FB: Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference

[ECoastFootball]

Pete Kowalski Named Westfield State Football Head Coach http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2013/contrib/201405161vijad

Westfield State names Coach Kowalski Steve Marino's successor. From everything I have heard, this is not just some bull move where the assistant gets moved up just because. Everything I have heard about Kowalski has been that he is a top notch DC who should transition seamlessly into being the new HC.

[D3MAFAN]

MASCAC is going to be very different this year. Some of the top teams have lost some big stars. Interesting how this year is going to shape up. Also, there are some interesting OOC games this year. Less than a month a way for some of these young men.

[D3MAFAN]

Coaches poll is out for the MASCAC, looks as if majority of the coaches everyone has Framingham State as the favorite again. I'm interested to see how they perform without those major contributors from a very good team last year.

http://www.mascac.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/Preseason_Poll_14

[dlippiel]

Dlip is looking forward to heading the Western Conn (Danbury) this Saturday for the scrimmage vs Union. Anyone have any lunch recommendations out there?

[D3MAFAN]

Dlip is looking forward to heading the Western Conn (Danbury) this Saturday for the scrimmage vs Union. Anyone have any lunch recommendations out there?

Dlip, here is a list from the school website of places to eat...http://www.wcsu.edu/parents/restaurants.asp

[ITH radio]

MASCAC coaches poll came out today. Framingham, WesConn and Bridgewater went 1, 2, 3

[dlippiel]

Dlip is looking forward to heading the Western Conn (Danbury) this Saturday for the scrimmage vs Union. Anyone have any lunch recommendations out there?

Dlip, here is a list from the school website of places to eat...http://www.wcsu.edu/parents/restaurants.asp

Thank you very much! +k

[dlippiel]

MASCAC coaches poll came out today. Framingham, WesConn and Bridgewater went 1, 2, 3

It will be interesting to see what West Conn does without McCoy. That kid was a beast of a runner. He ran right over Union in last years scrimmage! He was/is VERY powerful.

West Conn was all kinds of pumped up for last years scrimmage. Dlip felt they caught the Dutchmen underestimating them and came out like gangbusters. Dlip hopes the Dutchmen come ready to play on Saturday. Dlip thinks the scrimmage can be an important test for Union's focus and give us all an idea if they are ready to take a step forward this season. Dlip hopes for a good scrimmage with no injuries on either side.

[D3MAFAN]

I was wondering if Framingham State at 105, may be ranked a tad bit low. Even though they loss a good back in that of Melikke Van Alstyne, but they return a good amount of their team that performed admirably. Nothing against Morrisville State, but at 49.

[Boxer7806]

I was wondering if Framingham State at 105, may be ranked a tad bit low. Even though they loss a good back in that of Melikke Van Alstyne, but they return a good amount of their team that performed admirably. Nothing against Morrisville State, but at 49.

Looked at their roster and it looks like they loaded up on some good transfers. I'm pretty sure the Grant kid started off at Iowa on scholarship. The running back Offley (spelling might be off) was a very good high school player at Brockton High as well, guessing that is who they are going to replace Van Alstyne with. The WR positions looks well stocked and with Silva back at QB and it looks like 3 starters back on the line, my guess is they air it out more. One more interesting thing looking at the roster was the number of players from Springfield, MA on it, and just Western, MA in general. Seems instead of going into CT they are just moving west and keeping those kids in-state instead of having them go south to CT.

[dlippiel]

Nice job at the scrimmage yesterday West Conn. Dlip was impressed with your Sr QB, as well as your overall intensity throughout. Dlip feels you will be in contention in the MASCAC. Well done and Dlip wishes West Conn all the best!

Also Dlip thought the facility was beautiful! Great place to watch a FB game!

[D3MAFAN]

I was wondering if Framingham State at 105, may be ranked a tad bit low. Even though they loss a good back in that of Melikke Van Alstyne, but they return a good amount of their team that performed admirably. Nothing against Morrisville State, but at 49.

Looked at their roster and it looks like they loaded up on some good transfers. I'm pretty sure the Grant kid started off at Iowa on scholarship. The running back Offley (spelling might be off) was a very good high school player at Brockton High as well, guessing that is who they are going to replace Van Alstyne with. The WR positions looks well stocked and with Silva back at QB and it looks like 3 starters back on the line, my guess is they air it out more. One more interesting thing looking at the roster was the number of players from Springfield, MA on it, and just Western, MA in general. Seems instead of going into CT they are just moving west and keeping those kids in-state instead of having them go south to CT.

I think it is always important to keep kids in state, regardless of the team or Division. You have much more backing when kids are either local or from nearby areas. The fanbase tends to relate to them.

[ECoastFootball]

Seems instead of going into CT they are just moving west and keeping those kids in-state instead of having them go south to CT.

I think they may be making an effort to get Mass kids rather than CT kids, but they are not "keeping kids from going south to CT." Where would they go, there is only really West Conn. I strongly doubt Framingham would recruit head to head against any of the other guys in CT (Trinity, Wesleyan, USCGA). What they're doing by going west is stealing kids from Worcester, Westfield and WNEC.

[ECoastFootball]

Here is my preseason poll for the 2014-2015 MASCAC.
The poll will appear as such:
My Rank (D3 Kickoff Rank/MASCAC Coach's Poll Rank) TEAM

1. (2/1) Framingham State Rams
2. (1/2) Western Connecticut State Colonials
3. (5/3) Bridgewater State Bears
4. (6/5) Westfield State Owls
5. (3/4) Fitchburg State Falcons
6. (4/8) UMass Dartmouth Corsairs
7. (9/6) Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers
8. (7/7) Worcester State Lancers
9. (9/8) Plymouth State Panthers

My predictions for this weekend's games will be out either tomorrow or Friday.

[ECoastFootball]

Week 1 Predictions for the MASCAC

Friday September 5th

Nichols College - 14
@ WESTFIELD STATE - 34
Westfield definitely overlooked the Bison last year. With a new Head Coach to impress and last year's embarrassment on their minds, this one could get ugly.

UMASS DARTMOUTH – 24
@ Mt Ida – 21
Just as the last three years have produced tight games, this one will be a one score affair. It's hard for me to imagine someone winning a third year in a row with two so evenly matched squads.

SALVE REGINA – 30
@ Bridgewater State – 14
Salve's Defense is not what you want to see when you are breaking in a new QB. Look for their D to overwhelm and their rushing attack to pound the Bears. I think this is the year Salve captures that elusive NEFC crown.

Anna Maria – 14
@ WORCESTER STATE – 35
With Sr. Kevin Bumpus healthy, look for the Lancers to have an easy time with the AMCATS. I don't expect much out of Woo State in the MASCAC this year, but I don't expect much out of Anna Maria ever.

FITCHBURG STATE – 38
@ Becker – 14
I could basically copy and paste what I wrote for the WeSU-Nichols game here, except change "impress new coach" to "kick-off a championship chase." I don't think Fitch is MASCAC Title good, but their coaches and kids definitely do.

Saturday September 6th
Endicott – 14
@ FRAMINGHAM STATE – 24
Everyone will be watching this one closely to see what the Ram offense looks like sans Malikke. I think the Rams will be just fine. They may look to air it out more with Silva and their talented wides, but they'll still have a solid back in Jalen Green. He may not have Malikke's vision or quickness, but he will add a new dimension of speed to the backfield.

PLYMOUTH STATE – 21
@ Castleton – 14
Plymouth played a little better towards the end of the season and I expect that to carry over to the opener. I don't think they have the talent to win a second MASCAC game this year, but they should be able to handle Castleton if the Spartans truly shift to a run first team. If Castleton surprises and comes to air it out, however, they can expose Plymouth's secondary and steal this game.

Hartwick – 14
@ WESTERN CONNECTICUT – 35
Look for Loth's bunch to continue where they left off in 2013. They lose their Big 10 (Iowa) transfer at tailback, but they will just plug in their ACC (Virginia) transfer. Must be nice.