He did allege an incident off the field - under the pretense of a 'rumor.'  That's just not cool.

(Also a rumor that Dibiaso left Dartmouth because of some sort of off the field incident or problem)

I just looked at DiBiaso's bio at Dartmouth ...and I am mistaken.  He did play at Exeter, but was injured/recovering from surgery during his FY at Dartmouth.  He may have just seen the writing on the wall, with regard to his unlikely playing time.  Who knows?

Kids come and go for a lot of reasons - financial, mental or physical health concerns, personal family situations, etc.  I don't think its productive or fair to suggest that this, or any student athlete's transfer was due to some kind of moral hazard or academic short-coming - even if true.  He's a kid, for cripe's sake.

Quote from: Jonny "Utes" Utah on September 16, 2015, 08:19:01 AM
Tufts made some "cuts" this past weekend, with some freshmen invited to stay with the team in a non playing capacity (lifting, film, etc), while others were not invited to stay with the team.  Several upperclassmen (Drew Burnett), are helping with the offensive coaches for game/practice prep and film work.  I heard the kid Marcus Edmonds from Central Catholic had a good camp.

(Also a rumor that Dibiaso left Dartmouth because of some sort of off the field incident or problem)

DiBiaso played HS football for his coach father, at powerhouse Everett HS in MA (where he set a state passing record), before doing a PG year at Exeter, and subsequently enrolling at Dartmouth.  I believe he was injured while at Exeter, so didn't play much, if  at all, that season.  His father played college ball at Tufts...so my guess is his transfer had more to do with that, than anything.

Oh, I'm definitely  a 'homer.'  But I have been pretty critical, actually... of the Team's performance in those two close losses.

When my son's team played Tufts and Hamilton... he played one quarter in one contest, and two quarters in another...so as to give younger kids some reps, and not run up the score.  He and many of his starting teammates saw similar time for those games.   It's all relative, Jack. 

You do a fine job, Panther(s).  Truly.  It's all in good fun, but I'm old and I have better things to do... like baking cookies.

I stand corrected on the Foote TD tally Vs. Trin.  My apology for the oversight.  Still.... imagine how his overall efficiency ratings would have dipped, had he not played deep into those last two lopsided games to the tune of 5 and 7 TD, respectively?

This whole thing about the season's accolades is so very subjective...and meaningless.  As Frank stated...  best not to venture an opinion and let this play out with the powers that be.

Amh63... I have spoken to Mr. Ragone cordially... but we don't know one another.  He may have eaten at my tailgate on occasion - but I don't know him...or the boys' mother.

Over.

To illustrate my myopic tag, Panther... in your blog you come up with very Midd-centric, 'insider' stuff like this: 
"Statistically, Leedy finished his freshman season with 7 pass breakups, trailing only Dones among defensive backs in that category. That number would have been considerably higher, but teams have thrown away from his side of the field over the second half of the season. Leedy also made 45 tackles on the season, more than just about every other corner in the league and made plays primarily as a run stopper rather than tackling receivers after the catch."  Do you think this phenomenon is unique to just Midd DB's, really?? 

It's ironic, because you defend your conference picks, by admitting you lack that same 'insider' perspective' for other teams:  "... Nescacparent, we don't doubt that scheme plays a large role in the numbers that certain positions and players produce. Often times dominant defensive lineman go underrepresented statistically because they are engaging blockers and taking on double teams in order to free lanes for linebackers/safeties to fill and make plays. Short of watching tape (which isn't readily available), however, those attributes are difficult to account for, other than what we hear from players, coaches and posters over the course of the year about those guys. Ultimately, we are confined in large part to what the stats show and what we see in the game-plus action we see everyone play. Our method is certainly far from perfect, though we try to use a combination of stats, visual breakdown and reputation to make our picks."



And regarding Foote as your Offensive POY:

Yes, Foote threw a lot more than anyone else in the league – but other QB's were scoring more points with their team, in different ways (Midd was  only 3rd overall, for total points scored this season, behind Trinity and Wesleyan).

You penned: "...Foote certainly wouldn't have gotten our vote at the midway point of the season, but what accomplished over the second half of the season surpasses any other four-game stretch of his career. After one of the finest performances of his career—irrespective of his statistical output—in the win over Trinity, Foote followed that with two of the most amazing statistical performances in NESCAC history, throwing for 732 yards, 12 touchdowns, 1 interception, while completing more than 73 percent of his passes over the final two games of the season. No single player meant more to his team week in and week out than Foote and as the season progressed his performance began to better exemplify that."

The last two games of the season were against the two WEAKEST defensive teams in the league.  Tufts and Hamilton gave up 10-11 more points per game, than the next closest bottom dweller in this category.  C'mon, man.  A bunch of my HS field hockey buddies and I could defend the pass better than that.  You're reaching, there.

Wesleyan's Warren had a season-long efficiency rate of 64.7%, ...Vs. Foote's 61.5%. 
Warren was intercepted 3x on 167 attempts (2%) ...and he put up a TD 9% of the time (15 TDs/167 attempts).  He averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. 

Foote was picked 12x on 421 attempts (3%) and he netted a TD only 6% of the time (26/421 attempts).  He also averaged fewer yards per attempt, at 6.6.

Because Midd and Wes didn't play one another, let's take a look at how these guys performed against the most stingy defensive foes they did have in common this season:

Vs. Trinity:
Foote was 29/64....45% pass efficiency with 2 picks & 2 TD's; Warren was 7/13.... 54% pass efficiency with 3 picks and 1 TD
*btw...only one Trinity defensive guy named to your 1st team. and one other on your second team??

Vs. Amherst:
Foote was 54/84...64% pass efficiency with 2 TD's and 5 picks; Warren was 14/17.....82% pass efficiency with 1 TD and 0 picks


I respect all that Mr. Foote has accomplished during his tenure at Midd.... he sure can huck the ball.  However, from an efficiency standpoint alone ...statistically; he was not the best QB in the league. I didn't even look at the Colby or Amherst QB's stats (apologies & respect to Ciero & Lippe).

My point is, even Wesleyan's Warren, who lead his team to a "Little Three title for the first time in 43? years (btw...how is this any less significant or important to HIS team?)...out-performed Foote from where I sit  ...if you squint just right , and look through wax paper  

Individual accolades are nice, but they are pretty meaningless in DIII football.  None of these guys (well, maybe a kicker or two) will go on to play at the next level.  NESCAC football is about young men being able to continue playing a game they love beyond high school, and gaining a leg-up in an extremely competitive admissions process. 

Then it's all about winning – the team effort toward dubbyas.  After that,  it's about tapping existing networks and forging new opportunities, based on one's ability to successfully balance demanding academics with pretty intense athletics.  These kids are going to attend grad school or begin a lucrative career as a direct result of the amazing network of alums a NESCAC education provides.  That's why we sent our kids to these schools. 

@Panthernation:  I applaud your enthusiasm and efforts...and you are pretty spot-on in a general sense (from my old lady perspective).  But like most of us here, your insight of Conference play is based largely on your (the home team's) perspective.  I don't think anyone would question your endorsement of just Midd players...but you really don't possess the insight of each coaching staff, about the value specific players add to the fabric of their team. 
   
myopic:  A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness. Also called short sight.

Carry on.

Quote from: Gr8ful1 on November 11, 2013, 08:45:19 PM
All-conference picks: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2013/11/11/2013-all-nescac-teams/

I'm curious to know how the D-backs positions are determined as the players do not appear to be specific to CB or safety? Unless you guys are REALLY on top of the rosters...which would come as no surprise to me Lots of very good insight here most of the time.

The Panthernation "we" has a fairly myopic view of such things, but as implied by "them"...  they fortunately don't get a vote in the matter.  "Their" ramblings do add value, however, in fostering some spirited dialog.

Quote from: Nescacparent on November 11, 2013, 11:28:07 AM
@Panthernation- Thanks for your picks and the thought and effort that goes into them. On the defensive side, it appears to me that certain defensive schemes result in higher defensive stats for linebackers rather the linemen and visa versa. Do you think this id true? Have you taken a look at a comparison of more successful teams/d-lines vs. less successful ones compared their schemes and stats. I have not done so thoroughly- it is just an obsevartion I have after watching 3 or so seasons of NESCAC football. Generally, it appears to me that for  teams utilizing 4 or five linemen the linemen stats are higher. In teams utilizing 3 (or even in some packages 2 ) linemen, the linebackers have the higher defensive stats.( I have not  factored in the team W/L record in my observations yet) What do you think?
If my theory has value (I am prepared to be proven wrong!),  then, in the NESCAC should defensive scheme as well as defensive statistics factor into your picks? Thanks for any input into this.

Very true - at least for Trinity, who plays a 3-4 front on D.  The job of the 3 downed linemen is to contain and to keep the oncoming FB and OL guys tied up so the LB's can swoop in and grab the tackles.

Some teams may have low numbers of overall tackles because they are effective at flushing the QB out of the pocket into a higher number of bad/incomplete throw situations....or because their DB's are so effective in pass coverage.

Other teams also pull starters (on offense and defense) after a quarter or two in lopsided contests, while other, less successful teams allow/need starters to maximize play time; thus running up stats.

IMO...you really should consider the overall effectiveness of candidates in their team's offensive/defensive results, as much as their individual, stagnant numbers.

Congratulations to Amherst, Wesleyan and Middlebury for earning a share the conference title ...and kudos to all the seniors whose football career as players, came to an end yesterday afternoon. 

Regarding the Trinity romping of Wesleyan - it was indeed, an "epic" beat down in our "walled off ghetto of a slum" yesterday.   The Bantam defense has been fierce all season long, but it was nice to see such dominant performance - essentially shutting down Wesleyan's running game to 99 yards (Ladarius WHO?)  ...and forcing the Wes QB to throw down field beyond his customary short yardage pass routes, into 3 interceptions - the first of the season for him.  It should have been 4 picks...but don't get me started on the pitiful officiating.

I was happy and relieved to see the offense kick into high gear with consistent play by the OL (nice addition/substitution of #78 to the lineup), some more diversified play calling from the OC ...and NO turnovers.  The play of special teams also added tremendously to the win.  It seems my football prayers after that second loss to Amherst, were heard!

It has been a pleasure to watch Evan Bunker's smash mouth run to the top, as the league's leading, all-time rusher.  A tip of the hat to him.

Many of the Nation's best universities are set in diverse, urban areas - Yale, Duke, Rice, UCLA, Vanderbilt...even Tufts is sprawled out into some scary neighborhoods.  My son chose Trinity over offers from his more bucolic NESCAC options, in part, BECAUSE of the diversity and urban vibe it would offer.  He also wanted to be part of a winning and proud tradition. 

Sure, some of the top LAC institutions within the conference have historically been more selective of its student athletes than others... but Trinity is making no more concessions with admissions, than are Wesleyan and Bates in the past several years.  The parity in the conference is growing, and I for one, welcome the heightened, more competitive level of play.

Just a Mom

The game changer in the Amherst Vs.Trinity game wasn't just the missed PAT.  The Bantams dominated the Lord Jeffs in time of possession, total offense, first downs...  but they lost the turnover battle ...coughing it with two picks and a fumble.  They also had 3 or 4 dropped catches, that should have been completions, IMO.  The laundry list goes on.... too many injuries, painfully predictable play calling, poor performance by the OL, missed tackles.  Bottom line - it was a poorly executed game.  Amherst deserved to win.

In the preceding loss to Midd... it was penalties, injuries and turnovers that did them in.  Poor officiating and having to play with the equivalent of a JV defense were really non-factors.  All they needed to seal a win late in the 4th quarter, was to convert a first down and hold onto the ball.  Ouch. 

The Bantams must find a way to execute, and put points on the board if they want to have a prayer of beating Wesleyan on Saturday.  It doesn't matter if it's the defense or special teams that generates the points ...but someone needs to make a clutch play or two.  This team is capable of upsetting the Cardinals, if each player focuses on executing his own assignment, rather than getting sucked into the drama of a potential loss at home.  They are a much better team than the last two contests suggest. 

Just a  Mom.

I agree with Lumbercat.  Bates' defense likely won't win the game for the Bobcats, but they will certainly narrow the exaggerated PF/PA spread Wesleyan has enjoyed after their first three contests.

Trinity started a FY QB, as well... and then went to Soph, Foye in the 2nd half... who had very limited reps from last season.  Bantams were also without Cde Baca on defense, which was a void. 

It was an ugly win for Trinity...but I'm glad they made the necessary adjustments and were able to pull it together for the dubbya.

Bate is a very good team - they have improved immensely in just the past few seasons.

Trinity still has just its "pre-season veteran" roster posted... no freshman are listed yet.

ISL teams are loaded with men who have repeated a grade or two along the way - either before getting to HS, and/or after transferring from their original HS.  Many of them are 19 or 20 by the time they graduate HS     I would hope those teams could out-hustle and out-muscle teams in the MIAA. 

The lion's share of stud ISL players "reclassify" after completing their Jr year at their local public or other HS...  they repeat a year, so they can get bigger and stronger for recruiting purposes, and work on beefing up their transcript.  It's the ISL's alternative to doing a PG year.

The Catholic schools in MA are starting to be peppered with older kids who have elected to repeat along the way, as well (8th grade, before heading to a new, private HS).