FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Charlie]

Remember, most of these schools lose huge classes due to the extra COVID year guys who stuck around.  Even Trinity, by a quick count, has only 66 guys returning from its varsity roster next year, and after attrition, more like 60 more likely.  So they just need to bring in an average recruiting class (by NESCAC standards, maybe not their own) to be right around the 84 man limit. 

Has this roster number been made public or are we speculating the roster limit and if happening for 2025 season ?

[Charlie]

Chaz and fellas, just like the Ivy's, this isn't a coach or AD in favor of thing. Of course they are in favor of playoffs as are all of us fans. The Nescac presidents would have to vote and approve it. From those who have spoken with Robin Harris recently, the Ivy presidents are lukewarm on playoffs as we stand here today fwiw.

Just curious other then the Presidents of NESCAC being against the extra game or playoffs are there any other compelling issues. I understand they are worried that the extra game would cut into there academic studies just curious if there are any other issues ?

I thought possibly travel expenses but they send other sports teams to various tournaments and playoffs out of State so it cant be a financial issue.

[The Mole]

Wesleyan has played JV games each of the last 4 years. 2 games per year. WPI each year and then a mix of Bridgeton Academy and some other post-grad programs. Played Trinity this year and maybe last year as well. Not aware of other NESCAC JV games.

Ithaca has like 125 players on the roster but on the road they have the same 60 players that play at home.  Having a JV team with young talent can be an advantage but in the end it's a minor obstacle that Nescac teams can figure out how to get around. 

Who if any of the NESCAC schools have JV football and if so who do they play? Also I have asked this before with no answer, but does anyone have any info on players quitting as a result of no playing time to concentrate on studies. All the  freshman and sophomores were undoubtedly major players in high school and now have to go back the beginning only they don't have the luxury of freshman and jv games.

Seems like a few jv games would keep their dreams alive. 

[MapleBBQChicken]

Middlebury's Thomas Perry will play in the Shrine Bowl in Dallas in January. Would be pretty cool to see him get drafted, and this is a good step in that direction. You can see a tweet about it here.

[Nescacman]

Remember, most of these schools lose huge classes due to the extra COVID year guys who stuck around.  Even Trinity, by a quick count, has only 66 guys returning from its varsity roster next year, and after attrition, more like 60 more likely.  So they just need to bring in an average recruiting class (by NESCAC standards, maybe not their own) to be right around the 84 man limit. 

Has this roster number been made public or are we speculating the roster limit and if happening for 2025 season ?

It's happening. We don't speculate.

[Nescacman]

https://www.afca.com/currys-montie-quinn-and-bethels-matt-jung-headline-the-2024-afca-division-iii-coaches-all-america-teams/

Congrats to the NESCAC Student Athletes named to the Coaches D3 AA Team.

A bit surprised there has not been more conversation around the NESCAC players that were selected to the D3 All-America Team. We get Perry, Richardson, Jumes, and Hoey being selected but we have to call out the Kenary pick. There were several more worthy NESCAC defensive players than him for the D3 All-America Team IOO including Koy Price, Ben Carbeau (All-New England), and Dylan Connors (All-New England). Kudo's to HCOF Mandigo on advocating for him but we think there were better players in 2024 out of the NESCAC that could have/should have been selected.

NM   

[Laravit]

Exciting news out of Williamstown...

Will be great for the league at large and happy to see an Eph succeed! Hoping that a team will take a chance on him as a practice squad guy. Maybe a two-way contract in the front office and on the field XD

[GroundandPound]

So far:
East West Shrine:  NESCAC 2 Ivy 0
Senior Bowl:  NESCAC 0  Ivy 0
Maybe, for at least this year if these end up being the final numbers, we should refer to the Ivy League as the "Little NESCAC"
:-)

[RobertDunn7]

After reflecting on this past season, I want to highlight the work Coach Hammer has been doing at Bowdoin. I've followed his career since his time at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, where he was also tasked with turning a program around. While the Polar Bears' record might not fully reflect it yet, Hammer has clearly made a noticeable impact.

The Bowdoin defense, in particular, has showcased some elaborate schemes that seem to give offensive lines real trouble. I really respect how Hammer has instilled a newfound intensity and fire in the program, setting the tone for this new era of Polar Bears football.

It's exciting to think about the potential for Bowdoin to grow into a NESCAC contender in the years to come.

[Gray Fox]

After reflecting on this past season, I want to highlight the work Coach Hammer has been doing at Bowdoin. I've followed his career since his time at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, where he was also tasked with turning a program around. While the Polar Bears' record might not fully reflect it yet, Hammer has clearly made a noticeable impact.

The Bowdoin defense, in particular, has showcased some elaborate schemes that seem to give offensive lines real trouble. I really respect how Hammer has instilled a newfound intensity and fire in the program, setting the tone for this new era of Polar Bears football.

It's exciting to think about the potential for Bowdoin to grow into a NESCAC contender in the years to come.

I've followed him since his days at Whittier.
There was a poster on the SCIAC board whose son played for him. That guy not only liked his coaching, but Coach Hammer also helped him achieve some academic success.

[RobertDunn7]

After reflecting on this past season, I want to highlight the work Coach Hammer has been doing at Bowdoin. I've followed his career since his time at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, where he was also tasked with turning a program around. While the Polar Bears' record might not fully reflect it yet, Hammer has clearly made a noticeable impact.

The Bowdoin defense, in particular, has showcased some elaborate schemes that seem to give offensive lines real trouble. I really respect how Hammer has instilled a newfound intensity and fire in the program, setting the tone for this new era of Polar Bears football.

It's exciting to think about the potential for Bowdoin to grow into a NESCAC contender in the years to come.

I've followed him since his days at Whittier.
There was a poster on the SCIAC board whose son played for him. That guy not only liked his coaching, but Coach Hammer also helped him achieve some academic success.

Not shocked at all. Hammer seems to have a strong connection with his players and staff

[nescac1]

Nescacman, I agree with your take.  Especially picking a national team like this, where the coaches aren't really that familiar with the players, there is going to be a clear bias towards picking guys previously honored as all-Americans, hence Kenary and Jumes getting on the team as repeat selections.  Kenary while still great wasn't as crazily dominant as he was in his all-American year (and he was helped by playing next to another elite defensive lineman who arguably had just as good a season).  Jumes, as previously discussed, had another great year, but certainly not as impressive a season as Ivan Shuran, who attempted (and nailed) far more difficult field goal attempts throughout the season. 

[lumbercat]

The measure of true greatness on the DL in my mind will be Nick Helbig until someone better comes along. Kenary was a fine player but I don't think he played at Helbigs level.
Not sure how Helbig fared in the postseason beauty contests in comparison to Kenary but Helbig one of the very best I've seen in my 40 years following NESCAC football.

A very memorable guy from the late 70"s was Mark Buben who played at Tufts. Impossible to block in that era. He was drafted by the Patriots and played 3 or 4 years in the NFL for the Pats and Browns.
Comparisons between those eras are difficult as I believe Helbig, Kenary and several others would have been bigger and better in an era where performance, strength and growth inducing substances were prevalent and under the radar.

[nescac1]

The most dominant defensive lineman I've seen has to be Ethan Brooks, who of course went on to a long NFL career after switching to offense.  He had no business being in D3 with his speed / size combo, but had a massive growth spurt after his final year of high school football.

Others in the conversation: Alex Bernstein, Amherst, who also played in the NFL; Helbig; Andrew Yamin.  That would be my Mount Rushmore from 1995 forward.  I think I'd put Kenary next after that group, right around the Yamin level, followed by Michael Blair. 

[mickey12]

After reflecting on this past season, I want to highlight the work Coach Hammer has been doing at Bowdoin. I've followed his career since his time at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, where he was also tasked with turning a program around. While the Polar Bears' record might not fully reflect it yet, Hammer has clearly made a noticeable impact.

The Bowdoin defense, in particular, has showcased some elaborate schemes that seem to give offensive lines real trouble. I really respect how Hammer has instilled a newfound intensity and fire in the program, setting the tone for this new era of Polar Bears football.

It's exciting to think about the potential for Bowdoin to grow into a NESCAC contender in the years to come.

Not to poke the Bear but weren't they 8th and 9th on defense?