FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[musupporter]

SU's coach Paul Barnes is one of the finest people you will ever meet anywhere! SU is lucky to have him, I guarantee SU's football players are learning more than x's and o's from Coach Barnes. I think that team is going to be very good soon. They have lost all 4 conference games this season, but 2 were in OT, and none by more than 6 points.

In 2006 my oldest son played at SU, and after the game had to be taken to the hospital. Coach Barnes came to the hospital when he found out a CNU player was taken there. He stayed with us till the doctor came in to give us our sons status sometime around 2am. He offered to open up his house for us to stay with him, and asked if we needed him to go pick up anything to eat.

Says alot about the man.  I said in earlier posts that I couldn't put a finger on why SU is not just killing people.  Looks like a team full of athletes.  However, if what what you say about their coach is true, the W-L will be forgotten but the life lessons he teaches will remain a life time.  Sometimes it is hard for folks to look deeper than the stats.  I have been guilty of that in the past and can't say it won't happen again.  The more I am around different people at this level, the more I understand what is important.  I hope that our sons and daughters will learn to look deeper.  It may be after their athletic careers are over, but I hope they look.

I'll never forget what he said to us "For 60 minutes a year we fight hard against each other, but for the rest of our lives we are family! Because DIII football players share a love of the game."

You could tell those weren't just kind words to a worried family, those were words that the man believed in and lives by. Nurses told us we weren't the first family of an injured football player from a different team that Coach Barnes came to the hospital to see.

This year before the game at CNU he spoke to my younger son wished him a full recovery and asked how the rest of us was doing.

[musupporter]

CNUDad, that Says alot about the man.  I said in earlier posts that I couldn't put a finger on why SU is not just killing people.  Looks like a team full of athletes.  However, if what what you say about their coach is true, the W-L will be forgotten but the life lessons he teaches will remain a life time.  Sometimes it is hard for folks to look deeper than the stats.  I have been guilty of that in the past and can't say it won't happen again.  The more I am around different people at this level, the more I understand what is important.  I hope that our sons and daughters will learn to look deeper.  It may be after their athletic careers are over, but I hope they look.

[CNU85]

It's official.....my daughter is now a Captain. She will be transferring from James Madison in January!

Can y'all handle two of us??? Hahaha!! 

[Bishop64]

It's official.....my daughter is now a Captain. She will be transferring from James Madison in January!

Can y'all handle two of us??? Hahaha!! 

CNU85 Congrats on your daughter. Keep her under the fold as long as you can, they grow up way too fast
Speaking from experience, although she has given me 4 grandkids, she is still my little girl!

[kickerdad]

It's official.....my daughter is now a Captain. She will be transferring from James Madison in January!

Can y'all handle two of us??? Hahaha!! 

Congrats

[buzzyfan]

I'm a former player at SU. A bench warmer on my best days to be honest but I was still on the team for 3 years and have close relationships with many friends on the team still. Coach Barnes is a great guy, For the most part he truly cares about all his players. I felt at times though that he cared more about the startes but then again what coach doesent I guess. But being an up class person and having great bed side manners does not make you a great coach. Coach Barnes has indeed lost the players in the locker room. They dont feel that he is the person that can take them over the hump and on to brighter days. Every week we always heard the same ol speach from him but as players we for the most part tune him out. Let me be clear again. I liked the guy and do agree that he is a person that many players parents like. But as a head coach he just does not have it. If winning and losing dont matter then why take score? I dont know if Coach Jacoby is the answer or anyone else on the current coaching staff but if SU wants to win then they need to look at a different direction because the players that I know just dont feel like they can win with Coach Barnes. I dont want to come accross as being mean but it is what it is.  As players all we want to do is win. You wont win every game but the team is just so down on itself and feels it has no leadership. I guess thats where I'm trying to go with this. As players or former player also we feel the team is being lead with no captain. Again Im sorry if this come accross as mean but its not. Its just how alot of us feel.

[narch]

I'm a former player at SU. A bench warmer on my best days to be honest but I was still on the team for 3 years and have close relationships with many friends on the team still. Coach Barnes is a great guy, For the most part he truly cares about all his players. I felt at times though that he cared more about the startes but then again what coach doesent I guess. But being an up class person and having great bed side manners does not make you a great coach. Coach Barnes has indeed lost the players in the locker room. They dont feel that he is the person that can take them over the hump and on to brighter days. Every week we always heard the same ol speach from him but as players we for the most part tune him out. Let me be clear again. I liked the guy and do agree that he is a person that many players parents like. But as a head coach he just does not have it. If winning and losing dont matter then why take score? I dont know if Coach Jacoby is the answer or anyone else on the current coaching staff but if SU wants to win then they need to look at a different direction because the players that I know just dont feel like they can win with Coach Barnes. I dont want to come accross as being mean but it is what it is.  As players all we want to do is win. You wont win every game but the team is just so down on itself and feels it has no leadership. I guess thats where I'm trying to go with this. As players or former player also we feel the team is being lead with no captain. Again Im sorry if this come accross as mean but its not. Its just how alot of us feel.

this post should really help the situation at su...

[coachmilburn]

I'm a former player at SU. A bench warmer on my best days to be honest but I was still on the team for 3 years and have close relationships with many friends on the team still. Coach Barnes is a great guy, For the most part he truly cares about all his players. I felt at times though that he cared more about the startes but then again what coach doesent I guess. But being an up class person and having great bed side manners does not make you a great coach. Coach Barnes has indeed lost the players in the locker room. They dont feel that he is the person that can take them over the hump and on to brighter days. Every week we always heard the same ol speach from him but as players we for the most part tune him out. Let me be clear again. I liked the guy and do agree that he is a person that many players parents like. But as a head coach he just does not have it. If winning and losing dont matter then why take score? I dont know if Coach Jacoby is the answer or anyone else on the current coaching staff but if SU wants to win then they need to look at a different direction because the players that I know just dont feel like they can win with Coach Barnes. I dont want to come accross as being mean but it is what it is.  As players all we want to do is win. You wont win every game but the team is just so down on itself and feels it has no leadership. I guess thats where I'm trying to go with this. As players or former player also we feel the team is being lead with no captain. Again Im sorry if this come accross as mean but its not. Its just how alot of us feel.

this post should really help the situation at su...

I agree and not trying to be a smart*** but if you want your concern to be considered legitimate, then post your real identity OR write a letter to the SU administrators and AD's expressing your concerns.

If what you are stating is true, then you should not have any problems posting with your real identity vs. hiding behind an alias.  I am told that the truth is an easy story to tell.

If not, then this post should be deleted from this message board.

Just my 2cents.

[Uncle Jessie]

Looks like we have another nail biter going down the final 3 weeks of the season. AU plays NCW on Nov 14th and I'm looking forward to seeing which of these two high powered scoring teams will prevail. Here's hoping that no team will have any major injuries. We also cant forget CNU though. They are still right in the mix of it all.

[Uncle Jessie]

If CNU wins out the remanding season and both NCW and AU both win and come down to the final game, what do you guys think the chances are that two USAC schools will go to the playoffs?

[NaturalSelection]

Averett over Methodist 38-7. The game was very embarrassing from the MU side of the ball. Offense did nothing and defense stopped nothing. AU ran the ball with ease all day long against a very small and inexperienced defense for the most part. Game looked like it was going to be a very physical game during warm-ups after each team taunted each other but it turned out that AU was the only team that came to play. Congrats on the big win!!

You are correct.  As I said, the outcome would not have changed.  AU is playing good ball.  Even though the starting line up reflected all starters present, there were some players out with injuries and illness.  You are also correct in the jawing going back and forth.  MU had nothing to jaw about based on their performance and AU could have been a little more humble about the thumping they handed out.  Coaches could be to blame for allowing it.  I think it is more the environment we live in.  The players see it on national TV everyday at the college and pro level.

I am not trying to take anything from AU.  I have a family friend that is a senior there and I am truly happy for his success as well as AU.  They have paid the price and now reap the benefits of a team that has been together for a few years now.  I am pulling for them to make a run and finish strong.  Hope to see them win conference. 

Congrats to AU for an impressive season.  MU struggles continue. MU was missing a large number of starters and role players due to the flu and injuries. I don't believe it would have made a difference as far as AU winning but it may have been a closer game.  No surprise AU dominated as they have dominated several teams this year.  Great athletic team.

Only advice I have for them is to act like they have done it before.  Several unsportsmanlike penalties and several times they should have been called.  When you outclass a team, be classy about it.

I dont think MU was missing any starters. Lets see on defense they were not missing a single person. On offense they are missing number 18 and 21 because of injuries. One starter and one back-up were missing. Dont think that would of made a difference in this one. Both teams were jawing quite a bit and i think that reflects the type of coaching they have.

im still confused as to what starters you are talking about?? the only starter that was not playing was number 18 Hopkins at WR. the defense had all their starters and the offense had all theirs minus one player.

[HSCTiger74]

If CNU wins out the remanding season and both NCW and AU both win and come down to the final game, what do you guys think the chances are that two USAC schools will go to the playoffs?

Zero (same as the ODAC, I'll admit). Every team in the USAC has at least two losses, and there are too many one-loss teams from more highly rated conferences.

[WFU34]

I would agree - realistically it could be a 3 way tie for the title if CNU and AU win out (which means NCWC loses).  All would have 1 loss and having beaten each other.  Conference is not highly rated enough nor out of conference records are not good enough to probably warrant 2 teams getting in.  Hope I'm wrong.

Note to SU fans - a lot of buzz about the coach, they should be better, etc., while I understand your feelings and disapointment but can you wait one more week (until after the AU game) before you turn it around?

[Uncle Jessie]

Note to SU fans - a lot of buzz about the coach, they should be better, etc., while I understand your feelings and disapointment but can you wait one more week (until after the AU game) before you turn it around?

good one. One karma for you

[CNU85]

If CNU wins out the remanding season and both NCW and AU both win and come down to the final game, what do you guys think the chances are that two USAC schools will go to the playoffs?

zip