FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[gridiron]

Harvard Yale game at Fenway this past weekend was a great take. Too bad NESCAC teams can't enjoy a similar venue, but that's the advantage of being larger universities with respective throngs of alums who can attend and buy concessions!

[umhb2001]

Of the teams remaining, who are statistically the best at each position?

Passing:

David Tammaro     Johns Hopkins     3330 yards
Broc Rutter            North Central     3275 yards

Receiving:

Jalon Hibbs            Centre                1148 Yards

Rushing:

Markeith Miller        UMHB                1401 yards

Interceptions per Game

Jefferson Fritz         UMHB                 8 Ints  .7 per game  135 Return yards

Tackles for Loss

Frankie Feaster       Muhlenberg         20.5        1.9 per game

Field Goal Percentage

Anthony Avila         UMHB               .909 FG Percentage

Kickoff Returns

Brayden Corona       Whitworth         316 Return Yards    26.3 Avg

Punt Returns

KJ Miller              UMHB             593 Return Yards
Aaron Sims          UMHB             424 Return Yards

Lots of good stuff here. Should be great for stat tracking this Saturday.

[The Mole]

I posted a message recently about the MAC vs Centennial. I was surprised the Centennial is 72-45 vs the MAC head to head going back to 1998. How would the NESCAC fare in football vs the MAC? Would the NESCAC win 2/3 of the games versus Del Val, Lycoming, Albright, Widener, et alia over a 21 year period? The top and middle (Trinity, Amherst, Willams, Tufts, Wesleyan, Middlebury) certainly compares favorably to the Centennial. However, the bottom (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton) is just not competitive. I can post the records again going back to 1998. 40% of the teams are consistently just terrible. For example since 1998 Bates, Bowdoin and Hamilton have combined for 122 wins. Trinity (137) and Amherst (129) have more by themselves and Williams & Middlebury are close to that number (113 and 109). The top has fattened up on the same teams year in and out in 3 different decades. Everyone goes through an up and down cycle, but it destroys the overall level of competition in the league to have 3 or 4 anchors.

NESCACMAN -- Can't argue with you on the Bowdoin Head Coaching position.  History backs your POV for sure.

BTW...has anyone seen the NEWMAC teams like MIT play?  I saw that they got blown out in the D3 Playoffs by Johns Hopkins.  Too bad the NESCAC does not let their champion go to the playoffs like the rest of the sports in the league.  Gotta believe that Trinity or Amherst would make a good showing.

This is all opinion...

Having seen MIT play, they would be in the lower echelon of the NESCAC fer sure...we base that on our observations and kids that we have recruited who went to MIT and started but were "non-players" according to NESCAC coaches...interesting tidbit on MIT...admissions does not help athletes including football players....athletes need to get accepted at MIT solely based on academic merit...

Our opinion on the Centenial v NESCAC discussion...pretty comparable footballwise...Hopkins probably slightly better than whomever the best team is in the NESCAC on any given year...rest of the league, similar, with possibly a slight edge to the NESCAC...if you look at other sports as a comparison, NESCAC does better than the Centential in the Learfield Directors Cup standings (NESCAC had 4 teams in the top 10, Centenial had 1 and that 1,,,Hopkins...was the only one in the Top 50...NESCAC had 7)...btw, MIT came in 2nd in the 2017-2018 Learfield Cup standings...

[Trin9-0]

The All-NESCAC teams and award winners have been officially announced: https://www.nescac.com/sports/fball/2018-19/honors/allconference

I had correctly picked the winners for every category with the exception of McDonald sharing the OPY award with Chipouras (my pick) and Hersch sharing Rookie of the Year with Lambert (my pick).

Trinity and Amherst lead the way with 12 All Conference selections each. 10 of Trinity's, and 8 of Amherst's were first team choices.
Amazingly, 7 of Trinity's All Conference picks are returning next year (4 of Amherst's selections return for the Mammoths).

Congrats as well to Jeff Devanney on his fourth NESCAC Coach of the Year Award (2008, 2012, 2016, 2018).

[Hawk196]

Prospective NESCAC student athlete. My son is being considered for a number of NESCAC schools (no Maine schools, 6hr drive too much).

How would you rank them academically and football-wise (first to last)....very important decision(of course). Also D2 Bentley, strong business school and that separates them from the rest of the schools in that conference.

TIA

P.S. - Brown was a consideration, but with the head coach (Estes) being let go, the recruiting got screwed up(finding out whats up now)

[nescac1]

I'm an Eph fan, admittedly, but Williams' program is one, at most two, years away from returning to pre-Kelton levels, when the Ephs were 1 or 2, which is reflected in this ranking.

Academically:
Williams/Amherst
Bowdoin/Midd
Tufts/Wesleyan
Colby/Bates/Hamilton
Trinity

Football:
Trinity
Williams/Amherst
Midd/Tufts/Wesleyan
Colby/Hamilton
Bates
Bowdoin

I'd say the academic differences are very narrow, much narrower than the football differences. 

[Hawk196]

Thanks for the reply.

Thoughts on Bentley? Academics/football/conference. I know this is a D3 board, but they are pursuing my son and I don't know much about them other than a very good business school

[The Mole]

Very strong business program and close to financial hub of Boston. I know a former hoops player that had a tremendous experience there and gushes about the network. Their starting QB is from the local public school here in suburban Philly. Cannot believe he did not go to a larger program. He's doing pretty well there. Also on a board with punters dad. Kid loves the school, dad feels coaching staff could be better, but they are younger he said.They went 4-6 with a bunch of close losses this year. They are in the NE-10 which gets a bid to the D2 playoffs. New Haven won that conference this year. D2 not known for its academics, but Bentley would certainly be one to consider. Check out Stonehill as well. Good luck to your son.

Thanks for the reply.

Thoughts on Bentley? Academics/football/conference. I know this is a D3 board, but they are pursuing my son and I don't know much about them other than a very good business school

[Hawk196]

Thank you!

One of the things I look at is "acceptance rate". I have an older boy playing at an Ivy and I think they range from 5% - 11%, NESCACs range in the teens, Bentley is 42% and Stonehill (another D2 that has been calling) is 72%

I think he is going to commit to a NESCAC school**, but the Bentley situation has me curious (scholarship/good business school)

**I will reveal the NESCAC school after he commits and look forward to 4+ years on the board

[Jonny Utah]

Thank you!

One of the things I look at is "acceptance rate". I have an older boy playing at an Ivy and I think they range from 5% - 11%, NESCACs range in the teens, Bentley is 42% and Stonehill (another D2 that has been calling) is 72%

I think he is going to commit to a NESCAC school**, but the Bentley situation has me curious (scholarship/good business school)

**I will reveal the NESCAC school after he commits and look forward to 4+ years on the board

Bentley is a solid school and if they give you money, It might be worth it.  Campus wise the Nescac schools are much nicer imo except for maybe Tufts and Colby. 

[Hawk196]

what about the campus at Tuft or Colby don't you like?

[Jonny Utah]

what about the campus at Tuft or Colby don't you like?

They are fine, but I always thought there was something special about Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Hamilton, and Amherst colleges that I don't see at Bentley, Tufts or Colby.

It all depends on what you like and what experience you want in college.  Williams and Middlebury are nice rural campuses while Trinity and Wesleyan are suburban type campuses with Trinity being a semi-gated college.

Probably much more to do off campus at Tufts or Trinity, but if you are into outdoors stuff, Williams and Hamilton might be up your alley. 

I don't know what it is about Colby that I never liked.  Seemed like it was built in the 1960s while the other Nescac schools have some nicer/older buildings.  I should say I haven't been to Colby in a long time but there are more posters here who can give you better opinions on that stuff.

[footballluv]

what about the campus at Tuft or Colby don't you like?

They are fine, but I always thought there was something special about Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Hamilton, and Amherst colleges that I don't see at Bentley, Tufts or Colby.

It all depends on what you like and what experience you want in college.  Williams and Middlebury are nice rural campuses while Trinity and Wesleyan are suburban type campuses with Trinity being a semi-gated college.

Probably much more to do off campus at Tufts or Trinity, but if you are into outdoors stuff, Williams and Hamilton might be up your alley. 

I don't know what it is about Colby that I never liked.  Seemed like it was built in the 1960s while the other Nescac schools have some nicer/older buildings.  I should say I haven't been to Colby in a long time but there are more posters here who can give you better opinions on that stuff.

Johnny Utah by mother always used to tell me if I dont know to just not say and it is clear to me that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

A football blog and no where to get advice regarding choices of some of the best schools in the country. I have relatives, close friends and business associates that are alumni. No bad choices and if you can afford to please let the young man choose.

[JoeBag]

Thanks for the reply.

Thoughts on Bentley? Academics/football/conference. I know this is a D3 board, but they are pursuing my son and I don't know much about them other than a very good business school

I have seen over 25 NESCAC games and 10 NE10 games in the last couple of years. Also, my son was recruited by both several NE10 schools as well as several NESCAC schools. He is now at Trinity and has had a great experience. It was the right school for him athletically and academically.

In general I would say that the NE10 has more "ballers". The kids are a little bit bigger, faster, stronger. Game day environment is similar. I would have to say there is more alumni support for NESCAC on both game day as well as helping the kids with their careers.

I would encourage your son to take official visits at all the schools that interest him. He needs to talk to the players about the school and coaching staff. This will allow him to make the a decision that is best for him and him alone.

[Jonny Utah]

what about the campus at Tuft or Colby don't you like?

They are fine, but I always thought there was something special about Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Hamilton, and Amherst colleges that I don't see at Bentley, Tufts or Colby.

It all depends on what you like and what experience you want in college.  Williams and Middlebury are nice rural campuses while Trinity and Wesleyan are suburban type campuses with Trinity being a semi-gated college.

Probably much more to do off campus at Tufts or Trinity, but if you are into outdoors stuff, Williams and Hamilton might be up your alley. 

I don't know what it is about Colby that I never liked.  Seemed like it was built in the 1960s while the other Nescac schools have some nicer/older buildings.  I should say I haven't been to Colby in a long time but there are more posters here who can give you better opinions on that stuff.

Johnny Utah by mother always used to tell me if I dont know to just not say and it is clear to me that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

A football blog and no where to get advice regarding choices of some of the best schools in the country. I have relatives, close friends and business associates that are alumni. No bad choices and if you can afford to please let the young man choose.

You and your mom can settle down.  The guy asked for input and and a few anonymous posters gave some.  I'm guessing he isn't going to base his sons future on what Jonny Utah said on the d3football message board.  And tell me what I have no idea about.....I'd love to hear it.  He said he wasn't interested in the Maine schools anyway, so what do you care.

But don't go to Colby, that place is horrible, bad food, ugly girls, mean professors, a lot of snow, no parking, long drive, snobby alumni etc.