FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

To get a medical hardship season (commonly referred to as a medical redshirt), you have to play 33% of the season or less, get injured, not play any games in the second half of the season, and not practice.

Oh great one, we believe that in D3, you must apply to the NCAA for special dispensation to use the medical redshirt provision for a player. Also, we believe in the NESCAC, the league must also approve. We might be wrong but believe those are the rules to prevent abuse.

This is all true -- in every conference, the conference office is where this goes through.

None of what you said contradicts what I said, so I'm confused by the preamble to your statement which I bolded above.

Preamble was said out of total respect and love for you sir... 

[MRMIKESMITH]

Hi Pollster's, just wanted to extend an invitation to join the ERFP for this upcoming season. We will continue to do R1/R2. Feel free to DM or respond here if interested. I'll reach out to last year participants to gauge any interest as well.

[nescac1]

Williams has a nice group of summer recruits locked down for the class of 2027.  Raymond seems to continue to prioritize big, physical guys.  I note other NESCAC offers (per the players' social media) in parentheses. 

Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms (Amherst, Wesleyan)
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S. (Colby)
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable (Wesleyan, Midd)
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich (Midd)
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School (Midd)
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston (Hamilton)
Jack Barber, 6'5, 240 DE, Darien (Tufts, Colby, Bowdoin)
Christian Reavis, 6'1, 200 LB, Deerfield (Midd)
Nate Dlugos, 6'2 180 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic (older brother plays for Amherst)

[Charlie]

Williams has a nice group of summer recruits locked down for the class of 2027.  Raymond seems to continue to prioritize big, physical guys.  I note other NESCAC offers (per the players' social media) in parentheses. 

Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms (Amherst, Wesleyan)
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S. (Colby)
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable (Wesleyan, Midd)
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich (Midd)
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School (Midd)
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston (Hamilton)

I like a few of these but still am perplexed as to why Williams and Amherst make offers to players who clearly are going Ivy League.

In addition it appears that this year more than in past years Bowdoin & Middlebury have been passing out offers at a ridiculous pace. Do they just feel like they are throwing offers out there and whatever sticks is what they have.

There does not seem to be a logical progression. You can tell by meeting a recruit if he has the physical stature and by watching his tape to play Ivy League level or D1 or D2. The Ivy lock up their recruits in early decision like the NESCAC.

I am assuming that these coaches know how to read an academic transcript if a player with size and film is pursuing Ivy and you are a secondary choice then you should channel your energies to players who do not meet the physical stature of Ivy.It seems like all the social media hype on these offers is by kids using the NESCAC as leverage to go IVY or the D1,D2.

Lastly is it just me but do players appear to be looking smaller than in years past.Went to few camps and kids not all of them seem like they have not been hitting weight room hard or are just not big.

[nescac1]

I don't really see the harm in giving a few offers to recruits who are most likely going Ivy but who have expressed genuine interest in a NESCAC program.  Maybe a kid wants to be a 3-4 year starter in NESCAC rather than a borderline player at the tail end of an Ivy recruiting class who has to work his ass off for playing time.  And every so often, things may work out and you end up with a potential D3 star (I believe Cameron Smith, Justin Burke, and Frank Stola were among the Ephs who had Ivy offers at one point and still ended up at Williams ...).  I'd rather aim high than not even try, and it's not like an early summer offer means that spot won't still be available for other recruits in the fall or winter.  In all events, Amherst and Williams won't end up scraping the bottom of the barrel if they miss on their first-choice recruits, plenty of good high-academic type players are eager to attend either.     

[Charlie]

I don't really see the harm in giving a few offers to recruits who are most likely going Ivy but who have expressed genuine interest in a NESCAC program.  Maybe a kid wants to be a 3-4 year starter in NESCAC rather than a borderline player at the tail end of an Ivy recruiting class who has to work his ass off for playing time.  And every so often, things may work out and you end up with a potential D3 star (I believe Cameron Smith, Justin Burke, and Frank Stola were among the Ephs who had Ivy offers at one point and still ended up at Williams ...).  I'd rather aim high than not even try, and it's not like an early summer offer means that spot won't still be available for other recruits in the fall or winter.  In all events, Amherst and Williams won't end up scraping the bottom of the barrel if they miss on their first-choice recruits, plenty of good high-academic type players are eager to attend either.   

I do not agree with your assessment about playing time at NESCAC at least for the top teams. I think if you look at the the top tier teams Freshman are considered more developmental. I do think and I do not know percentages but I would anticipate it as small amount of freshman that play in some capacity let alone start on the big three teams. Now at Bowdoin and lower tier NESCAC they may be able to start and play immediately and perhaps that is what a recruit might want. However the time spent in football both in season and out and having a loosing record year after year I would think would get old fast. The time commitment in college is drastically different than high school and this would be deciding factor I would think.

[nescac1]

Charlie you may "not agree" but you are incorrect.  At Williams, if you are a guy on the Ivy cusp as a talent, you will start or get significant PT as a frosh: Maimaron, Stola, Burke, Nicholas, Fischetti, Shuran, Stola, Wesner, Freeman, Rooney, Watson, Rothmann, all major players right away.  And they would be at nearly any NESCAC program.  Trinity is the toughest to see PT early but otherwise if you are a superstar you will play four years. 

[Nescacman]

I don't really see the harm in giving a few offers to recruits who are most likely going Ivy but who have expressed genuine interest in a NESCAC program.  Maybe a kid wants to be a 3-4 year starter in NESCAC rather than a borderline player at the tail end of an Ivy recruiting class who has to work his ass off for playing time.  And every so often, things may work out and you end up with a potential D3 star (I believe Cameron Smith, Justin Burke, and Frank Stola were among the Ephs who had Ivy offers at one point and still ended up at Williams ...).  I'd rather aim high than not even try, and it's not like an early summer offer means that spot won't still be available for other recruits in the fall or winter.  In all events, Amherst and Williams won't end up scraping the bottom of the barrel if they miss on their first-choice recruits, plenty of good high-academic type players are eager to attend either.   

nescac1 our friend....why do you take the bait? 

[nescac1]

Fair enough, Nescacman ... fair enough.

[Scoops]

I find it quite odd that everyone has Williams as a top tier team, despite losing their key players on offense and defense. The loses of Wesner, Rothman, Stola, and Maimaron are MASSIVE. Sure, they have a handful of their 2nd tier players coming back (Michaelck Vaughn Frischetti). But it can be argued that most of those guys only had success because of the guys who graduated. Now I'm not saying that Williams won't have success this year. I'm sure they have capable guys coming up in the program. But am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to call them a top tier team with so many questionmarks and a brand new offense?

Scoops, in order for them to become a top tier team they have to knock off Williams, Trinity or Wesleyan. All of those teams are loaded this year. I agree that they have improved, but those top tier teams have not regressed and return a lot of experience. If they can challenge (and beat) Amherst, Middlebury and Tufts they will open some eyes, for certain. But they have to beat one of the favorites to be in that conversation.

[Nescacman]

Still fyn watching this knowing how it all ends...

https://youtu.be/8Y1C4-Mvu-I

[The Mole]

Strong offensive line and defensive line returning. That is ultimately where the game is won. Slew of pretty good running backs. Solid formula for success at any level. They will not be an easy out.

Please share your tier rankings. Also, the new DC at Wesleyan (Coach Sheeks from Colby) has provided tons of energy, enthusiasm and expertise to the Cards. He did more with less at Colby, excited to see what he does with more talent in Middletown.

I find it quite odd that everyone has Williams as a top tier team, despite losing their key players on offense and defense. The loses of Wesner, Rothman, Stola, and Maimaron are MASSIVE. Sure, they have a handful of their 2nd tier players coming back (Michaelck Vaughn Frischetti). But it can be argued that most of those guys only had success because of the guys who graduated. Now I'm not saying that Williams won't have success this year. I'm sure they have capable guys coming up in the program. But am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to call them a top tier team with so many questionmarks and a brand new offense?

Scoops, in order for them to become a top tier team they have to knock off Williams, Trinity or Wesleyan. All of those teams are loaded this year. I agree that they have improved, but those top tier teams have not regressed and return a lot of experience. If they can challenge (and beat) Amherst, Middlebury and Tufts they will open some eyes, for certain. But they have to beat one of the favorites to be in that conversation.

[Scoops]

Maimaron and Rothman basically made everyone right. Elite talent tends to do that. Again, not saying the Ephs can't be good, but I think we're being a little brash in assuming they'll keep rolling despite their losses.

I would say the top tier teams are Wesleyan, Trinity, Tufts based on continuity on the roster. Colby, Midd, Williams, Amherst are the middle of the pack and could go either way. Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton are going to fight an uphill battle. I think Bates could fight their way to the middle of the pack, and Amherst could make a surprising drop into the bottom tier.

Strong offensive line and defensive line returning. That is ultimately where the game is won. Slew of pretty good running backs. Solid formula for success at any level. They will not be an easy out.

Please share your tier rankings. Also, the new DC at Wesleyan (Coach Sheeks from Colby) has provided tons of energy, enthusiasm and expertise to the Cards. He did more with less at Colby, excited to see what he does with more talent in Middletown.

I find it quite odd that everyone has Williams as a top tier team, despite losing their key players on offense and defense. The loses of Wesner, Rothman, Stola, and Maimaron are MASSIVE. Sure, they have a handful of their 2nd tier players coming back (Michaelck Vaughn Frischetti). But it can be argued that most of those guys only had success because of the guys who graduated. Now I'm not saying that Williams won't have success this year. I'm sure they have capable guys coming up in the program. But am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to call them a top tier team with so many questionmarks and a brand new offense?

Scoops, in order for them to become a top tier team they have to knock off Williams, Trinity or Wesleyan. All of those teams are loaded this year. I agree that they have improved, but those top tier teams have not regressed and return a lot of experience. If they can challenge (and beat) Amherst, Middlebury and Tufts they will open some eyes, for certain. But they have to beat one of the favorites to be in that conversation.

[The Mole]

That is fair. You have to cut the head off the dragon and the Ephs are the defending champs so it goes through Williamstown until someone topples them. Big question marks to me are can Tufts tighten up its D and is Midd in decline or just a blip? Ritter retiring is an interesting development and could provide some motivation to send him out strong.

Maimaron and Rothman basically made everyone right. Elite talent tends to do that. Again, not saying the Ephs can't be good, but I think we're being a little brash in assuming they'll keep rolling despite their losses.

I would say the top tier teams are Wesleyan, Trinity, Tufts based on continuity on the roster. Colby, Midd, Williams, Amherst are the middle of the pack and could go either way. Bates, Bowdoin, Hamilton are going to fight an uphill battle. I think Bates could fight their way to the middle of the pack, and Amherst could make a surprising drop into the bottom tier.

Strong offensive line and defensive line returning. That is ultimately where the game is won. Slew of pretty good running backs. Solid formula for success at any level. They will not be an easy out.

Please share your tier rankings. Also, the new DC at Wesleyan (Coach Sheeks from Colby) has provided tons of energy, enthusiasm and expertise to the Cards. He did more with less at Colby, excited to see what he does with more talent in Middletown.

I find it quite odd that everyone has Williams as a top tier team, despite losing their key players on offense and defense. The loses of Wesner, Rothman, Stola, and Maimaron are MASSIVE. Sure, they have a handful of their 2nd tier players coming back (Michaelck Vaughn Frischetti). But it can be argued that most of those guys only had success because of the guys who graduated. Now I'm not saying that Williams won't have success this year. I'm sure they have capable guys coming up in the program. But am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to call them a top tier team with so many questionmarks and a brand new offense?

Scoops, in order for them to become a top tier team they have to knock off Williams, Trinity or Wesleyan. All of those teams are loaded this year. I agree that they have improved, but those top tier teams have not regressed and return a lot of experience. If they can challenge (and beat) Amherst, Middlebury and Tufts they will open some eyes, for certain. But they have to beat one of the favorites to be in that conversation.

[SpringSt7]

I agree that Maimaron and Rothmann made everything go but I think their presences have probably overshadowed some of the emerging talent that has developed under them. For much of Maimaron's time at Williams, Stola was his only consistently reliable offensive weapon. It is easy to see the difference in ability at RB (Nicholas is better than anyone they've had under Raymond besides Stola), at WR, and just the general improvements in depth at OL (they could barely field 5 of them during Maimaron's first two years). Maimaron certainly made everyone better but it does not take the sharpest of minds to look at the supporting cast left behind and just see better football players.

Defensively, Ian Devine is the best player Raymond has had not named TJ Rothmann and it can't be overstated how much easier everyone else's lives are when you have a game changing edge that can get to the QB. Giandimenico was a first team CB and their second unit DBs probably would've started 3 years ago as well. They finally have depth around each position whereas previously one or two injuries would cripple the entire defense.

Most importantly however is the fact that they were historically dominant statistically last season, not a team that was just squeaking out wins by the seat of its pants. They could suffer massive drop offs and still go 7-2.