Mr.Rights Thoughts

[Corazon]

As for next year's NESCAC predictions, I do think Williams will still be in the mix as despite their under achievement this year, they are still talented. Keys to me are how they will gel under their new coach/Sullivan and whether or not Rashid can recover to near pre-injury levels.

[Corazon]

Of course, talent injection from the freshmen class will also go a long ways. To me it is the most difficult part in projecting the rosters for next year as NESCAC does not do press releases of incoming recruits like many of the other conferences and D1. I kind of wish they would, but doubt it will ever happen due to preserving the NESCAC academic emphasis, so we're left with rumors and conjecture in projecting recruiting classes.

I'm pretty close to the Northeastern USSDA circuit due to connections as well as personal experiences. I haven't heard of too many commitments to NESCACs yet, but will do some digging. FWIW, I've heard Tufts is recruiting well. Sounds based on your previous post that Williams also has a solid class coming in.

[Corazon]

I'm hoping, Mr. Right, that your pipeline into Williams and NESCAC inside Intel will not dry up with the coaching change. You are controversial but very interesting. 

[nescac1]

Fair enough, Mr. Right.  I don't know how you can know those sort of details about Midd recruits.  Either one of them would have really helped Williams, too bad.  I know Young was highly regarded so hopefully he breaks out as a sophomore.  He, Mountenot, and Rashid will need to be the main men in terms of generating offense for the Ephs next year, and hopefully Tolomeo steps up to give them another finisher up front. 

To no one's surprise, Erin Sullivan was just officially named head coach of the Ephs.  A no-brainer, really. 

[Saint of Old]

A Program cannot beat having a National Champion Player/Captain return as Coach.
That gives you instant love and respect from the players.
The strength of the era in which Sullivan played also says a lot.
Great teams, and Williams definitely qualifies, understand that Tradition and Talent are equal ingredients in success.
Williams' new coach embodies and will carry on both!

[Brother Flounder]

A Program cannot beat having a National Champion Player/Captain return as Coach.
That gives you instant love and respect from the players.
The strength of the era in which Sullivan played also says a lot.
Great teams, and Williams definitely qualifies, understand that Tradition and Talent are equal ingredients in success.
Williams' new coach embodies and will carry on both!

Well said Saint!

[Mr.Right]

Russo absolutely built the tremendous Williams legacy, he is the greatest coach in any sport in Williams history, in my view, and certainly the greatest soccer coach in NESCAC history.   But that doesn't mean that a dose of fresh energy at THIS point is necessarily entirely a bad thing ... recruiting has only gotten more and more competitive and more and more national over time, and it seems like in recent years Amherst (in particular) and Tufts have brought the most talent overall in, and Middlebury has also had a big infusion of talent the past two years.  For years Russo brought an all-American or two in every year, like clockwork.  I'm just saying that hasn't really been the case over the past few recruiting classes.  Would you contend otherwise?  Part of that, of course, is probably due to uncertainty -- if you were a recruit and knew that Russo was leaving and didn't know who your coach would be for 2-3 of your 4 years at Williams, wouldn't you hesitate if you have other great offers? 

As for resources, at least in football, there is a reason that Williams has bled coaching talent and part of that is financial.  Look at the assistant coaches Wesleyan has hired, for example, let alone the head coach.  I know less about soccer, but some other prominent coaches also made surprisingly little in light of their level of success.  For a school with the most resources overall in NESCAC, Williams spends surprisingly little on its athletic budget, among the lower on a per-athlete basis in the conference.  Coaches at Williams (especially assistants, who make almost nothing) are not getting rich, believe me, and constantly have to make due with less than some peer schools.  Same deal for the athletics facilties at Williams, which outside of the spectacular new football / track facility, are in need of a SERIOUS upgrade.

Mr. Right, I believe Rashid has had knee injuries the last 2 years.  How is his health?  Is he fully recovered?  A healthy Rashid should really help Williams.....

Rashid did his ACL this fall and had ankle issues his Sophomore year. His Frosh year he had shin splints. He should be fine come next year. It is a long rehab however

[Mr.Right]

I'm hoping, Mr. Right, that your pipeline into Williams and NESCAC inside Intel will not dry up with the coaching change. You are controversial but very interesting.

Not at all as I still have all my connections either way. I try not to be controversial but sometimes its inevitable.

[Mr.Right]

Anyone have the inside scoop to where Brandt is transferring to?

[Mr.Right]

December 2014 Nescac Predictions for Fall of 2015.....These will change by the Spring / Summer when we get an idea of commitments. I will base this on who is coming back.


1. Tufts- They still have a lot of players coming back. If Kramer decides to come back than they will finish #1. They lose Hoppenot, Santos and Williams. Majumder can begin to replace Hoppenot if he keeps improving. Williams and Santos are not going to be replaced right away. Is it possible Conor Coleman from CA replaces Williams. He has the size  but he is very SLOW and needs to work on his skill.

2. Amherst- They lose Gabe Wirz in the middle of their D and Bubba VanWie who started from time to time and had a very long throw. Amherst has a knack of replacing CB's rather quickly so I think they will do this rather smoothly. I am hoping for an impact frosh class as the past couple years have not had the same impact of 3-5 years ago. Another year of improvement under their belt will only help the likes of Martin and NPL.

3. Williams- They lose a huge senior class but one that really disappointed last season. Madding and Murralles did not play well all year. Seitz and Condor were up and down. Pierce and Burbank-Crump were to quiet to be captains. Grady was superb and they will miss his goals. I think this "cleaning house" of these seniors will help Sullivan get acclimated and let him find his own way. Alcorn is improving in net and Danilack is as silky smooth as they come out of the back. This team lacked toughness all year and with superstar Rashid coming back I am expecting big things.

4. Bowdoin- This team really came on at the end of the year last year starting with Van Siclen in net. They lose Sam White, Henshall and Goita. Goita will be missed especially with his service / shots on free kicks. I was really down on this team in the middle of the year but they surprised me and came on late. These seniors can and will be replaced and they have a physical and technical midfielder coming in. Jake Stenquist will be arriving next year and Wiercinski seems to be on the right track with this program.

5. Middlebury- Midd returns most of its players and what they lose they can replace. Robinson, Skayne and Harper Williams are all replaceable. They have size and they can score goals but I am still left wondering if they have enough talent all over the field to contend. They must stop relying on Conrad and Glazer for everything and others need to start contributing.

6. Conn College- They lose O'Brien, Punt, Flippin and Garabedian. 4 good athletes. Conn can only improve next year if they stay injury free and please please find a GK.

7. Wesleyan- They lose 8 key seniors and might flip Trinity and Wesleyan in the Spring. This is going to be a very young team and will have some growing pains. They awill always be very organized defensively because of Wheeler but they are going to struggle scoring goals even against some of the weaker teams. They lose Bratt, Bravo,McConnell,Issiroff,Lynch,Rice,Tanaka and Hertgen. Rice and Tanaka did not play as much this year but after seeing their backup GK when McConnell had to sit against Midd they need some help in net.

8. Trinity
9. Colby
10.Hamilton
11.Bates

[Brother Flounder]

December 2014 Nescac Predictions for Fall of 2015.....These will change by the Spring / Summer when we get an idea of commitments. I will base this on who is coming back.


1. Tufts- They still have a lot of players coming back. If Kramer decides to come back than they will finish #1. They lose Hoppenot, Santos and Williams. Majumder can begin to replace Hoppenot if he keeps improving. Williams and Santos are not going to be replaced right away. Is it possible Conor Coleman from CA replaces Williams. He has the size  but he is very SLOW and needs to work on his skill.

2. Amherst- They lose Gabe Wirz in the middle of their D and Bubba VanWie who started from time to time and had a very long throw. Amherst has a knack of replacing CB's rather quickly so I think they will do this rather smoothly. I am hoping for an impact frosh class as the past couple years have not had the same impact of 3-5 years ago. Another year of improvement under their belt will only help the likes of Martin and NPL.

3. Williams- They lose a huge senior class but one that really disappointed last season. Madding and Murralles did not play well all year. Seitz and Condor were up and down. Pierce and Burbank-Crump were to quiet to be captains. Grady was superb and they will miss his goals. I think this "cleaning house" of these seniors will help Sullivan get acclimated and let him find his own way. Alcorn is improving in net and Danilack is as silky smooth as they come out of the back. This team lacked toughness all year and with superstar Rashid coming back I am expecting big things.

4. Bowdoin- This team really came on at the end of the year last year starting with Van Siclen in net. They lose Sam White, Henshall and Goita. Goita will be missed especially with his service / shots on free kicks. I was really down on this team in the middle of the year but they surprised me and came on late. These seniors can and will be replaced and they have a physical and technical midfielder coming in. Jake Stenquist will be arriving next year and Wiercinski seems to be on the right track with this program.

5. Middlebury- Midd returns most of its players and what they lose they can replace. Robinson, Skayne and Harper Williams are all replaceable. They have size and they can score goals but I am still left wondering if they have enough talent all over the field to contend. They must stop relying on Conrad and Glazer for everything and others need to start contributing.

6. Conn College- They lose O'Brien, Punt, Flippin and Garabedian. 4 good athletes. Conn can only improve next year if they stay injury free and please please find a GK.

7. Wesleyan- They lose 8 key seniors and might flip Trinity and Wesleyan in the Spring. This is going to be a very young team and will have some growing pains. They awill always be very organized defensively because of Wheeler but they are going to struggle scoring goals even against some of the weaker teams. They lose Bratt, Bravo,McConnell,Issiroff,Lynch,Rice,Tanaka and Hertgen. Rice and Tanaka did not play as much this year but after seeing their backup GK when McConnell had to sit against Midd they need some help in net.

8. Trinity
9. Colby
10.Hamilton
11.Bates

I like the analysis but would probably move Middlebury ahead of Bowdoin.  Someone mentioned in a post that Kramer from Tufts was not coming back.  I asked for confirmation from Tufts people but nothing has been posted....

[Mr.Right]

Middlebury is still stuck with the same situation. If you shut down Conrad and Glazer and you can sneak a goal thru Sydor you can beat Midd. They need some creative players in midfield as they have enough size. If they can get 2 skilled CM then they can contend with anyone. Right now the game gets stuck in midfield a lot of times when you play them

[D3soccerwatcher]

Big news....interesting timing

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2014/11/24/MSOC_1124140757.aspx     

This is an excellent hire for this program. Former player, D3 head coaching experience and a similar type school, D1 assistant, young and experience in recruiting this type of player. I am befuddled by the timing but I assume the head coach gave his ok and I would be willing to bet he is out there now or at the very least will be in KC. I remember talking to the Gordon AD a while back and praising this kid for turning this once dormant program into something worth talking about before the next guy built it even more.

Mr.Right,

The facts seem to contradict your comments...

GORDON COLLEGE SOCCER:
5 Years Prior to DeClute:  59-29-10 (60%)
5 Years of DeClute:  46-36-13 (48%)
3 Years since DeClute:  39-20-3 (63%)

However, it is intriguing that he was recently a volunteer assistant under Coach D. Brandt at Navy (that has to be an excellent training ground for young coaches).  And I would think that Coach Brandt only brings in quality people for his staff.

[Brother Flounder]

Middlebury is still stuck with the same situation. If you shut down Conrad and Glazer and you can sneak a goal thru Sydor you can beat Midd. They need some creative players in midfield as they have enough size. If they can get 2 skilled CM then they can contend with anyone. Right now the game gets stuck in midfield a lot of times when you play them

Mr. Right, what, if anything do you know about Middlebury's recruits?  Any top middies?

[Mr.Right]

Big news....interesting timing

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2014/11/24/MSOC_1124140757.aspx     

This is an excellent hire for this program. Former player, D3 head coaching experience and a similar type school, D1 assistant, young and experience in recruiting this type of player. I am befuddled by the timing but I assume the head coach gave his ok and I would be willing to bet he is out there now or at the very least will be in KC. I remember talking to the Gordon AD a while back and praising this kid for turning this once dormant program into something worth talking about before the next guy built it even more.

Mr.Right,

The facts seem to contradict your comments...

GORDON COLLEGE SOCCER:
5 Years Prior to DeClute:  59-29-10 (60%)
5 Years of DeClute:  46-36-13 (48%)
3 Years since DeClute:  39-20-3 (63%)

However, it is intriguing that he was recently a volunteer assistant under Coach D. Brandt at Navy (that has to be an excellent training ground for young coaches).  And I would think that Coach Brandt only brings in quality people for his staff.

Facts never contradict my comments...You really need to dig deeper and see the SOS for Gordon before DeClute. WP% will not tell the whole story. Also, I wonder if the team manager on Navy's bench would be a great Head coach. Just being next to Brandt on the sidelines would rub off on him. Maybe even the scorekeeper and timekeeper