Colonials Corner

I generally have little issue with the selection of the all-conference teams at the end of the year. It’s generally understood that the winning teams get more publicity and the losers end up getting a few nominees in minor categories. There’s a good reason that Central Connecticut has nine players on the two All NEC teams this year.

The five Colonials selected – first teamer Garrett Clawson and second teamers Shadrae King, Rolf Bathold, Michael Landers, and Nick Schirtzinger – all deserve their selections. Arguments could be made for one or two others – Sherrod Evers at receiver and Myles Russ at running back come to mind immediately.

We’re not one to begrudge a numbers issue if there is one. We realize that there are only a handful of spots, and sometimes a player gets bumped off the list because of that. Russ is the perfect example. (just too many good runners in the league this year).

But the omission of Alex DiMichele and Elias Navarro is absolutely mind boggling, especially compared to those who ended up making the team in their place.

DiMichele played in all 11 games, was second in the NEC in tackles and led the NEC in fumbles recovered. He is the heart and soul of a defense that ended up finishing 2nd in the NEC in scoring defense and first overall in total defense. In fact, the defense was good enough to finish 18th in scoring defense in the nation, and 11th in the nation in total defense.

Navarro was fourth in the conference in tackles, had 2 sacks, ranked 7th in tackles for a loss, and was tied for 5th in the league in interceptions.

The NEC even marketed the RMU-St. Francis game on FSN Pittsburgh as a battle of the linebackers (DiMichele versus the Flash’s Scott Lewis)!

Here are the linebackers who made the two teams:

• Justin Brancaccio (Albany, Sr, 1st team) – 15 fewer tackles than DiMichele, 1.5 sacks less than DiMichele, and averaged over a tackle per game less than DiMichele. Clearly earned his credential as a senior on a good Albany team.
• Jose Gumbs (Monmouth, So., 1st team) – Has fewer sacks than DiMichele (just 1 to DiMichele’s 2), but while he has fewer overall tackles, he does have more per game because he only played 9 games. Bright future and a good year, but how he made 1st team is beyond me.
• Dave Nicomini (Albany, Sr., 1st team) – Has 36 fewer tackles than DiMichele. He does have four sacks, which is the only category he ranks in the top ten in.
• Scott Lewis (St. Francis, Jr., 2nd team) – Lewis should be on the first team. No problem with his inclusion. He led the league in tackles, had 2.5 sacks as a MLB. He’s very good.
• Jeff Marino (CCSU, Jr., 2nd team) – No sacks, 24 fewer tackles than DiMichele, and he does not rank in the top ten in any individual category for defenders.
• Matthew Parker (St. Francis, Jr., 2nd team) – He’s should be with Lewis on the first team. Third in the league in tackles, 5.5 sacks, and led the league in tackles for a loss.

For the record, here’s who I would have put at linebacker – Lewis, Parker, and DiMichele on the first team, with Gumbs, Bryant University senior Aaron Bryant (league sack leader), and Navarro on the 2nd team.

The coaches vote on the all-conference teams. Sometimes I wonder what they’re looking at when they put these things together, or if they’re looking at all.