FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[speedy]

speedy: Schweitzer, Pitcher, Joe Spitzfix - what's the difference? Trinity will rise or fall on its defense and ground game.

Apparently it did make a difference in the Middlebury game, resulting in the decision to remove Schweitzer in the second half. Trinity placed zero points on the board while Schweitzer managed the offense, suggesting that there are limits to Trinity's ground game.  A similar performance will not work against Amherst, which is a much better team than Middlebury.

[Trin9-0]

Though, Schweitzer is a very good quarterback, I alwyas thought Pitcher got a raw-deal. All he has done is quarterback the Bantams to 2 undefeated seasons only to get benched his senior year. Even thouth the dominating defensive units and strong running game were the primary reasons for Trinity's success Pitcher has proven to be a efficent passer, who rarely makes mistakes.

I agree with Frank, the QB situation will not be an issue. Trinity plays 3 quarterbacks, and all are capable of running the offense well. If the defense continues to play the way they have been, all the Bantams will need is a fieldgoal or two.

[TheLegend]

glad to see some intelligence being thrown around about the "state of the league". Its interesting to see the difference is opinion on how differ programs gain the physical advantage in this league (or any league for that matter). An overlooked topic is recruiting. And I know we all know how recruiting works (roughly), there are a variety of ways to approach it. Often times, programs highlght certain aspects of its environment, of its facilities, of its networking, etc. etc.. to sell the school. Its my personal beleif that one of the most important skills for a coaching staff to possess is how to appropriatly recruit. After all, you can have flawless schemes and coaching out the wazoo, but if you fill your roster with "0's", all of that become meaningless. Maybe Amherst, Williams, and Trinity simply have superior recruiting practices than places like Tufts (who seem to get great athletes based solely on students being attracted to Boston).  I find it interesting to hear how some schools assign different coaches to particular socio-ecomonic classes, other schools simply assign states, other schools assign multiple high yeild areas in different states to particular coaches. Its funny to think that maybe in the grand scheme of things, some kids would just rather be in a city than in a rural town?

On another topic, let me say this about Trinity college: Trinity is by far the most diverse and need blind school. Something like almost 40% of enrolled students receive aid in some form. I think the next closest is Wesleyan at 25%. Perhaps Trinity is simply more progressive than other NESCAC schools in affording slghtly less qualified students the same opportunities as others. And I forget who said it, but there are certainly kids walking around hartford that are brighter than anyone of us but wont be noticed or do anything with their skills because they lack the money or the support to attend any sort of secondary education. I think its a breath of fresh air to see schools being more liberal in their applicant pool and break the all too familiar trend of white, upper-middle to upper class student bodies.

Go Whalers

[speedy]

. . .
On another topic, let me say this about Trinity college: Trinity is by far the most diverse and need blind school. Something like almost 40% of enrolled students receive aid in some form. I think the next closest is Wesleyan at 25%.  . . .
Go Whalers

That's some pretty serious fiction. I believe that most (if not all) NESCAC schools provide financial aid on a need-blind basis. And I know that at a place like Bowdoin 42% of students receive financial aid. I suspect that you will find similar percentages at most of the other NESCAC schools and the Trinity percentage is nothing out of the ordinary.

[TheLegend]

I thought I over-heard that from an Admissions person. i could have heard out of context and/or be wrong all together... it wouldnt be the first time. good defense.

[dirtybirds8-0]

OH BOY....Look out bantam nation, it is going to be a nail biter this weekend.....I really dont know it is nerve racking...the fact that Trinity could be de-throned as league champions...

[formerbant10]

Is it at all possible that the kids from Trinity have been looking ahead in a couple of the games to get to the next win?  Are they thinking it will be automatic as long as they show up?  Or is Priore calling a tighter game so teams like Amherst won't have much to scout on?  I haven't been to any of the recent games, just trying to figure this out.

[Ephs1991]

Bowdoin players and fans, you guys are 5-1 and have a possible coach of the year in Dave Caputi, where's all the noise?

[frank uible]

former: What is there to scout?  Trinity's offense is an 8 man line with one back and 2 wide receivers, snappiing it directly to the one back who immediately plunges, sweeps or runs off-tackle, thus effectively saying "here I come - bet you can't stop me".

[Trin9-0]

dirty: Even if Trinity were to lose this weekend, they have practically guaranteed themselves at least a share of their 4th consecutive league championship already. They would have to lose to the Jeffs and fall to Wesleyan in what would have to be the biggest upset in the history of NESCAC football.

There are 3 teams at 5-1, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Colby. IF Amherst can knock off the Bantams there could be a three-way tie for 1st place at the end of the year.

former: Trinity probably looked past Tufts and Middlebury, also they played the Jumbos in terrible field conditions and Tufts has a very good defense. Middlebury is much better than their record indicates and they only gained 89 yards of total offense against Trinity. As for the Bowdoin game, it wasn't really that close. Bowdoin only scored a fieldgoal after a Trinity turnover inside their own 20 yard line. And the 20 point margin of victory could have been more if not for another Trinity fumble at the Bowdoin 4 yardline that went out the endzone for a touchback. Not to mention the time of possession: Trinity 43:13 to Bowdoin's 16:47, and total yards: Trinity 413 to Bowdoin's 140 (half of which came on one 70 yard pass play that resulted in no points for the Polar Bears.)

While Trinity has been in control of all of their games the average score of Trinity's first 3 games was 46-2 while in the past 3 games the average score has been 14-1. If they hope to finish the season undefeated and keep the winning streak alive, they will have to play much better against Amherst than they have the past few weeks.

[dirtybirds8-0]

Trin8-0: while I agree that Trinity will claim its stake at another NESCAC title....this is for the continuation of the streak...and for the seniors this year a 7 win season would be a failure of some sorts.  All these players were highly touted recruits from all over the country, they have some of the best athletes in the conference...if not in Division 3 athletics (Michael Blair)  who by the way had 0 sacks this past weekend...still needs 1 more.  I really think that 7-1 would be dissapointing seeing as the defense has only let up 9 points all season!  If they lost a 10-0 or 3-0 game it would be a black eye for the seniors who really helped build the program.

[dirtybirds8-0]

with that said...I think Trinity dominates the Lord Jeffs this weekend...and claims stake to its third consecutive undefeated season in a row...Unprecidented in the NESCAC!  I have to back up my previous comment of the undefeated season by saying..........WESLYAN IS HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE!  You want to see some scary stuff on Halloween, try watching Weslyan play football.

[bant551]

I'll never understand Wesleyan's ways.  They had a pretty good running back my senior year (2002) and still it seemed that the idea of running the football was something that never crossed their coach's mind.  You can be a pass-happy offense and run the ball at the same time.

It certainly doesn't help Wesleyan that every team knows that they are going to pass 80% of the time.

[Roonyhufsfarts]

actually wesleyan ran the ball last week more than they passed.  possibly hoping to cathcx the jeffs off gaurd, it obviously worked very well.  i wonder what the game plan will be against trin.  punt on 1st down?

[First6Ws]

Every week I read an article about Trinity's latest victory and every week it states the opponent's "best chance to score" or chance to "close the lead."  Those statements always finish with "but a [sack/interception/fourth down stop] stalled the drive at Trinity's [10/20/30] yard line."  While the offense may struggle from time to time (and I use "struggle" very loosely), the defense remains dominant; opponents get credit just for coming close to scoring.  Amherst clearly has a strong team hitting its stride right now but no other defense in collegiate football has the stats (and few, if any, in D3 have the talent/coaching) of the Bantam D. "Defense wins championships" and I think this one carries the Bants past Amherst in a hard-fought battle.  

Finally, when is d3football.com gonna give any love to the NESCAC.  How is a team that's won 28 games in a row not even in the Top 25?  Not to stir up the whole "how would Trinity stack up in the playoffs" debate but to not even be recognized in the Top 25 is surprising.  Even teams like the undefeated 1998 Tulane Green Wave who played a cupcake out of conference schedule (along with the finest of Conference USA) cracked the top ten nationally in d1.  That said, as a Bantam alum, I'd much rather see another undefeated season than a national ranking (but you'd think the two would go together).