FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[MammothDad]

NESCACMAN,

Why the singular name but plural speak/type in your posts?

[Nescacman]

NM....what version of the Red Birds need to show up to take down the dirty chickens on that lovable goat farm you call home field? I've only seen them play once and they were below mediocre for sure. I know you've seen a ton of their games so interested on your views.

We didn't forget about you Big Kat...

If the version of the Cards shows up and plays Saturday the way they played in beating the Pants (who beat Hartford State), the Hamiltonians, UBates, and Amwurst and plays they way they did in the second half against the Ephs and the 2nd and 3rd quarters against Bowdoin, it could be a very interesting game on Saturday.

If we play like we did against the Jumbo's and the Mules, it could be a long day on the oldest continuously used football field in America.

To win: Wes needs to pressureFetter, have some semblance of a running game, another great day at QB for Niko, Sheeks D continues to play great, and Wes gets some turnovers (another defensive TD would be a plus; we do have 5 so far this year), Wes could get the upset.

Will be a huge crowd for "Salute to Service Day" at Wesleyan. The weather forecast is favorable.

Rumor has it that Whales hasn't had the grounds crew mow the turf since mid-September so the grass should be at perfect length of about 10"-12" for the Turducken Bowl...

#rollcards

[Bantam4life]

NM....what version of the Red Birds need to show up to take down the dirty chickens on that lovable goat farm you call home field? I've only seen them play once and they were below mediocre for sure. I know you've seen a ton of their games so interested on your views.

We didn't forget about you Big Kat...

If the version of the Cards shows up and plays Saturday the way they played in beating the Pants (who beat Hartford State), the Hamiltonians, UBates, and Amwurst and plays they way they did in the second half against the Ephs and the 2nd and 3rd quarters against Bowdoin, it could be a very interesting game on Saturday.

If we play like we did against the Jumbo's and the Mules, it could be a long day on the oldest continuously used football field in America.

To win: Wes needs to pressureFetter, have some semblance of a running game, another great day at QB for Niko, Sheeks D continues to play great, and Wes gets some turnovers (another defensive TD would be a plus; we do have 5 so far this year), Wes could get the upset.

Will be a huge crowd for "Salute to Service Day" at Wesleyan. The weather forecast is favorable.

Rumor has it that Whales hasn't had the grounds crew mow the turf since mid-September so the grass should be at perfect length of about 10"-12" for the Turducken Bowl...

#rollcards

Excited to see how NM picks the Cards win this week. I believe he's about 1-7 in his last 8 picking this game.

All jokes aside should be a beautiful day for a Bantam victory on the Wes quad. I know the Bants are hoping for a big crowd. The more people's day they can ruin the better.

Roll Bants

[lumbercat]

In my mind the key to the game for Wes is keeping Candido upright. Trin will certainly bring pressure.
Assume Coach DiCenzo will have a lot of play action and will attempt to move the move the pocket. Candido has got to run the football. Trin LBs are big and very tough but speed is not their strength.
Hope Cards don't try to sit Candido in the pocket. Would also think they should evolve back closer to the Estevez offensive scheme in terms of runs vs passes.
A couple of solid Candido runs early will make Wes pass game more effective which could give Cards a chance to keep it close and maybe steal one late at home.

[maineman]

Since we have the big game this week between Trinity and Wesleyan, would anyone care to speculate on which team has the edge by positions such as QB, RBs, WRs, TE, Safeties, LBs, DE, Corners, Special Teams. etc.? I suppose the same could be done for the Tufts-Middlebury game since they both pit a one loss team against a two loss team.

[lumbercat]

With the losses in personnel at Wesleyan I'm not sure I can find a position where they are better than Trinity but they are close enough to Trinity at most positions. Close enough to win this game.

One guy I think has the potential to make a difference in this game in Elkoury- Wilson gets most of the attention but this kid seems due for a blowout game.......I'tll take something like that for the Red and Black to win.

Would think the Dice will take a page out of Belechick book and have some surprises in his game plan and like Belechick do not be afraid to use them!

If the Cards are banging their chest and are stuck in the competitive mindset that they are as good as as Trinity I give them little chance of winning. Admit the fact that Trinity is a great team and it will take something special to beat them.

Like Middlebury did.

[lumbercat]

Believe Cosgrove is in the final year of his second 3 year contract at Colby.

He might beat Bowdoin on Saturday with Boel injured but will likely lose to Middlebury in the postponed finale.......4-5 at best for Cos this year......with all the resources Colby has committed to Cos, football and Athletics in general he's failed terribly compared to the other major sports at Colby-- Basketball, Hockey and Baseball all competing for conference titles.

The athletic commitment at Colby with the new health wellness facility is extremely strong. The aging Cos or Colby administration will terminate the deal on his 6 year encore as the HCOF at the end of this year. Cos is 68 and ready to call it a day. It was a good post retirement gig for Cos given his lofty stature in the state of Maine as ex D1 UM coach- but he didn't deliver.

Colby is very serious with the athletic commitment, they attribute the significant growth in their endowment directly to their overwhelming support of Athletics, health and wellness.

Cos should have done better at Colby but maybe he was a little long in the tooth, now the energy is gone......They will bring in a strong young successor who will be more energetic and aligned with the strong commitment to Athletics on Mayflower Hill.

[maineman]

Maybe Bill Beliichick will be available for Colby?

[SpringSt7]

With the losses in personnel at Wesleyan I'm not sure I can find a position where they are better than Trinity but they are close enough to Trinity at most positions. Close enough to win this game.

One guy I think has the potential to make a difference in this game in Elkoury- Wilson gets most of the attention but this kid seems due for a blowout game.......I'tll take something like that for the Red and Black to win.

Would think the Dice will take a page out of Belechick book and have some surprises in his game plan and like Belechick do not be afraid to use them!

If the Cards are banging their chest and are stuck in the competitive mindset that they are as good as as Trinity I give them little chance of winning. Admit the fact that Trinity is a great team and it will take something special to beat them.

Like Middlebury did.

Fetter/Candido is pretty close. Candido more raw talent but one day we are probably going to look back at Fetter's career and wonder if we were too harsh on him. He's like the Mac Jones/AJ McCarron of the NESCAC. Lot of help around him, lot of other guys could probably win there, still a damn good QB

[RoostersBy90]

NM....what version of the Red Birds need to show up to take down the dirty chickens on that lovable goat farm you call home field? I've only seen them play once and they were below mediocre for sure. I know you've seen a ton of their games so interested on your views.

We didn't forget about you Big Kat...

If the version of the Cards shows up and plays Saturday the way they played in beating the Pants (who beat Hartford State), the Hamiltonians, UBates, and Amwurst and plays they way they did in the second half against the Ephs and the 2nd and 3rd quarters against Bowdoin, it could be a very interesting game on Saturday.

If we play like we did against the Jumbo's and the Mules, it could be a long day on the oldest continuously used football field in America.

To win: Wes needs to pressureFetter, have some semblance of a running game, another great day at QB for Niko, Sheeks D continues to play great, and Wes gets some turnovers (another defensive TD would be a plus; we do have 5 so far this year), Wes could get the upset.

Will be a huge crowd for "Salute to Service Day" at Wesleyan. The weather forecast is favorable.

Rumor has it that Whales hasn't had the grounds crew mow the turf since mid-September so the grass should be at perfect length of about 10"-12" for the Turducken Bowl...

#rollcards

Excited to see how NM picks the Cards win this week. I believe he's about 1-7 in his last 8 picking this game.

All jokes aside should be a beautiful day for a Bantam victory on the Wes quad. I know the Bants are hoping for a big crowd. The more people's day they can ruin the better.

Roll Bants

Thank you Bantam4Life, I look forward to seeing you after the game for an old fanshioned in honor of Lord Jeff and the Hartford State Roosters

[Nescacman]

Believe Cosgrove is in the final year of his second 3 year contract at Colby.

He might beat Bowdoin on Saturday with Boel injured but will likely lose to Middlebury in the postponed finale.......4-5 at best for Cos this year......with all the resources Colby has committed to Cos, football and Athletics in general he's failed terribly compared to the other major sports at Colby-- Basketball, Hockey and Baseball all competing for conference titles.

The athletic commitment at Colby with the new health wellness facility is extremely strong. The aging Cos or Colby administration will terminate the deal on his 6 year encore as the HCOF at the end of this year. Cos is 68 and ready to call it a day. It was a good post retirement gig for Cos given his lofty stature in the state of Maine as ex D1 UM coach- but he didn't deliver.

Colby is very serious with the athletic commitment, they attribute the significant growth in their endowment directly to their overwhelming support of Athletics, health and wellness.

Cos should have done better at Colby but maybe he was a little long in the tooth, now the energy is gone......They will bring in a strong young successor who will be more energetic and aligned with the strong commitment to Athletics on Mayflower Hill.

Lumber, don't you love how all of the fair feathered, front-running fans come out of the wood work this time of year? Not unexpected.

As far as Coach Cos is concerned, no doubt he is a Maine legend. We understand he has had some health issues and wish him well on that front. As far as Colby is concerned, he did not do the Colby faithful any favors when he essentially chose himself as the next HCOF of the Mules when he ran the search after Coach Michaeles was terminated following the 2018 campaign. Since then, HCOF Cos has led the Mules to records of 2-7, 4-5, 4-5, and 3-4 thus far in 2023. He has never finished higher than 5th. As you stated, his chances of having a winning season in 2023 are slim. His cumulative record at Colby is 13-21, hardly what one would expect from a legendary coach who came into the job with such high expectations and an institutional commitment to atheltics. We agree that is time for Colby to move on and hire an energetic, younger coach with NESCAC ties. No disrespect to HCOF Jack, but time to retire.

[lumbercat]

NM

Agree on the front runners.

I did not know that Coach Cos has experienced some health issues- hope my comments didn't appear insensitive in any way.

Coach Cos played at Sharon HS in Mass not far from where I grew up. They were a smaller school but we knew Jack Cosgrove was one of the best QBs in eastern Mass in 1973. He went on to a fine career at UMaine.

Nothing but respect for the the guy, just suggesting it might be be time to move on.

[Scoops]

I must say, I'm surprised to see that most of the talk is surrounding the Wesleyan/Trinity game at this point. The Middlebury/Tufts matchup is the deciding game of the season, and a very interesting matchup on paper. Throw in the fact that the Jumbos embarrassed the Panthers in HCOF Ritter's final game, and there's all the makings of a NESCAC classic in this one. Both teams have shown a propensity for big plays, and equally big mistakes. Should be a great matchup.

[muleshoe]

I must say, I'm surprised to see that most of the talk is surrounding the Wesleyan/Trinity game at this point. The Middlebury/Tufts matchup is the deciding game of the season, and a very interesting matchup on paper. Throw in the fact that the Jumbos embarrassed the Panthers in HCOF Ritter's final game, and there's all the makings of a NESCAC classic in this one. Both teams have shown a propensity for big plays, and equally big mistakes. Should be a great matchup.

All of this weekend's matchups are very compelling! If Wes and Tufts win, they both secure a split championship. When was the last time we had a 2-loss NESCAC champion? That would make next week very interesting for Midd and Trinity. Is a 4-way championship in play?

Colby and Bowdoin battle for the CBB under the lights on Mayflower Hill! The winner holds on to hopes of its first winning record since 2005 *gasp*, but more importantly takes home some hardware. Assuming the bears will lean heavily on the run game with Long at QB. I expect a low-scoring, Big 10 West-like affair given how Colby has played on both sides of the ball this year.

In Lewiston, can the bobcats pull out their first W of the year? I wouldn't be surprised if they finished 2-7 and carry some momentum into the offseason.

Amherst rolls at home in the Biggest Little Game in America.

[Trin9-0]

Not sure if folks follow Bill Connelly on ESPN, who covers college football. But he has a predictive, power-rating model called SP+ that is "a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency." and he's used it to rank all 665 NCAA teams D1 - D3... Michigan to Fitchburg State, including all of our beloved NESCACs!
He's also used the model to predict the scores for games each week (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRh9Slymcisd5-uEIvAD4zjGkJ7aeARseChhne-HdpyQeQiTSJeZD0WfyuG40O5S7Z20wz1XLYSUDUj/pubhtml#):

I finally got around to looking into this model and it's very impressive. His record on NESCAC games thus far is 31-6 (even better than our resident prognosticator). It's obviously not perfect and he has whiffed on a few games that most of us would have gotten wrong as well, but the accuracy of the scores has been notable. As for this week's games, the Connelly model predicts close contests in all but one game...

Bowdoin 22.5
Colby 16.0

Hamilton 25.6
Bates 19.4

Trinity 34.4
Wesleyan 13.5

Tufts 24.4
Middlebury 23.1

Williams 18.5
Amherst 15.6


As for the concept of fair weather Trinity fans; frankly it's a bit hard to be anything else. Since 1933 the Bantams have had more undefeated seasons (12) than losing seasons (9). Not to be glib, but when you've only known winning for 90 years what other kind of fan could you be? Kudos to those of you who have had to stick with your team through the lean years (decades).

While a bit chilly, I'm expecting the weather to be more fowl than foul for the Bantams.