FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

The Third Division, that sounds dead-on to me, although I'm not sure I'd single Wesleyan out.  They have had a strong two-year run but have yet to go undefeated and have since 2000 a total of one solo and two shared titles and have only been runners-up twice.  During the same period, Williams has four solo and one shared title and has been runner-up five times; Amherst has four solo and one shared titles and has been runner-up three times; and Middlebury has four shared or solo titles and and three runners-up.  Williams, Amherst and Middlebury have all had undefeated seasons during that time.  I think it's fair to say that Trinity is clearly the big dog, and Wesleyan, Middlebury, Amherst and Williams have all been sporadic or periodic contenders.  (Other than those five teams, the rest of the conference - combined - has one shared title, Colby way back in 2000, and very few runner-up teams, so it really is a three tier conference - Trinity, the sporadic contenders, and everyone else). 

[UfanBill]

Concerning the use of headset/tablet to helmet communications in D3 football. The Liberty League experimented with this technology starting with the 2024 season. To my knowledge it was successfully implemented and well received by coaches and players and now I see it's on the threshold of being approved for all D3... https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/16/gorout-liberty-league/

I occasionally log onto this thread to keep familiar with what the scuttlebutt is in the NESCAC. As a Union College former player and lifetime fan who played back when Union football had rivalry games with Williams, Middlebury, Trinity and Hamilton I'm also looking forward to next season's NCAA playoffs when the NESCAC will finally be represented. First I have to comment on poster The Third Division's remark that "The last membership change in football came in 1977, when Union was kicked out of the conference after recruiting violations involving its hockey program." While this is basically true it's also IMO the best thing that has ever happened to Union football. They have 14 NCAA D3 tournament bids since 1983. Non of which would have happened if they stayed in the NESCAC. Since Union recruits heavily in New England many of their recruits are also recruited by NESCAC schools. I suspect you've lost a few recruits to Union because kids want to play for championships. I'm anticipating the first Liberty League/NESCAC playoff matchup...Union's D1 hockey program has also grown exponentially since their early year recruiting faux pas. Union's risen to a place where they currently rank #20 in the USCHO polls and actually won the D1 National Championship in 2014. The Garnet Chargers are doing just fine thank you. 

[Jake Feldman]

Concerning the use of headset/tablet to helmet communications in D3 football. The Liberty League experimented with this technology starting with the 2024 season. To my knowledge it was successfully implemented and well received by coaches and players and now I see it's on the threshold of being approved for all D3... https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/16/gorout-liberty-league/

I occasionally log onto this thread to keep familiar with what the scuttlebutt is in the NESCAC. As a Union College former player and lifetime fan who played back when Union football had rivalry games with Williams, Middlebury, Trinity and Hamilton I'm also looking forward to next season's NCAA playoffs when the NESCAC will finally be represented. First I have to comment on poster The Third Division's remark that "The last membership change in football came in 1977, when Union was kicked out of the conference after recruiting violations involving its hockey program." While this is basically true it's also IMO the best thing that has ever happened to Union football. They have 14 NCAA D3 tournament bids since 1983. Non of which would have happened if they stayed in the NESCAC. Since Union recruits heavily in New England many of their recruits are also recruited by NESCAC schools. I suspect you've lost a few recruits to Union because kids want to play for championships. I'm anticipating the first Liberty League/NESCAC playoff matchup...Union's D1 hockey program has also grown exponentially since their early year recruiting faux pas. Union's risen to a place where they currently rank #20 in the USCHO polls and actually won the D1 National Championship in 2014. The Garnet Chargers are doing just fine thank you. 

You've produced 2 NHL players, while the NESCAC doesn't boast any guys that made the show that I know of.

[The Third Division]

Imagine if the 1st playoff game the nescac plays is against union.

[Jake Feldman]

Imagine if the 1st playoff game the nescac plays is against union.

That would be something.

[UfanBill]

Imagine if the 1st playoff game the nescac plays is against union.

While I would love to see Union football back in the NCAA tournament this year I'd say it's a long shot. Last year the Garnet opened with consecutive road losses to nationally ranked Susquehanna and Cortland and then ran the table to win the Liberty League. That followed NCAA bids in 2019 and 2023 all while undergoing three head coaching changes so Union fans have become expectant of excellence. The prospects are guarded this season because Union looses a strong graduating class including their QB but I'm optimistic they'll surprise us again. They again open with Susquehanna and Cortland but like last year early season non conference losses, while basically ending your chance of an at large bid, do not mean you can't win your league and get the automatic qualifier. It made them stronger. A tournament match-up with any Region 2  Liberty League or Empire 8 team would likely not happen in the first round because of seeding. The NESCAC champ, especially if they're undefeated, would get a high seed and play the representative of another Region 1 conference team  like the MASCAC or CNE with a much lower seed. Win 1 or 2 games and then maybe. It will happen eventually.

As for hockey...Union has produced many more than "2 NHL players". A search shows at least 12 guys including Shane Gostisbehere, Daniel Carr, Josh Jooris and currently Nick DeSimone(Utah Mammoths) with many others playing in the AHL. 

[Jake Feldman]

12 NHL players for the Garnet Chargers/Dutchmen, while only 1 that I know of from a NESCAC program (Guy Hebert who went to Hamilton College)

[lumbercat]

Fred Ahern of Bowdoin and South Boston, Ma had an NHL career of about 5 years in the late 70's. One of the many great Hockey guys who were the pride and joy of Southie back in the day.

[lumbercat]

12 NHL players for the Garnet Chargers/Dutchmen, while only 1 that I know of from a NESCAC program (Guy Hebert who went to Hamilton College)

I the early-mid 70's Union hired Ned Harkness who was the former coach of the Detroit Red Wings to take their Hockey program to D1 heights with the construction of a beautiful new Hockey rink. NESCAC membership guidelines prohibited any deviation from NESCAC recruiting guidelines and competition in most D1 sports (which the exception of a few minor sports like skiing which has no D3).
The NESCAC and Union parted ways at that point.

As a prior poster pointed out it was a positive move for Union football which I think is correct. Other NESCAC purists might point to a decline in Unions academic ranking upon their severance from the NESCAC.
It was very controversial at the time.

Union has been competing in D1 Hockey with a significant financial commitment since around 1975 or 1976.
That's 50 years, give or take. I'd say 12 NHL players in that timeframe is nothing to brag about.

[Trin9-0]

Union has played just under 300 games all-time against NESCAC opponents. They have a .405 winning percentage in those games.

Here's the team by team breakdown:

Amherst 4-21-2
Bates 0-7-1
Bowdoin 0-1
Colby 8-5
Hamilton 47-37-12
Middlebury 15-20-5
Trinity 7-6-2
Tufts 0-2
Wesleyan 5-11-2
Williams 21-54-4

How many schools can say they have a winning record against Trinity but have never beaten Bates nor Bowdoin?!


On an unrelated note; while looking this up I realized that the next Tufts win will be Jay Civetti's 61st victory which would make him the all-time winning coach in the history of the school. Not bad for a guy who started his tenure 0-24!

[Jake Feldman]

12 NHL players for the Garnet Chargers/Dutchmen, while only 1 that I know of from a NESCAC program (Guy Hebert who went to Hamilton College)

I the early-mid 70's Union hired Ned Harkness who was the former coach of the Detroit Red Wings to take their Hockey program to D1 heights with the construction of a beautiful new Hockey rink. NESCAC membership guidelines prohibited any deviation from NESCAC recruiting guidelines and competition in most D1 sports (which the exception of a few minor sports like skiing which has no D3).
The NESCAC and Union parted ways at that point.

As a prior poster pointed out it was a positive move for Union football which I think is correct. Other NESCAC purists might point to a decline in Unions academic ranking upon their severance from the NESCAC.
It was very controversial at the time.

Union has been competing in D1 Hockey with a significant financial commitment since around 1975 or 1976.
That's 50 years, give or take. I'd say 12 NHL players in that timeframe is nothing to brag about.

The NESCAC can't say they've produced an NHL All-Star or pro-era Olympian (Shayne Gostisbehere or Spencer Fu), plus a ton of Hobey finalists.

[lumbercat]

Of course the NESCAC hasn't produced Hobey Baker candidates or NHL all stars- it's a D3 league recruiting D3 kids. Kudos to the Charging Dutchmen on their hockey successes at the D1 level but you're comparing a D1 hockey program with scholarships (and probably nil money at some point) to a D3 conference- apples and oranges.
If that's a valid comparison lets compare D3 Union Football or NESCAC Football with D1 Syracuse in terms of NFL players etc - it's a different ballgame.

[Jake Feldman]

Of course the NESCAC hasn't produced Hobey Baker candidates or NHL all stars- it's a D3 league recruiting D3 kids. Kudos to the Charging Dutchmen on their hockey successes at the D1 level but you're comparing a D1 hockey program with scholarships (and probably nil money at some point) to a D3 conference- apples and oranges.
If that's a valid comparison lets compare D3 Union Football or NESCAC Football with D1 Syracuse in terms of NFL players etc - it's a different ballgame.

But Union uses some of the hockey money for the Flutie effect, drawing the students that play hockey to a mostly D3 school.