FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

So let me get this straight... 4-1 Middlebury beats an undefeated Trinity and yet you, assumingly with a straight face, are able to convince yourself that Wesleyan is the current top team in the league? The same Wesleyan that lost to a winless Bates (your #8 team), had to come back against a one win at the time Colby (#6) and gave up a staggering EIGHT sacks and had to come back to win against 2-3 Bowdoin (#7)? I get being a homer, but your own rankings don't agree with themselves.

2024 NESCACMAN Week 6 Power Rankings

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (Record: 5-1; Last Week Rank: 2; 7 first place votes): Wesleyan moves into our #1 spot based on Middlebury's upset of Hartford State, Wesleyan's 5th win of the year against the Polars on the road, and Wesleyan's large win over Middlebury in Vermont in Week #1. Wesleyan always seems to have a tough time playing at Bowdoin and this year was no exception. The Wesleyan defense is very good and leads the NESCAC in many categories including scoring defense and yards allowed. The offense has been inconsistent. At times they have looked spectacular and at other times, they have struggled. Overall, it was a gutsy come from behind win in Brunswick. Wes travels to Amherst to face the Lord Mammoths in the first Little 3 contest of 2024.

Thank you Maple for being the voice of reason here....the last 3 games will decide things so we'll see. With that being said...

1. The NESCACMAN consortium is comprised of 10 Voters, 1 vote representing each team in the league (no vote for the Fighting Camels...sorry); the vote this week: 7 votes for Wesleyan, 3 votes for Middlebury. Very objective and fair. Sorry Scoops and Mr. JV Legend, only starters get a vote.

2. You seem to forget that Middlebury actually played Wesleyan at home in Vermont. Wesleyan won 43-7 and it was not even that close. Go back and watch the game. We did. Score could have easily been 60-0. Doesn't matter when they played, they played and Wesleyan won by a ton. Case closed. If it was a closer game, maybe we would give Middlebury some wiggle room but it wasn't.

3. Middlebury didn't exactly set the world on fire against arguably the worst team in the league, Amherst. They allowed 21 points to one of the worst offenses in the country and if it wasn't for 4 INTs by the Lord Mammoths, MID probably would have lost.

4. So let us understand this. Last year, MID beats Hartford State, they finish with the same record, and  MID claims the league title as a result of the head-to-head win. This year, through 6 games, Wes and Mid are tied, yet despite the head-to-head win by Wes, Mid claims to be ahead of them in the standings because they are "playing better". Seems a bit hypocritical to us.

Not that we have to explain ourselves, but we stand by our rankings through 6 games...

[Nescacman]

Hah SpringSt I was about to post that I thought Brueler was the best I've seen, but wasn't trusting my memory.  Yes, that dude was unstoppable, such a physical presence, and I don't recall elite talent around him to take defensive attention away the way a lot of these other guys had. 

Also agree that Stola would have put up monster stats in a pass-heavy system. 

Mike #17 was a beast. And he is still playing and lighting it up in Europe. Google him and check out some of his highlights playing pro ball. Still making amazing catches and plays...

https://europlayers.com/ViewProfilePlayer.aspx?ProfileId=80148 

[mhoncho123]

So let me get this straight... 4-1 Middlebury beats an undefeated Trinity and yet you, assumingly with a straight face, are able to convince yourself that Wesleyan is the current top team in the league? The same Wesleyan that lost to a winless Bates (your #8 team), had to come back against a one win at the time Colby (#6) and gave up a staggering EIGHT sacks and had to come back to win against 2-3 Bowdoin (#7)? I get being a homer, but your own rankings don't agree with themselves.

2024 NESCACMAN Week 6 Power Rankings

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (Record: 5-1; Last Week Rank: 2; 7 first place votes): Wesleyan moves into our #1 spot based on Middlebury's upset of Hartford State, Wesleyan's 5th win of the year against the Polars on the road, and Wesleyan's large win over Middlebury in Vermont in Week #1. Wesleyan always seems to have a tough time playing at Bowdoin and this year was no exception. The Wesleyan defense is very good and leads the NESCAC in many categories including scoring defense and yards allowed. The offense has been inconsistent. At times they have looked spectacular and at other times, they have struggled. Overall, it was a gutsy come from behind win in Brunswick. Wes travels to Amherst to face the Lord Mammoths in the first Little 3 contest of 2024.

Thank you Maple for being the voice of reason here....the last 3 games will decide things so we'll see. With that being said...

1. The NESCACMAN consortium is comprised of 10 Voters, 1 vote representing each team in the league (no vote for the Fighting Camels...sorry); the vote this week: 7 votes for Wesleyan, 3 votes for Middlebury. Very objective and fair. Sorry Scoops and Mr. JV Legend, only starters get a vote.

2. You seem to forget that Middlebury actually played Wesleyan at home in Vermont. Wesleyan won 43-7 and it was not even that close. Go back and watch the game. We did. Score could have easily been 60-0. Doesn't matter when they played, they played and Wesleyan won by a ton. Case closed. If it was a closer game, maybe we would give Middlebury some wiggle room but it wasn't.

3. Middlebury didn't exactly set the world on fire against arguably the worst team in the league, Amherst. They allowed 21 points to one of the worst offenses in the country and if it wasn't for 4 INTs by the Lord Mammoths, MID probably would have lost.

4. So let us understand this. Last year, MID beats Hartford State, they finish with the same record, and  MID claims the league title as a result of the head-to-head win. This year, through 6 games, Wes and Mid are tied, yet despite the head-to-head win by Wes, Mid claims to be ahead of them in the standings because they are "playing better". Seems a bit hypocritical to us.

Not that we have to explain ourselves, but we stand by our rankings through 6 games...

Nescacman,

To address each of your uninformed points.

1. No one knows more about the league than myself. So any "NESCAC Consortium" that doesn't include myself is immediately fraudulent.

2. I think we both know the result of that game were tainted due to officiating and other circumstances. My pending appeal to Sarah Copeland, the Vermont Secretary of State, has gone unnoticed for some reason. But I hope our legal system can overturn the results of that game and rightfully award the Panthers a victory.

3. This might be the dumbest thing I've read in a while. I think we can dispel the myths that the Middlebury defense is bad. Just go ask that sorry Trinity offense. You bash the Middlebury defense for giving up 21 points, and then claim the only reason they won is because they picked off 4 passes. That's the defensive equivalent of saying "The Middlebury offense didn't exactly set the world on fire vs Trinity. And if Moran doesn't throw those 3 TDs, they probably lose." Just all around stupid take.

Let's not forget that Wesleyan lost by double digits at Home to Bates. And the Wesleyan offense only accounted for one touchdown the entire game. 

4. Yes, you are correct. Not hypocritical at all. Just context matters.


- Honcho, NESCAC Legend

[MapleBBQChicken]

3. Middlebury didn't exactly set the world on fire against arguably the worst team in the league, Amherst. They allowed 21 points to one of the worst offenses in the country and if it wasn't for 4 INTs by the Lord Mammoths, MID probably would have lost.

NM -- I backed your rankings, and I still do think they are accurate for the week, but I want to stick up for the Panthers here. Throwing four interceptions is part of why Amherst has a bad offense. You're saying if the bad offense wasn't as bad, Middlebury might have lost to a bad team... the logic doesn't really track. Was it the prettiest of wins? No, I agree with you there. But Middlebury dominated the first half of that game and made plays when they had to in the second half to earn the win. Also your Cards have not exactly "set the world on fire" in some of their wins either (Colby, Hamilton, Bowdoin).

I also want to touch briefly on a point you've made a few times that the week 1 game could've been more of a blowout. Middlebury also turned it over on downs in the red zone twice and Wesleyan had a blocked punt TD which is a pretty flukey play for any team. My view is Wesleyan clearly deserved to win and the score was pretty apt... it could have been closer or less close (as is true with most games), and I don't really see a point in arguing it up or down.

Looking forward to the last three weeks and to hearing Coach Mandigo on the podcast. May the best team win.

[EphsML]

Wesleyan finishes the season 6-3. Book it.

[GroundandPound]

I am looking forward to the results of the appeal to Sarah Copeland.  Midd has an extremely strong argument regarding other circumstances surrounding Wesleyan's victory. These circumstances may include coopted communications systems, game week stealth drone surveillance of practices, and pre-game unauthorized psy-ops by NM.   

[GroundandPound]

EphsML,
64 for Williams is going to throw a party Wesleyan's backfield.
Looking forward to watching that one. 

[GroundandPound]

IN

[Brady12]

EphsML,
64 for Williams is going to throw a party Wesleyan's backfield.
Looking forward to watching that one. 

64 Gale is a beast

[GroundandPound]

A source regarding the appeal to the VT Sec of State just informed me that one of the strongest arguments that may be made in the appeal concerns weather manipulation to take advantage of MIdd's much darker home uniforms resulting in an on the field heat differential between the teams of 7 to 8 degrees. If true and proven the results will justly be overturned.

[Scoops]

Amherst beat Bates. And Bates beat Wesleyan. So by your "collective's" transitive logic, Amherst is better than Wesleyan, right? I think having eyes (yes my "collective" watches the games too), will tell you that Wesleyan is not the top team in the league. Even with the loss, it's Trinity. And even with their game 1 loss to Wesleyan, Middlebury is #2. Wesleyan came out the first week after having a month to prepare and had a great game vs Midd. Since then, they've been average against the softest part of their schedule. Again I get being a homer, and I generally like your commentary, but you do your "collective" no favors in the credibility column when you put out ludicrous stuff like that.

So let me get this straight... 4-1 Middlebury beats an undefeated Trinity and yet you, assumingly with a straight face, are able to convince yourself that Wesleyan is the current top team in the league? The same Wesleyan that lost to a winless Bates (your #8 team), had to come back against a one win at the time Colby (#6) and gave up a staggering EIGHT sacks and had to come back to win against 2-3 Bowdoin (#7)? I get being a homer, but your own rankings don't agree with themselves.

2024 NESCACMAN Week 6 Power Rankings

1). Wesleyan Cardinals (Record: 5-1; Last Week Rank: 2; 7 first place votes): Wesleyan moves into our #1 spot based on Middlebury's upset of Hartford State, Wesleyan's 5th win of the year against the Polars on the road, and Wesleyan's large win over Middlebury in Vermont in Week #1. Wesleyan always seems to have a tough time playing at Bowdoin and this year was no exception. The Wesleyan defense is very good and leads the NESCAC in many categories including scoring defense and yards allowed. The offense has been inconsistent. At times they have looked spectacular and at other times, they have struggled. Overall, it was a gutsy come from behind win in Brunswick. Wes travels to Amherst to face the Lord Mammoths in the first Little 3 contest of 2024.

Thank you Maple for being the voice of reason here....the last 3 games will decide things so we'll see. With that being said...

1. The NESCACMAN consortium is comprised of 10 Voters, 1 vote representing each team in the league (no vote for the Fighting Camels...sorry); the vote this week: 7 votes for Wesleyan, 3 votes for Middlebury. Very objective and fair. Sorry Scoops and Mr. JV Legend, only starters get a vote.

2. You seem to forget that Middlebury actually played Wesleyan at home in Vermont. Wesleyan won 43-7 and it was not even that close. Go back and watch the game. We did. Score could have easily been 60-0. Doesn't matter when they played, they played and Wesleyan won by a ton. Case closed. If it was a closer game, maybe we would give Middlebury some wiggle room but it wasn't.

3. Middlebury didn't exactly set the world on fire against arguably the worst team in the league, Amherst. They allowed 21 points to one of the worst offenses in the country and if it wasn't for 4 INTs by the Lord Mammoths, MID probably would have lost.

4. So let us understand this. Last year, MID beats Hartford State, they finish with the same record, and  MID claims the league title as a result of the head-to-head win. This year, through 6 games, Wes and Mid are tied, yet despite the head-to-head win by Wes, Mid claims to be ahead of them in the standings because they are "playing better". Seems a bit hypocritical to us.

Not that we have to explain ourselves, but we stand by our rankings through 6 games...

[GroundandPound]

Scoops, are you suggesting Wesleyan had a longer time to prepare for the first game than Midd did?  If so, please let me know asap if that is true so I can let those involved with the appeal know.  This could also be a "gamechanger."

[GroundandPound]

Honcho NESCAC Legend,
Are you headed to Lewiston for the game this weekend?
Current forecast is for 57 degrees and sunny.
Weather manipulation will not be a factor since Midd will be in light colored/away uniforms.

[Yipper]

Re. pass catchers, you younger enthusiasts might want to add the NFL yardage of Amherst's Freddie Scott, and the same for his LJ predecessor Jean Fugett, who also had a long pro career. Of course, Freddie had to catch passes against a future pro from Williams, Scott Perry, who on the side was a 24-foot long jumper. Those kids might even earn NESCAC roster spots today, you suppose?

[mhoncho123]

Mr GroundandPounder,

Thank you for mentioning these points. Illegal surveillance, two way communication systems, referee interference was all the evidence I cited in my appeal. I hadn't previously considered the uniform scheme. That could explain the breach in my weather forecast modeling algorithm as well.  If I were a betting man, which I am, I would bet the under of the 57 degrees for Saturday. My modeling set the high for Saturday in Lewiston at 48 degrees, so I believe the under is a safe bet. Thank you for your support for the truth, and I hope Secretary Copeland will hear our pleas for the truth.

Unfortunately, I won't be in Lewiston this weekend. I have some government person come to my estate in the morning to attempt to adjudicate a dispute with my neighbor. Hopefully, this will be done by kickoff, so I can catch the game. I already have my reservation at Golden Corral for Kickoff (Joking, I don't have to make reservations. They keep a booth permanently reserved for me).

- Honcho, NESCAC Legend