NESCAC

[Corazon]

Russo CREATED recruiting in Nescac.

Okay. Fine. Good night.

[LaPaz]

I bet that average son / player that Williams spurned is on the Kenyon roster. Again you are proving ur limitless knowledge of college soccer. Helicopter parent in a nut shell

[Corazon]

You are a classy guy, La Paz. I'm sure Mike Russo would be proud.

[LaPaz]

Because I am right. You have said I have an agenda but actually I do not. Your agenda is based on what schools your son did  / or didnt get accepted to. HOw can we believe what we read from your posts with your ridiculous attacks on subjects that you know nothing about

[Corazon]

Can we please stop with the cheap shots and personal attacks?  While I initially found you amusing, your increasingly erratic behvior has shaken my confidence that I'm dealing with anyone worth corresponding with. It appears I confused deep seated prejudice and hate with wit.  Thanks to you, I'll just go back to being a lurker, but will offer my final thoughts as I've already invested too much of my time bantering with you.

I have no agenda.  Let me be clear on this.  I have no axe to grind with any coaches or teams. I believe every kid playing NESCAC soccer to be truly blessed.  You called me a helicopter parent - perhaps, but I don't make quarter million dollar investments without doing my due diligence (I have never in my life complained of playing time or positions with a coach for any of my kids).  I started posting here as I enjoyed talking D3 soccer with like minded people in a respecful manner and merely relayed some of our experiences of having 2 boys recently go through the soccer recruiting process. I thought some might find our experiences interesting and in fact, a few have asked me to post more about it. I merely wanted to offer a different view point to your usual drum beating about how Williams is the only school that plays true futbol and how awful Bates is and how the coach needs to be fired and what a bad person Justin Serpone is and how their style is ruining soccer.  It is my view that none of that is true.  I'm sorry if my personal experiences and opinion didn't synch with your prejudiced view of NESCAC soccer and how the world should be.

You on the other hand, have had a personal agenda to destroy Coach Flaherty's career, which I find repulsive and low, not to mention you were flat out wrong about his inability to recruit. You've also resorted to non-sensical diatribes against "the Brits". Who has the agenda here?  It appears I really set you off by acknowledging Williams' recent on field struggles (at least by williams standards) - even you have been denigrating the play of their 2 freshmen who've earned the most playing time. In response, I merely suggested Williams should try to more aggressively recruit USSDA players (while this program may not be ideal for everyone - particularly the geographically remote and the boarding school kids - the reality is that this is where the vast majority (95%?) of top players play and I firmly believe the average Academy player would be an impact player in D3).  I actually tried to spin the current state of affairs at Williams as a positive, by stating that Williams is the type of national draw and one of the few D3s who could successfully target the ultra high level players and felt their future coach will get them back to their dynastic best.  I never mentioned whether Williams recruited my son or not, as that is irrelevant (we got to know Jeff Huffman, and felt he was a good guy and appreciated his phone and email follow-ups, and thought coach Russo was a classy person and appreciated his succinct description of the murky NESCAC recruiting bands which really helped us, if that gives you a clue). I am entitled to my opinion. You do not need to agree but you do not get to continually make personal attacks as if this internet board is your personal fiefdom without repercussions. Before your insane rant, I was a strong Williams supporter. Now, I associate the program with you ... Just sickening.

Update:  it appears you've had your board privileges stripped - there is karmic justice, if I've ever seen it.

[Pat Coleman]

BLOW ME

Not acceptable.

[mjan]

I bet that average son / player that Williams spurned is on the Kenyon roster. Again you are proving ur limitless knowledge of college soccer. Helicopter parent in a nut shell

Better to be a helicoter parent than a nutjob Ahole who "battles on these DIII msg boards for years" . Please get a life outside of this board.

[blooter442]

Having seen all of this, I felt the need to say something quick.

While we all have our biases, we should do our best to be objective and reasonable, especially when discussing things we disagree with. Logic and statistics, not emotion, make the best arguments. You all know that I am an ardent Brandeis fan, and have been for the last three years. Was I happy that they received a (fortunate) PK yesterday with a minute left in 2OT that allowed them to snatch a fortunate win? Of course! Did I think the PK was a foul? No. As a Brandeis alum, I am biased towards the UAA. However I do recognize that the NESCAC is an equally strong conference, in academics and in soccer, and would never make a statement regarding the superiority of either conference. Even when I am evaluating something that I feel strongly for or against, I try to remove my bias when evaluating that particular situation, scenario, or topic. We all are certainly entitled to our own opinions, and we are free like or dislike whatever we choose. There's a difference, though, between having a bias, and letting our evaluation of a situation or scenario be clouded by bias.

In summary, I simply want to say that I appreciate the objective discussions that I have with the members of this board, and I thank those of you who are objective. I'm not trying to be sanctimonious, or push my own agenda or M.O., but I'm simply saying that we should try our best (none of us are perfect, myself included) to be respectful and objective. Long may the good discussions continue.

blooter442

[Saint of Old]

Hug it out Boyz Hug it out!!!!

Save the battles for the boyz we are all living through vicariously!!!

Moving on.
Great win by Williams after losing to a very strong Skidmore team, who are better than their 0-2 record in LL suggests.

[MidwestAficionado]

My favorite part of all this drama is that the guys name literally means "The Peace" yet he's been "battling on these boards for years". What irony.

[PaulNewman]

blooter442, I appreciate your candor about the PK for Brandeis.  Brandeis clearly was the stronger team but I thought at that point in the game Case deserved the point.  I too am a big fan of the current Brandeis team.  I am very familiar with several of the players and I'm hoping to see Brandeis make it this year to the final four, along with Kenyon.

Speaking of Kenyon, it is obvious Kenyon isn't going to win many admissions overlaps with Williams (and virtually no other D3 will either), but that said Kenyon does fare OK versus Colby, Hamilton, Bates, Trinity, and Conn.  There are some of us who actually do prefer the vibe of the "Midwest NESCACs" (Carleton, Grinnell, Oberlin, Macalester, Kenyon).

[MENESCACFAN]

Well said Blooter

I can't deny I have a huge NESCAC bias.  There have been years combined out of league W-L record has fully backed it up.  Last two years though (without doing the math) it seems NESCAC is losing more and more out of conference games.

In Maine, Thomas have gotten results against Colby, Bowdoin and Bates in the last two years.  They also lost an NCAA tournament game 2-1 to Williams.  Their coach Chris Parsons is doing a heck of a job.  I thought he may have actually got the Colby job, Thomas is minutes away from Colby.

Williams has dropped a few in MA as have Tufts, not sure Amherst eve lose to anyone so they stay clear of this!

[1nescac8]

I've been a fan of this board for while now. I played soccer in the NESCAC and had an extremely positive experience. I love the league, the rivalries, the academic/athletic balance, and fall in New England. Although I have never posted, this thread (which LaPaz started towards the end of my playing career) has allowed me to stay connected with the league. There is a great mix of perspectives here, some have deeply held allegiances and others are simply fans of the league/sport.

It's sad to see the attacking and needless bickering that has taken place the last few days, and it would be a shame if people stop posting on the board for fear of being attacked. Let's keep it civil, refrain from attacking individual commentators or players, and get on with the soccer discussion (which was been quite enjoyable for the last 4 years).

Lastly... MENESCACFAN - I love your weekly recaps. Keep 'em coming.

[MENESCACFAN]

Thanks 1NESCAC8

Having lived it, I am sure you see why I enjoy following these falls so much.  To be honest, the nastiness and bickering came from one source who appears to have been relegated to guest.  I certainly intend to stay on these boards, without eve engaging or acknowledging his comments again.  His aim seems to be conflict, so let's enjoy the games and the kids.

And for those who say we are "living through" these kids....guilty ;-)

[amh63]

Glad the board has quieted down and returned to soccer thoughts.
I follow soccer at Amherst because of particular individuals over the years from my Wash.DC area..both men's and women soccer.  The technical aspects alludes me somewhat...what is "real" soccer?  I think the question is whether soccer is changing over time as it is in professional football and basketball.
Anyway...my comments are with coaches and college recruiting today..in D3.  In my era at Amherst, the nescac schools played all level schools.  Amherst played the Ivies...harvard and the UConns.
Today it is D3 only and generally the players recruited within the CAC are primarily D3 level in ability..but NOT always.  Nescac schools allow students to play multi sports which can be appealing to some...for example Spencer Noon of Amherst who holds the scoring record at Amherst.  I believe the All- American player came to Amherst because of basketball.  His father was an All-American BB player who knows the Amherst BB coach.  They played against each other in college. I digress.
My question on soccer recruiting.  When a student looks at a college, is it because of the program or the coach that will eventually determine the choice. Does the style of play matter other than the skill set?  I realize the coaches' interest level enters somewhat.
I remember the present Amherst coach arrival.  Amherst had good talent but middle of the pack record.  The new AD, who had been the AD at Bates,  was aware of situation a bit since her son played soccer at Amherst.  In his first season, Coach Serpone takes the players available deep into the NCAA in almost all away games.  He is a recruiter..yes...but he can coach.  He cares for his players and I believe he adapts his style to the players he can get...rather than the other way around.
Need to spell the coach's name before I enter the dog house.