FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[middhoops]

With all due respect, NESCAC.Football.Observer, "Combo the above with, despite the sack stats, an inability of the Amherst DL to put pressure on the Midd QB"; as I sat there and watched it, seemed to me that Lebowitz got hit on just about every throw and was chased out of the pocket many more times than not.
From my view, the Amherst defense was the best I've ever seen.  They swarm to the ball and receiver.  The pass rush was fast and furious.
Lebowitz may never get beat up that badly again.  Sure hope not.
The Amherst defense impressed us old Midd fans to no end. 

[IslandTime]

So I watched the Amherst at Midd game online, and talked to 2 current Amherst Football parents......

I realize it isn't ESPN.....but dear god the camera work was horrible. I think they missed the conclusion of half the plays because the camera failed to follow the play. Realize it is the only option for someone in Florida to see those games, but if they are going to do it, atleast show the plays.

[lumbercat]

Huge game at Bates yesterday for junior slot back Frank Williams. 9 catches for 223 yards and 3 TD's. He should be offensive POW.

Bates recovered from a shaky start giving up a long TD pass in the first quarter on a blown coverage. Bobcat D was strong all day giving up just the one early TD. The other Williams TD was and 80 yard return of a botched option pitch.

Another fine game for LB Upton with 10 tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL. All three Bates LBs were outstanding- Outside LBs Francis and Breschi combined for 17 tackles. Joe Frake and Trevor Lyons were immense in the Bates secondary both seemed to be all over the field putting in Upton like performances.

On the Williams side, they are young and rebuilding but they still have some fine athletes. RB Conner Harris was very impressive- based on yesterdays performance he looked like a back that could be among the NESCAC elite. He was knocked out of the game in the 4th quarter  by a thundering but clean hit delivered by  Bates LB Dee. Harris did not return but good to see he appeared fine after the game.

Echoing earlier sentiments on the board FY QB Durham will be a good one. He had a tough day and really took a pounding but performed with a lot of poise. He's smooth, not panicky and moves very well in the pocket. He also looks to have nice touch. He has a bright future for the Ephs. 

[westcoastDad]

Can say that again!  The camerawork was absolutely horrible!

uote author=IslandTime link=topic=4146.msg1758646#msg1758646 date=1476034502]

So I watched the Amherst at Midd game online, and talked to 2 current Amherst Football parents......

I realize it isn't ESPN.....but dear god the camera work was horrible. I think they missed the conclusion of half the plays because the camera failed to follow the play. Realize it is the only option for someone in Florida to see those games, but if they are going to do it, atleast show the plays.
[/quote]

[westcoastDad]

I told my son the night before the game that Lebowitz would give them fits because of his nifty feet and ability to throw on the run....ACCURATELY.

that was just my take from watching his high school film online! 

He's good!

quote author=middhoops link=topic=4146.msg1758642#msg1758642 date=1476032436]
With all due respect, NESCAC.Football.Observer, "Combo the above with, despite the sack stats, an inability of the Amherst DL to put pressure on the Midd QB"; as I sat there and watched it, seemed to me that Lebowitz got hit on just about every throw and was chased out of the pocket many more times than not.
From my view, the Amherst defense was the best I've ever seen.  They swarm to the ball and receiver.  The pass rush was fast and furious.
Lebowitz may never get beat up that badly again.  Sure hope not.
The Amherst defense impressed us old Midd fans to no end.
[/quote]

[amh63]

Went back to the football archives of a number of schools to check on the issue that polbear raised...a Nescac champ based on the 8-game schedule.   In the 2013 football season, Middlebury, Wesleyan and Amherst shared the CAC title.....all had 7-1 records.  Amherst lost to Wesleyan at home, beat Middlebury.  Middlebury beat the Cardinals and lost to Trinity.  Wesleyan and Middlebury did not play against each other.   I'm hoping that Amherst will get a share of the title this year.
Oh yes....almost all the school athletic websites have got a NEW look...Nice!!  Part of the recruiting "tools" needed in today's competitive world, IMO.
I agree that Midd's QB is the "real deal"....the local judges picked him Nescac POW twice and he won the regional Gold Helmet award.  Yet, his passing yards was under Amherst's soph QB!   Midd's QB was sacked five times and had to throw the ball away a number of times...no pressure on him??  The Panthers tend to have huge OL players to protect tall QBs in a pass first offense.  I will give credit to Midd's DL that stopped Amherst's RBs when needed. 
There were several overlooked things that I want to point out that could of impacted the outcome of the game.  In the second half, one of Amherst's starting LBs, a returning starter, was injured and left the game.  Do not know if he returned.  The winning Midd FG was aided by yet another roughing the QB penalty that put the ball closer to the goal line.  Both coaches were not happy with calls.  Yes, blame the refs....better than posting about the "poor" effort of Amherst's special team players...kickers....regardless of one's scources and take of the game.
It was a great competitive game to observe that two top teams played and one won by a point.
There was a great dramatic football battle yesterday between Tenn and Texas A&M in Texas.  It went into OT in part due to a missed Texas A&M field goal.  The Tenn coach called two Timeouts to ice the kicker.  The announcers thought that the Tenn coach should have gone for two points after a TD to win the game....Tenn has great runners.  In the first OT, the Texas kicker given a pat on his head by his holder nailed his field goal....taking the game into another OT...where a perfect x-PT helped win the game.  That is why they play the game!

[westcoastDad]

Watch the Patriots and even my Cowboys run play action with QB under center.  The read option is a gimmick that usually helps teams that are undermanned.   Sorry Amh63.  This one we disagree!

[frank uible]

The option has been with us since at least 1941, first as the split-T with Don Faurot at Missouri, then as the belly with Bobby Dodd at Georgia Tech,  then as the wishbone with Emory Bellard at Texas, then as the veer with Bill Yeomans at Houston. I've probably missed a few evolutions.

[amh63]

To disagree is OK.  However,  ...let us back up a bit.  The read-option QB offense is not that common in HS.  I mention previously that coaches recruit players that can run their preferred offense and play in their preferred defense schemes.  QB Foy and QB Bertutti seemed to do well with the pass and make plays with their feet...like the Midd QB.  Amherst Soph QB may have that option in the future.  Is it possible that he was told not to run...giving he had only a week with the starters...and the backups for him had none.  Yes QBs can and will get injured more when running, IMO.  To have a backup QB to also switch to a different....behind the center, etc. requires more reps in practice and more formations to digest, etc.  we all know that Nescac QBs tend to be intelligent/ smart, etc...but I believe the coaches would limit the plays to execute.  There was only one reported sack on him and his only pick was in his last series...the last Amherst drive on 3rd and 10.  Credit to the Midd defense.
In truth the read option is a new term for me...thanks.  In HS, our top rival ran the single wing...took me awhile to appreciate that offense...given the players.  Now we have a triple option which I believe is basically a run offense.
I recall that when I was at Amherst, there was an assistant football coach named Miller....the one that has his name on the field in the Trinity COOP.  The young man was an All-American QB at the Un of Delaware..the Blue Hens.  He ran an offense associated with the Blue Hens...called the Wing-T.  I in my ignorance assummed it to have been a derivative of the the Single Wing.  For the younger posters,
The key in that offense was the center who had the option to send the ball back to TWO backs...one which could pass the ball and for the most part was not the signal caller.  .  Frank U. Needs to help me here.  Yes, basically the potential passer stood higher...to read the defense...and I remember was the best runner.
Pretty soon, we will go back to leather helmet days to formations that were banned and professionals that were paid to play...even at ND.  Heck, Harvard recruited one of Amherst greatest football players to play for them when the Amherst ALUM was going to Harvard Med.  The  doctor went on to come up with Blood Plasma.

[polbear73]

Tufts QB Paul MacDonald ran the read option to perfection in dissecting Bowdoin on Saturday, running for over 145 yards and two touchdowns, basically using Chance Brady, who ran only 8 times for 54 yards as a decoy. Of note for Bowdoin is freshman Joe Gowetski who was credited with 17 tackles. Tufts looked good on both sides of the ball while Bowdoin showed some offensive improvement. Tufts read option befuddled Bowdoin all day.

[lumbercat]

Polbear 73-

We sat in the rain in Medford last week and felt good with the great Bates defensive effort- Bobcats went toe to toe with Elephants and were in good position to get the win until Civetti inserted McDonald at QB. He won the game for Tufts with his legs. Reports say he's the best non starter in the league which is another positive for the Tufts arsenal moving forward.

Great to have depth- Civetti is living the high life after losing 23 straight and he deserves it. He's cut 3 or 4 QBs in the last few years that would be starters today in more than a few NESCAC programs.

But hold the phone, the Jumbos will get beaten decisively next week at Trinity.

Tufts is a fine team but this Trinity team will go 8-0. As good as Tufts is, Civetti is still looking upward at his Alma Mater.

As much as they spend on Football at Trinity Civetti may be able to ply additional financial stipends from the 6000 student University as long as he continues winning with the support of a strong AD.

Lets get it straight on the board folks- I hate to boil it all down to dollars but they spend a ton of money at Trinity on winning Football games and Wesleyan has entered the mix in the last few years......but Tufts will trump them all.

Wish the Football budgets of all schools were released.....everybody bangs the admissions card for putting together a winning program in the NESCAC be it says here the biggest factor is $$$$$.

[middhoops]

Fascinating post, Lumbercat.   +k
Perhaps this has all been covered before but I missed it.  Could you lay out what Tufts and Trinity spend money on to boost football that the other NESCAC schools don't? 
I assume it's primarily facilities oriented but am very curious about what the other expenditures might be.
Thanks in advance.

[middpantherpride]

Polbear 73-

We sat in the rain in Medford last week and felt good with the great Bates defensive effort- Bobcats went toe to toe with Elephants and were in good position to get the win until Civetti inserted McDonald at QB. He won the game for Tufts with his legs. Reports say he's the best non starter in the league which is another positive for the Tufts arsenal moving forward.

Great to have depth- Civetti is living the high life after losing 23 straight and he deserves it. He's cut 3 or 4 QBs in the last few years that would be starters today in more than a few NESCAC programs.

But hold the phone, the Jumbos will get beaten decisively next week at Trinity.

Tufts is a fine team but this Trinity team will go 8-0. As good as Tufts is, Civetti is still looking upward at his Alma Mater.

As much as they spend on Football at Trinity Civetti may be able to ply additional financial stipends from the 6000 student University as long as he continues winning with the support of a strong AD.

Lets get it straight on the board folks- I hate to boil it all down to dollars but they spend a ton of money at Trinity on winning Football games and Wesleyan has entered the mix in the last few years......but Tufts will trump them all.

Wish the Football budgets of all schools were released.....everybody bangs the admissions card for putting together a winning program in the NESCAC be it says here the biggest factor is $$$$$.

That's a bold statement to say that Trinity will go 8-0 after they have played 3 weaker teams. Trinity has a long ways to go as they play Tufts, Middlebury, Amherst, and Wesleyan still.

Watching the Midd v. Amherst game on Saturday, I think both teams will have something to say about that. Both outstanding teams with a lot of talent and very well coached. Unbelievable game and both teams should be proud. Both Midd and Amherst have faired well against Trinity the past 3 years (Midd 2-1 and Amherst 3-0). Still a long ways to go. Amherst is still very well in contention even though I would love to see my Panthers run the table.  Crazy to make sweeping statements as things happen (i.e. injuries) and the teams at the end of the year could look very different from right now.

[polbear73]

I also found Lumbercat's post to be interesting.  Money plus admissions creativity equals a commitment to football that is hard to beat.  Aside from Williams, with it's storied winning history, great facilities, and very deep pockets, it is hard to see how the bottom tier teams will improve relative to the elite, even if they choose to join the football arms race.  In a sense, NESCAC football is a zero sum game with its closed schedule and the fact that the recruiting pool for eligible athletes is somewhat limited, even with more liberal recruiting standards at some schools.  Perhaps the best that the bottom tier can hope for is more parity and competitiveness; replacing a top tier football school is all but impossible, unless one of those makes the decision to de-emphasize football. 

Please understand that I don't mean to demean the top tier football schools: they have obviously made the decision that football is important for many reasons from alumni support and development to achieving gender balance in admissions.  I also like the fact that NESCAC colleges strive for excellence in every pursuit that they undertake.  One can only hope that the so-called arms race doesn't reach the point that it conflicts with the NESCAC belief that sports teams reflect the institutions' student bodies. 

[Grabowski]

Agree that money and admissions are important, but IMO the third and most important leg of the table is the right coach at the top.  Tufts has very recently proven you can break into the top half.  Not easy though.