FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[dirtybirds8-0]

The "largest little coacktail party in the world", You should get a copyright for that phrase.  Thanks Pat I will be looking forward to the column.

[PolarBearNation]

Anyone else realize the final week of the season features a 2 v 3, 4 v 5, 6 v 7, 8 v 9 matchup this weekend with all games posting teams with identical records? should be an exciting end to the season...

[Trin9-0]

I wonder if Trinity will be able to get themselves up for the 1 vs 10 match-up. This game will be about as exciting as watching the Field-Turf on Jesse-Miller Field grow.

You'd hope the Cards would be excited about the opportunity to pull off possibly the biggest upset in New England football history... but I have a feeling they're just looking to end their miserable season as soon as possible.

[formerbant10]

I wouldn't be surprised if they would be looking past the game into the tailgate area where the rest of the Trin supporters will be. 
I just hope Trin's players aren't doing that and finish the year off the way they should. 
And I'll say it again, all Josh Pitcher does...is win football games.
Congrats to the rest of those seniors, one loss in four years is amazing.


PBN....good little tidbit.  About time a week came around without all blowouts before the games started.

[dirtybirds8-0]

With that in mind...I believe Trin8-0 and I are tied for our weekly picks 30-5 for the year, while former is 29-6?  orrect me if I am wrong.  This weeks picks could determine the outcome of our little bracket.  My picks will be posted tomm or thursday afternoon.

Here is a definite prediction:  I take my one opportunity a year to relive the college life, and make the most out of it......I am so happy I did not go to any other of the lame NECAC schools....it just wouldnt be the same atmosphere......I know from experience. 

[cruiser]

a school is only what you make of it. if you choose to suck, than your nescac experience will suck. however, if you try, i feel you could love any school in the nescac...except for maybe bates...

[Longtooth]

Thinking about you Williams, Go Ephs.

[First6Ws]

PBN, very astute observation.  I'd imagine it's the best Colby-Bowdoin matchup in a while.  Another interesting standings note is the stark difference between the top half and bottom half of the league.  5-2 to 2-5, nobody breaks even this year

[Roonyhufsfarts]

weather update for saturday @ coop:  SUNNY, HIGH: 52, LOW 36

gunna be a great day for this years squad to go out on top, and for me to drink and eat way too much.  i hope the bants dont forget they still have ajob to do. 

just writing this post makes me thirsty.

[Trin9-0]

hufsfarts: I wouldn't call it a job, so much as a chore or an errand. I just hope the seniors enjoy their last game and have fun winning the 31st of their 32 collegiate games. Then come join us and enjoy the best tailgate in the NESCAC.

First6: You make a great point, and this year more than ever there is a clear seperation of the teams that can compete for a title and the teams that are content just to field a team.

I was expecting a little more excitement from the Williams/Amherst people concerning "The Biggest Little Game in America". Has the game lost some of its luster due to the fact that it hasn't had any impact on deciding the NESCAC title the past few years.

[dirtybirds8-0]

Listen, Trinity could have half the team sleep through the first half..wake up..arive for the start of the 3rd quarter down 10-0 (thats all weslyan would score) and still win 85-10.  I really hope Bowdoin beats Colby, for all the hype at the beggining of the season they sure did not show it on the field.  Bowdoin on the other hand came out of nowhere and has made a huge impact in the league...who would have thought they could go 7-1 at the begining of the year?

Here are this weeks PICKS[/font]

Bates @ Hamilton 21-17 I just can not see Bates dropping
                                       this game.  They have a good pass
                                       rusher, and Hamiltons O-line stinks!

Herst @ Williams 24-14 The Lord Jeffs are very good, and
                                      the seniors will not go out with back-
                                      to-back losses to end their careers.

Midd @ Tufts 28-17 The Jumbos season is over, and
                                Middlebury has more pride than they
                                have shown.

Weslyan @ Trin 3-55 Trin completes another 8-0 season and
                                  30 wins in a row. Cards need to score
                                  3 so the 2003 bantams will keep their
                                  scoring record.

Colby @ Bowdoin 17-21 A close game, with alot riding on it. 
                                      The Polar Bears have homefield
                                      advantage and a shot at 7-1. I can
                                      not see them dropping this game to
                                      the overated Mules.

[nescac1]

re: Williams/Amherst.  No, folks are still excited.  I mean, the storyline is not as compelling as Amherst beating Williams to finally end its streak, or the two 7-0 teams battling in overtime, or the 48-46 Williams victory which is probably the best Nescac game of the last ten years, but there is still a ton riding on this game: Little 3 title, bragging rights, Whalen's first win against Amherst, Mills' first win on the road against Williams, etc.  Should be a very, very close match-up.  Amherst has looked a little stronger on defense and the teams are pretty even on offense, but that is balanced out by Williams' home field edge and it's edge in kicking and punting.  Both teams are confident going in.  Williams' QB's and WR's are all playing at a very high level.  And Williams has the best pass-protection in the league.  Williams, with its small backs and emphasis on pass-blocking, will have trouble running against the Amherst D which is very strong along the line.  But Williams should be able to get lots of yards through the air.  I think the key for Williams is ball protection.  If they throw 1 or fewer interceptions, they should bein very good shape, but if they throw a few picks, they could be in trouble.

As for Amherst, I think they will have to focus on running the ball and ball control.  Williams front four are not the strength of the team (only one senior) and have been pretty banged up the last few weeks.  Amherst has great running plays, fast backs, and a very solid line, they will likely look to control the ball on the ground and take a few chances for big plays deep.  I think for Amherst, if they average over 4 yards per carry and get at least two 40 plus yard completions, they will have a very good chance to win.

Prediction: Williams 24, Amherst 21.  Should be a barn-burner. 

I think Bowdoin is very, very luck to be 6 and 1.  Amherst dominated them in most phases of the game but turnovers killed Amherst.   I am happy for Bowdoin, but I think Colby will beat them by at least a touchdown. 

Congrats to Trinity on another undefeated season.  Will they go to Barnard and an option offense full-time next year?  Either way, they are still going to be tough to beat.  Other than Blair, Morgan, and Albrecht, no one they are graduating is among their most important players, it seems like, with the rest of the linemen on both sides of the ball and most of the skill guys (outside of two qb's who weren't asked to do much) returning.  Amherst and Williams could both be improved next year (both have almost all of their key skill guys back), but Trinity still has the most talent in the league returning. 

[bant551]

Does anyone know Pitcher's career stats?  Seems really efficient, though I never got to see him play.

[cruiser]

it makes no sense to me how people could say colby is overrated and they havent shown anything on the field. how can a team be 6-1 and be overrated? they dont blow people out by 50 like trinity (who hasnt done that in the second half of the season but probably will this week), they just win. they did lose to amherst, no excuses there, but to say colby hasnt shown anything is not giving a strong team its due.

[bant551]

Cruiser wrote:
***it makes no sense to me how people could say colby is overrated and they havent shown anything on the field. how can a team be 6-1 and be overrated? they dont blow people out by 50 like trinity (who hasnt done that in the second half of the season but probably will this week), they just win. they did lose to amherst, no excuses there, but to say colby hasnt shown anything is not giving a strong team its due.***

I completely agree with Cruiser.  I was a senior on Trinity's 7-1 team in 2002.  Yes, it would have been great to be 8-0, but we tied for the best record.  The only team we crushed was really Hamilton, and we did beat Wesleyan pretty bad in the last game.  But Trinity had extremely tough games for the most part that year.  Very scrappy team that wasn't close to having as much talent as the powerhouses from the past few years have had.

I think that there is alot to be said for scrappy teams that fight tooth-and-nail and have to get pumped up for each game even though they already are emotionally and physically drained from playing 60 minute, close games the week before.

Winning close games, I think, is a talent in and of itself.  While it isn't talent in the same sense that speed and agility is talent, it takes nerve and composure in close games, which is another kind of talent.

I was on a team like that and its really tough to be out there for 45 running plays vs. Amherst after playing every down in a game with 75 (or 70-something) running plays vs. Middlebury.  Those games are tough man.  Much respect.