FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Brady12]

On this one year anniversary of that tragic day in Maine, let's all take a moment to think about those in the Lewiston community that were affected both directly and indirectly. Our prayers go out to everyone involved and affected.

Thank you to all of the first responders for their actions both during and after the tragedy.

No matter who we all root for, I'm sure we are 100% aligned.

#NESCACcares

Well said. Just curious if anyone knows if there will be any ceremony prior to game?  Can't be there but if so hopefully the NSN shows it. God bless Lewiston,  our troops, and first responders.

[JEFFFAN]

The demise of Amherst football coincided with two new hires – a new athletic director and a new admissions director.   The only constant is a coach with one of the highest winning percentages in NESCAC history.  From folks I know at the school, this trio has not worked together effectively since the get-go.   The new AD does not have near the track record as his predecessor and the admissions director was hired from a school without football, both working for a president – now former – who in the last five years of her run moved the school as hard left as possible.  The opportunity for positive change is with the new president, an alum, who is trying his best to move the school back from the far-left side of the road.   IMHO he will not tolerate this kind of losing for too long on the gridiron.

Re giving, ironically the voices of alumni don't matter very much anymore when the endowment levels are so high.   The former president figured this out early on, allowing her to disregard the "common folk alumni" and driving alumni giving from the mid-60s% to the low-30s% during her tenure.

In terms of the here and now, Mills always took his best athletes and put them on defense, but he also had enough talent on offense to be highly competitive.   Now the cupboard is comparatively bare, and it isn't clear that any new game strategies would work.

The only strategy at this point is to work to get more "jimmies and joes" into the program.

[monjmafb]

I'm a distant but long time observer of Athletics at both Purple schools. From the bleachers I will say I've always felt a different vibe when attending random Football, Basketball and Baseball games at Amherst and Williams over the last 35 years.
Williams is a much more friendly and supportive Athletic environment.
Seems like there is often a distraction at Amherst or some counter group(s) that just isn't totally supportive of athletics and specifically Football.
Reminds me of Bowdoin in that regard.


The Williams administrative and academic community seems to embrace Athletics as great supplement to the overall student experience. They seem less intimidated by Athletics and helmet sports  which, to me, is the litmus test of a school with truly open and diverse offerings for the students as a whole.

I have written about my son's choice to attend Williams over Amherst in this forum before, but Lumber I think you hit the nail on the head.  Williams embraces athletics as part of the overall college experience, from the coaches, to the administration/faculty, and students. 

[MHBurnell]

Agree with much of JeffFan's analysis of Amherst FB and causes for its current challenges (and hope for the future). I believe the crux of the matter centers on the direction of the former president and current admission director hired during her tenure. The current AD was a successful Amherst OC (and head softball coach), so presumably he well understood the NESCAC FB recruiting and coaching challenges and how to successfully manage them.

Wasn't aware of the size of the decline of older alumni giving but it aligns with my experience speaking to fellow alumni. The former president had an agenda for the College that has impacted all areas of it. Of course athletics would be impacted; in some ways this has been a positive, for others (more "traditional" sports?) it appears to have been less positive. And obviously for recruiting 17-18 year olds, recent results will matter perhaps more than they should.

Amherst FB has historically has had good and bad 10-15 year runs. Like the past, I hope/expect things will be better in the (not-too-distant) future.

[mhoncho123]

Message Board,

Halftime Thoughts:

The only thing worse than annoying bureaucrats, are awful announcers. After dealing with stupid environmental people all morning, I have to go to Golden Coral and attempt to listen to this BRUTAL Bates play by play guy. I requested the staff to mute the TV, which they eagerly complied to. All due respect to this Bates guy, but he has been awful. He has been calling QB Brian Moran by the wrong name all day. The reining NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week and they guy doesn't even know his name (or just doesn't care to look at the roster right in front of him.) He has also referred to the Middlebury Head Coach multiple times as "Mickey Heinecken", the legendary former Middlebury HC who retired in 2000. Doesn't know the names of any of the Midd receivers either. He has incorrectly claimed Bates has been running RPOs all day, which is false, they run the Triple.

Besides that, I've been impressed with Bates' triple option attack. Establishing the dive guy is the most important thing for any option team to do, and they have done a good job at that. Going to need more of a rushing impact from their QB in the 2nd half. Its a "Triple Option" but really no rushing threat from the QB so far. Their passing attack has been good, besides that interception. All successful option teams are able to throw the football very well. Paul Johnson at GA Tech, despite running the flexbone, would always recruit elite receivers, and his pitch to them was "You won't lead the country in receptions, but you could in touchdowns." And they were elite at this, Demaryius Thomas for example. Continuing to complement their option with a passing attack will be important for Bates to get points on the board.

I think the Middlebury Defense will be fine coming out for the half. It takes some settling in to get used to an option team. Just like a couple years ago Alabama and The Citadel were tied at halftime, but went on to win by 40 after 2nd half adjustments. Just need to read keys and play assignment football, and they will be fine. Middlebury Offense is going to need to make the most out of each drive. Bates has dominated time of possession, a trait of many good option teams. So the Midd offense will get fewer drives than normal today.

And if anyone knows good civil defense lawyers in the Southern New Hampshire area, please let me know.

"Lets see if Middlebury QB Brian Shaw and Coach Heinecken play it safe here" - Bates Play by Play Guy, 2024

- Honcho, NESCAC Legend

[TomATL]

Love the fact that Bates uses 2 cameras, much better production values than I'm used to seeing on the network  - but the announcer has been calling QB Brian Moran "Brian Shaw" the entire game - and Coach Mandigo is "Coach Heineken". Can someone slip him a new roster sheet at halftime?

[muleshoe]

Anyone know if there's a way to rewatch the Colby-Hamilton game that's not behind a paywall?

Barely pulling in Honcho levels of cash and would prefer to support the Mules with that $$ if I can.

[Conts Fan]

Agree with much of JeffFan's analysis of Amherst FB and causes for its current challenges (and hope for the future). I believe the crux of the matter centers on the direction of the former president and current admission director hired during her tenure. The current AD was a successful Amherst OC (and head softball coach), so presumably he well understood the NESCAC FB recruiting and coaching challenges and how to successfully manage them.

Wasn't aware of the size of the decline of older alumni giving but it aligns with my experience speaking to fellow alumni. The former president had an agenda for the College that has impacted all areas of it. Of course athletics would be impacted; in some ways this has been a positive, for others (more "traditional" sports?) it appears to have been less positive. And obviously for recruiting 17-18 year olds, recent results will matter perhaps more than they should.

Amherst FB has historically has had good and bad 10-15 year runs. Like the past, I hope/expect things will be better in the (not-too-distant) future.

I, for one, have no problem at all seeing Amherst football in the bottom third of the league for a while.

[BantChamps]

Hopefully Golden Corral gives comps to the faithful

[Trin9-0]

Congrats to the Panthers and their faithful. Bantam fans are right back to hoping Tufts can pull off an upset over Midd. At least this time it'll be in Medford.

Did I say Tufts? Sorry, I meant BATES!

[Bucket]

What a great win for the Bobcats on what must have been an emotional day in Lewiston.

I hate to see my Panthers lose, but am happy for Bates on this occasion.

[Hogz]

How about the frisky kitties taking down middlebury. I can't wait to hear what the NESCAC legend has to say about this after magically appearing on the boards last week.

[lumbercat]

What a great win for the Bobcats on what must have been an emotional day in Lewiston.

I hate to see my Panthers lose, but am happy for Bates on this occasion.

A very classy post from Middlebury territory.

[The Third Division]

Is Bates Good now? They just downed last year's co-champion.

[Jumbo Jimmy]

What a gutsy win by the Jumbos today in ephland. That Williams team played real tough. Despite the Jumbos not having their best day on either side of the ball, they were able to step up when it mattered most. What an INT by Jeff "Jet blue" Xu. Guy looked like he's never caught a ball in his life but hauled that pick in. Tufts special teams unit steps up once again. Andrew Leigh with some great punts. Vaughn Seelicke perfect on PATs and FGs. And Caden "Lawdog" lawler bringing the boom with a huge tackle on kickoff today. Go jumbos.