FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

On track is, of course, the Farley track.

[hamfan88]

I was also wondering about NESCAC turnaround times.

Wesleyan and Tufts come to mind as positive examples in recent memory.

Whalen took over a 3-5 team in 2010 and got them to a winning record (5-3) by 2012 and back to back 7-1 seasons in '13 and '14.

In Medford, Civetti took over a 1-7 squad in 2011 and got them to a winning record (6-2) by 2015.

These seem to be stellar examples, as we are still awaiting turnarounds at schools that have had more recent coaching changes.  (HAM, BOW, COL, and WIL)

[Nescacman]

Final NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

1. Hartford State (8-0, LW: 1): predicted record-6-2
2. Tufts (7-1, LW: 3): PR-5-3
3. Wesleyan (6-2, LW: 2): PR-8-0
4. Middlebury (6-2, LW: 4): PR-5-3
5. Amhurst (4-4, LW: 5): PR-7-1
6. (Tie) University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(3-5, LW: 6): PR-3-5
6. (Tie) Colby (3-5, LW: 7): PR-3-5
6. (Tie) Hamilton (3-5, LW: 8): PR-2-6
9. Bowdoin (0-8, LW: 9): PR-1-7
10 Williams (0-8, LW:10): PR-0-8

NESCACMAN's Picks
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 124-36 (.775 winning percentage)

Offensive Player of the Year: Chance Brady, Tufts
Defensive Player of the Year: Spencer Donahue, Trinity
Rookie of the Year: Greg Holt, Tufts

The All-NESCAC Team will be studded with Hartford State, Tufts, Wesleyan and Middlebury players. We do no believe Bowdoin or Williams will have any. The Team will be led by Puzzo as 1st Team QB and Piccirillo and Lebowitz will head up the 2nd Team. Congrats to all of the All-NESCAC performers.

[lumbercat]

NESCACMAN-

Brady is OPY without question.
Also agree on Holt as Rookie of the Year.

But you are all wet on Donahue as Defensive Player of the Year. You are right when you say the all conference team will be studded with Bantams but you are drinking the Trinity Kool Aid when you call Donahue the DPOY. He's a fine player but that dominating Trinity DL makes his job easy.....lets him roam free and make plays.

Gotta say you are way off on this one. I need to scan way down on the NESCAC defensive stats to even find Donahue who had that huge dominant D line in front of him keeping blockers off of him. Based on the Trinity games I saw Donahue may not be the best Trinity defender---I'll take Kenneally.

The DPOY without question is Mark Upton of Bates. This kid did nothing but make plays as targeted player on an undersized Bates Defense.
Every team game planned to take this one guy- Upton, out of the game. No team was successful stopping this kid all year long. He did nothing but make plays game after game despite being double teamed consistently, cut, picked and cracked back. He overcame all that that attention and prevailed as the dominant defensive force in the conference.

Take a look at the stats comparison between Upton and Donahue.... There is a strong Public Relations arsenal at Trinity but even that Trinity SID network can't spin this one. It won't hold up this time.


Tackles:     Upton 87    Donahue 46
Sacks:       Upton 7      Donahue 3
TFL:          Upton 14    Donahue 6
TFL Yards: Upton 66   Donahue 37
FF:            Upton 3     Donahue 3   
Int:           Upton 1     Donahue 2

The Trinity SID group down in Hartford is very dynamic but they gotta let this one go. Upton will be considered for All America recognition as well despite not being a part of a championship team.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN-

Brady is OPY without question.
Also agree on Holt as Rookie of the Year.

But you are all wet on Donahue as Defensive Player of the Year. You are right when you say the all conference team will be studded with Bantams but you are drinking the Trinity Kool Aid when you call Donahue the DPOY. He's a fine player but that dominating Trinity DL makes his job easy.....lets him roam free and make plays.

Gotta say you are way off on this one. I need to scan way down on the NESCAC defensive stats to even find Donahue who had that huge dominant D line in front of him keeping blockers off of him. Based on the Trinity games I saw Donahue may not be the best Trinity LB---I'll take Kenneally.

The DPOY without question is Mark Upton of Bates. This kid did nothing but make plays as targeted player on an undersized Bates Defense.
Every team game planned to take this one guy- Upton, out of the game. No team was successful stopping this kid all year long. He did nothing but make plays game after game.

Take a look at the stats comparison between Upton and Donahue.... There is a strong Public Relations arsenal at Trinity but even that Trinity SID network can't spin this one. It won't hold up this time.


Tackles:     Upton 87    Donahue 46
Sacks:       Upton 7      Donahue 3
TFL:          Upton 14    Donahue 6
TFL Yards: Upton 66   Donahue 37
FF:            Upton 3     Donahue 3   
Int:           Upton 1     Donahue 2

The Trinity SID group down in Hartford is very dynamic but they gotta let this one go. Upton will be considered for All America recognition as well despite not being a part of a championship team.

We'll accept your apology when they announce the winners...

[PolarCat]

If so, it will be a triumph of the Trinity PR machine over the Bates SID.  Everything lumbercat says is true.  And unlike JJ Watt, no opponent was able to stifle Upton, no matter how they tried to game plan him (and despite the fact he was forced to drop back into coverage too often, which had a further impact on his stats).

[PolarCat]

Even if NESCACMEN don't recognize Upton as the best defender, the Gridiron Club of Boston just did: http://athletics.bates.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20161117fj0vi6

[Nescacman]

Even if NESCACMEN don't recognize Upton as the best defender, the Gridiron Club of Boston just did: http://athletics.bates.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20161117fj0vi6

It's the league that is going to recognize the HS player as the best defensive player and the coaches make the picks, not the SID's, for the record.

[lumbercat]

SIDs banging the drum never hurt a kids chances- neither do padded defensive stats especially for awards outside the NESCAC which are not decided by NESCAC coaches.

[hamgrand]

Donahue and Upton are both great players.  Both deserving - along with some others.  (Hows that for PC?)

Question with regard to Donahue - What position did he actually play this year?  He is listed in the Trinity program as an OLB under the probable starters list.  And that is what I observed him playing versus Midd.  But NBN and other outside Media have been referring to him as a DB/Safety?  Did he play both positions this year?  Anyone have insight on this?

[Nescacman]

Donahue and Upton are both great players.  Both deserving - along with some others.  (Hows that for PC?)

Question with regard to Donahue - What position did he actually play this year?  He is listed in the Trinity program as an OLB under the probable starters list.  And that is what I observed him playing versus Midd.  But NBN and other outside Media have been referring to him as a DB/Safety?  Did he play both positions this year?  Anyone have insight on this?

When NESCAC makes their POTY and All-League announcements this week, he will be listed as a LB, which is what he plays for 'State.

[PBPOP20]

When are the all-league selections supposed to be announced?

[lumbercat]

should be announced on Tuesday

[nescac1]

Another article mentioning Maimaron to Williams:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2016/11/18/for-duxbury-team-bigger-outlook/PkZSd9zIrkPC8YnRLqsWLK/story.html

Between him and this year's two frosh, both of whom showed some promise, the Ephs should be in business at the QB position.  Now for everything else .... especially both sides of the interior line. 

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Even if NESCACMEN don't recognize Upton as the best defender, the Gridiron Club of Boston just did: http://athletics.bates.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20161117fj0vi6

This is NOT the "best" player award.... read the award's description....  It's basically Football + Community Service et al.....  kinda like MLB's Roberto Clemente Award..... 

Best defender on the undefeated league champs gets my vote.... and I saw Trinity play 3 times this Fall.