FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

Tufts over Hamilton 5
Wesleyan over Amherst 4
Middlebury over Colby 3
Williams over Bates 2
Bowdoin over Trinity 1
(5 most confident 1 least confident)

G&P, I say this fully realizing that you accurately predicted the Middlebury upset over Trinity in The Coop; but it's stunning to see anyone predict a straight-up win by Bowdoin over Trinity. For context, the Bantams have won 22 straight over the Polar Bears and are 35-2-1 since the schools began playing annually in 1984. The average score in those contests is 35.7 to 11.4 in Trinity's favor.

The fact that it's not completely unfathomable speaks to the job Hammer has done in a place that has historically been very difficult to win. This season Bowdoin has put up a good fight against other good NESCAC squads and they've beaten the teams they should. The Polar Bears have a legit chance at a winning season for the first time since 2005. However, the combined record of the teams they've beaten is just 3-15. It would certainly be one of the bigger upsets in recent NESCAC history if Trinity slips up on Saturday knowing they have no margin of error if they want a piece of the league title.

Oh Geez- What is it when a Trinity guy gets so rattled because a guy PREDICTED a Trinity upset loss.
It's a prediction!! A guess.

Great teams and dynasties don't even think of responding to that stuff. As I've said many times Trinity is a great arsenal, a great program. Total Champions....when are you going carry yourself as true Winner.

[lumbercat]

So for lack of a better term - is Cosgrove essentially just giving up? Again, lack of a better term.

I'm saying there is a  transition in play on the Hill.

[lumbercat]

More specifically I'm saying there may be some head scratching on Mayflower Hill when they bring in a D1 guy who's on a par with Jack Bicknell, Kirk Ferentz and Buddy Teevans in terms of recruiting athletes to the wilds of Maine.

Cosgrove comes in and seemingly recruits well in conjunction with the unveiling of maybe the best D3 athletic plant in the country........but he still can't win.

Colby Hockey, Basketball and Baseball all over achieving, significantly.......but Football still struggles.

Barring a fantastic Football finish for the Mules this year change looms in the not too distant future for Mules Football.

[Nescacman]

Going off script here...speaking for all of us we're sure, praying for our friends in Lewiston. 

[oxen1999]

Praying for the Bates College community tonight. Heartbreaking.

[CC_Camels]

My son is at Bates and reported that the city of Lewiston has been on lockdown, and that the entire Bates Campus has been sheltering in place since the shootings were reported. He and a number of the other football guys were at an info session for a company that was holding a recruiting info session on campus tonight and they are sheltering in an academic building. I have also heard from a number of other parents of players that people on campus are taking the situation VERY seriously...scary stuff.

Prayers for Lewiston and those who lost their lives and everyone who is and will be affected by the events of tonight.

[quicksilver]

The inauguration of the new Bates' president, Garry Jenkins, is scheduled for this Friday, with many dignitaries expected to attend. Who knows what will happen with that event. The shooter passed within a couple of blocks of the Bates campus as he made his way from shooting site to shooting site. And Bowdoin is just about 20 miles south of Lewiston, with the suspected shooter from the nearby town of Bowdoin Center. Very scary times.

[NescacNewbie]

Horrible events in Maine. With all three Maine schools playing at home this weekend, what is the opinion on the plan?

[quicksilver]

Everything is up in the air. Both Bates and Bowdoin are in lockdown (the shootings happened in Lewiston but the shooter is from a small town close to Brunswick, is very much on the loose and was last in a small town midway between Lewiston and Brunswick).  We will not know about what will happen with this weekend's games until the shooter is captured.

[Nescacman]

Everything is up in the air. Both Bates and Bowdoin are in lockdown (the shootings happened in Lewiston but the shooter is from a small town close to Brunswick, is very much on the loose and was last in a small town midway between Lewiston and Brunswick).  We will not know about what will happen with this weekend's games until the shooter is captured.

We realize that football is not at all a priority here, but since this is a football board, just a comment...given that the alleged shooter is still at-large, and we're sure UBates and Bowdoin can't practice with the lunatic running around armed to the teeth, the NESCAC needs to address this quickly and at a minimum move these games to a different date and perhaps a different location. Assuming they catch the guy quickly (not an easy task based on everything we've read and watched), they could play Sunday or Monday. Worst case, play the games scheduled for this weekend the week after the traditional regular season ends. However, knowing this league like we do, they will more than likely punt and just cancel games the games altogether, which we 100% hope they do not do. Easiest way out but really bad solution IOHO.

Football aside, let's hope they catch this guy quickly and no one else gets hurts. Very, very sad.

[Charlie]

Tufts over Hamilton 5
Wesleyan over Amherst 4
Middlebury over Colby 3
Williams over Bates 2
Bowdoin over Trinity 1
(5 most confident 1 least confident)

G&P, I say this fully realizing that you accurately predicted the Middlebury upset over Trinity in The Coop; but it's stunning to see anyone predict a straight-up win by Bowdoin over Trinity. For context, the Bantams have won 22 straight over the Polar Bears and are 35-2-1 since the schools began playing annually in 1984. The average score in those contests is 35.7 to 11.4 in Trinity's favor.

The fact that it's not completely unfathomable speaks to the job Hammer has done in a place that has historically been very difficult to win. This season Bowdoin has put up a good fight against other good NESCAC squads and they've beaten the teams they should. The Polar Bears have a legit chance at a winning season for the first time since 2005. However, the combined record of the teams they've beaten is just 3-15. It would certainly be one of the bigger upsets in recent NESCAC history if Trinity slips up on Saturday knowing they have no margin of error if they want a piece of the league title.

Oh Geez- What is it when a Trinity guy gets so rattled because a guy PREDICTED a Trinity upset loss.
It's a prediction!! A guess.

Great teams and dynasties don't even think of responding to that stuff. As I've said many times Trinity is a great arsenal, a great program. Total Champions....when are you going carry yourself as true Winner.

Trinity is great program. However obvious the last two seasons the secondary has been huge question mark for them. You have almost all Seniors playing back there and Middlebury had a great game plan in throwing short. Williams had they had any WR that could catch were wide open all day and QB threw some nice balls. The first TD of the game at Williams there was no one within ten yards of the Williams WR in the end zone. I am not saying Trinity would not have still won the game but this problem is getting worse not better. Trinity tried to rush three on Defense and did not touch the Middlebury QB or really rattle a freshman QB at Williams. Trinity needs a better pass rush DL are slow up front except for Mandel. Not to mention the numbers graduating this year on Defensive side of ball. I think trinity will win but can be exploited.

They are going against a 4 , 5 WR sets of Bowdoin this could be high scoring I still think Trinity will prevail but this weakness could be exploited.

[Trin9-0]

Tufts over Hamilton 5
Wesleyan over Amherst 4
Middlebury over Colby 3
Williams over Bates 2
Bowdoin over Trinity 1
(5 most confident 1 least confident)

G&P, I say this fully realizing that you accurately predicted the Middlebury upset over Trinity in The Coop; but it's stunning to see anyone predict a straight-up win by Bowdoin over Trinity. For context, the Bantams have won 22 straight over the Polar Bears and are 35-2-1 since the schools began playing annually in 1984. The average score in those contests is 35.7 to 11.4 in Trinity's favor.

The fact that it's not completely unfathomable speaks to the job Hammer has done in a place that has historically been very difficult to win. This season Bowdoin has put up a good fight against other good NESCAC squads and they've beaten the teams they should. The Polar Bears have a legit chance at a winning season for the first time since 2005. However, the combined record of the teams they've beaten is just 3-15. It would certainly be one of the bigger upsets in recent NESCAC history if Trinity slips up on Saturday knowing they have no margin of error if they want a piece of the league title.

Oh Geez- What is it when a Trinity guy gets so rattled because a guy PREDICTED a Trinity upset loss.
It's a prediction!! A guess.

Great teams and dynasties don't even think of responding to that stuff. As I've said many times Trinity is a great arsenal, a great program. Total Champions....when are you going carry yourself as true Winner.

Who is "rattled", exactly? Weren't you also surprised to see someone pick Bowdoin to beat Trinity? I merely provided some historical context to help illustrate just how big an upset that would be.

You also completely missed my point. The fact that it's even plausible to consider picking the Polar Bears given the respective histories of both programs speaks to how much Bowdoin has improved. I thought I stated that pretty clearly. I'm certainly not offended that G&P thinks Bowdoin will win. We're all just guessing. Hell, Bowdoin just might pull the upset!

But one thing is for certain, I could not possibly care less if you think I don't "carry myself as a true winner", whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. As much as it seems to pain you, we're all entitled to share our thoughts here. I didn't think responding to someone's prediction by saying it would be an upset would be so controversial.


On the much more important and somber note; it's awful to see such a horrific scene in Lewiston last night. Hoping the suspect is apprehended soon and of course thinking of the individuals and families suffering through this tragedy.

[Caz Bombers]

Bates postponed their presidential inauguration ceremony for Friday so I'm thinking if there is no resolution by tonight they will probably have no choice but to cancel the football game and also the home field hockey game. The NESCAC cross country championship is Saturday as well and it's up in the air whether Bates sends its teams, if the event is postponed, etc.

[P'bearfan]

Everything is up in the air. Both Bates and Bowdoin are in lockdown (the shootings happened in Lewiston but the shooter is from a small town close to Brunswick, is very much on the loose and was last in a small town midway between Lewiston and Brunswick).  We will not know about what will happen with this weekend's games until the shooter is captured.

My heart goes out to the families of the victims of this needless tragedy.  Hoping the students at both Bates and Bowdoin remain safe and that the authorities are able to bring the shooter to justice quickly.

[westcoastnescac]

NM- heard any updates regarding Maine home games?