FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Still taboo, and the NESCAC Presidents don't want to hear anyone complain about it until 2035.

[RedAndBlack]

Agree with all the excitement for '26 season.  One note on Bates, I think QB Sergio Beltran has completed his four years in Lewiston.

Young Sergio was injured in Week 3 (early in the game against Wes, btw). We believe he can apply for an injury exemption for the 2025 season from the NCAA and more than likely it will be granted. We fully expect him to be back guiding the Kittie flex option in 2026. 

Bates does not have a graduate school.... so if he comes back he will have to leave a few credits to have a class in the fall. NCAA allows eligibility with a non-fulltime schedule if you are completeing a degree, so it is possible. Or he may take spring semester off?

[nescac1]

Typically, NESCAC players who decide to play a fifth year due to extra (typically injury-related) eligibility will just take the Spring semester off -- this happens routinely.  Tufts, Wesleyan and Trinity do offer some graduate programs, but even there, those might not be the right fit for all players inclined to return. 

[maineman]

Agree with all the excitement for '26 season.  One note on Bates, I think QB Sergio Beltran has completed his four years in Lewiston.

Young Sergio was injured in Week 3 (early in the game against Wes, btw). We believe he can apply for an injury exemption for the 2025 season from the NCAA and more than likely it will be granted. We fully expect him to be back guiding the Kittie flex option in 2026. 

If Sergio can reclaim a year of eligibility, and he has already spent 4 years at Bates won't he likely graduate in the spring and be better off taking his 1 year at a school with graduate programs?  I suppose he could decide not enroll in January and save his last semester for next fall?

[lumbercat]

All of the options mentioned are in play but I don't believe Sergio has made a final decision yet.