FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

You lost us at rescheduling, moving games, and adding extra games. Not/never going to happen. End of story.
[/quote]


NM- Tufts-Middlebury at Fenway could work. The final date of the NESCAC season in mid November is outside the MLB window and could be possible. It would have to be Tufts-Middlebury per the current schedule.

The only other plausible scenario I could imagine would be moving the Williams-Amherst game to Fenway on that final week of the regular season. That could fly as the small school sequel to Harvard-Yale game held at Fenway.  With all the marketing fodder as the biggest Little Game in America etc. could have some legs.

[lumbercat]

Tufts/Bowdoin have never had a preseason 'game'- they used to scrimmage when NESCAC schools scheduled pre season scrimmages  back in the day.
Friends Jay Civetti and JB Wells continued that tradition with a controlled scrimmage/joint practice prior to the 9 game schedule.

Tufts and Bowdoin played their scheduled NESCAC game in Ireland I think in the late 1980's or early 1990's.

Okay I knew it was something out of ordinary but did this have to be cleared by NESCAC. If two teams wanted to get together and have a game against each other or non conference game after season has concluded are they allowed ?

Nope- Only the venue was changed. Not an additional game or adjustment to the NESCAC schedule.

[Nescacman]

You lost us at rescheduling, moving games, and adding extra games. Not/never going to happen. End of story.

NM- Tufts-Middlebury at Fenway could work. The final date of the NESCAC season in mid November is outside the MLB window and could be possible. It would have to be Tufts-Middlebury per the current schedule.

The only other plausible scenario I could imagine would be moving the Williams-Amherst game to Fenway on that final week of the regular season. That could fly as the small school sequel to Harvard-Yale game held at Fenway.  With all the marketing fodder as the biggest Little Game in America etc. could have some legs.
[/quote]

We're willing to take the "not going to happen" side of that wager...

We're already going to enjoy some pre-game cocktails in Williamstown next year thanks to some delusional Eph supporters. Anyone care to take the "going to happen" side of the wager?

[lumbercat]

NM-
I would agree but in the City of Boston with the right influence peddler(s) the unlikely can sometimes happen.

[BigKat]

Congrats to Tomlinson on a Stonehill offer. Hope more landing options are on the way for the young man.

[The Ghost of John Wesley]

This is probably a question best designed for Nescacman but others are welcome to jump in if they know they answer.

Whatever happened with Wesleyan's D-Lineman Taj Gooden? I wasn't following these boards much in those years and wasn't close to the program at the time, but I remember him having stellar freshman and sophomore campaigns in '17-18 before basically disappearing. I believe he was a preseason D3 All-American one of those years, as well (?).

Was it injuries? Did he leave the team? Transfer? I couldn't really find a trace of him on the internet. It seemed like he was on a Helbig-esque trajectory (multiyear leader on the defense, DPOY candidate, etc.), so it seems unusual.

Will be interesting to see where all of the NESCAC players who entered the transfer portal end up. Player/career mobility has certainly been transformed by the portal.

[Charlie]

This is probably a question best designed for Nescacman but others are welcome to jump in if they know they answer.

Whatever happened with Wesleyan's D-Lineman Taj Gooden? I wasn't following these boards much in those years and wasn't close to the program at the time, but I remember him having stellar freshman and sophomore campaigns in '17-18 before basically disappearing. I believe he was a preseason D3 All-American one of those years, as well (?).

Was it injuries? Did he leave the team? Transfer? I couldn't really find a trace of him on the internet. It seemed like he was on a Helbig-esque trajectory (multiyear leader on the defense, DPOY candidate, etc.), so it seems unusual.

Will be interesting to see where all of the NESCAC players who entered the transfer portal end up. Player/career mobility has certainly been transformed by the portal.

I do remember him and no idea. I also remember a great RB for Trinity Spencer Lockwood who was gatorade player of year in High School but only remember him playing a few years in College was very productive but he too fell off and often wondered what happened to him ?

[nescac1]

Always hard to gauge football recruiting classes, but here is an updated list of Eph recruits to date  The recent Eph football recruiting classes have been around 18-20 players, and while I sure hope they can swing a few more slots from admissions this year (otherwise it's gonna be a very small roster), in all events this group of 17 will certainly form the vast majority of the recruiting class. 

After a season where first years played a surprisingly large role on defense (four first year starters by season's end), I think we will see a a major boost to the Eph skill positions from this incoming group quite early in their careers.  I note that four players in the class to date were starting QBs for their high school teams, although several of those guys I assume are being recruited as athletes rather than QBs, with Renzella a name to watch as a pure passer.  I would think that Jack Dickinson, after losing his job due to injury, would still go into the season as the most likely starter, but I would not be shocked at all to see one of these first years in the mix with Dickinson and Wallace (who also was injured before he had a chance to do much on the field), given how much the Eph passing game struggled no matter who was at the helm last year. 

I see Thorbahn and Gering, both of whom had at least one scholarship offer, as guys to watch as first years ... both look like potentially explosive playmakers and the Ephs are gonna need a few of those around Fischetti.  And some of the other skill guys (Cotton and Kennedy) have good speed as well. The Ephs have a big hole at center on the offensive line so Shames or maybe Ingram may be names to watch on the interior line as well. 

Note: edited to add Owen McHugh

Luke Thorbahn, 5'9 185 RB/WR, Avon Old Farms
Wyatt Cotton, WR/RB, St. Mary's (MD)
Holden Gering, 5'10 WR/CB/ATH, Crespi Carmelite (CA)
Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S.
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston
Jack Barber, 6'5, 240 DE, Darien
Christian Reavis, 6'1, 200 LB, Deerfield
Nate Dlugos, 6'2 180 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic
Jack Kennedy, 5'9 185, WR Cheshire Academy
Nathan Rodi, 6' 210 RB/LB, Pittsford (NY)
Leonardo Maiulolo, 5'8 165 P/K, Saint Francis (CA)
Will Baker, 6'4 220 QB, Cohasset
Owen Johansen, 6'2 212 QB/LB/ATH, Northport (NY)
Owen McHugh, 6'0 182, QB/S, Milton

[lumbercat]

Always hard to gauge football recruiting classes, but here is an updated list of Eph recruits to date  The recent Eph football recruiting classes have been around 18-20 players, and while I sure hope they can swing a few more slots from admissions this year (otherwise it's gonna be a very small roster), in all events this group of 17 will certainly form the vast majority of the recruiting class. 

After a season where first years played a surprisingly large role on defense (four first year starters by season's end), I think we will see a a major boost to the Eph skill positions from this incoming group quite early in their careers.  I note that four players in the class to date were starting QBs for their high school teams, although several of those guys I assume are being recruited as athletes rather than QBs, with Renzella a name to watch as a pure passer.  I would think that Jack Dickinson, after losing his job due to injury, would still go into the season as the most likely starter, but I would not be shocked at all to see one of these first years in the mix with Dickinson and Wallace (who also was injured before he had a chance to do much on the field), given how much the Eph passing game struggled no matter who was at the helm last year. 

I see Thorbahn and Gering, both of whom had at least one scholarship offer, as guys to watch as first years ... both look like potentially explosive playmakers and the Ephs are gonna need a few of those around Fischetti.  And some of the other skill guys (Cotton and Kennedy) have good speed as well. The Ephs have a big hole at center on the offensive line so Shames or maybe Ingram may be names to watch on the interior line as well. 

Luke Thorbahn, 5'9 185 RB/WR, Avon Old Farms
Wyatt Cotton, WR/RB, St. Mary's (MD)
Holden Gering, 5'10 WR/CB/ATH, Crespi Carmelite (CA)
Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S.
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston
Jack Barber, 6'5, 240 DE, Darien
Christian Reavis, 6'1, 200 LB, Deerfield
Nate Dlugos, 6'2 180 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic
Jack Kennedy, 5'9 185, WR Cheshire Academy
Nathan Rodi, 6' 210 RB/LB, Pittsford (NY)
Leonardo Maiulolo, 5'8 165 P/K, Saint Francis (CA)
Will Baker, 6'4 220 QB, Cohasset
Owen Johansen, 6'2 212 QB/LB/ATH, Northport (NY)

A real gem here is Holden Gehring. Gamebreaking playmaker. Offered by all NESCACs, several Ivies and DI schools. Could have gone almost anyplace. Believe it came down to Amherst or Willytown with Raymond getting the nod. Seems reflective of the current state of the 2 rival programs. Only 1 recruit, but overall Amherst seems to be losing some energy and overall luster to the Ephs.

[Charlie]

Always hard to gauge football recruiting classes, but here is an updated list of Eph recruits to date  The recent Eph football recruiting classes have been around 18-20 players, and while I sure hope they can swing a few more slots from admissions this year (otherwise it's gonna be a very small roster), in all events this group of 17 will certainly form the vast majority of the recruiting class. 

After a season where first years played a surprisingly large role on defense (four first year starters by season's end), I think we will see a a major boost to the Eph skill positions from this incoming group quite early in their careers.  I note that four players in the class to date were starting QBs for their high school teams, although several of those guys I assume are being recruited as athletes rather than QBs, with Renzella a name to watch as a pure passer.  I would think that Jack Dickinson, after losing his job due to injury, would still go into the season as the most likely starter, but I would not be shocked at all to see one of these first years in the mix with Dickinson and Wallace (who also was injured before he had a chance to do much on the field), given how much the Eph passing game struggled no matter who was at the helm last year. 

I see Thorbahn and Gering, both of whom had at least one scholarship offer, as guys to watch as first years ... both look like potentially explosive playmakers and the Ephs are gonna need a few of those around Fischetti.  And some of the other skill guys (Cotton and Kennedy) have good speed as well. The Ephs have a big hole at center on the offensive line so Shames or maybe Ingram may be names to watch on the interior line as well. 

Luke Thorbahn, 5'9 185 RB/WR, Avon Old Farms
Wyatt Cotton, WR/RB, St. Mary's (MD)
Holden Gering, 5'10 WR/CB/ATH, Crespi Carmelite (CA)
Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S.
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston
Jack Barber, 6'5, 240 DE, Darien
Christian Reavis, 6'1, 200 LB, Deerfield
Nate Dlugos, 6'2 180 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic
Jack Kennedy, 5'9 185, WR Cheshire Academy
Nathan Rodi, 6' 210 RB/LB, Pittsford (NY)
Leonardo Maiulolo, 5'8 165 P/K, Saint Francis (CA)
Will Baker, 6'4 220 QB, Cohasset
Owen Johansen, 6'2 212 QB/LB/ATH, Northport (NY)

A real gem here is Holden Gehring. Gamebreaking playmaker. Offered by all NESCACs, several Ivies and DI schools. Could have gone almost anyplace. Believe it came down to Amherst or Willytown with Raymond getting the nod. Seems reflective of the current state of the 2 rival programs. Only 1 recruit, but overall Amherst seems to be losing some energy and overall luster to the Ephs.

The problem is Williams has had such a small recruiting class that they have more misses than hits at the QB. They took two from Lincoln Sudbury both had good high school careers one they converted to TE the other was Freshman last year and obviously did not pan out or was as freshman sensation like Berluti that they had no confidence in him. What makes matters even more worrisome is that there was spring practice this year for the QB that were on the roster and none could be serviceable to bridge a gap year or two.

However I think there is also another underlying problem in the Football program. I understand not easy having roster depleted with graduation but the staff this year seems to get very frustrated viciously berating players during games and then last game of season limited if no playing time for seniors. I get losing is frustrating but does not set good example for the underclassman. Many other factors could be in play that may have justified this treatment all I am saying is seems to be some tension on staff and players.

[lumbercat]

There may not be a lot of recruits on that Williams list but there is certainly a high level of quality. Im sure there will be additional commits to follow.
I am familiar with Gering who I posted on earlier. I also know Bongo from Hull and QB Baker of Cohassett. I have seen them play and they are both top NESCAC prospects though they come from small programs and it will take some time.
However a friend with an immense amount of Coaching and NESCAC/Ivy recruiting knowledge just pointed out Owen Joahansen. I'm told it's a name that will resonate in the conference for the next 4 years. Could play QB or LB/Safety.

[Charlie]

There may not be a lot of recruits on that Williams list but there is certainly a high level of quality. Im sure there will be additional commits to follow.
I am familiar with Gering who I posted on earlier. I also know Bongo from Hull and QB Baker of Cohassett. I have seen them play and they are both top NESCAC prospects though they come from small programs and it will take some time.
However a friend with an immense amount of Coaching and NESCAC/Ivy recruiting knowledge just pointed out Owen Joahansen. I'm told it's a name that will resonate in the conference for the next 4 years. Could play QB or LB/Safety.

I still think that while it is early but think Williams will come out of this may take a year or two and a bumpy road.  Wesleyan on the other hand I am afraid could also be taking a step back this year. Loosing their two Interior DL , WR , top athlete in Estevez is just a small sampling of athletes leaving and or graduating the program. They will have to have a big recruiting year.

[nescac1]

Thanks for all the information on the Ephs recruits, lumbercat!

Offensively, I think Williams will be a very different team going forward than what we've seen.  They lose a lot of the players who allowed them to a play a physical, interior-running, power style of football -- Utecht and Garelli on the offense line, and Vaughn and Nicholas as inside runners (following of course Maimaron, Rooney and Watson last year). And of course, that style was far more effective with an elite runner like Maimaron (and to a lesser extent, Vaughn, once he found his footing) at the helm than other QBs. 

The Ephs do seem like they will have a lot more speed and dynamism at the skill positions than we've seen of late, and they are going to have to really open up the offense to succeed.  Fischetti is the most exciting TB in the league and hopefully comes back 100 percent and stays healthy.  He'll be backed by speedy backs Oris (who had limited touches as a frosh this year) and potentially Thorbahn, who looks like a Fischetti-type runner - intrigued to see what he brings to the table next year.  At WR, Cam Lee is a pure speed threat on the outside, Ledden is quick as well, this year's frosh Wright is another speed receiver who could make a bigger impact next year, and the guys they are bringing in, let by Gering, tend to be fast but on the small side as well.  The Ephs may not, however, have a go-to bigger, possession type receiver.   Also look for Sam Jaffee to have a bigger role next year as a down-the-field style TE / HB. 

The big question is, will the Ephs have a QB to take advantage of guys who can get deep down the field?  There will be no shortage of candidates between the returning QBs who were injured this year and as many as four frosh (though I'd guess more like two since three of the QB recruits are athletes who could play elsewhere) added to the mix.  The Ephs desperately need someone to emerge as an accurate downfield passer because the grind-em out style doesn't really suit the returning and incoming personnel. 

[Nescacman]

Congrats to Tomlinson on a Stonehill offer. Hope more landing options are on the way for the young man.

Just a start for him. Both Logan and Nick are drawing interest from both FBS and FCS schools. We wish them both nothing but success.

[Nescacman]

This is probably a question best designed for Nescacman but others are welcome to jump in if they know they answer.

Whatever happened with Wesleyan's D-Lineman Taj Gooden? I wasn't following these boards much in those years and wasn't close to the program at the time, but I remember him having stellar freshman and sophomore campaigns in '17-18 before basically disappearing. I believe he was a preseason D3 All-American one of those years, as well (?).

Was it injuries? Did he leave the team? Transfer? I couldn't really find a trace of him on the internet. It seemed like he was on a Helbig-esque trajectory (multiyear leader on the defense, DPOY candidate, etc.), so it seems unusual.

Will be interesting to see where all of the NESCAC players who entered the transfer portal end up. Player/career mobility has certainly been transformed by the portal.

Ghost, we sent you a personal message. Hope that helps. #rollcards