NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

The fact that Dezotell was Middlebury's all-time leading goalscorer and a member of the national-caliber Nordic ski team is really impressive. As a former Nordie myself I am amazed at how much commitment college Nordic takes, so to balance two completely different sports as successfully as he did is barely comprehensible. Seems like a great appointment, and the quotes from the others (including his former coach) in the press release say a lot.

It must be said that Dezotell did a fantastic job at Ithaca and deserves his chance at keeping the Tufts soccer program at the top of D3. He did a ton of winning at Norwich, granted in a weak league, but at a school that is very hard to build a program. Which is why I thought(and maybe he thought) he would be next in line for the Midd job. He is after all a legendary Middlebury player under Saward. However, Midd had other plans and
went with Elias and passed on Dezotell. It is as simple as that. There has to be a least some friction leftover(always is..in anything in life) hopefully that will keep the Midd / Tufts game the battle it has become every year now.

[Mr.Right]

With the transfer of Jules Oberg from Williams to Yale (just announced on Twitter), it appears that the Ephs have an opening on the back line.

Yes this is a massive disappointment for any Williams fan. Oberg and Gass were Williams two best players and they are both gone. Williams is going to have to dig deep because they lose other key veterans and will need to turn IMO into a more grinding team(which IMO is what Sullivan wants) that will force their opponents to work for every piece of the field they are trying to gain. They will not have the most talent but still have enough to make it real difficult on any team especially on Cole.

Oberg will get his Yale diploma and you cannot fault the kid on the transfer. You could ask questions of why not just going to Yale from the get go. I am sure there are other factors playing into this decision but still a heart breaker for Sullivan.

[Striker22]

Just saw announcement from Bowdoin re: Fall Athletics.  Please see below.  You have to feel bad for the young men and women affected but I understand the safety concerns.  What do people think the likelihood will be of this rippling through all NESCAC teams?

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Important Announcement Regarding Fall 2020 Semester
Posted: Jun 22, 2020 
BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin College has released plans for the 2020 fall semester in an announcement from President Clayton Rose that can be found below.

Fall 2020 Announcement
Due to limits on campus attendance, sports in fall semester have been canceled with "opportunity for the winter, spring, and possibly fall varsity athletes to participate and compete in some form after January 1."

The full section on Athletics is here:
Unfortunately, we will not be participating in fall and winter varsity sports during the fall semester. This is one of the very disappointing outcomes of our plan. Athletics is a central part of the Bowdoin experience for many of our students and for the College more generally. NESCAC has not yet determined what will happen with conference play or how coaches in this extraordinary semester may interact with athletes on fall, winter, and spring teams during the fall semester, but I am hopeful that there will be significant opportunities this fall for coaches to work with those athletes who are both on and off campus. Varsity athletes living on campus are likely to have in-person workout opportunities with coaches, but unfortunately, students living off campus will not be permitted to participate in on-campus workouts. Last week, NESCAC released the following statement regarding the fall semester:

NESCAC institutions continue to focus on plans for the 2020–2021 academic year with the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and their communities the primary concern. As institutions finalize their plans for the coming year, federal, state, and local health guidance, as well as institutional policies, will guide their independent decisions regarding reopening. 

Athletics engagement is an important part of the experience for many of our students, and member institutions remain committed to this experience. However, this will not be a traditional fall on campus in any respect, including for athletics. The conference continues to develop plans for the return to athletics, including possible modifications to NESCAC rules to allow institutions flexibility to provide for meaningful experiences for students within school policies and federal, state, and local health directives. We expect to have more details in the weeks ahead and will share information as it becomes available.

As I have already noted, I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity for the winter, spring, and possibly fall varsity athletes to participate and compete in some form after January 1.

[blooter442]

Just saw announcement from Bowdoin re: Fall Athletics.  Please see below.  You have to feel bad for the young men and women affected but I understand the safety concerns.  What do people think the likelihood will be of this rippling through all NESCAC teams?

Portland Press Herald article: https://www.pressherald.com/2020/06/22/bowdoin-cancels-fall-varsity-athletics-all-sports-on-hold-until-at-least-jan-1/

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - from what I am told from many conversations today: the entire NESCAC group is not exactly on board with the Bowdoin decision at this time. There are some others who very well may follow Bowdoin down this road in the coming days (I was told two might announce today, but so far nothing). However, I am told there are others who are not of this mindset and do want to have fall sports and winter sports in action as close to normal as possible (this being a wide-open concept at this time).

I think you will find the NESCAC not speaking as one on this topic and what is best for their institutions unlike what we saw this spring and in the past.

[d4_Pace]

Tufts just put out a message that all students will be returning to campus Sept 8th as normal. Club and intramural sports have been cancelled for the fall but varsity sports are still pending further guidance from the NESCAC and the NCAA.

[Bucket]

Williams has announced that varsity sports will not compete in the fall.

[4231CenterBack]

Entire NESCAC cancels Fall sports.  Announcement coming soon.....

[College Soccer Observer]

Announcement from Bates

Varsity Athletics
While a decision has not been made regarding the fall varsity season by our conference, the New England Small College Athletic Conference, public health restrictions may make it impossible to offer intercollegiate athletic competition in fall 2020.

Under the circumstances, our goal is to do all we can to support the team ideal and the positive, welcoming, and competitive culture of varsity sports at Bates.

What we know we can do as of today
Varsity teams can hold in-person gatherings, respecting campus guidelines.
Student-athletes may meet with coaches.
Student-athletes may engage in strength and conditioning workouts and other in-person activities to hone physical skills and abilities.
Teams may practice in groups if it remains possible to respect campus guidelines in place at the time.
To support and expand such opportunities, NESCAC recently revised its own regulations in order to give varsity teams more opportunities to be together outside their traditional season.

Varsity teams will be able to schedule athletic facilities for out-of-season activities, allowing us to control the number of people using a facility at one time and comply with state, local, and institutional facilities-use restrictions.
Varsity coaches will be allowed to supervise out-of-season activities in their sports.  Student-athlete activity will be limited to that which is overseen by coaches and certified athletic trainers.
Winter sports will be allowed to start practices Oct. 15, rather than Nov. 1.
In order to account for changing academic calendars, winter sports would be allowed to start competition on Friday, Nov. 13, rather than Nov. 20, as Bates and other conference schools will transition to remote learning after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26). The change will increase competition opportunities before Thanksgiving, should the winter varsity season go forward.
What we might be able to do
We may be able to sponsor limited competition in selected sports where safety protocols allow.  Individual return-to-play protocols around each varsity sport will need to be followed in order to move from team gatherings to practices and then to competitions.
We may be able to allow a fall sport to be played in the spring. In the event a NESCAC fall team is unable to compete this fall, the conference could allow those to compete in the spring, should Bates choose to do so. This would require an NCAA waiver as well.
The Department of Athletics will update student-athletes as more information becomes available.

[PaulNewman]

Unfortunate timing, but I wanted to congratulate Colby folks and fans on the grand opening of their new athletics center which no doubt has toppled Kenyon (and whoever else would be in the running) for #1 D3 athletics complex in the country.  My son came within a hair of going to Colby, and while Kenyon ended up being absolutely the right place for him athletically and academically, I have maintained an interest in and affection for Colby.  IMO Colby always has been an extremely attractive, well-respected school (and perhaps my favorite among NESCACs), but over the last decade Colby has invested heavily under strong and innovative leadership to rocket into the rarefied air of the top 12-15 LACs.  Scroll down the page of the link below and you can see pics of the new facility.

https://gocolbymules.com/landing/index

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Unfortunate timing, but I wanted to congratulate Colby folks and fans on the grand opening of their new athletics center which no doubt has toppled Kenyon (and whoever else would be in the running) for #1 D3 athletics complex in the country.  My son came within a hair of going to Colby, and while Kenyon ended up being absolutely the right place for him athletically and academically, I have maintained an interest in and affection for Colby.  IMO Colby always has been an extremely attractive, well-respected school (and perhaps my favorite among NESCACs), but over the last decade Colby has invested heavily under strong and innovative leadership to rocket into the rarefied air of the top 12-15 LACs.  Scroll down the page of the link below and you can see pics of the new facility.

https://gocolbymules.com/landing/index

Thanks for the kind words PN.  Colby's current leadership has absolutely been transformative, from dramatically more competitive admissions rates to continued remarkable improvements (like the new Athletics Center) in the physical plant.  For the Class of 2024, there were nearly 14,000 applicants and approximately 9% were admitted.  In the 2020 US News Liberal Arts College rankings, Colby sits at #11, just behind Bowdoin and Middlebury (with Williams and Amherst #1 and 2, respectively).  Today Colby posted its plan to return to campus for the Fall:  https://www.colby.edu/president/2020/06/30/official-notice-the-plan-for-returning-to-campus/.  Fall sports programs have not been finally defined, but clearly they will look much different.

[Mr.Right]

I would guess Conn College is ONE Nescac that could play this Fall..Without having to satisfy Football needs and concerns they could play Soccer and Field Hockey without any major issues. Then you would as a school have to ask yourself to we want to take on the risks and for what gains? Athletes want to play and personally if I cannot play I want to know now so I can at least have the option of taking a gap year.

[Mr.Right]

IMO It is looking more and more that until there is a vaccine or complete confidence in "herd immunity" that Nescac athletics will be suspended until further notice. This will easily take us into 2021 with recruiting classes starting to pile up. So many unknowns except ONE. If you are a Nescac Coach in any Sport you basically have nothing to do. Put your feet up on the desk kitten...job well done..in reality you better get ready to learn about household chores you had no idea existed.

[Ejay]

Not entirely true. While the NESCAC president's have agreed to prohibit all in-person recruiting, authorized communications include email, phone, electronic, written and social media. So if I'm a NESCAC coach, I'm begging recruits to send full game videos - sure as heck beats the household chores.

[Another Mom]

The NESCAC coaches are definitely busy recruiting!!

Some are on their A game, with lots of Zoom seminars and panels etc. Others are fairly quiet. One coach did tell my son that he's submitted many fewer prereads than normal due to COVID.