South Region playoffs

[Dutch12]

Thiel also killed themselves last year against Buff State.  5 turnovers.  I think the starting QB (Satterfield) was injured as well. 

[Bwana]

Why are there no D3 football schools in the Deep South.  Generally speaking, I see few-even no-references to D# football programs in FL, AL, GA, MS, etc.  I know BC is scheduling against a new program in Georgia (the name escapes me)...

What is the reason?  D3 football programs seem fairly numerous in the rest of the country.

[spliskin]

I know BC is scheduling against a new program in Georgia (the name escapes me)...

LaGrange is the name you are looking for.

[Ralph Turner]

Bwana, LaGrange is adding football.

First there are very few colleges playing NAIA football as well.

Secondly, there are fewer small colleges in the South.  The southern economy did not support the development of small colleges in the Post Civil War era as we saw in the North.

I can find one Methodist related college for about every annual conference (an ecclestical jurisdiction) in the South.   However, the denominational spread in the deep South was Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian.  In the midwest you can add Brethren, Dutch Reformed, Congregational, Lutherans of all sorts, and Catholic, each of whom had their own colleges.  (Just check the charters!)

As for football, I think that the post-World War II years killed football on most campuses, e.g., Southwestern, Hendrix, Emory, Centenary LA.  SEC and SWC football were bigger.  Any surviving NAIA and pre-1973  Small College  are now D2.

[spliskin]

in a set of circumstances I hope to never see repeated.

Amen!

[Bwana]

Ralph-

OK, I can see that...but as I consider your answer I have to think it may also have something to do with perceived educational necessity in the ante bellum period. 

Consider that in Virginia (not a big cotton state, more on that later) H-SC, WL, EH RMC, and Roanoke College all were founded  were founded prior to the American Civil War.  Bridgewater College was founded in 1870.  Almost all these schools had (and have) a connection to a religious denomination, and all kept going through reconstruction and to the present.

It strikes me that the real answer to my question is the ante bellum economy.  Virginia (for example) was a slave state but had perhaps a stronger mercantile tradition than some of the states farther south.  Note this was also a time when typically one needed to be affluent to attend college.

I know that in the cotton regions a strong primo genitur culture was in place.  The oldest male inherited the family farm/plantation, especially in the landed classes.  Typically the younger males either went to a military academy and then one of the service branches, while those next in line had a variety of options, but college was not generally among them (unless they could reach West Point, etc).

So I have to wonder if the reason is less that the Deep South couldn't support  small colleges, but that there were not a great deal of small colleges in existence to support...

Just a wandering thought...and one that I suppose will turn into my next private research effort!

Secondly, there are fewer small colleges in the South.  The southern economy did not support the development of small colleges in the Post Civil War era as we saw in the North.

As for football, I think that the post-World War II years killed football on most campuses, e.g., Southwestern, Hendrix, Emory, Centenary LA.  SEC and SWC football were bigger.  Any surviving NAIA and pre-1973  Small College  are now D2.

[religion_major]

Bwana,
Just a minor point of note, Bridgewater College was founded in 1880 not 1870.   

[pakownr97]

Two points.

First, I don't mean to nitpick, but I think Bridgewater was founded in 1880.  I have a T-shirt that states so.

Secondly, and more importantly, I think it would be hilarious if Tusky were to moon Dr. Geisert.  I'd pay to see it.

[pakownr97]

Religion_Major beat me to it.

But I still want to see someone moon Geisert.

[Bob.Gregg]

...Bridgewater was founded in 1880.  I have a T-shirt that states so....

The Bridgewater website agrees with your t-shirt.  Or is it the other way around?

[Bwana]

Dang...fat fingered another one!  Of course it was 1880...they had the centennial celebration right in the middle of my time at BC.

As to Tusky mooning Dr. Geisert...just the thought is mind boggling!

Two points.

First, I don't mean to nitpick, but I think Bridgewater was founded in 1880.  I have a T-shirt that states so.

Secondly, and more importantly, I think it would be hilarious if Tusky were to moon Dr. Geisert.  I'd pay to see it.

[Ralph Turner]

Bwana, good day!

The charters of many of those schools list the reason for their creation as the education of minister's of the Gospel.  I was surprised to see that Auburn's charter goes back to 1858 as a Methodist Episcopal Church, South institution before the state of Alabama took over the school about 1871.

I know that McMurry, founded in 1923, was the final successful attempt after 4 previous failures in west Texas beginning in 1881. Southwestern's name goes back to 1875, but the antecedent charters for one of the 4 colleges that were merged into Southwestern goes as far back as 1840.

No doubt the industrialization and wealth in the Midwest and Northeast had something to do with all of the institutions that were created in the post Civil War era.  (Gen Sam Houston opposed Texas' secession because he knew the extent of the industrialization of the North!  Also remember that Gen Chamberlain of Gettysburg fame became the president of Bowdoin.  http://www.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot/joshbiog.htm )

Finally, the population in the South lagged the north formany decades after the Civil War.  Only since the development of residential air-conditioning in the early 1950's (among ohter things)  can you see any rapid growth in the South.

[pakownr97]

You old fart you.  You were at BC about the same time I was.  God bless you in your old age. 

[Bwana]

No question about any of this...as a matter of fact, I think this information nicely  complements my speculation.

Without massive research, I think in the Deep South (think cotton and kudzu) there was not the same focus on a college education as in the upper south.  Of course, Texas was new to the Union and had not had the chance to establish the collegiate culture.  In the post bellum period the upper south, which had a greater mercantile base, was able to better support small colleges.  The lower south, with a greater focus on cotton, took years to come back.  In fact, I have read many books that suggest that the South as a region did not completely rebound from the Civil War until WWII.

I don't think we are in disagreement, I think we are examining different points on the same time line.

Bwana, good day!

The charters of many of those schools list the reason for their creation as the education of minister's of the Gospel.  I was surprised to see that Auburn's charter goes back to 1858 as a Methodist Episcopal Church, South institution before the state of Alabama took over the school about 1871.

I know that McMurry, founded in 1923, was the final successful attempt after 4 previous failures in west Texas beginning in 1881. Southwestern's name goes back to 1875, but the antecedent charters for one of the 4 colleges that were merged into Southwestern goes as far back as 1840.

No doubt the industrialization and wealth in the Midwest and Northeast had something to do with all of the institutions that were created in the post Civil War era.  (Gen Sam Houston opposed Texas' secession because he knew the extent of the industrialization of the North!  Also remember that Gen Chamberlain of Gettysburg fame became the president of Bowdoin.  http://www.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot/joshbiog.htm )

Finally, the population in the South lagged the north formany decades after the Civil War.  Only since the development of residential air-conditioning in the early 1950's (among ohter things)  can you see any rapid growth in the South.

[Bwana]

You would be right on all counts, and thank you for your kind thoughts.  We are of that lucky ilk who had the pleasure of being able to attend Flagpole locally and Easters-The Biggest Party on the East Coast-down in C'Ville.

I can only hope your old age is serving well...and if not I can bring the crazed Pole down from NYC and have him chase you around the block a few times. 

Nothing like a crazed teamster coming after you to boost  your heart rate!

You old fart you.  You were at BC about the same time I was.  God bless you in your old age.