FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[kickerdad]

Don't count Shenandoah or their coach out just yet. I watched them play against Averett the past four years and they have got some outstanding ball players. If they ever find 4th and 5th gear they will be something else to deal with. They have been in every game so far this year and a break here and there would have given them the win. I hope Averett is not thinking ahead because if they are, Shenandoah will take them to the cleaners and then they have to travel to Ferrum. I don't think they have won at Ferrum in a while. (at least not the past two times). Something about that place that causes Averett to fall apart. I still don't think Averett has put together the full package yet this year. They need to realize there is 60 minutes in a game and you have to go full bore the entire time, plus some. They have played outstanding in the second half this year, but I would like to see them play with the same intensity in the first half as well. If they get into 5th gear for a whole game (and that includes all aspects like special teams) then watch out.

[abnrgr]

HSC 74 is right. Did the ODAC have a BC 8-2 or 9-1 and HSC 9-1 one year and HSC sat because they lost to BC. Way too many hammers out there for 2 USAC teams. 2001-2004 HSC had probably 3 playoff calibre teams that sat. As painful as that was to admit I was too lazy to research but I am close

[WFU34]

Kickerdad - I don't think AU will be looking past anyone.  They probably have the toughest road to go thru to have any chance to share a portion of the conference title so I would be surprised to see them take any of their remaining games for granted.

Defense has played outstanding lately - particularly the last 7 quarters and the offensive line is improving to enable a running game to get untracked marking for a more balanced attack.  They have play makers.    All you can ever ask for is to have the opportunity to control your own destiny - they do, it will be interesting to see how the kids handle the next couple of weeks.

[narch]

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?

nada

[ProudFightingScot]

Been out of town the last few days and haven't had a chance to comment about the NCW-Maryville game. I remember what the Bishops were like 2 years ago when they made it to the national playoffs and this looks like a much better team.  They have a dominant defensive front, an athletic offenive line and many difference makers on offense.   I knew we were in trouble when I saw DE Boykin run down Hightower from the opposite side of the field. 

We lost 2 defensive starters for the season with injuries the week before during the Averett game and needed everyone healthy to play against a very good offense.  Our QB Tim Conner suffered a grade 1 separated shoulder at the end of the first quarter on a tackle made on Averett's sideline (an incident happened to Conner on the sideline which I will comment on at a later time) which explains why we weren't successful throwing the ball the last 3 quarters of that game.  Conner didn't throw a ball all throughout the week until the morning of the NCW game.  Conner played the last 2 series of the 2nd quarter and first 2 series of the 3rd quarter & was ineffective.  Backup starter Chris Shelton started the game with only a handful of college snaps under his belt.  I thought he did a good job.  He made some rookie mistakes, but made several nice throws during the game.

We needed to be at our very best and play at our very best to have any chance against this talented team.  I'll be shocked if they lose any of the remaining conference games.   

The Fighting Scots need to regroup this week and get a win against a tough Greensboro team who lost against CNU 14-7.

[ProudFightingScot]

Just one more comment about Shenandoah since everyone else is commenting about SU.  They are extremely close to having turned around the program.  All the scores indicate they are STILL playing very hard for Coach Barnes and haven't given up on the season.

The have a strong running game and a very good defense.  The one thing they haven't had is a QB who can win a game by throwing the ball.  The current QB is a tough runner and can manage the offense, but I do not believe he can take over and win the game with his arm.  I think he threw for about 150 yards against us, but 95 yards came on 2 screen passes.  If they used the PK who kicked 2 FG's against us against CNU the previous week, they would have had a win against CNU.

So SU fans, hang in there - I really believe next season will be a big year for the Hornets (except for against MC).

[AUPOP]

Kickerdad - I don't think AU will be looking past anyone.  They probably have the toughest road to go thru to have any chance to share a portion of the conference title so I would be surprised to see them take any of their remaining games for granted.

Defense has played outstanding lately - particularly the last 7 quarters and the offensive line is improving to enable a running game to get untracked marking for a more balanced attack.  They have play makers.    All you can ever ask for is to have the opportunity to control your own destiny - they do, it will be interesting to see how the kids handle the next couple of weeks.

Hope you are right WFU34, watched the SU/Ferrum game on line last week and SU is a very capable of coming in and putting a halt to AU's season. Thier record isn't an indication of thier ability. Frankly I am more worried about this one than Ferrum, not a slight against Ferrum but SU has been so close all season they are do to finally pull one out for a win. I am sure they would like nothing better than to be the spoiler so AU better be ready.

Agree with what you said, defense has been spectacular and seems like the o line has come together. They have been tinkering with it all year trying to find the right combination and judging from Saturday looks like they have it.

Here's hoping for a dry Saturday, have fought a cold all football season and not sure how much more the field can take of these wet games. Stayed for the jv game Sunday and after it was over field was in pretty bad shape. Don't know if its always this wet during football season in Danville but if so time for AU to get off the wallet and put in a turf field.

[CNU Dad]

CNU85 congrats on your daughter becoming a Captain. I will be sure to throw an extra Bubba Burger on the grill for her next year.

[kickerdad]

Here's hoping for a dry Saturday, have fought a cold all football season and not sure how much more the field can take of these wet games. Stayed for the jv game Sunday and after it was over field was in pretty bad shape. Don't know if its always this wet during football season in Danville but if so time for AU to get off the wallet and put in a turf field.

They need more than turf but that would be a good start. The field seems to hold water, especially at the end where the "Cougar Den" is. Could be the crown is gone. They use to keep it too wet and the fact that soccer (girls and boys) are all over it way before football season starts, doesn't help. Coach Smith will kill me for this, but I think, not sure for certain this year, the kickers practice primarly on the game field as well. A field goal kicker can tear a field up in no time if he doesn't move around.

[WFU34]

The whole AU facility could use an upgrade from the field to the stands to the concessions to the rest rooms.  It all sends a message - to the students, community and visitors.  Some of the conference teams have excellent facilities such as Maryville or CNU.  Don't know if AU doesn't have the money (just recently completed a multi-million $ student center) or lacks the support.

[AdmiralPapi]

Does the visiting team still have walk half way around the campus to get from the locker rooms to the field at AU or did they build a field house near the field?

[WFU34]

Yes - there's a field house by the field that the Cougars use.  Visitors come out of lockers up in the gym, across the parking lot.  Call it "home field advantage" - an effort to "tire out" the opponents legs with the long walk.  Unfortunately it didn't work this year against CNU when they ran for over 500 yards. 

[hasanova]

Speaking of AU's facilities, they are a bit of a mish-mash.  I've been there twice to watch Guilford.  The field itself is not the greatest, partly due to the overall construction of the turf and the amount of play (multiple sports).  The home stands are a very weird combination of disjointed stands and the visitor side is nonexistent (take your own folding chair).  Press box looks very small.  Restrooms, concessions and visitor locker facilities are scattered and inadequate.  Parking area and accessibility to the stadium (which is off-campus) are good.

Now, with that said, it takes time (and money!) for a relatively new program to get their facilities up to speed, but, with that said, Averett could have done some better planning on what they've done to date.

Now, lest anyone say my own alma mater went for years (make that decades!) with subpar facilities, I will wholeheartedly agree.  Finally, after a lot of planning and fundraising, we now have something of which I'm proud, but .... I'd still like to see more stands, a permanent concession area and a fieldhouse adjacent to the field.  As always, it only takes money!

[musupporter]

Heres my thoughts on sub par football facilities or any athletic facilities at this level.  Before I get started let me say I don't have a problem with money being spent to upgrade educational facilities over athletics.

Lets just say the average cost of tuition is $25000.00 at these private schools.  I will speak from the numbers at MU.  There are over 100 football players at MU.  Some play, some don't.  Some get academic money, some get little.  No athletic scholarships.  But lets assume that after averaging out academic money, 75 players pay $25000.00 per year.  That would total $1,875,000.00 per year generated by the football players alone.  That figures to $7,500,000.00 over the 4 year enrollment of those 75 players.  Thats football.  Doesn't include the other sports or the non athletes.

Disclaimer:  I know these figures are not accurate but I think they are close.  Even if I am off a couple hundred thousand, still a lot of cash flow.

I have read the posts from others lamenting over the lack of money and private vs. state funded.  Yes there is a huge difference between those two.  But if your athletics generated that kind of money it is perfectly acceptable to wonder why your facilities are sub par. 

Until the administration of the individual schools realize the true significance of their athletic programs, DIII schools are going to continue to play in sub par facilities and their athletic programs will never get to the level that fans and alumni think they should be.

[musupporter]

Footnote:  MU did open a wonderful football field house facility this year.  Very nice.

But we still use port-a- jons, a trailer for concessions, no visitors side, and no lights.

We also hope the long walk from the visitors locker room wears our opponents out before the game ever gets started.