FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Col. Partridge]

I hadn't really paid attention to Wes football for a few years. In talking with people at Wes' homecoming last week, I learned that in quick succession came 1) the above mentioned armed robbery (a matter of public record which resulted in two convictions and the throwing away of a hard-luck story that looked promising); and 2) an alleged cheating scandal involving football players (I don't know anything about how that was disposed or if there was any factual basis for the allegation).

After that, admissions wasn't about to do any favors for football, and you can plot out the results in wins and losses.

[pleasedontflex]

Hahah first off it was Themistocles.  Tom was the RB and he was good as anyone in the late 90's in the NESCAC but his brother was Tuff Todd and he was the one who torched Trinity on that day. 

[pleasedontflex]

In the late Fall of '02 and into the spring of '03 Wes lost 14 players. 8 of which were starters not mention the best Linebacker in 01 who was put into a coma by a hit run accident in Texas that went unsolved. 

[Hoaf]

Anyone have predictions for the weekend?

Who's the best player in the NESCAC? Offensive and Defensive.

[TUrighty14]

Bowdoin-Wesleyan: Bowdoin offense can't seem to muster anything up, Cards 10-0.
Midd-Trin: Game of the week, think Trin at home is too tough, Trin 13-6.
Colby-Bates: Colon and Macnamara dangerous combo, Bates 28-14.
Tufts-Amherst: Jumbo D wins battle, TU 7-6
Williams-Hamilton: confident Hamilton D gets humbled, 34-6.

Offensive player: Leo, Hannon, and Lucey all worthy
Defensive player: Tufts' Decembrele is as good as I have seen, his bro had a solid career at Midd

[Garnet]

As much as I love picking on Wes Tech they are not alone in the weirdo department. My freshaman year we were playing at Hamilton and the members of their student-body who were holding the chains were dressed as furry woodland creatures (a squirrel, a bunny and a chipmunk I believe). It was not a one-time occurance either. Watching film of them the week prior I noticed that the chain-gang were all dressed in Santa Claus costumes. Nothing better to do in Clinton, NY I suppose.

Bant, you're probably thinking of Todd Themistocles who played WR for the Cards. And Capt. his brother Tom was the record setting running back for Wes in the mid to late '90s. The last Wes win over Trin in 2000 was QB Brennan Carney's freshman year. Carney was not only throwing to Themistocles, but also Matt Percival and Pat Moffett. The O-line and recieving talent has dropped of significantly after that group left.

It also didn't help that '00 NESCAC Freshman of the year Wes RB Young Douglas was arrested the summer of '01 for robbing a GAP with a starter's pistol.

The Hamilton chain gang has been doing this for many years.  Sports Illustrated even had an article in the late 80s on the subject.

Last time Garnet played at Hamilton they were wearing tuxedos.

[fells]

Anyone have predictions for the weekend?

Who's the best player in the NESCAC? Offensive and Defensive.

For my predictions, see the "Around the Northeast" column. Hey, I have to attract some traffic to my column.......

Offensive player I would have to go with Pat Lucey at Williams. Lucey has a great arm, makes good decisions, and is probably the best overall player I have seen this year.

On defense, and you guys can laugh as hard as you want, but Middlebury kicker Steve Haushka gets my vote. Haushka has been a HUGE weapon for the Panthers with his kickoffs that seem to need a stewardess because they travel so far, and I believe only eight of his punts have been returned. Haushka's kicking has put opponents in terrible field position, where the Middlebury defense can do their thing.

Another note on Haushka, one of his kickoffs has gone THROUGH the goal posts, another hit the crossbar. This kid has one heck of a leg!!

[frank uible]

alucardz: By "best" do you mean plays his respective postion most proficiently, or do you mean contributes most to the quality of his team, or do you mean would most likely excel at a higher level of play, or do you mean is most obvious in his excellence, or do you mean something else?

[Hoaf]

I mean MVP. Most valuable to his team. Who does the most? Who would they be significantly worse off without?

[met_fan]

Hamilton's chain gang was always staffed by members of the basketball team.  Until a few years ago, they dressed up differently for every game, until they were finally too obvious with pre-game and halftime imbibing and the AD (basketball coach as well) had to shut them down.  I can't vouch for the accuracy of their measurements the years I was there, but they were always good for a few laughs.

[met_fan]

From 11/26/84 issue of SI:

Hamilton College, a Division III school in upstate New York, finished its football season with a gratifying 6-1-1 record, its first winning year since 1967. But what followers of the Continentals may remember even longer is the "chain gang," three puckish students who operated the first-down chain and the down marker at Hamilton's home games. Seniors Mark Isaf and Dave Weiner, who handled the 10-yard chain, and Larry Kollath, who held the marker, livened things up by wearing oddball costumes. As the flow of action moved back and forth, there they were on the sidelines--in gorilla suits at one game, in scuba equipment at another, in drag, in real chain-gang prisoners' stripes and, finally, for Hamilton's season-ending 10-3 upset of traditional rival Union, in tailcoats.

Isaf, Weiner and Kollath, all varsity athletes (Isaf plays lacrosse and basketball, Weiner baseball and Kollath basketball), paid strict attention to their duties during games but still had a lot of fun. "No matter where we were," Isaf said, "Dave and I always seemed to be 10 yards apart." Weiner said, "Ice and I have a good relationship, but Larry kept coming between us."

[cruiser]

i believe the chain gang of hamilton was collectively dressed as cows for last seasons colby hamilton game in canton

[Trinity 8(5)0]

If we're talking about the best players I think it might be too early.Those reps are forged in the cruible of big games and with two of the ~ three best games of the season still on the horizon I think we should reserve judgment until the smoke clears.

       As always the estimable F.U. has shed light on matters, in this instance reframing Alucard's inspired original post to focus more on MVP consideration ( Sine Qua Non Dude ),  rather than just the query as to who were the most talented offensive and defensive players in the league. I liked Alucard's original question as well so I'd like to riff on that briefly and then move on to who I think might be MVP-worthy. So, first, I submit that Lucey, Kehoe and Leo-- in that order-- are the top players on the offensive side of the ball while Woodring, O'Reilly and possibly Quincy Francis of Wesleyan are looking good on the other side of the ball. ( Christian Allen of Trin probably would have been my preseason defensive MVP but nagging injuries have limited him this fall ).  Among Lucey, Kehoe and Leo, Lucey has yet to stumble while Kehoe was off in the Jeffs loss to Middlebury ( outplayed by Tiger Lyon ) and  Leo was held to a mere ~ 40 yds vs the Ephs. Leo did pick up some all-purpose yds and has been versatile this fall but overall failed to deliver a top performance vs Williams. How Leo and Kehoe perform head to head in Hartford and how Kehoe and Lucey do against each other in Amherst the following week would go a long way to how I would cast my vote for top offensive player. I believe that Kehoe stacks up very well vs Lucey and may be his superior athletically. Kehoe is filthy throwing on the run and earlier this year completed a 35 yd strike on the run left-handed on a big third down conversion. Hannon has been good for Amherst as a reciever  ( and returner ) but has been deficient as a punter so I remove him from all consideration on that basis. I know it doesn't really make sense, just my bias.

      On defense, I'm less sure but I like Woodring of Middlebury with LB, J. O'Reilly of Williams and the aforementioned Francis of Wesleyan also in the running. No guy leads his team in tackles by a wider margin than Woodring and he's turned in big performances consistently. Every team runs away from Carpenter like the plague so he should be mentioned here as well.

       As for Francis, I got into a slap fight over this very topic outside of a Middletown bar concerning his impact this fall. My assailant, a ( the only ) rabid Card fan,  maintained that Francis merely has a lot of plays funnelled his way as part of the Card's defensive game plan and due to this, his efficacy somehow has to be deeply discounted. Who knows, I won't see him play until the final weekend,  if he's still standing. I agree with Fells that the Panther punter/kicker is exceptional but, well, he's a punter/kicker solamente. His leg is sick and he could probably be kicking at BC this fall.

     As I said at the top it's too early for naming a MVP, but Fulmer from Williams leading the league in TD's caught and punting has done a great job, and has probably been indispensable to his team this season-- in addition to the aforementioned troika of Kehoe, Lucey and Leo.
       

     Capt. Partridge could you weigh in on Francis? Sometimes I feel so close to you, Capt. Partridge,  that it almost seems we're in the same room... if not on the same page. BTW, I heard that ~ 5 yrs ago the Hamilton chain gang dressed as The Village People to ridicule their visitors, the Cards. True?

      And , yes, folks, Trinity is still shameful, IMO, in regard to the priorities it has set recently...very, very un-NESCAC.

      You're late for class, Aaron!

[bant551]

Yawn. 

[Col. Partridge]

I know I shouldn't be enouraging 8(5)0...but >5 years ago I recall the Hamilton chain gang in full drag for Wesleyan.  The Village People wouldn't surprise me.

Slap fights over Quincy Francis in a Middletown bar with a Wesleyan football superfan?       It might be time to make that long walk to Vernon St. and check into the Institute for Living.