FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[bocephus]

wow - trinity and hamilton in the same bottom 4?  are the wheels coming off the trinitah dynasty??  i doubt it...  7-1, hardly.

[frank uible]

Even in the very unlikely event that Trinity loses all its remaining games this year, it will not wind up in the bottom four.

[Ephs]

I like Amherst's chances against Williams this year. Playing at home is an enormous advantage in that series and that, along with Amherst's balance, should stand them in good stead. The Jeffs need to cut down on penalties, avoid key injuries the week before in Hartford and improve their punting, but all certainly looks very good for a Jeff victory at this point. Very good indeed, Capt Partridge. Amherst plays here vs Trinity in a couple weeks and that game may take its toll on the Jeffs. In other action, Wesleyan may put up its best fight in years vs Trinity in years.

[bant551]

Thats what I'm saying.  If Trinity loses 2 games the rest of the way (certainly possible but not necessarily likely), at 5-3, you'd be hard-pressed to win an argument that they belong in the bottom 4.  You'd have to put teams that lost to Trinity above Trinity.

One thing I am happy to see is Hamilton improving.  I visited there and kind of liked it (liked all my visits in the NESCAC actually).  I remember a guy on the DL being really good when I was at Trinity and he played hard the whole game, even though they were getting smoked very early.  

Good for you that you have them playing much better.  I'm just very confused by your rankings with Trinity in the bottom 4!!!

[fells]

I am confused about Trinity being in the bottom four as well. I know Trinity lost to Williams and all to break their streak, but a team who has won 34 of their last 35 is difficult to put in the bottom four of the conference.

I still think the surprise of the year is Middlebury. I saw them winning three games this season and that is it. I am very impressed with how Tiger Lyon has matured, and the play of the Panther defense. The fact that Coach Ritter stretched out the Bates defense and threw downfield really gives them an added edge.

[frank uible]

Trinity becoming one of the bottom four this year is arithmetically possible as of this date, but this football book declares that it is a 1-25 shot.

[cruiser]

even if the cbb is struggling mightily this yr, to say the least, there are a great many people who care about the CBB series and the teams involved. these games, especially the colby v. bowdoin rivalry are among the most storied and oldest rivalries in the country. please dont trivialize this rivalry, as a great many people care about it and we dont see other rivalries, like the little three, getting bashed

[fells]

even if the cbb is struggling mightily this yr, to say the least, there are a great many people who care about the CBB series and the teams involved. these games, especially the colby v. bowdoin rivalry are among the most storied and oldest rivalries in the country. please dont trivialize this rivalry, as a great many people care about it and we dont see other rivalries, like the little three, getting bashed

Cruiser,

I happen to love the rivalry. My cousin is a Bates alum so even before I started covering the NESCAC, I would go up to Lewiston to see either Bates/Bowdoin or Bates/Colby and the games are just a blast. The players are into it, the fans are into it, and it is a great scene. The only thing I miss now about broadcasting Middlebury games is that I can't head up to Lewiston to see those great games.

[Hoaf]

I may have over done it when I said Trinity was in my bottom four. But I do believe that they aren't as good as they have in the past and compared to how they played versus Hamilton they weren't as good as they were cracked up to be.

I meant to stir up some discussion.

Glad to see it's happening.

- Chas

[Col. Partridge]

As I travel from florida to maine each weekend I read the maine papers, toatal lack of coverage of bates, bowdoin, colby. Why?

I don't have personal experience with the Maine newspaper business, but NESCAC sports as a rule obviously don't get the press coverage of Division I schools, but also less than local D II and D III state schools.   For the most part, the NESCAC schools are small islands of exclusivity that have limited interaction with the surrounding community and the games don't attract much interest aside from the students, alumni and parents.  The team rosters include relatively few "local boys" whose friends and relatives would buy a newspaper.

I know there are exceptions to this lack of community interest (Fells' radio coverage at Middlebury for example), but giving more press to the local state school whose entire roster is made up of local players is a better business decision.

[Trin9-0]

alucardz: I wasn't at the Trin-Hammy game, but your sentiments were echoed by a few of the Trin coaches I talked to. However, keep in mind that no team is ever as good as they look, and no team is ever as bad as they look.

The Bants may have played terrible against the Conts, but keep in mind they were likely devastated from losing the only game in their college careers the week before. Also, they were probably playing under the assumption that they could just show up and win (as Trin has done over Hammy the past few years). I definately think the Trin players looked past Hamilton and they were lucky that their depth and talent were good enough to beat a much improved Hamilton team.

I'm glad you recanted your "Trin in the bottom 4" statement. I believe Trin will win their remaining 3 games and finish 7-1. That would be good for at least second place if Williams can also win out. Oh, and saying that players being injured and taken to the hospital makes them a team that isn't tough is absolutely ridiculous and shameful. Injuries happen in football to even the toughest players.

[bant551]

Agreed.  The number of players hurt doesn't really mean anything.  Unless, of course, the second coming of Ray Lewis is out there on the Continentals taking people's heads off. 

[bocephus]

anybody else wonder why a team with urlacher, vick, lt, and polamalu needs a last second hail mary flee flicker to beat a high school team?  would trin-trin absolutely dominate these guys??

[bant551]

I also wondered why a flea flicker was the play of choice under those circumstances.  Who would have fallen for the fake running play anyway.  Besides, I think it was a halfback pass, wasn't it?  LT got lit up by the high school kid too.

Maybe LT had to throw it b/c Vick sucks when forced only to pass.  For about 2 months last NFL season, LT had more passing TDs than all Jets QBs combined.

[Col. Partridge]

I'm not sure who would win the game, but I can tell from the commercial that the guys on the Nike team with Vick et al. work harder at their studies than the Trinity players