FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Scoops]

I know it's been mentioned before, but does anyone have a complete and confirmed list of the 5th year players who are returning this year? Particularly for the assumed contenders (Trinity, Midd, Tufts, Wes)?

[lumbercat]

There is no available list of 5th year guys. Since the end of the season there has been a great deal of speculation. Many have wavered and more than a few have changed their original decisions.

Rosters are being released now. Colby roster is up. Looks like LB Dougherty and K Carr are staying as originally projected. The true confirmation will come as the preseason rosters are released.

Interesting QB competition to take place in Waterville. Expect a very strong D this year with the White Mules. They are loaded at LB, on the edge and in the secondary.

[Scoops]

I do believe the mules are potential contenders. Leaving them out was an oversight. Their defense is among the best in the league, but their lack of scoring is baffling. Hopefully a new QB gets things rolling on that side of the ball.

There is no available list of 5th year guys. Since the end of the season there has been a great deal of speculation. Many have wavered and more than a few have changed their original decisions.

Rosters are being released now. Colby roster is up. Looks like LB Dougherty and K Carr are staying as originally projected. The true confirmation will come as the preseason rosters are released.

Interesting QB competition to take place in Waterville. Expect a very strong D this year with the White Mules. They are loaded at LB, on the edge and in the secondary.

[The Mole]

2022 Mules: 8th ranked scoring offense, 9th ranked offense YPG, 5th ranked scoring defense and 3rd ranked defense YPG. Last winning season 2005.  13-23 since Cosgrove took over and have beaten 1 team with a winning record--5-4 Amherst in 21. Lots of admissions leeway and a $200mm facility. Winning the CBB is not contending.

I do believe the mules are potential contenders. Leaving them out was an oversight. Their defense is among the best in the league, but their lack of scoring is baffling. Hopefully a new QB gets things rolling on that side of the ball.

There is no available list of 5th year guys. Since the end of the season there has been a great deal of speculation. Many have wavered and more than a few have changed their original decisions.

Rosters are being released now. Colby roster is up. Looks like LB Dougherty and K Carr are staying as originally projected. The true confirmation will come as the preseason rosters are released.

Interesting QB competition to take place in Waterville. Expect a very strong D this year with the White Mules. They are loaded at LB, on the edge and in the secondary.

[The Mole]

If there are returning 5th year players, look back to 2019 and see how teams have fared since then, could help frame potential contenders or pretenders. Also could be indicative of "player development":

Trinity 22-5 (4 losses in 2019, 2022 champs)
Wesleyan 20-7 (have beaten every team in that span but no title)
Middlebury & Williams 19-8 (2019 and 2021 respective champs--both followed up unbeaten years with 3-6 seasons)
Tufts 14-13 (is this the year of their first title?)
Amherst 11-16 (have the Mammoths gone extinct?)
Colby 10-17 (need to beat a team with a pulse)
Hamilton & Bates 8-19 (1 combined winning season since 98)
Bowdoin 4-23 (wins over Wes & Colby in 22)

[The Mole]

Quick scan since 98 shows two teams have gone from losing records to "contenders" the following season. Middlebury from 3-6 to 7-2 last year. Had they beaten Tufts and Wes beaten Trinity in the last week, they would have shared the title. The Mules went from 3-5 in 99 to 7-1 and a three way split for the title in 2000 with Amherst and Middlebury. Honorable mention to Trinity who went 4-4 in 01 to 7-1 in 02 and shared the title with Williams (who lost to Amherst in the finale). Amherst went 4-4 in 16 to 7-2 in 17 and could have shared with Trinity but lost to the Ephs in the Biggest Little Game.
Not a realistic expectation to go from a losing season to a potential champion the next year.

[SpringSt7]

I am going to go out on a limb and say that one of the teams that always wins the league will probably win the league. I know that's the analysis you all come here for

[Scoops]

Midd went from 5-4 (won by 1 vs Bates) to completing the 1st 9-0 season in league history. So it's not unreasonable to think that a team with a highly ranked defense, returning some key players could make the jump. That said, I don't legitimately think it'll happen for the Mules.

I do believe that if it were to happen, this would be the year for it. Without knowing 5th years for sure, every "contender" has some key losses on their roster that can open the door for some surprise outcomes this season. For my money, the only "sure thing" contender is Trinity. I do believe that Middlebury and Tufts are the most likely spoilers for a repeat Bantam title, but both schools have their question marks going into the fall. For Midd, it's can they balance their offense, and how well they navigate the ascension of Coach Mandigo. For Tufts, it's do they have enough firepower to replicate their offensive performance, and can they mitigate the poor decision making at the coaching level that has plagued them in important games.

Quick scan since 98 shows two teams have gone from losing records to "contenders" the following season. Middlebury from 3-6 to 7-2 last year. Had they beaten Tufts and Wes beaten Trinity in the last week, they would have shared the title. The Mules went from 3-5 in 99 to 7-1 and a three way split for the title in 2000 with Amherst and Middlebury. Honorable mention to Trinity who went 4-4 in 01 to 7-1 in 02 and shared the title with Williams (who lost to Amherst in the finale). Amherst went 4-4 in 16 to 7-2 in 17 and could have shared with Trinity but lost to the Ephs in the Biggest Little Game.
Not a realistic expectation to go from a losing season to a potential champion the next year.

[SpringSt7]

Feels important to note that Middlebury has to travel to both Trinity and Wesleyan, and Williams and Colby for that matter. Tufts has to travel to Trinity Week 1 and to Middlebury Week 9. So if you are looking at things that will make a difference in the big picture, Trinity getting Tufts and Midd at home feels important.

[lumbercat]

Great coaching hire by Mark Raymond at Williams.
Chris Rorke former OC at Trinity, HC at Plymouth St and Asst at Lehigh and Dartmouth (his Alma Mater where he played QB)
Very respected as a QB coach and Pass Game guy.
Not sure what his actual role will be-- OC or QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator.

[Charlie]

Great coaching hire by Mark Raymond at Williams.
Chris Rorke former OC at Trinity, HC at Plymouth St and Asst at Lehigh and Dartmouth (his Alma Mater where he played QB)
Very respected as a QB coach and Pass Game guy.
Not sure what his actual role will be-- OC or QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator.

I believe that we are not focusing on the Coaching changes enough. Middlebury new HC even though coming from inside the ranks loosing HC will have an impact. Trinity loosing bunch of assistant Coaches and taking away some responsibilities from OC. The TE Coach Simmons a former All Star in NESCAC at OL will be assuming OL Coaching and OC will be doing just play calling. Trinity lost QB Coach big loss , new DB Coach & DL Coach. This has to have an impact. This is going to be hard season on HC Devanney.

Bowdoin lost a few Coaches and there appears to be lack of continuity in that program.

Wesleyan by all words is going with a focus on passing game and spreading ball around. The new OC from last year starting to open up offense.

Bates Hired new DC Coach taking over from last year DC Jirgl who moved on to Long Island University Safeties Coach so turnover amongst players and Coaches still existent in Maine.

Curious to see how all the Caching changes pan out.

[nescac1]

I don't think previously reported here - but maybe?   Phil Lutz officially on the Delaware roster:

https://bluehens.com/sports/football/roster/phil-lutz/27828

It will be fun to see how three Nescac guys fare in D1 this year. 

Glad to see Williams bringing in an experienced hand in the passing game.  I have a feeling we will see a lot of frosh getting chances at the skill positions for the Ephs this year, so coaching them up quickly will be critical. 

[The Mole]

Trinity and Middlebury will be just fine. Back to the Xs and Os versus Jimmy & Joes. Changes at this level happen fairly regularly. The consistency is important, but the talent on hand and players on the roster more critical.

Great coaching hire by Mark Raymond at Williams.
Chris Rorke former OC at Trinity, HC at Plymouth St and Asst at Lehigh and Dartmouth (his Alma Mater where he played QB)
Very respected as a QB coach and Pass Game guy.
Not sure what his actual role will be-- OC or QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator.

I believe that we are not focusing on the Coaching changes enough. Middlebury new HC even though coming from inside the ranks loosing HC will have an impact. Trinity loosing bunch of assistant Coaches and taking away some responsibilities from OC. The TE Coach Simmons a former All Star in NESCAC at OL will be assuming OL Coaching and OC will be doing just play calling. Trinity lost QB Coach big loss , new DB Coach & DL Coach. This has to have an impact. This is going to be hard season on HC Devanney.

Bowdoin lost a few Coaches and there appears to be lack of continuity in that program.

Wesleyan by all words is going with a focus on passing game and spreading ball around. The new OC from last year starting to open up offense.

Bates Hired new DC Coach taking over from last year DC Jirgl who moved on to Long Island University Safeties Coach so turnover amongst players and Coaches still existent in Maine.

Curious to see how all the Caching changes pan out.

[lumbercat]

As the Mole points out turnover among assistants is normal as assistant coaches see opportunities for advancement in other programs.
These movements have been pretty normal within most NESACAC programs.
Bowdoin is probably the exception with a lot of turnover in recent years among coaches and coordinators.

[GroundandPound]

https://hansenratings.github.io/Region%201.html
I am not sure if anyone has followed this guy Hansen on twitter.
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