FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I did not have access to the WSJ article but I did find this story about the case of impermissible aid in an online journal from July.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/07/01/baruch-college-gave-players-more-250000-impermissible-aid

And here's our story from June 30 on this:
http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2016/06/baruch-postseason-ban-former-coach-machli-joseph-show-cause

[westcoastDad]

Utah man.  Nice try.  But, still weak argument.

I never said anything about D3 guys not being able to play D1 and all that.  Where did you find that noise.  Heck, JUCO is probably tougher than D1 in many places for reasons I won't go into.  That argument is silly.

As for kids being tough enough to play a position?  I really don't know where you got that one from either.  There are plenty of "tough" kids who are horrible football players.  There are plenty of "nice" kids that are heckuva football players.  There's really no published research on those types of tangibles versus intangibles dude.

As for the baseball thing.  I was just answering a question asked by (I think LUmbeCat).  A relief pitcher is still.........a pitcher.  The baseball that I grew up playing.......It was impossible to play the game without a pitcher.  Somebody had to throw the ball in order to start the "action". 

But, we played lots of sandlot football games without kicking. 

Nice try though. 

When a placekicker gets invited to the Heisman award ceremony you will win your case.

When a placekicker or punter wins Rookie of the Year or League MVP......then you will have won your case.

When a kicker is invited to an NFL combine....u will have won your case

When a kicker is on the front page of the dang Football program.....you will get a slap on the back.

When a kicker is hosting MNFL.....as a color analyst.....then U are getting closer.

When a kicker is the leading vote getter for the Pro Bowl....u will be even closer.

BUT AS U CAN SEE.....ALL JOKES ASIDE......YOU CANNOT AND DO NOT HAVE A VALID RESPONSE. 

They are specialists baby.

Well number 1 negates a fair number or positions and "real football players"

Kickers get invited to the combine every year

Kickers have been on the front page of programs.

"U" on the other and respond like a child throwing a tantrum. Are you sure you're a father? Or did you merely pick the name to seemingly lend credibility to your claims? There was a point we all liked to scream baseless claims with poor grammar; we were pre-teens. If you are truly a father, I feel bad for your supposed son and the lessons in rethorical argument you should have taught him.

Funny how the most successful (highest paid anyway) NESCAC player in NFL history is a kicker. 

I think logically westcoastDad's argument fails at many levels.  If a pitchers "job" is to get people out, a kickers "job" is to score points, or simply "kick".  Not much different than "throwing", "tackling" or any other skill involved in the sport.  Quarterbacks can't tackle, and Linebackers can't throw, and Wide Receivers can't kick.

I think westcoastdad is stuck on the physical size of the position, and how most of them aren't "tough" enough to play other positions, just like most Nescac players aren't "tough" enough to play D1, or even playoff d3 for that matter (if you use his faulty line of logic).

[westcoastDad]

roflol.  No, I wasn't.  But, I did hold for those PK guys my senior year.  I was All City as a Cornerback but also the backup QB.  And, because I was a natural lefty (but threw right) holding for the kicks was a natural for me (catch with left and place it). 

I was bullied by Samoans on the team when I beat out the local legend at QB (who later went to Boise St).  I was a transfer kid.  Nobody liked the fact that an unknown could beat out the kid raised in their local Pop Warner.  I became the backup after playing a sandlot game (following a game a threw 3 TDs) and injured my throwing shoulder.  Was never the same.  Moved me to defense and still made All City. 

Any other questions?

WCD were you bullied by a kicker when you were a little kid?

[PolarCat]

Wow.  All City.

[westcoastDad]

Polar Cat?

Now, you question my ability to be a parent?  LOL.  Okay. 

Just know that my son is a great kid. He knows that his father (divorced) rarely missed an event despite a crazy job that requires being on call.  He knows his father always put academics first.  That athletics was secondary but fully supported as long as he took care of his schoolwork.  He knows that his father has provided financially, physically, emotionally (I will leave the spirit part to his Mom....I'm not Catholic) and that I have given him the tools to be the best he can be in life. 

He's not at Amherst because his father was a blogger that some nutcase thinks is "real".  He's at Amherst for all of the reasons that NESCAC probably stands for....but mostly to be a student/athlete.

again, the personal attacks are whack.  but, it is what it is.


Amherst 28 Wesleyan 12  (if we can figure out our running game)

When a poster who purports to be a parent disparages coaches, teammates, or even an entire position, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the kid calls home.  I remember two years ago when a father from one of the CT schools BRUTALLY critiqued one of his son's teammates on here.  Within days, he was on here reversing his position faster than the French Army.  I was dying to know if his son had gotten to him, or if it was the other kid's parent who straightened him out.

WRT to predictions: I think Wes will give Amherst a tougher battle than NFO thinks.  The game may well hinge on another blocked FG or PAT: We know Amherst is vulnerable, and Wes blocked one of John Baron's when they played Colby, and came damn close to blocking Bates.  (The Bates kid saw the blur of movement out of the corner of his eye and sped up his motion to make the kick).  So maybe the "bocce game" will determine the victor on Saturday.  My crystal ball says Amherst 23, Wes 21, or maybe Wes 21, Amherst 20.  Other than that, I think his picks are spot on.

[PolarCat]

Who said anything about parenting?  I assumed  you were All City in Football.  Blown away by that.

[westcoastDad]

Yep, the same "All City" selection that Ron Rivera (coach of the Panthers) made as a high school player.....from our high school.  Rivera was 2 years ahead of me.  I had skipped a grade so as a senior was 16. 

You're probably thinking.........where did you play college.  I didn't.  My dream has always been to attend USC.  Being an East coast kid and huge OJ fan.........the thought of attending Southern Cal was a dream since I was 9 when SC came back and beat Notre Dame 55-24.  Father got transferred out here.  I earned a 4 year scholarship to USC.  Football didn't have the allure that it does now.  Plus, I wanted to "go out on top" as I told my Dad when he suggested walking on. 

All I knew is that Ron was huge!  He went to Cal.  I thought to myself.........I don't want the collisions with guys his size on a daily basis.

I was done.

Now, had I been a kicker, I think I would have kept on at it.

Wow.  All City.

[westcoastDad]

My apologies Polar Cat.

That should have been directed 100% to RETIRED MULE. 

Who said anything about parenting?  I assumed  you were All City in Football.  Blown away by that.

[RetiredMule]

What I am going to do is offer a mea culpa to rest this issue and hopefully return the board to normalcy as we approach a pivotal week 5. I apologize if I have personally offended any particular users or their sensibilities; it was not my intent. If anyone would care to continue these discussions, I would be more than happy to finish this in a more private setting of individual messages.

[amh63]

Back again...WCD made a pick...plus k. 
Being an Trojan fan and all...can not be so so bad...just kidding. Have a nephew who went to USC.  My younger brother who lives in Boulder, Co.and his grad work at Cal-Berkeley surprised me by allowing his son to go to USC .  Wait...my young bro was a mixed up hippie of sorts and nothing should surprise me. 
I got a feeling that Amherst may have worked on their red zone offense...any bets that QB? will have some plays with the signal caller under the center if required?

[amh63]

Yelp all.....that is the featured school of the story......but the WSJ story mentioned some other schools elsewhere like Baldwin -Wallace and UnWisconsin- Superior in the investigation net.  Pressure on coaches everywhere. 
Back to a sort of football like sport that involves players kicking a ball.
In my days, the Amherst Rugby Club was becoming a national Powerhouse.  Not a varsity sport because the team members wanted to be able to have the option of having a brew or two during halftime.  Did get student org allotted funds once to go to Bermuda to play the Bermuda Cops in Rugby.  Terrific team there. Have a classmate whose son turned down a   Duke tennis offer to play at Amherst...money was not in the choice picture.  At Amherst the son got interested in Rugby and joined one of my sons on the team.  A side note here..The Scottish National Rugby Team has again returned to Amherst colored Rugby Jerseys.  Yes, there is an Amherst connection.  Former player at Amherst became the Scottish Team Captain.  I was told that the Team Captain has the power to pick the colors .  Rugby is a parent worrying physical sport.  Son almost lost some of his teeths when  he lost a mouthpiece.  Finally retired when his mother suggested it. 

[westcoastDad]

Retired Mule I have a cousin that plays for your Alma Mater.  He's a freshman.  Plays DB.  If you get to a home game and get a chance to connect with the players.  Please pull him aside and let him know that his crazy cousin in LA is working your last nerve.  He's a great kid from the DC area.  Prep school and all that.  Let him know that there is a MULE out there watching #46.

Dodgers 3 Cubs 2

[lumbercat]

Graboowski-

Good lines- thanks for posting.

I think your are off of Bates and Colby.

I'll take Bates +21

Give me the Mules +7 (is that a typo? I would reverse that line to the Mules giving 7- I would still take them -7)

Tufts -14

Trinity -17

Weleyan +9

[Grabowski]

Those were nescac football observer's "lines."  I was making my picks against his scores, can't take credit...

[Grabowski]

NFO had Ham by seven over Colby, if I were setting that line I'd go Ham by 2 or 3.