FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[bant551]

Trin8-0, I hope you realize that you are jinxing the Bants and because of what you post here, they are going to lose to Weseleyan.  I hope you have the heart to explain to those seniors why they had to lose to Weseleyan!

[dirtybirds8-0]

well it seems it was as good as advertised...I wish I could have been there.  Michael Blair had .5 sacks..which ties him with the schools record...he should break it next week against westech and I am honored to be able to watch that happen.  Also, if trinity pitches a shutout they will hold the all time lowest scoring defense in NESCAC history...the record is 30...they have let up 29.  In addition..I would like to extend congrats to the Bants for another 8-0 season...as they will crush the cardinals at home next week while I am getting obliterated at one of the best tailgating scenes in the NESCAC!!!!!!!!!!  i LOVE MY BANTS!!!!!!!!

[TheLegend]

I was lucky enough to make it to the amherst/trinity game as well and must make a few onservations on the overall contest.

First of all, good gameplanning on both sides of the ball. Someone made a comment about Trinity's weak corner ... I wouldnt say weak, but he's a first year starter who really lacks the experiance and enough game knowledge in important situations to make big plays. Consequently, he let up some big plays. Now having said that, Amherst made some equally costly decisions ... not individually, but as a unit.

First, I have never seen a roster so inflated. For example, #14 was listed as 6'0"! He was 5'9" if I am being generous. And on the big TD pass, #2 was visibly hindered by cramps which was a big reason why there was no over coverage on the pass. Besdies that though, for a team with such a prolific run game, in the first stages of adversity they completely abandoned the run and went to the pass. Now, it worked for some big plays (which is what their offense lives on) but it hurt them in the long run. Defensivly they expected alot from their D-line and, in 65 or 70 weather, they just got run down. Some logisitical mistakes is what cost them and like I initially said ... two similar teams and the deciding would be the game plan.

I think our hats should go off to the three kahuna's at Trinity. Priore, Behrman, and Devanney just used good football sense and that ole Trinity know how to get the job done. Priore and the staff he selected are a cut above. It takes the Head Coach, the OC and the DC to be on the same page and in aggreance on everyhting to make a team work. I think its a special thing when you get hard working kids who make the most out of the opportunities they are afforded combined with a coaching staff that knows what it takes to win. The Trinity squad is a special group from top to bottom.

[mariner75]

Congrats to Trinity for an outstanding effort against a very good Amherst squad.....I'd be curious to hear from the former players/posters, which team you all feel over the past 3+ years that you've had your run, has been the most balanced/best (I hate that word) team?  After watching them for the past 4 years, I would say that this year's team is the culmination....obviously not taking anything away from previous teams......would like to hear your thoughts.....thx.   

[Trin9-0]

I would say that this years team may be the most balanced in terms of having both an offense and a defense that could win a game. However, I would not say they are the best. The 2004 team had the most dominant offense in terms of scoring threats and obviously had an outstanding defense. While the 2003 team had the best defense of the three teams, whle the offense wasn't as dominating as the 2004 team.

Mariner you're right, the term "best" can be very diffiult to determine. I may be biased but I think if you went across the board, player for player there would be very few players that I would replace from the '03 team with players from the '04 or '05 teams. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that several players have played on all three of these teams or at least two of them. For instance, I'm sure Josh Pitcher and Mike Blair are better now than when they started in '03.

It's also difficult to compare them because the level of talent in the NESCAC has fluctuated. In talking with a few of the members of the Trinity coaching staff they believe the league isn't as strong as in '02 or '03 when Williams and Amherst had very good teams. However, there are more teams to contend with now with Bowdoin and Colby both being very good.

I'm going with '03 because of my own ego, but all three teams are incredibly talented and well coached. Hopefully the '06 Bantams can continue the tradition of dominance that these great teams have established.

[Roonyhufsfarts]

Mariner, you pose a question that, now that the current teams has all but acheived an 8-0 season, has been swirling around my head for awhile.

I graduated last year but I have listened to or watched every game this year and I feel I have a good sense of how the various teams stack up.  One must also take into consideration, of course, that the 2003 Bantams were starting or using heavily most of the senior starters of the 2004 season, also the the likes of Mike Blair, Olenoiski, and Big Play Mackay.  Point being turnover hasnt been that high at Trin so I will comment primarily on each teams group of seniors.

Lets get started. 

2003 Bantams: This was the first mold of players brought up who TOTALLY bought into Chuck Priore's system, altohugh the year before was basically there as well.  hell of a good group there too, except that sh**head QB Greg Ward (sorry, strong personal dislike of the guy here).   Anyway, this team was awesome and knew how to execute Chuck's offense to a tee, RUN RUN RUN.  With Tom Pierandre and a freshly converted Drew Finkleday in the backfield field the Bantams were a true force.  That 10-0 win over Williams was one of the most exciting in Trin history.  The offense struggled at times under the young arms of sophmores Josh Pitcher and Erik Paisley, but they didnt make too many mistakes.  The defense, in typical Trin form, was totally dominant lead by LB Greg Tanner, DE Jamie Creed, and CB Matt Glasz.  Leadership was tremendous for a team that wasnt in as big a limelight yet.

2004 Bantams:  The most PT experienced of the bunch across the board and the first FULL recruiting class of Chuck Priore.  One only has to look at the score of the games to realize how good this group was.  Closest game was won by 18 over Williams.  Also, while this current group may pointwise may be the best the number of points scored on the STARTING 2004 defense was 25**!  I was a defensive starter and I was extremely lucky to get more than one series in the 4th quarter.  Why? Because our offense had usually put up 31 points by the end of the 3rd quarter and Chuch has NEVER been one to run up the score (and all he wants to do is run and thus run out the clock), plus it has paid major dividends in term of getting youngins time.  Our offense was outstanding.  Drew Finkleday was backed up by Genarro Leo.  Josh Pitcher didnt throw a pick all season until one went right through the hands of an open tightend and into a defenders hand (**which set up one of the few touchdowns on the starters given a 20 yards field).  Chandler Barnard was already making a huge contribution as a Freshman.  The offensive line was DOMINANT.  A seasoned group of players with many 2-3 year starters, where 4 out of 5 made the all conference team.  Mind you, this group took full advantage of this years starters, many of whom started last year.

2005 Bantams:  Obviously this chapter isnt closed, but obviously this years Bantams can be in the argument about who is the best.  Like the previous years, an experienced group, but by far the least experienced of the three.  While some players are 2, 3, 4 year starter or contibutors, there are far more first year players, and a couple of very raw players.  The defense of this group is amazing.  It is full of playmakers but I think this past week exposed a weakness in the secondary (granted its just a couple of plays, but when stacking up against the previous two years, these details are big).  Another weakness relative to other teams, the offensive line.  They are very good, but the two previous years lines were truly spectacular.  I think this is the main reason why the offense has struggled at times this year.  The talent level of the skill players this year is off the charts, however. 

OK, I need to stop.  Obviously the 3 teams are elite squads so taking into consideration all my aforementioned comments lets break things down in a 1-3 order starting by position group and getting broader thereafter.

DEFENSE:
Dline: This is seriously the hardest ranking to do, and I was a dlineman
2003: 1st, when all starters are healthy
2004: 3rd  Truly a tie for 2nd among 2004 and 2005 in my mind but if imust....
2005: 2nd

Linebackers: 2003 and 2005 very close, both have different strengths
2003: 1st, when BEST players in
2004: 3rd, good but not as good as the same guys are next year
2005: 2nd, 2004s elite group gets even better

Secondary:
2003: 2nd Got burned occasionally
2004: 1st Goldsein, Quinn, Tyler, Soules - never burned (right?)
2005: 3rd Got burned occasionally

OFFENSE:
Oline: I am confident in this order
2003: 2nd
2004: 1st
2005: 3rd

QB: Very confident in this order
2003: 3rd
2004: 1st
2005: 2nd

Backfield: Quite confident in this
2003: 2nd, Pierandri, Finkleday
2004: 1st, Finkleday, Leo   it helps when you got the best oline
2005: 3rd, Quinnones, Leo, Barnard

INTANGIBLES: Very confident
2003: 1st
2004: 2nd
2005: 3rd

CHANCES TO DO WELL IN THE PLAYOFFS
2003: 3rd, Offense would have done nothing
2004: 1st, well blanced squad would have done well
2005: 2nd, hickups would have been costly in playoffs

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
2003: 1st Scrapped out some great and hard fought wins
2004: 3rd...But proved how much better they really were
2005: 2nd More challenge as the NESCAC improves slightly

SPECIAL TEAMS: TIE ACROSS BOARD
I know, cop out, but they have always been good.  As chuck says, "If your tired, you play special teams first and sit out on offense or defense."

Total scores (lower the better)
2003: 16
2004: 17
2005: 22

I am actually very suprised by this number.  I think it accurately reflects the strength of the teams.  The bottom line: they are all dominant hard working groups with tremndous leadership, work ethic, coaching, and PRIDE (so I hope oi havent offended anyone)

wow my fingers hurt.  and yes, i have nothing better to do this sunday afternoon

[formerbant10]

Good weekend for the Bants....I'm disappointed with the NESCAC though.  No way that Tufts rookie receiver David Halas shouldn't have been Rookie of the Week.  4 catches for over 100 yards and 2 td's....c'mon.  Absolutely absurd!!!

Congrats to the Bants on the win.

[cruiser]

now that the bantams have, for all intents and purposes, locked up 1st, all eyes are on brunswick as colby battles bowdoin for second place at 7-1 AND ownership of the CBB trophy. huge game with many, many implications for both teams

[TheLegend]

the only people that actually care about the CBB are the ones involved in it. i'm in a bad mood. I see Bowdoin winning it. Colby might be apathetic over having missed a golden opportunity to be undefeated and simply want to get out of the season(?). I'm just playing devils advocate here. I see: Bowdoin over Colby, Amherst over Williams, Middlebury over Tufts, Hamilton over Bates, Trinity over Wesleyan, and some eggs over easy. 

[Trin9-0]

Legend: Don't be a hater... when is the last time the Colby-Bowdoin game actually meant something. Let's throw the CBB a bone and let them enjoy the fight for 2nd.

former: You're right, sounds like the NESCAC missed the boat on Halas.

huftsfarts: That was a VERY indepth, yet fair assessment. I don't know if the '05 Bantams are that far behind the 2 previous teams, but I agree the '03 team had the best combination of experienced leadership and young talent. However, this years team probably has the most depth at every position.

[bant551]

I believe the '03 team deserves special props for beating Williams for the first time in years.

Its always hard to get over those mental obstacles to beating teams.  '02 knocked off Amherst, but Williams was the big one and until you beat a team that has your number for the first time, it feels like it will never happen, even when you are confident going in.

[Trin9-0]

I hate to bring up the NESCAC (Trinity) in the national rankings issue again... but Trinity has 29 points and is tied with UW-Oshkosh in "others recieving votes" section. This puts them just 2 spots away from the D3 football.com top 25 poll. Unless I am mistaken this is the closest a NESCAC team has ever been to breaking into the top 25.

Also, Trinity is 2 spots away from being included into the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) poll. Trinity has finished in the top 25 of this poll the past few years.

[dirtybirds8-0]

wow, I am impressed by the indepth posts on previous Bantam squads...and I agree with them all.  I would have to say that Bant55 is on the money with his opinion.  Beating a team that has beaten you for the past 7 years is tough to do...and that alone is why the 2003 team was probably the best..it was the intangibles.  I am interested to see what Keith writes about this week...he was at the game saturday, so he should have a pretty good grasp of what Trinity is all about....When will he post?

[Pat Coleman]

I usually get Keith's column on Thursday.

[First6Ws]

It is true that Rooney is a huffer and that I don't have the patience to read that full an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses.  I think the 2004 team is the best.  Their games never seemed to be in doubt and the combo of Finkledey and Leo was truly overpowering.  2003 does deserve credit for getting the program over the hump to 8-0.  2002 was proud to beat Middlebury and Amherst, who the previous year's class went a combined 0-8 against.  Barring a huge upset next week at the "The World's Largest Little Outdoor Cocktail Party" (aka Trinity Homecoming), congrats to the 2005 group in surviving another season full of wearing the target.  Those seniors have had amazing careers.  Sadly, I'll miss the festivities next week because I'll be in Berkeley, CA cheering for the Golden Bears to end the only winning streak longer than Trinity's.  Go Bants!