FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Col. Partridge]

I asked a co-worker who is a Hamilton alum about the Old Rocking Chair.  She never heard of it, but she also claims to have never gone to a football game in four years.

This is all I could find in a Factiva search, from a 2004 article in the Observer Dispatch:

The rocking chair trophy was established by Hamilton's William M. "Mac" Bristol III (Class of '43) and Middlebury's John M. "Jack" Kirk ('39). The rocking chair symbolizes the friendly rivalry between the teams.

[pleasedontflex]

When I played I didn't care about the walk or where my school's fans were going to sit....all i cared about was how i liked to play on that specific field....the more a field is surround by a stands and trees the more it reminded me of a stadium...Do you also realize Trinity is only team in the NESCAC that has their bench on the opposing team's sideline...(TRIN 8-0) I don't want to hear about the genius behind that idea haha....that's just weird....Amherst is underrated....it definitely competes with Midd...

[bant551]

I'd argue that the more a stadium is close to an urban area, the more stadium-like it appears to me.  At the most extreme, I can think of stadiums maybe in suburban -- yet built-up -- areas, e.g., Nassau Collisseum, the Meadowlands, Foxboro, etc.  None that I can think of are in the middle of pristine forrests.  At big schools, the stadiums are massive and are most likely surrounded by a disproportionate amount of construction and businesses, even in places like Syracuse or out West like Oklahoma.

If you were to say "trees and open spaces remind me more of NESCAC stadiums", then I'd hear your point.  Only stadiums I can think of that have stands on one side and rolling hills on the other like Middlebury.  I think its cool and nice and all... just doesn't strike me as "normal" in terms of sports facilities or stadiums.

Finally, I distinctly remember Trinity's bench being in front of the home fans.  What did you mean when you said that, Please Don't Flex?  Just because the visitor's side is closer to the center of campus?  Do tell.

[Col. Partridge]

I think he means the press box is on the visitors' side, which I found strange, too.  In my mind, I thought that was the side that Trinity's fans sat on, but I guess I am wrong.

UConn does the same thing at Rentschler Field (with UConn on the sideline opposite from the press box/luxury boxes).  I'm guessing the coach demanded to be on the sunny side of the field in that case.

[bant551]

Interesting... never occurred to me.  Is there a reason why you'd want the press box on the home side, as the home team?  The fact that NESCACs don't really have luxury boxes takes that out of the equation, though I'd understand why the fans in luxury boxes would want to be on the home side.

[dirtybirds30-0]

I grew up in one of the most rural settings you could imagine...surrounded by a National Park.  I love nothing more than waking up to clean air and beautiful scenery.  However, I have to say that when I was playing at Trinity I liked the feel of the stadium, the campus, and the fans!  There is an attitude that comes with playing in that stadium...you are in a city and you adapt that type of stigma.  The fact that Hartford could be considered the arm pit of CT does not affect the campus of Trinity.  I would rank Trinity 3rd on this list....with Middlebury and Amherst infront of them.

Most of the other teams in the league do not have a community feel close to the fields...the fields seem seperated from the rest of the school.  

[bant551]

I agree.  For instance, I'd consider Wesleyan's field to be "unique".  But I also consider Marylin Manson to be unique.  Just because its different, doesn't make it any better or worse.

As a player, I know that you can't beat field turf.  I don't think even the best natural grass fields compare.  I like it that much.  I also think -- to the best of my recollection -- that Trinity's field is the most "normal" of the group.  That doesn't bother me, really.  Its not like the view is ugly or anything.  You have the Montessori school view from the visitor's stands, which is beautiful and a place affiliated with the campus that helps the local kids and took the place of boarded-up homes... on the home end the view is of the chapel and old-school architecture on campus.

Again, it was unique playing at fields like Wesleyan and Middlebury... but I had more fun beating Middlebury at Trin the year after losing at Midd.  Football is football, and I didn't get too wrapped up in the aesthetics of the opponent's fields.  Being a fan is different I suppose... but my impression of Trinity's field isn't negatively affected by its being in Hartford.

[Trin9-0]

I'm pretty sure the Trinity visitor side (pressbox) used to be the home side. However, when the opposite side was expanded to be larger then it was designated as the "home side". I've heard rumors that a new press box complete with luxury boxes was in the future. However, with the new ice rink that was just completed I don't think that will happen any time soon.

What makes it the home side for me is simple... that's the way the Bantam is facing!


I agree that my experiences at specific fields do have a lot to do with how I view them. That's one of the reasons I hate on Weston Field and why I love Whittier Field.

I'm obviously biased toward the Coop, but it's enclosed surroundings (like Andrus, and Pratt) give it that "stadium feel".


(Here's a link to an article about Andrus Field celebrating it's 125 anniversary this past weekend. There's a great old photos of a Trin-Wes game with over 10,000 people taken in '58)

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/sportsinfo/news/newsandrus125yearsold06.html

[fells]

I can imagine that as a player, it wouldn't matter what the asthetics of a field is as long as it doesn't have massive holes and craters. Being in the media, we tend to look at things like press boxes, accessibility to the bathroom, and a little bit of scenery here and there ranks pretty high on our list. (Oh yeah, and warm food too.....We don't make much, and our expense accounts tend to cringe when we go to McDonalds.)

Personally, I wish the NESCAC would play out of conference, not just for the fact that I think it would be good for these schools to face other competiton, but the fact I would be able to see more of the great stadiums in New England.

[Col. Partridge]

(Here's a link to an article about Andrus Field celebrating it's 125 anniversary this past weekend. There's a great old photos of a Trin-Wes game with over 10,000 people taken in '58)

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/sportsinfo/news/newsandrus125yearsold06.html

I think me posting that link a couple of days ago started this whole thread...

Fells, have you ever been to Harvard Stadium or Yale Bowl?   Those are two awesome structures

[bocephus]

the yale bowl is one of the best places in the country to watch or play a football game.  it's unfortunate that the bowl is never anywhere close to filled for yale games, except for maybe the harvard game.  back in the 70's & 80's it was used for ct high school championship games and it was truly impressive.  i can only imagine that place sold out for an olde-timey yale game or giants game when they played there for a year or two in the 70's.

back to the nescac, weston field's visiting side grandstand is very cool, and the views of the mountains are almost as good as those at midd.  i never liked the big smokestack though..

[fells]

Harvard Stadium is unreal. When you walk into the place it feels as if you are walking into a history book and a Mensa convention all rolled into one.

[frank uible]

fells: Atmosphere of a Mensa convention? Come on, it's all in your head!

[fells]

Not the atmosphere, just the fact the stadium is packed with people who were smarter at the age of three than I am now.........

[Jonny Utah]

Interesting... never occurred to me.  Is there a reason why you'd want the press box on the home side, as the home team?  The fact that NESCACs don't really have luxury boxes takes that out of the equation, though I'd understand why the fans in luxury boxes would want to be on the home side.

I think most small stadiums/fields have the pressbox on the side where there are the most seats.  Therefore the homefans are going to be behind the home team, making the pressbox also being on that side.

Williams has a pretty big pressbox (2 levels right?) thats on the home side with bigger home stands.

I know at some fields like Northeastern University, the pressbox is on the visitors side because at 1pm the sun is directly in the eyes of that sideline.