FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[LochNescac]

Congratulations and good luck to all of the Nescac Football players, coaches and support staff. They report tomorrow for another great season of football.
No matter how we feel about individual programs or coaches, I think that we can all agree that the players deserve an amazing amount of respect for playing at high level programs at academic institutions that are extremely hard to attend. Go hammer it and enjoy the journey boys!

This!!

[The Ghost of John Wesley]

I'm a sucker for vintage NESCAC football, so was thrilled to stumble across this mid-'50s promotional video produced for Trinity. It includes, at about the 9:12 mark, some gorgeous COLOR game footage from the 1955 Trinity-Wesleyan game.

The Bantams won that day 46-6 to cap a second consecutive undefeated season. Check out the size of the crowd! I'm guessing there had to be around 10K spectators.

Thanks for sharing. Great footage, and what a crowd! Not a cell phone in sight, just people living in the moment.   

[MikeJones50]

Exciting times as NESCAC teams are all reporting to camp in the next day or two. Personally, I see the league being weaker than previous years which leaves the door open for some under-the-radar teams to make some noise this year. Obviously, Trinity and Midd are coming off great years but both squads lost key players. Wes is returning key skill players and QB, but their o-line was objectively weak with the exception of one kid. Tufts returns the best QB and a solid core, but they haven't seem to put it all together in recent years. Can Hamilton make a little bit of noise this year after showing a glimpse of some hope in last years OT win vs Tufts? Hamilton lacks talent but have by far and away the best punting talent in the league. That can prove vital in close games by stealing momentum and easing pressure on their defense. Maybe the Ephs can piece it all together again. I expect QB McHugh and RB #22 to be a tandem that is very frustrating to handle. Defense returns Landolfi and Scott who are very solid, capable players. Punting game still remains a question mark in my mind after the departure of key player Tim Brown. He was a penalty drawing machine which is, obviously, very under-appreciated. Should be a great year and looking forward to it.

[NescacNewbie]

Williams could be the sleeper this year in the top tier. Fischetti (if healthy) should be the top back in the league. They return a good defense that was banged up with injuries for most of the year. The big question will be the QB. I don't see a clear favorite there yet.

[LochNescac]

Williams could be the sleeper this year in the top tier. Fischetti (if healthy) should be the top back in the league. They return a good defense that was banged up with injuries for most of the year. The big question will be the QB. I don't see a clear favorite there yet.

Can't argue with this take...should be interesting to watch the run game!

[westcoastnescac]

Problem w Williams is lack of weapons through the air. Last two years having to rely on Fuschetti in the post-Stola era has lead to injury. McHugh is a playmaker with his legs but needs to prove he can consistently be effective in passing game - haven't had a wr/te establish themselves either. I agree that they return a really solid defensive core 

[nescac1]

[Wrote this while westcoast NESCAC posted]

I feel very confident in the Williams run game (assuming decent health) led by Fischetti, McHugh, and Oris.  McHugh is an elite athlete and hopefully being more experienced should help with some of the speed of decision-making and creativity on the option plays - no one is going to be Maimaron in that regard, but Williams needs to take advantage of so many breakaway threats in the backfield to keep the defense off-balance. Maybe even put Oris and Fischetti out there together at times.  If the Ephs can get anything from Marvan coming back from injury (uncertain) that could add another dimension as well. 

But for the Ephs to get to 6 plus wins the passing game HAS to be more efficient than it has been over the past two years.  Williams QBs have combined to complete below 50 percent of their passes over that stretch and were last by a significant margin in total passing yardage in NESCAC over the same time period.  Given the strength of the running game, and the fact that Williams uses running plays in place of the high-percentage short passes that many league teams favor, they don't need to be up around 60 percent completion or near the top of the league in total passing yard. But to be competitive the completion percentage needs to get up into around the 55 range and there needs to be better connection on the deep ball opportunities which will be there with defenses pressing to stop the run, to get Williams into the middle of the pack in terms of passing yardage and efficiency. The Ephs need a combination of improved accuracy and decision-making from a now-experienced QB and better separation and fewer drops by receivers.  With virtually the entire receiving group back including promising FYs with a lot of upside (Gering and Stahelski) who were the second and third-leading receivers plus some added talent (the big FY from Duxbury is one to watch), and a strong QB coach, I have no doubt there will be improvement, but it needs to be more than just modest improvement after two years of such massive struggles, behind a rotating cast of personnel, with the passing game.   

[lumbercat]

McHugh is the clear favorite at QB in the eyes of Ephs staff- it's his job to lose.

[GroundandPound]

August 21, 2024 (best case to worst case)
Trinity (9-0 to 6-3)
Middlebury (9-0 to 5-4)
Tufts (8-1 to 5-4)
Wesleyan (8-1 to 5-4)
Williams (7-2 to 4-5)
Bowdoin (6-3 to 3-6)
Amherst (6-3 to 3-6)
Colby (6-3 to 2-7)
Hamilton (5-4 to 2-7)
Bates (4-5 to 0-9)

[GroundandPound]

WEEK 1 Selections:
Amherst over Bates(3)
Trinity over Colby(1)
Williams over Hamilton(2)
Tufts over Bowdoin(3)
Middlebury over Wesleyan(5)
(1= most confident; 5= least confident)

[GroundandPound]

https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster
-no Lockwood

https://bantamsports.com/sports/football/roster/2024
-34 Freshmen
-no Donovan-Jenkins

Tufts- I believe Luteri is not returning this fall and roster not updated

8/21/24 UPDATED LIST OF RETURNING ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS FOR 2024 (Any mistakes will be duly corrected...if brought to my attention; Wesleyan has two all conference players from 2022 playing in 2024. (? = seniors this year who have another year of eligibility but not sure if returning. Per Nescac1's 3/30/2034 post of transfer portal participants, Tyler Jameson removed from Trinity, Joshua East removed from Colby, Mark Howrigan removed from Hamilton, and Thomas Elkhoury removed from Wesleyan)

Middlebury (8):Levy K; Daniel DB; Fink OL; Jamin WR; Stola DB; Kenary DL; Filias DL; Perry OL
Wesleyan (6): Wilson WR; Carbeau LB; Edwards LB; Abraham DB; Welch DL; Rowan DL
Tufts (6): Garza DB; Timmins DB; Smith RT; Berluti QB; Reece RB; Cade-Moore WR
Trinity (4): DiNapoli RB; Clapp WR; Casillo OL; Jumes K;
Bowdoin (4): Fahey?WR; Brill?OL; Jacobs LB; Price DL
Colby (3): Robbins?DL Sawyer RT/WR; Young LB
Williams (3): Forth OL; Smith DL; Scott LB
Hamilton (2): Hoey P; Kurzman (ROY QB)
Amherst (2): Skirzenski?LB; Harmon DB

[GroundandPound]

https://x.com/thecfbnetwork

[muleshoe]

https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster
-no Lockwood

https://bantamsports.com/sports/football/roster/2024
-34 Freshmen
-no Donovan-Jenkins

Tufts- I believe Luteri is not returning this fall and roster not updated

8/21/24 UPDATED LIST OF RETURNING ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS FOR 2024 (Any mistakes will be duly corrected...if brought to my attention; Wesleyan has two all conference players from 2022 playing in 2024. (? = seniors this year who have another year of eligibility but not sure if returning. Per Nescac1's 3/30/2034 post of transfer portal participants, Tyler Jameson removed from Trinity, Joshua East removed from Colby, Mark Howrigan removed from Hamilton, and Thomas Elkhoury removed from Wesleyan)

Middlebury (8):Levy K; Daniel DB; Fink OL; Jamin WR; Stola DB; Kenary DL; Filias DL; Perry OL
Wesleyan (6): Wilson WR; Carbeau LB; Edwards LB; Abraham DB; Welch DL; Rowan DL
Tufts (6): Garza DB; Timmins DB; Smith RT; Berluti QB; Reece RB; Cade-Moore WR
Trinity (4): DiNapoli RB; Clapp WR; Casillo OL; Jumes K;
Bowdoin (4): Fahey?WR; Brill?OL; Jacobs LB; Price DL
Colby (3): Robbins?DL Sawyer RT/WR; Young LB
Williams (3): Forth OL; Smith DL; Scott LB
Hamilton (2): Hoey P; Kurzman (ROY QB)
Amherst (2): Skirzenski?LB; Harmon DB

Joshua East returning for Colby

[Trin9-0]

As the NESCAC considers the return of a 75 player roster limit, Mary Hardin-Baylor begins camp with...  245 players. 

The UMHB enrollment is roughly 3,600 students and only 36% are male. Which means 19% of the male student body is on the football team.

[The Mole]

Wesleyan also has has grad transfer S Nick Donatio, was all NESCAC in 2022 as well

https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster
-no Lockwood

https://bantamsports.com/sports/football/roster/2024
-34 Freshmen
-no Donovan-Jenkins

Tufts- I believe Luteri is not returning this fall and roster not updated

8/21/24 UPDATED LIST OF RETURNING ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS FOR 2024 (Any mistakes will be duly corrected...if brought to my attention; Wesleyan has two all conference players from 2022 playing in 2024. (? = seniors this year who have another year of eligibility but not sure if returning. Per Nescac1's 3/30/2034 post of transfer portal participants, Tyler Jameson removed from Trinity, Joshua East removed from Colby, Mark Howrigan removed from Hamilton, and Thomas Elkhoury removed from Wesleyan)

Middlebury (8):Levy K; Daniel DB; Fink OL; Jamin WR; Stola DB; Kenary DL; Filias DL; Perry OL
Wesleyan (6): Wilson WR; Carbeau LB; Edwards LB; Abraham DB; Welch DL; Rowan DL
Tufts (6): Garza DB; Timmins DB; Smith RT; Berluti QB; Reece RB; Cade-Moore WR
Trinity (4): DiNapoli RB; Clapp WR; Casillo OL; Jumes K;
Bowdoin (4): Fahey?WR; Brill?OL; Jacobs LB; Price DL
Colby (3): Robbins?DL Sawyer RT/WR; Young LB
Williams (3): Forth OL; Smith DL; Scott LB
Hamilton (2): Hoey P; Kurzman (ROY QB)
Amherst (2): Skirzenski?LB; Harmon DB