FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

Trinity is still in process of cutting guys. Maybe Midd making cuts also.
Believe rosters need to submitted to the league by Tuesday at the latest so they should be up soon.

[Nescacman]

Nescacman

You rang Lumber??? 

[GroundandPound]

Mole,
When are your season predictions coming out?
Looking forward to them.

[The Mole]

Too close to it with my son playing, NESCACMAN has that market cornered...

Mole,
When are your season predictions coming out?
Looking forward to them.

[lumbercat]

Nescacman

You rang Lumber??? 

Lol- I was about to file a missing person report with NJ and Ct State Police!
I assume you'll have final zoom call with your NESCAC correspondents and file your weekly predictions later this week.

[GroundandPound]

Predictions:
Bowdoin over Hamilton
Colby over Williams
Wesleyan over Bates
Middlebury over Amherst
Trinity over Tufts

[Scoops]

Love the picks. I am intrigued by the Bowdoin/Hamilton matchup. I think the Conts pull an "upset" week 1. I also wouldn't be entirely surprised if Bates shocks the world against Wesleyan. You know Coyne has that one circled, and there's a lot of young talent that Wesleyan couldn't possibly prepare for. Not to mention the losses to graduation in Middletown. Middlebury and Colby roll. GOTW is clearly Tufts/Trinity. I lean towards Trinity, but if any team is going to knock the Bantams off, it's probably Tufts. Too close to call.

Predictions:
Bowdoin over Hamilton
Colby over Williams
Wesleyan over Bates
Middlebury over Amherst
Trinity over Tufts

[Pat Coleman]

I'm looking forward to taking in a NESCAC game in two weeks. Coming to Boston to see Endicott/Hardin-Simmons, Tufts-Bates and one other game to be determined in between. Been a hot minute since I've been to a NESCAC game now that I no longer live on the east coast.

[Nescacman]

Nescacman

You rang Lumber??? 

Lol- I was about to file a missing person report with NJ and Ct State Police!
I assume you'll have final zoom call with your NESCAC correspondents and file your weekly predictions later this week.

Lumber old friend...We've been scouring the "interwebs" for interesting tidbits and notes for months. Glad to see some things haven't changed, old "friends" back, and some new "friends" joining us.

We will, of course, be providing our regular annual predictions, weekly rankings, and much anticipated (and accurate) picks each week.

We'll start everyone with a few nuggets that we have learned:

1. Football roster limits back to 76 for 2025. The Lord Mammoths and Purple Cows were the primary drivers of that change. This helps them and hurts Hartford State, Jumbo's, and Wes (primarily). Also, hurts our friend HCOF Coyne's who is trying to build something at UBates.
2. Spring practice for football returns in the Spring of 2024. We believe it is 8 practices and 6 "leadership" days (read mentoring, which we are not sure why that needs to be limited). We think this is good for everyone.
3. Football taking part in D3 play-offs is not currently on the radar. However, Coach Cos is supposedly pushing for it behind the scenes. The "equity" play has some legs, however, if the various school's SAACs (Student Athletic Advisory Council) pushed hard. Frankly, not sure how the play-offs really helps anyone other than Hartford State at the end of the day (at least out of the box).
4. Adding a 10th out-of-league game is not on the radar currently. Once again, if the students pushed for it, it would have a better chance of  happening. Reasons we heard for this being unlikely at this time include current length of the season, budgetary constraints (we always laugh at  that one since may of us on the Board would gladly write the check for the bus, meals, and hotel), and increased injury risk by extending the length of the season or decreased practice time in the pre-season. We think a 10th game would be fun for everyone. Dad (and sisters) went to Union so a trip to Schenectady would be awesome. Also, back in the day when NESCACMAN was playing, we would play USCGA and that was a blast too. Especially loved playing in New London and seeing the Eagle, their real Bear Mascot, playing in a real stadium, and meeting football legend AD Otto Graham (now we are dating ourselves).

Of course, like everything else in the NESCAC, the above is subject to change but this is the latest and greatest update on those 4 hot off-season topics. 

For those of you making the trip to UBates-Lewiston Campus this Saturday (Mole), see you bright and early. We've got the stogies and bourbon covered.

[Nescacman]

I'm looking forward to taking in a NESCAC game in two weeks. Coming to Boston to see Endicott/Hardin-Simmons, Tufts-Bates and one other game to be determined in between. Been a hot minute since I've been to a NESCAC game now that I no longer live on the east coast.

Pat, we would welcome you at the best tailgate in NE on 9/23 for the Wes home opener v the Mid Pants at the longest continuously used football field in the US, Andrus Field. 9/23 is also our annual Bruce Springsteen Birthday Bash (he turns 74 on that day) so we will be starting our tailgate earlier than normal on that day (8:00 AM). We would be honored if you could join us. Mole and our correspondents would welcome you with open arms!

[Pat Coleman]

I'm looking forward to taking in a NESCAC game in two weeks. Coming to Boston to see Endicott/Hardin-Simmons, Tufts-Bates and one other game to be determined in between. Been a hot minute since I've been to a NESCAC game now that I no longer live on the east coast.

Pat, we would welcome you at the best tailgate in NE on 9/23 for the Wes home opener v the Mid Pants at the longest continuously used football field in the US, Andrus Field. 9/23 is also our annual Bruce Springsteen Birthday Bash (he turns 74 on that day) so we will be starting our tailgate earlier than normal on that day (8:00 AM). We would be honored if you could join us. Mole and our correspondents would welcome you with open arms!

I appreciate the invite, but I don't know if I can make it to Middletown, even if we're talking about an 8 a.m. tailgate. I'll keep it in mind, however!

[Caz Bombers]

I'm looking forward to taking in a NESCAC game in two weeks. Coming to Boston to see Endicott/Hardin-Simmons, Tufts-Bates and one other game to be determined in between. Been a hot minute since I've been to a NESCAC game now that I no longer live on the east coast.

Pat, we would welcome you at the best tailgate in NE on 9/23 for the Wes home opener v the Mid Pants at the longest continuously used football field in the US, Andrus Field. 9/23 is also our annual Bruce Springsteen Birthday Bash (he turns 74 on that day) so we will be starting our tailgate earlier than normal on that day (8:00 AM). We would be honored if you could join us. Mole and our correspondents would welcome you with open arms!

I appreciate the invite, but I don't know if I can make it to Middletown, even if we're talking about an 8 a.m. tailgate. I'll keep it in mind, however!

I presume you must be flipping a coin between Salve @ MIT and Westfield @ Framingham. Either would be an interesting post on the front page or D3blog IMO.

[GroundandPound]

https://www.wsj.com/rankings/college-rankings/best-colleges-2024

8th rated university/college in the U.S.A. is unable to post a football roster more than five days before first game. :-(

[GroundandPound]

18 time NESCAC Champions Unable to Post Football Roster Five Days Before First Game :-(

[Nescacman]

I'm looking forward to taking in a NESCAC game in two weeks. Coming to Boston to see Endicott/Hardin-Simmons, Tufts-Bates and one other game to be determined in between. Been a hot minute since I've been to a NESCAC game now that I no longer live on the east coast.

Pat, we would welcome you at the best tailgate in NE on 9/23 for the Wes home opener v the Mid Pants at the longest continuously used football field in the US, Andrus Field. 9/23 is also our annual Bruce Springsteen Birthday Bash (he turns 74 on that day) so we will be starting our tailgate earlier than normal on that day (8:00 AM). We would be honored if you could join us. Mole and our correspondents would welcome you with open arms!

I appreciate the invite, but I don't know if I can make it to Middletown, even if we're talking about an 8 a.m. tailgate. I'll keep it in mind, however!

You have a standing invite...name the game and date....