FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Mountain Man]

Hartford State = Very funny.

Comment for discussion.  Midd changed their offensive focus with receivers during the season. What looked like 15 to 20 yard receiver routes, which exposed the lack of protection time for the QB, has been changed to the spread offense which seems to match the personnel and talent on this team better, including shorter routes by receivers, which still highlights the Midd receiving corps strength.

I would opine that during a NorEaster, this type of ball control, short passing, spread offense would be competitive.. i.e covering the 17 points.  On defense, they can play run & force pass accuracy in this weather

The counter argument would be that superior physicality usually wins out in inclement weather situations. Hartford State would just pound Midd on both sides in some type of 35-7 destruction.

I think that Midd will be competitive in this game.  If they fall behind early though, they most likely will be blown out.

[polbear73]

NESCACMAN:  My apologies to you for my comments and Wesleyan about switching fields.  It was the right call and the field was way more than adequate.  Bowdoin wasn't, though.

[footballluv]

Big Day for the Colby running game and Defense in the snow. Colby takes round 1 of the CBB.

[GoBlue61]

I attended the Wesleyan vs Bowdoin scrimmage today...or was that a real game?  Great to have to watch the game from 50 yards away.  In any event, Wesleyan's QB played well and was the difference.  Bowdoin, missing half its starting offense, had 6 first downs all day and 21 minutes of possession time.  (A long way from 20 first downs and 340 yards vs Amherst earlier in the season.)  Painful to watch...

[Nescacman]

A few observations from around the NESCAC today...

Colby College at University of Bates (Lewiston Campus): We love games played in snowy conditions and this one did not disappoint...as expected, Jake Schwern ran wild and is our pick for NESCAC OPOTW...Colby will win the C-B-B this year when they beat Bowdoin on November 10...we're sure the UBates faithful can't wait for the 5:30 PM game next Saturday at Bowdoin; break-out the long underwear for that one...QB Costa appeared to be injured and did not play the entire second half...Problem for UBates if QB Costa can't go the last 2 weeks of the season...we have an idea taken from our home state of NJ...some towns have combined their HS football programs where participation and quality have become an issue....why don't Colby, UBates and Bowdoin combine their programs into one Team as a coop and then they might be competitive in the NESCAC...we believe the Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer) do that in CA....then the NESCAC can let some other schools into the league that actually might make things more interesting (think MIT, Johns Hopkins, etc.)...

Bowdoin at Wesleyan: Weather was a big factor in first half but rain pretty much stopped during the second half...let's start by saying we are sure Bowdoin's players are great human beings and they will make excellent captains of industry and masters of the universe someday...however, injuries or not but we're sorry, Bowdoin's offense looked awful, inept, horrendous, whatever adjective you want to use....100 yards of total offense...no first downs and 17 yards of offense in the first half...Bowdoin didn't threaten to score the entire game with their furthest incursion into Wes territory being like the 40 yard line....Bowdoin offense just did not seem like they wanted to play...we also have to question some of the play calling by the Bowdoin coaches....not really very imaginative or creative for a team with a 23 game losing streak...Bowdoin QB McCrum is really not good....word to our fellow boarders...the next time a player transfers from D1, let's watch him play before we anoint him the next coming of Jared Lebowitz....he's a mediocre to low level NESCAC QB at best...DT Taj Gooden had a big game for Wes and he is our call to be NESCAC DPOTW...Wes offense played very conservative and did what they had to do to win...24-0 score is not a good indicator of how lopsided this game was.

Middlebury College at Hartford State: Genuine QB controversy for HS as FY QB Seamus Lambert had another good game for the Bants...HS has now scored 35 points or more in their 6 wins...2nd shutout of the year for HS...this was as bad as Middlebury has looked in years on offense...73 yards of total offense for the Panthers including 36 yards passing (that is not a typo)...only bright spot for Middlebury was Maxwell Rye averaging 41 yards per punt...HS had 2 RBs over 100 yards...second time Middlebury has been shut out this year...not sure the last time that has happened but we bet it has been awhile....oh, by the way, Hartford State had 516 yards of total offense against the Middlebury defense....Middlebury just looked bad.

TTUN at Hamilton College: Cold rainy day on Steuben Field...TTUN back in the winning column after 2 straight defeats...Ephs got TJ Rothman back and he led TTUN in tackles...No Dozier but FY RB Carter Begel had the first 100 yard game of his career...off day for Hamilton QB Kenny Gray (13-37 and 4 INTs)...Ephs controlled the clock with almost 41 mins of TOP....Hamilton defense on the field for way too much time...Hamilton guaranteed themselves another losing season after teasing their fans earlier in the season with improved play.

Tufts University at Amhurst College: GOTW did not disappoint as Tufts almost pulled it out in the 4th quarter...nice job running the ball by Tufts against a tough Amhurst defense...big forced fumble and subsequent return by Amhurst's John Callahan set up the eventual winning TD by Hickey...Tufts had the ball with 3 mins left at their own 32 with a chance to win and couldn't get anything going...Jack Hickey had a nice day running the ball in his return...win by Amhurst sets up a game essentially for the league championship next week against Hartford State. 

amh63....how did we do on our spreads???

[polbear73]

nescacman:: I agree with your comments on the Bowdoin-Wesleyan game except for the quick dismissal of Bowdoin's offensive injuries.  At the very least, the Polar Bears played yesterday without two of their starting tackles, three top receivers, and one of the league's top running backs, Nate Richam. and there could be more.  I offer this not as an excuse as every team is nicked up at this time of year, but as symptoms of a perpetually rebuilding program.  Top tier teams can call on the next man up, to rebuilding programs, this injury list is devastating.  This begs the question as to the effectiveness of this rebuild, now in its fourth season, and whether more should have been accomplished. 

[GoBlue61]

Obvious that the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game was a one-sided affair.  But as I pointed out, Bowdoin played without 6+ starters/regulars on offense (which is indicative of a bigger problem in the program).  Not saying Bowdoin wins the game if they have all their guys but it would have been competitive.  BTW...I would take Trinity over Wesleyan by 35+ points.

I like the concept of combining the CBB teams; each team has some good players but not enough of them.  When was the last time a CBB team had a winning record?  The CA schools are basically in the same town, however.

[Nescacman]

nescacman:: I agree with your comments on the Bowdoin-Wesleyan game except for the quick dismissal of Bowdoin's offensive injuries.  At the very least, the Polar Bears played yesterday without two of their starting tackles, three top receivers, and one of the league's top running backs, Nate Richam. and there could be more.  I offer this not as an excuse as every team is nicked up at this time of year, but as symptoms of a perpetually rebuilding program.  Top tier teams can call on the next man up, to rebuilding programs, this injury list is devastating.  This begs the question as to the effectiveness of this rebuild, now in its fourth season, and whether more should have been accomplished.

Not to kick someone when they are down, buy maybe it is time for the HCOF Wells show to move on...2-30 and Bowdoin is on its way to a "Tufts like" third straight winless season...the difference at Tufts was, of course, HCOF Civetti finally received some institutional support and it made all the difference in the world....not sure that is in Bowdoin's future given the US News and World Report academic pressure on the Brunswick campus...

[Nescacman]

Obvious that the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game was a one-sided affair.  But as I pointed out, Bowdoin played without 6+ starters/regulars on offense (which is indicative of a bigger problem in the program).  Not saying Bowdoin wins the game if they have all their guys but it would have been competitive.  BTW...I would take Trinity over Wesleyan by 35+ points.

I like the concept of combining the CBB teams; each team has some good players but not enough of them.  When was the last time a CBB team had a winning record?  The CA schools are basically in the same town, however.

With the win over Lumber yesterday, we won our 3rd game with the spread this year...

Blue61, if your offer stands, we'll take the 35 v. Hartford State in 2 weeks...

http://www.wesleyanrejects.com

[amh63]

A possibility of being the first post on page 1001!
Several comments.  NescacMEN...you guys are indeed clever people. Plus K.  Did not have to check the spreads based on your comment.
During halftime of the Tufts vs Amherst game I peeked in on the other games.  Saw the snowball fight game and just shook my head and showed my wife the scene.  Had the games on my flatscreen.
The Amherst game was senior day for the 19 seniors...also family weekend...and the seniors all played well.  Hickey is a senior and also Cahallan who had a pick and the take away "fumble" and 65 yd run to the two yard line...set up Hickey's TD.   
The game announcer kept pointing out that Tufts' QB had a high ankle sprain that could limit his running....must been a bit of misinfo from Tufts' coaches, IMO.  Tufts was showing a lot of interesting plays that caught Coach Mills' defense off stride.  One was a double line/player shift by Tufts to the left and a play to the right for a TD.  In the end the stats showed that both teams were evenly matched.  The difference was the three TOs' by Tufts.  It is also to be noted that in the last three minutes of the game, Tuft's QB was stopped for losses..even a sack.  A good game to watch on screen.  As the announcer stated...it was nice to be in a warm booth.  Amherst took a timeout and a knee to end the game.

[The Mole]

Colby 6-2 in 2004
Bates 5-3 in 2012 (seems so long ago)
Bowdoin 6-2 in 2005

Obvious that the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game was a one-sided affair.  But as I pointed out, Bowdoin played without 6+ starters/regulars on offense (which is indicative of a bigger problem in the program).  Not saying Bowdoin wins the game if they have all their guys but it would have been competitive.  BTW...I would take Trinity over Wesleyan by 35+ points.

I like the concept of combining the CBB teams; each team has some good players but not enough of them.  When was the last time a CBB team had a winning record?  The CA schools are basically in the same town, however.

[The Mole]

My bad, White Mules were 7-1 in 2005
from 2000-2005 they never had a losing slate

2000 7-1
2001 4--4
2002 4-4
2003 5-3
2004 6-2
2005 7-1

[JEFFFAN]

The Amherst - Tufts game was a ton of fun to watch as a Division 3 football fan.   Well played, clean, two very good teams.   Seeing the video of EJ Mills and the team jumping around in the locker room after the game affirmed that they knew they had just beaten a very good team.

I was very impressed with the Tufts quarterback and feel that if he had been healthy it might have either been a different result or Amherst might've had to come back at the end to win the game.  He is a terrific player who we should all hope gets that high ankle sprain healed up.   The other person who was impressive was (I think) the linebacker - he was all over the place.  Tufts is well coached and disciplined.

For the Jeffs, it was "more of the same" in terms of style.  Good run defense, surprisingly good pass defense, and an offense that did just enough.   Wide reeivers were impressive and having Hickey back made a difference.   The play of the game, by far, was Callahan's "steal" - still not exactly sure what happened there as the video was on the other side of the field.   Tufts was driving and seeming to wear the Jeff defense down a bit until that play.  It shifted everything.   The seniors on the Amherst defense were the difference in the game.

Not sure how next weekend plays out but yesterday's game was a fun one to watch.

[The Mole]

While I was pulling the information below, I thought you all might find this interesting. NESCAC team records going back to 1998 through 2017. Does not include 2018 games. I will refrain from any of the nicknames utilized.

Trinity 129-32 (17 of the 32 losses from 1998-2001)
Amherst 121-40 (no losing seasons)
Williams 108-53 (15-33 from 2011-2016)
Middlebury 104-57 (only 2 losing seasons in 98 and 05)
Wesleyan 86-75 (6 losing years all between 2004-2011)
Colby 69-92 (38 of the wins between 98-05)
Tufts 69-92 (3-37 from 2009-2013)
Bates 46-125 (17 losing campaigns)
Bowdoin 43-118 (16 losing seasons with 3 winless)
Hamilton 29-132 (all losing years--revolving door of coaches-I think 6 different?)
This is my rationale on an earlier post for ranking the conference low nationally. I find the top 7 above comparable to the Centennial. However, the results of the last 3 consistently have been just awful.

[GoBlue61]

Great info on the NESCACs record of the last 20 years.  Hopefully, the recent changes at Bowdoin, Bates and Colby will help them be more competitive soon.  Having spent the last 4 years watching NESCAC football, there are way too many non-competitive games.  (Admittedly, being a Bowdoin football parent may bias my view.)