We realize this is the D3 NESCAC football board, however, we need to toot the horn of our alma matter...

For those of you not following along, AD Mike Whalen has filled two key coaching vacancies (baseball and men's tennis) with D1 coaches:

Matt Reynolds (Baseball HC at UMass): https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/news/2025/8/21/wesleyan-university-names-matt-reynolds-as-head-baseball-coach.aspx

Roland Thornqvist (Men's Tennis HC at University of Florida-4x National Champion): https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/news/2025/8/25/mens-tennis-wesleyan-university-names-roland-thornqvist-head-mens-tennis-coach.aspx

Congratulations to Whales on these incredible hires. #rollcards

NM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on August 25, 2025, 07:37:49 PM

Quote from: lumbercat on August 25, 2025, 06:27:26 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on August 25, 2025, 05:16:34 PMBy NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Thanks Pat. Interesting. Does that rule apply only in D3?

Division III schools voted to eliminate the non-medical redshirt a little over 20 years ago, yes.

Yes, if someone (anyone, whether they are one of these taxi squad-type members or not) got hurt in the first third of the season and DNP'd after that, they could get a medical redshirt season.

Hi Pat! We believe that is correct, however, D3 student-athletes can and do apply for waivers to the medical red-shirt rule (and from what we understand, these waivers have been granted in the past).

As an aside, not sure the loss of a year of eligibility in the NESCAC matters much to these student-athletes anyway. If you are the 105th student-athlete on a Hartford State roster with 84 active players (and probably a freshman), what are the chances you would see the field anyway? Probably somewhere between zero and none. You get to be a part of the team and experience being a student-athlete at an elite academic D3 college football program. You have three more years to make your mark on the field. In our mind, it could work.

NM

Important vote today by the NESCAC "cabal" aka, the NESCAC College President's, on football roster limits for 2025.

As a reminder, the NESCAC football roster limit was previously changed to 84 for 2025 (from unlimited as a result of the pandemic). There is a debate about whether to keep it at that number or allow some upper flexibility for those schools with higher roster numbers. One potential idea being floated is to have a hard roster of 84 student-athletes eligible to compete in games in 2025 but allow schools to practice with more than 84. Those "practice squad" players not on the 84 man roster would not be eligible to play in games in 2025 but could otherwise practice with the team. If the student-athlete makes the team in 2026, they would be eligible to play in games then.

Will be interesting to see how this turns out...

NM 

Quote from: RamapoRUFan on August 21, 2025, 09:06:47 PMI have posted 2025 Team Previews for Amherst, Trinity and Middlebury at https://nescacfootballreport.com/team-overviews/

Ramapo HS (Raiders) or Ramapo College (Roadrunners)...that is the question....

Quote from: Trin9-0 on August 21, 2025, 09:20:44 AM

Quote from: Nescacman on August 20, 2025, 11:40:53 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on August 20, 2025, 11:03:01 AMUpdated list of Williams 2026 commits, including other offers they announced via social media:

Ryan Murray - 6'4 225 Edge, Fairfield Prep (Middlebury and Hamilton)
Walker Moore - 6'5 230 TE/DE, Bronxville (Middlebury and Amherst)
Jack Fabiano - 5'11 190 RB/LB, Masconomet
Flynn Collins - 6'4 315 OL/DL, Jesuit H.S. (Air Force and Middlebury)
Finn Ryan - 6'1 195 DB, St. Paul's (Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, Colby and Bowdoin)
Evan Sood - 6'1 230 LB, Williston
Jack Kripke - 6'3 230 DE, Brentwood School
William Machnik - 5'10 180 CB/WR, Deerfield
Danny Montesano - 6'4 240 TE/LB, Saint Joseph (Middlebury)
Benjamin Quinn - 6'3 250 DE/OL, Randolph H.S. (Trinity and Hamilton)
Michael Ballan, 5'10 WR/CB, Ramapo H.S. (Bates)

Amherst has also had a good number of announced recruits, including recently a particularly interesting commitment from Ben Curtis, a LB/RB from Loomis who had four low D1 offers.  Both Williams and, in particular, Amherst have fallen off their historical highs in recent years but both seem to be bringing some good talent in. 

Nice list but where are all the QBs??? Tough to win without one as discussed...

Ask and you shall receive Nescacman! This Williams commitment was just announced yesterday:
Joe Capasso, 5'11", 185 QB, Notre Dame, West Haven, CT

Although it's possible he's been recruited for defense or as an "athlete".

I've seen him play and he's good but not sure he's a difference-maker at quarterback in the NESCAC. Film available here.

Thanks Hs7-2...film is not bad but he's definitely under-sized. If he's listed at 5'11", he's 5'9" at most. He won't see over even a "height-challenged" NESCAC OL. Not sure this is the answer the Purple Cow faithful are looking for, right N1???

Quote from: Brady12 on August 20, 2025, 03:33:07 PMLooking like Willams is working the family tree rout.  The Montesano's are big boy.


William Machnik - 5'10 180 CB/WR, Deerfield

Danny Montesano - 6'4 240 TE/LB, Saint Joseph (Middlebury)

Hopefully, Bobby Maimaron doesn't have a brother.

Quote from: nescac1 on August 20, 2025, 11:03:01 AMUpdated list of Williams 2026 commits, including other offers they announced via social media:

Ryan Murray - 6'4 225 Edge, Fairfield Prep (Middlebury and Hamilton)
Walker Moore - 6'5 230 TE/DE, Bronxville (Middlebury and Amherst)
Jack Fabiano - 5'11 190 RB/LB, Masconomet
Flynn Collins - 6'4 315 OL/DL, Jesuit H.S. (Air Force and Middlebury)
Finn Ryan - 6'1 195 DB, St. Paul's (Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, Colby and Bowdoin)
Evan Sood - 6'1 230 LB, Williston
Jack Kripke - 6'3 230 DE, Brentwood School
William Machnik - 5'10 180 CB/WR, Deerfield
Danny Montesano - 6'4 240 TE/LB, Saint Joseph (Middlebury)
Benjamin Quinn - 6'3 250 DE/OL, Randolph H.S. (Trinity and Hamilton)
Michael Ballan, 5'10 WR/CB, Ramapo H.S. (Bates)

Amherst has also had a good number of announced recruits, including recently a particularly interesting commitment from Ben Curtis, a LB/RB from Loomis who had four low D1 offers.  Both Williams and, in particular, Amherst have fallen off their historical highs in recent years but both seem to be bringing some good talent in. 

Nice list but where are all the QBs??? Tough to win without one as discussed...

Quote from: Nescacman on August 18, 2025, 07:12:39 PMInteresting news out of Pats camp...

https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-sign-former-delaware-phil-lutz

Would be nice to see Lutz make the team, especially so close to home (another Joisey Boy)...

Yes Lumber, as we noted yesterday...

Quote from: Trin9-0 on August 19, 2025, 10:37:02 PM

Quote from: Charlie on August 19, 2025, 07:35:33 PMExactly games have been close at half and Trinity ends up pulling away. In the past years Trinity has had the talent and wins second half battle. All I am saying could be a trap game. I still think Trinity will win but in this particular year of uncertainty who knows

I feel like we're beating a dead horse here, Charlie. Think of it this way; against Trinity, in the Cosgrove era, Colby's first half point differential is -11. While in just the second half of those games Colby's point differential is -17.

Do you really believe that those six extra second half points is a huge difference?
It seems pretty clear to me that Trinity has been winning both the first half battle and the second half battle fairly convincingly.


Lumber congrats to Bates (and Tufts) on 150. Here's when the rest of the NESCAC first began playing football:

Bates	1875
Tufts	1875
Trinity	1877
Amherst	1878
Wesleyan	1881
Williams	1881
Middlebury	1885
Bowdoin	1889
Hamilton	1890
Colby	1892

HS7-2, hope you are doing well, our friend.

Some might say that some of the programs on this list have never actually started played football.

Quote from: lumbercat on August 19, 2025, 07:33:20 PMAs Nescacman (who has ties with the Bates program) has stated the opener against Amherst will be a huge game for the Bates Garnet. The game against the Mammoths at Garcelon Field will be a big event in Lewiston 9/12 and 9/13.

This is the 150th year of Bates Football and they are going all out with festivities to celebrate this milestone and the long history of Bates Football.  Believe only Tufts has played football this long among NESCAC teams.  The inaugural game  was Bates-Tufts on Garcelon field in 1875.

A great weekend on the slate.

A big reception on Friday night with Bobcat Alums and supporters will celebrate 150 years of Football. They will begin  the 150th year against the Mammoths on Sept 13 on the same field as the first game in 1875.

On Saturday there will also be a ceremony to dedicate the new video scoreboard at Garcelon.

Credit Coach Coyne and his staff and the Bates Athletics team for this event. This seems to confirm the commitment of the new Bates administration and President to Athletics and Football.

A lot of excitement at Bates and with it comes pressure. Insiders say Coynes Cats are ready to take the next step.

Congratulations on 150 years of football. Interestingly, UBates played exactly one game in 1875 and did not play again until 1889, playing only one game again. UBates first "real" season (when they played a full season) was 1893 when they were 5-2, 18 years later.

We think this is a big year for the Kitties who have high expectations. This program has had exactly one winning season since 1981 (when they went 5-3 in 2012). Not to let the "Kittie out of the bag" but we think they get that elusive winning season this year. More to follow on that in the weeks ahead but we are (very) bullish on the Lynskey Express...

NM

Quote from: Trin9-0 on August 19, 2025, 04:10:11 PM

Quote from: Charlie on August 19, 2025, 03:31:07 PMIf you look at my post I stated that Colby always played hard in the first halfand had good defensive game plan. I did say ultimately Trinity's talent prevailed in the end.This toughness coupled with the fact playing away and a young Trinity group could be a trap game.

Under Cosgrove Colby has trailed Trinity by an average of 11 points at halftime.

Interestingly, the last four match-ups played in Waterville have been even more lopsided in Trinity's favor:

2023 - Trinity wins 48-7
2021 - Trinity wins 35-12
2018 - Trinity wins 35-0
2015 - Trinity wins 34-0

For the record, Hartford State has beaten The Mules every time they have played since 1995 stretching 17 games.

We are setting the spread right now...Hartford State giving 35. Chuck, we'll give you 9...

Quote from: Charlie on August 18, 2025, 08:59:02 PMI will take Trinity by 9 points but going to be close I think

Very bold of you...love your confidence in the Mules Chuck.

To those student-athletes and coaches reporting to pre-season camp today (including the #rollcards), we want to wish them the best of luck on this coming season! Let the games begin...

Quote from: Charlie on August 18, 2025, 05:11:41 PMWeek one interesting match up will be Trinity at Colby. Colby has always played Trinity Strong and HC Cosgrove has kept all the games very close in the first half. I know the scores do not show this but just an obvious perspective. Colby as well as Middlebury has had the bend but dont break defense. They play cover 2 and sometimes cover 3 and make Trinity move the ball up the field and take away the deep threat. Trinity eventually gets impatient and pushes the deep ball ,  turns the ball over or settles for field goals. Eventually Trinity's talent laiden teams in the past secure the win. However with this year being the year of tranisition at many positions specifically QB ths could be trap game.

Trinity the last three years does not take what the defense gives them and trys to dictate the game. Howvever without the star studded WR corp of the past could be an intersting twist. The fear I would think is that there are no scrimmages or preseason games , traveling away team chemistry questions could this be a trap game for Trinity. if so would turn this years standings upside down.

Hey Charlie, we'll take Hartford State and the points....how many you giving us???

Interesting news out of Pats camp...

https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-sign-former-delaware-phil-lutz

Would be nice to see Lutz make the team, especially so close to home (another Joisey Boy)...