FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

I am generally skeptical of any attendance numbers provided for free, public, non-ticketed events ...

[amh63]

Back again.   The Amherst football team had white pants with their purple jerseys.  No grey or purple pants....two pairs of whites maybe? .  The helmet has a simple A....plus the initials of a former player that was killed before his graduation while traveling outside the USA.  More trivia.
Had a thought wrt attendance.  Google provides the attendance via separate cell phone usage...creepy

[lumbercat]

I agree NESCAC1 but relative to the 2,000 estimate of the crowd at the Bates-Amherst I noted at the time that it was a very conservative number.

The Home side stands at Garcerlon hold 2,000 and they estimate from there so there are some parameters.

The home side was almost full for the Amherst game and that doesn't include other areas.

The tricky thing at Bates is many fans like like to stand around the perimeter of the field because of the close proximity to the action.  Those spectators typically are not counted. Not to mention some folks in Purple on the other side. I would have said closer to 3,000 that day.

But Nescac1 is right. With no tickets and tailgaters coming and going it's difficult to get a handle on things.

I think Trinity numbers would be the most accurate as they sell tickets.
Not sure if Tufts still sells tickets....will find out Saturday.

[Trin9-0]

Though not the case on Saturday, I've seen Trinity run it up. Last year, leading 44-0 they threw a pass with 9 seconds left at the Bates 15 yard line for a TD to make it 51-0 as time expired. I had never seen anything quite like that- anybody else would have taken a knee.

Keep in mind the halftime score of last year's game was 45-0. Trinity surely could have added more than six points in the second half if they really wanted to run-up the score. The game log states that the Bantams ran 18 rushing plays to 6 passing plays in the second half. I can't comment on the final play of the game but it did involve Trinity's third string quarterback. Perhaps he called an audible seeing that this could be one of his only shots at throwing a collegiate touchdown pass.


I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about the Wes-Tufts game. I had hoped to watch on my TV via the NESCAC Network but soon realized that Tufts doesn't have an account with NSN and therefore the game was only available via Jumbocast. The connection was spotty at best so I gave up watching and only periodically checked the score. I'm sure Nescacman will have some insight into the disappointing loss for Wes.

Trinity at Williams should be the game of the week; just like the good old days! The Ephs look formidable as they haven't allowed a point through the first three quarters of either game. If Trin doesn't show up it could be the first Williams victory over Trinity since 2010.

The Eph place kicking situation is something to keep an eye on; Andrew Schreibstein was 7 for 7 on kicks against Bowdoin but missed two PATs (along with making two other PATs and a 29 yard field goal) against Colby. Min Kyu Park was brought in for the final PAT attempt and made the kick.

Regarding attendance, Trinity listed just under 4,000 at Saturday's game. This year the Trin homecoming game is early (against Tufts). My guess is the warmer weather will make for a larger crowd. The other two home contests are Middlebury and Amherst which, depending on the records, should draw sizable crowds in The Coop as well. For those interested, Don Miller was indeed in attendance this past Saturday as they honored the 1978 New England Championship team at halftime.

[nescac1]

Regarding the Williams placekicking, I am not sure what happened on one kick.  But the first miss looked to me like a poor snap / hold (not sure which was to blame) and an out-of-rhythm kick that was blocked.  I don't think it was the kicker's fault.  And the kicker was pulled only when the game was out of hand. 

My two big concerns for Williams vs. Trinity is can the D-line do enough to slow up the first level of the Trinity running game to take some of the playmaking pressure off the LBs and can Williams get big plays through the air.  For the latter, Stola's availability is key, as even with him that will be a challenge.  I'm sure that, as underdogs (probably 7-10 points even at home) the Ephs will take more chances, employ more trickery, and open things up more than they showed in weeks one and two, when there was really no need.   Williams can certainly beat Trinity but they will need everything to go right including some big plays and winning the turnover battle. 

[frank uible]

And nothing much to go wrong.

[lumbercat]

Though not the case on Saturday, I've seen Trinity run it up. Last year, leading 44-0 they threw a pass with 9 seconds left at the Bates 15 yard line for a TD to make it 51-0 as time expired. I had never seen anything quite like that- anybody else would have taken a knee.

Keep in mind the halftime score of last year's game was 45-0. Trinity surely could have added more than six points in the second half if they really wanted to run-up the score. The game log states that the Bantams ran 18 rushing plays to 6 passing plays in the second half. I can't comment on the final play of the game but it did involve Trinity's third string quarterback. Perhaps he called an audible seeing that this could be one of his only shots at throwing a collegiate touchdown pass.

Trin 8-1

Nope- short memory on your part. We went over the facts surrounding the whole thing with that TD as the clock expired last year right here on the board and I think you were involved in the exchanges. Go back and look it up. I had no intention of revisiting the detail on this but I can't listen to your excuses.

Anyone I've discussed it with thereafter could not believe it.

I thought you were close to Trinity Football- you missed this one.  Devanney addressed the call specifically in his post game address to the team and parents on the field.

No phantom call by a third stringer--please, check it out. Don't be a bad front man for a great program.

Lord Jeff directly addressed the call and said it came from him. He said he did it to "send a message" because he didn't like Harriman calling blitzes in the second half. I got that first hand from more than one parent who was a part of that group on the field post game.

I'll say as a spectator I've never booed a player at any level, never yelled at a ref or a coach, but once....that day.
I gave Devanney an earful after the game. On my way home I regretted it thinking I lost my cool but I've still never seen a bush league move quite that bad from a great championship program like Trinity in 42 years involved with the Nescac.

Geez- winning with class is easy.

[CardCoachMac]

Wes v. Tufts

Everyone can check out team stats on the NESCAC site. Numbers dramatically favor the Cards. What stat line doesn't show:

- Wes muffed a kickoff return, no hit, just fumbled. Gave Tufts ball on Wes 10. TD pass on next play.

- Wes had bad line drive punt directly to Tufts deep back. Punt was caught without a Wes defender within 10 yards of him. Returned inside Wes 30. Tufts completed 28 yd TD pass.

- Wes Red Zone offense was anemic. At least 6 trips inside Tufts 20 (may have been more) resulted in 13 total points. One trip was 4th and 1 on Tufts 2. Wes went for it, but did not convert. Two other FG attempts (27 yards and 41 yards were missed).

Couple other observations....Wes defense very solid, particularly front 7. Tufts had moderate success taking advantage of a minor mismatch, their tall WR #11 vs. much shorter Wes corner. Tufts defense is strong. Gave up fair amount of yards, but "bend don't break" was definitely the motto, at least for last Saturday night. Wes has to be better in the red zone. This game should have been a W for the Cardinals.

[lumbercat]

Thanks Card Coach Mac
Great account of the game- I was scratching my head trying to figure the game out from the box score.

[Trin9-0]

Though not the case on Saturday, I've seen Trinity run it up. Last year, leading 44-0 they threw a pass with 9 seconds left at the Bates 15 yard line for a TD to make it 51-0 as time expired. I had never seen anything quite like that- anybody else would have taken a knee.

Keep in mind the halftime score of last year's game was 45-0. Trinity surely could have added more than six points in the second half if they really wanted to run-up the score. The game log states that the Bantams ran 18 rushing plays to 6 passing plays in the second half. I can't comment on the final play of the game but it did involve Trinity's third string quarterback. Perhaps he called an audible seeing that this could be one of his only shots at throwing a collegiate touchdown pass.

Trin 8-1

Nope- short memory on your part. We went over the facts surrounding the whole thing with that TD as the clock expired last year right here on the board and I think you were involved in the exchanges. Go back and look it up. I had no intention of revisiting the detail on this but I can't listen to your excuses.

Anyone I've discussed it with thereafter could not believe it.

I thought you were close to Trinity Football- you missed this one.  Devanney addressed the call specifically in his post game address to the team and parents on the field.

No phantom call by a third stringer--please, check it out. Don't be a bad front man for a great program.

Lord Jeff directly addressed the call and said it came from him. He said he did it to "send a message" because he didn't like Harriman calling blitzes in the second half. I got that first hand from more than one parent who was a part of that group on the field post game.

I'll say as a spectator I've never booed a player at any level, never yelled at a ref or a coach, but once....that day.
I gave Devanney an earful after the game. On my way home I regretted it thinking I lost my cool but I've still never seen a bush league move quite that bad from a great championship program like Trinity in 42 years involved with the Nescac.

Geez- winning with class is easy.

You're correct, lumbercat as I don't recall that exchange. As I noted, I was simply going off of the game-log and offering a possible explanation for the final play since the second half stats/play calling didn't align with the suggestion that Trinity was running up the score. Given the explanation you offered it actually makes more sense. Devanney had seemingly called-off the dogs for most of the second half and the final touchdown was a response to some perceived breach of blowout etiquette.


CardCoachMac, welcome to the board and thanks for the recap. It was a devastating loss for Wes but the season can be salvaged. The Cards will roll until the homecoming game with Amherst. If they can top the Mammoths and then win the Little Three with a win at Williams (whom they've owned recently) the Trinity game at home could still have NESCAC title implications.

[Nescacman]

Question: folks here have mentioned that the schedule will start rotating.  For the most part sounds like a good thing to me so that weeks 1-5 no longer feature (typically) one exciting game and four egregious mismatches.  But will that effect the end of season rivalries?  Would stink to no longer have Williams-Amherst, Wesleyan-Trinity, and CBB rivalry games to end the season ...

Our sources tell us that the traditional "rivalry" games...TTUN/LMS, Wes/HS, Wes/ TTUN, C-B-B, will not be affected in terms of timing...

[NESCACFBFAN]

Correction to Cardcoachmac's recap;  the wes short punt with a Tufts 20 yard return resulted in a Tufts FG.  The Tufts 28 yard TD pass was the result of a 9 play, 66 yard drive.

[amh63]

Several comments here before building a "sandbag" wall in the back yard.  Monsoon weather in the DC/Md area and ground saturated...floodgates shut along the Watergate shores...Potomac to crest. 
Seems lots of other posters have memory loses, video view mistakes and stats confusion.  Do not feel so lonely anymore . Anyway, thanks all for info and updates and clarifications.
Nescacman...your comment wrt to particular games as the schedule rotates is sound.  The conference "board" would be in Deep trouble to mess with some season ending BIG games.  Yes, the Nescac "Chief" is an Amherst person....last time I looked.
Do schools share videos of games?   Would think Amherst would like a video of the last Bowdoin game when the Polar Bears scored 24 points and a big bear runner broke a school record.  Do not know if Amherst send scouts to the next game.

[OldCardinal]

Question: folks here have mentioned that the schedule will start rotating.  For the most part sounds like a good thing to me so that weeks 1-5 no longer feature (typically) one exciting game and four egregious mismatches.  But will that effect the end of season rivalries?  Would stink to no longer have Williams-Amherst, Wesleyan-Trinity, and CBB rivalry games to end the season ...

Our sources tell us that the traditional "rivalry" games...TTUN/LMS, Wes/HS, Wes/ TTUN, C-B-B, will not be affected in terms of timing...

It seems to me that, if the CBB games are played in the last three weekends (like always) that really limits how much easier you can make the earlier part of their schedules.  Those are generally the most winnable games on their schedules (plus Hamilton). 

I will say that one challenge has been that teams that have historically been in the middle of the league (Tufts, Wesleyan, Middlebury) have really upped their games in recent years.  When you add the traditional powers: Trinity, Amherst and a now revived Williams, that leaves six tough to brutal games that have to be played somewhere.  Five of them plus Hamilton will fill the first six games of the schedule for Colby, Bates and Bowdoin if they insist on the CBB games staying at the end of the season. 

[OldCardinal]

Correction to Cardcoachmac's recap;  the wes short punt with a Tufts 20 yard return resulted in a Tufts FG.  The Tufts 28 yard TD pass was the result of a 9 play, 66 yard drive.

I watched the Wes-Tufts game on Jumbocast (it was hard to do).  Cardcoachmac's recap with the above correction was on the money.  Wes moved the ball more consistently but Tufts D grew really stout in the red zone.  They made some big plays on that side of the ball.  Tufts offense struggled on the ground, including McDonald but they made just enough big plays through the air to score some points.  One thing that surprised me was when Wesleyan drove early in the fourth quarter and had a first and goal from the five, they hiked it directly to Estevez three plays in a row.  The first two plays had Picirillo was on the sideline and each gained one yard.  On the third play they brought the QB back in, but then shifted pre-snap to send Picirillo out wide and hiked to Estevez again.  The play lost six yards.  This led to the missed 27 yard FG.  It seemed like they may have gotten a little too cute in that instance, but second guessing is easy from the couch:)