FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[SpringSt7]

Interesting picks--was about to say there really was no way you could go wrong this year, the way the production was spread out across all teams. While Jernigan didn't have the best numbers there's really no way you can make a compelling case against him. Maldjian sharing the award with Helbig was surprising but nothing worth losing sleep over.

As for all-league, can't say I'm a fan of the liberal nature of the positions and how many guys at each spot. For example, there are 16 first team offensive players. There are 14 first team defensive players. There are 14 second team offensive players, and there are 15 second team defensive players. I understand that there are a lot of players worthy of all-league, but it's supposed to be difficult for a reason.

On an unrelated note, very happy for the 5 Williams seniors who earned all-league honors for the first time in their careers, the first time their class was honored at all. Fitting recognition for their leadership in turning the program around.

[Dice Mafia]

Actually, Nick Helbig of Wesleyan wins DROY.

[nescac1]

Well, co-DROY with the Middlebury TB. 

Surprised to see Schofer picked over Girard for Trinity.  Both great players, obviously. 

As an Eph fan, glad to see all the guys recognized, especially as SpringSt7 noted the five seniors who have really flown under the radar for their entire careers and even this season.  Two Eph frosh of note had fantastic seasons and didn't make the team, Joel Nicholas and Drew Michalek, but the coaches are always going to go with seniors over frosh if it's a close call.  I expect both those guys have multiple all-league honors in their future. 

Only two CBB guys, TOTAL, on the two teams.  Any discussion of coaching of those programs always has to account for the fact that the talent disparity remains large, and despite coaching changes at all three schools, fairly constant over time ...

[bantamweight]

  Surprised to see Schofer picked over Girard for Trinity.  Both great players, obviously. 

Nod to the senior.

[Nescacman]

They are out.  Midd sweeps all individual awards:

https://www.nescac.com/sports/fball/2019-20/honors/allconference

Nescac1....thanks for posting the link...we hate to call you out but Middlebury DID NOT sweep all of the individuals awards....Wes FY DT Nick Helbig was co-rookie of the year along with the Middlebury FY RB...

And for whatever it's worth, we think you could have gone with Maimaron as OPOTY and Thaw as DPOTY and not gotten any arguments....however, we understand why the two who were selected won the awards....

Congratulations to all of the student-athletes selected on an amazing 2019 season!!!

[SpringSt7]

You could have named a number of players OPOY and DPOY--the production was quite spread out. Ultimately cannot fault the coaches for emphasizing winning and team success over all.

[Nescacman]

And just to rank the teams by number of players on the All-NESCAC Teams (65 slots total):

1. Wesleyan: 13
2. TTUN: 12
3. Middlebury:11
4. Hartford State: 9
5. Amhurst: 7
5. Hamilton: 7
7. Tufts: 4
8. Bowdoin: 1
8. Colby: 1
10. Bates: 0

[lumbercat]

Can't believe Gowetski at Bowdoin was snubbed.

[PBPOP20]

Can't believe Gowetski at Bowdoin was snubbed.

That is a travesty..... there are NOT 10 LB in this league better than Gowetski.  Gross.

[SpringSt7]

And just to rank the teams by number of players on the All-NESCAC Teams (65 slots total):

1. Wesleyan: 13
2. TTUN: 12
3. Middlebury:11
4. Hartford State: 9
5. Amhurst: 7
5. Hamilton: 7
7. Tufts: 4
8. Bowdoin: 1
8. Colby: 1
10. Bates: 0

Additionally:

Freshmen: 4
Sophomores: 8 (Estevez counted once, for purposes of # of players returning)
Juniors: 18
Seniors: 33

Are the seniors that good or are the coaches favoring them a little too much?

[Trin9-0]

And just to rank the teams by number of players on the All-NESCAC Teams (65 slots total):

1. Wesleyan: 13
2. TTUN: 12
3. Middlebury:11
4. Hartford State: 9
5. Amhurst: 7
5. Hamilton: 7
7. Tufts: 4
8. Bowdoin: 1
8. Colby: 1
10. Bates: 0

What's more promising for Wes & Williams are the number of All NESCAC players returning next year (seven apiece, including four sophomores for the Cardinals). Midd and Trinity bring back four All NESCAC selections each, while Hamilton returns three, Tufts and Amherst just two and Colby one.

[Nescacman]

Can't believe Gowetski at Bowdoin was snubbed.

That is a travesty..... there are NOT 10 LB in this league better than Gowetski.  Gross.

When you are 0-9, it's tough getting your players post season awards...just shows how good Richam was especially when you factor in the Polars sub-par O-line and that he had to play on an offense without a viable NESCAC QB...

We think the reason that Gowetski didn't get picked was a combo of Bowdoin's record this year, HCOF Hammer doesn't yet know how to play the "game" with the other more experienced NESCAC HCOFs, the NESCAC had a lot of good LBs this year (you could have made the case for others that did not make it as well, Chase Pratt from Wes as an example), and Bowdoin's home stat keepers are notorious for padding the stat sheet....none of these factors helped him...

Not saying we agree with the snub, but those are the facts....if Bowdoin gets better, they will have more players receive post-season honors...it's just that simple...

[middhoops]

Unless I missed something, there is no offensive or defensive ROY.  The report says Co-ROYs.
Has this happened in the past?

[DC 53]

https://athletics.hamilton.edu/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20191119j64zrt

[Nescacman]

Unless I missed something, there is no offensive or defensive ROY.  The report says Co-ROYs.
Has this happened in the past?

Middhoops...The last time the league had separately named/identified offensive and defensive ROYs was in 2004...Interestingly, in 2005, there was no ROY and in 2006 the league went to their current format of either naming one ROY (could be either from the offense or defense) or co-ROYs (2 offense, 2 defense, or one from each)...Guess it depends on who the FY student-athletes were that excelled that season and the whim of the 'CAC HCOFs.....