? And the other a  top Albany DL.  Put at teaching assignments that would broaden their resumes for future coaching jobs,IMO.  Hope they are IT savy as the football website needs some updates to some subsites. 

[PolarCat]

Amherst on it's football tweeter site announced two new assistants...

Wouldn't it be more manly if they had a woofer site?

[amh63]

PolarCat...caught me again!   Mixing audio terms with social media ones.  Could blame my wife since she was/is a music teacher/ classical music fan.....nah.  Read today about a new drink to prevent "muscle cramps" hindering today's athletes...today's WSJ.  New drink by a Nobel Prize Winner, etc that shocks you.  I need to try it to prevent my brain " cramps"

[johnp]

Trinity installed lights when they replaced the turf and track. Will play a night game but haven't announced who yet

[lumbercat]

Johnp-
Sounds like a great new facility at Trinity as you would expect--did they remove the track and move the stands in closer to the field ?- thought their intention was to relocate the track and improve sightlines for Football but I may be mistaken.
Did they build a new locker room facility over near the stadium?
Look forward to seeing the new coop.

[johnp]

It's being done in phases.  So just the field, track and lights are installed.  They also installed new drainage.  The next phase is new softball, baseball and soccer fields, which are under construction now to be ready for spring season.  The latter two will be turf.  New stands, press box, facilities at the football field are in the plan but haven't heard timing. 

[lumbercat]

Sounds like they are relocating the track as I thought to make Jesse a great place to watch a game!

Trinity always does it right and Football rules the roost in Hartford- Per the original plan I think the track moves toward the open area by the main athletic facility but not sure exactly where.  Several years ago I know Priore wanted the track relocated so that's finally happening.
Are they building the new Football locker room facility over by Jesee Field?   Priore also wanted to eliminate long walk for both teams over to Jesse field. Good upgrades for a great football program that has made a commitment to winning.

[johnp]

The new track stayed around JesseMiller field. I will post photos in near future after I reduce file size to meet limit here

[lumbercat]

johnp
Thanks- would like to see the photos.

[amh63]

There is an Amherst Twitter post today announcing the Amherst staff was at its last Ivy Football Camp/ Clinic.  There is a 50 yd pic of the field with a opening in the stands...guess it is where the players come out?  If my memory serves me correctly, the Columbia College football field of Columbia University is built on top of the Columbia College Basketball Venue...in land limited Main University campus..  Never having been on the campus or seen a Columbia football game, can any poster clarify where the teams enter the field and where are the dressing rooms?...under the field?

[quicksilver]

There is an Amherst Twitter post today announcing the Amherst staff was at its last Ivy Football Camp/ Clinic.  There is a 50 yd pic of the field with a opening in the stands...guess it is where the players come out?  If my memory serves me correctly, the Columbia College football field of Columbia University is built on top of the Columbia College Basketball Venue...in land limited Main University campus..  Never having been on the campus or seen a Columbia football game, can any poster clarify where the teams enter the field and where are the dressing rooms?...under the field?

I can't answer the question as to where Columbia's football team enters the field but Baker's Field (and the other outdoor fields) is not located on the main Columbia campus but rather at the northern tip of Manhattan at some distance from the main campus:

http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=319174

[amh63]

Quicksilver...thanks for correcting my memory! . Plus K

[Trin9-0]

These photos of the track around Jessee-Miller Field show new fencing that, I assume, will prohibit fans from watching games from the track. I think this will create a big shift in the atmosphere of The Coop. In my 12 years attending Trinity games as a fan I've never watched a snap from the stands.


As someone stated earlier, this is phase 1 in the renovation project and the designs that I've seen call for a setup that's similar to Middlebury with no stands behind the visiting team and one giant grandstand with press box behind the home team. There will be small hill separating the soccer and football field/track. It's my understanding that the backside of the football stands will also act as seating for the adjacent field hockey turf field.

Here's a close-up of the new 50 yard line:


Here's a shot of the renovations taking place with the other athletic fields.