FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Seems like Amherst got its two injured stars back from injury against Trinity, great timing for the Mammoths.  Williams has also had a few injured guys return in recent weeks.  Should be a really great game in Billsville.  Considering how well Williams has played all season, it would be very disappointing to finish the year at 6-3 with two rivalry game losses.  7-2 with wins at Trinity and vs. Amherst to earn a "Walk" would be a really great season, though.  On the other hand, I'm sure Amherst is surely desperate to salvage a season that has not been what anyone would have anticipated, ending the year 4-5 with four straight losses would be pretty brutal.  But beating Williams would make up for a few of those heartbreaking losses, no doubt.   Motivation and intensity will be high.  In Williams-Amherst games, history has proven that anything can happen, regardless of who is favored going in ...

[JEFFFAN]

This has been a tough season as an Amherst dad but I'm still not buying in to the notion that Amherst won't be a legitimate contender next season. The Mammoths are 2nd in the CAC in rushing, 2nd in trips to the Red Zone(turnovers and missed FGs have loomed large in 3 of 4 losses) and have at least 2 if not 3 young QBs ready to step in next season. If the younger LBs continue to mature and the offense and special teams eliminate back breaking gaffes, I'm willing to allow myself the belief that this can be the 2nd 9-0 team in NESCAC history.

From your lips to God's ears!  As I stated in an earlier post, there is no reason to believe that the sky is falling up at Amherst.   This won't be a good season and wasn't expected to be by many because of the losses from last year, especially on defense.   Yamin was an all-timer but he also had some serious three-year starter talent around him.   So no surprise that the defense hasn't been as good, especially with Kelly hurt so often.   On offense, the fact that they didn't have the senior RB come back from study abroad for the fall semester was a bit of a killer.   But - as you noted - the turnovers are so uncharacteristic for an EJ squad and they have crushed them this year.   Re next year, wouldn't bet the ranch in a very competitive NESCAC for any team to go 9-0 with a young quarterback.   Who do you think will be the QB next season?

[Trin9-0]

Trinity's game preview notes something I had forgotten. Wesleyan has lost to Trin twice in the last seven years with the league title on the line, including a 40-10 thumping in 2013 that denied the Cardinals a perfect season. I think the fact that Wes could conceivably get a share of the league title certainly helps with motivation for Trinity as they hope to avoid a four loss season for the first time since 2001.

The Bantams lead the all-time series (which dates back to 1885) 64-53-1. It's actually amazing how close this series is considering Trinity's domination over that past three-plus decades (the Bants are 32-5 against the Cards since 1986).

I believe this is Wesleyan's best chance at a win in The Coop since their last victory in Hartford in 1997. The Cardinals have an excellent pass defense allowing just 189 yards per game with 14 picks (ranking second in the league in both categories) meanwhile the Bants have thrown the most interceptions per pass attempt in the league. While Wesleyan doesn't have a strong run defense (only Colby and Bowdoin have allowed more yards on the ground this season) this just isn't one of the dominant rushing teams that have been a Trinity hallmark in years past. The Bants rank seventh in the NESCAC with just 3.49 yards per attempt.

Wesleyan also has the advantage in special teams with a better kicking percentage and punt and kickoff averages. Additionally, Trinity is the second most penalized team in the league in both number and yardage, while Wes ranks second in yardage and fifth in total penalties.

With all of that said, I think the game is essentially a pick-em and a third straight overtime game for Wesleyan wouldn't surprise me. The Cards have been mostly pedestrian on offense, ranking 6th in total yardage and 4th in scoring. Meanwhile Trinity's defense leads the league in yards allowed and is second in points allowed. Despite the interceptions, the Bantams still have a potent passing attack, and lead the league in yards per attempt and yards per completion. If Lambert can avoid turnovers, and the offense establishes some sort of running game then Trin could spoil yet another season finale for Wesleyan.

I'm probably being a bit of a homer since Trinity has been bad in close games this season (1-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less) while Wesleyan has been outstanding (4-0 in games decided by 7 or fewer points) but I'll still take the Bants to win 22-21.

[Bucket]

Does anybody know if Midd QB Jernigan practiced on Monday?

Dude, what is with your obsession w/this? You have money on the game or something?

[SpringSt7]

Does anybody know if Midd QB Jernigan practiced on Monday?

Dude, what is with your obsession w/this? You have money on the game or something?

Wanting to know if the starting QB of the first place 8-0 team is going to be healthy enough to play in the season finale? Seems fair.

[Bucket]

Does anybody know if Midd QB Jernigan practiced on Monday?

Dude, what is with your obsession w/this? You have money on the game or something?

Wanting to know if the starting QB of the first place 8-0 team is going to be healthy enough to play in the season finale? Seems fair.

Just seems to be taking D3 football fandom to an extreme: "Did he practice Monday?" (And this wasn't the first post about this either.) Either the kid plays or he doesn't. We'll find out on Saturday.

I think it's totally appropriate to discuss how the game changes whether Jernigan plays or doesn't play or plays hurt, etc. But to be seeking knowledge about whether the student practiced or not seems creepy to me.

[Nescacman]

Does anybody know if Midd QB Jernigan practiced on Monday?

We're not sure if he practiced, but we did hear that he went to the bathroom twice and had his eggs over easy for breakfast...

[Nescacman]

It seems pretty clear to objective posters that, at this point in the season, Williams is the second best team in the league. I concede that Wes is ahead of Trinity at the moment, but also stand by my prediction from a few weeks back that the Cardinals could very likely end up 5-4.

Here's how I see the rankings:

1. Middlebury
2. Williams
3. Wesleyan
4. Trinity
    Amherst
6. Hamilton
    Tufts
8. Colby
9. Bates
10. Bowdoin

Hs5-3, since you seem to like history lessons, we thought it might be interesting to rehash one of your recent posts...we think it's safe to say that Wes won't be 5-4 in 2019, even using the new math that they teach at Hartford State....

[Nescacman]

In terms of Bowdoin, the factors that you mentioned aren't very valid on a comparative basis other than lack of institutional support.   Academics are as strong or stronger at other schools (Amherst, Williams) that have very good football history, and the other factors - well, that just makes them like all of the NESCAC schools.   The one common theme seems to be that all of the coaches fail, which is either really bad luck - unlikely - or an administration that isn't wiling to reach to help get a program kick-started.   Amherst did it (somewhat disastrously although the result was fine) after the Darp years, Williams just did it with their new coach.   Every school in the country does it when they need to kickstart a program! Whey Bowdoin's admissions office and administration cannot find a way to support a new coach is a great mystery. I hope that this time they get it right because it will good for the NESCAC if Bowdoin doesn't suck.

Jeff, don't discount location either....

[IslandTime]

It seems pretty clear to objective posters that, at this point in the season, Williams is the second best team in the league. I concede that Wes is ahead of Trinity at the moment, but also stand by my prediction from a few weeks back that the Cardinals could very likely end up 5-4.

Here's how I see the rankings:

1. Middlebury
2. Williams
3. Wesleyan
4. Trinity
    Amherst
6. Hamilton
    Tufts
8. Colby
9. Bates
10. Bowdoin

Hs5-3, since you seem to like history lessons, we thought it might be interesting to rehash one of your recent posts...we think it's safe to say that Wes won't be 5-4 in 2019, even using the new math that they teach at Hartford State....

I have never been accused of being objective.
GO WES!!!

[Trin9-0]

Hs5-3, since you seem to like history lessons, we thought it might be interesting to rehash one of your recent posts...we think it's safe to say that Wes won't be 5-4 in 2019, even using the new math that they teach at Hartford State....

I've acknowledged that Wes surprised me in consecutive weeks with overtime Little Three wins. That's very different from your farcical claim of predicting Hamilton's success when in reality you picked them to finish 2-7. Speaking of your terrible projections...

NESCACMAN 2019 Preseason NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

1. Hartford State projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 8-1
2. Amhurst projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 7-2
3 (tie). Wesleyan 5-4 projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 6-3
3 (tie). The Team from Up North projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 6-3
3 (tie). Tufts projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 6-3
6. Middlebury projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 5-4
7. Colby projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 3-6
8 . Hamilton projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 2-7
9 (tie). University of Bates (Lewiston Campus) projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 1-8
9 (tie). Bowdoin projected NESCACMAN 2019 record: 1-8

You completely whiffed on everyone but Williams and the Maine schools (which everyone correctly assumed would all be terrible again). I can admit when I'm wrong. You refuse to.

I have never been accused of being objective.
GO WES!!!

No IslandTime, you're an admitted homer and I'm cool with that. So am I. Nescacman however, is a fraud who claims to not have allegiance but is just as, if not more, biased than any other poster on this board.

[middhoops]

Call me naive, even a sloppy reader, but I'm interested to see quotes of nescacman claiming not to be a 100% Wes booster in anything other than tongue in cheek.
I mean, really.  Dude picked a soph from Wes to be his ROY at midseason.
Granted, nescacman claims imaginary sources but in today's world, that falls within the normal range.
And, let's face it.  He takes a lot of time to entertain us, puts up with plenty of written abuse and comes back a few days later putting out his ratings and predictions in spite of our criticism.
I'd be somewhat more entertained if he teamed up with AlDavis, weekly. 

The imperfect balance to nescac1's always informed missives.

[MidDay]

Well said,

[JEFFFAN]

In terms of Bowdoin, the factors that you mentioned aren't very valid on a comparative basis other than lack of institutional support.   Academics are as strong or stronger at other schools (Amherst, Williams) that have very good football history, and the other factors - well, that just makes them like all of the NESCAC schools.   The one common theme seems to be that all of the coaches fail, which is either really bad luck - unlikely - or an administration that isn't wiling to reach to help get a program kick-started.   Amherst did it (somewhat disastrously although the result was fine) after the Darp years, Williams just did it with their new coach.   Every school in the country does it when they need to kickstart a program! Whey Bowdoin's admissions office and administration cannot find a way to support a new coach is a great mystery. I hope that this time they get it right because it will good for the NESCAC if Bowdoin doesn't suck.

Jeff, don't discount location either....

Location is a serious, serious challenge for the Maine schools - no doubt about it - but not an insurmountable one or those schools would stink at everything.   They don't and are in reality highly competitive in a number of sports.  So let me pose this question, one that I have posed to a good friend from Bowdoin - what are realistic goals for the Maine schools in football given history, location, etc?  In my view, CBB should aspire to be somewhere around .500 almost at best every year with a few outlier 7-2 years and maybe 2-7 years littered in the mix.   Maybe even a .400 winning percentage is a reasonable goal, again with an outlier or two along the way.   Setting long-term goals much higher than that is, IMHO, patently unrealistic and subject to great levels of disappointment.

[lumbercat]

Does anybody know if Midd QB Jernigan practiced on Monday?

Dude, what is with your obsession w/this? You have money on the game or something?

Wanting to know if the starting QB of the first place 8-0 team is going to be healthy enough to play in the season finale? Seems fair.

Just seems to be taking D3 football fandom to an extreme: "Did he practice Monday?" (And this wasn't the first post about this either.) Either the kid plays or he doesn't. We'll find out on Saturday.

I think it's totally appropriate to discuss how the game changes whether Jernigan plays or doesn't play or plays hurt, etc. But to be seeking knowledge about whether the student practiced or not seems creepy to me.

Oh come on old friend Bucket-
You're passion for Panthers basketball is no different than that- seems different for you because it's football.