FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[BigKat]

Can't disagree on any of those Mole; although I think the Midd game and Bobcats' games will be tighter than your projections.

[The Mole]

Bad matchup for Panthers--OL does not handle movement well and aggressive front will disrupt the timing and offensive rhythm
Bates could score more but Jumbos D might be better--shut out Bantams in 2nd half last week.

[Charlie]

Agreed -let's get to the important stuff-uniform grades. Some interesting "are they for real" games going on this weekend in Hartford and Purple Cowville. I think we will get a better feel for who the 3-4 contenders might be post Sat.

Best Uniforms Top Three

1. Tufts Love the blue White color
2. Trinity nothing beats the name on Jersey albeit very small but like the combos
3. Wesleyan just great football colors

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #2 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...It's Week #2 in the league where they "pay to play"...really interesting Week #1 with Colby, Hartford State, Wesleyan, Bowdoin and Middlebury all coming away with victories...Two interesting games on the schedule this week: Wesleyan seeks revenge at Middlebury where they have had a problem winning in recent years and we find out if Colby is a pretender or a contender as they travel to Connecticut to face Hartford State. Enjoy the early Fall weather!

Amwurst College Lord Mammoths at Hamilton College Continentals: Ho-hum...Amwurst is not a good football team but Hamilton is worse...Both teams had problems running the ball in Week 1 (35 and 45 yards rushing for Amwurst and Hamilton, respectively)...When was the last time the Lord Mammoths had a QB we were excited about? Keys To Victory ("KTV") for Amwurst: Show up and score a TD or two...Play solid defense against the woeful Hamilton offense...KTV for Hamilton: Hope Amwurst's bus gets lost...Hamilton is the worst team in the league...This should be a relatively easy win for a mediocre version of the Lord Mammoths, although the Lord Mammoths offense (or lack thereof) keeps this one closer than it should be.

Amwurst 17 Hamilton 7
Point Spread: Amwurst -7 
Weather (courtesy of The Weather Channel): Generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds. High of 63.

Wesleyan University Cardinals at Middlebury College Panthers: Wes looking for their second impressive win of the season against the Pants...KTV for Wesleyan: Figure out a way to free up Helbig from being triple teamed....Stop Middlebury's running game and force them to throw...Spread the ball around like they did in Week 1...KTV for Middlebury: Get under Wesleyan's skin and force stupid penalties....Run the ball effectively to control the clock...Wes has way too much talent to lose this one...Revenge win for the Cards...

Wesleyan 31 Middlebury 17
Point Spread: Wesleyan -10
Weather: Sunny skies. High around 65.

Bowdoin College Polar Bears at Williams College Purple Cows: Bowdoin coming off an impressive win against woeful Hamilton gets a dose of reality against the Ephs...Bleeding needs to stop at home for the Purple Cows...Need more from their QB (2 INTs and no TDs)...If they lose this one, how long before HCOF Kelton is on the next bus back to Williamstown? KTV for Bowdoin: Continue to pound Eden which will set up Boel passing the ball...Force the Purple Cow QB to throw more INTs...Get an early lead to build confidence...KTV for Williams: Go to a short passing game to build QB confidence....Stop Eden and force Boel to throw...O-line needs to do better...We think Williams shows up and beats up on the Polars for 2022 win number 1...

Williams 27 Bowdoin 14
Point Spread: Williams -10 
Weather: Mainly sunny. High around 65.

Tufts University Jumbo's at UBates (Lewiston Campus) College Bobkitties: Bottom-line, Tufts offense is better than the UBates defense which is the difference in this one....Despite Tufts problems on D, UBates does not have enough weapons to exploit Tufts deficiencies...KTV for Tufts: Score early and often to give their below par defense enough cushion...KTV for UBates: Go a bit more vertical in the passing game than they did last week...Think about a QB change...Tufts offense racks it up for the win...

Tufts 35 UBates 21
Point Spread: Tufts -10 
Weather: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High of 64.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Colby College White Mules at Hartford State Bantams: Hartford State's home opener...We think Colby comes a bit back to earth...KTV for Colby: Control the clock and put pressure on QB Fetter who does not like to get hit...KTV for Hartford State: Don't give Colby any hope by scoring early and often...Hartford State wins going away...

Hartford State 34 Colby 17
Point Spread: Hartford State -10 
Weather: Mainly sunny with a few afternoon clouds. High of 69.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 3-2
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 264-81 (.765 winning percentage)

[JEFFFAN]

I would be hard pressed to describe how low my interest is in this Amherst program right now.   EJ is still EJ but if he is not getting the horses it won't matter.   He can only do so much with less talent.   NESCACMAN made a really good point about a lack of enthusiasm for Amherst quarterbacks.   My favorite was the kid from Hawaii!

It is also hard to describe how few alumni attended what turned out to be a reasonably interesting Homecoming against Williams last year.  It was ... pitiful.   The now former president did a wonderful job of sucking all of the energy out of Amherst alumni.  Unfortunate.

[Charlie]

I would be hard pressed to describe how low my interest is in this Amherst program right now.   EJ is still EJ but if he is not getting the horses it won't matter.   He can only do so much with less talent.   NESCACMAN made a really good point about a lack of enthusiasm for Amherst quarterbacks.   My favorite was the kid from Hawaii!

It is also hard to describe how few alumni attended what turned out to be a reasonably interesting Homecoming against Williams last year.  It was ... pitiful.   The now former president did a wonderful job of sucking all of the energy out of Amherst alumni.  Unfortunate.

I completely agree. However a couple recruiting periods and this program can turn around. Sadly I dont know if that will be with EJ or not.

[lumbercat]

I believe the struggles at Amherst emanate at least partially from the problems in recent years surrounding some disturbing incidents within the Mammoth Lacrosse program.

While these incidents occurred in the Lacrosse program, events like this have significant influence on admissions departments and their flexibility and overall approach within the entire admissions process. The last couple of football recruiting classes reportedly have been weak. This may be arributable to the negative occurrences surrounding male student athletes on the Amherst campus.

I watched EJ in his interview on the season preview on the Mammoths website. He goes out of his way to commend his team for having "no off field issues" ......... Strange to begin a season preview interview in this way.

Changes in the Mammoth Athletic dept have been discussed on the board for some time by those who know the program. Recent observations seem to support that narrative

There is no curse more damaging to any NESCAC Athletic Program than an admissions department who feels they have been too lenient with admission of student athletes which led to admissions mistakes and negative campus influence.

I saw it play out 10 years ago at Colby following the coed sex scandal with their QB. It cost a very good HFC his job and took the program 4-5 years to re establish their credibility with admissions on Mayflower Hill.

Fast forward five years, no need to fret about Football admissions at Colby, the negativity is in the rear view mirror and Colby admissions is perennially
holding their own in competing with Trinity for the NESCAC blue chippers. I commend them for this, Colby will overachieve this year.

[Nescacman]

The best thing that ever happened to Lord Mammoth football and HCOF EJ was a guy by the name of Aaron Kelton...

Too bad Michael Berluti didn't follow his brothers to Amhurst and instead went to Dad's alma matter at Tufts...

[JEFFFAN]

The best thing that ever happened to Lord Mammoth football and HCOF EJ was a guy by the name of Aaron Kelton...

Too bad Michael Berluti didn't follow his brothers to Amhurst and instead went to Dad's alma matter at Tufts...

Certainly didn't hurt Amherst that Kelton was there, although his team was undefeated in his first year and 5-3 in the second year.   And Kelton was there for six years ... EJ is in his 26th year.   So a bit of overlap but not that much.

Re the lacrosse situation, I agree with that assessment.  It was partially the behavior of the kids - enough incidents for discipline to be warranted - but frankly the way that the administration handled it was far, far more impactful in a negative way.  The president and (very weak) athletic director went on a diversity mission that set the entire school back.   Combine that incident, including the school's horrific response to it, with a change in the admissions director to an individual who never worked at a school with any history with football ... all a bad combination.   I read an article that suggested EJ will stay to get his 150th win and then move on.  The man owes Amherst NOTHING - he has been an outstanding coach and steward of the program. 

Here is to having NESCAC football back!

[AmherstStudent05]

Not a great day for Amherst football. After taking a quick 7-0 lead nothing seemed to go our way as the Conts just outplayed us in every phase.

Credit to the webcast announcer. Very knowledgeable and fun listen (excepting the actual game!). On to the next one!

[SpringSt7]

I am assuming David Estevez got hurt unless Dicenzo forgot how to coach. Any updates?

[The Mole]

Middlebury defense played great in the red zone. Three interceptions on top of a blocked field goal and a missed field goal was too much  for Wesleyan to overcome. Surprisingly, Cards outgained the Panthers. Neither team could run the ball (Wesleyan 55 2.2 ypc, Midd 75 2.0 ypc) very effectively. Don't know if Estevez was injured or not, but he did not have "it" today.

[jumpshot]

Midd and Panther Pride crush Wesleyan. Perhaps too much bullying obsession with Kelton.

[SpringSt7]

Just 7 carries for Estevez is very surprising. Glad to see Scott getting the lion's share of the snaps at QB as he has the much better arm but surprising nonetheless. What should be a luxury for Wesleyan in having those two seems like it has been more of a dilemma and burden over the last two seasons instead.

[The Mole]

Crushed ? No. Outplayed? Yes. Outcoached? Maybe.