FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

Very impressive plan for Whittier Field. To friend or foe its a truly iconic venue. Nice that they are preserving the tradition.

I have no specific information but I can't imagine, sun or shade, they would move the Home stands from the iconic grandstand to the other side of the field. If I were a Polar Bear I wouldn't be in favor of that.

[quicksilver]

Agreed, Lumbercat, on how strange it will be to convert the visitors' stands to the home stand. But all the bleachers around and in front of the grandstand have been removed so the grandstand sits on its own and provides the only seating on what has always been the "home" side of the field. The bleachers in front of the grandstand have to be removed to accommodate the larger track. I assume that the bleachers on either side are being removed to enhance the look of the grandstand. As polbear73 has noted, the grandstand seats only 600 -- that seems about right to me from my memory of sitting there if not even fewer. The seating capacity on the far side of the field (where the Bates' fans have been sitting for decades) looks to be much larger than it is now, with a new press box at the top of the seating. It does look like it will be very nice after all the work is done, with the historic grand stand fully preserved. And I love the fact that the field will get a lot more use in the future.

[polbear73]

Additionally it will be interesting to see where the new building for locker rooms, training, and equipment storage will be placed.  I would guess the only chices would be behind either endzone. 

[nescac1]

Loads of NESCAC guys on this list.  Some, but I think not all, have been previously reported here:

http://www.suitesports.com/2017/01/2017-massachusetts-football-recruiting.html

[Jonny Utah]

Loads of NESCAC guys on this list.  Some, but I think not all, have been previously reported here:

http://www.suitesports.com/2017/01/2017-massachusetts-football-recruiting.html

That is a through list, but they didn't mention the Boston Globe d2 player of the year going to Amherst College for some reason.

[amh63]

The list posted by Nescac1...thanks... is one based on info after the Nescac ED timeframe and has many uncommitted players.  Author does acknowledge possible errors, etc.  In any case, there are many Bowdoin  commits...players that may NOT have heard about the new facility upgrades but were aware of last season's records.
Several  comments about football facilities around the league.  Some based on cloudy memory that may need corrections...like the Banana Slug Mascot.
Never been to Bowdoin's iconic field but the Grandstand there has the general outline of ones that were at Amherst and Williams.  The one at Amherst was long gone...due to a fire?...before my time.  The one at Williams also had additional stands added and was for the "visitor" fans.  In the Williams' major upgrade, their Grandstand...minus the additional stands was moved to an adjoining area were the new track and field field facilities are located.
With the turf field coming to Bowdoin, how many Nescac football schools will continue to have a grass playing surface?  The oldest continuous football field in the land is the one at Wesleyan and it has a grass surface.  Wesleyan held the first lighted football game, with portable lights, if I recall correctly.  The field is presently shared with the baseball team and I have posted that it is a field that does not drain well along the edges.  Playing on a grass surface may require a change of footware/cleats and require additional practice arrangements in the future.

[polbear73]

amh63:  I believe thatt this leaves Wesleyan and Tufts with the last two grass football fields. 

[JEFFFAN]

Loads of NESCAC guys on this list.  Some, but I think not all, have been previously reported here:

http://www.suitesports.com/2017/01/2017-massachusetts-football-recruiting.html

That is a through list, but they didn't mention the Boston Globe d2 player of the year going to Amherst College for some reason.

Amherst or Williams?

What is the name of the young man?

[nescac1]

Amherst and Williams both have Mass POYs (different divisions obviously) coming in, Bobby Maimaron for the Ephs and Grant Chryssicas for the Fighting Poets. 

[Jonny Utah]

Amherst and Williams both have Mass POYs (different divisions obviously) coming in, Bobby Maimaron for the Ephs and Grant Chryssicas for the Fighting Poets.

Correct.

Marimon reminded me of the berluti brothers a little.  Bettter passer, but not as physical at the HS level

[JEFFFAN]

Amherst and Williams both have Mass POYs (different divisions obviously) coming in, Bobby Maimaron for the Ephs and Grant Chryssicas for the Fighting Poets.

Did a little digging. The kid going to Amherst is a very good lacrosse player as well and is going to play two sports. Consistent with our recent discussion on this site.

[lumbercat]

Agreed, Lumbercat, on how strange it will be to convert the visitors' stands to the home stand. But all the bleachers around and in front of the grandstand have been removed so the grandstand sits on its own and provides the only seating on what has always been the "home" side of the field. The bleachers in front of the grandstand have to be removed to accommodate the larger track. I assume that the bleachers on either side are being removed to enhance the look of the grandstand. As polbear73 has noted, the grandstand seats only 600 -- that seems about right to me from my memory of sitting there if not even fewer. The seating capacity on the far side of the field (where the Bates' fans have been sitting for decades) looks to be much larger than it is now, with a new press box at the top of the seating. It does look like it will be very nice after all the work is done, with the historic grand stand fully preserved. And I love the fact that the field will get a lot more use in the future.

Quicksilver-

Good points but I just can't agree.

For the sake of Bowdoin tradition, they should pull out the stands in front of the old grandstand that impede expansion of the track and simply put new seating aside the great HOME grandstand.........leave the visiting side as it is.  Don't vacate the iconic 100+ year home side of the P Bears. How can they change something so special......What the hell is going on down there?

Or, even better, before its too late, relocate the track and don't worry about changing things around to accommodate a bigger track. They have to replace the track anyway so move it over somewhere on the 35 acre Packard Field tract and dedicate Whittier to Football, Lacrosse and Soccer.

The Bowdoin home side with the iconic grandstand is like no other venue anyplace. As a competitor coming to Brunswick it was Bowdoin, it was very impressive, it was unique and defined their culture and identity.......how can they give it up and leave it as a cross field relic to their rivals?

To move across the gridiron and bequeath that venerable perch to the likes of Bates and Colby is a sacrilege within the Polar Bear Tradition! Without question the ghosts of Bowdoin Football lore are stirring in their graves tonight.......Adam Walsh, Jim Lentz, Jim Soule, Levitt, McCabe, Leclair, Leplaca.............Wouldn't want to be the messenger that tells those Bowdoin legends they are giving up their traditional home at Whittier and moving across the field away from the Hubbard Grandstand and one of the most iconic home sides in college football.

[polbear73]

Agreed, Lumbercat, on how strange it will be to convert the visitors' stands to the home stand. But all the bleachers around and in front of the grandstand have been removed so the grandstand sits on its own and provides the only seating on what has always been the "home" side of the field. The bleachers in front of the grandstand have to be removed to accommodate the larger track. I assume that the bleachers on either side are being removed to enhance the look of the grandstand. As polbear73 has noted, the grandstand seats only 600 -- that seems about right to me from my memory of sitting there if not even fewer. The seating capacity on the far side of the field (where the Bates' fans have been sitting for decades) looks to be much larger than it is now, with a new press box at the top of the seating. It does look like it will be very nice after all the work is done, with the historic grand stand fully preserved. And I love the fact that the field will get a lot more use in the future.

Quicksilver-

Good points but I just can't agree.

For the sake of Bowdoin tradition, they should pull out the stands in front of the old grandstand that impede expansion of the track and simply put new seating aside the great HOME grandstand.........leave the visiting side as it is.  Don't vacate the iconic 100+ year home side of the P Bears. How can they change something so special......What the hell is going on down there?

Or, even better, before its too late, relocate the track and don't worry about changing things around to accommodate a bigger track. They have to replace the track anyway so move it over somewhere on the 35 acre Packard Field tract and dedicate Whittier to Football, Lacrosse and Soccer.

The Bowdoin home side with the iconic grandstand is like no other venue anyplace. As a competitor coming to Brunswick it was Bowdoin, it was very impressive, it was unique and defined their culture and identity.......how can they give it up and leave it as a cross field relic to their rivals?

To move across the gridiron and bequeath that venerable perch to the likes of Bates and Colby is a sacrilege within the Polar Bear Tradition! Without question the ghosts of Bowdoin Football lore are stirring in their graves tonight.......Adam Walsh, Jim Lentz, Jim Soule, Levitt, McCabe, Leclair, Leplaca.............Wouldn't want to be the messenger that tells those Bowdoin legends they are giving up their traditional home at Whittier and moving across the field away from the Hubbard Grandstand and one of the most iconic home sides in college football to the visitors side.

Well said and thank you, Lumbercat, for recognizing the very special place that Whittier Field has in New England football.  While not a winning one, Bowdoin's football tradition is a long and storied one and Whittier Field is a very important aspect of that.  And just by maintaining the bricks and mortar of the Grandstand does not mean that tradition is being fully preserved.

The fellow long-time (old) Polar Bears with whom I have been conversing are loathe to cede even part time tenancy of the venue to the other sports mentioned, feeling that this is football hallowed ground.  Some of us concede grudgingly that times have changed and allowances must be made for this necessary renovation, but moving the home sideline is not necessary and one we would hate to see. 

Nevertheless, we are hoping that the "new" Whittier Field will open a new chapter of Bowdoin football-one with more wins than in the past.  Thanks again, Lumbercat.

[PolarCat]

The fellow long-time (old) Polar Bears with whom I have been conversing are loathe to cede even part time tenancy of the venue to the other sports mentioned, feeling that this is football hallowed ground. 

As polbear73 and lumbercat know, our daughter is a WLAX player at Bowdoin.  I have mixed feelings about moving Men's Lacrosse to Whittier, but leaving WLAX at old, tired Ryan Field.  On the plus side, maybe having multiple sports at the venue will encourage Clayton Rose to actually show up at Whittier.  But the move will make Bowdoin one of the few CAC schools (maybe the only CAC school?) to have the men and women play at different venues.  Would love to know the thinking behind that call.

[IslandTime]

AMHERST COLLEGE MAMMOTHS!!!!

Thank you sweet Jesus the Fighting Poets were defeated.