FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

Coach Devanney recently sent an email promoting the annual alumni career networking event (which has been a hugely successful program in terms of lining-up internships and job opportunities for current players). In that message he also eluded to the strength of this year's recruiting class. Having known Jeff for nearly 18 years I can tell you he is not one for hyperbole, so when he shares with alumni that "... on paper this is one of our most talented groups in years." I am very excited about this year's incoming class!

NESCAC rules prohibit programs from announcing committed players until May 1st, but a little internet research turned up the following who've either been reported or self-identified as Trinity commitments:

Riley Holland - OL/DL, 6'2, 285",Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Whitman, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4293597/Riley-Holland

Michael Turner - DE/OL, 6'3", 245lbs, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefiled, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5407165/Michael-Turner

Brian Casagrande - LB/FB, 6'1", 230lbs, Daniel Hand High School, Madison, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5212718/Brian-Casagrande

Matt Powell - LB/OL, 6'2", 239lbs, Silver Lake High School, Kingston, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/835315/Matt-Powell

Evan Ohuabunwa - OL, 6'2", 290lbs, Boston College High School, Boston, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5265849/Evan-Ohuabunwa

Ty Donatio - RB/LB, 5'10", 190lbs, Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6494188/Ty-Donatio

Harrison Ike - DB/RB, 6'1", 175lbs, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, PA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4020535/Harrison-Ike

Kalvin Guillermo - OL/DL 6'1", 245lbs, Central Catholic High School , Lawrence, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6494255/Kalvin-Guillermo This article on Kalvin also indicates that he chose Trinity over Middlebury and Tufts: http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/local_sports/trinity-bound-guillermo-has-always-found-his-second-home-as/article_0b28aa6b-a0bb-5c75-8cc8-97b46ecea601.html

There are clearly many more commitments, likely around 20-25 in total, but we'll have to wait until May for the full list. Go Bants!

[amh63]

Trinity 8-0....thanks for sharing . Players listed are from schools that have provided fine student- athletes for Amherst in the past.  Hope Amherst will counter with another successful " class".  In any case, the Trinity vs Amherst battles ahead should be very competitive ones, imho.

[Trin9-0]

Another really nice commitment for the Bantams via the Hartford Courant:
http://www.courant.com/hc-sp-lockwood-cassagrande-trinity-20180202-story,amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

Spencer Lockwood - RB/LB, 5'11" 200lbs, Killingly High School, Killingly, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4445566/Spencer-Lockwood

He was the winner of the Gatorade State Football Player of the Year award in Connecticut. The article also mentions that fellow Trin commit, Brian Casagrande was a runner-up for the award and the defensive player of the year in the state.

[BantamMom]

The roster limit would be up to the schools in the long run. The admissions office is the first and last hurdle for the most part.  Isn't the roster limit in place to keep the larger schools (Trinity and maybe Tufts) and schools with high ncaa athlete/student ratio (Williams) in check? 

Wesleyan and Middlebury are both larger schools in terms of enrollment than Trinity -

[Vandy74]

The roster limit would be up to the schools in the long run. The admissions office is the first and last hurdle for the most part.  Isn't the roster limit in place to keep the larger schools (Trinity and maybe Tufts) and schools with high ncaa athlete/student ratio (Williams) in check? 

Wesleyan and Middlebury are both larger schools in terms of enrollment than Trinity -

The roster limit has nothing to do with keeping any school's program in check.  It's to keep football in check.  It's for the same reason all teams play a conference-only schedule and postseason participation is not allowed.  Seven or eight years back, a friend of mine asked then MC president Ron Liebowitz why post season (NCAA tournament) play is forbidden.  His answer was that the presidents were concerned that by allowing it, football would become "too much."  That was also the reasoning behind the mandated 8-game schedule, until this past season, regardless of the number of football playing schools in the conference.   It was never the intention at the time the conference was formed to become the elite DIII athletic conference in the country.  Quite the opposite.  Postseason participation of any team in any sport was not allowed until almost 25 years later, only because of the insistence by schools with traditionally strong programs.

[Jonny Utah]

The roster limit would be up to the schools in the long run. The admissions office is the first and last hurdle for the most part.  Isn't the roster limit in place to keep the larger schools (Trinity and maybe Tufts) and schools with high ncaa athlete/student ratio (Williams) in check? 

Wesleyan and Middlebury are both larger schools in terms of enrollment than Trinity -

The roster limit has nothing to do with keeping any school's program in check.  It's to keep football in check.  It's for the same reason all teams play a conference-only schedule and postseason participation is not allowed.  Seven or eight years back, a friend of mine asked then MC president Ron Liebowitz why post season (NCAA tournament) play is forbidden.  His answer was that the presidents were concerned that by allowing it, football would become "too much."  That was also the reasoning behind the mandated 8-game schedule, until this past season, regardless of the number of football playing schools in the conference.   It was never the intention at the time the conference was formed to become the elite DIII athletic conference in the country.  Quite the opposite.  Postseason participation of any team in any sport was not allowed until almost 25 years later, only because of the insistence by schools with traditionally strong programs.

schools meaning their football programs is what I meant....

[Vandy74]

[/quote]

schools meaning their football programs is what I meant....


[/quote]

I did misunderstand what you meant specifically.  I still don't think that the roster size was reduced to level the playing field among the conference members.   The 2000 season was the Nescac's first season as a playing conference with an officially recognized champion.  It was also the final season before the roster size reduction.  That year, while Amherst and Middlebury shared a first place tie with 7-1 records, Colby did as well.  Wesleyan and Williams were 5-3 while Trinity was 4-4.  For the Ephs, it was simply a rare rebuilding season, but Middlebury didn't go better 4-4 again until 2005.  Colby continued as one of the league's best through that season.  It's not as if the present conference elite was already established or recognizable as inevitably becoming what they are today.  Hamilton, Bates and Bowdoin have been at the bottom of the standings from day one.  Colby didn't join them until 2006.  At least as of a couple of seasons back, the Colby football program had a winning record.  If, as you suggest, the roster reduction was meant to create some level of equality throughout the conference, it failed to do so.   If that had been the intent, it seems the powers that be would have tried other corrective measures since then.  I only speculate, but I believe the roster size was reduced primarily to keep Nescac football from becoming "too much."  From it's beginning, the Nescac was intended to become the "Little Ivies."   

[Jonny Utah]

schools meaning their football programs is what I meant....


[/quote]

I did misunderstand what you meant specifically.  I still don't think that the roster size was reduced to level the playing field among the conference members.   The 2000 season was the Nescac's first season as a playing conference with an officially recognized champion.  It was also the final season before the roster size reduction.  That year, while Amherst and Middlebury shared a first place tie with 7-1 records, Colby did as well.  Wesleyan and Williams were 5-3 while Trinity was 4-4.  For the Ephs, it was simply a rare rebuilding season, but Middlebury didn't go better 4-4 again until 2005.  Colby continued as one of the league's best through that season.  It's not as if the present conference elite was already established or recognizable as inevitably becoming what they are today.  Hamilton, Bates and Bowdoin have been at the bottom of the standings from day one.  Colby didn't join them until 2006.  At least as of a couple of seasons back, the Colby football program had a winning record.  If, as you suggest, the roster reduction was meant to create some level of equality throughout the conference, it failed to do so.   If that had been the intent, it seems the powers that be would have tried other corrective measures since then.  I only speculate, but I believe the roster size was reduced primarily to keep Nescac football from becoming "too much."  From it's beginning, the Nescac was intended to become the "Little Ivies."   
[/quote]

I think it is both.  Tips are already regulated in the nescac and in general should dictate roster sizes on their own, but an added roster limit even further regulates competition by "keeping in check" how big football gets at each school.

[lumbercat]

Coach Devanney recently sent an email promoting the annual alumni career networking event (which has been a hugely successful program in terms of lining-up internships and job opportunities for current players). In that message he also eluded to the strength of this year's recruiting class. Having known Jeff for nearly 18 years I can tell you he is not one for hyperbole, so when he shares with alumni that "... on paper this is one of our most talented groups in years." I am very excited about this year's incoming class!

NESCAC rules prohibit programs from announcing committed players until May 1st, but a little internet research turned up the following who've either been reported or self-identified as Trinity commitments:

Riley Holland - OL/DL, 6'2, 285",Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Whitman, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4293597/Riley-Holland

Michael Turner - DE/OL, 6'3", 245lbs, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefiled, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5407165/Michael-Turner

Brian Casagrande - LB/FB, 6'1", 230lbs, Daniel Hand High School, Madison, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5212718/Brian-Casagrande

Matt Powell - LB/OL, 6'2", 239lbs, Silver Lake High School, Kingston, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/835315/Matt-Powell

Evan Ohuabunwa - OL, 6'2", 290lbs, Boston College High School, Boston, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5265849/Evan-Ohuabunwa

Ty Donatio - RB/LB, 5'10", 190lbs, Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6494188/Ty-Donatio

Harrison Ike - DB/RB, 6'1", 175lbs, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, PA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4020535/Harrison-Ike

Kalvin Guillermo - OL/DL 6'1", 245lbs, Central Catholic High School , Lawrence, MA
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6494255/Kalvin-Guillermo This article on Kalvin also indicates that he chose Trinity over Middlebury and Tufts: http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/local_sports/trinity-bound-guillermo-has-always-found-his-second-home-as/article_0b28aa6b-a0bb-5c75-8cc8-97b46ecea601.html

There are clearly many more commitments, likely around 20-25 in total, but we'll have to wait until May for the full list. Go Bants!

Trin 7-1

You missed a couple- both QB's

Ben Brooks- Calvert Hall, Baltimore   6'2 195- looks like Sonny's successor, a good one.

Seamus Lambert- Brooks School, Ma   6'0' 185- good athlete.

[Trin9-0]

Trin 7-1

You missed a couple- both QB's

Ben Brooks- Calvert Hall, Baltimore   6'2 195- looks like Sonny's successor, a good one.

Seamus Lambert- Brooks School, Ma   6'0' 185- good athlete.

Stumblercat, thanks for the info. Although I'd be surprised if the successor to Sonny was a first year player.

My guess is the Bants starting QB will either be one of the two rising seniors, David Ryan or Brad Whitman. The other likely scenario is that it's transfer QB Jordan Vazzano who wins the job. Jordan was a star at St. Joseph in Trumbull, CT winning two state titles before doing a prep year at The Gunnery.

He committed to URI and was a redshirt in 2015, as a redshirt freshman in 2016 he appeared in 9 games and started 7. At 6'3", 240lbs he's a big athlete (especially by NESCAC QB standards). I believe Jordan is already on campus this semester as well, and while there's no spring practice in the NESCAC, I'd have to imagine he'll be spending some time in the playbook.

My guess is that, given his size and experience at the FCS level, Jordan will be the front-runner at quarterback. With Max Chipouras and the entire receiving corps returning, whoever wins the job will have plenty of weapons at their disposal.

[lumbercat]

Trinity 7-1
interesting transfer- it will be fun to watch this big QB. Reminiscent of Trinity transfer escapades from the past.
you got me laughing with the Stumblercat.

[gridiron]

In terms of attempts to level the playing field across all schools in the NESCAC there is another, less publicized factor that comes into play.  While tips are intended to level the field (although we know not all are created equal), financial aid is a consideration as well.  There are many recruited athletes admitted to more than one NESCAC but with varying financial aid packages. Decisions are understandably often swayed by such differences.

[Jonny Utah]

In terms of attempts to level the playing field across all schools in the NESCAC there is another, less publicized factor that comes into play.  While tips are intended to level the field (although we know not all are created equal), financial aid is a consideration as well.  There are many recruited athletes admitted to more than one NESCAC but with varying financial aid packages. Decisions are understandably often swayed by such differences.

And the NCAA regulates that as well.

[Trin9-0]

A few more NESCAC commits from Connecticut:

Amherst:
Flynn McGilvray, DE/OL, 6'1" 245lbs, Choate, Wallingford, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4574185/Flynn-McGilvray

Tufts:
Jovan Nenadovic, LB/WR, 6'3", 220lbs, Choate, Wallingford, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/9761541/Jovan-Nenadovic
Zan Segalas, LB, 5'11", 205lbs, Taft, Watertown, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3966979/Zane-Segalas

Bowdoin:
Frank Paine, OL/DL, 6'2", 245lbs,  Notre Dame, West Haven, CT
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6215934/Frank-Paine

[nescac1]

Man, it looked like Trinity's only big question mark next year was QB.  So much for that ... the Bants will be an overwhelming favorite to win the league.  Amherst should have an absolutely loaded defense next year, but does suffer somes signficant losses on offense.  Williams should continue its upwards trajectory and I think could be a lot more explosive on offense with all those frosh getting an offseason together, but still needs a lot more depth and experience to get where it wants to go; also the Ephs have a huge hole to fill at DT.  Tufts is kind of the opposite of Amherst -- looking loaded on offense but suffers a number of big losses from its defense.  Middlebury and Wesleyan will certainly remain in the mix despite critical losses to graduation.  Any of those teams could make a case for preseason number two.  But it's pretty clear that Trinity returns as the big dog. 

A few more guys have announced commitments to Williams in recent weeks.  Here is the list of all that I have seen.  Raymond and his staff are bringing in guys from all over the country, but no idea how they stack up to their truly loaded first recruiting class.  Interesting to see two QBs on the list, which makes four in two years including Maimaron.  In the Kelton years the Ephs were always thin (and not especially talented) on the QB depth chart; seems like that will not be an issue going forward ... 

Ryan Kingman, WR (West Palm Beach, Florida)
Dan Vaughn Jr., QB (Fort Pierce, Florida)
Tyler Spiezio, WR, (Morris, IL)
Steve Kletscher, DE (Woodbury, MN)
Andrew Schreibstein, K (MA)
Xander Utecht, OG/DT (Malvern, PA)
Aiden Feurer, DE/TE (Albany, New York)
Drake Mead, OG/DT (Morristown, New Jersey)
Desi O'Mahoney, LB/FB (Milton, MA)
Coleston Smith, LB (Ridgewood, NJ)
Jackson Bischoping, QB (Suffield, CT)
Rocco Giandomenico, DB (Dedham, MA)

Spiezio's father is former MLB player Scott Spiezio.