FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

The bigger deal is that Millsaps will be outnumber on the field because of the 52 player travel limit in the SCAC (just as Trinity was outnumbered last year).  You take 44 players for a 1st and 2nd string offense and defense, throw in a punter and a kicker, and you only have 6 players left over on the bench.  Do you take less linemen so you can add more receivers?  Do you dress a guy with a nagging injury or do you dress a guy who might not be quite as good but he is 100% healthy?  I remember times when Millsaps didn't have 52 players, but this is a rule that does weaken the current Millsaps team during conference road games since they have more than 52 quality players.

Well, whether it's fair or not, the team will have to learn how to make a 52-man roster if it goes to the playoffs so it might as well practice.

[Ralph Turner]

 

Summarizing the recent posts by MajorDad and Frank Ezelle, it seems that the 52-man roster may mean that Millsaps won't be able to start playing the 3rd and 4th stringers by the start of the second half of the Trinity game.

I hope that there aren't any comments about "running up the score"!   

This is gonna be fun to watch! 

[frank_ezelle]

Good point Pat, but I don't think Trinity will only dress 52 on Nov. 1st so they can get prepared for the NCAA.   (and let me repeat what I've mentioned already--namely that Millsaps had the numbers advantage in 2007.  I'm not sure if they had the numbers advantage in 2006 because I doubt they had 52 healthy players by that point in the season.)

[frank_ezelle]

Millsaps has moved to #12 in this weeks D3 poll and it appears that Trinity isn't going to move up much in the polls in October even if they continue to win and play well.  That's just an observation and not any attempt at a putdown of Trinity, nor is it second guessing of the D3 poll voters.

Trinity has won by scores of 48-18, 24-0, 35-10, and 48-20.  There's certainly nothing wrong with those results but their ranking from preseason to now has been 20-22-21-21-19-19.  That's an increase from just #20 to #19 from preseason to now even though 6 teams that were ranked ahead of them in the preseason have now fallen behind Trinity (Bethel, S. John's, Central, St. John Fisher, Ohio Northern, Ithaca).  In a case like this it would not be unusual for Trinity to be more like #15 or #16 at this point in the season.

My guess is that the Trinity coaches, players and fans don't mind this lack of respect from the voters at this point in time, using it instead as extra motivation.  Personally, I think 3 more wins in October will put Trinity at about #15 on November 1.  I'm not sure if Millsaps will move much higher if they win out in October--I think voters might be waiting on the Trinity game to see if Millsaps plays like a top 10 team.

[MajorDad]

Now that I've spoken my silliness, honestly, I don't know how this MC/TU game will turn out. I do know, after talking to many of the MC players that endured that debacle in Jackson last year that they are very hungry for a rematch. Also what I do know, aside from the Miss college game, these players have been having fun, alot of it. Having fun allows them NOT to look forward to the TU game until it's time. I believe the coachs are doing a good job of keeping these guys focused only in the week they are currently living in, and no further. I plan to travel to Texas for this game as do a good deal of the faithful fan base. Barring injuries on both sides, this will be the game to see in the SCAC this year, bar none, especially if we are both X-0......
Personally, College Game Day went to a DIII game last year, why not this year, in Texas. With the exposure that game got all over TV, especially ESPN, it's doable. But who am I kidding, with FLA/GA and Texas/TTU playing that weekend, it's just a dream......right?

[exmajor]

Now that I've spoken my silliness, honestly, I don't know how this MC/TU game will turn out. I do know, after talking to many of the MC players that endured that debacle in Jackson last year that they are very hungry for a rematch. Also what I do know, aside from the Miss college game, these players have been having fun, alot of it. Having fun allows them NOT to look forward to the TU game until it's time. I believe the coachs are doing a good job of keeping these guys focused only in the week they are currently living in, and no further. I plan to travel to Texas for this game as do a good deal of the faithful fan base. Barring injuries on both sides, this will be the game to see in the SCAC this year, bar none, especially if we are both X-0......
Personally, College Game Day went to a DIII game last year, why not this year, in Texas. With the exposure that game got all over TV, especially ESPN, it's doable. But who am I kidding, with FLA/GA and Texas/TTU playing that weekend, it's just a dream......right?

MajorDad,

While it would be awesome continued national exposure for the schools, the SCAC and DIII, I don't think the rivarly merits any visit from Corso and the boys just yet.  While it has grown exciting over the last couple of seasons, this is a series dominated by Trinity over the past 10-15 years.  The game they did last year in CT was based on the history and rivarly between the two schools involved. 

On another note, I am not taking Ralph's bait, I will opine on the Trinity/Millsaps game the week of, after seeing Joseph go down toward the end of the first half last week and one key linemen also going down with a leg injury, there is a lot of football to be played until the first weekend in November and depth will be something to watch.

[Ron Boerger]

I think the lack of progress for Trinity in the polls reflects that the team hasn't gotten past the first round for a long time now, and results to date don't show that is likely to change.   Voters are skeptical, and who can blame them.  Combine that with the progress shown by Millsaps over the last three years, the resurgence of Hardin-Simmons as a factor this season, and it's understandable.  And even with Rhodes suddenly returning from the grave, appearances are the SCAC is Millsaps and the Seven Dwarves.

Appearances, as they say, can be deceiving.  Like most here,  I have way too much respect for Coach Mohr and the staff to write them off, especially given that they are playing in the Twilight Zone friendly confines of EM Stevens Field.   I didn't think they'd be in the game last year, not even as close as it was before the last play, and until the two teams get on the field there's no telling what the final outcome will be. 

[Ralph Turner]

...
On another note, I am not taking Ralph's bait, I will opine on the Trinity/Millsaps game the week of, after seeing Joseph go down toward the end of the first half last week and one key linemen also going down with a leg injury, there is a lot of football to be played until the first weekend in November and depth will be something to watch.

Wisdom of a veteran poster...  

It has been fun to watch the ascendance of Millsaps over the last 2-3 seasons.  It has made for a more lively board.

The ASC board is almost dead with the exception of the HSU-UMHB week and then the lead-up to the post-season.  

[Major Rev]

MajorDad,

While it would be awesome continued national exposure for the schools, the SCAC and DIII, I don't think the rivarly merits any visit from Corso and the boys just yet.  While it has grown exciting over the last couple of seasons, this is a series dominated by Trinity over the past 10-15 years.  The game they did last year in CT was based on the history and rivarly between the two schools involved. 

Oh, I don't know ... I think "The Miracle Revisited" might be enough to spin off ...

[MajorDad]

MajorDad,

While it would be awesome continued national exposure for the schools, the SCAC and DIII, I don't think the rivarly merits any visit from Corso and the boys just yet.  While it has grown exciting over the last couple of seasons, this is a series dominated by Trinity over the past 10-15 years.  The game they did last year in CT was based on the history and rivarly between the two schools involved. 

Oh, I don't know ... I think "The Miracle Revisited" might be enough to spin off ...

Agree

[TE4SAPS80]

I've always been one to compare games and stats.  So here goes.  Ever since the "Mississippi Miracle" Coach Dubose and the Majors have been drumming teams by close to 50 points a game, with the exception of Belhaven.  It might have been a miracle last year for Trinity to pull out the win, I think this year the only thing keeping Trinity from needing more than a Miracle is the fact of home field advantage.  The 52 man roster thing can be a factor, but from what I have seen so far, I would hate to see Millsaps 1st string defense on the field the whole game.  Considering not 1 (MC two field goals), not 2 (Austin TD on 3rd String), but 3 (Rhodes Safety) of the 5 opponents have not scored on Millsaps 1st defense, and subtract a long tossup from DePauw, that would make 4.
Now lets talk offense, Millsaps first string offense has not finished a game either in the past five.  Juan has not gotten much reckognition this year, but I believe that could be partially due to only playing three quarters a game.  Imagine if he gets four where his stats are at.
Trinity fans I have watched Millsaps play, every game this season, trust me this is not close to being the same team as last year.  It is almost like whatever happened at the game last season set off a switch.  I am in the process of booking my two night stay in San Antonio for that weekend, I plan to see a game that both teams will never forget.  My prediction is that Saps wins by at least three touchdowns, and that the Trinity offense maybe scores once.  I believe that Millsaps is everybit of a number 12 team and probably even top 5 this season.  Let's not forget they handed a fairly good DePauw team their largest loss in a pretty long time.
If I am wrong come Nov. 2nd I will eat my words , and I will look foward to the rematch that will possibly come in the playoffs.

[evacuee]

All this talk is making my palms sweaty.  Could we really lose at home to a SCAC team?  Millsaps definitely looks superior at this point.  As we saw in Jackson, all streaks must eventually come to an end, and if Trinity's streak of conference home wins does end this year, I would rather it be to a team of the Majors' caliber than any other.  We could put these Majors up there with UMHB, or Asuza Pacific, or maybe even the Pacific Lutheran team of 1999.  One thing I will say about those, the only teams that have won at Trinity in the last 15 years, is that they had muscle offenses.  Millsaps definitely scores with speed and accuracy.  But the fourth year starter at quarterback still gives Millsaps a tremendous advantage.  I do remember little Juan's first trip to the Alamo city.  Despite the 41-0 score, I remember being impressed with how well he threw the ball in the face of a rush. 

In any case, I know either team has a legitimate shot to win...their next few ball games going into the big one. 

[Tex]

Here's an observation to keep chew on for a bit.  I was on the sidelines a few years ago with a team that was constantly knocking folks out week after week by huge margins.  So much so, the Head Coach put in lots of subs very early every 2nd half, sometimes halfway thru the 2nd Quarter.  By the end of the season, when the TX 5A playoffs came, that team never learned how to play 4 complete quarters.  Yes, they were in great shape, but they pretty much hadn't been tested all season.  So in the playoffs, they got bushwhacked by a team that had to scratch and claw most of their way through their district, finishing as that district's 4th place team.

It's a bitter pill to swallow.  So, there's something to say for having faced down adversity during the season and overcoming it.  Knowing you can do it.  Developing something quite special in the process. 

I for one am really enjoying my son's freshman season, week by week, as it unfolds.  As we saw last year in two of MC's games and in TU's regular season loss, anything can happen and often does. 

As they say, "on any given saturday..." 

[Ron Boerger]

The latest AFCA poll is out.  South region teams:

3.  UMHB
6.  Muhlenberg
9.  Wash & Jeff
11.  Millsaps
12.  Trinity
15.  Wesley
17.  Hardin-Simmons
20.  Salisbury
22.  Hampden-Sydney

ARV:  CNU, DePauw (!)
 

[Pat Coleman]

And Catholic and Emory & Henry, even more shocking.