FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Wild Horse Rider]

The 2023 USAC season has come to an end.  Belhaven drew the buzz saw in the first round and did not make it to the second round of the playoffs but what a season for the Blazers.  As I am assuming most expected they racked up the conference postseason awards with OPOTY, DPOTY, and coach of the year.  They also had 12 all-conference selections including 10 on the first team (7 from offense).  The conference runner up Hawks had 13 spots for 12 players (WR and returner) including 5 on the first team (7 selections from the defensive side).  NCWC had 7, Maryville had 6, and Greensboro had 6.  I would have to do some research but I would bet you that 6 selections for the Pride is the most in quite some time (the COVID spring excluded).  Brevard had 3, Methodist 3, and SOVA 2 selections.  LaGrange did not have any players selected.  They did have a honorable mention section where it appears that each team had a representative but that is the first time I have seen them do that so I am not sure what it means.  In either case here is my way to early very unofficial preseason rankings:

1. Maryville- They return the QB for his JR season and will likely be the team to beat for the next two seasons.  I give them the slight edge over the Hawks since the game will be in TN next year.
2. Huntingdon- Until Coach Turk leaves they will always be at the top of this conference and will contend for the title.
3. Belhaven- Graduation will hit this team probably the hardest but with where they recruit I would think they should be able to reload rather quickly.
4. Brevard- If this team can find a way to win some out of conference games it will help the overall image of the conference.  They are also returning an all-conference QB
5. NCWC- This team will continue to have talent and could surprise people next season depending on retention
6. Greensboro- Coach Card has this program moving in the right direction I think.  It is a tough hill to climb but they have started moving upwards
7. SOVA- Always a tough team to call due to mission trips but I thought they were improved on offense this year and that is something to build on
8. Methodist- It was a disappointment this season and though they are not loosing a ton of Seniors they are losing them at key positions.  It may get worse in Fayetteville before it gets better
9. LaGrange- I am still waiting for someone to awaken this sleeping giant.  Recruiting in the state of Georgia could turn any program quickly


I realistically could see any of those top 4 teams winning the conference title next season.  The thing that I would love to see change next year is the conferences overall record in non-conference games.  We were 7 wins and 18 losses.  The 7 wins came from Maryville (3), Belhaven (2), and Huntingdon (2).  If as a conference this can improve then maybe the next NCAA AQ doesn't get sent to the defending national champs house in round 1.

[Ralph Turner]

Maryville

9/2   at Sewanee •   W, 28-8   BX RC
9/9   vs. Centre •   W, 34-23   BX RC
9/16   at Shenandoah •   W, 27-20   BX RC RC

Huntingdon

9/2   at Berry •   L, 67-34   BX
9/9   vs. Birmingham-Southern •   W, 16-0   BX
9/16   vs. Guilford •   W, 40-14   BX

Belhaven

8/31   vs. Millsaps •   W, 47-7   BX RC
9/9   at Lyon   W, 48-15   BX RC

Brevard

9/2   vs. Warner   L, 29-23   BX RC
9/9   at Hampden-Sydney •   L, 31-17   BX RC RC
9/16   vs. Averett •   L, 17-14   BX RC  (Averett went 2-5 in the ODAC)

Increasing the number of wins in out-of-conference play looks like a steep hill to climb.

[Blazers1]

Coach McCorkle is leaving Belhaven to become the head football coach at Northwestern State. Wow! Going from D3 to D1 is impressive. I hate that he will be leaving this program though after the success we have experianced.

[Ron Boerger]

Coach McCorkle is leaving Belhaven to become the head football coach at Northwestern State. Wow! Going from D3 to D1 is impressive. I hate that he will be leaving this program though after the success we have experianced.

He will have his work cut out for him.  They cancelled this season (after starting 0-6) after the shooting death of one of their players and the previous HC quitting afterwards.  They've been a bottom-feeder in the SLC for a long time; their last winning season was 2008.

[BSCpanthers]

Coach McCorkle is leaving Belhaven to become the head football coach at Northwestern State. Wow! Going from D3 to D1 is impressive. I hate that he will be leaving this program though after the success we have experianced.

He will have his work cut out for him.  They cancelled this season (after starting 0-6) after the shooting death of one of their players and the previous HC quitting afterwards.  They've been a bottom-feeder in the SLC for a long time; their last winning season was 2008.

Wasn't he shot by one of his teammates???

Wonder how close they came to just closing the program for good. 

[The Third Division]

Time to wake up the USA south board.

Maryville hired an Oline coach with FCS, FBS, and NFL coaching experience https://footballscoop.com/news/maryville-college-ben-fox-nab-antonio-bradford-as-offensive-line-coach

[Hawks88]

Huntingdon announces this fall's schedule. A trip to Hendrix in week 4 replaces BSC.


https://huntingdonhawks.com/general/2023-24/releases/20240415foltda?fbclid=IwAR2wtYc6ucBPoO2bEvQwfdbMeTfYu0PVen0-jfH163_blz3Ypm9alu3X6BY

[Hawks88]

Huntingdon announces this fall's schedule. A trip to Hendrix in week 4 replaces BSC.


https://huntingdonhawks.com/general/2023-24/releases/20240415foltda?fbclid=IwAR2wtYc6ucBPoO2bEvQwfdbMeTfYu0PVen0-jfH163_blz3Ypm9alu3X6BY

This isn't an optimal schedule. The trip to Hendrix right after the trip to NC Wesleyan then the trip to Maryville right after the trip to Methodist. At least we finish with a home game after the trip to Southern Va. The conference really needs to swap one of those so we don't have all three of the long trips in the same season.

[Wild Horse Rider]

Hawks I just looked at the Monarch schedule and I am kinda in the same boat as far as the schedule goes.  But since I am a glass half full person here is what I see.  On paper you have the first 5 games which depending on what everyone brings back could be wins.  OOC home against Shenandoah and on the road at Guilford.  They lost both of these games last year but I don't think that they were overmatched.  Then they get in conference play with Greensboro, LaGrange, then NCWC.  These are all winnable games.  Now is when the gauntlet begins with Huntingdon and SOVA coming to Fayetteville and then trips to Maryville and Brevard followed by a week 9 bye.  Last game of the season against the defending champs.  Now I would be ecstatic with a 5-0 start but then very sad with a 1-4 finish (SOVA should be winnable).  But if I was to look at last season as a whole going into this season a team around .500 would be an improvement.  Especially with the graduation of a 4 year starting QB, 2 starting DE's, 2 starting SAF, and the starting RB.  The backup QB for the last couple of years is a pitcher on the baseball team and if he is coming back at least he has been part of the program for a few years.  As a former offensive lineman they were disappointing up front but started a consistent group for the last 4-5 games last season.  Hopefully offseason practice/conditioning has helped that unit grow.  Based on what I can gather online the defensive coordinator is gone (they hired a new DL coach and the old DC coached that position).  Not sure if they promoted in-house or went elsewhere.  I know that the SID has better stuff to do but I would love if the coaching staff or spring roster could get updated.  Not that knowing any of that would make me more informed but for curiosity sake.  In either case the players are home for the summer or summer school.  I hope that they are working and come to camp in August ready to go.  You never want to count on a ton of freshman but I hope recruiting went well and there are a few impact players there.

[jknezek]

Beating Shenandoah would be an upset. Beating Guilford... not so much. I didn't think the Monarchs were anywhere near as good as Shenandoah when W&L had them as a common opponent. The only offense the Monarch's mustered was through the air. Without the qb, I just don't see them moving the ball. The ground game and offensive line was... not good. The defense was slow. Very slow. I remember watching the game and W&L was just running past and around the whole team. I don't think Shenandoah will have a problem on the road.

Guilford... well, they need to do something with that program. It is struggling mightily. If you can't beat Guilford you will be in for a very long season again.

[Wild Horse Rider]

I get what you are saying JK.  The O-Line that started early in the season had some big boys on it and I don't mean tall.  When I thought of Shenandoah as a winnable game a big part of that was traveling down the mountain to play in Fayetteville when it is still 95 in the shade.  I was trying to maybe sell myself on the potential for early season wins because I don't see them coming late.  Of those first 5 opponents if I were to rank them I would go Shenandoah, NCWC, Guilford, Greensboro, and then LaGrange.  If I was to rank Methodist on how last year worked out it would be just slightly ahead of LaGrange.  If I assume some improvement then slightly ahead of Guilford.  If I look specifically at the Shenandoah game in Winchester it was a 2 point game with the Hornets ahead going into the 4th.  It was also an 8 point game in favor of the home team until a pick 6 with just under 1:30 left in the game.  Clearly they were the better team that day and the entire season but a few bounces of the ball a different way might have made the outcome different.  I am well aware that it could be another long season for the Monarchs but in May with no real way to determine it is different I am selling myself on better days ahead.

As far as comparing Shenandoah to Methodist as way of a common opponent I get what you are saying.  But I will say that with what your Generals do schematically on offense and defense the past 2 years give Methodist fits.  I have also always admired the discipline that the W&L squads have.  My opinion is and always has been that is the types of ball clubs/players that you get at a very high academic school.  That was never more evident than one of my last college coaching experiences.  Our staff coached a post-season all-star game and we had your RB, Luke Heinsohn (I believe that was his name), on our team.  I can't for the life of me remember the name of the game but I do have the sweatshirt in my closet.  They held it at Salem Stadium.  I just remember how smart and tough that kid was and I believe the rest up there are the same.

[BSCpanthers]

Guess I'll post it here, see if we can't get some life from the USA South.  Maryville is leaving and headed to the SAA.  Bonus for Huntingdon is it gives an OOC option, but takes away a closer conference game.  Y'all can replace the annual game with BSC with either Berry or Maryville. 

[Hawks88]

We already have Berry in week one for the foreseeable future(so I'm told). Going to hate losing those late fall trips to Maryville. I guess any early September trip MIGHT be a little cooler than Montgomery or Birmingham.

[Hawks88]

Huntingdon has posted a roster today.
163 total

28 Srs - including 3 who were listed as Srs last year
30 Jrs
38 So
65 Fr

The 3 returning Srs are LB Ty Martinez, RB James Cheatham, and K Will Edwards.

[BSCpanthers]

Huntingdon has posted a roster today.
163 total

28 Srs - including 3 who were listed as Srs last year
30 Jrs
38 So
65 Fr

The 3 returning Srs are LB Ty Martinez, RB James Cheatham, and K Will Edwards.

This post makes me sad, that these scumbags are prepping for a season and we are prepping our campus for sale.....   

Honestly, I'll be rooting you guys on, y'all had one of the best gameday atmospheres we went to.  Carry that D3 banner for the state.