FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[polbear73]

Agreed, nescac1.  And I don't think anyone who knows NESCAC football believes that it will take Williams very long to get back to their historical heights.  It's only a matter of another recruiting class (or two). 

[amh63]

Guess Amherst will reveal its game preview and roster as late as possible due to several reasons...lack of a SID, for one and as other posters have speculated, getting to a 75 player roster.
Hopefully, it will not be on gameday .
Sat. Game at 1 PM will find a crowd of sports fans around.  Middlebury soccer teams arrive in town...both games start around Noon.  Fortunately, the soccer games are not near Pratt Field...but could impact choice parking spaces.  Arrive early Polorcat!  Still awaiting a menu .
Forgot....field hockey game with Midd next to the field house may impact parking though game starts at 11:am.

[PBPOP20]

As best as I could determine, there are about 10 non-returning underclassmen from last year's Bowdoin roster, notable among them is projected starting defensive lineman Jay Mobley and stalwart athlete Brandon Lopez.  Bowdoin graduated about 18 from last year's 0-8 team.  A lot of turnover as JB Wells enters his third year in Brunswick.

Lopez has a hip issue and was told his football career is over if he wants to continue playing baseball.

[lumbercat]

Amh63

Amherst, Trinity and Tufts rosters will probably be announced late Friday under the cover of darkness after the busses carrying the discarded
have departed their respective athletic complexes and the next of kin have been notified.

A total of as a many as 30 NESCAC hopefuls between those schools will not have a chance to experience NESCAC football. While it is a culture based on merit, as is life outside of NESCAC venues, lets give a tip of the hat to those kids who worked hard and hoped to win a roster spot. Maybe some will not abandon their aspirations give it a shot next year.

I'm sure Polarcat is putting the finishing touches on his menu but you can almost count on his typical staples: Maine blueberry pancakes and private recipe Bloody Marys for the pregame.
As for halftime and post game fare you may see Beef Wellington or Maine Lobster cakes if past performance is any indication of future results.
I'm sure he's working some new wrinkles as he enters his final year and makes his curtain call as the undisputed "Czar of the Bobcat Tailgate".

[nescac1]

Bummer re: Lopez ... there is certainly a history of hip issues derailing the career of an athletic dual football/baseball star (and Bo is still perhaps the best pure athlete I've ever seen). 

[PolarCat]

Like Mark Twain's demise, I am afraid the reports of my culinary skills have been greatly exaggerated.  Plus the increase in Bates and Bowdoin tuition this year has caused a little belt-tightening.  Saturday's menu includes Wonder Bread, Cheese Wiz, and a half-jar of Beer Nuts and 4-Pack of Natty Light my Bobcat left at home when he went up to campus.

I am hoping that, with a little luck, I can supplement that by finding some sushi on sale at a Cumberland Farms near Amherst.

[PBPOP20]

Bowdoin has the advantage of two recruiting classes with the new staff, while Williams has only one (I'm guessing Bowdoin has quite a few soph starters?).  These are clearly Raymond's guys.  I'm guessing they have plenty of talent, but will they be ready -- both physically and mentally -- for college football action after only a few weeks of practice?  Certainly a lot to ask!  Still, for the first time in a long time for Williams, at least the future looks bright ...

Bowdoin has 8 sophomores listed as starters and 1 FY.  There a number of other significant sophomore contributors not listed (ie. Chandler Gee, Chrisopher Markisz, Michael Clopse) as well as some strong FY recruits pushing the starters.

Word on Jay Mobely is that he is not enrolled this fall... 

[polbear73]

Thank you, PBPOP20 and best wishes for the season. 

[AlDavisStill]

Al Davis extremely happy to be checking in after 3 1/2 years. I could not figure how to log into my old account or retrieve my password if admin can help me with that. I was arrested in April 2014 and was never able to bail out with over zealous charges for sports gambling. Due to my very unfortunate demise caused great strain on my wife , son and daughter. Not to make any excuses but I believe to cause my son to make some very poor decisions which have cost him dearly and so very sorry for the causes and effects to Wesleyan as I was in such despair more than any other issue I faced in prison that my son would have caused any problems and such an enormous opportunity earned and allocated from all the great people at Wesleyan. The fall of 2013 was the best days of my life being part of Wesleyan and all the great people I met. For all my hardships and losses against me in my Racketeering case my son making an uncharacteristically poor decision causing embarrassment to the team and school. He is paying dearly and I still love Wesleyan and Nescac football and will proceed to catch up with 3 1/2 years of posts.

[nescac1]

Wow, AlDavis.  If you are referring to the drug issue that resulted in prosecution of a few Wesleyan players in the 2015 timeframe, I do hope that your son is able to put things back together and recover from a youthful mistake.  Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone deserves a second chance ... I hope he gets one, and when he does, makes the most of it.  Losing an opportunity for a NESCAC education and degree is certainly a blow, but not one that can't be overcome.  Not by a long shot.  Good luck to you, and your son. 

[AlDavisStill]

Yes Ryan W. #32....I still don't know all the exact details as my phone calls were limited in prison. From what I know Ryan owned up to everything and did not make excuses or blame or tell on anyone else. And accepted all repercussions.

[quicksilver]

As best as I could determine, there are about 10 non-returning underclassmen from last year's Bowdoin roster, notable among them is projected starting defensive lineman Jay Mobley and stalwart athlete Brandon Lopez.  Bowdoin graduated about 18 from last year's 0-8 team.  A lot of turnover as JB Wells enters his third year in Brunswick.

It looks like only 2 of the 10 non-returners saw much time last year, and those 2 are not on the team for good reasons (Lopez is injured and Mobley is not enrolled). The large size of the Bowdoin squad (still a bit above the 75-player limit) implies a numbers' crunch that meant that there were not enough slots on the team for all the Wells recruits and all the returning players . .

[ColbyFootball]

It looks like nothingbutnescac has posted previews of all teams except Colby. Or did I miss it somehow?

[PBPOP20]

As best as I could determine, there are about 10 non-returning underclassmen from last year's Bowdoin roster, notable among them is projected starting defensive lineman Jay Mobley and stalwart athlete Brandon Lopez.  Bowdoin graduated about 18 from last year's 0-8 team.  A lot of turnover as JB Wells enters his third year in Brunswick.

It looks like only 2 of the 10 non-returners saw much time last year, and those 2 are not on the team for good reasons (Lopez is injured and Mobley is not enrolled). The large size of the Bowdoin squad (still a bit above the 75-player limit) implies a numbers' crunch that meant that there were not enough slots on the team for all the Wells recruits and all the returning players . .

Outside looking in,  it seems the PBs had an excellent offseason.. buy-in, commitment to the program and new OC Viall invigorating the off-season strength/conditioning, an excellent FY class (from ealier indicators) and by all appearances have gained some sustained momentum.  Coach Wells is building something, and these young men want to be part of it.

Can. Not. Wait. Until. Saturday.

[PBPOP20]

It looks like nothingbutnescac has posted previews of all teams except Colby. Or did I miss it somehow?

Colby not posted yet.