FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

I think most of the all-league selections are fine, although 6 for Hamilton and 4 for Bowdoin is certainly much higher than is typical for teams that perform at that level.  If you put, say, Ed Manzella on one of these teams, he probably would have stood out a lot more.  Speaking of Manzella, to me he certainly had an all-league year but linebacker was absolutely loaded this year -- the first-team guys are all stars, and Coleston Smith and Joe Kelly has tremendous years yet had to settle for second team, so definitely a bit of a squeeze there. 

The Eph omission that make no sense -- the most egregious and inexplicable snub I've ever seen on a an-league team -- was no Pat Watson on the offensive line.  He is most certainly a first-teamer, and to have him entirely unrepresented makes no sense at all.  To have Bowdoin and Hamilton linemen on there but not Watson is just crazy.  He just absolutely destroyed guys this year as he has his entire career. 

In terms of guys coming back next year, it's hard to say since so many teams have so many guys with eligibility who are listed as seniors.  Williams should for sure have five first teamers and one second teamer back.  Wesleyan based on what nescacmen has reported has all but one all-leaguer back, so 7.  I THINK Trinity's all-leaguers other than Girard and McCarthy are eligible ... if Casagrande, Reid, Kennedy and Glantz all return for another fall, that's bad news for the rest of the league.  Midd and Tufts are two more teams with a number of talented seniors who are eligible to return.

Amherst suffers probably the biggest losses relative to its all-league representation.  Four of Amherst's six all-league guys were fifth-year seniors. 

[Nescacman]

The lack of consistency amongst the all-league awards continues to blow my mind. Not that any of this matters but the 2019 Ephs (7-2) had 12 All-League players. The 2021 Ephs that went 9-0 and lead the league in scoring offense and scoring defense had 10.

Where do you have the 2019 Ephs on your all-time team list?

These are individual awards though. There shouldn't be a formula for how many players get recognized per team based on standings. Williams still had the most players recognized, and Hamilton (6) and Bowdoin (4) had a few players recognized despite they're records...

For what it's worth, here's the breakout of All-league players by school:

Williams   11
Trinity   10
Wesleyan   8
Middlebury   7
Tufts   6
Amherst   6
Hamilton   6
Bowdoin   4
Bates   3
Colby   1

For what it's worth, we think it a joke that Mid had 7 all-league performers (3-6), Tufts 6 (4-5), Hamilton 6 (2-7), and Bowdoin 4 (1-8)....Those selections deprived several far more worthy contributors on significantly better teams...

As far as Middlebury specifically, they more or less had as many selections as Wesleyan who had 33% more wins...what that tells us is either HCOF Ritter significantly mismanaged his talent or the talent significantly underperformed (if they did underperform, then why did they make all league in the first place?).....

We also have a huge issue with Hamilton and Bowdoin having as many selections as they did...the two teams combined for less wins than Colby but combined to place 10x (10 to 1) the number of all-league performers on the all-league team compared to Colby....joke...kudos to MC Hammer and HCOF Murray for doing SOMETHING right this year, we guess...and bad job by HCOF Cos for letting that happen....maybe he was asleep?!?

[Nescacman]

In terms of guys coming back next year, it's hard to say since so many teams have so many guys will eligibility who are listed as seniors.  Williams should for sure have five first teamers and one second teamer back.  Wesleyan based on what nescacmen has reported has all but one all-leaguer back, so 7.  I THINK Trinity's all-leaguers other than Girard and McCarthy are back ... if Casagrande, Reid, Kennedy and Glantz all return for another fall, that's bad news for the rest of the league.  Midd and Tufts are two more teams with a number of talented seniors who are eligible to return.

Amherst suffers probably the biggest losses relative to its all-league representation.  Four of Amherst's six all-league guys were fifth-year seniors.

Yes, Wes has 7 coming back in '22 off of this year's all-league team plus former all-leaguers Simco (missed almost the entire year due to injury), Von Jess (injury), and Scott (injury) will all be back next year...

[SpringSt7]

Very cursory math on this, hurt by the fact that the NESCAC website doesn't have the past award history correct in the margins, but I believe Williams will graduate 17 all-league selections this spring:

Maimaron (4)
Rothmann (4)
Stola (3)
Burke (2)
Wesner (2)
Watson (1---biggest crime of all time)
Rooney (1)

Watson could have easily been a 3 or even 4 time all-league if he was healthy when he was younger, as for how he didn't make a team this year, I have no idea. Wesner would've added another this year and Manzella was probably the first or second LB out this year.

In all honesty, 17 for this class seems kind of low.

[NescacFam]

Long time visitor on this board, first time poster...

Nescacman, I take exception to your comments regarding Bowdoin's all-league selections. You said, "For what it's worth, we think it a joke that Mid had 7 all-league performers (3-6), Tufts 6 (4-5), Hamilton 6 (2-7), and Bowdoin 4 (1-8)....Those selections deprived several far more worthy contributors on significantly better teams..."

My thoughts: All-NESCAC selections are individual awards, not based on team records. And with respect to Bowdoin's selections:

1. Andre Eden was the best running back in the league. Period. End of story.
2. Drew Ortiz led the NESCAC with 12.5 tackles for loss, was fifth in sacks with 5.5, and had 49 total tackles. He probably should have been selected first team over James Ball from Hamilton who, by comparison, had 47 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
3. Bo Millett was a solid tight end (26 catches, 243 yards, 1 TD) and very effective blocking for Eden in the run game. The only other tight end in the league who is comparable from a statistical standpoint is Jack Barrett from Trinity (23 catches, 209 yards, 4 TD's).

Admittedly, I don't know why Pat Watson was not selected. But I certainly don't believe that the selection of Eden, Ortiz, and Millett is somehow a joke.

[BigKat]

100pct agree on that comment. Those Bowdoin guys were deserving for sure. Back to my comment last week- in a weird covid year, they could have done HM's and made a lot of slights right. Most leagues do that designation every year so why can't the Nescac?

[Nescacman]

Long time visitor on this board, first time poster...

Nescacman, I take exception to your comments regarding Bowdoin's all-league selections. You said, "For what it's worth, we think it a joke that Mid had 7 all-league performers (3-6), Tufts 6 (4-5), Hamilton 6 (2-7), and Bowdoin 4 (1-8)....Those selections deprived several far more worthy contributors on significantly better teams..."

My thoughts: All-NESCAC selections are individual awards, not based on team records. And with respect to Bowdoin's selections:

1. Andre Eden was the best running back in the league. Period. End of story.
2. Drew Ortiz led the NESCAC with 12.5 tackles for loss, was fifth in sacks with 5.5, and had 49 total tackles. He probably should have been selected first team over James Ball from Hamilton who, by comparison, had 47 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
3. Bo Millett was a solid tight end (26 catches, 243 yards, 1 TD) and very effective blocking for Eden in the run game. The only other tight end in the league who is comparable from a statistical standpoint is Jack Barrett from Trinity (23 catches, 209 yards, 4 TD's).

Admittedly, I don't know why Pat Watson was not selected. But I certainly don't believe that the selection of Eden, Ortiz, and Millett is somehow a joke.

We'll give you Eden and possibly Ortiz (although Bowdoin is notorious league-wide for padding their tackle stats FYI) but Millet and Krupp, come on...nice players but not deserving of all-league nods...for the record, we'd take Watson any day of the week over Krupp....

We're glad you brought up Ball, who is probably the most overrated DL in the league...he had one good year as a soph and has been living off those fumes for the last 3 years...he did not deserve to make all-league over a player like Eighmy from Wes but he did..

Yes, they are individual awards but if your team is 1-8 (which I hate to tell you, that was the Polars final record), clearly the individuals on your team had less talent than 8 other teams in the league and should be treated that way...last place=less slots on the team, end of story...sorry but the truth hurts even if your son got screwed out of a slot...

And btw, you are naive if you think Eden was the league's best RB...best stats, yes....but Nicholas, IOO, was by far the best RB in the league in 2021...

[SpringSt7]

I think we as fans all overrate tackles as a key stat to measure defensive impact. Too many variables that go into it---how good is your defensive line? Are you getting gashed all game and the LBs have to make every tackle? How's your offense? If your offense is really good then does the other team have to pass a bunch to stay in it? Then of course simply snap count. If the other team goes 12 plays 85 yards and you pick up 4.5 tackles, is that better than being on a team forcing consistent 3 and outs?

I appreciate LBs that fly all over the field and make a bunch of plays but I just don't think it's an important stat for all-league consideration. Joe Gowetski was 2nd in the league in 2019 with 84 tackles and wasn't one of 10 all-league LBs. The coaches don't think they are important either.

[Nescacman]

And while we are talking about screw jobs, how do you think young Berlutti feels...

No offensive rookie of the year (we could have definitely made an argument for "co" with Eden)...

No 1st or 2nd Team QB....

Nothing, nada, zilch, no soup for you....

Where would the Dumbo's have been without him this year after losing their first 2 QBs??? Definitely not 4-5, we'll tell you that...probably looking up at everyone except for the little sisters of the NESCAC (Polars, UBates, Conts, Camels)...

[nescac1]

I've seen a lot more of Nicholas than I have of Eden but honestly I think you could pick either as the top back. Eden put up ridiculous stats especially considering the talent around him.  And just by the eye test the guy is absolutely legit.  Nicholas has more power and is a nasty, physical back at the goal-line, great instincts down there.  Eden is probably better between the 20s with his elusiveness and speed while still being plenty physical.  I'd call it a toss-up.

Next year is gonna be a very fun year for TBs in Nescac with all of the all-league backs returning plus Fischetti (the most explosive runner in the league and pound-for-pound a tough mofo) and Dan Vaughn back.  Plus some promising youngsters in Kamau Hopewell (looked like Hamilton's best guy on O by far to me he will be all league down the line), Keon Smart, and Isaiah Lizardi who I though looked interesting.  And maybe Midd's star from last year returns? 

[Nescacman]

I think we as fans all overrate tackles as a key stat to measure defensive impact. Too many variables that go into it---how good is your defensive line? Are you getting gashed all game and the LBs have to make every tackle? How's your offense? If your offense is really good then does the other team have to pass a bunch to stay in it? Then of course simply snap count. If the other team goes 12 plays 85 yards and you pick up 4.5 tackles, is that better than being on a team forcing consistent 3 and outs?

I appreciate LBs that fly all over the field and make a bunch of plays but I just don't think it's an important stat for all-league consideration. Joe Gowetski was 2nd in the league in 2019 with 84 tackles and wasn't one of 10 all-league LBs. The coaches don't think they are important either.

We've discussed this in the past Spring...tackles are the most overrated, useless stat in football...means little to nothing plus a total subjective "stat"....stupid...

We're going to rely on some 10th string FY QB on the sideline make tick marks on a clipboard chart to decide all-league honors...come on!

[Nescacman]

I've seen a lot more of Nicholas than I have of Eden but honestly I think you could pick either as the top back. Eden put up ridiculous stats especially considering the talent around him.  And just by the eye test the guy is absolutely legit.  Nicholas has more power and is a nasty, physical back at the goal-line, great instincts down there.  Eden is probably better between the 20s with his elusiveness and speed while still being plenty physical.  I'd call it a toss-up.

Next year is gonna be a very fun year for TBs in Nescac with all of the all-league backs returning plus Fischetti (the most explosive runner in the league and pound-for-pound a tough mofo) and Dan Vaughn back.  Plus some promising youngsters in Kamau Hopewell (looked like Hamilton's best guy on O by far to me he will be all league down the line), Keon Smart, and Isaiah Lizardi who I though looked interesting.  And maybe Midd's star from last year returns?

Don't forget Hartford State's Kirby...

[Charlie]

I think most of the all-league selections are fine, although 6 for Hamilton and 4 for Bowdoin is certainly much higher than is typical for teams that perform at that level.  If you put, say, Ed Manzella on one of these teams, he probably would have stood out a lot more.  Speaking of Manzella, to me he certainly had an all-league year but linebacker was absolutely loaded this year -- the first-team guys are all stars, and Coleston Smith and Joe Kelly has tremendous years yet had to settle for second team, so definitely a bit of a squeeze there. 

The Eph omission that make no sense -- the most egregious and inexplicable snub I've ever seen on a an-league team -- was no Pat Watson on the offensive line.  He is most certainly a first-teamer, and to have him entirely unrepresented makes no sense at all.  To have Bowdoin and Hamilton linemen on there but not Watson is just crazy.  He just absolutely destroyed guys this year as he has his entire career. 

In terms of guys coming back next year, it's hard to say since so many teams have so many guys with eligibility who are listed as seniors.  Williams should for sure have five first teamers and one second teamer back.  Wesleyan based on what nescacmen has reported has all but one all-leaguer back, so 7.  I THINK Trinity's all-leaguers other than Girard and McCarthy are eligible ... if Casagrande, Reid, Kennedy and Glantz all return for another fall, that's bad news for the rest of the league.  Midd and Tufts are two more teams with a number of talented seniors who are eligible to return.

Amherst suffers probably the biggest losses relative to its all-league representation.  Four of Amherst's six all-league guys were fifth-year seniors.

I think the second team for both the Tufts interior lineman is a real snub. Jovan Nenadovic had an incredible game against williams and his counterpart on the DL escapes me had jsut a great a season. Jovan was a 2019 firs team player and had an oustanding year on a team that was in every game andI feel played better than there record indicated. I think at least one should have been a first teamer.

[Nescacman]

I think most of the all-league selections are fine, although 6 for Hamilton and 4 for Bowdoin is certainly much higher than is typical for teams that perform at that level.  If you put, say, Ed Manzella on one of these teams, he probably would have stood out a lot more.  Speaking of Manzella, to me he certainly had an all-league year but linebacker was absolutely loaded this year -- the first-team guys are all stars, and Coleston Smith and Joe Kelly has tremendous years yet had to settle for second team, so definitely a bit of a squeeze there. 

The Eph omission that make no sense -- the most egregious and inexplicable snub I've ever seen on a an-league team -- was no Pat Watson on the offensive line.  He is most certainly a first-teamer, and to have him entirely unrepresented makes no sense at all.  To have Bowdoin and Hamilton linemen on there but not Watson is just crazy.  He just absolutely destroyed guys this year as he has his entire career. 

In terms of guys coming back next year, it's hard to say since so many teams have so many guys with eligibility who are listed as seniors.  Williams should for sure have five first teamers and one second teamer back.  Wesleyan based on what nescacmen has reported has all but one all-leaguer back, so 7.  I THINK Trinity's all-leaguers other than Girard and McCarthy are eligible ... if Casagrande, Reid, Kennedy and Glantz all return for another fall, that's bad news for the rest of the league.  Midd and Tufts are two more teams with a number of talented seniors who are eligible to return.

Amherst suffers probably the biggest losses relative to its all-league representation.  Four of Amherst's six all-league guys were fifth-year seniors.

I think the second team for both the Tufts interior lineman is a real snub. Jovan Nenadovic had an incredible game against williams and his counterpart on the DL escapes me had jsut a great a season. Jovan was a 2019 firs team player and had an oustanding year on a team that was in every game andI feel played better than there record indicated. I think at least one should have been a first teamer.

You mean preseason D3 All-American Jovan Nenadovic Charlie?!?

Not quite as overrated as James Ball but directionally correct...another SID creation...

[nescac1]

Regarding backs, I include Kirby (and the Tufts back) in the group of impressive all-league backs who are returning.  Loads of talent at TB in NESCAC next season! 

In other football award news:

https://noontimesports.com/2021/11/23/the-2021-all-noontime-d3-new-england-football-team/