FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

Lumber: Last year Wes finished 5-3 while starting a lot of freshmen and sophomores plus I have a great deal of professional respect for Wes' coaches.

[frank uible]

Observer: Give Raymond more than 2 years.

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Frank... 2 years is the MIN.....  It took him to his 4th year at SLU before he got a winning record........ In his 3rd year there, in a rebuild, he went 0 - 10........ Then he went something like 7-3, 8-2, and 8-3 in his last 3 years.... People seem to think he's a miracle worker and that the Ephs are going to be competitive this year..... they all just don't get it... it takes time, and the Eph depth chart is full of frosh, and the Senior, Junior and Soph (and Frosh) classes are all recruited by the last regime (which tells one how good (ie bad) they are........  PLaying Frosh in skill positions, especially, should tell folks "we're going 0-8".......  Time for Eph Folks to stop drinking their new Varsity Club Cool-Aid.......

[lumbercat]

Frank-

You may be right- I may be underestimating the Cards. Either way the Tufts- Wealeyan game on Saturday will be telling.
If the Cards beat Tufts fairly convincingly I'm inclined to agree with your call.

5 years ago Wesleyan brought in a very highly touted back from Texas. Ladarius Drew arrived in Middletown with lofty credentials. He showed signs of greatness and became the NESCAC 100 meter champ but injuries did him in and he never realized the NESCAC dominance that many expected.

A similar situation unfolds this year. The Cardinals bring in a FY transfer from West Point. Darius Highsmith was offered and accepted a full ride at UConn but later changed his mind and enrolled at Army Prep with admission to West Point to follow this year. He has decided to transfer to Wesleyan. 

Like Drew he is a very impressive NESCAC recruit who may have significant impact for the Cards.

[PolarCat]

Maybe the only thing with which I agree with Trump is that the country has become too PC.  So NESCAC FO, +K for the unfiltered, unvarnished predictions.

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

PolarCat... Thanks for the kudos.......  FYI that I've no dog in any fights.... So just aggregating what I hear (or see myselft) and then publishing it.........  But all my sources are either my own eyes or former players/coaches whose opinions I merge into mine.........

[westcoastDad]

Ditto!  Polar Cat and Nothing But.....I think you're both correct in that this year is wide open.  Wesleyan is on a mission.  To get a recruit just out of West Point...I'm expecting big noise from them.  TRINITY the same and they both have Amherst at home.  Amherst has the talent but how long will it take to establish their identity?  Very talented running backs but inexperienced OL and QB. Expect opponents to stack the box.  They will hang their hat on defense.  Front 7 will be or should be stout.  The secondary.....lost 3 seniors.  They will have to be stingy and give their offense time to gel.  The Jumbos did have a good start last year....but Amherst crushed them.  If they have added a passing game then look out.  Not sure about Middlebury.  They will throw alot but they lost their star linebacker Patricia to graduation.  Will they be able to stop anyone in the middle?

My picks?  Talk to me after week 1!

Enjoy the weekend and may the better teams win!

[ITH radio]

Frank... 2 years is the MIN.....  It took him to his 4th year at SLU before he got a winning record........ In his 3rd year there, in a rebuild, he went 0 - 10........ Then he went something like 7-3, 8-2, and 8-3 in his last 3 years.... People seem to think he's a miracle worker and that the Ephs are going to be competitive this year..... they all just don't get it... it takes time, and the Eph depth chart is full of frosh, and the Senior, Junior and Soph (and Frosh) classes are all recruited by the last regime (which tells one how good (ie bad) they are........  PLaying Frosh in skill positions, especially, should tell folks "we're going 0-8".......  Time for Eph Folks to stop drinking their new Varsity Club Cool-Aid.......

Ray is a great defensive coach, so even if the Ephs don't win much their defensive schemes will help keep them in games. Give him time and after a couple of recruiting classes and WC will be back in the conversation as a serious contender.

[elburro]

So what happens to the guys cut from the team to get the roster size to 75?  Are they still part of the team?  Are they redshirted?

[DC 53]

There was request for some info about Hamilton. This is from a local newspaper. I'll have a post later with a historical perspective on the Hamilton program. Looking forward to the journey to the Pioneer Valley on Saturday!
http://www.uticaod.com/sports/20160921/hamilton-college-football-team-ready-to-improve

[AUPepBand]

There was request for some info about Hamilton. This is from a local newspaper. I'll have a post later with a historical perspective on the Hamilton program. Looking forward to the journey to the Pioneer Valley on Saturday!
http://www.uticaod.com/sports/20160921/hamilton-college-football-team-ready-to-improve

Go Continentals! Pep predicts the merry Murraymen may make more music in 2016!

[JEFFFAN]

So what happens to the guys cut from the team to get the roster size to 75?  Are they still part of the team?  Are they redshirted?

My understanding is that if they are cut from the team they are not included in any football activities.   The only way to "redshirt", as discussed earlier, is that the student must leave the campus and not be involved with the school in any way.   That would have to be coordinated with the coach and would be unrelated to being cut.

As the old Williams coach famously stated, "play well, boys, because there isn't a Division 4!"

[Jonny Utah]

So what happens to the guys cut from the team to get the roster size to 75?  Are they still part of the team?  Are they redshirted?

My understanding is that if they are cut from the team they are not included in any football activities.   The only way to "redshirt", as discussed earlier, is that the student must leave the campus and not be involved with the school in any way.   That would have to be coordinated with the coach and would be unrelated to being cut.

As the old Williams coach famously stated, "play well, boys, because there isn't a Division 4!"

JeffFan, I'm almost positive that Tufts kept some kids last year who weren't on the roster but could practice and even travel on their own and be on the sideline (not in uniform).

As for the redshirt, I am not sure.  I think if you practice, but don't dress for games and aren't even on the roster, that you don't get a redshirt year.

[Pat Coleman]

As for the redshirt, I am not sure.  I think if you practice, but don't dress for games and aren't even on the roster, that you don't get a redshirt year.

That's correct -- this type of redshirting is not allowed in Division III anymore, only a medical hardship year.

[IslandTime]

Some good news considering Williams cancelled the scrimmage against Amherst last weekend. Coaches are finalizing plans to have an Amherst - Williams "Sub-Varsity" game this Sunday in Willytown.

So it appears that even with low numbers for Williams, they are still getting work in for the newbies! Wish I would have known this sooner as I would have shot up there this weekend to watch Amherst/Hamilton on Saturday and Amherst/Williams on Sunday.

Oh well .... Coaching my 10 year old's Mitey Mite pop warner team to a dominating victory over New Smyrna Beach will have to suffice !!!

Go AMHERST!