FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

This change is great news!  An extra game of football (during the best weather week of the year at many NESCAC schools) is great for players and fans alike.  It makes the conference championship truly fair for the first time in league history.  As an Eph fan, Williams (back when it was a league power, which days will hopefully return in the next few years) always got the shaft as the Ephs basically always had to play against the other top teams in the league and always seemed to miss out on a game versus a weaker team.  And Williams and Bowdoin, as two teams that really struggled last year, will surely be happy to go against one another this year in a game that counts! 

Will be very curious to hear the prognosis for Williams next year.  I'm hoping that with the addition of a promising frosh QB and some badly-needed young talent on the OL, and all of the skill guys back on offense, the Ephs can at least score more points and be a more exciting, competitive team this season, and manage also to win a few games.   The defensive backfield has the potential to be a strength on defense but the Ephs need to get a lot stronger and tougher up front (whether through player development or new talent) to be more competitive on that side of the ball.   Realisitcally it's going to take another 1-2 years beyond that to even hope to compete with the top tier of the conference, but baby steps!  Wonder if the Ephs will bring in a transfer or two to bolster a VERY small rising sophomore class (due to the coaching change in the middle of recruiting season).  That is not something Williams does often, but perhaps the unusual circumstances will cause admissions to give a bit of leeway. 

[ITH radio]

Saw that the Bucs (no strangers to having D3FB players on their team) invited Tufts QB Alex Snyder to their UDFA tryout next weekend in Tampa.

[dlippiel]

Saw that the Bucs (no strangers to having D3FB players on their team) invited Tufts QB Alex Snyder to their UDFA tryout next weekend in Tampa.

Wishing Alex all the luck in the world down in Tampa!

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Saw that the Bucs (no strangers to having D3FB players on their team) invited Tufts QB Alex Snyder to their UDFA tryout next weekend in Tampa.

Good luck to the kid, but he wasn't even the best QB on his own team, never mind the NESCAC.....

The QB coach in Tampa is an Eph '96 or '97 guy.... I'm sure he'll figure that out quickly.

[ColbyFootball]

Saw that the Bucs (no strangers to having D3FB players on their team) invited Tufts QB Alex Snyder to their UDFA tryout next weekend in Tampa.

Wishing that kid the best. Wouldn't it get something if he made that roster or practice squad (I think they still have that).

[Hoop Fanatic]

Saw that the Bucs (no strangers to having D3FB players on their team) invited Tufts QB Alex Snyder to their UDFA tryout next weekend in Tampa.

Good luck to the kid, but he wasn't even the best QB on his own team, never mind the NESCAC.....

The QB coach in Tampa is an Eph '96 or '97 guy.... I'm sure he'll figure that out quickly.

Good luck to Alex! I think this is exciting for all NESCAC football fanatics. I will say I have to agree with NESCAC.Football.Observer on this one in regards to his comment. Looking at the glass half full here hopefully more standout players will the get the opportunity this young man is receiving, especially since he wasn't even the best player in the conference or on the team in my opinion and that's coming from a TUFTS fan.

[lumbercat]

Snyder is an athlete and at 6'6" 220 he's not the prototypical D3 QB so he is worth a look but would bet not primarily as a QB.

[NESCAC.Football.Observer]

Snyder is an athlete and at 6'6" 220 he's not the prototypical D3 QB so he is worth a look but would bet not primarily as a QB.

His own hype link says he's 6' 4" and 226... FYI.

http://www.thegridironcrew.com/nfl-draft-2017-prospect-alex-snyder/

I find it ironic that his athleticism is being touted on this board, yet the reason he was primarily a backup this past season was a lack of that trait.

IMHOO

[lumbercat]

I got the 6'6" from the Tufts program. Still beleive his size here is a big reason for pro interest. Comparison with other Tufts QB aside, I've seen Snyder a few times and agree with the Buccaneers opinion he is a good athlete.

This may bode well for McDonald. I haven't seen much of him but will be watching this year.

[nescac1]

I wish Snyder well, but agree that if an occasional-starter but primarily-back-up NESCAC QB with a career completion percentage a shade under 50 percent can make it on an NFL roster (or even on a practice squad), the level of QB talent in the NFL must really be hurting (or else Tufts just really REALLY utilized him improperly).  A heck of a lot of superstar NESCAC QBs haven't come within sniffing distance of an NFL tryout ...

[dlippiel]

I wish Snyder well, but agree that if an occasional-starter but primarily-back-up NESCAC QB with a career completion percentage a shade under 50 percent can make it on an NFL roster (or even on a practice squad), the level of QB talent in the NFL must really be hurting (or else Tufts just really REALLY utilized him improperly).  A heck of a lot of superstar NESCAC QBs haven't come within sniffing distance of an NFL tryout ...

This post says exactly what dlip is thinking. Well said.

[ITH radio]

Agree with all the above. I think Snyder just goes to the practice this wkd and that's it. Griffin (Tulane) is the heir apparent to Glennon (who may end up backing up Trubitsky in an ironic twist of fate) with Renfree (Duke/ATL) and Liufau (CO-Boulder) vying for the 3rd spot (if the Bucs keep 3 QBs).

[Pat Coleman]

Agree with all the above. I think Snyder just goes to the practice this wkd and that's it. Griffin (Tulane) is the heir apparent to Glennon (who may end up backing up Trubitsky in an ironic twist of fate) with Renfree (Duke/ATL) and Liufau (CO-Boulder) vying for the 3rd spot (if the Bucs keep 3 QBs).

Oftentimes teams bring in extra quarterbacks just to make sure all of their receiver invitees get someone to throw to them. Not saying this is the case although I know it has been in the past.

Snyder has NFL QB size, and that's certainly important. And apparently his throwing motion is just like Tom Brady's.

[ColbyFootball]

Agree with all the above. I think Snyder just goes to the practice this wkd and that's it. Griffin (Tulane) is the heir apparent to Glennon (who may end up backing up Trubitsky in an ironic twist of fate) with Renfree (Duke/ATL) and Liufau (CO-Boulder) vying for the 3rd spot (if the Bucs keep 3 QBs).

Oftentimes teams bring in extra quarterbacks just to make sure all of their receiver invitees get someone to throw to them. Not saying this is the case although I know it has been in the past.

Snyder has NFL QB size, and that's certainly important. And apparently his throwing motion is just like Tom Brady's.

Pat, I'm trying to figure out if you said this in jest. I sure hope so.

[PolarCat]

The last college QB I remember who was a great athlete but had an under 50% completion percentage is playing Single A baseball for the Columbia Fireflies these days.  And he had a Heisman on his resume.

I wish Snyder well, and am sure he will always cherish the experience.  But I will be amazed if he is on the roster come September.