FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Sir Spiedie]

While they are at it, why not IAAA? Makes as much sense.

[Sir Spiedie]

Hamilton to Liberty League. Why not?

[Col. Partridge]

Hamilton to Liberty League. Why not?

Different league, same result:  last place (or second to last) every year.  I'm not sure Hamilton would want to play football in a conference in a more competitive division.  This assumes the Liberty League stays intact.   

I would assume Union, RPI, Hobart, Rochester would choose to move to the same division as those schools they consider their academic peers (or aspire to be):  NESCAC and UAA.

[Col. Partridge]

The way I read this article, it is not the NESCAC ADs who are pushing for a new division.  In sports where the NESCAC does participate in NCAA post-season play, they often dominate on a national scene (hockey, lacrosse) or are major contenders each year (basketball). 

I think the NESCAC is happy with the status quo, but if other small private schools demand on starting their own division, NESCAC schools don't want to be grouped together with the Wisonsin state schools et al.

[labart96]

Hamilton to Liberty League. Why not?

BTW - a somewhat similar thread re: Hamilton being in the LL for hoops but not with other sports was posted on the LL hoops board a while back. 

Travel distance (and lack of a partner) was a consideration for Hamilton's hoops team not playing in the NESCAC, but since football is only once a week deal, going to Maine, VT or other NESCAC locations from Clinton is less of an issue. 

Also, the LL is in expansion mode already adding Susquehanna in 2007 as well as a few other PA schools in 2008, so the LL really doesn't need Hamilton anyway.  And with the advent of the AQ that goes to the LL champ, TGP would be surprised to see any LL schools like Union, RPI, etc interested in defecting to a non-playoff league.

[Col. Partridge]

TGP, I never implied those schools would defect to the NESCAC.

What do you think the repsonse at a Hobart Board of Trustees meeting would be if the AD said:  "Division III is splitting up.  We have a gun to our head, and you have to make a choice.   One division will consist of Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, U of Chicago etc.   The other division will consists of Cortland State, UW-Stevens Point and Western Connecticut."

Who do you think the board will wish to associate with athletically and academically?

For the record, I don't see a need to change things the way they are now, and I hope this split doesn't happen.

[Trin9-0]

The way I read this article, it is not the NESCAC ADs who are pushing for a new division.  In sports where the NESCAC does participate in NCAA post-season play, they often dominate on a national scene (hockey, lacrosse) or are major contenders each year (basketball). 

I think the NESCAC is happy with the status quo, but if other small private schools demand on starting their own division, NESCAC schools don't want to be grouped together with the Wisonsin state schools et al.

I agree. A break-up doesn't necessarily benefit any NESCAC teams in terms of national athletic recognition, and that the majority is happy with the status quo. However, if grouped together with similar institutions who share the same viewpoint on the place of academics and athletics I feel the NESCAC schools will hold a distinct advantage.

As you stated, NESCAC schools would prefer to be grouped with schools such as Union, RPI, Hobart, Rochester as opposed to the Wisc. State Schools.

And with the advent of the AQ that goes to the LL champ, TGP would be surprised to see any LL schools like Union, RPI, etc interested in defecting to a non-playoff league.

This may be a silly question but what is AQ?

['gro]

RPI is pumping a lot of money into the athletic programs and facilities, their goal is to raise the profile of RPI teams to a national level (D-I hockey is the focus but all sports are included). Can't see them choosing any division that is non-playoffs.

RPI's plan for an athletic overhaul...

http://www.rpi.edu/campaign/athletics.html

[Col. Partridge]

Someone on the women's hoop board who sounded like he knew what he was talking about said D-III won't be splitting anytime soon, so it may be a moot point.

But, I don't think there would a post-season ban in a new division.  The leader of the faction that wants to split is the president of Allegheny, which goes to the football playoffs.   

I think the split is more along the lines of private schools (the "tradionalists") who want to keep D-III the way it was when they started it (a wide base of 18+ sports teams per school, no scholarships, limited recruiting) versus state schools and former NAIA schools who specialize in a limited number of high profile sports and do things like redshirting. 

If a split happened and if it occurred on lines described above, I would think the selective Liberty League schools would align themselves in the same division as NESCAC.  Without the Mt. Unions of the world to compete against, a Liberty League school might win the football national title.  Or, maybe RPI would choose to be non-scholarship D-I in all sports, while keeping hockey the way it is now...I don't know.

[Pat Coleman]

AQ: Automatic Qualifier

[formerbant10]

Hamilton to Liberty League. Why not?

Different league, same result:  last place (or second to last) every year.  I'm not sure Hamilton would want to play football in a conference in a more competitive division.  This assumes the Liberty League stays intact.   

I would assume Union, RPI, Hobart, Rochester would choose to move to the same division as those schools they consider their academic peers (or aspire to be):  NESCAC and UAA.

Rochester is in the UAA and Union used to be a part of the NESCAC

[Col. Partridge]

Former Williams standout Scott Farley Drafted by Rhein Fire in NFL Europa

[labart96]

Former Williams standout Scott Farley Drafted by Rhein Fire in NFL Europa

Good for him.  TGPs bro-in-law lived in Dusseldorf for awhile and would occasionally attend the Rhein Fire games.  Apparently (since it's Germany), they sell the largest glasses of beer you could ever imagine at these games. 

[JeffRookie2]

Any word on NESCAC recruits for next year. If Amherst wants any chance of competing with Williams, they have to start with someone tall and fast enough to guard those two wide receivers.

[frank uible]

Maybe 2 other WRs but not those 2 - they are graduating seniors.