2019 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

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You're correct that they don't fit with the rest of the NESCAC, since the other NESCACs are much smaller liberal arts colleges, mostly outside urban areas (excrept Trinity).

However, the conclusion that they don't belong in D3 is asinine. Tufts is quite similar to the UAA schools, which are all somewhat larger research universities in urban areas with excellent academics. There's no reason that schools like that have to go D1, and indeed the UAA has been the strongest league in D3 soccer over the last couple of years.

"Indeed"? They have Star Wars pull ups with pictures of Yoda on them.

[Unregistered]

You're correct that they don't fit with the rest of the NESCAC, since the other NESCACs are much smaller liberal arts colleges, mostly outside urban areas (excrept Trinity).

However, the conclusion that they don't belong in D3 is asinine. Tufts is quite similar to the UAA schools, which are all somewhat larger research universities in urban areas with excellent academics. There's no reason that schools like that have to go D1, and indeed the UAA has been the strongest league in D3 soccer over the last couple of years.

I don't think the OP's comments are asinine at all. Both Tufts & the UAA should be in D1. If you compare undergrad enrollments of the UAA to the Patriot League, most UAA schools enrollments are larger (with the exception of BU). According to the NCAA the average D3 school as an enrollment of 2600 students. Other than Brandeis, most of the UAA schools are at least double that. I contend the reason the UAA is one of the strongest soccer leagues in D3 is because of their size. They have resources that create an unfair advantage compared to the typical D3 school. Getting back to Tufts, at a minimum they should probably be in the AAU.

[Unregistered]

I don't think the OP's comments are asinine at all. Both Tufts & the UAA should be in D1. If you compare undergrad enrollments of the UAA to the Patriot League, most UAA schools enrollments are larger (with the exception of BU). According to the NCAA the average D3 school as an enrollment of 2600 students. Other than Brandeis, most of the UAA schools are at least double that. I contend the reason the UAA is one of the strongest soccer leagues in D3 is because of their size. They have resources that create an unfair advantage compared to the typical D3 school. Getting back to Tufts, at a minimum they should probably be in the AAU.

Correction: Getting back to Tufts, at a minimum they should probably be in the UAA.

[Unregistered]

Correction: Getting back to Tufts, at a minimum they should probably be in the UAA.

OP. My tongue in cheek point on Tufts and big boy pants is that I read a bevy of D3 supporters saying that D3 is better than, or as good as D1. As a D1 player, I've played against D3 talent. Not even close. Better than high school, for sure, nowhere near D1 - some combination of the following was always lacking: skill, speed, size, quickness, desire.

As a data point, look at Hopkins. Similar but stronger academically than Tufts (although Tufts is quite good). D3 in every sport but one: Lax. D1 lax and one of the best in the country. If Tufts were that good, step up. They will be a better team for doing so because they will attract D1 level talent. In the meantime, they will lose quite a bit.

[Unregistered]

Trump

OP. My tongue in cheek point on Tufts and big boy pants is that I read a bevy of D3 supporters saying that D3 is better than, or as good as D1. As a D1 player, I've played against D3 talent. Not even close. Better than high school, for sure, nowhere near D1 - some combination of the following was always lacking: skill, speed, size, quickness, desire.

As a data point, look at Hopkins. Similar but stronger academically than Tufts (although Tufts is quite good). D3 in every sport but one: Lax. D1 lax and one of the best in the country. If Tufts were that good, step up. They will be a better team for doing so because they will attract D1 level talent. In the meantime, they will lose quite a bit.

There are certainly advantages to playing D1 that go beyond the game. I’m in financial services, and the D1 athletes outperform others year in and year out. They are organized, manage their time well, are great team leaders, and stretch themselves. Good life lessons that I am convinced they learned on the field or court. It has become so obvious that it is now a joke at recruiting discussions. We haven’t seen the same with D3. It could be because the D3 profile is changing, as reported a couple years ago.

[Unregistered]

There are certainly advantages to playing D1 that go beyond the game. I’m in financial services, and the D1 athletes outperform others year in and year out. They are organized, manage their time well, are great team leaders, and stretch themselves. Good life lessons that I am convinced they learned on the field or court. It has become so obvious that it is now a joke at recruiting discussions. We haven’t seen the same with D3. It could be because the D3 profile is changing, as reported a couple years ago.

Bingo!

[Unregistered]

Haven’t you two beaten this D1 D3 thing to death on a dozen other threads?

[Unregistered]

Haven’t you two beaten this D1 D3 thing to death on a dozen other threads?

Well, you know who has been very quiet.

[Unregistered]

Well, you know who has been very quiet.

Sigh, he's active on the 11 year old thread right now . . .

[Unregistered]

There are certainly advantages to playing D1 that go beyond the game. I’m in financial services, and the D1 athletes outperform others year in and year out. They are organized, manage their time well, are great team leaders, and stretch themselves. Good life lessons that I am convinced they learned on the field or court. It has become so obvious that it is now a joke at recruiting discussions. We haven’t seen the same with D3. It could be because the D3 profile is changing, as reported a couple years ago.

I call BS. Know many D3 athletes who are excellent in the careers and time/priority management in general. To say there is a difference is highly biased and suspect.

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Typo

I call BS. Know many D3 athletes who are excellent in the careers and time/priority management in general. To say there is a difference is highly biased and suspect.

Their careers

[Unregistered]

Sigh, he's active on the 11 year old thread right now . . .

You folks are talking about girls really. What are you doing on a boys thread!

[Unregistered]

You folks are talking about girls really. What are you doing on a boys thread!

What? I have a boy, and the thread I referenced is about a boy.

[Unregistered]

There are certainly advantages to playing D1 that go beyond the game. I’m in financial services, and the D1 athletes outperform others year in and year out. They are organized, manage their time well, are great team leaders, and stretch themselves. Good life lessons that I am convinced they learned on the field or court. It has become so obvious that it is now a joke at recruiting discussions. We haven’t seen the same with D3. It could be because the D3 profile is changing, as reported a couple years ago.

Interesting comments. I would tend to agree with your comments, but I would contend that these traits are regardless of D1 or D3. I would be interested to know which D1 schools you are discussing. I would expect that a D3 Tufts, Bowdoin or Hopkins kid would likely be a better candidate than a D1 kid from UPass or the majority of other state schools.

[Unregistered]

OP. My tongue in cheek point on Tufts and big boy pants is that I read a bevy of D3 supporters saying that D3 is better than, or as good as D1. As a D1 player, I've played against D3 talent. Not even close. Better than high school, for sure, nowhere near D1 - some combination of the following was always lacking: skill, speed, size, quickness, desire.

As a data point, look at Hopkins. Similar but stronger academically than Tufts (although Tufts is quite good). D3 in every sport but one: Lax. D1 lax and one of the best in the country. If Tufts were that good, step up. They will be a better team for doing so because they will attract D1 level talent. In the meantime, they will lose quite a bit.

Curious, where did you play D1?

I think in general your comments are correct, and there are a lot of bad D3 programs, not much better than HS. However, the previous comments that a top D3 program would be competitive with a lower level D1 program is quite valid, and I think many college coaches at both levels would agree.