FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[quicksilver]

Don't think that the claim that 15 or so players were involved but many of them were involved in the sense of not cooperating with the investigation . .

[frank uible]

Investigating institutions tend to subordinate justice to preservation of the advantages of the institutions.

[lumbercat]

thanks for defining "involvement" quicksilver--at the end of the day this incident exploded to an unfortunate point where kids who were merely on the team may have been interrogated on what they did, or did not know. There were 50 interviews. Lying in those interviews or at any time in the investiagation is inexcuseable. However, if a kid was privvy to heresay in the locker room about what happened is he "involved"?  Did he cover things up?  At what point should a student be accused of lying or particpating in a cover up?
It's a slippery slope to judgement here. The incident that triggered this controversy was dispicable, immoral and wrong. I  hope that the fallout of this doesn't take down some innocent people in it's wake.
The liberal and open thinking that characterises the NESCAC philosophy works both ways....lets not follow the folks on Mayflower hill in their rush to judgement. 
At the end of the day lets hope that that the  fallout of this terrible incident has resulted in the punishment of only the guilty.

[quicksilver]

Colby has hired a new head coach. His name is Jonathan Michaeles, and he is a current assistant coach. Hope that Colby is able to get its fball program quickly back on track after this falls disastrous turn of events.

[moskowe]

Happy to say he will be playing for tufts next year should be quite a climate change

[amh63]

Amherst has just posted on its website plans for a funded effort to make over of Pratt Field....its 121 year old field.  The new field will be turf and will be lighted.  a new track will surround the field so that Amherst can host track meets.  The home stands will be moved to the North and sunny! side with the visitor stands will be moved to the South side.  A new broadcast building will be added as well as new restrooms under/behind both stands.  New concession area......as well as a new Field House will be built with medical facilities, etc.
It is expected to start in the Fall and be finished by the the Fall of 2013.

[mattvsmith]

Investigating institutions tend to subordinate justice to preservation of the advantages of the institutions.

Very well said. Is this original to you, Frank? I want to use it.

[frank uible]

Be my guest.

[lumbercat]

Lighted Fields at Bates, Colby.... and now Amherst!...........time for a NESCAC night Football game!!!!! what a nice compliment to a homecoming or Parents weekend festivities on a NESCAC campus! Great for the athletes and student body at all the NESCAC schools. A NESCAC night game would be really special.
Colby vs.Bates, home and home, in the next 2 years makes sense. Close proximity of the 2 schools makes it work. It should happen.
What a treat for those participating, also a plus for any visiting team to participate is such a great event at any NESCAC venue.
My money is on Bates to lead the way on this. Their new facility is the finest venue in the NESCAC to enjoy a Football a game, it's the only stadium in the NESCAC that does not not have a track bordering the field, thus when you watch a football game at Bates you are right on top of the action instead being set back behind the track. (Bates has a separate Track facility)
Lets see what happens here but count me in on the first NESCAC hight contest.

Any NESCAC football recruiting information out there? I've got some info:

Colby has signed a very impressive QB. Justin Ciero Horace Greely HS,NY 6'1" 209. This kid will start as a Freshman and will be dominant in the NESCAC- he will be better than 4 year starter Nick Kmetz who got in trouble with the recent scandal in Waterville, was thrown out of school and may be removed from the Colby record books. New Colby coach has his work cut out for him. For the last time I will say that Ed Mestieri got a bad deal in the unfortunate turn of events on Mayflower Hill. Ed was the best thing to happen to Colby football since Peter Gornewicz. Ed over acheived with the program since taking over the head coaching position. He did a great job and represented the Blue and Grey with class and dignity. Too bad he took the fall in that mess.

Bowdoin has signed a DT/NG that may also dominate the NESCAC. Ben WooChing, from Colorado- of Samoan decent. 6'0" 300-- 4.95 40 (unofficial timing) Recruiting information indicates that he was heavily pursued by Colorado State, Minnesota and Montana. Signed with Bowdoin as parents are teachers who value the academic benefits of Bowdoin. The Bowdoin D line averaged 210 lat year and got killed--Ben will change that. Remember "WOO-CHING"
Another Bowdoin recruit is Jordan Moskowitz OT 6'2" 288 Long Island NY. Also recruited by Rutgers, Johns Hopkins, Princeton,Trinity, Marist and Wesleyan. Dominant offensive lineman from one of the finest HS football programs in NY. Big and exceptionally quick off the ball. Bears may move him to the D line.

Bates has recruited well in the greater Boston area landing Mark Riley of Needham HS. All State, Boston Globe all scholastic. Also recruited by Fordham, Colgate, Yale and Princeton. Slotted as an inside receiver in the Bates spread offense. Great speed, excellent hands.

The Bobcats also continue to recruit successfully in the state of Maine. They signed Rudy Pandora a local kid from Lewiston-OT/DT 6'5" 280. He was recruited by UNH, Maine, UConn Bowdoin, St Anselms and Trinity. Lewiston OL coach Dick Leavitt, former D3 all american at Bowdoin who played in the NFL for the NY Giants, calls the Rudy the "best lineman he has coached". In addition to Football, Rudy will join the Bates Track program that just clinched another NESCAC championship. He will be another in their long legacy of great track weightmen.
Also in the Pinetree state not sure how the Bobcats lured Nick Margitza OL/DL (Waterville HS 6'1" 280) away from Mules territory. Nick excelled as a two way lineman and All State selection at Waterville HS and also was Maine state shotput champ. Another guy who will suit up for the Bobcats in the fall and also be a part of that great Bates Track tradition in Lewiston. His feats in the weightroom are said to be impressive and he brings an edge to the line of scrimmage.
These 2 Maine recruits are a feather in the cap of Bates Assistant Coach Skip Capone who is a long tim fixture on the Bates staff and a well respected Football guy throughout the state of Maine where he recruits for the Bobcats.
 

[PistachioX]

Good for Bates... I'd like to see them contend.

I read this article yesterday, about a FY running back for Amherst who might see some playing time, in the wake of Bunker's departure:

http://www.salemnews.com/sports/x1378304382/Pingrees-Adinkra-to-play-football-at-Amherst

[lumbercat]

Correction- I stated in a prior post that Bates was the only NESCAC Football venue without a track bordering the field. Bates is actually among the few without a track around the field, others are Wesleyan and Middlebury.
In these venues the fans are much closer to the action which makes for a great viewing experience.
The new Amherst facility will be truly spectacular and probably the best in the NESCAC based on the 12mil investment they are making but the facility includes the track which takes Football or Lacrosse viewers further away from the field.

[PistachioX]

No stories to share, but here are some other greater Boston NESCAC recruits whose highlight films and stats you can Google: 

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/high_school/index.php/2012/02/01/updated-national-letter-of-intent-list/

AMHERST: Sam Caldwell, DE, Groton; Thomas Kleyn, LB, Concord-Carlisle; Chris Mackey, OT, BB&N; Tyler Modras, LB, Wayland; Robert Perdoni, OL, Belmont Hill; Jaymie Spears, DB, St. Mark's


BATES: Mark Riley, TE, Needham


BOWDOIN: Adam Bakopulos, DB, BB&N; Dan Barone, QB, Holliston; Sam Hodgson, LB, St. Sebastian's; Patrick Kelly, OL, Roxbury Latin; Brendan Lawler, LB, Thayer; Parker Mundt, OT

COLBY: Glenn Parsons, QB, Westwood


HAMILTON: Glen Donovan, DB, Westwood


MIDDLEBURY: Kyle Ashley, DL, Lincoln-Sudbury; Danny Pierce, DB, Needham; James Wang, LB, Milton Academy; Connor Young, DB, Lincoln-Sudbury


TRINITY: Yosa Nosamiefan, WR, BC High; Alex Tepper, LB, Oliver Ames


TUFTS: Ricky Antonellis, DB, Lincoln-Sudbury: Junior Arroyo, DB, BB&N, Drew Burnett, QB, Needham; Matt Cahill, QB, Lincoln-Sudbury; Garrett Ewanouski, LB, Tufts; Patrick McDonough, OL, Roxbury Latin; Justin Roberts, OL, BC High; Sam Tawa, RB, Medfield


WESLEYAN: Greg Blaize, DE, Milton Academy; Shane Donovan, OL, Thayer Academy; Mike Henske, OL, BB&N


WILLIAMS: Gilbert Bryson-Bono, WR, Middlesex; Patrick McLaughin, DL, St. Sebastian's

[Jonny Utah]

No stories to share, but here are some other greater Boston NESCAC recruits whose highlight films and stats you can Google: 

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/high_school/index.php/2012/02/01/updated-national-letter-of-intent-list/

AMHERST: Sam Caldwell, DE, Groton; Thomas Kleyn, LB, Concord-Carlisle; Chris Mackey, OT, BB&N; Tyler Modras, LB, Wayland; Robert Perdoni, OL, Belmont Hill; Jaymie Spears, DB, St. Mark's


BATES: Mark Riley, TE, Needham


BOWDOIN: Adam Bakopulos, DB, BB&N; Dan Barone, QB, Holliston; Sam Hodgson, LB, St. Sebastian's; Patrick Kelly, OL, Roxbury Latin; Brendan Lawler, LB, Thayer; Parker Mundt, OT

COLBY: Glenn Parsons, QB, Westwood


HAMILTON: Glen Donovan, DB, Westwood


MIDDLEBURY: Kyle Ashley, DL, Lincoln-Sudbury; Danny Pierce, DB, Needham; James Wang, LB, Milton Academy; Connor Young, DB, Lincoln-Sudbury


TRINITY: Yosa Nosamiefan, WR, BC High; Alex Tepper, LB, Oliver Ames


TUFTS: Ricky Antonellis, DB, Lincoln-Sudbury: Junior Arroyo, DB, BB&N, Drew Burnett, QB, Needham; Matt Cahill, QB, Lincoln-Sudbury; Garrett Ewanouski, LB, Tufts; Patrick McDonough, OL, Roxbury Latin; Justin Roberts, OL, BC High; Sam Tawa, RB, Medfield


WESLEYAN: Greg Blaize, DE, Milton Academy; Shane Donovan, OL, Thayer Academy; Mike Henske, OL, BB&N


WILLIAMS: Gilbert Bryson-Bono, WR, Middlesex; Patrick McLaughin, DL, St. Sebastian's

Middlebery also has a running back from Needham, MA, Ian Riley.  If anyone remembers Jeff smith from Bowdoin, Riley reminds me a lot of him in high school.

[nescac1]

I've heard very little about Williams' recruiting.  The Ephs return most of their key players from last year's very green and very inconsistent offensive unit, including four OL who started for part or all of the year (one of whom was a frosh, and a fifth returning OL is also a rising sophomore who saw a lot of PT), their QB, all of their RB's (including last year's projected starter, Scyocurka, who missed all but two plays of the season with an injury), their TE, and their top WR.  They lose a few very good WR's, but do have a lot of young talent at that position (Payton, Kiesel, Beaton) who will need to step up to help out Hartwell.  I do think the Ephs will be improved on offense next year (particularly with more experience at QB and with Scyocurka's return), whether or not they get any impact frosh on the offensive side.  At the very least, they should be more consistent and have a less conservative game plan. 

On the other hand, I realllly hope the Ephs are bringing in some guys who can challenge right away on defense (or else have some impact players in the rising sophomore class).  Williams, whose defense frankly underachieved last season based on the experience and talent level of senior class, is absolutely decimated by graduation on that side of the ball, losing five defensive linemen (two of whom were two-time all-NESCAC guys), a three time all-NESCAC MLB, and most of their secondary, a two-time all NESCAC safety.   I imagine that it will be a pretty wide-open competition for playing time at most spots on the Williams defense next season, in particular at defensive line.  LB Chris Cameron is, I believe, the only returning player who has been a consistently successful starter, and he will surely have to be the centerpiece of the defense.  One young guy to keep an eye on is safety Tom Cabarle, who had a storied high school career and earned some PT as a frosh.  Rising junior DL Higginbotham could make an impact as well. 

Next year is the most wide-open year in NESCAC I can recall.  Amherst dominated last season, but they lose the top defensive and offensive players in the conference (Ferber and Bunker, although some would say Fallas on D, but both guys were nasty), both QB's who played last year, and most of their experienced receivers, plus some other key players in the secondary.  Trinity's offense should be improved but the Bants lose some great players from the defense, in particular Fallas (although they always reload there).  Midd has by far the best QB in NESCAC which counts for something. they will be able to score on anyone in NESCAC.  Wesleyan is on the rise and Ladarius Drew should be an even bigger force as a sophomore.  Williams will be hungry after a down year (by their standards) and has talent on offense as noted above.  Tufts and Colby are in transition with the coaching changes.  I'd be stunned if any team went 8-0 next year, although Trinity may have a chance since they are unbeatable at home and will host Amherst.

Back to Eph recruiting, one guy who sounds like he might be a strong recruit if healthy is WR Darrias Sime:

http://www.proctoracademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=204&bl=javascript:history.go(-1);&nid=619497&sdb=1

Another is lineman James Howe:

http://www.charlottecountryday.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=22314&ModuleID=60&NEWSPID=1

But again, I've read very little about any incoming recruits at Williams ...

[lewdogg11]

I feel bad for all of the kids from Private Schools' parents that they didn't get into Ivy league schools.  It's too bad.