FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[DagarmanSpartan]

Question.  Has there ever been any discussion about allowing NESCAC schools to join the Division III playoffs?

I can see no good reason why they do not.

Do NESCAC schools compete for national championships in other DIII sports?  I'm assuming that the answer to that question is yes, and if it is, then why should football be any different?

Doesn't make sense to me.

[NBC93]

Question.  Has there ever been any discussion about allowing NESCAC schools to join the Division III playoffs?

I can see no good reason why they do not.

Do NESCAC schools compete for national championships in other DIII sports?  I'm assuming that the answer to that question is yes, and if it is, then why should football be any different?

Doesn't make sense to me.
Honestly, now that every other sport competes for national championships, I cannot see any reason for holding the football programs back. Academically, ither sports teams seem to handle the playoffs and finals coinciding quite well. And as far as NESCAC remaining competitive outside of the conference, I'm not sure what the problem would be. Achievement in other sports are not diminished because of the stringent NESCAC admission requirements. Just look at the Director's Cup standings. Its littered with CAC schools in the top 25 and Williams topped the overall list. I'm sure the top football teams in the league would have a good showing if they were allowed to compete. It's only fair. However, my son chose to play football at a NESCAC school for the education on and off the field, not necessarily for a chance at hardware. When I talk with him about playoffs he isn't that bent put of shape over it.

[nescac1]

The answer is yes, there has been extensive discussion on this board, and elsewhere.

Regardless of the merits, no one believes that any such change is likely to occur in the foreseeable future. 

[JEFFFAN]

NESCAC football teams in playoffs are not likely to happen in our lifetime!

[lumbercat]

The 9th game was a very unexpected concession by NESACAC Presidents which the NESCAC Football community masterfully framed as a reduction of head trauma and overall risk. Not sure how they will ever extend the schedule beyond this.

[lumbercat]

And by the way, if anyone was an observer at the watered down NESCAC scrimmages in recent years it was very apparent that contact and hitting was actively managed and significantly curtailed. In no way was hitting and overall head injury risk more prevalent at any of those "controlled practices' than an actual football game with 4 quarters of football and special teams exposures.
I was very surprised that NESCAC Presidents bought that proposal and would like to know who made the "sales presentation' to the NESCAC prexys......
he or she has a brilliant future as a trial attorney or in the sales endeavor of their choice.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Question.  Has there ever been any discussion about allowing NESCAC schools to join the Division III playoffs?

I can see no good reason why they do not.

Do NESCAC schools compete for national championships in other DIII sports?  I'm assuming that the answer to that question is yes, and if it is, then why should football be any different?

Doesn't make sense to me.
Honestly, now that every other sport competes for national championships, I cannot see any reason for holding the football programs back. Academically, ither sports teams seem to handle the playoffs and finals coinciding quite well. And as far as NESCAC remaining competitive outside of the conference, I'm not sure what the problem would be. Achievement in other sports are not diminished because of the stringent NESCAC admission requirements. Just look at the Director's Cup standings. Its littered with CAC schools in the top 25 and Williams topped the overall list. I'm sure the top football teams in the league would have a good showing if they were allowed to compete. It's only fair. However, my son chose to play football at a NESCAC school for the education on and off the field, not necessarily for a chance at hardware. When I talk with him about playoffs he isn't that bent put of shape over it.

Well, consider this.

Several members of the University Athletic Association (UAA), a conference whose members are every bit as selective in their admissions as NESCAC schools, have had football teams advance to the DIII playoffs.

Can't see why academics would hold any NESCAC school back.

[polbear73]

Question.  Has there ever been any discussion about allowing NESCAC schools to join the Division III playoffs?

I can see no good reason why they do not.

Do NESCAC schools compete for national championships in other DIII sports?  I'm assuming that the answer to that question is yes, and if it is, then why should football be any different?

Doesn't make sense to me.
Honestly, now that every other sport competes for national championships, I cannot see any reason for holding the football programs back. Academically, ither sports teams seem to handle the playoffs and finals coinciding quite well. And as far as NESCAC remaining competitive outside of the conference, I'm not sure what the problem would be. Achievement in other sports are not diminished because of the stringent NESCAC admission requirements. Just look at the Director's Cup standings. Its littered with CAC schools in the top 25 and Williams topped the overall list. I'm sure the top football teams in the league would have a good showing if they were allowed to compete. It's only fair. However, my son chose to play football at a NESCAC school for the education on and off the field, not necessarily for a chance at hardware. When I talk with him about playoffs he isn't that bent put of shape over it.

Well, consider this.

Several members of the University Athletic Association (UAA), a conference whose members are every bit as selective in their admissions as NESCAC schools, have had football teams advance to the DIII playoffs.

Can't see why academics would hold any NESCAC school back.

Everyone on this Board may agree with you but you're beating the deadest of horses.  The fact is that NESCAC is more restrictive than the Ivy League who play 10 games and allow out of conference play.  It's a fact that we've all learned to live with and, as JEFFFAN says, not in our lifetime.  To be competitive, NESCAC would have to change too many things: roster size, practice time. etc. 

[gridiron]

While I don't believe either would actually happen, the best one could hope for would be to follow the exact Ivy League model - a 10th game out of league.

[Hawk196]

it's funny, my older son is going to be a senior at an Ivy school and this is the 1st time they are traveling any distance, they are playing a school in Va. What is funny is he traveled out of state for games (3 per year) in High school.....

[amh63]

Had a response to DagarmanSpartan's question, but finally did not post it.  Others posted fine comments, etc.  A conference that has a football field that is the oldest field still being used...Wesleyan Un....and one of the oldest football rivalries...Williams vs. Amherst...does a NCAA Title in football matter?   
A ten game schedule will come about when Conn College adds a football team or a new member joins the conference. 
To make a comparison to the Ivy League on the matter is not a good one, IMO.  One of the great advantages of the Nescac presently is that student athletes can play more than one varsity sports.
I posted in the past that there was a terrific athlete that transferred to Amherst from Harvard.  She went on to play three sports well at Amherst.  An Amherst alum/friend's daughter played basketball at Princeton.  When she arrived on campus she was handed a basketball and told to hold on to it even when attending class.  In short...Ivy schools tend to prefer you to play One sport.

[NBC93]

Had a response to DagarmanSpartan's question, but finally did not post it.  Others posted fine comments, etc.  A conference that has a football field that is the oldest field still being used...Wesleyan Un....and one of the oldest football rivalries...Williams vs. Amherst...does a NCAA Title in football matter?   
A ten game schedule will come about when Conn College adds a football team or a new member joins the conference. 
To make a comparison to the Ivy League on the matter is not a good one, IMO.  One of the great advantages of the Nescac presently is that student athletes can play more than one varsity sports.
I posted in the past that there was a terrific athlete that transferred to Amherst from Harvard.  She went on to play three sports well at Amherst.  An Amherst alum/friend's daughter played basketball at Princeton.  When she arrived on campus she was handed a basketball and told to hold on to it even when attending class.  In short...Ivy schools tend to prefer you to play One sport.

Great points. I neglected to mention that my son chose NESCAC football, in part, because the programs do not demand an entire year of almost constant dedication. Even in the off-season. As it is, he is committed extensively in-season, works out on his own in the off-season and is free to enjoy other pursuits. I have a feeling that playoff opportunities would change the expected time commitment.

[NBC93]

Quick question for NESCAC fans: which players lost to graduation will be toughest to replace for every team?

As far as Amherst is concerned, I know Hickey and Berluti were top producers on offensive, but what I saw from the likes of Okoronkwo and Jung at RB and a decent showing from up and coming WRs gives me confidence with Eberth returning for his senior season at QB. Losing some key OL spots may be rough but the biggest void, or at least question, comes from losing 4 quality LBs and Yamin from the defense. I know the Mammoths recruited heavily at the LB position this past year but these players will doubtfully step up early in the season and I haven't seen enough from many underclassmen to even asses their abilities. I have faith in Mills' defensive mind and focus at any rate.
Interested to hear from other teams.

[amh63]

NBC93....nice post....like the comments on Amherst.  Amherst graduated some fine Offensive Linemen.  There are some returning fine backup Linemen that should/must fill the voids.  Amherst football has one remaining clinic to run.....but in general has NOT even posted its upcoming schedule yet.  Got the Homecoming date from the Wesleyan football site.  Needed to make plans!  Do not expect the 2019 roster to be posted until late Summer or after the Class of '23 arrive.
I will be "bold" and predict that Amherst will compete for the CAC title again....Trinity plays at Pratt this year.  However, Amherst finish the season up in Willytown.

[nescac1]

My picks for the biggest shoes to fill in the league, in order:

1. Ryan McDonald, Tufts -- did it all on offense for the Jumbos for the last few years, and no one with any varsity passing attempts is returning at the position.  Plus, his replacement will be  throwing to a mostly-new receiving core, which makes it even tougher for his successor.

2. Mark Piccirillo, Wesleyan -- like McDonald, a dual threat who dominated the offense for years.  But his successor will get to throw to a loaded veteran group of skill guys (everyone returns).

3. Andrew Yamin, Amherst -- two-time DPOY speaks for itself.  Amherst always has a talented guy at the BUCK position but there is no way that anyone can come close to what Yamin did over the past two seasons, especially with the other losses at LB. 

4. Jake Schwern, Colby -- accounted for about 95 percent of Colby's rushing offense, which has to be some kind of league record, right?  Simply unheard of.  Also the third-leading receiver.  But RB is a position where frosh can step in quickly and I'd be willing to bet Colby has a few good ones in their loaded incoming class.   

5. Max Chipouras, Trinity -- Trinity's running game should hardly miss a beat with another great OL and a talented, proven back-up ready to step in.  Still, the guy did set all-time records and was the OPOY.  Sachse may actually be the tougher spot to fill for Trinity if there isn't someone really good ready to step in as kicker. 

6. Brandon Morris, Wesleyan -- a key player in the middle of the D for several years now at Wesleyan. Wesleyan loses some other good talent up front but when Morris was out with injuries they were a different team, so he is the toughest to replace.  Someone needs to step up because Gooden is gonna be double-teamed every single play.