FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[JoeBag]

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....

The decision has been made but should not be disclosed. Better to have the Lord Mammoths prepare for two different QB's.

[lumbercat]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney with an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

[Nescacman]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney w ith an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

Of course you meant HCOF Raymond and the Ephs....last we checked HCOF Murray was still at Hamilton...

[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....

The decision has been made but should not be disclosed. Better to have the Lord Mammoths prepare for two different QB's.

Yes it has and our sources tell us it is the FY young Seamus...

[TheFlock]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney with an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

Taking nothing away from Coach Mills, his Lord Mammoths lost to an even more inferior Williams team with less than 65 players, one year and one week ago, in what inevitably was a Championship Game.  Jealousy gets you nowhere, Lumbercat.  We wonder if Trinity didn't recruit your son, thus your animosity towards our Coach Devanney.

[JoeBag]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney with an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

1) Play calling- Little to no diversity in the passing game. Trin ran vertical routs all day.
2) QB Performance- 14 for 44 with 2 picks. Both accuracy and decision making were off.
3) Secondary- Got smoked on two long balls that resulted in TD's in spite of playing cover 2.
4) Williams came to play and were flying to the ball on defense. They were a much better team in week 3 than they are now.

Williams outplayed and outcoached Trinity and deserved to win, plain and simple.

[lumbercat]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney with an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

Taking nothing away from Coach Mills, his Lord Mammoths lost to an even more inferior Williams team with less than 65 players, one year and one week ago, in what inevitably was a Championship Game.  Jealousy gets you nowhere, Lumbercat.  We wonder if Trinity didn't recruit your son, thus your animosity towards our Coach Devanney.


Flock-
Not accurate, kind of a silly reach on your part.  Trinity did recruit my son....for hockey.

[lumbercat]

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney w ith an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

Of course you meant HCOF Raymond and the Ephs....last we checked HCOF Murray was still at Hamilton...

Yes, Raymond thanks NMan

[nescac1]

Williams was probably the healthiest it has been all season in the Trinity game.  And in the Tufts and Middlebury games, the Ephs were very, very banged up.  For a team with well-chronicled lack of experienced depth, that made all the difference.  Also, TJ Rothmann had just an epic performance in that one.  Plus, Trinity does seem to be playing more efficient football since the QB change. 

Also, the Ephs in their five wins won the turnover battle 12-3.  In their two losses, they lost 1-4.  Sometimes, football is not rocket science.  Williams can play with anyone when reasonably healthy but the Ephs have little margin for error and will need to at least be even in the turnover department to have success in the Little Three games. 

One other player to watch for the Ephs is frosh Dan Vaughn.  He started the year as a QB, but was converted to WR before the Hamilton game and made a few nice plays including a TD reception -- not bad for his first week as a receiver.  He is the third different guy (I believe due at least in part to injuries that have depleted the receiver position) to be tried in the Ephs WR/ fly-back position.  While new to the position he clearly has some good athletic talent. 

[The Mole]

I am new to the board and an outsider, I have no affiliation with any NESCAC schools. However, I am a longtime fan of D3 sports and colleges. As one of the premier (if not the #1) D3 conferences in the country combining academics and athletics, I have been somewhat surprise at what appears to be more than just banter on here. I am all for the trash-talking and good natured bravado, etc., but there is serious vitriol regarding Trinity.

I can pick up on the inferences and innuendo, but am curious if I am missing something. As a former player and coach, I always had disdain for certain opponents for a variety of reasons, usually that we could not beat them. Or, "they had an admissions and financial aid advantage." Or a personality conflict with a coaching staff or things said during recruiting.

These are all great institutions with great traditions. Am I missing something?

Joe Bag-
well stated- Mills is a master and the best coach in the league. Lord Jeffrey at Trinity is recruiter, an administrator and a talker....but not a game coach--- as evidenced by the Williams loss this year where an inferior team with a 65 man roster took Jeff to school.  Murray and the Ephs made a monkey out of Devanney with an inferior team.....how did the mighty Bantams lose that game ?

Taking nothing away from Coach Mills, his Lord Mammoths lost to an even more inferior Williams team with less than 65 players, one year and one week ago, in what inevitably was a Championship Game.  Jealousy gets you nowhere, Lumbercat.  We wonder if Trinity didn't recruit your son, thus your animosity towards our Coach Devanney.


Flock-
Not accurate, kind of a silly reach on your part.  Trinity did recruit my son....for hockey.

[Nescacman]

I am new to the board and an outsider, I have no affiliation with any NESCAC schools. However, I am a longtime fan of D3 sports and colleges. As one of the premier (if not the #1) D3 conferences in the country combining academics and athletics, I have been somewhat surprise at what appears to be more than just banter on here. I am all for the trash-talking and good natured bravado, etc., but there is serious vitriol regarding Trinity.

I can pick up on the inferences and innuendo, but am curious if I am missing something. As a former player and coach, I always had disdain for certain opponents for a variety of reasons, usually that we could not beat them. Or, "they had an admissions and financial aid advantage." Or a personality conflict with a coaching staff or things said during recruiting.

These are all great institutions with great traditions. Am I missing something?

Oh boy, where do we start!!!

As the leader of the anti-Hartford State brigade, we'll kick this off...

1. Hartford State is good at football....pretty much always good. They are the Patriots of the NESCAC (despite BB being a Wesleyan alum). People outside of NE hate the Patriots....people outside of Hartford State hate the Bantams...it's also less about them winning all the time but how they win.
2. How they win...numerous times, they have run up the score for no apparent reason.
3. They have an admissions edge...Hartford State is the easiest school to get into in the NESCAC among the schools that play football.... They use more "tips" than any other NESCAC football program does for football....that means they get kids into HS that are not getting into any other school in the NESCAC...how do we know this? We are actively involved in recruiting, speak to a lot of kids (and parents) and speak to NESCAC coaches around the league.
4. HCOF Devanney is not particularly well liked (and we are sure he doesn't care).
5. HS players are cocky and do not practice particularly good sportsmanship....go back to the Board to last season and you will see some HS player pics that will definitely piss you off.
6. The "Coop" is probably the most annoying place to play for visitors in the NESCAC....Go to a game and you will see....Not only is the tailgating area horrible but the damn rooster will drive you nuts (all by design)....It's also probably one of the reasons that HS has the biggest home field advantage in the NESCAC.
7. Hs8-o. 'Nuff said.

With all that being said, a lot of the comments made about Hartford State are tongue in cheek and probably made more out of jealousy. HS has put a lot of their athletic "eggs in the basket" into the football program, just as other schools have prioritized other sports (for example, HS MLax is not good) and it has worked out for them. It makes wins against them by schools like TTUN this year even more satisfying...sort of like David vs. Goliath... 

At the end of the day, remember one thing....

http://wesleyanrejects.com

[Trin9-0]

I am new to the board and an outsider, I have no affiliation with any NESCAC schools. However, I am a longtime fan of D3 sports and colleges. As one of the premier (if not the #1) D3 conferences in the country combining academics and athletics, I have been somewhat surprise at what appears to be more than just banter on here. I am all for the trash-talking and good natured bravado, etc., but there is serious vitriol regarding Trinity.

I can pick up on the inferences and innuendo, but am curious if I am missing something. As a former player and coach, I always had disdain for certain opponents for a variety of reasons, usually that we could not beat them. Or, "they had an admissions and financial aid advantage." Or a personality conflict with a coaching staff or things said during recruiting.

These are all great institutions with great traditions. Am I missing something?

An astute observation Mole, though I believe you likely answered your own question a few day ago:

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.

To further illustrate your point; here's Trinity's record against each of their NESCAC foes since 2001:
Amherst:11-6
Williams: 14-4
Middlebury: 14-4
Tufts: 17-1
Wesleyan: 16-1
Bates: 18-0
Bowdoin: 18-0
Colby: 18-0
Hamilton: 18-0

That's a combined record of 144-16 with Amherst comprising nearly half of the league's wins against the Bantams. Not surprisingly, the posters affiliated with Amherst, Williams, and Middlebury (the only schools with more than one win during this period) rarely, if ever, take shots at Trinity. Rather it's fans of the schools who have a combined 1 victory in past decade and a half vs. Trin who find it necessary to throw stones.

As the unabashed Wesleyan homer, Nescacman, very accurately stated:

...a lot of the comments made about Hartford State are tongue in cheek and probably made more out of jealousy.

Thankfully whining on message boards doesn't impact results on Saturdays so the Bants will just keep on winning.

[The Mole]

LOL! This is great commentary. Appears I am not missing anything. There is a FY player at Wesleyan from my son's high school. Last year, we had a player at Trinity. I promise to not pick sides

[nescac1]

I just find it amazing that Nescacman or someone else pays money annually to a hosting company for the "wesleyanrejects" url.

[Nescacman]

I just find it amazing that Nescacman or someone else pays money annually to a hosting company for the "wesleyanrejects" url.

You have to admit, it's pretty funny and whomever is paying for it, IOO, money well spent...what makes it funnier is it is actually true..

http://wesleyanrejects.com