And we continue our little journey with a conference that is that perfect mid-card act. The Northeast Conference is a solid, not great conference that every so often steps up and can hold its own against a big fish but what its really there for is to stand toe-to-toe with the other mid-cards and perform well. And that's perfectly fine...it makes for an even conference where no one team has stood tall over the rest of the conference in years. Fun fact, in the eight year since an automatic bid was awarded to the conference, seven different teams have claimed that bid. Talk about parody, and 2018 might be more of the same.
Placement Reasoning
So I'll admit when thinking about the rankings, this is where I had the most conflict. The argument can be made for the IVY League, Big South, the pervious entry Patriot League, and the NEC to be placed above the other, these teams are that tightly bunched. At the end of the day, I decided ninth would be right because while the parody is nice, only one or two of the teams in the conference could switch to another league and be competitive and even then it would be a 2 or 3 year run. A few years ago, Sacred Heart could have joined a different conference but have since fallen on bad times. Duquesne has been most consistent over the years but its hard to imagine them in the CAA or OVC and not following a similar route as Elon. Its the perfect mid-card conference and it gives you some drama every year but its never going to reach that CAA or SoCon level
2017 Recap
For all the knocks that can be made on the conference for not having elite teams, they had the best finish of all the conferences. Even if it didn't go to the last week, we did have a defacto championship game and it was one that will be remembered. Duquesne hosted Central Conn. St in a back n forth game. The Blue Devils went up 14 then the Dukes scored the next 27 then CCSU came back to take a 28-27 lead. Duquesne drove down, then threw a pick which was called back by a bad pass interference call, then two plays later shanked a 19 yd FG that would have won the game and the conference handing the title to the Blue Devils.
Then to add to the fun, CCSU got a pretty favorable draw and even was picked to upset New Hampshire before the QB was suspended, then you had a sloppy, slog of a game that CCSU was in for a majority of the game. But then a double forward pass on a trick play that killed a promising drive, a injured QB, and having to go wildcat to end game adds up to a disappointing end.
Playoff/National Championship Contenders
This is a rare conference where an argument can be made for all seven teams to be legit contenders for the conference title. Doesn't mean all of them are, but since the conference breeds parody the arguments can be made and not blown off. Now as for the National Championship...that's a different story. The problem with being a mid-card is that its been shown that something is lacking to keep from becoming a top tier act. Is it possible? Of course, but the reality is that a lot of things need to align for an NEC team to win
The Favorites
Central Connecticut St.
Its hard to deny the champs. They lose a bunch of starters on the defensive side of the ball but when you return nine starters on offense including QB Jacob Dolegala you leap to the top of the list. If 2017 trends continue the Blue Devils, they will win when they put up some points...in the 8 wins (38.1 per game), in the four losses (11.7 per game) 31 of those coming in a Week 2 loss to Fordham.
Duquesne
If it wasn't for the late season meltdown that culminated in that missed FG, the Dukes would have been the auto bid for the conference. Just like Colgate in the Patriot League, a large portion of the team returns to have a revenge tour. The one question mark will be which QB will take over for NEC offensive player of the year Tommy Stuart. Florida Atlantic transfer Daniel Parr (no relation) should have the first crack at taking over the job. While Bryant comes to Pittsburgh, away games at Wagner and the season finale at CCSU will tell the tale of how the revenge tour goes
Byrant
The Bulldogs bring back a very experienced squad that ended 2017 on a four game winning streak and looks to carry that into a 2018 schedule that is favorable but tricky. Linebacker and reigning NEC defensive player of the year Tom Costigan returns but he will need help to shore up a defense that was the worst in the conference as all no one scored less than 16 and had games where they gave up 40, 41, 45 (twice), and 60. On the flip side, the offense has the power to keep up as they were the second best offense in the league and dropped 30+ in all 6 wins.
The Sleeper
Wagner
So how does a team who went 4-7 last year become a sleeper for a conference title? Well when you return 18 starters (10 defense) you become that team that makes you think parody is once again possible. Unfortunately the schedule does them zero favors as trips to Syracuse, Montana St., Monmouth, Bryant, and CCSU make things hard but not impossible.
Teams to add/subtract
Playoff/National Championship Contenders
This is a rare conference where an argument can be made for all seven teams to be legit contenders for the conference title. Doesn't mean all of them are, but since the conference breeds parody the arguments can be made and not blown off. Now as for the National Championship...that's a different story. The problem with being a mid-card is that its been shown that something is lacking to keep from becoming a top tier act. Is it possible? Of course, but the reality is that a lot of things need to align for an NEC team to win
The Favorites
Central Connecticut St.
Its hard to deny the champs. They lose a bunch of starters on the defensive side of the ball but when you return nine starters on offense including QB Jacob Dolegala you leap to the top of the list. If 2017 trends continue the Blue Devils, they will win when they put up some points...in the 8 wins (38.1 per game), in the four losses (11.7 per game) 31 of those coming in a Week 2 loss to Fordham.
Duquesne
If it wasn't for the late season meltdown that culminated in that missed FG, the Dukes would have been the auto bid for the conference. Just like Colgate in the Patriot League, a large portion of the team returns to have a revenge tour. The one question mark will be which QB will take over for NEC offensive player of the year Tommy Stuart. Florida Atlantic transfer Daniel Parr (no relation) should have the first crack at taking over the job. While Bryant comes to Pittsburgh, away games at Wagner and the season finale at CCSU will tell the tale of how the revenge tour goes
Byrant
The Bulldogs bring back a very experienced squad that ended 2017 on a four game winning streak and looks to carry that into a 2018 schedule that is favorable but tricky. Linebacker and reigning NEC defensive player of the year Tom Costigan returns but he will need help to shore up a defense that was the worst in the conference as all no one scored less than 16 and had games where they gave up 40, 41, 45 (twice), and 60. On the flip side, the offense has the power to keep up as they were the second best offense in the league and dropped 30+ in all 6 wins.
The Sleeper
Wagner
So how does a team who went 4-7 last year become a sleeper for a conference title? Well when you return 18 starters (10 defense) you become that team that makes you think parody is once again possible. Unfortunately the schedule does them zero favors as trips to Syracuse, Montana St., Monmouth, Bryant, and CCSU make things hard but not impossible.
Teams to add/subtract
So talk about options...but with these options its tricky in terms of fit. The is the reboot programs, raiding other FCS conferences, or diving into D2 to grab a team. But like I said, its a bit tricky since with most of these programs they would either have to be associate members or downgrade basketball wise. But for the sake of me not going too crazy, stick with football fits. Oh and also of note...with such a small conference, getting rid of any of the teams makes zero sense
Adding Dayton (Pioneer), Fairleigh Dickinson
Yes, it would be awesome for schools like Vermont, St Johns, Hofstra, and Northeastern all to restart their programs and the first two would be perfect NEC teams. Problem is those teams probably wouldn't restart the program. Marist and Monmouth would make lot of sense too but both have happy homes in other conferences. That leads us to Dayton. The Flyers have the profile of a team that, if given the scholarships, they would quickly vault up to program that competes for titles yearly. The NEC would seem like it is the perfect opening spot, now I will say that other conferences make for a good fit as well. Dayton has a good enough stadium, in a spot that every other conference team to get to without much trouble, and that they are just a really good program.
Fairleigh Dickinson is a whole other degree of what-if. The school has two branches and one is on the Division I level while the other is Division III, with a football program. I don't think you can just merge the football program (be interesting if they would allow it) so it would mean starting one up. But on the plus side you have some of the hard parts taken care of already
Best/Worst
So here we come to a conference where a lot blends together. Where 1 thru 7 there isn't a huge gap between any of them because, as I said before, we have come to the point where things sorta becomes cookie cutter and does nothing to stand out from the pack. So while I am say something is the worst, if you look at the other options, you could put one over the other. And in no better case is this true than...
Stadium
Best - Hameline Field
Ok so I gotta show Staten Island some love...most people think this place is a dump (cause it literally was for a while) and even NYC lifers haven't stepped foot on this forgotten burrough. But I will give it this, because of its very hilly terrain in some parts you can get some beautiful views of the rest of the city and the shoreline. Hameline Field has one of the better ones you will see as if you don't pay attention of the action on the field and look up, a beautiful view of the Verrazano is right there. Better at night right after the sun goes down
Worst - Bulldog Stadium
If we go off name alone, this would be a runaway winner for the bottom (seriously can we get a little creative with some of these titles). You could argue Rooney Field should go here but there is something oddly unique in my opinion for putting a football stadium in such a small plot of land. Also goes to show that a lot of these schools that say they can't actually can start up a program and do enough to stay afloat but thats a different topic of discussion. Anyways, Bulldog stadium is on here for the simple fact that it gives off too much of the high school feel. But like I said before, you can make that argument for all of the stadiums in this conference and I wouldn't fight you a ton. But someone has to finish last
Adding Dayton (Pioneer), Fairleigh Dickinson
Yes, it would be awesome for schools like Vermont, St Johns, Hofstra, and Northeastern all to restart their programs and the first two would be perfect NEC teams. Problem is those teams probably wouldn't restart the program. Marist and Monmouth would make lot of sense too but both have happy homes in other conferences. That leads us to Dayton. The Flyers have the profile of a team that, if given the scholarships, they would quickly vault up to program that competes for titles yearly. The NEC would seem like it is the perfect opening spot, now I will say that other conferences make for a good fit as well. Dayton has a good enough stadium, in a spot that every other conference team to get to without much trouble, and that they are just a really good program.
Fairleigh Dickinson is a whole other degree of what-if. The school has two branches and one is on the Division I level while the other is Division III, with a football program. I don't think you can just merge the football program (be interesting if they would allow it) so it would mean starting one up. But on the plus side you have some of the hard parts taken care of already
Best/Worst
So here we come to a conference where a lot blends together. Where 1 thru 7 there isn't a huge gap between any of them because, as I said before, we have come to the point where things sorta becomes cookie cutter and does nothing to stand out from the pack. So while I am say something is the worst, if you look at the other options, you could put one over the other. And in no better case is this true than...
Stadium
Best - Hameline Field
Ok so I gotta show Staten Island some love...most people think this place is a dump (cause it literally was for a while) and even NYC lifers haven't stepped foot on this forgotten burrough. But I will give it this, because of its very hilly terrain in some parts you can get some beautiful views of the rest of the city and the shoreline. Hameline Field has one of the better ones you will see as if you don't pay attention of the action on the field and look up, a beautiful view of the Verrazano is right there. Better at night right after the sun goes down
Worst - Bulldog Stadium
If we go off name alone, this would be a runaway winner for the bottom (seriously can we get a little creative with some of these titles). You could argue Rooney Field should go here but there is something oddly unique in my opinion for putting a football stadium in such a small plot of land. Also goes to show that a lot of these schools that say they can't actually can start up a program and do enough to stay afloat but thats a different topic of discussion. Anyways, Bulldog stadium is on here for the simple fact that it gives off too much of the high school feel. But like I said before, you can make that argument for all of the stadiums in this conference and I wouldn't fight you a ton. But someone has to finish last
Logo and Nickname
Best - Bryant Bulldogs
I'm gonna be honest...seeing that I had to pick one I went with the Bulldogs cause the Bulldog looks bad ass. The logo isn't all that special but then again nothing else is much better. Robert Morris would have taken the crown if I was going with one of the alternative logos with a old soldier holding a flag with the original 13 colonies on it but its clearly not the main squeeze
Worst - Saint Francis Red Flash
You know what sucks the most about this is just the fact that it could be so cool. But I suspect that they didn't really want to go too far outta the box but in doing so made something that not only comes off as bland but comes off as something that tried to hard to be edgy without doing it. Whoops
Uniforms
Best - Bryant
The more I look at these the more I'm like "this just works" Its nothing special...but why I like it is because it use the black, gold-ish? and grey just right. Its really easy to get these combinations of school colors wrong and making black the main attracting was the right call on a simple but well done uniform
Worst - Sacred Heart
So the Pioneers run into the trap of having a simple color scheme that a lot of other schools have which makes it impossible to stand out. And when you don't even try to do anything to make the uniform unique it just becomes one in the crowd
2018 Outlook
The NEC is a conference that has its lane and does little to stray from it and thats actually a really good thing. Expect to see a few non-conferences wins and maybe a sneaky upset, then once conference play hit expect the unexpected. Very little has changed year to year where you see that one team just flat dominate everyone else. Duquesne could be that team but has yet to show that jump to go from good to dominate. Hopefully you'll see something similar to last year with a defacto championship game but either way this conference will have one of the better races in FCS
Comments
Post a Comment