FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[MidDay]

Ahhh, we finally understand why he dislikes Middlebury and picks against them every week.  Nothing to do with the team, just hoping they lose.

[lumbercat]

Enjoyed a great autumn football day in Amherst today with some fellow old Cats. A good outcome for the Garnet. Kudos to Coach Coyne as he continues his work with the Bates program.

Maybe the smallest NESCAC home crowd we've ever seen.

After a brief tailgate we headed to Medford for the Bowdoin-Tufts game prior to our celebration dinner at The Capital Grill. Sat on the Bowdoin side. Couldn't help but hear the negativity surrounding the Bowdoin program as the game progressed. Seems a lot of frustration with Coach Hammer and his high torque coaching style.
Who knows, Maybe just a case of frustrated parents because junior is not getting on the field.

Polar Bear faithful seem impatient. Believe this is Coach Hammers final year of a Covid extended 3+ year deal. They say he may be feeling some pressure following the quick trigger, by NESCAC standards,  on the firing of his predecessor Wells. At this point, despite more concessions from admissions and alums Hammers' record is no better than Wells. It's going to take time.

[Nescac24]

Keep Sleeping on Midd Nescacman.

[Scoops]

When you're wrong you're wrong. I own my take on this one. After the first series I thought Colby was in a good place, but Wesleyan proved why they were the better team. Makes for a VERY interesting matchup next week against Tufts under the lights. Donuts for everyone!

Checking in to see how this worked out:

Colby keep away plan

20 rushes 21 yards, 17-37 168 yards

189 yard total offense

31-7 @ Half

2 Krispy Kremes, please!

Wesleyans receivers are okay. I don't think the matchup there is as one-sided as you make it out to be. Reid is better than Tomlinson, and the Mules handled him just fine. It's also a question of QB play. Again, against a real defense the Wes Q's went 50% with 3 picks and no TDs. Mudd's defense is elite, but I don't think Colby is a big drop off. Their new DC has improved upon their '21 defense, and I thought their previous guy did a solid job there. I don't see it as a stretch at all to have Colby stifle the Cards offense. If Hersch and the Mules O can play keep away with the ball, this game will be tight. Wes has a chance to prove that they're not pretenders. Excited to see what they do with it.

Scoops what would the defensive game plan be to hold them to 13 points? It is not likely for the Cards to come up that empty in the red zone again. There are mismatches that can be exploited at WR and I am not sure the Mules will be able to close that gap.

I will bet you a glazed donut Wesleyan scores more than 13

Can we make it 2 donuts?!?

[Nescacman]

Scoops, "Chocolate Frosted" and "Old Fashioned" please...

A few comments on yesterday's destruction in Middletown...to start, it was a pleasure getting to meet our fellow Cardinal Compadre, "The Mole", yesterday and spending some quality time with a knowledgeable fellow boardster.....great guy and his son played very well yesterday so congrats to him and his teammates on another stellar effort...make that two in a row headed into the showdown under the lights in Middletown against the OG Elephants...should be an epic play-off like atmosphere (which is what this game basically will be)...

More on the game later but we will make one comment...HCOF Cos was completely out coached by HCOF Dice and his young staff...bad game plan on both offense and defense and just bad decision making...here's one detailed example...at the end of the first half trailing 24-7, Colby gets the ball deep in their own territory at the 19  and proceeds to throw 3 passes including a short pass on third and long that had no shot at a first down that fell incomplete instead of running the ball and letting the clock run out on the half....on 4th and 13, Colby punts (15 yard punt which obviously the coaches can't control although they were trying punt it away from the very dangerous David Estevez who was deep lined up as returner) and they give Wes the ball at the Colby 31...2 plays later, Wes TD and the score is 31-7 at the half...bad play calling, bad strategy, bad call on the punt...

We'll debunk another Colby myth...the While Mule offensive line is very mediocre...21 yards rushing (on 20 carries), less than 200 yards total offense, 3 sacks, numerous hurries, 8 tackles for loss...they did not look like world beaters to us...

Despite Colby lowering their admission standards to Hartford State levels, they still can't seem to get play makers on offense which was the obvious missing component yesterday for the White Mules...they had no shot playing catch-up-once they fell behind against a very good Wesleyan defense...they looked like the same old Colby to us; 2nd tier, at best...more to follow on this game and the rest of yesterday's NESCAC games later...

[The Mole]

Charlie, where are you?

Charlie, please break down how Colby will defeat Wesleyan. I know you are a Bantam and want the Cards to lose, but please provide the anatomy of the upset.

October 8 Game Predications

Bates      @ Amherst.                 Winner Bates
Colby      @ Wesleyan.                           Colby    * Game of the Week
Hamilton @ Trinity                                 Trinity
Williams  @ Middlebury                          Middlebury
Bowdoin  @ Tufts                                  Tufts

[The Mole]

Crickets from Charlemagne, at least Scoops admitted he was wrong. I love radio silence, see you Saturday night Nescacman....


I am not Bantam just think Colby is going to change the landscape of league this year. But I will say this I dont think this game will be easy for Colby. But In my opinion I believe Colby has best O-Line in the league up to this point in season. I know it does not show up in the stats.

I love the physicality of both OL tackles as well as solid play from Guards. They remind me of the two Williams tackles from last year who dominated the league but I beleive these two are more physical. I also believe at this juncture that Colby RB is the best in the league so far. Extremely patient , fast and breaks tackles.

Cosgrove has the QB throwing high percentage passes and the QB exhibited some escapability and kept chains moving. If they can neutralize Helbig they will be able to move the ball. This will be a tall task but think they can do this.

Defensively Colby employed a great bend but dont break defense keeping everything in front of secondary. I think there are some question marks with Wesleyan QB this year not playing as well as they did las year. Colby is going to force them to move ball up the field and tighten in red zone. Although Wesleyan has solid kicker.

Again wont be easy so far impressed with Colby Coaching and game plans. Big factor is how Colby handles the travel  , turnovers and if they can apply the same intensity they have exhibited the last few weeks. In addition game will be played on grass so the speed of the game will be slower which I think favors Colby in a smash mouth game.

[The Mole]

BTW Scoops, I hope you saw the OK play Tomlinson made when he chased down the Colby DB after an interception and tackled him at the 15. 4 plays and no yards or points by the Mules. Dollars to donuts, best play he has made all year, which is a strong statement. It showed great athleticism, hustle, desire and leadership.

[AmherstStudent05]

Well, it's looking like a long year for Amherst. We lost an absolute heartbreaker to Bates. Just as our offense finally woke up at the end of the game, our defense went to sleep!  Oh well. Still enjoyable all the same. And at least I have Brian Daboll and the Fighting New York Giants to cheer me up on weekends.

Over the years I've noticed plenty of posters — both those who otherwise appear knowledgeable and those that don't — comment on relaxed admissions standards of programs that have good years. I'm never sure if this is based on knowledge or jealously. However, now that Amherst has the worst record in the league, can we all agree that we have the smartest, most accomplished student athletes??!!

[PolarCat]

Humblest as well.

Perhaps they decided to spend the season atoning for the smallpox blankets?

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to all.

[lumbercat]

Polar Cat returns from parts unknown!.....the re emergence of a guy who is no stranger to the nuances of the NESCAC, IVY League and New England Prep School circuit. Former czar of the Bates tailgate.....managed the Bobcat tailgate like he was running a Manhattan steak house.....sorely missed these days at Bates home games.

[nescac1]

Ummm, kind of an interesting Twitter exchange here.  However he ends up as a football player, this kid is surely a class act and I say that as a Williams fan:

https://twitter.com/dbagatelle/status/1579189895842926592?s=46&t=f37coF4yQarplPFnVHKePQ

[BigKat]

Yes, good for him................... but sources say there is a lot of unrest within the walls of that program. When was the last time Williams and Amherst were so "mediocre"( I'm being kind) in the same season?

Refreshing to see some other programs experiencing success this year. Very big Saturday ahead!

[FloridaMiddFan]

We've said it before and we'll say it again, ALL of these student-athletes are great kids, no matter what team they play for (yes, even if they play for Hartford State, the Purple Cows and the Lord Mammoths)...as far as Maldjian being injured, that's too bad...seems like he's on track to be the next Frank Stola...btw, as far as being hurt "AGAIN", to the best of our knowledge, he quit the Middlebury football team after his stellar freshman year, he was not injured...

Nescacman:  Why are you so LAZY?  Why would you continue to insist that Alex Maldjian 'quit'. 

A simple conversation with anyone connected to the MIDD program would reveal that he had knee surgery in September 2021 to repair a torn ACL. Sadly, he was injured again while MIDD was beating up on massively overrated Wesleyan in week 2.

I love that you hate MIDD, and I don't care to figure out why as you've been the ultimate reverse indicator, but in this instance, your value judgment about being a quitter is wrong and irresponsible. 

Grow up and do your homework.  You owe Alex Maldjian an apology.   

[Scoops]

I think it's pretty unfair to call Williams mediocre. Their schedule so far has been one of the toughest in the NESCAC so far. They won a game they should've against Bowdoin, and they've had to play 3 tough games against 3 arguably top tier opponents. They're a higher-end middle tier program, which is to be expected given their roster turnover. And they still run the ball better than anyone in the league.

Yes, good for him................... but sources say there is a lot of unrest within the walls of that program. When was the last time Williams and Amherst were so "mediocre"( I'm being kind) in the same season?

Refreshing to see some other programs experiencing success this year. Very big Saturday ahead!