FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[hamgrand]

Pat....thanks for the term and present wt. limit.  In my days, it was 155 lbs.  Harvard and the Naval Academy had such teams.  I knew the wgt limit had increased....spoke to a former Cornell player in Ithaca awhile back.  However, just winged it a bit....after the post, 175 lbs came up but did not think that was correct.
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Amh63,  awesome job bringing up lightweight (now Sprint) football!  I played lightweight football at Cornell in the mid '80s. Class of 1986.

Was recruited for Cornell Football as a 5'9" 185lb OLB. (I swear I was 5'10 back then). Part of Coach Blackmon's quantity - not quality program .  In those days they brought in 60 or so freshaman because Freshman could not play varsity football in the ivies.  Also recruited for baseball and received my first lesson in D1 sports on day 1 in first meeting with BBall coach.  Ted Thoren told me he did not want me missing fall baseball and i would likely not make team if I played football. Even though he knew that I was being recruited and planned to play both. Made decision with head and not heart and decided to play baseball first 2 years.

Cut weight in junior year (from about 190 then) to play lightweight Jr and Sr year.  Was a blast and never regret it.  Lots of teammates were varsity recruits on the smaller side who like me were also recruited by several NESCAC and D3 schools. Not sure if that still happens today. Difference in size too big now.

Weighed in on Wednesdays at 158 lb limit at that time. I Played games on Friday night at about 175 lbs.  always made the weight. Wouldn't eat from Sunday through Wednesday weigh ins. Last sip
Of water after practice Monday night. Lots of time running and in steam room. Practiced with plastic suit under pads. Dehydrated twice.  Probably why there are so many rules about it these days. But I would do it all again!

Teams then were Cornell, Princeton, UPenn, Army, Navy, and Rutgers. Weigh-in was on honor r system of the coaches. And they held us accountable and would not give an ounce. 158.5 did not make it.  Integrity was important. When we would see the size of Rutgers we thought they cheated. But we always beat them!  (I had a buddy who played at Princeton and they always accused me of cheating). Coaches wouldn't let it happen.

Anyways, thanks for letting me ramble a little bit down memory lane.

[lumbercat]

Ex Bates and RPI OC left RPI last summer to take job as HC for Sprint Football Program at Caldwell University in NJ which will play its  inaugural season in 2017. Seems it's a competitive league with Army, Navy, Penn, Princeton etc.
Wonder if they play more than 8 games.....

[Nescacman]

Rutgers, Lafayette, and Villanova all fielded lightweight football teams in the past in addition to those previously mentioned.

Not sure you all knew this but Colby fields a sprint/lightweight football team as well. They play on Saturday's when Michaelas gives the varsity the day off.

[lumbercat]

Geez- Kind of a cheap shot to the Blue and Grey by The Man without a country but I guess anything goes here.

I haven't expressed this viewpoint previously but of all the second division teams this year I think Colby, while deficient in some key areas, has some fine athletes. The OL can't seem to spring Price who is a fine back. They were hurt by the loss of RB Lipani, a great back,  who was the starter as a FY beating out Price, I believe.

At the beginning of the year I thought the White Mules would dominate Hamilton and Bowdoin and slug it out with Bates. That deduction was based on my assumption that Harrington was a top NESCAC QB and a leader. Maybe he is injured. Still cant comprehend why Harrington and Sparacio slugging out in the Bates scrimmage (and they both performed well) only to have them bring in a Freshmen from left field. The spunky lefty FY QB from NJ who won the Williams game for the Mules has been described a kid with a lot of guts.

The issue in Waterville seems to be all the negativity that is compounding itself on the program.....At this point if rumor is true, Michaeles doesn't know whether to crap or wind his wrist watch.

I'm not  sure why an assistant coach with 9 years experience as an OC in Division 1A is in the background while Michaeles still calls the plays....     I'm going to say that reports indicating that must be incorrect.

Something doesn't add up. A quick comparison of credentials says that the best coach isn't running the offense.....a confusing deal up there.

If I wasn't committed to a confrontation in Lewistion this Saturday (followed by a visit to DaVincis, one of New England's finest dining establishments) I would love to be a fly on the wall in Amherst to see what the Mules are doing first hand.

I do believe that the Blue and Grey in those great uniforms will beat Hamilton like a drum this year.....and the CBB games will be dogfights regardless of what the deal is on The Hill.

[ColbyFootballDad]

Rutgers, Lafayette, and Villanova all fielded lightweight football teams in the past in addition to those previously mentioned.

Not sure you all knew this but Colby fields a sprint/lightweight football team as well. They play on Saturday's when Michaelas gives the varsity the day off.

.
Silly. I started to respond  differently but i'd sound like an overprotective dad. I'd rather let his career at Colby from this year and until 2020 speak for my Colby player. The Coach? He  seems to be of good character so you can be an ass if you'd like.  Did you play by chance?

[lumbercat]

ColbyFootballDad

Don't let comments from the peanut gallery set you back. Who knows what the guys motivation is in those comments.

I'm a Bates guy but believe me your son is in a great place.....trust it. Embrace these 4 years with your boy as I know you will.

Not sure where you are from but I'm sure you will get to some NESCAC games and especially some CBB games.

The NESCAC is special......some get it right away but for others it takes time.....it's just starting to sink in on the West Coast......at the end of the day its a great thing.

Good Luck to the Blue and Grey at Amherst.

They will get it figured out on the Hill....just a confusing situation right now.

[PolarCat]

The sad thing is he made the same offensive joke twice in 72 hours.  He must be convinced he's hilarious.  Sad.

Even sadder, i got a form email from a CAC head coach today, asking me to contribute to the Family Fund, because the contributions were needed so they could pay their AC's.  This same program told all the players last year they were getting all new UnderArmour uniforms this year.  They wound up getting new UnderArmour undershirts with bumble bee stripes, to wear under their same old tired, frayed Adidas game jerseys.

It's a shame when your boys leave it all on the field each week, but their school cheaps out on uniforms, coaching salaries and the like.  If you're trying to figure out the differences between a top program and one in the middle of the pack, this would be a good place to start.

[lumbercat]

Polarcat

No question about  it.....They need to commit more capital to the Bates Football Program.
Coaching salaries are at the bottom of the NESCAC and the overall budget needs a capital injection to elevate it to the level of other programs.
Harriman cobbles things together up there with the golf outing and other fund raising activities but they need more support from the college.
With the AD change in June maybe there will be a change.

[lumbercat]

Thanks Colby Football

If the rumors are true maybe Michaeles successor is the eminently qualified D1a OC from UMaine standing behind him on the sideline or above him in the booth.

Does Micheales wear headphones during the game...maybe he's getting input from the OC above

Would like to see what they are doing up there but don't have a chance to see them until 10/29 in Lewiston- I just don't have access to all NESCAC film.

[Nescacman]

The sad thing is he made the same offensive joke twice in 72 hours.  He must be convinced he's hilarious.  Sad.

Even sadder, i got a form email from a CAC head coach today, asking me to contribute to the Family Fund, because the contributions were needed so they could pay their AC's.  This same program told all the players last year they were getting all new UnderArmour uniforms this year.  They wound up getting new UnderArmour undershirts with bumble bee stripes, to wear under their same old tired, frayed Adidas game jerseys.

It's a shame when your boys leave it all on the field each week, but their school cheaps out on uniforms, coaching salaries and the like.  If you're trying to figure out the differences between a top program and one in the middle of the pack, this would be a good place to start.

Actually we made two different jokes. One focused on Colby's silly practice practice schedule and the other focused on the board discussion about lightweight football. Apparently we struck a chord with the C-B-B faithful. Just remember, it's better to laugh than cry. Take it for what it is...humor/satire. Lighten up and have some fun!

We also have to comment on "how hard the boys are playing, how hard the boys work, how hard the boys are trying, etc.". We get it....all of the players in the NESCAC work and try hard (well maybe everyone except for the Ephs players ). But they keep score for a reason. Winning does matter. This isn't Pop Warner. No participation trophy's in the NESCAC. Just our two cents.

[gridiron]

To be fair to Coach Michaeles and the Colby football program, a few things should be remembered.

In his first year after taking over after the controversy on campus, his team went 3 and 5 and most believed he had successfully guided the program through the storm from the previous season.

In his second year, 2013, the team went 4 and 4, setbacks which included a late fourth quarter loss to Amherst (after having the lead in the closing minutes) and playing Middlebury tough until the second half as well.  It also included a loss due to a Hail Mary pass with no time left at Bowdoin. Most felt the program was on track and was looking for even more success the following seasons, especially since it would be returning its NESCAC all-league QB, Justin Ciero, who would only be a junior.

That off season, Ciero surprised everyone and left school.  As a result, Colby was forced to start back up sophomore QB Gabe Harrington who had really never seen the field before. In addition, the OC left to take a HC position in the Midwest.  Finally, Trinity replaced Williams on the schedule...the 2014 result was a 2 and 6 season.

In 2015 the hope was that with some experience, second year starter Harrington would be more effective at QB.  Really wasn't the case whether it was due to his knee injury or whatever.  In addition the team was decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball--in the skill positions, running back, wide receiver and tight end and on defense where the entire secondary was out at one time or another. The result was a disappointing 1 and 7 season (wishing Trinity could have been swapped for Williams on the schedule last year!).

This season Harrington started out as QB before getting injured (if Ciero had stayed in school, 2016 would have been the first season Harrington might have played, instead it was his third).

While head coaches ultimately own the results of their programs, there have been some mitigating circumstances along the way, without which, things might have been very different for the Colby football program the past few seasons.  It is a proud sports culture in Waterville and very difficult for them to accept losing.  Coach Michaeles, his staff and the boys have all worked very hard the past several seasons and have little to show for it. 

Here's hoping they can yet make some breaks go their way this season.

[nescac1]

I really hope the Ephs are saving some of the comments here as bulletin board material for a few years in the future, when the program's coffers are replenished and Williams is once again kicking ass, like it consistently did before the coach who shall not be named ... may come sooner than some folks expect. 

[gridiron]

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever the Ephs will return with a vengeance.  There is no disrespect to the storied history of the program intended.  Simply stating the facts right now that teams struggling for wins would prefer Williams to Trinity.

I happen to think Williams has within their control the ability to turn things around more rapidly than some of the others that are struggling.  A few admissions concessions would fix things for them immediately.

[nescac1]

"We get it....all of the players in the NESCAC work and try hard (well maybe everyone except for the Ephs players "

(to pick one) is what I'm talking about ...

[amh63]

NothingButNescac posted a power rating the other day.  Should have some picks out.  Awaiting the "Pay to Play" news on this board....and elsewhere.
With all this Colby football talk to date...any comments on the game at Amherst?  There should be a write up on the Amherst website today...but it is very neutral these days.  Do miss the podcasts of the upcoming games.  The key participant..an alum...left for a HC gig in MBB in NJ.
In most cases, the weather for the games should be good and the famous NE Fall colors are peeping around the corner.  My kids are telling me that tree colors are out in NY state.