NESCAC

[Ommadawn]

Following up on the thoughtful predictions made by Blooter and Mr. Right in the middle of December, I took a quick peek at the returning offensive power of NESCAC teams.  I looked only at goal scoring for the sake of simplicity and, in so doing, ignored the presence or absence of the players setting the table for the goal scorers. Nevertheless, the numbers provide support for the narratives offered by Blooter and Mr. Right.

Percentage of 2016 Goals Scored by 2017 Returners

1.  Colby 100%
2.  Bowdoin 97%
3.  Wesleyan 86%
4.  Bates 77%
5.  Hamilton 70%
6.  Conn 64%
7.  Williams 59%
8.  Amherst 50%
9.  Trinity 44%
9.  Tufts 44%
11. Middlebury 42%

Raw Number of 2016 Goals Scored by 2017 Returners

1.  Bowdoin 30
2.  Amherst 27
3.  Conn 23
4.  Hamilton 19
5.  Wesleyan 18
6.  Bates 17
7.  Tufts  15
8.  Williams 13
8.  Middlebury 13
10. Colby 12
11. Trinity 7

Looking at these numbers in isolation (at one's peril!), it is tempting to conclude that Amherst and Bowdoin will sail to the top of the table and that Tufts and Middlebury might find themselves behind Conn College and Hamilton unless they find or develop some goal scorers.  Of course, the defensive capabilities of these teams will also have a big impact on the eventual standings as well. 

[Mr.Right]

No idea...... but that kid Oberg that Williams got was Berkshire School's best player last year. He will be Williams best recruit but he is a defender and Williams needs attackers but not a bad snag for sure.

Better than Jacob Shaffelburg who is playing pro games for Bethlehem Steel as a 15 year old?
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2017/3/17/14957746/academy-newcomer-jacob-shaffelburg-makes-debut-in-bethlehem-steel-friendly

Better than Ahria Simmons who has been starting for Bermuda's Senior team at 17 years old?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rEIfQiJcyc

Better than Duke commit Stephen O'Connell?
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211630688&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Better than Northeastern commit Noah Abrams?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeCCmLTDMEk

We know you like Williams, but come on...

Fine he was 1 of their better players and yes I think he is better than Abrams

[Mr.Right]

I forgot to give props to Wesleyan and Wheeler for having a pretty decent schedule this year for his 5 non-conference games. WPI, Vassar, Wheaton, and Swarthmore are 4 very decent games. Now if he can go 3-1-1 or 4-0-1 with that schedule plus snag a couple good Nescac wins they will be sitting pretty. Wesleyan was very young last year and had some bad luck but I think if they can find a decent GK they can bounce back and challenge for a Top 4 spot.

Amherst has Pine Manor, Eastern Nazarene, New Rochelle, Merchant Marine and New England College. That is just so weak but he gets it done every year by beating the best Nescac squads and getting those quality wins.

[Mr.Right]

Conn College improved their schedule a bit for 2017. Endicott, ECONN and Swarthmore. Eh but better than 2016. Conn will be very young this year and need to improve there back 4 and GK'ing if they want to sneak into the Top 6.

[PaulNewman]

That Amherst schedule is poor.  Amherst should have taken the lead in seeking a first or second weekend set-up with top tier back to back games, like Messiah and Dickinson or F&M or Haverford OR one of those with a Camden, Rowan or Montclair. And Amherst with Williams or Midd should invite OWU and a Kenyon or Denison or Oberlin for a weekend invitational as almost any school would enjoy a September trip to New England.

[Mr.Right]

That Amherst schedule is poor.  Amherst should have taken the lead in seeking a first or second weekend set-up with top tier back to back games, like Messiah and Dickinson or F&M or Haverford OR one of those with a Camden, Rowan or Montclair. And Amherst with Williams or Midd should invite OWU and a Kenyon or Denison or Oberlin for a weekend invitational as almost any school would enjoy a September trip to New England.

Will never happen because Nescac schools are at such a disadvantage because they cannot start preseason until Sept 1st while all those schools would have been back for 2-3 weeks. Coaches would not take the risk of going 0-2-0 on the opening weekend after being only back a week from preseason. Also, the Nescac schedule starts on the 2nd Saturday in September so you are thrust right into conference games immediately while teams from other conferences usually do not start conference play until the 3rd week of September or even later. The only team that could do that would be the team that gets a bye on opening weekend. I believe Wesleyan usually gets the bye on opening weekend

[PaulNewman]

That Amherst schedule is poor.  Amherst should have taken the lead in seeking a first or second weekend set-up with top tier back to back games, like Messiah and Dickinson or F&M or Haverford OR one of those with a Camden, Rowan or Montclair. And Amherst with Williams or Midd should invite OWU and a Kenyon or Denison or Oberlin for a weekend invitational as almost any school would enjoy a September trip to New England.

Will never happen because Nescac schools are at such a disadvantage because they cannot start preseason until Sept 1st while all those schools would have been back for 2-3 weeks. Coaches would not take the risk of going 0-2-0 on the opening weekend after being only back a week from preseason. Also, the Nescac schedule starts on the 2nd Saturday in September so you are thrust right into conference games immediately while teams from other conferences usually do not start conference play until the 3rd week of September or even later. The only team that could do that would be the team that gets a bye on opening weekend. I believe Wesleyan usually gets the bye on opening weekend

I know, I know.  The topic comes up almost every year.  It's just a shame.  I'm sure the NESCAC sees itself as reflecting (and protecting) excellence and tradition, but one wonders if there is a risk of that becoming insular and parochial.  An occasional update for the 21st century might be reasonable.  And giving these schools an extra 7-10 days and room for two more games would seem reasonable to me.  Of course one could argue that continuing to win national titles proves that a shortened season, limited schedule and lack of spring season work just fine.

[Dog Face]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

[PaulNewman]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

I definitely get what you are saying and you may well be right.  I certainly am not a NESCAC expert at least to the degree some others are on this board, but I have lived for 25+ years in New England, I'm a longstanding observer, and I've had an interest in the excellence and culture of this group of schools which share many similarities with other elite D3s but also some peculiarities.  One of the great paradoxes to me is that I think of the NESCAC schools as highly valuing athletics and the conference that they all share together adds to that as well as the uniquely elite aura that they share (while acknowledging that the aura wafts more prominently as one works through the schools up towards Amherst and Williams, while, on the other hand, the conference mission is a shared mission built on limiting athletics and making sure athletics don't overstep their proper role within the larger educational mission.  OK, that sentence was way too long.  If you take the top 8-10 non-NESCAC LACs, excluding Davidson which is D1, those schools, at least as a group, historically have not had the same level of emphasis on athletics on their campuses.  I think one could argue that the limitations the NESCAC places on number of games, length of season,  lack of spring season, etc, where intended or not, actually has an effect of enhancing the eliteness that the conference and its member schools are famous for.

As for trends going forward, I think it's going to be interesting.  As the baby boomer phase comes to an end, the bubble may burst a little regarding the arms race among many of these D3 schools where over the last decade especially there has been an intensified focus on admission rates (as in lowering them as much as possible), raising the bar for test scores that are competitive, and building newer and better facilities.  In this vein, it seems that many schools, NESCAC and non-NESCAC alike, have placed a greater emphasis on improved performance in athletic programs and a greater overall emphasis on athletics.  Someone just in the last week or so commented on the change at Tufts in recent years.  When supply among these "elite" schools starts overtaking demand the dynamics will be interesting to watch.  Will some compensate by putting even greater emphasis on athletics?  I would guess so.  Sure, no doubt there are faculty members at all of these schools who believe strongly that athletics are driving the cart too much.  That said, some faculty members are big fans of athletic teams, and in any cases, faculty groups may not win out versus aggressive Presidents intent of boosting the overall image and desirability of their schools, admissions departments, and alumni groups.

[Nutmeg]

Well Midd has not learned anything from their last 2 snubs from the NCAA's..They have Castleton, Norwich, Plymouth St, Colby-Sawyer and Keene St as their 5 non-conference games. Keene St will be decent and the rest are below average.

I have already written about Williams' below average schedule. I will say again why in the world would you play at Coast Guard. Mid-week in New London,CT against a very hard working team that will sit 10 deep and run all day. Why not play a team that has more skill and not sit back?

Tufts has the best non-conference schedule as well they should being reigning NCAA Champs. Brandeis, Babson, Keene St are good games. Mt. St Vincent will be playing there 2nd Nescac opponent in 3 days when they visit Tufts. This is a GOOD schedule, not great but good enough.

Amherst is showing only 2 non conference games on their schedule so far. I will not be holding my breath for the other 3. I can predict as usual a very WEAK non-conference slate. Interestingly, they are travelling to Merchant Marine on a Thursday for a night game at 8pm before their game at Williams on Saturday. That is less than 48 hours turn around time and a good 3 hour bus ride. I do not like that decision but Serpone smartly puts Merchant Marine on their schedule as they WILL DOMINATE their new league(2nd year) in the Skyline. That will give Amherst a game and a win against an NCAA opponent which the committee loves and will pump up their OWP. I just wouldn't have scheduled it right before the Williams game on a Thursday night.

I am most disappointed with Bowdoin. They drop Babson(who they have played every year since the 1980's) and are playing 5 weak Maine schools. They are going to be one of the better teams in Nescac and there is no reason they cannot play a good schedule. They are in close enough proximity to Boston to play good teams. They got snubbed from the NCAA's last year because of their WEAK Non-conference schedule and proceed to go ahead and make it even weaker.

I have complained about this for years. If you do not have good teams on your schedule you will not have good wins on your resume. Bowdoin will have 5-6, good Nescac teams on their schedule but now must win at least 3 of those games against Midd, Amherst, Tufts, etc to get wins v Ranked teams. If you put 3 GOOD ranked teams on your non-conference schedule at least you have 3 more opportunities to get ranked wins. What Bowdoin, Midd and Amherst do to themselves forces them to put all their eggs in 1 basket. Amherst has gotten away with it for years but the other schools have not.

I'm somewhat amazed about Middlebury...after supposedly getting burned the last 2 years... how could u not take a different approach?  Amherst doesn't surprise me.  Tufts continues to follow its success with a tough non-conference schedule.  It puts a lot of pressure on them but it seems to have worked...

[Ommadawn]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

It's hard to imagine a wholesale conference-wide retreat from the athletico-academic complex.  Excelling in sport at the national level seems to have become part of the core identity of at least some of the conference's member institutions.  I'm not sure if it is legend or reality, but I heard in the mid-90s that the President of Williams aspired to win a national championship in every sport in which the college participated.  The Ephs' presence at or near the top of the Directors' Cup every year would appear to support that position.  With respect to non-NESCAC institutions, I heard recently that MIT has been attempting to enhance its (already strong) athletic profile as well, decreasing admissions criteria minimally (dipping to like maybe the 99.8th percentile) to greatly expand their pool of potential student athletes.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

It's hard to imagine a wholesale conference-wide retreat from the athletico-academic complex.  Excelling in sport at the national level seems to have become part of the core identity of at least some of the conference's member institutions.  I'm not sure if it is legend or reality, but I heard in the mid-90s that the President of Williams aspired to win a national championship in every sport in which the college participated.  The Ephs' presence at or near the top of the Directors' Cup every year would appear to support that position.  With respect to non-NESCAC institutions, I heard recently that MIT has been attempting to enhance its (already strong) athletic profile as well, decreasing admissions criteria minimally (dipping to like maybe the 99.8th percentile) to greatly expand their pool of potential student athletes.

Ommadawn and PaulNewman are both correct:  An exceptional athletic profile not only enhances the desirability of NESCAC schools among the best student athletes, it also enhances the schools in various other ways:  increases application numbers, lowers acceptance rates, creates greater goodwill among alumni (which of course helps with fundraising), and adds to the overall prestige of the schools.  Even if certain faculty members resent perceived preferential treatment for athletes, they understand the benefits that the school derives therefrom and likely accept that the benefits outweigh any negatives.

[Mr.Right]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

This statement is very accurate. I do not agree with it as a lot of players and coaches do not agree with it but it is a fact. Athletics are getting a ton of pressure from faculty that has put the brakes on anything moving forward. It was even discussed 4-5 years ago of possibly pulling back from post season appearances by Nescac programs or only allowing the AQ to participate but no other participants in each sport. So Nescac is lucky just to be where they are at right now. Football was pushing for a 9th game or even post-season play that was shot down immediately. Ommadawn is correct that former Williams President Morty Shapiro who has since moved on to Northwestern was instrumental in keeping Nescac schools in post-season play.

[PaulNewman]

Just to clarify I think we have two different thoughts going regarding NESCAC.  I agree completely that it is unlikely that NESCAC will ease its parameters on the preseason, season, post-season, etc.  I don't expect any significant change in that regard despite my lament.  We can debate whether those restrictions really appease faculties versus how much they have to do with maintaining the unique standing and aura of the member schools as a whole.  The paradox I was suggesting is that, notwithstanding those parameters, athletics are a big deal at these schools, and I would argue a bigger deal than at many similar non-NESCAC institutions.  I've long been aware of Williams' usual top standing regarding the Learfield Cup or whatever it is called, and I've seen other schools very recently highlighting their strong ranking in that same regard.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Methinks that a change in NESCAC, if any, would be in the opposite direction.  The "professionalization" of sports at these tiny schools (complete with extended post-season play, and varsity athletes who are identified separately from the student body as a whole) is raising the hackles of faculty.  I can't see how much further they could go given the limitations already in place, and I can't imagine they'd return to prohibiting post-season play, but I could see a tightening of preferences given to athletes in admissions.

This statement is very accurate. I do not agree with it as a lot of players and coaches do not agree with it but it is a fact. Athletics are getting a ton of pressure from faculty that has put the brakes on anything moving forward. It was even discussed 4-5 years ago of possibly pulling back from post season appearances by Nescac programs or only allowing the AQ to participate but no other participants in each sport. So Nescac is lucky just to be where they are at right now. Football was pushing for a 9th game or even post-season play that was shot down immediately. Ommadawn is correct that former Williams President Morty Shapiro who has since moved on to Northwestern was instrumental in keeping Nescac schools in post-season play.

NESCAC football does have a ninth game beginning in Fall 2017 . . .  Also known as the "full round robin schedule," meaning each NESCAC team will  play each of the other NESCAC schools having a football program (Conn. College does not have a team).