BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Thank you, Frank.

I also want to thank the posters from the SCAC, which was the 2nd most active conference board in D3, trailing only the CCIW board which may be the premier message board in D3.

You have been an active group of D3 fans.  You have been knowledgeable and cordial.  Your posts have been informative and constructive.

I hope each of you will continue to be active on the other boards, but this season has been more fun for me than any previous one that we've had on D3sports.com.

Have a good off-season.

And I really hope that Birimingham-Southern ends up in the SCAC!

[scacman]

Great seasons by TU and Millsaps...  Coach Page really showed some class the way he handled the SCAC co-championship situation and led his team to within a run of the World Series... Maybe next year will be the year for the "Showdown in WI"

[consultant]

It was a tremendous season by both Trinity and Millsaps.  One day, Trinity and Millsaps will both be number one seeds and hosting a regional.  When that happens, I like the chances of a Millsaps vs. Trinity showdown in Wisconsin without a doubt!

[Ralph Turner]

I actually think that the best thing that could happen for Trinity to host playoffs more regularly would be for enough schools (probably 4-5) in this part of the country to move to D3 so the ASC could break into 2 separtate conferences.  With 3 AQ's in this geographically isolated part of the nation, then it is reasonable to bus 2 teams and fly in the rest.

Chapman hosted; Redlands and CSU-East Bay were bussed; George Fox, Trinity and TLU were flown in.  If UT-D were from a different conference, then perhaps Trinity's higher regional ranking would have moved the tourney to San Antonio.

The NCAA would have needed to fly 4 teams somewhere.  Why not to Texas?

[etg]

Ralph,
I agree with everything you just posted, BUT first Trinity will need to administratively take the position that they CAN host a baseball regional. They did not even apply to do so this year; "uneven outfield surface" since the football team practices there (bull), "unreliable scoreboard" (more bull--easy to fix), "no press box" (true but could be worked around or better yet build one), yada, yada, yada. If there was ever a year that there should have been a San Antonio (area) regional; TU and TLU could have shared this year's host role?

Also, what is your scoop (or the poop) on Birmingham-Southern College (Big South--NCAA Division I)? Trouble in paradise? Currently, no football (am I correct)?     

[Ron Boerger]

Wow, a field that won national awards a few years back and now it's come to this?  Surprising.  I guess I can't get PO'd at the AA if Trinity didn't apply to host. 

Hopefully some of the money set aside for athletics in the "Campaign for Trinity University" will be used to address some of these problems ... but $5M doesn't go an awfully long way.   

Trinity seems to have a problem with scoreboards ... maybe they need to bring in a new contractor ;-)

[infielddad]

etg, some of the issues with the Trinity facilities are not "bull" in light of the NCAA requirements, and are not an easy fix.  The NCAA requires a press box to host a regional.The configuration of the baseball field and the Bell Center makes construction of a press facility more than a challenge. Using the baseball field for football practice does take a toll.
Coach Scannell would love to host a regional.  He is a dynamic recruiter/coach. In  7 years he has taken Trinity baseball to levels not seen since the 1970's, including   the championship round of the regional twice (having to deal with the death of Coach Meccage during the 2002 regional) and losing to the eventual national champion in 2004, when the NCAA placed 5 teams rated in the top 30 in the West regional.  If Brian Oates had been healthy all season, Trinity may well still be playing.  Losing Brian  midway through the season was huge, as he dominated in nearly every outing.
Trinity baseball is bringing in very good talent and then getting the most out of that talent.  Hopefully their will be enough facility upgrades to match what the players/coaches are achieving.

[Tom Brady]

Hey guys, sorry to bump in on the SCAC board but I found this on the Cal Lu home-page.

http://ww2.callutheran.edu/news/news_detail.php?news_story_id=2828

Looks like it will be pretty sweet.  I know they played on the field this year and it is a beautiful field.  This is the kind of stuff schools need in order for certain schools (Chapman) to have to go on the road for a regional.  Having home field every year is a pretty nice thing to have.  If it were up to me though, D-III would go to the same format as D-I but we all know that will never happen and it is a whole other discussion

Here is a link to show some drawings of what it will look like

http://www.callutheran.edu/about/watch_clu_grow.php

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph,
I agree with everything you just posted, BUT first Trinity will need to administratively take the position that they CAN host a baseball regional. They did not even apply to do so this year; "uneven outfield surface" since the football team practices there (bull), "unreliable scoreboard" (more bull--easy to fix), "no press box" (true but could be worked around or better yet build one), yada, yada, yada. If there was ever a year that there should have been a San Antonio (area) regional; TU and TLU could have shared this year's host role?

Also, what is your scoop (or the poop) on Birmingham-Southern College (Big South--NCAA Division I)? Trouble in paradise? Currently, no football (am I correct)?     

Good day, etg!

This blog contains most of the stuff that has been found.

I think that the BSC is a slam-dunk for the SCAC!  Location, academic profile, sufficient endowment, a waiting suitor that has previously stated they were going to 12 schools and 2 divisions, Phi Beta Kappa Chapter.

I wish BSC would add Football, Men's and Women's LAX and Swimming and Diving and maybe Field Hockey to change the paradigm from D1 to D3.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity baseball is bringing in very good talent and then getting the most out of that talent.  Hopefully their will be enough facility upgrades to match what the players/coaches are achieving.

Infielddad, good commentary and please come back next year during the season.  I had wondered what had happened to Brian Oates and could only surmise that he had an injury of some type.  He's listed as a junior so hopefully returns next season. 

[infielddad]

"He's listed as a junior so hopefully returns next season."

Things sound promising for Brian.  He will be heading off to Harwich and hopefully will have a great summer pitching in the Cape Cod League where he will be one of the very few DIII players with that type of opportunity.

[Ron Boerger]

Good day, etg!

This blog contains most of the stuff that has been found.

I think that the BSC is a slam-dunk for the SCAC!  Location, academic profile, sufficient endowment, a waiting suitor that has previously stated they were going to 12 schools and 2 divisions, Phi Beta Kappa Chapter.

I wish BSC would add Football, Men's and Women's LAX and Swimming and Diving and maybe Field Hockey to change the paradigm from D1 to D3.

Thanks, Ralph, I'd missed that blog entry, too.  Darned right these guys would fit better in D3 than D1.   

[Ron Boerger]

TU's Adam Frey has signed with the Alexandria Aces of the independent United League. 

[frank_ezelle]

John Fox of Millsaps is also playing in the independent United League.  He had his first win for the Edinburg Coyotes last night after starting out 0-2.  Their website is:  http://www.edinburgcoyotes.com/

[historymajor]

Adam Frey is doing well at Alexandria.

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060810/SPORTS/608100306/1006