FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[ColbyFootball]

A few observations from week 1 from our correspondents around the NESCAC:

- And the winner of the "pillow fight" is....Williams.
- Colby may be worse than advertised...Trinity may better the advertised.
- Are the Conts better or the Jumbo worse than last year...we expect a little of both. Btw, Jumbo fans better hope the injury to QB McDonald isn't serious.
-Wes needs to stop the stupid penalties....MID and QB FLB is going to have to win a lot of shootouts unless their D tightens up.
-Nothing has changed in Lewiston, all run, all the time...will be interesting to watch the Mammoth QB situation.

Not sure who you spoke to about Colby-Trinity, but Colby is not that bad, and Trinity is not that good. Trinity's good, but a team that can be beat. Nothing has changed to Colby. The same tired bland scared to make a play offense.

[Nescacman]

A few observations from week 1 from our correspondents around the NESCAC:

- And the winner of the "pillow fight" is....Williams.
- Colby may be worse than advertised...Trinity may better the advertised.
- Are the Conts better or the Jumbo worse than last year...we expect a little of both. Btw, Jumbo fans better hope the injury to QB McDonald isn't serious.
-Wes needs to stop the stupid penalties....MID and QB FLB is going to have to win a lot of shootouts unless their D tightens up.
-Nothing has changed in Lewiston, all run, all the time...will be interesting to watch the Mammoth QB situation.

Not sure who you spoke to about Colby-Trinity, but Colby is not that bad, and Trinity is not that good. Trinity's good, but a team that can be beat. Nothing has changed to Colby. The same tired bland scared to make a play offense.

Sure....Colby is awesome. HS ran at will and basically rested their starters the entire second half. We stand by our prediction:

"7. Colby (3-6): Not sure what is going on here. We hear about a lot of issues with the HC yet he stays and we have a bunch of new coaches and players quitting. This Team will win (barely) against lesser competition and will get smoked by the better Teams in the league."

Over/under win total is 3. We'll take the under...

[ColbyFootball]

A few observations from week 1 from our correspondents around the NESCAC:

- And the winner of the "pillow fight" is....Williams.
- Colby may be worse than advertised...Trinity may better the advertised.
- Are the Conts better or the Jumbo worse than last year...we expect a little of both. Btw, Jumbo fans better hope the injury to QB McDonald isn't serious.
-Wes needs to stop the stupid penalties....MID and QB FLB is going to have to win a lot of shootouts unless their D tightens up.
-Nothing has changed in Lewiston, all run, all the time...will be interesting to watch the Mammoth QB situation.

Not sure who you spoke to about Colby-Trinity, but Colby is not that bad, and Trinity is not that good. Trinity's good, but a team that can be beat. Nothing has changed to Colby. The same tired bland scared to make a play offense.

Sure....Colby is awesome. HS ran at will and basically rested their starters the entire second half. We stand by our prediction:

"7. Colby (3-6): Not sure what is going on here. We hear about a lot of issues with the HC yet he stays and we have a bunch of new coaches and players quitting. This Team will win (barely) against lesser competition and will get smoked by the better Teams in the league."

Over/under win total is 3. We'll take the under...

You're probably right about the number of Colby wins. My point, not well made, was that Colby is much better than final scores indicate. Colby actually had the better of the play the 1st quarter, and into the second. They could have easily been up 7 or 14 to 0.

At this point I can't blame the assistant coaches. The new OC had an impressive background of scoring and winning. Yet yesterday's play calling was a copy of last year's. The inescapable conclusion is that Michaeles is the offensive poison. Colby WILL NEVER WIN with Michaeles leading the program.   

[PolarCat]

-Nothing has changed in Lewiston, all run, all the time...will be interesting to watch the Mammoth QB situation.

I'll disagree with you here, but just slightly.  The Bates O actually looked better than I expected, except when it came to putting points on the board.  The Bobcats actually threw on first down yesterday - not sue I have ever seen that in my kid's time in the program - and the play calling was less one dimensional.  And the Bobcats special teams play was great, easily winning the kicking and punting game.

But the defensive secondary also changed, and not for the better.  Amherst's big plays killed the Cats yesterday.  The corners kept getting beat and missed too many tackles.  The loss of Upton and Lyons to graduation was really apparent, and one of their replacements is out for the season with a concussion.    Lots of young kids back there, so maybe Harriman's gang can coach them up for the second half of the season, but next Saturday's home game against Trinity could be ugly.

[amh63]

I too will make some comments about the conference games...the ones I "peaked" at online.
First, the Bates' game.  Agree that Bates' special teams won their battle, as Amherst was auditioning three candidates for various kicking chores.....especially when the first extra point was missed!
Now the QB situation is most interesting...yet positive.  Foy was seen greeting the offense after each score and players all around....he enjoys his captain role as previously posted.  The Other Sr. QB turned WR played well and accounted for more points at his new position than his former one.  Amherst' s receiver group looked good.  The Soph QB that started ahead of the Jr QB who has the better stats may have solidify the position until Foy returns.  He runs very well...a Foy talent....and threw for 4 TDs to many new receivers.
The weather was hot and sticky as the announcer mention often...ran out of water in the booth even. Amherst ran a "ton of defensive players" in and out.  The OL play was solid and Amherst inserted a number of young runners in the 2nd half.  Hickey is a beast and when he gets the edge, he will fly.
Concerned when FY OL Puller was injured on a play in the 2nd half.  He was the top OL player in Ma. In HS...Gatorade pick?
Went to the Hamilton- Tufts game....will be in Clinton NY next Sat.  Tufts video cast had its problems..so checked the  stats.  Seems Hamilton made a 2nd half comeback...only to lose. Can anyone at the game comment....was Tufts giving new players time on the field?  Sure, Amherst will check out the videos available.
Dropped in on the Midd- Wes game as Wes's comeback was prevented by a Ritter!  The son of the Midd HC made the key stop...a pick from his DB position in the las few minutes.
Bates' write up was a fair solid one last night as Amherst's writeup is not available yet this morning.  In fairness to the assist. sID, there were three other games going on.....all losses to the visiting Panthers.
Middhoops....your comment needs some body, my friend .

[Conts Fan]

Went to the Hamilton- Tufts game....will be in Clinton NY next Sat.  Tufts video cast had its problems..so checked the  stats.  Seems Hamilton made a 2nd half comeback...only to lose. Can anyone at the game comment....was Tufts giving new players time on the field?  Sure, Amherst will check out the videos available.

You went to the game? Is that what you meant to say? I didn't see much of the game, but I caught the end of regulation and overtime on the stream. I don't think Tufts was pulling starters...they were never more than one touchdown ahead for the entire game. In overtime, it looked like Hamilton stopped Tufts on downs from the goal line when the QB fumbled the snap, but he was able to scoop it up and plunge in for the go ahead score. Hamilton made it to about the 8 yard line, but their final pass attempt failed (there was a penalty anyway).

[amh63]

Cont Fan.....went online...or tried to get the video.  Will be at Hamilton's first Home game with family since my daughter ...Amherst grad lives in Groton Village, NY...just east of Ithaca.  Guess we will sit with the Hamilton fans...no guest stands...to watch the Conts battle another...older, tougher and with more hair....elephant . 

[middhoops]

amh63, sorry for the brief burst of euphoria.  Very happy to see Hamilton show up with such style against a top level opponent.  The teams who have occupied the cellar need to move up, preferably sooner than later and the Continentals' effort made me happy.

Vandy74 and I sat through the sweltering heat (by Vermont standards) as the Middlebury passing game, and overall speed, kept them in the game against a talented and athletic Wesleyan team.
Lebowitz found his fleet weapons early.  Jimmie Martinez who already holds multiple track records was spectacular in the first quarter. 
Wesleyan won the game at the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.  Midd O-linemen were pushed back by the Cardinals repeatedly.  Lebowitz did a much better job of escaping sacks than he showed last season, and that was key.
The Cardinals' QB was off the charts effective.  Midd's secondary was burned repeatedly, although not the son of one of the posters on this board.  The Panther pass rush caused Piccirillo very little disruption.

Special teams play favored Middlebury.
I surmised by the end of the game that Wesleyan fans would love a rematch.  Midd folks, not so much.

Top teams shouldn't view the Wesleyan defeat as an indication of their talent level.  They are going to be very tough to beat.

[Conts Fan]

Counts Fan.....went online...or tried to get the video.  Will be at Hamilton's first Home game with family since my daughter ...Amherst grad lives in Groton village, NY...just east of Ithaca.  Guess we will sit with the Hamilton fans...no guest stands...to watch the Conts battle another...older, tougher and with more hair....elephant .

I have family in Groton. Enjoy the game...hopefully Hamilton can make a game of it. 

[nescac1]

Pretty amazing week for WRs in NESCAC, and a stellar one for QBs as well.  Early indications are that the league is loaded in the passing game, but devoid of many big-time tailbacks.   Three different receivers had games that might be the best WR performance of the season in some years ... Schmidt with an insane 293 all-purpose yards plus 4 TDs vs. a solid Tufts defense, Stola with 250 all purpose yards and 3 TDs in his collegiate debut, and Breuler with 15 receptions for 178 yards and 3 TDs.  wild.   And three other WRs exceeded 100 yards receiving ...

Meanwhile 7 of the 10 QBs in the league posted enormously efficient stat lines: Piccirillo, Gray, Maimaron, Lebowitz, McDonald, Puzzo, Eberth.  All seven may well be for real.  Puzzo, Lebowitz, and Piccirillo we know are stud QBs, as they were the three top guys in the league last year.  McDonald was probably number four.  Amherst is clearly loaded at QB between Foy, Eberth, and Morales, not to mention the highly regarded sophomore transfer; the fact that Eberth beat out the vets (maybe not Foy, who presumably is still hurt, but still) is really impressive in and of itself.  Gray was very impressive for a frosh last year.  And Maimaron certainly had the hype coming out of high school, and he looks like the real deal, potentially a Pat Lucey-type guy for the Ephs depending on how he develops -- although as a frosh, he is bound to have some tough weeks as he continues to adjust to the college game.  So it looks like we are going to see a lot of battles through the air this season in NESCAC. 

NESCAC continues to be lacking in the big-time TB department.  With Brady gone, there is really only Chipouras, and no one else in Week 1 looked like a real superstar in the making.  Heck, only two TBs exceeded even a modest 72 yards on the ground!

[Nescacman]

2017 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-WEEK #1

1. Hartford State (1-0; Last Week-tied 1): Impressive week 1 win for HS. We need to see them against better competition. That doesn't happen until week #5 when they play the Original Elephants in Medford.
This week: At University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)

2. Amhurst (1-0; LW-tied 1): Mammoth week 1 win for the former LJs. Week 2 features their second game scrimmage.
This week: At Hamilton

3. Middlebury (1-0; LW-4): Hard fought win against a very good WES squad. Panthers and FLB will need to score a lot of points to make up for a less than stout defense. O-line and D-line got pushed around by WES. Will be interesting to see how they progress as the season moves along.
This week: at Bowdoin

4. Wesleyan (0-1; LW-tied 1): Easily could have won in MID this week. Dominated the second half. If the game went 5 minutes longer, the Cards would have won. QB Picarillo and the Wes passing game look in synch. Not sure how WR Breuler was not at least named co-offensive POTW (15 catches for 175 years and 3 TDs), but we digress. The Cards need to run the ball better, avoid penalties and big plays against and they will be in business. Will be a factor in the championship race before the season ends.
This week: Tufts in Middletown

5. Tufts (1-0; LW-5): As predicted, the Original Elephants took a slight step back in week 1. If they are forced to go with their second QB, it will be a big issue for this team. They face much tougher completion this week.
This week: at Wesleyan

6. University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) (0-1; LW-6): We still think this Team is the best of the "ankle biters". Time will tell.
This week: Hartford State in Lewiston

7. Hamilton (0-1; LW 9): We think they may be better but we need to see more before we move this Team up substantially in the standings.
This week: Amhurst in Clinton

8. Williams (1-0; LW-8): Eph faithful should not get too excited here. They beat a bad Bowdoin team at home, and it was a close game for most of the day. The schedule is favorable for the Ephs as they continue their CBB tour this week. Probably won't be as easy against the Mules. For those following the former HCOF, 0-3 and counting at Shorter University.
This week: at Colby

9. Colby (0-1; LW-7): Typical NESCAC, HC always fired the year after he should be. That trend will continue in Waterville.
This week: Williams in Waterville

10. Bowdoin (0-1; LW-10): Solidified themselves as the worst team in the NESCAC. This week could be very ugly against one of the best offenses and QBs in the league. Webcast might not be suitable for all viewers.
This week: Middlebury in Brunswick

[ColbyFootball]

With Trinity up 35-0 and near the Colby goal line with about 40 seconds left, Trinity could have easily punched in another score, but opted to take a knee. Very classy act by the HC. Nice to see.

[lumbercat]

In the Chuck Priore days the "Bants" would pound that down Colby's throat, celebrate and consider going for 2 and the Mules would get on the bus not knowing whether to **** or wind their wristwatch.

[ColbyFootball]

In the Chuck Priore days the "Bants" would pound that down Colby's throat, celebrate and consider going for 2 and the Mules would get on the bus not knowing whether to **** or wind their wristwatch.

And that was a good thing?

[DC 53]

 So I drove the pike up to Somerville to watch the "Non-Program" from Clinton in their "Mismatch" with the Jumbos. The "Mismatch"was one of the most exciting and entertaining college football games I've witnessed. The faithful of the "Non-Program" filled the visitors stands, and they included many Boston area Continental alums. A huge tailgate feast was presided over by the "First Couple" of Hamilton Football, Jerry and Marie Pitaressi. Parents of players in the "Non-Program" contributed to the huge repast.Remaining food is donated to food missions.
  Today we found out that Joe Schmidt ,"20 was named NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week, and Tyler Hudson, "19, was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Tufts is formidable and really has an excellent program. As I've said before this is a league where coaching really matters. The only drop-off I saw from Tufts was in the running game, but they ran the ball better as the game wore on. McDonald stepped out of trouble time after time when he was harassed by the Conts' pass rush. The "Non-Program" D actually had multiple opportunities to win the game in the 4th Q when errant passes by the Tufts backup QB weren't controlled by Ham defenders.
  Turning a program around in NESCAC is not an easy task, to say the least. Control of one's schedule is a way that teams in other leagues can move the process in the right direction . That luxury doesn't exist in NESCAC, so player development and roster control (mostly recruitment) are of paramount importance. From what I've seen, Dave  Murray and his staff have done an excellent job of developing their talent, while bringing in players from some good places. Murray coaches the linebackers, and that position has been a strength ever since he took over. Moving Tyler Hudson to MLB looks like a brilliant move. He runs sideline to sideline, he can blitz off the edge or inside, and he can cover in space. In the past when he played DE, teams could run away from him. They can't do that when he's at MLB.Fellow juniors, Cole Burchill and Sean Tolton both played well against the Jumbos. Murray also brought in a good number of LB's in this year's class, so the Conts should be in good shape there for awhile. The Ham D-line had to replace the entire front four, including Hudson. The four new starters, Alex Ganter, Jeff Martinez, Will Rothschild, and Michael Friedman did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage. The back end played well. as at least 8 DB's saw playing time. The punter, Billy Wagner had a good day, coming up with a 50 yd. punt when it was really needed.
  Successful player development was even more evident on offense. Kenny Gray '20 showed nice arm strength and a sufficient amount  of poise and cool when pressured. The receiving corps had a huge day. In addition to Schmidt's stellar performance, Christian Donohue emerged as a big time threat from anywhere on the field. Frosh Will Budington and the diminutive Sam Robinson made key plays. Robinson who also runs back kicks, and he showed versatility in both the passing game and in the running game.
  Murray's first two recruiting classes were very NY centric. That makes sense as it's pretty obvious that he and his assistants established excellent relationships with NY high school coaches in previous stints at Alfred and Cortland. NY high school football has been disparaged by some on this board, but NY has a large population, and it's likely that some football talent exists in every area of the Empire State. If you check the Hamilton website, you'll see that each coach has responsibility for recruiting a section of the state. It's no accident that the emerging stars on this team including Hudson , Schmidt, Donohoe, Burchill, Gray, Gutierrez, Leigh, and Palomaki all hail from NY. Like other NESCAC schools , Hamilton will always recruit nationally. Interesting, the class of 2021 includes more players from Massachusetts than NY.
  Rebuilding in this league is really difficult. Hamilton receives a lot of shade on theses pages, much of it without much basis in fact. The early signs for the Conts are good, but they are 0-1, with Amherst, Wesleyan, and Trinity on the (uncontrollable) schedule in the next three weeks.