FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[The Mole]

Seeing those numbers was a real eye opener for me. As a former player and D3 asst coach (both a long time ago), it provides a narrative for programs. My son may be considering many of these fine institutions (he is a sophomore) as well as the Centennial schools. A lot of similarities, as I mentioned.

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.)

[footballluv]

Seeing those numbers was a real eye opener for me. As a former player and D3 asst coach (both a long time ago), it provides a narrative for programs. My son may be considering many of these fine institutions (he is a sophomore) as well as the Centennial schools. A lot of similarities, as I mentioned.

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.)

I am betting that what is focused on is achieved. My eyes are opened to the fact that the 2005 period for Colby Football was possible at all. Can anyone describe that team and that period of time? I have read a lot on this board about Colby's location and it's inability to get "talent" to go so far North.

[Nescacman]

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.)

We get the HCOF changes at Colby and UBates and being optimistic that those changes will lead to some optimism, but what changes are you referring to at Bowdoin? Did we miss something? Did President Rose fire HCOF Wells last night? Maybe he should have...

[The Mole]

Interesting tidbit, RB/LB from my son's high school will be attending Colby. We are located in suburban Philly.

Seeing those numbers was a real eye opener for me. As a former player and D3 asst coach (both a long time ago), it provides a narrative for programs. My son may be considering many of these fine institutions (he is a sophomore) as well as the Centennial schools. A lot of similarities, as I mentioned.

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.)

I am betting that what is focused on is achieved. My eyes are opened to the fact that the 2005 period for Colby Football was possible at all. Can anyone describe that team and that period of time? I have read a lot on this board about Colby's location and it's inability to get "talent" to go so far North.

[GoBlue61]

Nescacman -- With regard to Bowdoin, I am referring to the $8MM the college just spent updating the field, grandstand and locker room facilities at Whittier Field, as well as the supposed improved support from admissions.  My understanding is that the coach has 1 year left on his contract, so that may be next up.

[Nescacman]

Nescacman -- With regard to Bowdoin, I am referring to the $8MM the college just spent updating the field, grandstand and locker room facilities at Whittier Field, as well as the supposed improved support from admissions.  My understanding is that the coach has 1 year left on his contract, so that may be next up.

Got it...too bad the field and locker room can't play or Coach...

Just to be clear, the $8mm spent to refurbish/update Whittier and related facilities was entirely funded by private donations so the College spent zilch out of the current endowment. Seems to us like the Polar Bears Prez is giving away ice in the winter, no pun intended... 

We will once again bring up something we mentioned very early in the season...HCOF Wells tried to eject and return to friendlier environs at his former institution, Endicott, during last off-season when they were looking for a new HCOF. The deal breaker was when he asked Endicott to match his deal at Bowdoin...so they went with the guy from Assumption...

http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/general/2016-17/releases/20170327e1i5l7

[GoBlue61]

Nescacman -- Agreed...believe me, I am not defending the Bowdoin Administration or Athletic Dept...the record is what is it is...no excuses...other sports at the college (women's sports in particular) seem to enjoy success...obviously, football is not a priority

[Nescacman]

Nescacman -- Agreed...believe me, I am not defending the Bowdoin Administration or Athletic Dept...the record is what is it is...no excuses...other sports at the college (women's sports in particular) seem to enjoy success...obviously, football is not a priority

We've been there, believe us....and it sucks, especially when its you or your kid playing...hang in there, he's getting a great education and will win at life which is what really matters anyway...

BTW, we're G-Men and Jet fans so we feel your pain...we hate football right now. 

[frank uible]

To be fair and also prudent a new coach should be given 6 years to rehab a run down program.

[Nescacman]

To be fair and also prudent a new coach should be given 6 years to rehab a run down program.

Or ruin a program, right Frank?

[frank uible]

The people hiring the coach usually have done the ruining.

[nescac1]

Good to see the Ephs get back on the winning side of the ledger (and to clinch a winning record for the season) in tough conditions at Hamilton.  Both teams struggles with the elements leading to a lot of turnovers and dropped balls. 

Just a few comments on the Ephs.  Getting TJ Rothmann back was big for the defense, as was getting Justin Nelson back for the offense, who looked like himself for maybe the first time all year.  Nelson was definitely the key player of the game on offense for the Ephs.  The D is still missing two key senior starters, but frosh Coleston Smith does look like a keeper at outside linebacker.  Getting Amyhr Barber back would be huge, but he may be out for the year, I'm not sure.  On offense, Carter Begel is a tough, physical running back with good cutting ability.  He's not quite as explosive down the field at Dozier.  If Dozier can come back this year, they will be a heck of a 1-2 punch.  And they should be a great 1-2 TB punch for the next few seasons. 

Williams used a lot of "heavy" package this game, with two reserve offensive linemen getting some playing time.  In some of those, they did something I don't think I've ever seen.  The starting C would move to a blocking H-back position, and a frosh back-up center would sprint into the game and handle the center spot (if I was seeing what was happening correctly).  To me, that seems like it would be very disruptive to the rhythm of the offense, especially a no-huddle offense, where so much depends on the center and QB being on the same page.  Not sure why the starting center, rather than a back-up lineman, would need to be the extra blocker.  But, while it was really weird to see, I have faith in Raymond and I'm sure he has his reasons!

Seems like Colby has a bright future under the new coach, and with a talented young QB.  He just needs a few recruiting years I imagine.  Amherst and Trinity are clearly a notch above everyone else in the league right now.  I'd be pretty stunned if Trinity made a switch back at QB given the differential in efficiency since the back-up came in.  Trinity has ridiculous weapons on offense and just needs a dude to get them the ball in positions where they can make plays.  Next week's game should be quite a battle. 

[Nescacman]

Good to see the Ephs get back on the winning side of the ledger (and to clinch a winning record for the season) in tough conditions at Hamilton.  Both teams struggles with the elements leading to a lot of turnovers and dropped balls. 

Just a few comments on the Ephs.  Getting TJ Rothmann back was big for the defense, as was getting Justin Nelson back for the offense, who looked like himself for maybe the first time all year.  Nelson was definitely the key player of the game on offense for the Ephs.  The D is still missing two key senior starters, but frosh Coleston Smith does look like a keeper at outside linebacker.  Getting Amyhr Barber back would be huge, but he may be out for the year, I'm not sure.  On offense, Carter Begel is a tough, physical running back with good cutting ability.  He's not quite as explosive down the field at Dozier.  If Dozier can come back this year, they will be a heck of a 1-2 punch.  And they should be a great 1-2 TB punch for the next few seasons. 

Williams used a lot of "heavy" package this game, with two reserve offensive linemen getting some playing time.  In some of those, they did something I don't think I've ever seen.  The starting C would move to a blocking H-back position, and a frosh back-up center would sprint into the game and handle the center spot (if I was seeing what was happening correctly).  To me, that seems like it would be very disruptive to the rhythm of the offense, especially a no-huddle offense, where so much depends on the center and QB being on the same page.  Not sure why the starting center, rather than a back-up lineman, would need to be the extra blocker.  But, while it was really weird to see, I have faith in Raymond and I'm sure he has his reasons!

Seems like Colby has a bright future under the new coach, and with a talented young QB.  He just needs a few recruiting years I imagine.  Amherst and Trinity are clearly a notch above everyone else in the league right now.  I'd be pretty stunned if Trinity made a switch back at QB given the differential in efficiency since the back-up came in.  Trinity has ridiculous weapons on offense and just needs a dude to get them the ball in positions where they can make plays.  Next week's game should be quite a battle.

We agree on the Hartford State QB "situation"...

We are sure HS8-o will have some words of wisdom for us all on that topic...

[Trin9-0]

Over 1,000 pages of NESCAC football posts since 2005 but how much has really changed? Once again the conference champion will be either Trinity or Amherst, with the title to be decided on Saturday in Hartford.

It's sure to be another classic between the two premier programs in the NESCAC over the past 15 years. Both have very stout defenses, Amherst leads the league in points allowed (8.6 per game) while Trinity is second giving up 10.6 points per game. Trinity leads in yards allowed per game with 204.9 while Amherst has given up 227.4 yards per game.

Trinity leads the league in every major statistical offensive category and have looked even more impressive, or at the very least, more efficient with Lambert relieving Vazanno at quarterback. Amherst is no slouch offensively, ranking second in total yards per game (391.1) but still averaging 118.3 fewer yards than league leader, Trinity (509.4).

In their six games against common opponents Trinity has outscored their competitors by an average of 35 points while the margin of victory for Amherst is 16 points per game. The toughest common opponent has been Tufts who the Mammoths beat by 6 on Saturday while Trinity won by 14 over the Jumbos.

While nothingbutnescac lists Amherst as the favorite to win the NESCAC, I'd have to give the nod to Trinity. They've been more impressive against common opponents and their loss to Williams has looked more like an aberration as the season has gone on. When you take into account that the game is being played in The Coop, where the Bantams have won 69 of their last 71 games, I would give Trinity a slight edge to earn the school's first NESCAC three-peat since winning four straight from '02-'05.

[Nescacman]

Over 1,000 pages of NESCAC football posts since 2005 but how much has really changed? Once again the conference champion will be either Trinity or Amherst, with the title to be decided on Saturday in Hartford.

It's sure to be another classic between the two premier programs in the NESCAC over the past 15 years. Both have very stout defenses, Amherst leads the league in points allowed (8.6 per game) while Trinity is second giving up 10.6 points per game. Trinity leads in yards allowed per game with 204.9 while Amherst has given up 227.4 yards per game.

Trinity leads the league in every major statistical offensive category and have looked even more impressive, or at the very least, more efficient with Lambert relieving Vazanno at quarterback. Amherst is no slouch offensively, ranking second in total yards per game (391.1) but still averaging 118.3 fewer yards than league leader, Trinity (509.4).

In their six games against common opponents Trinity has outscored their competitors by an average of 35 points while the margin of victory for Amherst is 16 points per game. The toughest common opponent has been Tufts who the Mammoths beat by 6 on Saturday while Trinity won by 14 over the Jumbos.

While nothingbutnescac lists Amherst as the favorite to win the NESCAC, I'd have to give the nod to Trinity. They've been more impressive against common opponents and their loss to Williams has looked more like an aberration as the season has gone on. When you take into account that the game is being played in The Coop, where the Bantams have won 69 of their last 71 games, I would give Trinity a slight edge to earn the school's first NESCAC three-peat since winning four straight from '02-'05.

Predictable comments from Middletown...but what about the QB situation??? Who's the starter???

For what it's worth, our early analysis has us leaning towards Hartford State given the "home coop" advantage....