FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[DadintheStands]

This recent discussion is very interesting and a topical one for my family.  My son is putting the final touches on his recruiting process that has him narrowed down to NESCAC and IVY.  A familiar twosome as we have learned from his discussions with other recruits through the spring/summer camps and now at his game visits this fall.  He has gotten the 'all systems go' message from 3 NESCACs, an offer from one IVY (non-HYP) and is on the 'B' list with one of the HYP IVYs waiting for their next move.  My wife and I are guiding him along but keeping our opinions quiet as he makes what will be the first important adult decision of his life.  However, I am absolutely leaning NESCAC.  From my research (including some on this board), interactions with the coaches and visits to the 5 campuses, a NESCAC school offers more of what is important to him than the IVYs can: serious football with long traditions but life away from football to pursue other sports, travel abroad, join school clubs, etc without giving an inch on the quality of the educational experience.  We are waiting anxiously for him to finish up his visits this month and make his decision.  He is a smart kid that is thinking about this decision maturely so we know he will pick the spot that he is most comfortable with....I hope it's a NESCAC!

[amh63]

It's the "hump" part of the week and NBN has produced some Football comments.  Nice writing, BUT I must admit, some of the references within the comments I do not understand . 
Awaiting predictions, etc. from our fellow posters.
I really need to post and proofread when I am not doing chores.

[Grabowski]

Dadinstands, I like your attitude, this conference is really cool for all the reasons you state +, and the Ivies are starting to feel a little (just a little) like football factories.  I was at a Princeton game earlier this year and they have 118! kids on the roster.  Every position on the field can go five deep. 

[DadintheStands]

I noticed the same about the Ivies Grabowski.  I assume the large rosters are partly a way to deal with the inevitable attrition at a non-scholarship school.  But, when my son and I looked at the roster and saw as many as nine guys at the same skill position, it certainly went into the 'minus' column for him re: the IVYs.

[westcoastDad]

Wow!  That's amazing.  Over 100 players?  My kid was also on "B" list for Princeton.  The coach said, "we will get back to u in January" which meant....After we see who we signed and who is left over lol.

When I mentioned that Amherst was recruiting.....he said, "your son will enjoy both schools but if Amherst is truly interested....don't hesitate".   

The early admission option sold my son.  He was accepted in December.  He did not want to go thru the  process of waiting for yay and nay letters. 

I must say that it's been a great 2 years plus so far.  The sports,  the academics, the interviewing for summer internships, the new friendships, etc.  He's definitely trying to take advantage of all that a NESCAC school has to offer. 

#no complaints  except for the tuition! 

qu ;)ote author=Grabowski link=topic=4146.msg1757464#msg1757464 date=1475691380]
Dadinstands, I like your attitude, this conference is really cool for all the reasons you state +, and the Ivies are starting to feel a little (just a little) like football factories.  I was at a Princeton game earlier this year and they have 118! kids on the roster.  Every position on the field can go five deep.
[/quote]

[quicksilver]

In the Ivies, each summer the admissions offices from all of the schools trade information with each other on all TIPS for athletics so that there is 100% transparency.  Harvard knows who Princeton admitted and what the profile of each admit looks like.   This is the honor system that allows them to stay within their collective boundaries.   My understanding - but this is all hearsay - is that the NESCAC does the same thing.   I believe that Tom Parker, from Williams then Amherst, recommended the process when he came to Amherst (which was seriously in the athletics dumps at that time) to ensure that there was a high level of self-regulation among all of the schools.   It would be interesting to learn whether this is fact or hearsay in the NESCAC - I know for a fact that it happens in the Ivies.

Correct -- the NESCAC admissions people meet at least 3 times a year under NESCAC auspices and share data at those meetings. What we do not know is how granular the data is that is shared. Does it consist of average GPAs and SAT scores for the entire class of new football or hockey players at school X? Does it include data based on band-based admissions for each sport? I suspect that privacy rules preclude the exchange of data about particular student-athletes . .  But the truth is that most NESCAC's likely have a reasonably good handle on the academic stats of rival teams based on the fact that most potential athletes approach multiple NESCACs either directly or through sports camps and disclose their academic data though that process. I know that some NESCAC coaches will say to a potential athlete -- you probably will not qualify for admission at my school but I am happy to recommend you to school Y.

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Lord Jeff QB Injury Update:

- Amherst QB Berluti is on the DL with an injury to his MCL and is expected to be out for a few weeks.
- Replacing Berluti is Backup (really #3 after Foy then Berluti) Soph Nick Morales who has done well in mop-up duty vs Hamilton then in nearly 3 quarters vs Bowdoin.  He's 9 for 11 for 130+ yards, 1 TD, and no INT's so far this year.

Question from the cheap seats regarding "who is Morales' backup?". 

Junior Carmilani was Foy's backup all last year, but hasn't appeared at QB this year, while Frosh Eberth did mop-up duty at the end of the Bowdoin game and went 1 for 1 for 8 yards.

[westcoastDad]

I'm sure the Middlebury folks applaud your transparency.  Makes game planning a little easier.  Could have waited until game time man!?

uote author=NESCAC.Football.Observer link=topic=4146.msg1757509#msg1757509 date=1475703895]
Lord Jeff QB Injury Update:

- Amherst QB Berluti is on the DL with an injury to his MCL and is expected to be out for a few weeks.
- Replacing Berluti is Backup (really #3 after Foy then Berluti) Soph Nick Morales who has done well in mop-up duty vs Hamilton then in nearly 3 quarters vs Bowdoin.  He's 9 for 11 for 130+ yards, 1 TD, and no INT's so far this year.

Question from the cheap seats regarding "who is Morales' backup?". 

Junior Carmilani was Foy's backup all last year, but hasn't appeared at QB this year, while Frosh Eberth did mop-up duty at the end of the Bowdoin game and went 1 for 1 for 8 yards.
[/quote]

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Seriously? 

You think they don't know already?   You think the Middlebury prep school kids who went to Andover/Exeter/Taft/Deerfield/Choate aren't talking to their buddies at Amherst who either play at Amherst or who have friends?

GMAFB............

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

At least it's "football talk" vs all this other stuff I'm reading............

[westcoastDad]

I will believe u when I see the Middlebury report posted.  In the meantime, it's just u Barbara.

The other topics have been enlightening I'm guessing for those whose kids are going thru the process.

Better than debating to take a knee or not!  For now at least

[lumbercat]

At this point word out of Middlebury is they came out of the Colby affair basically unscathed in terms of injuries. Colby didn't lay any significant hits on Leibowitz and Ritter pulled him early.
Meritus status not in question but look for Jacobs to get some additional carries this week against the Purple.
Allegedly no change in Middlebury practice regimen this week....as usual, most time spent on the passing game. Air Ritter will keep slinging it as always.

[amh63]

It is foggy this morning in Amherst.  My interest in the weather is less so at this weekend football sites and more directed to the first major hurricane to hit Florida and the southern east coast in 11 years!  My thoughts and prayers are for all who have families and friends in the areas to be hit. 
IslandTime...Take care!   See the first expected hit will be at Cape Canaveral.  Your son's game at Middlebury is secondary to him, I'm sure...as I expect to all the players around the conference who have family in the impact region.

[PolarCat]

Looks like a gorgeous Columbus Day weekend in Northern New England, with the foliage nearing its peak, partly cloudy skies for Saturday's games and sunshine for both Sunday and Monday.  The Bates Williams contest should be a hard-fought low scoring affair in front of a packed crowd at Garcelon Field (it's is "Back to Bates Weekend", a joint Homecoming and Family Weekend affair, which assures hotels and restaurants are full to overflowing from Portland to Augusta).  The two so-far-winless programs have something to prove, and one will leave the day 0-3.

My predictions for Saturday's games:

Bates 21, Williams 10.  Bates continues to mix up its offense, and Sandy Plashkes and his receivers start connecting, while the Mark Upton-led defense is too strong for the Ephs.

Wesleyan 28, Colby 7.  With Wes needing a W to stay in contention, Piccirillo is too good for the Mule secondary, and the Wes defense stifles Hurdle-Price. 

Trinity 45, Hamilton 7.  I hope the foliage in Clinton is spectacular, so the fans will have something nice to remember from this weekend.  The Bants hold the Conts scoreless for 3 quarters, till Devanney starts playing his subs.

Midd 31, Amherst 28 (OT).  In the Game of the Week (maybe of the year) a blocked FG in regulation makes the difference.  Nick Morales does yeoman duty to keep the LJ's in the game, but Leibowitz mounts an aerial attack that includes a 68-yard drive in OT to set up the winning Charlie Gordon field goal.  Leaving the field, Dave Caputi (Panther OC and former Polar Bear HC) is overheard saying, "it's really, really fun to win."

Tufts 28, Bowdoin 10.  The PB's continue improving, but the Jumbos' juggernaut rolls on.  Leaving the field, JB Wells is overheard saying "This losing thing really sucks.  But we're on to Hamilton."

[polbear73]

Solid picks, PC and loved the quotations, except for the end of Coach Wells'.  Bowdoin can't afford to give anyone bulletin board material!