FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

If the Millsaps-DPU 'over-under is less than 20' (you mean total points scored, right?) I will not post for a week. 

I see Millsaps finally got 2 votes in this week's poll.  Kudos to a voter or two for actually being able to consider the whole season rather than focusing on a one point loss in week one. 

Meanwhile, 1-2 Hardin-Simmons is still ranked 21st after a 41-34 home victory that came down to the last play, a batted down pass in the Cowboy end zone.  Some of you may remember that Millsaps skunked the same team, Louisiana College, by a 44-10 margin at their place back in week two.    Pay attention, voters.   

Week 1 wasn't so long ago. It's not like it's November.

[Ralph Turner]

Is it going to take well-supported programs at Millsaps and BSC for South Region D-III football finally to take off?

I really don't think that Emory will resume football, but I wonder about a trickle down effect to see programs resume at Hendrix and Southwestern, as well as more players lining up at Huntingdon, LaGrange and maybe even a new program at Piedmont.

[HunterT]

Curiously Ralph,

if programs were to revive them selves at Hendrix, Southwestern and other existing SCAC schools (I guess that's really only Oglethorpe), any input about how the conference system would work? could we have a "SCAC Championship Game" with an East winner and a West winner?

might be more of a post-season conversation, but since its coming up now i figured I'd ask.

[Ralph Turner]

Curiously Ralph,

if programs were to revive them selves at Hendrix, Southwestern and other existing SCAC schools (I guess that's really only Oglethorpe), any input about how the conference system would work? could we have a "SCAC Championship Game" with an East winner and a West winner?

might be more of a post-season conversation, but since its coming up now i figured I'd ask.

Hunter, I don't know how the Conference would handle that.  The Presidents would have to see the value in that arrangement.

I will defer to posters who are more closely connected to SCAC "higher-ups".

[INQBScout]

What's the weather forecast for Greencastle, Indiana???

Looking good...sunny and 75.

[exmajor]

I think I am ok that Millsaps is not ranked right now in the poll, I would much rather stay under the radar and also have highly motivated student-atheletes playing hard week in and week out because nothing is given to them.  This weekend's game in Greencastle looks to be the toughest test yet for both teams.  A Millsaps win is a must for postseason's hopes, espcially the way Trinity is looking this year! 

[Ron Boerger]

With re more teams playing FB in the conference ... the SCAC has said they want to be a 12 team league.  They're there.  I can't really see the conference too excited about anyone else adding football, but hey.  One more school would probably work out OK (if not optimally), but more than that will present major problems.

Ralph (re giving HSU the benefit of the doubt re 1st/2nd string):  if so, the same benefits should apply to the Millsaps/MC game, yes?  Can't have it both ways. 

Pat (re it was only three weeks ago):  I have no problem with that, but it seems that Millsaps is being held to a higher standard than other teams which have losses (to inferior opponents or by greater amounts) during the same timeframe.  Recent results are supposed to count for more and Millsaps has three dominant wins since a questionable (on more than one count) defeat.  Last year's Millsaps team struggled on the road; this year's team has not, and when you can win 42-0 behind your 2nd team QB it's impressive no matter who you're playing. 

In any case a big game this weekend for both Millsaps and DePauw and the result should put the winner on the national map. 

[Ralph Turner]

...

Ralph (re giving HSU the benefit of the doubt re 1st/2nd string):  if so, the same benefits should apply to the Millsaps/MC game, yes?  Can't have it both ways. 
...
In any case a big game this weekend for both Millsaps and DePauw and the result should put the winner on the national map. 

Good morning, Ron.

I don't doubt that the "northside Baptists"  (HSU for those who are unfamiliar with Abilene geography) are getting a little love in their 1-2 record for their scheduling current #6 and a strong Linfield (#12)  team (a long road trip).

I can see HSU being the only 3-loss team in the Top 25 if their losses were to 3 Top 10 teams by the end of the year.

Millsaps and DePauw is one of the really good match-ups this weekend.

Travel safely, all.

[Pat Coleman]

I think Millsaps is being held to a different standard because of the way they lost in Week 1, not necessarily that they lost in Week 1 altogether.

[Rick Akins]

Ron, I agree with your comments about Millsaps and the top 25, especially considering what Mississippi College has done since the first week and the dominant nature of the Millsaps wins.  I know none of the wins by either have been against the very best, but to a great extent that applies to Trinity too.

If Trinity is 14th (I think) this week then Millsaps with only 2 votes seems really unrealistic. I know all the real tests for Millsaps, Trinity and Miss. College are coming up but 2 votes is not much love for a defending conference champion.

[Ron Boerger]

I think Millsaps is being held to a different standard because of the way they lost in Week 1, not necessarily that they lost in Week 1 altogether.

And that, to me, is the crux of the problem.  Rankings should represent the strength of a team and who would beat who if teams meet, rather than be used as a mechanism to express disgust at arguably poor coaching strategies. 

Thank goodness we have a playoff system  and thanks for providing not only a poll but a place for us to discuss it. 

[Pat Coleman]

I think Millsaps is being held to a different standard because of the way they lost in Week 1, not necessarily that they lost in Week 1 altogether.

And that, to me, is the crux of the problem.  Rankings should represent the strength of a team and who would beat who if teams meet, rather than be used as a mechanism to express disgust at arguably poor coaching strategies. 

Thank goodness we have a playoff system  and thanks for providing not only a poll but a place for us to discuss it. 

Unfortunately, "who would beat if teams meet" is dependent on the coaching strategy.

[Ron Boerger]

I think Millsaps is being held to a different standard because of the way they lost in Week 1, not necessarily that they lost in Week 1 altogether.

And that, to me, is the crux of the problem.  Rankings should represent the strength of a team and who would beat who if teams meet, rather than be used as a mechanism to express disgust at arguably poor coaching strategies. 

Thank goodness we have a playoff system  and thanks for providing not only a poll but a place for us to discuss it. 

Unfortunately, "who would beat if teams meet" is dependent on the coaching strategy.

Asserting that the strategy would be the same today as it was in Week 1 is ludicrous; all one has to do is look at recent results.   

Obviously neither of us is going to budge on this so I'll drop it - at least until next week.   

[Ralph Turner]

I think Millsaps is being held to a different standard because of the way they lost in Week 1, not necessarily that they lost in Week 1 altogether.

And that, to me, is the crux of the problem.  Rankings should represent the strength of a team and who would beat who if teams meet, rather than be used as a mechanism to express disgust at arguably poor coaching strategies. 

Thank goodness we have a playoff system  and thanks for providing not only a poll but a place for us to discuss it. 

Unfortunately, "who would beat if teams meet" is dependent on the coaching strategy.

Asserting that the strategy would be the same today as it was in Week 1 is ludicrous; all one has to do is look at recent results.   

Obviously neither of us is going to budge on this so I'll drop it - at least until next week.   

...

The old Stephen Covey approach of, "Seeking to understand first, then to be understood" might be a good creed for us guys to consider.
...

They did!   

It is certainly fun to have the SCAC as something other than Trinity and the dwarves!

[cush]

I had heard about hendrix thinking about football but not SW, any updates on their status. As for emory, they would  have a great program if they put some $ into it but you'll probably see pepsi machines on their campus before varisty football players. I would think the Scac would want either 9 football programs or 12, so they could have a champ game but would frown any numbers in between.