FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[JEFFFAN]

JEFFFAN...your rumor mill is better than mine.  I take "great" QB recruits with a shrug and a bit of caution.  There are other young QBs presently on the roster.  The Nescac appears to be successful with starters than are both talented runners AND passers....that can take a hit or two, IMO.  Exception is QB Un....otherwise known as Midd that often get QBs transferring in from D1.  I would like to hear about great WRs recruits.  Note that one of the key new receivers in the Bowdoin game was a Soph that is listed as a TE on the roster...and mentioned as such by the announcer.  Anyway, thanks for the info.

Okay ... but check your sources for me!   This rumor came from Billsville hot and heavy last weekend.

[Nescacman]

NESCACMAN 2018 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings-Week #3

Welcome to the 2018 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings for Week #3 in "the league where they pay to play"!!! Week 3 was chock full of surprises with the upstart Ephs of TTUN shocking Hartford State and the Conts of Hamilton upsetting Wesleyan...sorry for the annotated verbiage...busy week for Team NESCACMAN...Onto this week's rankings...

1. Amhurst (3-0; LW:2): Amhurst moves up in our rankings as a result of another win by them combined with a Hartford State loss...next up: at Middlebury.

2. That Team Up North (aka Williams)(3-0; LW:5): Big win as TTUN moves to 3-0...first win over HS since 2010 ...next up: at UBates (Lewiston Campus).

3. Tufts (3-0; LW:3): OEs have been like a different team offensively since HCOF Civetti has started calling the plays...McDonald was OPOTW and looked like his old self both running and passing...next up: at Bowdoin.

4. Hartford State (2-1; last week's rank:1): HS will try to regroup next week...visions of the first 9-0 season in 'CAC history go up in smoke in Willytown...next up: at Hamilton.   

5. Wesleyan (1-2; LW:4): Tough loss at home to the Conts...Wes continues to shoot themselves in the foot...this time, a blocked punt in the waning minutes was the culprit...next up: at Colby.

6. Middlebury (2-1; LW:6): Game was much closer than the score against the Mules...game was 7-7 midway through the 3Q...looks like MID is starting to make the move to Jernigan at QB...not an easy one next week...next up: Amhurst in Middlebury. 

7. Hamilton (1-2; LW:9): First win on the road vs Wesleyan...not an ideal opponent next week vs. an angry HS squad...next up: Hartford State in Clinton.

8. Bowdoin (0-3; LW:7): Only 6 yards rushing including only 30 by Richam against the LMs...next up: Tufts in Brunswick. 

9. University of Bates (Lewiston Campus)(0-3; LW:8): Bates actually led this game 14-10 at the half...Bates offense only 198 yards and 9 first downs...gave up way too many sacks (5)....needs more TOP...next up: TTUN at Lewiston.

10. Colby (0-3; LW:10): New QB Matt Hersch turned the ball over 4x...that was the difference in this one...next up: Wesleyan in Waterville.

[Hamiltonian]

Tough loss at home to the Conts...Wes continues to shoot themselves in the foot...this time, a blocked punt in the waning minutes was the culprit...next up: at Colby.

not questioning your rankings, Nescacman, but that is not an accurate take on that game in Middletown.  as even Wesleyan fans note, the Hamilton win was no fluke.  It was certainly not simply a matter of Wes shooting itself in the foot.  I will leave to the Cardinals supporters what lessons may have been learned about the team's weaknesses that need to be worked on.  But Hamilton beat them straight up.  better team on the field that day.

[DadintheStands]

I know the subject of future schedule order change has been talked about on this board but I had not yet seen the attached doc with the '19 and '20 schedules.  Does anyone know if these are, indeed, approved or still TBD?

[nescac1]

Some nice highlights from the Trinity-Williams game at the 7 minute mark here: https://vimeo.com/292796230

Shows just how tough it is to beat a team like Trinity, against whom it is quite difficult to sustain a lot of long drives.  Indeed, Williams had one 13 play drive for a TD, two 5 play drives for TDs, and only one other sustained drive. 

Those are five huge plays and all of them were very difficult to execute -- all three TD throws were essentially perfect, as all three receivers were covered. (In the case of the two Stola catches, really well covered, and in the case of Burke, four defenders were closing fast so the pass had to be right on target).  And the three catches were also quite difficult requiring intense concentration.  The first Stola TD catch in the back of the end zone with nearly perfect coverage on him was especially impressive.  Both INTs were good too (although the QB definitely did not read coverage as well as Trinity would like, I'm sure, on those).  Rothmann's was a crazy good play, to start close to the line then quickly read the play, get all the way back in deep coverage and catch the ball behind his body is a play few NESCAC LBs could make.  Probably can't blame the QB for not seeing that coming.   Anthony also showed his closing speed coming all the way across the field to intercept a (in that case ill-advised) deep pass.  Great players need to make great plays to beat a team as good as Trinity, and Maimaron, Bischoping, Stola, Burke, Anthony and Rothmann made some humdingers last Saturday. 

[polbear73]

Tough loss at home to the Conts...Wes continues to shoot themselves in the foot...this time, a blocked punt in the waning minutes was the culprit...next up: at Colby.

not questioning your rankings, Nescacman, but that is not an accurate take on that game in Middletown.  as even Wesleyan fans note, the Hamilton win was no fluke.  It was certainly not simply a matter of Wes shooting itself in the foot.  I will leave to the Cardinals supporters what lessons may have been learned about the team's weaknesses that need to be worked on.  But Hamilton beat them straight up.  better team on the field that day.

Hamiltonian:  Just to be in the position to win the game against a terrifically talented team like Wesleyan at home is proof of Hamilton's competitiveness.  They made a play to win the game late and that, to me, is no fluke. 

[Hamiltonian]

Hamiltonian:  Just to be in the position to win the game against a terrifically talented team like Wesleyan at home is proof of Hamilton's competitiveness.  They made a play to win the game late and that, to me, is no fluke.

Well said, sir.  I thank you.

[JEFFFAN]

I know the subject of future schedule order change has been talked about on this board but I had not yet seen the attached doc with the '19 and '20 schedules.  Does anyone know if these are, indeed, approved or still TBD?

Approved by the schools but no one has seen a 2019 schedule yet.

Also, based on current results, the boys from Billsville should be ranked first.  Amherst has not been as imporessive as Williams has been this year.

[amh63]

JEFFFAN...Several comments.  The Williams rumor of the QB should be treated with caution.  I will leave it at that.  A football or any sports commitment at this time in the application cycle..even ED is rather early in the Nescac.  I do not believe the conference has gone to the D1 schedule or even an Ivy approach.  I will leave it at that...period.
Second comment.....it is too early to pay attention to rankings...even as good as Nescacman's
There are other rankings out for NE such as Noontime and Nothingbutnescac. I will wait to at least after the season has turn the corner...5th game.

[JEFFFAN]

JEFFFAN...Several comments.  The Williams rumor of the QB should be treated with caution.  I will leave it at that.  A football or any sports commitment at this time in the application cycle..even ED is rather early in the Nescac.  I do not believe the conference has gone to the D1 schedule or even an Ivy approach.  I will leave it at that...period.
Second comment.....it is too early to pay attention to rankings...even as good as Nescacman's
There are other rankings out for NE such as Noontime and Nothingbutnescac. I will wait to at least after the season has turn the corner...5th game.

Thanks AMH63.   I was fortunate to have three children play sports in college - including one at D3 - and the reality is that virtually all of the D3 classes in most sports are already locked in simply awaiting admissions to formalize applications that they have already seen.  The recruiting world is night and day to even 15 years ago.  My point being that it is highly likely that Amherst might very well have a stud QB commitment in place, just as all of the other NESCAC schools likely have the same for their programs.  Early isn't early anymore.

[nescac1]

Jefffan is of course correct.  It is extraordinarily rare, almost unheard of, for a NESCAC recruit told by a coach in September or October that they are a lock to be admitted to then be denied admission in December (or whenever).  Caveats are always appropriate, but realistically, if a player is told in no uncertain terms that he's in, he's in. 

Amherst seems to already have quite a load of talent at QB.  Eberth has another year.  Soph QB Michaud was well-regarded, and same with Frosh QB Peterson. Plus frosh QB Lauletta comes from a rich QB bloodline (his older brother is a QB on the Giants).  Amherst also had a highly-acclaimed transfer QB from California who I see is not on the roster, I guess just too many bodies there.  So if this reported QB recruit is the real deal a few guys are gonna have to make position changes ...

[Oline89]

Jefffan is of course correct.  It is extraordinarily rare, almost unheard of, for a NESCAC recruit told by a coach in September or October that they are a lock to be admitted to then be denied admission in December (or whenever).  Caveats are always appropriate, but realistically, if a player is told in no uncertain terms that he's in, he's in. 

Amherst seems to already have quite a load of talent at QB.  Eberth has another year.  Soph QB Michaud was well-regarded, and same with Frosh QB Peterson. Plus frosh QB Lauletta comes from a rich QB bloodline (his older brother is a QB on the Giants).  Amherst also had a highly-acclaimed transfer QB from California who I see is not on the roster, I guess just too many bodies there.  So if this reported QB recruit is the real deal a few guys are gonna have to make position changes ...

Don't forget that there is no letter of intent, so the student athlete may have several schools telling him he is a lock to be admitted.  This mystery recruit could have the same promise from Harvard/Princeton/Yale.  Unless it is known that the athlete has applied early admission to Amherst, he could end up anywhere.

[amh63]

There is a WR on the Amherst football squad...an upperclassman...who was a solid QB at a nearby prep school.  He made the switch early to a new position.  His father is the AD at Amherst and was a fine OC coach for Amherst.  Like professors, administrators and coaches in the Nescac, there is a "perk" much like in the Ivies.  A child of a coach, etc., if qualified, is able to attend college tuition free.  Believe the fed. Govt now requires some taxes to be paid .   An example at Midd....the HFC's son is presently on the football squad.

[quicksilver]

Bowdoin has 3 QBs playing WR -- Griff Stalcup, Mike Cloppse and Noah Nelson . .

[hamgrand]

B Ritter Jr. Has proven himself to be a pretty good Corner in this league!