FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[GroundandPound]

1. Because they hugged and held Midd receiver
2. Because ref was not watching Midd backfield, but watching secondary

if call not made Midd makes FG for another round of OT

[MapleBBQChicken]

As for the football played today, it was a strong win for Middlebury in a close and hard-fought game.

It's starting to feel like a very similar situation to last year, as a one-loss but improving Panther team faces a Bantam squad that has yet to play a close game. And this year it's in Vermont.

We want Trinity.

Maple- Disagree on this notion of the Bantams have yet to play a close game. While the scoreboard has favored the Bants when the clock hit zero these first 5 weeks, nearly all of those games were tied or within 1 score at the half including a 7-7 Tie at the half. Last years Bantam team blew the doors off its opponents the first few weeks winning every game by the half. This year is a different story and I think that battle tested efforts give the Bants and extra edge. Regardless should be a great game in VT come Saturday

I agree that this team has not been as dominant as last year's squad. No doubt about that. It remains true that Trinity has not had a game that was back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, and all of their wins have been by 10+, with 4/5 games being decided by three scores. And that's all I was alluding too. Honestly, this is all a credit to Trinity's success, which I am not a fan of but can certainly respect. Saturday should be fun.

[Scoops]

It's actually getting pretty sad to see how far Amherst has fallen. And the craziest part is that it's literally just their offense. They are entirely devoid of offensive talent. And on top of it, they're completely careless with the football. I can't imagine that locker room is much fun to be in. If I'm a defensive player, I've got to be fuming.

Not clear that there are any Lord Jeff fans on this site anymore - no reason to, frankly - but the demise of this program remains staggering to watch.   For five plus years this team has the most ineffective lines in my history with the program, which goes back to the mid 1970s.   It is hard to figure out whether the skill players are any good when they have no time to try to make plays.   Hard pressed to believe that EJ has forgotten how to recruit but the results speak for themselves.   There might also be a correlation to the demise of this program with the new admissions director and the hard, hard left turn by Biddy Martin.  Whatever - this program just stinks right now.

[lumbercat]

Where are the Jeffs Football alums? ......wouldn't think they would be down with with all this stuff. Doesn't add up.

[Nescacman]

It's actually getting pretty sad to see how far Amherst has fallen. And the craziest part is that it's literally just their offense. They are entirely devoid of offensive talent. And on top of it, they're completely careless with the football. I can't imagine that locker room is much fun to be in. If I'm a defensive player, I've got to be fuming.

Not clear that there are any Lord Jeff fans on this site anymore - no reason to, frankly - but the demise of this program remains staggering to watch.   For five plus years this team has the most ineffective lines in my history with the program, which goes back to the mid 1970s.   It is hard to figure out whether the skill players are any good when they have no time to try to make plays.   Hard pressed to believe that EJ has forgotten how to recruit but the results speak for themselves.   There might also be a correlation to the demise of this program with the new admissions director and the hard, hard left turn by Biddy Martin.  Whatever - this program just stinks right now.

We've been saying this for the last 3 years. Saddest part is that this is not a new phenomenon. They are on their way to another 6 or 7 loss campaign and still have to face the two best defensive teams in the league in Hartford State and Wesleyan.

[GroundandPound]

https://nescacfootballreport.com/2024-game-recaps/

[monjmafb]

Tough times at Amherst. On paper and under the eye test they have clearly not had quality players for the last 2-3 years in my estimation. Such a departure from the past when they were usually loaded especially at the skill positions.

No doubt they actually would have been worse in the last few years if Mills was not there. If they switched Head Coaches with their arch rival Ephs they would be worse off too.

I'm not close to the situation but Mills must be going out of his tree. He's not a guy that will tolerate a losing program following many fine years in the great Amherst tradition. I don't understand what looks to be an overflow of apathy in Amherst as the Ephs outperform. EJ will probably keep "The Game" somewhat respectable this year though they will be big underdogs again.
 
Maybe the best thing for the program would be for the sleepy administration to sustain a big time blowout in "The Game"---something like 42-10.  Maybe that might wake them up to the fact that Williams is doing a far better job with their Football program and maybe in athletics as a whole.

Mills is a very good coach, but not a good recruiter.  He over-relies on the prestige of Amherst to do the work for him.  More than 2-3 years ago, my son (who went on to become an ALL-NESCAC player) had offers between Amherst and Williams.  Amherst was clearly in the poll position for my son's interest, but Mills barely remembered him when sat down in his office.  And in our previous visit, Mills and his regional recruiter did not show up and we had to wait for a last minute replacement to give us a tour. 

Meanwhile Raymond and Company were aggressively recruiting him.  It was no surprise when he decided to play for Williams (and eventually start on the 2021 undefeated team). 

Simply put, Mills does not have the hustle and organization to recruit well.  And several recent losing seasons will not help him. 

[Charlie]

Not clear that there are any Lord Jeff fans on this site anymore - no reason to, frankly - but the demise of this program remains staggering to watch.   For five plus years this team has the most ineffective lines in my history with the program, which goes back to the mid 1970s.   It is hard to figure out whether the skill players are any good when they have no time to try to make plays.   Hard pressed to believe that EJ has forgotten how to recruit but the results speak for themselves.   There might also be a correlation to the demise of this program with the new admissions director and the hard, hard left turn by Biddy Martin.  Whatever - this program just stinks right now.

If a school wants there athletics to be better it is an easy fix. However Amherst has chosen to go in differnt direction and not emphasize football any longer. At least that is what it appears.

[Scoops]

The recruiting is the strange part. I largely think they've done a poor job identifying talent. But to be fair to them, a good portion of their players seem to be highly recruited among schools in the league, and appeared to have a lot of talent coming out of high school. It's just not translating once they actually put on the uniform. I can't imagine it's a coaching issue. Their staff has seemed fairly consistent year to year, but the results on the field are anything but. I admittedly don't care for the Jeffs as I'm not an Amherst alum. But the turn is truly baffling.

Mills is a very good coach, but not a good recruiter.  He over-relies on the prestige of Amherst to do the work for him.  More than 2-3 years ago, my son (who went on to become an ALL-NESCAC player) had offers between Amherst and Williams.  Amherst was clearly in the poll position for my son's interest, but Mills barely remembered him when sat down in his office.  And in our previous visit, Mills and his regional recruiter did not show up and we had to wait for a last minute replacement to give us a tour. 

Meanwhile Raymond and Company were aggressively recruiting him.  It was no surprise when he decided to play for Williams (and eventually start on the 2021 undefeated team). 

Simply put, Mills does not have the hustle and organization to recruit well.  And several recent losing seasons will not help him.

[Charlie]

Scoring TDs in the red zone has been an issue for Tufts (5 of 15) but some of that is because they have the league's best kicker.

Matthew Jumes, the 1st team All NESCAC kicker for the past two seasons who has made his last 85(!) consecutive kicks, would like a word.

Trinity kicker hands down is automatic best kicker in league !!

[Charlie]

Amherst problems are all in admissions. This coupled with the fact that they are going after recruits who are trying to make Ivy League or other D1 rosters. A recruit if he does not make an ivy roster then looks at that landscape. If a High School player is talented and wants to win and play in solid program they would consider Trinity if Trinity has there recruits for the year then they start to look at Middlebury , Williams and so on. Amherst is constantly getting the bottom feeders in athletic recruitment. I applaud them for staying with the high academic standards but it is definitely a trade off. I would think it is hard to get a recruit to give up a large portion of their Colleiate career to play .500 ball at best with no chance of winning.

[westcoastnescac]

Amherst problems are all in admissions. This coupled with the fact that they are going after recruits who are trying to make Ivy League or other D1 rosters. A recruit if he does not make an ivy roster then looks at that landscape. If a High School player is talented and wants to win and play in solid program they would consider Trinity if Trinity has there recruits for the year then they start to look at Middlebury , Williams and so on. Amherst is constantly getting the bottom feeders in athletic recruitment. I applaud them for staying with the high academic standards but it is definitely a trade off. I would think it is hard to get a recruit to give up a large portion of their Colleiate career to play .500 ball at best with no chance of winning.

Poetic

[NescacNewbie]

Should be an offensive battle this weekend in Waterville! I would expect a high-scoring game between Amherst and Colby!
Ok...moving on from that.
Trinity at Middlebury should be a great game. I am curious to what you folks think about the early spread?

[CC_Camels]

I was at the Bates - Tufts game in Lewiston on Saturday night, and was I impressed with both teams. Lots of good energy from both teams on the sidelines throughout the game and it was a fun atmosphere even given the wind and chilly night. It was great to see the Bates kids selling the pink T Shirts to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, and it was awesome to see the number of pink shirts in the stands as well.

Coach Coyne has the Bobcats playing hard and there are a lot of young guys playing serious minutes at impact positions which bodes well for the future.

Tufts O line was super impressive giving their QB time to read through his progressions and opening holes for the RB's, and the Tufts kicking game was excellent as well.

[Scoops]

A poster mentioned this earlier, but Wesleyan being in overtime more overtime games than any other NESCAC in the last few years is pretty telling. They clearly used up all their juice against Tufts and Middlebury and haven't recovered since. Loss to Bates, had to come back in the 4th against Hamilton, and needed a lucky bounce in overtime against Colby. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Bowdoin/Wesleyan game this weekend is decided by 3pts or less, and the cards end up on the wrong side of the ledger.