FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[MammothDad]

Trinity does not have a dedicated FB weight room. There is a varsity weight room for all teams to use which FB uses.

Agreed and corrected.  There is a student weight room separate from the varsity weight room.  The FB Team has the varsity weight room at dedicated times.

I wish Amherst had the same and having one is a valid example of a "commitment to FB".

[Bantam4life]

2024 NESCAC

Trinity loosing 30 seniors and the best QB in many years to play in the NESCAC. While Trinity always has replacements at various positions and an outstanding Coaching and Recruitment remains to be seen who leads the offense at Trinity. Heard speculation that they have excellent replacement at QB from transfer portal. Trinity still loaded at all positions.

Honestly have to say perhaps Spring ball may tell us who is the favorite going into next year and if Trinity and Middlebury have things figured out.

Trinity losing a lot of 5th years but expecting current many current seniors to return including QB Zebrowski who has been the number 2 to Fetter. Expect him to take the reigns next season and lead the reloaded Bants. 

[Nescacman]

2024 NESCAC

Trinity loosing 30 seniors and the best QB in many years to play in the NESCAC. While Trinity always has replacements at various positions and an outstanding Coaching and Recruitment remains to be seen who leads the offense at Trinity. Heard speculation that they have excellent replacement at QB from transfer portal. Trinity still loaded at all positions.

Honestly have to say perhaps Spring ball may tell us who is the favorite going into next year and if Trinity and Middlebury have things figured out.

Trinity losing a lot of 5th years but expecting current many current seniors to return including QB Zebrowski who has been the number 2 to Fetter. Expect him to take the reigns next season and lead the reloaded Bants.

Rumor out of Hartford is that Clapp will join Richardson in the transfer portal. Given the success of Tomlinson and Lutz in the FCS/CAA, we're sure that both could have similar success playing at that level. We've heard that URI has already expressed interest in Jaden. Good luck to Sean and Jaden next year playing at the next level! 

[Bantam4life]

2024 NESCAC

Trinity loosing 30 seniors and the best QB in many years to play in the NESCAC. While Trinity always has replacements at various positions and an outstanding Coaching and Recruitment remains to be seen who leads the offense at Trinity. Heard speculation that they have excellent replacement at QB from transfer portal. Trinity still loaded at all positions.

Honestly have to say perhaps Spring ball may tell us who is the favorite going into next year and if Trinity and Middlebury have things figured out.

Trinity losing a lot of 5th years but expecting current many current seniors to return including QB Zebrowski who has been the number 2 to Fetter. Expect him to take the reigns next season and lead the reloaded Bants.

Rumor out of Hartford is that Clapp will join Richardson in the transfer portal. Given the success of Tomlinson and Lutz in the FCS/CAA, we're sure that both could have similar success playing at that level. We've heard that URI has already expressed interest in Jaden. Good luck to Sean and Jaden next year playing at the next level!

NM-

We've heard these rumors as well. We've also heard Tulane and potentially one of the Ivy's have reached out to Clapp. He will be missed in Hartford but we are very excited to see him playing on TV in the coming years.

[BigKat]

...
       I thought I gave a reasonable answer that, of course, one is entitled to disagree with:
"Unfortunately, academic standards do not explain Trinity's outstanding football program.  If it were as simple as academic standards, then Columbia and Brown would be winning Ivy Football championships as frequently as Trinity earns NESCAC championships.  Columbia and Brown have the lowest Academic Index in the Ivy League but only have combined for a total of 5 Ivy Football Titles in the last 67 years, compared to Trinity's 18 titles in the last 50 years (per Trinity 9-0) or 10 titles in the last 21 years.  In my opinion, great coaching, great recruiting, great player development, and a great football tradition play a much more substantial and significant role in Trinity's consistent success. It also appears from their website that they have a terrific alumni network for their players, which clearly helps with recruiting." 
          Yes, a commitment to hiring and retaining great coaches who can identify and successfully recruit the best players (via talent and work ethic), develop and prepare the players better than other programs, utilize them better than other programs, and design and call plays better than other programs.  Did Amherst lower academic standards to win their 6 NESCAC Titles?  I doubt it.  And even if they did, it still  takes great coaching to identify and recruit the best players. Again, Brown and Columbia have the lowest Academic Index re: football but why can't they earn titles as frequently as Trinity does?

Yes, you did answer what you restated.  My comment was in respect to the multiple choice "bound" I offered in return to yours and many others.

However, to respectfully reply to your specific, well thought out response ...

Things I agree with you on in regards to "Commitment to FB" things equal to or greater than an expanded pool of eligibility to look for athletes:

* Coaches - money can buy better coaches and a bigger staff.  I remember Trinity bosting about a "dedicated weights coach" that was not just an additional duty to an existing FB Coach
* Talent selection - I do remember Trinity saying they don't start "offering" until SEP.  All of the other Colleges were trying to get all of the admissions requirements in as closely to the NESCAC established timeline date and all of the others were "offering" in JUL, during the Camps they were trolling at the Ivies
* Develop and prepare - I'll chalk that up to Coaching.  Again, ALL Coaches think they develop and prepare.  So the "Commitment to FB" from an Admin perspective is offering $ to get the best candidates and to assist the AD in finding the best candidate.
* Play calling - see Coaches

So I agree a better Coach is a HUGE compenent to winning on the field.  As for how you get one due to your "Comittment to FB", they all hope they hire the best.  And pay isn't always the ONLY factor a Coach will consider before accepting a job.  I'm sure historic programs like Bates and Hamilton would have to pay 2 times (or more?) what Middlebury and Trinity do to hire away their current coaches.

So we agree that money in to Coaching to get the best is a huge factor.


Did Amherst lower?  I CAN NOT SPEAK WITH ANY OFFICIAL KNOWLEDE of the Program.  Nor would I if I could.  I can only report "scuttlebutt" and that is that Biddy tightened standards during her reign.  Read in to that what you want.


Now on to Brown and Columbia.

Have you been to Columbia?  What athlete in their right mind wants to waste 3 hours a day in transit on a bus to their weight room and facilities during the season.  And in the offseason, Columbia is too dumb to make a weight room on campus, causing them 1.5 hours of transit.  Who plays for Columbia?  They athletes who didn't get an offer from another Ivy.  Possibly a Wall Street kid could choose the athletic life of Columbia as being "worth it".

For Brown?  I think the culture of Brown causes a lot of athletes to hope the other 6 or Columbia come through first.  I was laughing at the Camp seeing how their culture translates in to the coaching and training staff.  A grandmother like trainer was non-chalantly tossing items into the playing area that could have easily caused serious damage to a back peddling camp attendee.  As you can imagine, NO DAD in his right minds wants to draw attention to himself when is kid is trying to impress the staff but many had to speak up to the coaches to stop the drill, being that they too were too clueless to notice.

Both the Trinity and Middlebury Coaches are doing great.  I also notice the consistency of Wesleyan and Tufts.  Coach Mills has won in the past and let's hope winning days are ahead.


But I sure wish 10 coaches could honestly answer my question of one wish amongst 5 options, ANONOMOUSLY ...

I best E would win out:

Coach, if only one, which would you want:

A. Dedicated weight room for your players, shared ONLY with other athletes
B. A Colby Starship
C. Whatever facilities Middlebury has
D. AstroTurfed Hockey Rink
E. Lowered standards to that of the lowest NESCAC School.  If the lowest school, a 100 point reduction on the SAT requirement and .3 less on GPA


As for the $ for the Coaching Staffs, that would be interested to see the sum total for salaries on FB Operations for each.  I've been quite impressed with how some of you can whip up stats so fast.  Maybe one can find this info.

Dead wrong on both those assumptions MD.

Brown has an excellent head coach who is winning a lot of ivy recruits, FB culture is changing there and getting better.

its 20 min each way up WS highway to CU football facilities and have dumped a lot of money into improving the facilities and program. Most of of that roster had multiple Ivy offers.

thought this was a 'Cac board-who cares what they are doing anyhow?

[Nescacman]

2024 NESCAC

Trinity loosing 30 seniors and the best QB in many years to play in the NESCAC. While Trinity always has replacements at various positions and an outstanding Coaching and Recruitment remains to be seen who leads the offense at Trinity. Heard speculation that they have excellent replacement at QB from transfer portal. Trinity still loaded at all positions.

Honestly have to say perhaps Spring ball may tell us who is the favorite going into next year and if Trinity and Middlebury have things figured out.

Trinity losing a lot of 5th years but expecting current many current seniors to return including QB Zebrowski who has been the number 2 to Fetter. Expect him to take the reigns next season and lead the reloaded Bants.

Rumor out of Hartford is that Clapp will join Richardson in the transfer portal. Given the success of Tomlinson and Lutz in the FCS/CAA, we're sure that both could have similar success playing at that level. We've heard that URI has already expressed interest in Jaden. Good luck to Sean and Jaden next year playing at the next level!

NM-

We've heard these rumors as well. We've also heard Tulane and potentially one of the Ivy's have reached out to Clapp. He will be missed in Hartford but we are very excited to see him playing on TV in the coming years.

Not sure the Ivy thing would work for Clapp given the Ivy's rules around transfers, graduate students ability to play football (not allowed), etc. We're not even getting into the academic side of the transfer equation to the Ivy's for Sean. We would think Patriot/CAA would be the best option for him to have success at the next level based on our (many) years of watching him play in HS/college, IOO. Was surprised he ended up at Hartford State in the first place. Always thought Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Bucknell, Fordham, Holy Cross, et al would have been a better fit for him but what do we know...

[Gate90]

Interesting to hear all this talk about Clapp potentially leaving.  From an "inside source" he is going nowhere.

[lumbercat]

Has Clapp entered the portal ?

[NESCACFball24/7]

Has Clapp entered the portal ?

Are any of them in the portal? I remember hearing about Donovan wood potentially going in last year but I haven't seen anything about any of them in the portal

[The truth 101]

Has Clapp entered the portal ?

Are any of them in the portal? I remember hearing about Donovan wood potentially going in last year but I haven't seen anything about any of them in the portal

Richardson is the Only one officially in the portal and has already garnered multiple D1 offers... I've heard rumblings about the other two but nothing official yet. If I'm not mistaken Clapp is a jr giving him one year of eligibility(no extra COVID year)  as supposed to Richardsons two years. Don't know how many wood would have.

[The truth 101]

Has Clapp entered the portal ?

Are any of them in the portal? I remember hearing about Donovan wood potentially going in last year but I haven't seen anything about any of them in the portal

Richardson is the Only one officially in the portal and has already garnered multiple D1 offers... I've heard rumblings about the other two but nothing official yet. If I'm not mistaken Clapp is a jr giving him one year of eligibility(no extra COVID year)  as supposed to Richardsons two years. Don't know how many wood would have.

To expand upon this if Wood even wanted to enter the portal last year would have seemed to be the year to do so as he had a much better year statistically, but can't knock him as Midd ended up going a potential 9-1 this year.

[BigKat]

Interesting to hear all this talk about Clapp potentially leaving.  From an "inside source" he is going nowhere.

Misinformation on this board from this " informed" group? shocker!!! How about the clown yesterday saying it was a 90 min commute to CU's football facility? the idiocy on here is really shocking sometimes.

here's a pro tip to nescac Daddyville out there-just follow the kid's twitter-very clear to see who is doing what and what the offers are.

[GroundandPound]

Is anyone else in the mix for NESCAC ROTY besides QBs Kurzum (Hamilton) and McHugh (Williams)?
Kurzum: 7TD Throws; 5 int; 57.1 % completion rate (3rd best in NESCAC); 1,176 passing yards; 320 rushing yards; 3 TDs rushing; (187yds per game)
McHugh: 10TD Throws; 8 int; 46.1 % completion rate; 1,027 passing yards; 387 rushing yards; 0 TDs rushing; (176 yds per game)
Both teams likely 3-6 final records. 
These could change a bit in Williams last game v. Bates this weekend.

[Bantam4life]

Is anyone else in the mix for NESCAC ROTY besides QBs Kurzum (Hamilton) and McHugh (Williams)?
Kurzum: 7TD Throws; 5 int; 57.1 % completion rate (3rd best in NESCAC); 1,176 passing yards; 320 rushing yards; 3 TDs rushing; (187yds per game)
McHugh: 10TD Throws; 8 int; 46.1 % completion rate; 1,027 passing yards; 387 rushing yards; 0 TDs rushing; (176 yds per game)
Both teams likely 3-6 final records. 
These could change a bit in Williams last game v. Bates this weekend.

Kurzman does have the signature win against Tufts. Assume coaches will take that into consideration.

[MammothDad]

Misinformation on this board from this " informed" group? shocker!!! How about the clown yesterday saying it was a 90 min commute to CU's football facility? the idiocy on here is really shocking sometimes.

here's a pro tip to nescac Daddyville out there-just follow the kid's twitter-very clear to see who is doing what and what the offers are.

Big Kat,

Just to help you out, "3 hours a day in transit" in two trips doesn't really translate to a "90 min commute to CU's football facility" but keep calling others clowns?!?

The Columbia Staff estimated a "30-40 minute" commute.  Looking at a map, its now saying 20 mins but that's without traffic.  And you know that you wait for the bus to depart.  It's not like a point to point taxi/Uber.


As for Columbia, 0-6 this season but please keep thinking your opinion trumps reality.  As for Brown, 3-3.  I just personally witnessed a not serious display of football at their Camp.  They have an QB Coach that never played HS or College FB.  But again, your opinion trumps what I saw.