FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Horrible, unthinkable news about the death of Williams recruit Owen Coyne from a brain hemorrhage.  Condolences to his family, and to the Marblehead community:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/marblehead-football-captain-dies-brain-hemorrhage/

[Bantamsdad69]

Watching Bowdoin games are just incredibly painful. So much talent across the field and so many bright moments but the team just can't seem to figure it out. I wonder if it has something to do with the CULTURE?

Bowdoins offense is just horrible, theres a lot of talented kids on the defensive side of the ball, but even with a pick 6, and a strip sack leading to a field goal the offense wasn't able to execute at all. I think with all the rumors around Hammer and his absence has definetly impacted the culture, but it would be a stretch to say they aren't getting out played and out coached by the teams they are playing

[Nescacman]

A few comments and observations on yesterday and the league in general:

-As we have said many times previously, Luke Kurzum and the Hamilton offense are legit. Well designed offensive game-plan by Wes alum/former great HAM OC Shea Dwyer deploying a two-QB scheme with some well-timed wildcat runs utlizing back-up QB Connor Laverty. If they just had more of a running game and could play some defense, they could be a factor in the league. Credit where credit is due. Will be interesting to see if they can do anything similar against the Bants next week.
-Kudo's to Matt Fitzsimons and the Wes offense who went punch for punch with the HAM offense. Wesleyan led for about 5 mins total of this game. Fitz was again spectacular completing 31 passes for 411 yards to 9 different receivers. He threw for 2 TDs including the game winner with 14 seconds left. Wes was fortunate to come away with the win. In other years, they may have lost this one but we think this team is different. Time will tell. The Mules are next up in the opener on the new turf at Andrus.
-Yes, we know. We owe Chris 2 dozen chicken wings at this Saturday's game.
-We went 5-0 with our picks yesterday so there is that.
-Exciting game in Lewiston last night. Watched the whole game live. Probably a game that the Kitties should have won, once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Was a bit confused by some of the clock-management and play-calling in this one but we're not coaching in the heat of battle so we'll defer to the trained professions.
-More injuries to key players: Lord Mammoth QB Marek Hill did not play in the game against the Polars. We can only assume it was due to injury since he was the reigning 'CAC OPOTW. Also, Colby QB Stephen Gil DNP against Colby. Whether that was due to injury or coaches decision is unknown.
-As we predicted, Hartford State obliterated the Ephs in the Coop. We feel like someone owes us something ($$$) for us offering up a very large amount of points going with the Bants. Obviously, scoring 45 point is impressive but what was more impressive to us was what the HS defense did. They held Williams to 5 total first downs on the day and 110 yards of total offense. Wow. The Bants are scary. Who will they be playing in the first round of the NCAA D3 tourney???   
-To address the HCOF Hammer situation. First off, we'll say our dealings with Coach Hammer were always excellent. Very open, honest, positive and stand-up guy. Always willing to come on the 9 Weeks NESCAC Podcast and was always willing to have his players join us. With that being said, our understanding is that he is currently on leave (we are not 100% certain of the circumstance, whether it was voluntary or involuntary, personal or work related, etc. so we won't get into that). He has not been on the sidelines for the Polars in any of their first 3 games. Our understanding from our sources inside the Bowdoin program is that Nick Turchyn is serving as the interim HCOF (https://athletics.bowdoin.edu/staff-directory/nick-turchyn/290). Our understanding is that communication to the student-athletes and parents from the Bowdoin College administration has been minimal. If that is the case, shame on them. The Bowdoin student-athletes (and their parents) at one of the best colleges in America (many of whom are paying $100k+ a year in tuition and fees) deserve better. We hope this situation gets resolved soon and Bowdoin's football team can get back to focusing on football instead of off-the-field stuff. We wish HCOF Hammer good luck as well.

More to follow...

NM

[lumbercat]

Another great report, right on money by NM. The reach of his corespondents is impressive and informative. In the early days of his NESCAC journalistic endeavor if there was no news his syndicate diligently worked to find and maybe create, some stories but it's different now. He is a very credible journalist with a committed and objective focus on Nescac Football. His group provides great reporting and content which I think we all enjoy.   

I'll clarify one thing on the Bowdoin situation- The majority in Brunswick feel that Hammer will be gone but let's see how everything plays out.

The firing of his predessor JB Wells was very controversial. It was a leverage play by a small group of well capitalized Bowdoin Football supporters who simply decided they wanted Coach Wells gone. Shaking in his boots cub Bowdoin AD Ryan succumbed to their wishes and Wells was fired. The funding of the Whittier Field renovations and construction of the new Football building adjacent to Whittier coincided with the firing of Wells. The Polar Alums leveraged their contribution on the Wells firing. Ryan played along a gave the Bowdoin trustees a wink. It was a financial win.

Now, Coach Hammer is on the hotseat. I don't know how many in Brunswick realize that AD Ryan fired Wells and then proceeded to hire Hammer. Yes BJ Hammer....the same guy who was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a member of the Allegheny Football team where the Hammer was Head Coach of Football prior to being recruited by AD Ryan for Bowdoin. The sexual harassment lawsuit was settled by Allegheny. It involved a kicker for the Allegheny Football team who was female. It was messy. The progression of the suit resulted in a judgement against Hammer and Allegheny which was settled for a sum exceeding 2,000,000.

Ryan evidently did not do a thorough background check on Hammer before bringing him to Brunswick. Of all places one would think Bowdoin would be the last place he might land given prior events.

It's puzzling how or why Ryan and the Bowdoin Athletic Department got the esteemed Bowdoin Administration embroiled in this series of transgressions. These developments in Bowdoin Athletics seemed totally inconsistent with the public identity of Bowdoin and their ideals as the #4 rated liberal arts college in the nation.

The difference in the firing of Wells and the potential firing of Hammer is pretty significant. Wells was fired clearly without cause. If Hammer is fired it will be with cause.

[Nescacman]

Another great report, right on money by NM. The reach of his corespondents is impressive and informative. In the early days of his NESCAC journalistic endeavor if there was no news his syndicate diligently worked to find and maybe create, some stories but it's different now. He is a very credible journalist with a committed and objective focus on Nescac Football. His group provides great reporting and content which I think we all enjoy.   

I'll clarify one thing on the Bowdoin situation- The majority in Brunswick feel that Hammer will be gone but let's see how everything plays out.

The firing of his predessor JB Wells was very controversial. It was a leverage play by a small group of well capitalized Bowdoin Football supporters who simply decided they wanted Coach Wells gone. Shaking in his boots cub Bowdoin AD Ryan succumbed to their wishes and Wells was fired. The funding of the Whittier Field renovations and construction of the new Football building adjacent to Whittier coincided with the firing of Wells. The Polar Alums leveraged their contribution on the Wells firing. Ryan played along a gave the Bowdoin trustees a wink. It was a financial win.

Now, Coach Hammer is on the hotseat. I don't know how many in Brunswick realize that AD Ryan fired Wells and then proceeded to hire Hammer. Yes BJ Hammer....the same guy who was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a member of the Allegheny Football team where the Hammer was Head Coach of Football prior to being recruited by AD Ryan for Bowdoin. The sexual harassment lawsuit was settled by Allegheny. It involved a kicker for the Allegheny Football team who was female. It was messy. The progression of the suit resulted in a judgement against Hammer and Allegheny which was settled for a sum exceeding 2,000,000.

Ryan evidently did not do a thorough background check on Hammer before bringing him to Brunswick. Of all places one would think Bowdoin would be the last place he might land given prior events.

It's puzzling how or why Ryan and the Bowdoin Athletic Department got the esteemed Bowdoin Administration embroiled in this series of transgressions. These developments in Bowdoin Athletics seemed totally inconsistent with the public identity of Bowdoin and their ideals as the #4 rated liberal arts college in the nation.

The difference in the firing of Wells and the potential firing of Hammer is pretty significant. Wells was fired clearly without cause. If Hammer is fired it will be with cause.

Thanks for the kind words Lumber. Much appreciated. The NESCACMAN "consortium" has come a long way in the last 13 years.

As far as Bowdoin is concerned, IOO, the entire situation is dripping in irony. Back to football for us...

[lumbercat]

Yes, back to Football.

[Nescacman]

for the record: (removed link that seems to not be related)

We don't think the case cited above is related to the situation that Lumber mentioned and is relevant to this thread. 

[quicksilver]

This Hammer story is an old one that was reported in the Bowdoin student newspaper in 2020. The college seems to have been fully aware of it in 2020. I don't know whether there were other developments in the intervening 6 years that have come to the fore. The story involves harassment of the kicker by other members of the Allegheny team and a claim of negligence by Hammer and the rest of the Allegheny coaching staff in protecting her, etc. https://bowdoinorient.com/2020/04/10/head-football-coach-sued-in-title-ix-lawsuit/

[quicksilver]

as to timing, Bowdoin hired Hammer in Dec of 2019, the lawsuit was filed in Feb of 2020, and it was settled under confidential and undisclosed terms in Aug of 2021. in looking at the timeline, one can see that perhaps Bowdoin did not know that a lawuit was brewing but had not yet been filed.

[Trin9-0]

SP+ remains perfect on the season at 15-0, but as we all saw, there were two near upsets. I think this is the week the game on the field outsmarts the computer projection. Game of the Week is clearly Midd @ Amherst which SP+ essentially sees as a pick 'em but with the slightest of margins in favor of the Mammoths. I like the Panthers on the road. Bowdoin and Bates likely have the next best shot at pulling a road upset. 

Here's how the model projects Week 4 in the NESCAC:

Bowdoin 13 @ Tufts 26.6

Colby 3.1 @ Wesleyan 40.5

Middlebury 19.2 @ Amherst 19.7

Hamilton 2.6 @ Trinity 54.3

Bates 9.8 @ Williams 30.5

Here's how the NESCAC ranks nationally per the SP+ rating (last week's ranking in parenthesis):
13. Trinity (22)
38. Wesleyan (33)
96. Middlebury (115)
102. Amherst (120)
127. Williams (92)
146. Tufts (144)
179. Colby (161)
187. Bowdoin (186)
193. Hamilton (207)
199. Bates (206)

[lumbercat]

for the record: (link removed)

Different case.

[Patrick Coleman]

I removed that original post and am striking the link from the posts which quote it.