FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

Stick around! We promise that a lot of dumb stuff will surely be forthcoming shortly.

[amh63]

The Amherst vs. Tufts preview is posted on the Amherst website...came out late Wednesday.  The audio section with the HFC is always interesting as it recaps the past game and the game to come...and reveals some tidbit of his coaching approach.
Did not realize that Tufts' QB is the 2nd rated passing QB in the conference.  Seemed that the turnovers by Tufts were the key to the loss to Williams....just as it was in the win last week by Amherst.  Silvia, Amherst's "top"  back is listed as a probable starter.  Nice to see.  However, I am concerned by the lost to date of two all-conf. defensive players.  CB Lewis and ILB Pieterse are still sitting it out.  Last week, the FY OB, Pieterse and soph QB Lippe shared the position and it appears that both will have that shared role in the Tufts game.....based on the audio.  Both QBs have special skill sets that are needed to get the offense going.  The kicking game/special teams play are improving.  Last week, the Amherst punter was booming his kick and  Amherst was winning the game of field position against Wes.
Hope this phase of the game continues.
It will be Family weekend at Amherst....so the crowd should help and the weather is expected to be nice.
I noticed that the BIG contest at Trinity starts a half-hour earlier than the rest of the conference games....12:30.  I know it is getting dark early these days and it should be light when the game finishes....even with a 1 PM start.  Any inputs on the early start? Just curious.....Banfan....Trinity 8-0...anyone.

[PistachioX]

The Midd players will have spent the preceding night in a nearby hotel... and will face a 4-hour trip back to VT after the game.  My guess is they want to get going sooner, rather than wait around to kickoff.  The Bantams had a similar 4-hour (overnight) trip to Brunswick last weekend, with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

[lumbercat]

Nescacparent-
Welcome aboard- which NECAC school is your son/daughter attending? If you don't mind saying.

[lumbercat]

I attended the Wiloiams game at Tufts last week---Williams went with Murphy at QB--- is Marske hurt or benched?

[Panthernation]

I'll kick it off with my picks early in the week......maybe others will follow-

Middlebury 28 Trinity 27- Could go either way but I'll take Foote. The underated thing about Foote is how he responds to pressure and blitzes. Pressure him and he'll screen/draw you to death or throw the quick out. Trinity great ground game will score as usual so I predict a very close one. Key may be Burgess- if he can throw effectively it will be a big plus for Trinity's already dominant ground game and may make the Bants unbeatable.

Middlebury will need Foote to be locked in from the start if they're going to end Trinity's 45 game home winning streak. Foote and his wide receivers have been out of sync early in games consistently this season. When Foote misses he has a tendency to overthrow his receivers, which resulted in two interceptions last weekend against Bates, though the first one was not entirely his fault.

The Middlebury offense hasn't scored points — let alone a touchdown — on the first drive of a game since Week 1 against Bowdoin when they were given a short field thanks to an interception.

Given how well Trinity runs the football and how dominant the Bantams are at home it will be imperative for Middlebury to score early. If Foote is out of rhythm to begin the game or the receivers drop balls it's going to be that much harder to beat Trinity. Obviously the offense has gotten on track, but if Trinity gets out to an early lead or can keep Middlebury within a score early, the Bantams will be able to run the ball as usual and set up the pass as a result. AJ Jones burned the Panthers defense last year, and while Doug Mandigo's unit is much improved this year, particularly limiting explosive plays from opposing team's offenses, if the defense has to devote most of its attention to stopping Bunker and Crick, Budness will be much more successful throwing the ball.

To me, the key is the start for Middlebury's offense. Will Foote come out of the gate and complete passes? Can Middlebury score on its first drive and build an early lead like in the win over Amherst. If the Panthers can force Trinity out of its game plan away from the run and make the Bantams offense one dimensional and force Budness to go downfield they will be successful. If not, Middlebury will have to go toe-to-toe with Trinity at home, something no team has successfully done since 2001. Can they win the game that way? Yes, but it makes things much more difficult. In a game of contrasting offensive styles it's crucial that Middlebury imposes its own style of play early and forces the Bantams away from theirs.

[PistachioX]

It will be a fun battle to watch, but my money is on Haynes, Brown and Campbell making it very difficult for Foote and his receiving corps to establish any real rythym.  These guys are the primary reason Trinity has the #1 passing defense in the conference.

[iamhuge]

I plan to catch a Tufts game before the season is over.  I've heard the tailgating area is very limited compared to the other venues around the league.  Anyone tailgated there before and have any advice??

Actually the Tufts tailgates are very festive and fun.  I'll be there for the Colby game.  Come say hello.

[lewdogg11]

I heard the Tufts tailgates are HUUUUUGE!

[gridiron]

Nice to hear the Tufts tailgates are huge.  Not surprised given the number of alum from Tufts and whatever opponent comes to town.  Just having a difficult envisioning how it works with what sounds like limited space for tents, etc.  The other schools have sections where ten to 20 tents from a given school can be set up in close proximity to one another.

[gridiron]

Re Middlebury/Trinity, the Trinity defense will need to get to Foote to win the game.  Too much time and he will pick any defense apart--the Midd O line is imposing in stature.

[Jonny Utah]

Nice to hear the Tufts tailgates are huge.  Not surprised given the number of alum from Tufts and whatever opponent comes to town.  Just having a difficult envisioning how it works with what sounds like limited space for tents, etc.  The other schools have sections where ten to 20 tents from a given school can be set up in close proximity to one another.

Go to Bob's in Medford for some of the best food in the Boston area.  Steak Tips, subs, Italian food, etc and they will give you the meat uncooked if you want it.

My favorite is the pork tip sub with Ah-So sauce.  Fantastic.

[gridiron]

Thanks for the food tip.  Will check Bob's out...

[lumbercat]

I second the motion on Bob's in Medford---the best and close to campus.

[iamhuge]

Nice to hear the Tufts tailgates are huge.  Not surprised given the number of alum from Tufts and whatever opponent comes to town.  Just having a difficult envisioning how it works with what sounds like limited space for tents, etc.  The other schools have sections where ten to 20 tents from a given school can be set up in close proximity to one another.

Go to Bob's in Medford for some of the best food in the Boston area.  Steak Tips, subs, Italian food, etc and they will give you the meat uncooked if you want it.

My favorite is the pork tip sub with Ah-So sauce.  Fantastic.

Most of the parents (myself included) have Bob's food delivered to the tailgate.  Whatever we don't eat, the players take to the fraternity after the game.  It works out great.