FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[jburrell21]

Williams at Midd could be a trap game for the Panthers.  If they look ahead to the following week against Trinity, they may allow the upstart Williams team to pull the upset.  If Midd loses the turnover battle and gives Williams some short fields they will be playing into the Ephs hands.  As the underdog, Williams will be playing with few expectations and little pressure.  They have a QB that can run an effective offense and if given favorable field possession can keep the game competitive.  Even bad Eph teams give Midd trouble, like the 2014 OT game that the Panthers dodged a bullet on.  If the Ephs win, the appetite for the following weeks Midd-Trinity tilt will be far less inviting.

Maineman, I hope you are wrong about the possibility of a trap game. I don't think the Panthers will overlook Williams.  The Route 7 Rivalry has always meant a great deal to Middlebury.  I practically puke whenever I see the color purple.  I think Coaches Ritter, Caputi and Mandigo (all Midd alumni) will let the players know that you cannot take a bunch of Purple Cows lightly in your own house.

I look forward to a Midd win.  28 - 17.  Cheer boys cheer.

[jburrell21]

Mark Harriman is a fine human being.  It's impossible to dislike the guy.  And it's next-to-impossible to evaluate his coaching ability, since the Administration handcuffs him with a budget too small to even afford decent uniforms, let alone qualified assistants and coordinators.  In my opinion, Harriman's actually done a remarkable job, given the hand he's been dealt.  The boys have won 3 straight CBB's, despite the types of coordinators Colby's been able to afford, and Bowdoin's recent investment in the Wells program.

The Bobcats are the Jamaican Bobsled Team of the CAC.  Bates' new AD seems to understand the challenges, but unless Clayton Spencer signs on and opens up the checkbook, things are unlikely to change.

In the face of all that internal adversity, the players adopt an "it's us against the world" mentality.  They don't whine about it, they just try to rise above it.  Maybe a better life lesson than playing in a program that has the best of everything, though it can be frustrating as a parent and fan.  If my kid doesn't bitch, I figure I don't have the right to.

My 2 cents after 3 1/2 seasons of watching the program pretty closely.

Harriman and his staff do a great job. The Bates players play their butts off during C-B-B.  They are always well prepared, play hard and the staff does everything it can with what they are given.

[jburrell21]

Mark Harriman is a fine human being.  It's impossible to dislike the guy.  And it's next-to-impossible to evaluate his coaching ability, since the Administration handcuffs him with a budget too small to even afford decent uniforms, let alone qualified assistants and coordinators.  In my opinion, Harriman's actually done a remarkable job, given the hand he's been dealt.  The boys have won 3 straight CBB's, despite the types of coordinators Colby's been able to afford, and Bowdoin's recent investment in the Wells program.

The Bobcats are the Jamaican Bobsled Team of the CAC.  Bates' new AD seems to understand the challenges, but unless Clayton Spencer signs on and opens up the checkbook, things are unlikely to change.

In the face of all that internal adversity, the players adopt an "it's us against the world" mentality.  They don't whine about it, they just try to rise above it.  Maybe a better life lesson than playing in a program that has the best of everything, though it can be frustrating as a parent and fan.  If my kid doesn't bitch, I figure I don't have the right to.

My 2 cents after 3 1/2 seasons of watching the program pretty closely.

Let's Go Yankees! We had to slip that one in for those of you now shifting gears to golf and finding a new manager....

Now on to more germane matters....Here we go again, we are sure Coach Harriman is a really good guy, "father of the year", great American, etc. We actually like him and think that Bates typically plays hard for as long as they can. That's not the issue. The reality is he runs a Model T offense in a Porsche GT3 era. The last team to run the triple option and win was 'Bama when Bear Bryant was there (not 100% true but close). To win in college football today (including the NESCAC) you need to spread it out, run no huddle, and go pistol/shotgun almost every play. Yes, you need athletes at the skill positions to run that offense....which brings us to our next point...

Sorry to bring this up to the PC crowd on this Board, but this issue is basically ignored....The Jamaican Bobsled Team? In order to be the Jamaican Bobsled Team would require Bates (and for that matter most other NESCAC schools) to actually add some diversity to their roster in a meaningful way. Maybe then they could actually stop being the Model T of the NESCAC. If you look at the NESCAC schools that have actually embraced diversity in football (Tufts, Amhurst and Wesleyan to name a few), it is no wonder that all 3 are among the top of the heap of the NESCAC....just sayin'...

We have to laugh when we hear people say that NESCAC schools don't have the resources to compete in football. Are you kidding? Every single one of these schools is among the most expensive schools in the country, most around $65k per year all in. And many of them have huge endowments to boot. That argument sort of reminds us of MLB where rich guys like the Wilpons cry poverty. Yes, we know about Madoff but trust us, the Wilpons more than likely have more assets and free cash flow than all of us on this Board combined. The point is, that all of the schools in this league have the resources. The truth is, the Presidents and Trustees at the have nots either don't care about winning, don't care about football, or both. It's all about allocation of resources...and for those that are a bit more intrepid, we know of at least 4 programs in this league where alumni provide incremental NCAA allowable support to allow the student/athletes to have the niceties that make a difference...coaches that don't take advantage of their alumni (and parents) are either lazy, stupid, or both...

Lastly, as far as adding a 10th game...forget it. It took 46 years to get a 9th game. There is a much better chance of having the NESCAC champ play in the D3 play-offs. That is what we should all be advocating for...

Picks to follow by tomorrow...

I have yet to figure out how to hand out positive karma on this board but ++++K for this post.

[jburrell21]

I'm a Jumbos supporter this week.

Here's the photo the Bants' Senior Rookie has as his Facebook cover photo:

 

Kid's never played a down of college football (I double-checked the Participation Reports to be sure) even in the blow-outs.  He hasn't even put in the work the other 2018's have, and he posts shyte like that.

I'll take the classier team any day.  Go Bos!

That's Hartford State for you...another word for Bantam is C$%K...and that's what those guys are. That's bad karma....at some point in their lives, it will come back to bite them.

And btw, bad job by the University of Bates scoreboard operator for leaving that score up for more than a second after the final gun. -K to him...

I agree on two points: 1 - the score board should be immediately turned off.  2 - Not only is a male "Bantam" a rooster (aka c$%k) but a small one.  A bantam (Indonesian: Ayam kate) is a small variety of poultry, especially chickens.

[HSCTiger74]

Mark Harriman is a fine human being.  It's impossible to dislike the guy.  And it's next-to-impossible to evaluate his coaching ability, since the Administration handcuffs him with a budget too small to even afford decent uniforms, let alone qualified assistants and coordinators.  In my opinion, Harriman's actually done a remarkable job, given the hand he's been dealt.  The boys have won 3 straight CBB's, despite the types of coordinators Colby's been able to afford, and Bowdoin's recent investment in the Wells program.

The Bobcats are the Jamaican Bobsled Team of the CAC.  Bates' new AD seems to understand the challenges, but unless Clayton Spencer signs on and opens up the checkbook, things are unlikely to change.

In the face of all that internal adversity, the players adopt an "it's us against the world" mentality.  They don't whine about it, they just try to rise above it.  Maybe a better life lesson than playing in a program that has the best of everything, though it can be frustrating as a parent and fan.  If my kid doesn't bitch, I figure I don't have the right to.

My 2 cents after 3 1/2 seasons of watching the program pretty closely.

Let's Go Yankees! We had to slip that one in for those of you now shifting gears to golf and finding a new manager....

Now on to more germane matters....Here we go again, we are sure Coach Harriman is a really good guy, "father of the year", great American, etc. We actually like him and think that Bates typically plays hard for as long as they can. That's not the issue. The reality is he runs a Model T offense in a Porsche GT3 era. The last team to run the triple option and win was 'Bama when Bear Bryant was there (not 100% true but close). To win in college football today (including the NESCAC) you need to spread it out, run no huddle, and go pistol/shotgun almost every play. Yes, you need athletes at the skill positions to run that offense....which brings us to our next point...

Sorry to bring this up to the PC crowd on this Board, but this issue is basically ignored....The Jamaican Bobsled Team? In order to be the Jamaican Bobsled Team would require Bates (and for that matter most other NESCAC schools) to actually add some diversity to their roster in a meaningful way. Maybe then they could actually stop being the Model T of the NESCAC. If you look at the NESCAC schools that have actually embraced diversity in football (Tufts, Amhurst and Wesleyan to name a few), it is no wonder that all 3 are among the top of the heap of the NESCAC....just sayin'...

We have to laugh when we hear people say that NESCAC schools don't have the resources to compete in football. Are you kidding? Every single one of these schools is among the most expensive schools in the country, most around $65k per year all in. And many of them have huge endowments to boot. That argument sort of reminds us of MLB where rich guys like the Wilpons cry poverty. Yes, we know about Madoff but trust us, the Wilpons more than likely have more assets and free cash flow than all of us on this Board combined. The point is, that all of the schools in this league have the resources. The truth is, the Presidents and Trustees at the have nots either don't care about winning, don't care about football, or both. It's all about allocation of resources...and for those that are a bit more intrepid, we know of at least 4 programs in this league where alumni provide incremental NCAA allowable support to allow the student/athletes to have the niceties that make a difference...coaches that don't take advantage of their alumni (and parents) are either lazy, stupid, or both...

Lastly, as far as adding a 10th game...forget it. It took 46 years to get a 9th game. There is a much better chance of having the NESCAC champ play in the D3 play-offs. That is what we should all be advocating for...

Picks to follow by tomorrow...

I have yet to figure out how to hand out positive karma on this board but ++++K for this post.

Just keep posting until you get to 200. I'll contribute one on your behalf, despite the pro-Yankees opening line.

[jburrell21]

Lumbercat,

Your last comment is probably the classiest reasoning I've read in regards to this "situation".  It all boils down to the coach and/or coaches.

The admissions deal is skeptical at best.  My kid got into Amherst straight from HS.  Many on his team transferred in from prep schools.  It's an old trick that even schools like USC use for the legacy of alumni.  "Sorry Skip, your grades and scores aren't good enough.  Go elsewhere your frosh year and transfer in."  The standards are much different for transfer kids.  Coaches bring in the kids they want under that cloak. And, they get an older kid as a freshman. 

Polar Cat, no sir.  I don't know what's the deal between the two programs.  Don't even care.  I'm amused that so many feelings are hurt by that picture. 

I've been on this board just 4 seasons.  From the beginning I saw posts about "Hartford St".  I thought to myself, that's funny but it's also EFFED up.  And, if I were a player and read or heard my school being ridiculed........easy bulletin board material. 

I'm not making ANY excuses for anyone.  I just watched unranked Syracuse knock off #2 ranked Clemson.  Last week, I watched Michigan beaten by unranked Michigan St. 

Listening to you guys whine and complain about one team that for two years (2014 and 2015) did NOT win NESCAC.......and tied with 2 other NESCAC teams in 2013.........bring some cheese with the whine next time.

Trinity is winning right now.  Middlebury is looking challenging.  Last year Tufts was on the rise.  Amherst is still relevant though doesn't have the players like a McGonagle or Kelly or Fairfield etc (experienced battle tested and talented all of em) that is needed to handle stiff competition.

The picture is not good lol.  But, boys will be boys.

A student gaining admission to college after a post-grad year at a prep school is not considered a transfer student.  The admissions office will take into account the fact that a student PGed but the standard isn't changed.  When said student arrives on campus they are a first year student.  A transfer would enter campus with credits from another college, might have lost eligibility to play based on credits and participation and would be looked at very differently by the admissions office than a student who PGed.

[westcoastDad]

East coast is asleep right now but #8 Washington St is getting trounced by unranked (3-3) Cal 37-3.  The crowd is screaming in unison "OVERRATED".  That is so mean.  Even the commentator is saying they shouldn't shout that...........

How many of us watched QB Baker Mayfield (heisman candidate and son of wealthy parents) take the Oklahoma Sooners Flag and faceplant it in the middle of the Ohio St  football field after upsetting them earlier this year?!  Savage

Of course, Iowa State did the same to Oklahoma last week when they upset #3 Sooners on their home turf.  Again......no class right?

And I'm sure there are TONS of pics and Memes that went viral all over twitter, Instagram and facebook that saw the winners exalting at the expense of the losers.  Hmmmm....karma will havw a hard time keeping up with all of this

Leave Trinity alone.  They can't help it that they are the big Bully right now.   

Whether they play or not.....its actually kinda good to see the guy who doesn't play ....getting on the field in some capacity.  The 4 year starter gets to brag that he played.  The 4 year non starter who doesn't play at all......well.....GOD Bless his ability to hang in there .....watching.

College days swiftly pass.

[fulbakdad]

Polarcat, D3 isn't D1, agree?  There are some pretty successful triple option teams.  One New England example is Springfield.  They just broke into the Top 25 this week....

[PolarCat]

Whether they play or not.....its actually kinda good to see the guy who doesn't play ....getting on the field in some capacity.  The 4 year starter gets to brag that he played.  The 4 year non starter who doesn't play at all......well.....GOD Bless his ability to hang in there .....watching.

Dude, you have got to start paying attention!  Part of the reason the photo ticks me off and has me rooting for the Jumbos today is that the kid was a senior walk on, not a 4 year pine-rider.  I've been binge watching the Ken Burns Vietnam War film, so stick with my logic here: the whole thing reminds me of "stolen valor", some REMF posing with a Viet Cong battle flag like he re-took the Citadel of Hue all by himself.

The Sooner's QB may have earned the right to talk some smack, and yes, boys will be boys.  But this is just a c*ck being a c*ck.  And as jburell21 noted, a tiny little c*ck, at that.  I feel badly for the boys Devanney recruited and cut so that this non-player could strike a pose.  IMHO he has not earned the right to stick his finger in the eye of an opponent.

Keep it up, and I'll be getting you dandelions for a corsage.

Go Bo's!

[ColbyFootball]

Trinity is a "Test Optional School". Do y'all understand what an ENORMOUS advantage that is over other schools in the NESCAC? It is THE difference.

Isn't Bowdoin test optional as well?

[AlDavisStill]

 🥇🏆....Just Win Baby.....I am up to speed. Great info , posts and banter...💪☝️✌🤘👌✊👊🤛👏...All you guys and gals , alumni , parents , players , coaches , friends and associates of Nescac Football are part of something special and I am in such despair not to be an active participant ( parent) with missed not to be experiences...now that I can be somewhat nuetral I am going to root for some upsets here and there....even for Stanky Franks Williams.😉🤔

[amh63]

Boy....was planning to lay low a bit and just watch the Amherst new science center get buttoned up for the upcoming cold weather.  One thing for sure, this board will easily reach 900 pages by the season's end.
Not going to get into football player's behavior in the CAC but do believe it is related a bit to the coaches.  I will relate an incident during an Amherst Football game between two HFC in the days before there was a Nescac.  I posted it many years ago and it may have some connection to the present topic of the day.
Amherst's legendary Coach "DARP" played some ball for the NY Giants.  In a game against the US Coast Guard Academy, there was an incident or two on the field that Coach DARP objected with.  He saw it related to the behavior of the HFC of the USCG Academy...Otto Graham, the former QB of the Wash. Redskins.  Coach DARP no longer scheduled the Academy.
With regards to football players and admissions, I have two stories related to former Amherst players that became starters in the NFL..and their football playing sons.
First story.  The WR captain of the Detroit Lions was a walk- on player for Amherst.  He watched a practice by his roommate and decided to try out.  He became familiar with Amherst via a National academic program to bring minority students to places like MIT and Amherst.  His son wanted to go D1 and went to Penn State.  His son wanted to go Pro before finishing school and did so.  Did not make it, I believe.
Second story.  The former  WR/TE for the Redskins AND Cowboys was a fine Amherst WR and became a successful lawyer/businessman.  He also played Amherst Basketball, helped announce some Williams vs Amherst football games and was unsuccessful in buying the Baltimore MLB franchise with his Sister-in-law.  His son transferred from a D1 school to Amherst in order to play with his Cuz on the football team and try out for basketball....big dude at 6'5".  His father's only rule to him....he must maintain his grades to play...was a honor student in D1.  The son graduated but did not play much at Amherst due to injuries.
How and why student-athletes get in/select particular Nescac schools is a SWAMP.  The important issue is that they finish school and lead a productive positive life, imho.

[lumbercat]

Trinity is a "Test Optional School". Do y'all understand what an ENORMOUS advantage that is over other schools in the NESCAC? It is THE difference.

Bates and Bowdoin have been test optional for years.

[polbear73]

Bowdoin was the first of the selctive schools to go SAT optional in 1969. 

[Pat Coleman]

So ... not an enormous advantage?