FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[LA Major]

I was watching an "American Gladiator" re-run on ESPN classic the other day and a guy from Trinity was on there.  I can't remember his name, but he did well.  They showed his number I think it was 44.  Can anybody recall who he is, and how well did he finish overall? 

It was somewhere in the 1990-93 era, when Larry Csonka hosted the show?  That is about as much as I remember from that episode.

His name is Spencer Street. He hosted several friends and myself this past January for a hunt on his ranch in NCentral Texas. He is in the oil and gas business and lives in the area. He was a wonderful host and told the Gladiator story which he tried out originally for just for fun. He did very well and advanced but did not win. He said he was treated wonderfully but when he was beat it was done and gone. I had to give him a hard time about the Millsaps win over TU which he took with grace. He has wonderful memories of DIII football and TU. He was very interested in Millsaps and their program   development. He was curious about my son's experience playing for Coach DuBose and sees the SCAC as a conference on the move. Needless to say we had a great time. For me as a parent of a DIII athlete I see someone like  Spencer as a great example of the wonderful impact a DIII collegiate experience has while in school and in preparing young people for the future.

[Just_that_kid]

Jackson had great size for a WR--maybe just a step slow for the pro level, though.  Chris was a solid player, so I hope he does well. 

Chris ran in the ball park of 4.32 for NFL scouts this summer. Now, I might be mistaken, but I'm fairly certain that's not "a step too slow" for any level. Let's know what we're alking about here people.

As for all the injury whining coming from fans of those boys in San Antonio. Millsaps had 5 players alone, who underwent ACL sugery during, or after last season. Two of their top offensive threats missed signifigant protions of the season, also. Trinity went to Jackson and got out played, out performed and out coached. Can we quit with the excuses? Injuries happen in football, and champions overcome.
The conference is a level playing field, now. Trinity is no longer the big bad wolf.  Millsaps proved it last season. This conference is wide open, and it's anyone's for the taking. Good luck to everyone in the SCAC in proving that this is the conference to beat.

[Ron Boerger]

Per the Dallas Morning News' Tim McMahon, ex-Trinity WR Jerheme Urban will see some time returning punts against the Colts Thursday night.  Two other WRs in camp are fighting injuries; being able to return punts as well as catch passes could help Urban stick around this season.  Both the injured guys could go on the practice squad and Dallas is searching for a return guy.  In another blog today McMahon said "Jerheme Urban's chances to make the team get better every practice Jamaica Rector and Isaiah Stanback have to sit out."  McMahon has not been high on the kid's chances so far, so it's nice to see the change. 

Jerheme did not return a lot of punts at Trinity but does hold the school's career kick return yardage mark.

[FerricMajor82]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/orl-dubose0207aug02,0,2154761.story

Can you blame the guy?  In my four years at Millsaps, I played under two head coaches, four defensive coordinators, and five defensive line coaches.  Continuity is a huge problem at Millsaps.  However, the largest problem is the administration. 

An example:  After using the same weight room bars for four years, they became bent after repititions of clean/jerk, hang cleans, power cleans, etc.  I personally went to the administration to ask for money to replace the bars that were used by the entire school.  They said no.  The administration could care less about athletics, and truly isn't concerned about the success, or lack there of within the athletics department.  I know for a fact that DuBose clashes with the administration on more levels than one.  Hell, I clashed with the administration when I was in school there, and it is safe to say that anyone that has ever been involved with Millsaps knows that the administration is perhaps the most dreadful entitiy to deal with.  Let's see???  Enrollment has plummeted over the last five years, the college isn't as academically highly ranked as it once was, and tuition has gone up over $8,000 in the last five years. 

Here is an idea Millsaps College.  The Coach that is brining in 60 players this year (all of whom will be paying tuition money) should probably get everything he wants.  Let's face it.  Coach Page (baseball), Coach DuBose, and Coach Wise (basketball) are the only reason that Millsaps's enrollement isn't sub 1,000. 

Is this a problem at any other SCAC school?  I'm just wondering, b/c I'm sick of seeing coaches leave Millsaps b/c they aren't treated correctly, and can't provide players with equipment and incentives that most of received in High School.   Perhaps Millsaps should think about dismissing Dr. Lucas (our president) and most of the administration. 

[TigerDad]

A quick run through the Trinity Tigers Football Archives revealed these stats for Jerheme Urban and a couple other key players:

Career Kick Return Yards: #1 - Jerheme Urban, 1000 yards (1999-2002)
Career Kick Return Yards: #5 - Spencer Street, 668 yards (1985-1988)

Career Kick Returns: #4 - Jerheme Urban, 39 (1999-2002)

Career Receiving Yards: #2 - Jerheme Urban, 2962 yards (1999-2002)

Career Receptions: #2 - Jerheme Urban, 191 (1999-2002)

Career Receiving TD's: #1(tie) - Jerheme Urban, 35 (1999-2002)
Career Receiving TD's: #1(tie) - Bo Edwards, 35 (1996-1999)

Career Total Touchdowns Scored: #1 - Jerheme Urban, 40 (1999-2002)

Career Total Points Scored: #2 - Jerheme Urban, 240 (1999-2002)

Career All Purpose Yards: #4 - Jerheme Urban, 4184 (1999-2002)

Gotta give those men the props!

Best wishes to Mr. Urban in Cowboys' camp ... hope he gets a chance to show his stuff and make the team this season!

[exmajor]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/orl-dubose0207aug02,0,2154761.story

Can you blame the guy?  In my four years at Millsaps, I played under two head coaches, four defensive coordinators, and five defensive line coaches.  Continuity is a huge problem at Millsaps.  However, the largest problem is the administration. 

An example:  After using the same weight room bars for four years, they became bent after repititions of clean/jerk, hang cleans, power cleans, etc.  I personally went to the administration to ask for money to replace the bars that were used by the entire school.  They said no.  The administration could care less about athletics, and truly isn't concerned about the success, or lack there of within the athletics department.  I know for a fact that DuBose clashes with the administration on more levels than one.  Hell, I clashed with the administration when I was in school there, and it is safe to say that anyone that has ever been involved with Millsaps knows that the administration is perhaps the most dreadful entitiy to deal with.  Let's see???  Enrollment has plummeted over the last five years, the college isn't as academically highly ranked as it once was, and tuition has gone up over $8,000 in the last five years. 

Here is an idea Millsaps College.  The Coach that is brining in 60 players this year (all of whom will be paying tuition money) should probably get everything he wants.  Let's face it.  Coach Page (baseball), Coach DuBose, and Coach Wise (basketball) are the only reason that Millsaps's enrollement isn't sub 1,000. 

Is this a problem at any other SCAC school?  I'm just wondering, b/c I'm sick of seeing coaches leave Millsaps b/c they aren't treated correctly, and can't provide players with equipment and incentives that most of received in High School.   Perhaps Millsaps should think about dismissing Dr. Lucas (our president) and most of the administration. 

Ferric,

I do sympathize with your feelings on Millsaps Football.  I experienced much of the same going through two head coaches and four o-line coaches in my playing years, and that is not very easy! 

However, we must realize that this is the SCAC and DIII and all of these schools are at the foremost Academic Institutions, and damn good ones at that.  There will always be a battle between the Administration and Athletic Department, no matter what the records on the field are.  It is agreed that the Admin. could do a better job of leveraging off the success of its sports programs in order to boost enrollment, but at what costs?  There are some schools that seem to do a better all around job of having the two camps coexist, but I am sure there are battles behind the scenes there as well.  I loved every minute of being a college athlete at Millsaps, but I would never trade that in for the education I received there.  After all, I am not playing football now and doubt any teams will be knocking on my door anytime soon.  It is rare that a DIII athlete makes the leap to the profesional level so his/her attention must be turned to the long term while he/she is in school. 

Despite what you say, the college is still ranked high academically (see here: http://www.millsaps.edu/get_to_know/awards.shtml) and has had a very good year in recruitment.  In fact it is a five year high, with the freshman class numbering 297 compared to the past 4 years' final numbers as follows:  '06 = 232, '05 = 258, '04 = 279, '03 = 260 students.  The freshman class also has very good test scores and come from a variety of different places.

The Dubose news in this one article is disturbing, but I had a feeling this would be the case no matter how much money the school pumped into football.  There should be no mistaking that this is not Division I and it never will be.  My only hope is that articles like this do not distract the current players from the task at hand!

[evacuee]

That would be my hope.  If I were a Millsaps player and left it all on the field for that guy last fall, I wouldn't be happy. I can't believe Dubose would say that publicly.

[Ron Boerger]

In reading that article it seemed fairly obvious to me that the writer didn't go out of his way to tell a complete story.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Coach DuBose last week and he was upbeat and positive regarding the program and his kids.   

[Just_that_kid]

As far as this issue is concerned, coach DuBose is accountable to nobody but his team and staff. Although the news is disheartening, everyone realized it was likely at some point. However, that moment is not now, and the SCAC and the rest of D3 football still have to recon with his knowledge and the Millsaps squad for at least another year.

Regardless of what coach DuBose decides to do, he has single handedly turned the football program around, and gave both of you (exmajor and ferric) the ring on your hand. He gave last years seniors things those players never dreamed realistic. Millsaps' football team has over 100 players on the roster. Think back five years... wasn't the roster around 35? Perhaps he hasn't gone about it the way he should have, but that's not for us to decide. Each man must do what's best for him, and although he would disappoint many people if he did leave, if his heart isn't in Jackson, then he must do what he feels is right.

Millsaps, as well as the remainder of the SCAC, has less than a week until the season begins—may the best team win.

[consultant]

I'm not buying this article about DuBose.  To be sure, this would really raise eyebrows if the article originated in a Mississippi paper.  Why in the world would someone write about Millsaps in the Orlando paper?  Doesn't sell papers and doesn't make sense.   DuBose is too savvy to give the idea that he longs for big time college football.  He may miss it, but it appears that he enjoys being where he is at Millsaps. 

The writer really put a hatchet to DuBose and to Millsaps without revealing the whole story.

[Pat Coleman]

As far as this issue is concerned, coach DuBose is accountable to nobody but his team and staff.

I'm fairly certain he's accountable up the college's chain of command.

[consultant]

Pat,
You're right.  DuBose reports to the AD, who reports to the President.

[Just_that_kid]

As far as this issue is concerned, coach DuBose is accountable to nobody but his team and staff.

I'm fairly certain he's accountable up the college's chain of command.

Agreed, however, maybe it's been awhile since you were part of a team. It's a family. If you read, the article discusses his issues with the "chain of command", not his players. Players are accountable to him, and he is accountable to the team. I understand that in today's world, everyone is connected to some politician (of sorts), but I don't see any faculty or administration on the field. I don't see anyone else sweating and bleeding with the players. I don't see the administration of ANY school suffering with or for the athletes.
So I hold to what I said. In case some have lost sight of it, a coaches number ONE responsibility is his team, and the young men he/she is trying to develope. Isn't that the true point of college athletics? That's why he's an amazing coach. The team is the family. Everything else is a formality.

[frank_ezelle]

I don't see anything surprising in the article about Coach DuBose.  Going from the budget and staff of a D1 program down to the D3 level has got to have its frustrations and who can blame a guy for putting out feelers that he would be interested in a higher paying and more prestigious job.  I have no doubt that Coach DuBose can get back into a higher level of coaching, but I'm hoping that he'll want to finish out his coaching career in one spot where he can build a program and really make a difference in the lives of some outstanding student/athletes.

On another subject, I see Raymese Savage listed on the 2007 Millsaps roster.  I'm guessing this is the same player who started most of the 2004 season at quarterback and then did a good job filling in at receiver during an injury plagued 2005 season.  He wasn't on the team last season but he is the type player and athlete who could really help in the coming year.

[Pat Coleman]

As far as this issue is concerned, coach DuBose is accountable to nobody but his team and staff.

I'm fairly certain he's accountable up the college's chain of command.

Agreed, however, maybe it's been awhile since you were part of a team. It's a family.

Thanks. However, maybe it's been a while since you were part of a professional organization. Coaches are responsible to all sorts of constituencies.