NESCAC

[EnmoreCat]

I don't think there is any less respect for a non-conference match up, but, all teams are set up on the basis that defeating a conference rival is the perpetual, "six pointer" ((which also may make a great surname) and carries more importance.  I would also think, that depending on the game, some coaches may not want to show their entire hand to an opposition, with a view to the post-season.  None of that downgrades at all, the particular results referenced.  The fact they are bring mentioned does perhaps remind they don't tend to happen all that often.

[PaulNewman]

I don't think there is any less respect for a non-conference match up, but, all teams are set up on the basis that defeating a conference rival is the perpetual, "six pointer" ((which also may make a great surname) and carries more importance.  I would also think, that depending on the game, some coaches may not want to show their entire hand to an opposition, with a view to the post-season.  None of that downgrades at all, the particular results referenced.  The fact they are bring mentioned does perhaps remind they don't tend to happen all that often.

In full disclosure, the top half of the NESCAC probably wouldn't incur a lot more losses, but if 3 or 4 out of their 6 or so non-conference games were a murderer's row like some other teams face (like a Chicago, JCU, North Park, Calvin, OWU, etc) then they certainly would drop a few more than they do now.

Btw, have you made any headway yet with the NCAA in terms of your proposal for NESCAC being its own division?  On an amusing note, our little back and forth has resulted in me no doubt having more Amherst t-shirts than you....I'm at 4 currently!

[camosfan]

I watched Babson beat Tufts 2019, the last time Tufts won national championship, Conn struggled against non-conference opponents the year they won. Too much should not be taken from these games.

[EnmoreCat]

I don't think there is any less respect for a non-conference match up, but, all teams are set up on the basis that defeating a conference rival is the perpetual, "six pointer" ((which also may make a great surname) and carries more importance.  I would also think, that depending on the game, some coaches may not want to show their entire hand to an opposition, with a view to the post-season.  None of that downgrades at all, the particular results referenced.  The fact they are bring mentioned does perhaps remind they don't tend to happen all that often.

In full disclosure, the top half of the NESCAC probably wouldn't incur a lot more losses than they do now, but if 3 or 4 out of their 6 or so non-conference games were a murderer's row like some other teams face (like a Chicago, JCU, North Park, Calvin, OWU, etc) then they certainly would drop a few more than they do now.

Btw, have you made any headway yet with the NCAA in terms of your proposal for NESCAC being its own division?  On an amusing note, our little back and forth has resulted in me no doubt having more Amherst t-shirts than you....I'm at 4 currently!

The NCAA doesn't appear to be treating it seriously PN, but there was an Australian media mogul, Kerry Packer, who in the 1970s, did something similar with world cricket, essentially professionalizing the game.  I suspect the NCAA has maybe been more caught up with conference re-alignment, but rest assured, should the right media-savy benefactor come along, this idea has definite wings.

As for the Amherst merch, as recently as three weeks ago, you yet again, would have been right, but things have changed in the interim, along with the two caps, I now possess three tops, plus Ms EnmoreCat has three items and one of the Enmore siblings also has two tops (not sure if she will be a regular wearer, she is Sciences Po and Sydney University alumni) so there is a real Mammoth haze in Sydney's inner west.

And Amherst will play Montclair State soon and I would expect that will give a good idea on relativities given how strong a programme operates there.

[PaulNewman]

I watched Babson beat Tufts 2019, the last time Tufts won national championship, Conn struggled against non-conference opponents the year they won. Too much should not be taken from these games.

When somebody makes too much of the games please let us know.  I haven't seen anyone suggest that Babson nipping Amherst or Bowdoin drawing has even the slightest impact on their overall prospects.  You highlighted Amherst at Conn midweek...what weight should we give it either way?

[coach analytics]

I don't think there is any less respect for a non-conference match up, but, all teams are set up on the basis that defeating a conference rival is the perpetual, "six pointer" ((which also may make a great surname) and carries more importance.  I would also think, that depending on the game, some coaches may not want to show their entire hand to an opposition, with a view to the post-season.  None of that downgrades at all, the particular results referenced.  The fact they are bring mentioned does perhaps remind they don't tend to happen all that often.

In full disclosure, the top half of the NESCAC probably wouldn't incur a lot more losses, but if 3 or 4 out of their 6 or so non-conference games were a murderer's row like some other teams face (like a Chicago, JCU, North Park, Calvin, OWU, etc) then they certainly would drop a few more than they do now.

Btw, have you made any headway yet with the NCAA in terms of your proposal for NESCAC being its own division?  On an amusing note, our little back and forth has resulted in me no doubt having more Amherst t-shirts than you....I'm at 4 currently!

There is no doubt that if the NESCAC played that kind of schedule they would lose a couple more.  However, most of the team routinely play the strongest NonNescac teams in the region...MTClair St, Babson, Emerson, Oneonta, Vassar WestConn, NYU

..They only have 5 non conference games since they have 10 conf games.  I wrote an article last year on this topic because it does, in fact,  limit flexibility since they are the larges conference.  UAA has far fewer confenence games.

In addition each NESCAC team is almost guaranteed 6+ games against regional teams.  Others across the country are at a disadvantage here.  Even the conference games against the lower regarded teams can be a battle (see Conn Trinity this year). 

In a 15 game schedule, you need a couple of cupcakes. Even with a couple of cupcakes, their SOS tends to be very very high come end of season.

[northman]

There is no question that the NESCAC has a number of structural advantages that other schools simply don't have.  They are geographically compact, generally have large endowments, and can attract top D3 caliber student athletes from across the country and internationally.  It would be more surprising if they struggled on the pitch. 

I admire other programs for succeeding at the highest level without the same advantages.  U Chicago is a world class university, but doesn't provide much deference to athletic recruits.  My younger son was a recruit back in the Wiercinski days, so I have some insight.  Plus, they compete in the geographically far flung UAA.

I would guess that one of the only programs that has a unique set of built in advantages is Messiah.  When my younger son's Bowdoin team went to the Final Four in San Antonio way back in 2010, both the Messiah men's and women's team's were in the Final Four that year.  Pretty impressive!

[GenerallyInterested]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

[PaulNewman]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

LOL.  I don't think anyone strongly contested that he may have given up a couple of soft goals....the "chirping" was about drawing some sweeping conclusion about that big picture.  And, btw, you don't get NGKOY without some reality that can't be erased.

[GenerallyInterested]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

LOL.  I don't think anyone strongly contested that he may have given up a couple of soft goals....the "chirping" was about drawing some sweeping conclusion about that big picture.  And, btw, you don't get NGKOY without some reality that can't be erased.

Im learning that PN seems to carry himself as the truth, the light and the way of this message board.  Is there a ring that we are supposed to kiss to not have you sweep in with your arrogant, I know best,  patronizing responses?  And btw - last year was last year. and btw, the "entity" that granted that honor was a now defunct volunteer website.  Kid has talent - but lets keep it all in perspective PN. 

[Maine Soccer Fan]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

LOL.  I don't think anyone strongly contested that he may have given up a couple of soft goals....the "chirping" was about drawing some sweeping conclusion about that big picture.  And, btw, you don't get NGKOY without some reality that can't be erased.

Im learning that PN seems to carry himself as the truth, the light and the way of this message board.  Is there a ring that we are supposed to kiss to not have you sweep in with your arrogant, I know best,  patronizing responses?  And btw - last year was last year. and btw, the "entity" that granted that honor was a now defunct volunteer website.  Kid has talent - but lets keep it all in perspective PN.

You've caught on to this dynamic very quickly GI.

[PaulNewman]

I don't think there is any less respect for a non-conference match up, but, all teams are set up on the basis that defeating a conference rival is the perpetual, "six pointer" ((which also may make a great surname) and carries more importance.  I would also think, that depending on the game, some coaches may not want to show their entire hand to an opposition, with a view to the post-season.  None of that downgrades at all, the particular results referenced.  The fact they are bring mentioned does perhaps remind they don't tend to happen all that often.

In full disclosure, the top half of the NESCAC probably wouldn't incur a lot more losses, but if 3 or 4 out of their 6 or so non-conference games were a murderer's row like some other teams face (like a Chicago, JCU, North Park, Calvin, OWU, etc) then they certainly would drop a few more than they do now.

Btw, have you made any headway yet with the NCAA in terms of your proposal for NESCAC being its own division?  On an amusing note, our little back and forth has resulted in me no doubt having more Amherst t-shirts than you....I'm at 4 currently!

There is no doubt that if the NESCAC played that kind of schedule they would lose a couple more.  However, most of the team routinely play the strongest NonNescac teams in the region...MTClair St, Babson, Emerson, Oneonta, Vassar WestConn, NYU

..They only have 5 non conference games since they have 10 conf games.  I wrote an article last year on this topic because it does, in fact,  limit flexibility since they are the larges conference.  UAA has far fewer confenence games.

In addition each NESCAC team is almost guaranteed 6+ games against regional teams.  Others across the country are at a disadvantage here.  Even the conference games against the lower regarded teams can be a battle (see Conn Trinity this year). 

In a 15 game schedule, you need a couple of cupcakes. Even with a couple of cupcakes, their SOS tends to be very very high come end of season.

Fair enough.  Very familiar with the argument and the unavoidability of the conference's very unique situation.  What can wear thin is the need to continue highlighting how singularly exceptional the conference and the schools that compose it are, and then in a pretty circular and self-affirming fashion cite the uniqueness as the explanation for its insularity...an insularity that reflects the exclusivity that is projected and zealously protected.  The one concession, which often is used to highlight back on NESCAC and its schools, are the nods here and there to those "NESCAC-worthy" schools out in the wild (like Swat, Haverford, Carleton, Pomona, Grinnell, W&L, etc).

[GenerallyInterested]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

LOL.  I don't think anyone strongly contested that he may have given up a couple of soft goals....the "chirping" was about drawing some sweeping conclusion about that big picture.  And, btw, you don't get NGKOY without some reality that can't be erased.

Im learning that PN seems to carry himself as the truth, the light and the way of this message board.  Is there a ring that we are supposed to kiss to not have you sweep in with your arrogant, I know best,  patronizing responses?  And btw - last year was last year. and btw, the "entity" that granted that honor was a now defunct volunteer website.  Kid has talent - but lets keep it all in perspective PN.

You've caught on to this dynamic very quickly GI.

I am betting that PN is the predominate reason that this board has limited at best active posters.  Not sure who named him the ruler of this site - but emperor is missing his clothes for sure.....

[PaulNewman]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.

Agree - terrible goals to Give up.  Out of position on both - and while we will hear folks chirp about him being named GK of the year - not even that erases the reality of giving up to bad goals.

LOL.  I don't think anyone strongly contested that he may have given up a couple of soft goals....the "chirping" was about drawing some sweeping conclusion about that big picture.  And, btw, you don't get NGKOY without some reality that can't be erased.

Im learning that PN seems to carry himself as the truth, the light and the way of this message board.  Is there a ring that we are supposed to kiss to not have you sweep in with your arrogant, I know best,  patronizing responses?  And btw - last year was last year. and btw, the "entity" that granted that honor was a now defunct volunteer website.  Kid has talent - but lets keep it all in perspective PN.

So, would you sack him if you were the Williams coach?  What exactly got taken out of perspective?

[Maine Soccer Fan]

PN - what does the phrase "tone deaf" mean to you?