FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[amh63]

Middhoops.....small DLs seems to me to be another LB that could be a step to slow .  Just kidding.  Yes, the QB can run...accordingly to NBN.  A reference to another impact QB of Midd about half a decade ago...Class of'11.  Where did he end up....read somewhere he is an assistant coach in the CAC. 
My guess is that the projected two leading contenders for the Title at this time...Trinity with the white hats and Amherst with the Nike uniforms...will put their season on the shoulders of their defenses.  Special teams and the kicking game will also be critical for all teams.

[ColbyFootball]

Is it possible to record the game telecasts?

[westcoastDad]

If not, they used to sell a DVD copy of the games

[amh63]

FYI....NothingButNescac has posted its season preview of Midd.
Last season, a video of part of the Amherst vs. Williams game was put on utube by someone to highlight his son's key play.  The entire game was NOT....due to it being broadcasted on NESN.  Tufts did put its broadcast of NCAA MBB games on utube.   However, NSN that broadcasted many of the. CAC games did have a pay for video system.  Note the past tense.  In the old days when schools broadcasted their own games you could watch for a fee and buy the video.
Not a lawyer so in this brave new world of visual recording by phones, etc., I do not know the rules.

[JEFFFAN]

Has NESCAC.com predicted the football season yet?

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Current predictions by NothingButNESCAC:

Trinity         8-0
Amherst      6-2
Tufts           6-2
Wesleyan     6-2
Middlebury   5-3
Hamilton      3-5
Bates           2-6
Colby           1-7
Williams       To be announced
Bowdoin       To be announced

D3football has the below predictions:

Trinity         8-0
Amherst      6-2
Tufts           6-2
Wesleyan     6-2
Middlebury   5-3
Hamilton      3-5
Bates           2-6
Williams       2-6
Colby           1-7
Bowdoin       1-7

[Ephpapa20]

Current predictions by NothingButNESCAC:

Trinity         8-0
Amherst      6-2
Tufts           6-2
Wesleyan     6-2
Middlebury   5-3
Hamilton      3-5
Bates           2-6
Colby           1-7
Williams       To be announced
Bowdoin       To be announced

D3football has the below predictions:

Trinity         8-0
Amherst      6-2
Tufts           6-2
Wesleyan     6-2
Middlebury   5-3
Hamilton      3-5
Bates           2-6
Williams       2-6
Colby           1-7
Bowdoin       1-7

I think I'm agreeing with the TBA

[amh63]

Back again!  NothingButNescac has posted a preview of Amherst.  Most interesting to me are the projected starting lineups.  Three OL must be replaced.  One projected OL starter is Park who I see at center...a key position.  Park is a SR but was not on the 2015 roster...but on the 2014 roster.  On the defensive side where three backfield starters graduated, there are young talented players.  Young but experienced.  There are at least several more talented and experienced CBs available....which I believe will get a lot of playing time.  Speed and quickness are critical at the defensive backfield positions.  Experience also helps
Interesting that pre- season predicting of final records are weighted heavily to home field teams.
In any case, the first game for Amherst will be at Pratt Field.  Weather report has football temps with a Chance of drizzles.
Oh yes, Tufts will host its first night game...under the lights....the third to date.  Wesleyan had a night game first and Amherst had its night game several years ago....Homecoming game against Williams!

[frank uible]

Wesleyan will be better than 6-2.

[JEFFFAN]

In reading through the Amherst review, it is clear that they have to replace too many high quality players to think that they will go undefeated again or win the NESCAC.  Three offensive linemen - a starting quarterback - and the entire defensive backfield.   That is too much for a great program to handle, no matter the quality of the replacements.  I always thought that the 2015 season was their "year to win" and that the undefeated 2014 season was a fluke.  They won a lot of close games along the way, including that hail mary against Wesleyan, and no team should be expected to continue that with so many personnel loses.   They should still win their share of games - probably five, maybe six - with excellent talent at some of the skill positions, but the title does not go through Pratt Field this year.

[ColbyFootball]

What is the alcohol at tailgating policy at Williams?

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

NESCAC alcohol policies:

Trinity         No one bothers you
Amherst      No one bothers you
Tufts           No one bothers you
Wesleyan     No one bothers you
Middlebury   ??
Hamilton      ??
Bates           No one bothers you
Williams       No alcohol allowed. They sell draft beer and wine AND RESERVE the right to search your car.
Colby           No one bothers you
Bowdoin       No one bothers you

[lumbercat]

Colby Football-
Go to the Williams Football website. In addition to a preview of Saturdays game they have all the tailgating rules in detail----pretty rigid to stay the least.

Some teams still finalizing cuts so all rosters not yet posted. I believe all final rosters are due in the NESCAC office sometime tomorrow but not totally sure of that.

Frank Uible-
Your predictions are usually spot on but I don't think Wesleyan wins 6 games if they lose to Tufts in the opener which would not be a surprise. I think the Jumbos are a force to be reckoned with this year.

[amh63]

Recent posts brings me back again.
Frank U.....why do you think Wes will be so successful?  A hint or two?
Lumbercat....Midd has a pic and a final roster online...more changes ahead?  Williams has posted a less than 75 player roster.  Expect more cuts?  Maybe some additions?
Colbyfootball....best to watch the game at Willytown.  Chance to celebrate after the game down the street.  Best chance for Colby to beat Williams in a long, long time so enjoy the moment with Kool Aid if you must.  Too much advice??
Will weather be a factor in any game?  Believe all fields will be artificial/ turf ones and in good condition.
JEFFAN....what made you believe 2015 would be special?  Foy was a new starter. Kelly was hurt early and Hickey was a surprise though talented.  Spears underperformed and another CB starter was lost early. A starting WR was lost to injury.  2015 was great because many talented players stepped up like Fairfield-Sonn, Foy and the seniors that started.  Just my opinion. yours?

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

I agree with Frank U.... Wes will win more, and is likely at the top of the NESCAC this year:

So.. My 2 cents..........  Some opinions for thoughts & discussions:

NESCAC 2016 thoughts:

Wesleyan     8-0
Trinity         7-1
Amherst      6-2
Tufts           5-3
Middlebury   4-4
Hamilton      4-4
Bates           3-5
Colby           2-6
Bowdoin       1-7
Williams       0-8

Wes has everything going for it this year..... If they get past @ Tufts, they run the table.  No Middlebury this year, plus Amherst and Trinity at home.

Trinity is the other class team......  Amherst at home, plus their game of the Year is @ Wes at the end of the year.

Amherst has to beat Middlebury, Wes, then Trinity all on the road.  They did it in 2014, but too many changes, plus the new QB, this year.  Everyone else would salivate for a 6 - 2 season... not the LJ's (who's Seniors will be 29 - 3 over 4 years in this "off/recovering" year).

Tufts drops Hamilton and adds Wes AND plays all the big boys - Trinity, Amherst, and Middlebury - on the road after taking on Wes at home............  6-2 likely becomes 5-3.....

Until Middlebury proves they have a running game... they are middle of the pack.  Easy to throw for 500 yards vs the Maine teams, then sh*t the bed vs a top team (as they did last 2 years).  Hamilton almost beat them in VT last year... An improved Hamilton in Hamilton will be difficult..... never mind the ball control teams like Amherst, Tufts, and Trinity.....

Hamilton is the team to fear this year.  2 - 1 in last 3 games last year, and almost beat Wes at home and at Middlebury.....  4 - 4 is a likely result.

Maine teams are all in roughly the same boat...  as likely a 3-5 vs a 1-7.   Looking at "who's vs/at home?" dictated Bates at 3-5, Colby at 2-6, and Bowdoin at 1-7.

Williams has no depth and no size.  Frosh linemen (whom this list gushed over) are just fat, not fit, and look like plump high school linemen.  Ephs had 58 kids dressed for an intrasquad last weekend, with 4 additional kids injured but on the sidelines.  Everyone else is cutting to 75, and the Ephs have almost/only 60 kids for the season.  (So forget a JV schedule.)  And that they'll be platooning 2 frosh QB's (neither of whom weighs more than 165 lbs) with a worse OL than existed last year, a TE who weighs 195 lbs (converted QB), and no real WR's..... well......  Coach Raymond has an uphill battle.  Ephs are the Hamilton of 2 years ago and the Jumbos of 2012...... playing Frosh indicates a future 0 - 8 x 2 years at a min before they get competitive.

My 2 cents........