FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

I wouldn't say youth is their biggest problem. 14 seniors is pretty good and upperclassmen make up 44% of their team. Though having only 59 players total certainly puts the Conts at a disadvantage.

Hamilton's biggest problem heading into 2007... trying to find ANY offense. They scored just 24 points in 8 games last year and were shut out 5 times!

It's amazing they even won two games scoring only 3 points per game. Their defense is likely going to have to carry them again this year.

[pleasedontflex]

Does anyone know how Wes is going to look this year?

[Col. Partridge]

No, but I'm curious myself.  Are any of the Trin posters going to the scrimmage?

[Trin9-0]

Unfortunately, I'll be out of town... but hopefully I'll get some details when I get back. I would imagine Trin will be pretty vanilla and run the ball the vast majority.

Wes, on the other hand, will obviously throw it around a bit considering they only have 2 or 3 running plays. 

[redtail]

anyone see the Hamilton/Colgate(JV) scrimage today?

[pleasedontflex]

Actually Wes supposedly has a solid speed back to go with their spread Offense...so if anyone saw the scrimmage i would love to know how it went

[Trin9-0]

~2007 NESCAC Season Predictions~

Amherst: 6-2
Wins: @Bates, Bowdoin, Middlebury, @Colby, Wesleyan, @Tufts

Despite uncertainty at QB the Jeffs return a strong defense that should take care of Middlebury at home and Tufts on the road.

Bates: 2-6
Wins: Bowdoin, @Hamilton

The Bobcats improve on their '06 record, but a tough early schedule and road games at Wes and Colby will prevent them from taking their program to the next level.

Bowdoin: 1-7
Win: Colby

Their magical 6-2 season of '05 seems a long way off. The Bears lose 17 seniors from a team that won only 2 games a year ago.

Colby: 2-6
Wins: Bates, Tufts

The Mules will again struggle after a disapointing 2006. They'll have to rely on Bashaw to move the ball and improve on their -10 turnover margin.

Hamilton: 3-5
Wins: Wesleyan, @ Bowdoin, Colby

A return to respectability for the Continentals in 2007. They lose only 6 starters from last years squad which had one of the league's stingiest scoring defenses. It won't take much to improve on last years offensive average of 3 points per game. If they can do that 4 wins won't be out of the question.

Middlebury: 5-3
Wins: @Wesleyan, Colby, @Bates, Hamilton, @ Tufts

The good news for the Panthers is that they return 4 starters on the offensive line. They'll need to be good as Midd has two sophomore QB's battling to be the starter.

Trinity : 8-0
Wins: @Colby, Williams, Hamilton, @Tufts, Bowdoin, @Middlebury, @Amherst, Wesleyan

The Bants will once again have a dominating defense and should be much improved offensively after a year of experience with a new offense. The success of their season will come down to the showdown in Hartford with the Ephs and a tough road game at Amherst.

Tufts: 3-5
Wins: @Hamilton, @Bates, Bowdoin

Another strong start by the Jumbos will give way to a disapointing season with the top teams in the league at the end of their schedule. They also lose 12 starters from last years 4-4 team.

Wesleyan: 3-5
Wins: Colby, Bates, @ Bowdoin

Zach Librizzi will need to eliminate his interceptions (13 in 2006). If he can the Cards could surprise a few people this year. Playing Colby and Bates at home will help; and if they can find a way to beat Midd in the season opener they have a chance to finish above .500

Williams: 7-1
Wins: @Bowdoin, Bates, @Middlebury, Tufts, Hamilton, @Wesleyan, Amherst

Jon Drenckhahn and Brendan Fulmer will need to be replaced, but aside from the WR position the Ephs are stacked again. If they can't beat Trin in Hartford for the 1st time since 2001 then they'll likely run the tables and extend their win streak to 22 games! Although, you never know what could happen against Amherst.


8-0 Trinity
7-1 Williams
6-2 Amherst
5-3 Middlebury
3-5 Tufts
3-5 Hamilton
3-5 Wesleyan
2-6 Colby
2-6 Bates
1-7 Bowdoin

NESCAC Champ: Trinity
Little 3 Champ: Williams
CBB Champ: 3 way tie

[labart96]

Question:

Does the late start to the NESCAC season help/hinder these teams?

On one hand the extra practice time (assuming camps start in late August), could assost NESCAC schools in getting the kinks out by the time the season begins in mid to late September.

On the other hand, it always seems to take clubs a couple of weeks of playing actual games to get their act together regardless of the amount of practice.

[Pat Coleman]

They get the same number of preseason practices as any other Division III school.

[nescac1]

Trin, those look pretty good.  The main thing I would change is switch Midd and Hamilton ... I think it will be hard to break into the top three, but Hamilton's offense has to be substantially better with an experienced QB and receivers returning and another year with the new coaching staff, and the D does look nasty.   As for Midd, losing the QB, top receiver, tailback, star K/P, and two defensive superstars is quite a hit to graduation.  I also think Bates is ready to make its move, plus they skip Trinity which helps.  I'll go with:

Trinity 8-0, Williams 7-1, Amherst 6-2, Hamilton 5-3,  Bates 4-4, Tufts 3-5, Midd 2-6, Colby 2-6, Wesleyan 2-6,  Bowdoin 1-7.

Trinity and Williams both have loaded senior classes and tons of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, at LB, and at QB, making them very tough to beat.  I'd say one more year of Williams / Trinity hegemony, but after this year, look out for Amherst which is loading up on young talent. 

You (or someone else) mentioned some serious injuries for Trinity ... anyone of note going to be out for the Williams game?  That could tilt the balance towards Williams, as it seems as if the Ephs are fairly healthy heading into the season ...

[Col. Partridge]

TGP--your question is largely academic.   The late start that all NESCAC teams share do not affect their performance relative to outside opponents because there are no games outside the league, unfortunately.   I think Pat is right that NESCAC schools get the same number of preseason practices as other schools-it's just that the first practice is held much later.  There are probably fewer days of two-a-days and triple sessions than in other conferences.

Trin 8-0: thorough work as usual, although you have both Wesleyan and Colby winning the Wes-Colby game.  I think after the top 3 it is a crapshoot most years, with the only constant being that Bates is near the bottom.  For that reason alone, I am gonna have to disagree with nescac1's prediction of a .500  season for the Bobcats.  For sentimental (but not entirely crazy) reasons I  say Wesleyan will beat Hamilton to go at least .500 this year

[cruiser]

cant really speak to many nescac teams and their prospective success this season but, after having seen the colby bates scrimmage, colby may surprise teams this year while trying to rebound from a disappointing 2-6 record. their offense looked decent and the defense will be very good this season. granted this was against a bates team that went 1-7 last year but, with the offense being as stagnant as it was, any progress is encouraging. as for bates, again just from the small window of the scrimmage, it looked like it will be a long year in lewiston. not too much leapt out at me about bates. they could be near the bottom of the standings again. again, just a scrimmage, but at least a look at these teams...

[Pallos]

   A few quick questions:

     Anybody know the neighborhood # for the budget for football at Williams and Amherst? Also, what is that # as a % of the overall athletic budgets there?

     How would the top NESCAC football teams fair vs the top Ivy league JV teams? One pundit assures me that although some NESCAC teams might have a few more highly skilled players than Ivy JV teams, overall, the Ivies have more depth and skill across the board. Anyone know?

   

[redtail]

look for hamilton to through it around quite abit this year to a little more experienced recievers and freshman running back going short routes out of the backfield.  offense hopefully can get bak to respectibilty.  I think you will see a huge improvement in the return game also.  it should be interesting - hoping 4-4!!!!!

[Trin9-0]

Trin 8-0: thorough work as usual, although you have both Wesleyan and Colby winning the Wes-Colby game.  I think after the top 3 it is a crapshoot most years, with the only constant being that Bates is near the bottom.  For that reason alone, I am gonna have to disagree with nescac1's prediction of a .500  season for the Bobcats.  For sentimental (but not entirely crazy) reasons I  say Wesleyan will beat Hamilton to go at least .500 this year

Capt. Good catch, I'm so upset with myself. I must have checked it 10 times before I posted to make sure it was error free! For the record I'm giving that game to Wes at home, which would but my prediction for the Mules at 2-6.

cant really speak to many nescac teams and their prospective success this season but, after having seen the colby bates scrimmage, colby may surprise teams this year while trying to rebound from a disappointing 2-6 record. their offense looked decent and the defense will be very good this season. granted this was against a bates team that went 1-7 last year but, with the offense being as stagnant as it was, any progress is encouraging. as for bates, again just from the small window of the scrimmage, it looked like it will be a long year in lewiston. not too much leapt out at me about bates. they could be near the bottom of the standings again. again, just a scrimmage, but at least a look at these teams...

Hmmm, maybe I was wrong about the Mules after all. I'll have a better idea after Saturday, I'm making the drive up to Waterville to watch the Bants take their 1st step on the road back to NESCAC champs! Cruiser, let's grab a beer.

A few quick questions:

     Anybody know the neighborhood # for the budget for football at Williams and Amherst? Also, what is that # as a % of the overall athletic budgets there?

     How would the top NESCAC football teams fair vs the top Ivy league JV teams? One pundit assures me that although some NESCAC teams might have a few more highly skilled players than Ivy JV teams, overall, the Ivies have more depth and skill across the board. Anyone know?

Pallos: I posted this link about a month ago: http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/main.asp

The data is from the US Dept. of Education and the numbers are from '04-'05. Also, the numbers are self reported and accounting practices can vary widely from school to school.

According to the figures listed:

Amherst total athletic operating expenses - $823,352
total operating expenses for football - $96,988

Williams total athletic operating expenses - $800,428
total operating expenses for football - $72,834


I'd say the argument about how top NESCAC teams would fair against top JV Ivies is very similar to any argument regarding how lower level (based solely on NCAA designation) teams would fair against higher level teams (i.e. a D-1AA team vs a D-1 team). The skill and even speed would be essentially the same, however the size of the players at the higher level would likely make the difference.

Though Appalachian State proved that theory wrong.