FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Jonny Utah]

Well stated Jonny, very accurate. Glad you posted.
You put some of these runaway conclusions in perspective about the transition to D3 Football championship eligibility. We have to leave comparisons to the over the top programs like Mt Union out of the analysis. Look at the healthy approach of the many small schools who are actually pretty similar to the NESCACs who play 10 games and compete in the championship process with rosters under 100 in many cases.

I believe that standard is the level NESCAC Football programs are currently seeking.

Yea and I think Johns Hopkins is the perfect example.  Now they might have an "advantage" being in a different region of the country than the saturated New England ISL/NEPSAC area, but it is a school that recruits nationally and takes advantage of that.  North Central just happens to have pretty much everyone from IL, but even Mt. Union has started to (or needed to) recruit Florida and Texas.  And MHB?  They are in Texas anyway which is a different ballgame all together. 

And let's realize that Bowdoin is going to have problems the same way Oberlin might.  But if MIT can at least compete with the #4 ranked team and up (like JHU or U Chicago can), then Nescac schools can too.  Hell a little national exposure might even get better football playing students looking at those schools.  Williams/Amherst is going to get a nice crowd, but a Trinity/Ithaca game in the second round of the playoffs in CT is going to get a real good crowd too. 

But one thing people have mentioned is school size.  JHU, Tufts, Chicago and even MIT have larger enrollments.  Bottom line is that is an advantage in securing football rosters and recruiting.  That is a factor.

But don't complaint about Mt. Union or North Central, there are 235 other d3 teams in the same boat.

[unionpalooza]

As mentioned before.... playing a round, possibly winning and then getting hammered by some D3 powerhouse with zero academic standards doesn't seem all that appealing.

If the Centennial can send teams to the national semifinals then eventually the NESCAC can as well.

Sorry that you guys have to compete with schools that are so beneath you. 

I continue to be amazed that the mere mention on these boards that D3 schools have wildly varying academic standards and those standards impact competition is almost always interpreted as elitism. 

[Jonny Utah]

Well stated Jonny, very accurate. Glad you posted.
You put some of these runaway conclusions in perspective about the transition to D3 Football championship eligibility. We have to leave comparisons to the over the top programs like Mt Union out of the analysis. Look at the healthy approach of the many small schools who are actually pretty similar to the NESCACs who play 10 games and compete in the championship process with rosters under 100 in many cases.

I believe that standard is the level NESCAC Football programs are currently seeking.

Yea and I think Johns Hopkins is the perfect example.  Now they might have an "advantage" being in a different region of the country than the saturated New England ISL/NEPSAC area, but it is a school that recruits nationally and takes advantage of that.  North Central just happens to have pretty much everyone from IL, but even Mt. Union has started to (or needed to) recruit Florida and Texas.  And MHB?  They are in Texas anyway which is a different ballgame all together. 

And let's realize that Bowdoin is going to have problems the same way Oberlin might.  But if MIT can at least compete with the #4 ranked team and up (like JHU or U Chicago can), then Nescac schools can too.  Hell a little national exposure might even get better football playing students looking at those schools.  Williams/Amherst is going to get a nice crowd, but a Trinity/Ithaca game in the second round of the playoffs in CT is going to get a real good crowd too. 

But one thing people have mentioned is school size.  JHU, Tufts, Chicago and even MIT have larger enrollments.  Bottom line is that is an advantage in securing football rosters and recruiting.  That is a factor. 

But don't complaint about Mt. Union or North Central, there are 235 other d3 teams in the same boat.

There must be some sort of quote function vortex on this board that caught me on this last post. 

[unionpalooza]

Just like Covid policies, it's a copy cat sport. As soon as the Ivies raise their hand for post season eligibility, the Nescac will follow. They have spring practices btw so one really has nothing to do with the other ( re Postseason play) Purpose of the limited practices to get the squad some reps and more importantly the coaches a look at players before summer.

As mentioned before.... playing a round, possibly winning and then getting hammered by some D3 powerhouse with zero academic standards doesn't seem all that appealing.

It might take a week or two, but this board never disappoints with the "we are smarter than the rest of you". You really do need to get out of your NESCAC bubble and see the world. As a money manager, it would blow your mind to see the types of assets that many non-NESCACians have built up for themselves. I know that this does not fit the narrative of "there is the NESCAC, the Ivies (for those who could not get into any NESCAC schools) and the remainder are community colleges", but you really need to get out and experience life and see what many others have amassed without a NESCAC degree. It would boggle your mind and might depress the heck out of you if you're not crushing it like them. We all worship the same God (and YES, He DOES exist) so there is no separate God for NESCAC grads, nor a separate heaven (if you get there, you'll just have to slum it with the community college crowd)

By the way. I'm not sure what sport you "excelled in", but Portnoy was never going to play hoops nor football (which he played in high school at Swapscott........without parents named Tad and Buffy) at a school like Michigan....................but his net worth exceeds $160 million so his lack of a college sport, from a non-NESCAC school didn't hurt our Davey one bit. Hit him up for a loan. He's s decent dude who has lost most of that nasty accent.

Like, what even is this post?  Who hurt you so bad at Swarthmore that you can't see a reference to academic standards on an internet message board and not post about all the rich people you know who didn't go to fancy schools, insist your god is everyone's god and all NESCAC grads go to your heaven, and defend a professional clown like Portnoy?  I guess we need to include trigger warning whenever we make a post that acknowledges the fact that some colleges are harder to get into than others.

[lumbercat]

nicely stated Unionpalooza- love the trigger warning. The guy has some baggage- he's home now polishing his Rolex.

[GroundandPound]

It looks like the opening day of NESCAC football will be HUGE for Tufts and Trinity, as they battle in Hartford.
I believe they are two of the top three favorites going into the season to win the NESCAC.  This opening day match up could be a classic.
Based on Trinity... being Trinity, I consider them the favorite, however, if Tufts starts the season the way they finished the season last year, it could be an amazing game.

[Charlie]

It looks like the opening day of NESCAC football will be HUGE for Tufts and Trinity, as they battle in Hartford.
I believe they are two of the top three favorites going into the season to win the NESCAC.  This opening day match up could be a classic.
Based on Trinity... being Trinity, I consider them the favorite, however, if Tufts starts the season the way they finished the season last year, it could be an amazing game.

I think with Tufts depleted OL and loosing top receiver from last year will just be too much for Tufts. Tufts does not play well there for some reason. Tufts does have Berluti and he is a playmaker. He really torched Trinity in second half of last years game. However I believe Trinity is stronger on the defensive side of ball. They have starting Safety and Corner returning and a transfer from Fordham at SS. Their LB are solid probably best in the league with a ton of depth at that position. DL is question mark loosing two DL to graduation However solid recruiting class last year and outstanding edge rushers coming up ranks.

Offensively probably one of the biggest OL Trinity has ever had with the transfer in from Lafayette. Great running back and look for an RB that was injured last year that plays like a Mike Alstott. I think this coupled with Fetter and a few talented receivers coming yup the ranks should make this an easy win. Don't be surprised if Trinity runs ball more this year until the QB and WR's get on same page.

Berluti will have to have a  Mahomes type of game I am afraid. I think the big game depending on how they come out of gate this year will be the Colby v Trinity game at Colby. The Williams game away should also be interesting seeing this was the last loss for Trinity. Should be fun to watch.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Tufts brings back their all-American guard in Cepalia and Two-time all-league starting Center in Horning so calling their line depleted is overkill. Will they have some new faces up front, absolutely, but so will the rest of the country. I also think it been established that while losing Lutz is a significant loss, they are probably the only team in the league who can recover from that with Richardson who would have been a #1 receiver anywhere else in the league last year, and Moore who will both get significantly more touches this year.

Also if you go and watch the Trinity transfer from Fordham's tape, he could not have been more than a walk on so lets not get too overzealous just because he is coming from a D1. As we have said, there are plenty of kids in the league who had opportunities to walk on and full scholarships from various D1 schools. 

If their defense can step up in the first half and get the ball to their offense I think Tufts will have an opportunity to win that game. Will be interested to see how effective their run game will be without Tyler Johnson though.

[LochNescac]

Tufts brings back their all-American guard in Cepalia and Two-time all-league starting Center in Horning so calling their line depleted is overkill. Will they have some new faces up front, absolutely, but so will the rest of the country. I also think it been established that while losing Lutz is a significant loss, they are probably the only team in the league who can recover from that with Richardson who would have been a #1 receiver anywhere else in the league last year, and Moore who will both get significantly more touches this year.

Also if you go and watch the Trinity transfer from Fordham's tape, he could not have been more than a walk on so lets not get too overzealous just because he is coming from a D1. As we have said, there are plenty of kids in the league who had opportunities to walk on and full scholarships from various D1 schools. 

If their defense can step up in the first half and get the ball to their offense I think Tufts will have an opportunity to win that game. Will be interested to see how effective their run game will be without Tyler Johnson though.

Tend to agree with this...should be an interesting game.   

[GroundandPound]

Charlie, I would be surprised if Colby ends up being a bigger challenge to Trinity than Tufts.
Tufts has 7 all conference players returning and it looks like Colby has 3 returning.  I suspect the road trip to Maine weighs heavily in your analysis.

[Charlie]

Charlie, I would be surprised if Colby ends up being a bigger challenge to Trinity than Tufts.
Tufts has 7 all conference players returning and it looks like Colby has 3 returning.  I suspect the road trip to Maine weighs heavily in your analysis.

I tell you I was at Colby game last year it was a great game plan and Colby had them on the ropes all game. Eventually talent prevailed in that game. The reason that one should concern Trinity is the away game. I think that is big part in the game.

I also think that Tufts defense will not be able to stop the Trinity running attack. Trinity OL is huge this year. I also think that the other reader does not know the SS from Fordham that kid is legit. I suppose the transfer from Lafayette on the OL is a slouch as well ?

If we are going to give out disparaging comments on players should we not then bring up Tufts HC and his in game decisions ?

I don't know if we have enough pages to document those blunders.

[The Mole]

Richardson very good receiver. Would not have been #1 at Middlebury, Wesleyan or Trinity last year. He was snubbed for All NESCAC but  if he is your #2 you are in great shape.

Tufts brings back their all-American guard in Cepalia and Two-time all-league starting Center in Horning so calling their line depleted is overkill. Will they have some new faces up front, absolutely, but so will the rest of the country. I also think it been established that while losing Lutz is a significant loss, they are probably the only team in the league who can recover from that with Richardson who would have been a #1 receiver anywhere else in the league last year, and Moore who will both get significantly more touches this year.

Also if you go and watch the Trinity transfer from Fordham's tape, he could not have been more than a walk on so lets not get too overzealous just because he is coming from a D1. As we have said, there are plenty of kids in the league who had opportunities to walk on and full scholarships from various D1 schools. 

If their defense can step up in the first half and get the ball to their offense I think Tufts will have an opportunity to win that game. Will be interested to see how effective their run game will be without Tyler Johnson though.

[SpringSt7]

What about the SEC cornerback for Tufts? Have to think he will be a factor.

[GroundandPound]

Which NESCAC team is returning the best defensive secondary?

[The Mole]

could be Tufts with 2 All NESCAC performers returning...

Which NESCAC team is returning the best defensive secondary?