FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

I'm almost a little embarassed that I picked Colby to go 7-1... Though I don't think ANYONE could have predicted the Mules would be 1-4. Congrats to the Conts.

Nice showing by the Bants and Midd. Williams is legit.

[AUPepBand]

Two in a row for Hamilton.  When was the last time that happened?

Probably Steve Stetson's last stint at Hamilton....
   Seems the Continentals, who were scoreless in their first three games, discovered that if they score and prevent the other team from scoring, they WIN!!!

[cruiser]

no need to be embarrassed trin...most would have picked colby to be 7-1 or 6-2...but i suppose 1-4 is what happens with a stagnant offense. do not sell colby short on the defensive side however, the defense is legit but it can only do so much when to offense cannot move the ball

[nescac9]

I think we all have to agree that Colby has shocked us all.  No one on here would have guessed that Wesleyan and Hamilton would have more wins than CBB combined!!!  Anyone at the Colby game this week?  I'd be interested to hear what someone thought who was there in person. 

[fells]

I was very impressed with Middlebury, especially in the second half. It was good to see Coach Ritter extending the Bates defense and opening up the passing game. Rit has some very strong weapons in QB Tiger Lyon and WR's Derek Polsinello, Andrew Matson, and RB's Stefan Hrdina and David Randolph. I think Middlebury realized they can win games with their offense and not rely on their defense and special teams.

[Hoaf]

Colby may be a legit team but if you can't score you don't win games, even if you have a great defense. After sitting through Hamilton's home games this season that has been all but apparent. I just wish they could kick some extra points. Hamilton's defense has looked stellar in forcing turnovers and stopping big plays. I think Steve Stetson has done a good job working with the team this year. His coaching skill has really shown.

Heck, Hamilton has doubled their win total from last year already and has an very unlikely chance to go to .500 against the Ephs of Williams College next weekend.

- C

Ps. I like what you said about the in-state rivalry between Middlebury and Norwich. Let them play.

[Col. Partridge]

Two in a row for Hamilton.  When was the last time that happened?

1996, when Ham when 5-3.

In other news, I saw Amherst play Wesleyan yesterday, and they looked pretty sharp.   I think they will give Trin and Williams a run for their money.

[Col. Partridge]

Just to clarify, I mean Amherst.  Wes looks like they are in for a couple of long games vs. those two unless they can stop with the turnovers and keep the defense off the field.

[Hoaf]

Do you guys have any idea what the academic standards are for the kids on these NESCAC teams? Is it much easier to get into Amherst and Williams if you're playing football?

Are schools like Williams and Middlebury sacrificing their academic integrity to get a winning football team?

- C

[Col. Partridge]

That's a touchy subject around here.  Before setting off a firestorm, go back and read prior posts--roughly 75% of them are about that topic.

[Jonny Utah]

Do you guys have any idea what the academic standards are for the kids on these NESCAC teams? Is it much easier to get into Amherst and Williams if you're playing football?

Are schools like Williams and Middlebury sacrificing their academic integrity to get a winning football team?

- C

alucardz,

As an unbiased outsider, I would say the answer is no, no school even comes near to sacrificing its academic integrity in any way shape or form in getting football players into schools.

But being good at football does help a few kids each year get into Williams and Amherst.  I wouldnt call it "much" easier by any means, but it does help thats a fact.

[Hoaf]

I see. Thanks for the input. But my experience on campus is somewhat to the contrary, being a student in a NESCAC who has friends on the football team you begin to learn that student athletes get preferential treatment. Whether that be in financial/merit aid (Which is sometimes not really earned but given for the sole purpose of enticing prospective athlete) or more generally in acceptance of sub par students. I love footabll and I love that kids are being rewarded for their abilities. I was only wondering if any other students noticed the same at their schools.

Now, I am not biased towards any end of this debate. But I wanted to throw out what I have witnessed on my own campus.

- Chas
I love NESCAC sports.

[Hoaf]

Also, this may only be seen in the NESCAC because schools like ours typically have large endowments where a lot of money is thrown into the football program. Thus, they may have the necessary money/aid to dole out to certain student athletes.

- Chas

[Ephs]

I see. Thanks for the input. But my experience on campus is somewhat to the contrary, being a student in a NESCAC who has friends on the football team you begin to learn that student athletes get preferential treatment. Whether that be in financial/merit aid (Which is sometimes not really earned but given for the sole purpose of enticing prospective athlete) or more generally in acceptance of sub par students. I love footabll and I love that kids are being rewarded for their abilities. I was only wondering if any other students noticed the same at their schools.

Now, I am not biased towards any end of this debate. But I wanted to throw out what I have witnessed on my own campus.

- Chas
I love NESCAC sports.

the TIP system, by definition, gives preferential treatment to athletes. Not just for football, but other sports as well. Football teams get more "tips" because, well, football teams have more kids (75 to be exact - no other sport comes close). Unless I'm mistaken, each school gets about 60, 10 of which are allocated to the football team. Everyone else has to get in on their own.

As for athletes getting more financial aid, i've never heard that. I was under the impression that it was a need-based system. If athletes get more, they must need more, which is purely coincidental.

[fells]

Ephs,

I have to say, you guys have one heck of a team this year. I figured you would beat Middlebury, but not nearly as bad as you did. Fullmer and Dreckenhan are two fantastic receivers, and the two headed monster you have at QB is just deadly. I really wouldn't be surprised to see the Ephs run the table this year.