FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[ColbyFootball]

Just checking the revised list of commitments from the above clinic, Colby now has 13 names listed, up from 9 two days earlier. One addition, Liam Daly, a C,DT, at 6' 290 from St. John's HS in Mass. was second team all state. Like Colby Football, I'm starting to get excited.
Coach Cosgrove is bringing in the talent.

I am very excited with what Cosgrove is bringing to Colby. I can't wait for the season to start to watch them compete.

[fulbakdad]

Another problem with the recruiting issue is the recruit being realistic about their talent/potential.  Watching my son and his teammates going through the process almost 10 years ago was eye opening.  Every kid thought they were D1 talent.  While there were some good players he played with, only 1 went D1.  And his career was spent with a lot of "sideline" time.  My son and others chose D3 and had great experiences.  Watching kids going now you can tell a lot of D3 programs and High Schools are trying to make the D3 selection on plane with the D1/D2 with signing days, "Blessed to receive an offer from" tweets, etc.

[Jonny Utah]

Another problem with the recruiting issue is the recruit being realistic about their talent/potential.  Watching my son and his teammates going through the process almost 10 years ago was eye opening.  Every kid thought they were D1 talent.  While there were some good players he played with, only 1 went D1.  And his career was spent with a lot of "sideline" time.  My son and others chose D3 and had great experiences.  Watching kids going now you can tell a lot of D3 programs and High Schools are trying to make the D3 selection on plane with the D1/D2 with signing days, "Blessed to receive an offer from" tweets, etc.

Yea but in the end that process should play itself out.  You are either getting a football scholarship or you aren't.  And now it is very public.

[JEFFFAN]

Another problem with the recruiting issue is the recruit being realistic about their talent/potential.  Watching my son and his teammates going through the process almost 10 years ago was eye opening.  Every kid thought they were D1 talent.  While there were some good players he played with, only 1 went D1.  And his career was spent with a lot of "sideline" time.  My son and others chose D3 and had great experiences.  Watching kids going now you can tell a lot of D3 programs and High Schools are trying to make the D3 selection on plane with the D1/D2 with signing days, "Blessed to receive an offer from" tweets, etc.

Yea but in the end that process should play itself out.  You are either getting a football scholarship or you aren't.  And now it is very public.

I have "counseled", if you will, innumerable families and kids in another sport about D1 vs D3.  100% right that every kid thinks they are D1, or most of them do.    The best way to look at it as a parent, or a kid, is that in this day and age the market is incredibly efficient.   If you are a D1 player, then D1 coaches are talking to and recruiting you.   If they aren't, guess what - you are not D1 nor ever will be.  Just the law of nature more than anything else.  You might be incredibly skilled but if you are not fast enough or big enough, it doesn't matter how bad you want it.   If D3 coaches are calling, then you are a D3 player ... and so on.

Great point about the D1 kids sitting on benches collecting splinters.  I always tell kids who are in that never never land of maybe very low D1 or D3 that if you really want to play - NEED to play to be satisfied - then go D3.   If you are okay with sitting on a bench at the D1 level, being a good teammate, then by all means go D1 but eliminate your expectations of playing.

And ... in the end ... go where you get the best education.

[Trin9-0]

I certainly agree with JEFFFAN that quality trumps quantity. However, I also think the number of commits is more relevant in Colby's case. Even among the other bottom-tier programs (Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton), only Colby has failed to reach the roster limit in each of the last two seasons. I would assume this means cuts have been taking place everywhere in the NESCAC except Waterville.

If nothing else, a larger than normal incoming class shows interest in the program. Additionally, the possibility of being cut should create more competition and improve the level of off-season commitment among players now potentially fighting for a roster spot.

I think the Mules are still a long way off from reaching even the middle-tier programs, but you need to crawl before you can walk.

[footballluv]

I certainly agree with JEFFFAN that quality trumps quantity. However, I also think the number of commits is more relevant in Colby's case. Even among the other bottom-tier programs (Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton), only Colby has failed to reach the roster limit in each of the last two seasons. I would assume this means cuts have been taking place everywhere in the NESCAC except Waterville.

If nothing else, a larger than normal incoming class shows interest in the program. Additionally, the possibility of being cut should create more competition and improve the level of off-season commitment among players now potentially fighting for a roster spot.

I think the Mules are still a long way off from reaching even the middle-tier programs, but you need to crawl before you can walk.

well said

[letsgo!]

When do captain held spring practices take place?

Do you think NESCAC will ever go to official spring practices like traditional football programs/leagues do?     
Even if its non contact. So many benefits involved with a team getting together during an offseason.

[NescacPhanatic]

I think most do...unofficially

[amh63]

Stick my nose here while the basketball season heads to March Madness...yes even in D3
A number of Nescac schools with no entries in the ongoing Winter Sports are off to the Spring Sports!
A number of student athletes in the Nescac have D1 talent in other sports than football. They come to Nescac schools to play multi-sports.  The primary kicker on the Amherst football team turned down some West Coast D1 offers so that he could also play baseball.  He will be a starting pitcher/in the rotation for the new HC of Baseball this Spring....going to Florida soon.  Recall a Harvard transfer to Amherst that excelled in three sports....reason for the transfer.

[NBC93]

Not sure how many could make it to spring practices while studying abroad or playing another sport. The freedom to live life apart from one sport is one of the major draws to NESCAC programs.

[letsgo!]

Valid points guys. Thanks for the insight.

[footballluv]

Some made the choice of NESCAC Football because there is no spring football. My player is in Prague.  Just saying.

[NED3Guy]

As far as I know the entire nescac has a "no non traditional season" policy for every sport. No fall lax, no spring football, no fall baseball, no spring soccer....

I can't see that changing anytime soon.

[NBC93]

I would like to pose this question again to fans and followers of each program. Did any of you see flashes of greatness or even quiet potential from some underclassmen that might have a chance to step up next season?
For instance, I watched every Amherst game and a few practices last year and while they are losing Hickey at RB, we already saw quite a bit of Biafra Okoronkwo there as they split quite a bit of time. I dont he will surprise anyone if he has a solid season in 2019. But a name that some may not know is junior Eric Jung at RB. I was impressed at early practices and when he did get a few carries in games he ran with hostility and quick feet in traffic.
I'm interested to hear all of your thoughts on your teams.

[nescac1]

I think this is harder in football than in other sports, but here are a few young players to keep an eye on next year, NBC93:

OJ Armstrong, Tufts -- very quick receiver who should get a lot of opportunities given that the Tufts' receiving corp is decimated by graduation.
Dan Vaughn, Williams -- an impressive athlete who was forced to move from QB to WR mid-season due to injuries in the receiving corp and showed a lot of promise that may be realized with a full off-season (I assume) at the position. 
David Estevez, Wesleyan -- highly touted recruit who should be a key player for the Cards next year either at WR or QB or both
Brian Casagrande, Trinity -- another highly touted recruit who is likely to emerge as a starter next year for the Bantams' always-loaded LB unit