FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[polbear73]

I'll revisit the Bowdoin Stadium Renovation debacle again.

What we are seeing currently is the expected level of confusion we predicted a few years back when they completed the renovations. The head scratching will probably recur now and then into the future but this is my last account of things for the new people on the board.

Not sure who made the call in Polartown but it was decided in the renovation plan that Bowdoin would vacate the "home side" of Whittier Field where they had resided for about 80 years. Somehow, in their infinite wisdom, it was determined that the Bowdoin home side would be moved across field to the traditional visitors side in front of the newly constructed metal stands and press box.

Worst decision in the history of Bowdoin Athletics!

The Bears would bequeath the home side and the great iconic grandstand to the visitors!! Folks at Bates and Colby were in disbelief.

What are they doing- are they crazy? How could they be screwing around with Iconic Whittier Field....one of the greatest and most venerable Football Facilities in the country. It reeks of tradition- It's Wrigley Field, Fenway Park one of those things you don't change.

The project was completed with the installation of the turf. The Polar Bear on the 50 yard line was positioned facing the newly declared home side. Unbelievable.

Then the explosion happened- Bowdoin Football Alums were apoplectic. After the first year the home side was appriorately moved back to the right place and now the Black and White are home again where they belong......... but the fans don't know where to sit- the planned home side now seems to be where the visitors sit. In my visits to Whittier in the the past couple of years I'm never sure what the deal is but I guess the visitors are back on the traditional visitors side in the new stands. Vey nice of the Bears to take such great care of visiting fans.

I usually stand on the sidelines anyway. I'll never sit in that great grandstand out of pure jealously. It's not for a Bates guy, it's for Bowdoin. Not interested ........but they wanted to give it away!

Despite this folly I know one thing for certain, Whittier Field is still one of the great great, iconic gems. Thank god they couldn't screw it up.

Lumber: I was prepared to take affront to this post -until I read it. Your points were all well taken and factually correct and I have absolutely nothing to quibble with. Plus you said too many nice things about Whittier Field, despite Bowdoin's best efforts to screw the project up. I can't believe those idiots misjudged the outrage over giving the grandstand to the Visitors. A prime example that Bowdoin doesn't get football!

[quicksilver]

polbear73 -- my recollection is that there was complicated back and forth with the neighbors and the town planning board in securing approval to make the renovations that resulted in the locker rooms and the restrooms being placed behind the new stands. The neighbors essentially ended up micromanaging the project by bringing every resident of the street that runs behind the grandstand to the public planning board meetings and carrying on about every aspect of the project. I have forgotten the details or the reasoning but they wanted the locker room and restroom facilities where they ended up being located.

[polbear73]

That's correct. They ended up having to close Pine Sreet that runs behind the new stands and locker facilities. Lots of time negotiating. Lots of talk about traffic volume and patterns.

[quicksilver]

And also talk about noise, lights, night-time activity, and bus access to the field. The neighbors (led by a Bowdoin prof) were very demanding and were generally placated by town planning officials.

[PolarCat]

What is the current state of tailgating at Whitter?  Has the old arrangement adjacent to the field been restored?  Or. do you need to take a moped or Uber from your spot to the field?

We used to love visiting with Barry Mills when he strolled the rough the tailgate.  I'm not sure Clayton Rose even knows what a tailgate is (other than an elitist superspreader event).

[polbear73]

Rose can't find Whittier Field with two hands.

[SpringSt7]

I got a weird feeling about today for all of the top dogs. I bet things get weird for Trinity and Williams early and wonder if today is the day the dam bursts for Wesleyan.

[D3FLETCH]

Fingers crossed that Bowdoin has some type of plan on defense.

[SpringSt7]

Things are not getting weird early for Trinity.

[xPolarDadx]

Fingers crossed that Bowdoin has some type of plan on defense.

Seems like the plan is not to have to play defense.  Bowdoin with over 24 minutes of possession in the first half.  FG blocked one drive, stopped on the 1 inch line another, and turnover on downs just outside the red zone on a 3rd.  7-0 at the half.  They've been moving the ball well.  Defense with 2 takeaways - 1 FF by Freshman Koy Price, 1 INT by Soph Jack Havener.  Run defense is solid, pass defense continuing to give a lot of room in zoen coverage.

[nescac1]

Not weird for Williams or Wesleyan.  Another week of mostly mismatches in Nescac ...

[D3FLETCH]

Fingers crossed that Bowdoin has some type of plan on defense.

Seems like the plan is not to have to play defense.  Bowdoin with over 24 minutes of possession in the first half.  FG blocked one drive, stopped on the 1 inch line another, and turnover on downs just outside the red zone on a 3rd.  7-0 at the half.  They've been moving the ball well.  Defense with 2 takeaways - 1 FF by Freshman Koy Price, 1 INT by Soph Jack Havener.  Run defense is solid, pass defense continuing to give a lot of room in zoen coverage.

Not a bad plan

[nescac1]

For the first time in a long time there is reason for excitement in Bowdoin - Boel, Eden, Fahey and Pream are all absolutely legit playmakers, and all are only sophomores (I assume frosh by eligibility).  They seem to get better as a group each week.  Bowdoin's offense is going to be exciting to watch for years to come behind that nucleus.  They need to add some size up front on both sides of the ball and some more playmakers on D, but I think the future is very bright there.  They certainly seem to have more young talent at the skill positions than just about anyone in the league ...

[D3FLETCH]

Congrats to the Polar Bears on the big win. They outplayed Amherst in all 3 phases of the game.

[SpringSt7]

Who had Colby Bates and Bowdoin all picking up wins by Week 5?