FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[JEFFFAN]

IMHO ... EJ stays until EJ wants to leave.   His track record as a coach is one thing - his track record as a coach whose kids don't have any issues on campus is even better.  He is in the Dave Hixon category, a coach who left because he got tired of the political correctness emphasis on the campus.   He would still be there otherwise.

I have posited before that the odds of negative change are exponentially higher at any institution that changes its admissions director and athletic director within a relatively short period of time.  At Amherst, the admissions director was there a long time and she had an excellent rapport with the coaches who were good recruiters.  Ditto for the athletic director, who moved up into administration.   They were replaced by an admissions director with allegedly little interest or knowledge of athletics and an athletic director who was the architect of the lacrosse disaster.

Finally, I am hard pressed to describe how far to the fringes Amherst has gone on political correctness.  The former president made it her mission to push the boundaries of all such matters and - sadly - to be right out front with the press on all of it.  She LOVED seeing her name in the national press on all of this stuff.    All of our schools are PC, but Amherst just went way, way out there.

Point being that I am not willing to pin this on a coach who has one of the highest winning percentages in NESCAC football history.   He won't need to be asked to leave - he will do it on his own because the place he has been so successful at isn't the right place for him to succeed in the future.

Hope I am wrong ...

[Nescacman]

NM-

I haven't seen the Jeffs yet. Based on your information maybe it's worse than I expect, a lot worse.
Believe EJ has a long leash. It would take a couple of 2-7 or 1-8 years before they would dump him.
One thing I'm pretty sure about is that it will get ugly with EJ and the refs. He's been perennially vicious on the zebras when he's winning. I've seen him go crazy on refs even in games with big leads.
If they start losing regularly it could get ugly for EJ and the officials.

Lumber, not suggesting at all that the LMs would "dump" HCOF EJ but maybe he says enough is enough and decides to sail off into the sunset...

[lumbercat]

NM-
I misunderstood.
Thats probably more likely but NESCAC HC jobs are highly valued and I just can't see Mills leaving voluntarily. I saw firsthand in viewing applicants for the Bates job that NESCAC HC jobs are highly valued.
I couldn't believe some of the applicants who were head coaches in other winning D3 programs that I would never think would be interested pursuing the Bates job which is not one of the better gigs in the NESCAC.

[Nescacman]

2022 Week #3 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...It's Week #3 in the league where they "pay to play" ... We can't believe that a third of the year is done after this week...This week in the 'CAC: Middlebury tries to keep HCOF Ritter's dream of a final undefeated season alive against the Polars...Wes tries to get back on the winning track at Hamilton...Can Amhurst salvage their season against Hartford State...Colby looks to take the early lead in the C-B-B against UBates....And in the NESCAC GOTW, Tufts looks for revenge for last year's OT loss against the Purple Cows...

Middlebury College Panthers at Bowdoin College Polar Bears: Middlebury coming off a big win at home against Wes...Bowdoin looking to get back in the win column on their Homecoming...Keys to Victory ("KTV") for Bowdoin: Get Eden going...Bowdoin's pressure D gets to the MID QB thus forcing some turnovers...Stop the MID running game forcing them into throwing situations...KTV for Middlebury: Get the running game going...Control the clock and play keep away from the Bowdoin offense...Home teams have won 7 out of 10 games thus far this year and Bowdoin looked good at home in Week 1...We think MID isn't as good as their record...Bowdoin hasn't beat the Panthers since 2009...We think they change that in 2022...We like the Polars in an upset at home...

Bowdoin 24 Middlebury 21
Point Spread: Middlebury -3 
Weather (weather courtesy of The Weather Channel): Cloudy skies. High of 64.

Wesleyan University Cardinals at Hamilton College Continentals: Wesleyan will try to bounce back after a tough loss at Middlebury...Hamilton looking for their second win in a row at home...Hard to believe the Conts haven't had a winning season since 1996...Wes has gone 8-1 in their last 9 games against the Continentals including 4 in a row on the road in Clinton...KTV for Wesleyan: If Wesleyan is able to stop Hamilton's run-first offense, it could be a long day for the Continentals...Wesleyan needs to be more disciplined and get their vertical passing attack going...We wouldn't be surprised to see one of Wes' young stud QBs see some action in this one...KTV for Hamilton: Force some Wesleyan turnovers and get under Wesleyan's skin to force some dumb penalties...Control the clock on offense keeping the ball away from Estevez, Simco, Tomlinson et al...We think Wesleyan has too many weapons to lose to Hamilton...We expect Wes to get back in the win column.

Wesleyan 35 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -14 
Weather: Cloudy. High of 62.

Hartford State Bantams at Amhurst College Lord Mammoths: We do not expect this game to be at all competitive as the #1 team in the NESCAC faces off against what we consider to be amongst the worst...Amhurst will have a tough time (again) putting the ball in the end zone (they've only scored two TDs in two games thus far AND only had the ball 3x in the red zone in 2 games)...

Hartford State 34 Amhurst 7
Point Spread: Hartford State -21 
Weather: Sun and clouds mixed. High of 64.

UBates (Lewiston Campus) College Bobkitties at Colby College White Mules: Season has not started the way HCOF Coyne had hoped...Despite that, UBates will come out every week and compete...Consider these facts for UBates: last in total offense, total defense, and scoring defense and 9th in total offense just ahead of the mighty Amhurst offense...This week is the first C-B-B game of 2022 and Coyne is familiar with these type of rivalry games having played at both Williams and Wesleyan...123rd meeting between the two, this time under the lights which adds an interesting twist...KTV for UBates: Well they made the QB change and it didn't seem to matter...Need to figure it out against a good Colby defense...We think short, quick passes to their above average WRs might do the trick...Need a few breaks to pull this one out on the road...KTV for Colby: Offense has not been great...Need to grind it out on the ground and let their defense set the tone...We think Colby comes away with the win in a low scoring affair...

Colby 21 UBates 10
Point Spread: Colby -7 
Weather: Cloudy skies. High of 65.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University Jumbo's at Williams College Purple Cows: Loser of this one will have an uphill fight to win the league as Tufts tries to avenge last season's tough OT loss to the Ephs...Both teams coming off their first win of the year...Did Tufts resolve their defensive issues or is the UBates offense just not good??? Tufts offense has been as good as advertised and very balanced (#3 in both rushing and passing in the league)...Tufts has outscored their opponents 55-7 in the last 6 quarters...Williams problem has been their passing attack which looks a bit out of synch with a new QB and missing 7-year starting star receiver Frank Stola (funny side-bar note...last week up at Middlebury over the loud speaker we hear that a Stola made a tackle for Middlebury...one of the NESCACMEN asked is that the same Stola that played at Williams and did he transfer to Middlebury...of course, that was Frank's younger brother, Rocco, but still funny stuff)...KTV for Tufts: Score early and often...Stop the very good Williams ground game and force the Cows to pass the ball which has thus far been a challenge for them in '22...KTV for Williams: Establish the run to set up the pass...Get some pressure on Berlutti and keep him contained...The Williams defense should have plenty of practice doing that since they practiced against a very similar player in Bobby Maimaron for the last six years...We think Tufts has too much offense for Williams to contain and the Williams passing game can't keep up...Tufts wins in what we think is a slight upset on the road.   

Tufts 28 Williams 21
Point Spread: Williams -3 
Weather: Showers in the AM, then cloudy in the afternoon. High of 61.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 6-4
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: 267-83 (.763 winning percentage)

[amh63]

Agree with JEFFAN'S earlier post.  Amherst's head coach may stay for many reasons....one being his kids.  Amherst still has. I believe, admission slots for qualified "hometown" students....tuition free, etc.  This includes family members of faculty/coaches.  Remembered that Harvard had such admission slots for Cambridge born applicants.  Believe HFC Mills has at least one son that is a fine "hometown" football player.  Recall that the Amherst athletic director's son played football at Amherst when his father was the OFC for the team. 

[Nescacman]

Agree with JEFFAN'S earlier post.  Amherst's head coach may stay for many reasons....one being his kids.  Amherst still has. I believe, admission slots for qualified "hometown" students....tuition free, etc.  This includes family members of faculty/coaches.  Remembered that Harvard had such admission slots for Cambridge born applicants.  Believe HFC Mills has at least one son that is a fine "hometown" football player.  Recall that the Amherst athletic director's son played football at Amherst when his father was the OFC for the team.

With all due respect, legacies aren't going to save LM footballl...onesies and twosies at most...need more help than that starting at the QB position...

[lumbercat]

The children of NESCAC professors, administration and certain staff at any school can attend any NESCAC school tuition free if admitted.

[Bucket]

The children of NESCAC professors, administration and certain staff at any school can attend any NESCAC school tuition free if admitted.

LOL. That's not true. While NESCAC schools have very generous tuition benefits for dependents of faculty, staff, and administrators, it's generally in the 40 percent range of a given school's tuition, not 100 percent. And it's not limited to other NESCAC schools, but any accredited college or university.

[nescac1]

Williams just utterly killing itself in the first half vs. Tufts.  Penalty after penalty after penalty (although the refs have certainly not helped, quite one-sided officiating), and the capper was as time expired a blocked short FG returned for a TD to enable Tufts to tie a game that Williams should be in control of.  An absolutely heroic effort for Mario Fischetti, who has an incredible 225 AP yards in the half, doing it ALL for the Ephs. Phil Lutz has as usual been a monster for Tufts, but the Ephs have mostly shut down Tufts, otherwise.  But what a brutally dispiriting end to the half.  Ephs just have to play smarter to beat a team like Tufts.  On the plus side, Jack Dickinson has looked much better in his third game as a starter.  George Papodoupolos, a frosh safety, has been impressive for the Ephs, he will be a big time player for Williams. 

[JEFFFAN]

Re Amherst vs Trinity, this can be a very quick overview from the Lord Jeff perspective.   This game was not in doubt after the refs had the captains shake hands before the game.

Defense was decent, only giving up 13 points.   Trinity outgained the Jeffs, which is not a surprise, but Amherst did a decent job of keeping them out of the end zone for the most part.   Having been at the same game last year at Trinity, this is – at this point in the season – a serious drop off Trinity team compared to last Fall.

Offense is the worst offense I have seen in 30 plus years.  Maybe longer.  Just awful.  Zero offensive line push, thus negating any running back capabilities.   Quarterback locks in on the primary receiver immediately and then never shifts his eyes to anyone else.

Worst Amherst team in a long, long time.   Going to be a long Fall!!

[middhoops]

Keep picking against Middlebury, nescacman.  We still credit you with helping the '19 season. 
Kidding aside,  we enjoy your predictions.  Don't ever change.

[SpringSt7]

TJ Rothmann and Edward Manzella should retroactively be named 1st team all league cornerbacks for the 2021 season. The Ephs secondary looks as poor in coverage as it ever has unfortunately without help from their linebackers

[Charlie]

Re Amherst vs Trinity, this can be a very quick overview from the Lord Jeff perspective.   This game was not in doubt after the refs had the captains shake hands before the game.

Defense was decent, only giving up 13 points.   Trinity outgained the Jeffs, which is not a surprise, but Amherst did a decent job of keeping them out of the end zone for the most part.   Having been at the same game last year at Trinity, this is – at this point in the season – a serious drop off Trinity team compared to last Fall.

Offense is the worst offense I have seen in 30 plus years.  Maybe longer.  Just awful.  Zero offensive line push, thus negating any running back capabilities.   Quarterback locks in on the primary receiver immediately and then never shifts his eyes to anyone else.

Worst Amherst team in a long, long time.   Going to be a long Fall!!

I dont think the Trinity offense is as bad as it seems. Last year Trinity could dictate what they wanted to do having Girard out there. So far in two games i do not have the stats they run the ball effectively. However the play calling is suspect. Colby and now Amherst are playing a cover two protecting afgsinst the deep patterns and homerun balls. Trinity needs to establish the run which they have been doing but then going to the short intermediate routes. When they do this they are extremely effective. They will start to rack up the points and the homerun balls will come. They abandon the run too quickly. I see a push they ran effectively today just not a good combination of run and short passing.

If one thing is certain every year offenses need to change. If Trinity just adjusts its play calling they will be fine still be in some dog fights this year but they are not making the big msitakes that I am seeing around the league.

[Charlie]

TJ Rothmann and Edward Manzella should retroactively be named 1st team all league cornerbacks for the 2021 season. The Ephs secondary looks as poor in coverage as it ever has unfortunately without help from their linebackers

Williams does not look good. QB just does not have it unless they are grooimg a recruitment they could be in trouble. teams are just going to stack the box. Defensively they are not the team they once were.

[Nescac24]

2022 Week #3 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...It's Week #3 in the league where they "pay to play" ... We can't believe that a third of the year is done after this week...This week in the 'CAC: Middlebury tries to keep HCOF Ritter's dream of a final undefeated season alive against the Polars...Wes tries to get back on the winning track at Hamilton...Can Amhurst salvage their season against Hartford State...Colby looks to take the early lead in the C-B-B against UBates....And in the NESCAC GOTW, Tufts looks for revenge for last year's OT loss against the Purple Cows...

Middlebury College Panthers at Bowdoin College Polar Bears: Middlebury coming off a big win at home against Wes...Bowdoin looking to get back in the win column on their Homecoming...Keys to Victory ("KTV") for Bowdoin: Get Eden going...Bowdoin's pressure D gets to the MID QB thus forcing some turnovers...Stop the MID running game forcing them into throwing situations...KTV for Middlebury: Get the running game going...Control the clock and play keep away from the Bowdoin offense...Home teams have won 7 out of 10 games thus far this year and Bowdoin looked good at home in Week 1...We think MID isn't as good as their record...Bowdoin hasn't beat the Panthers since 2009...We think they change that in 2022...We like the Polars in an upset at home...

Bowdoin 24 Middlebury 21
Point Spread: Middlebury -3 
Weather (weather courtesy of The Weather Channel): Cloudy skies. High of 64.

Wesleyan University Cardinals at Hamilton College Continentals: Wesleyan will try to bounce back after a tough loss at Middlebury...Hamilton looking for their second win in a row at home...Hard to believe the Conts haven't had a winning season since 1996...Wes has gone 8-1 in their last 9 games against the Continentals including 4 in a row on the road in Clinton...KTV for Wesleyan: If Wesleyan is able to stop Hamilton's run-first offense, it could be a long day for the Continentals...Wesleyan needs to be more disciplined and get their vertical passing attack going...We wouldn't be surprised to see one of Wes' young stud QBs see some action in this one...KTV for Hamilton: Force some Wesleyan turnovers and get under Wesleyan's skin to force some dumb penalties...Control the clock on offense keeping the ball away from Estevez, Simco, Tomlinson et al...We think Wesleyan has too many weapons to lose to Hamilton...We expect Wes to get back in the win column.

Wesleyan 35 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -14 
Weather: Cloudy. High of 62.

Hartford State Bantams at Amhurst College Lord Mammoths: We do not expect this game to be at all competitive as the #1 team in the NESCAC faces off against what we consider to be amongst the worst...Amhurst will have a tough time (again) putting the ball in the end zone (they've only scored two TDs in two games thus far AND only had the ball 3x in the red zone in 2 games)...

Hartford State 34 Amhurst 7
Point Spread: Hartford State -21 
Weather: Sun and clouds mixed. High of 64.

UBates (Lewiston Campus) College Bobkitties at Colby College White Mules: Season has not started the way HCOF Coyne had hoped...Despite that, UBates will come out every week and compete...Consider these facts for UBates: last in total offense, total defense, and scoring defense and 9th in total offense just ahead of the mighty Amhurst offense...This week is the first C-B-B game of 2022 and Coyne is familiar with these type of rivalry games having played at both Williams and Wesleyan...123rd meeting between the two, this time under the lights which adds an interesting twist...KTV for UBates: Well they made the QB change and it didn't seem to matter...Need to figure it out against a good Colby defense...We think short, quick passes to their above average WRs might do the trick...Need a few breaks to pull this one out on the road...KTV for Colby: Offense has not been great...Need to grind it out on the ground and let their defense set the tone...We think Colby comes away with the win in a low scoring affair...

Colby 21 UBates 10
Point Spread: Colby -7 
Weather: Cloudy skies. High of 65.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University Jumbo's at Williams College Purple Cows: Loser of this one will have an uphill fight to win the league as Tufts tries to avenge last season's tough OT loss to the Ephs...Both teams coming off their first win of the year...Did Tufts resolve their defensive issues or is the UBates offense just not good??? Tufts offense has been as good as advertised and very balanced (#3 in both rushing and passing in the league)...Tufts has outscored their opponents 55-7 in the last 6 quarters...Williams problem has been their passing attack which looks a bit out of synch with a new QB and missing 7-year starting star receiver Frank Stola (funny side-bar note...last week up at Middlebury over the loud speaker we hear that a Stola made a tackle for Middlebury...one of the NESCACMEN asked is that the same Stola that played at Williams and did he transfer to Middlebury...of course, that was Frank's younger brother, Rocco, but still funny stuff)...KTV for Tufts: Score early and often...Stop the very good Williams ground game and force the Cows to pass the ball which has thus far been a challenge for them in '22...KTV for Williams: Establish the run to set up the pass...Get some pressure on Berlutti and keep him contained...The Williams defense should have plenty of practice doing that since they practiced against a very similar player in Bobby Maimaron for the last six years...We think Tufts has too much offense for Williams to contain and the Williams passing game can't keep up...Tufts wins in what we think is a slight upset on the road.   

Tufts 28 Williams 21
Point Spread: Williams -3 
Weather: Showers in the AM, then cloudy in the afternoon. High of 61.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 6-4
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: 267-83 (.763 winning percentage)

The disrespect to Midd is astonishing