FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[TigerDad]

I would really like to lable this 3 season spread as the true "Miricle in Mississippi".

MajorDad ... an excellent use of the term.  I agree that the turnaround in the Millsaps program is a great "find" for you and your son.  Nice to pick a stock right before its value rises exponentially!  Let me know what mutual fund you recommend and I'm IN.   

Congratulations to all the Millsaps Majors and their fans ... your program is a credit to Millsaps and the entire SCAC this year.  Best of luck to y'all in the playoffs ... We hope you go deep and long into the playoffs this year!!!

[frank_ezelle]

TigerDad--A year from now, that loss at Centre may be the best thing that could have happened to the Trinity program, just as the 15 lateral play helped the Millsaps program far more than it helped Trinity.

Here's the viewpoint of a mid-50's guy who sees sports as a lot more than just wins and losses:

---Prior to 2006, Trinity was the class of the SCAC and I find it surprising that they didn't become complacent and slip up every now and then.

---In 2006, I have to believe that one of the factors in the Millsaps win over Trinity was that Trinity just didn't believe that the guys they beat 41-0 in 2005 could have gotten good enough to actually win over Trinity.  Maybe that wasn't the deciding factor, but it was a factor.  I don't believe the 2006 loss was enough to convince the Trinity players that maybe the tide had turned in the SCAC and that maybe they were now the 2nd best program in the SCAC.

---In 2007, Trinity should have lost to Millsaps.  I give 100% credit to Trinity for that last drive that included a key 4 and 10 conversion.  That was great football, but the 15 lateral play was a fluke and Millsaps could have and should have run out the clock after they had recovered the Trinity onside kick.  Trinity should have lost and Millsaps should have won in 2007, but fortunately for Millsaps (in my opinion), Trinity pull off that miracle play.

---If Millsaps had won in 2007 and gone to the playoffs, they would have probably gone to UMHB and probably would have lost.  They would have returned to Millsaps and worked hard for 2008, but would they have been as focused and dedicated as the group of guys who lost at home to Trinity?  I doubt it.  And I'm sure the Trinity guys worked hard to preparing for the 2008 season, but would they have worked harder if Millsaps had won last season and Trinity had been a 2nd place team and non-playoff team for the 2nd straight year?  My gut feeling is that they would be better this year if they had lost last year.

That's all just theory on my part.  When I read and heard the comments of the Millsaps players this year about how they thought every day for an entire year about how they missed out on the playoffs, I just have to believe that losing last year did more to turn them into an elite team than winning would have done.  I guess we'll never know if that is true.

Likewise, Trinity losing their home winning streak to Millsaps has to be motivating to Trinity for the 2009 season, but if you ask me the loss to Centre might be more motivating.  If Trinity is going to return to the elite status of college football, then it might be because that loss in Danville eats at them every day for an entire year.  I suspect the play of Trinity this Saturday will tell us a lot about what to look for from Trinity in 2009.

[MajorDad]

I would really like to lable this 3 season spread as the true "Miricle in Mississippi".

MajorDad ... an excellent use of the term.  I agree that the turnaround in the Millsaps program is a great "find" for you and your son.  Nice to pick a stock right before its value rises exponentially!  Let me know what mutual fund you recommend and I'm IN.   
Congratulations to all the Millsaps Majors and their fans ... your program is a credit to Millsaps and the entire SCAC this year.  Best of luck to y'all in the playoffs ... We hope you go deep and long into the playoffs this year!!!

LOL TD, no diamond in the rough  in the current market.

[MajorDad]

Just one last note before I head to the airport to begin a trip to the Middle East which pretty much takes me beyond end of the playoffs.

For the Major's players, Parents, Fans and all fans of the SCAC......Stay focused on the mission. You represent all of the teams from the SCAC, not just Millsaps College. Keep in mind that you have increased your fan base X8 and of course anyone I draw into it from the desert...LOL With 5 Millsasps T-shirts in the suitcase, Europe and the ME will know who you are. Good Luck.....I'll be watching.....!

To my PEEPS from the Cabot, enjoy the playoffs, I will surely miss being there!

                                                             ila Al Leka'

[TigerDad]

Frank,

I agree with your analysis 110% (and as an engineer, that's hard for me to write!)

I have personally seen just such a situation a few years ago with my son's high school football team ... an unexpected or heartbreaking loss is sometimes the best thing that can happen to a group of young men.  Embarrassment, surprise, frustration, disappointment, a shortened season ... even a feeling that someone has taken something that rightfully belongs to you ... these can be tremendous motivators in an athlete's career.

I am hoping to see a proper (and heartfelt) response from the Trinity Tigers this weekend, but moreso from the returning players in the off-season.  A measure of a man's (and team's) character is not necessarily how they respond to good times, but how they respond to trials and difficulty.  Sometimes the longer more difficult road results in determination and satisfaction at a later date.

Millsaps has showed it this year (well done, Majors) and we'll see who shows up next.  I'm not expecting to see the Black Flag raised again this season, but perhaps the guys can earn it back so we'll see it on the field early next.

As for the Majors playoff future, I believe this is the year that UMHB loses in the first or second round ... perhaps in Jackson?

MajorDad ... have a safe trip and hope your guys can go deep ... thank goodness for the Internet ... expect you'll have some late nights or early mornings soon!!

[consultant]

http://www.al.com/bsc/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1226135731315410.xml&coll=2

This appeared on the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Daily Review today.  I thought I'd pass it on.  The pictures of the stadium highlighted in earlier posts depict a nice looking venue to be sure.  Sounds like BSC had a good opening day on Saturday.

[KentATM]

By the way, with no AC game this weekend I took time to listen to the archived broadcast of the DPU/AC game through the DPU sports website. It's kinda interesting to hear someone else's description of something you have seen yourself. A quality broadcast, the guys are easy to listen to - though as a Roos fan I had seen a few things a little differently during the game.

But I would correct one inaccuracy that was repeatedly stated throughout the broadcast. A/C was not trying for the 1st winning season in their history. My understanding is that there is a long list of conference championships and national playoff apperances through their 100+ years in various levels and conferences. Most likely the guys meant something else but I wouldn't want DPU fans to be misinformed. - Perhaps one of the more tenured Roos posters could help here if this even matters.

We've missed having the Roos' webcasts this year. In a way I guess getting to hear the game again later is like a fan's "game film" for during the week.

hmm.  dunno what info they could have possibly been trying to give out with that.  We have been bad, but not THAT bad.

we were 7-3 in in 2000 for out last winning season.  Its really only been since the 90s that we have fallen off the map.

man that loss was deflating.  it sure was frustrating with all the missed opportunities.  However, they have shown they have no quit in them.  Looking forward to handing Trinity a 3 game losing streak.

[pbrooks3]

TigerDad, thank you for the details on the 1st half of Trinity-Centre game. I didn't realize how quickly the momentum changed. It's amazing what can happen in such a short span of time, and how a game can completely swing on a play or two. I fully expect TU to bounce back this Saturday, and then be back on track competing hard again with the likes of Millsaps in 2009. Centre normally can't match up with Trinity in football and every so often at Danville Centre pulls a surprise. This year was one of those.

[rooski]

rooski--I'm still learning a lot of this stuff and quite often have to be corrected by the true gurus of the message board.  I was under the opinion that it helps to have a win over a regionally ranked team.  Someone with more knowledge than I recently had a post that it would help Trinity if DePauw beat Wabash and then DePauw got regionally ranked--that would move Trinity to 1-1 against regionally ranked teams instead of 0-1.

If that is a plus, then I think as a Millsaps fan I would have to pull for DePauw to win and Trinity to win and hopefully both would get into the regional rankings.  As for what would be best for the SCAC in general, I don't know.  As for what would be best for your Roos, I think that answer is obvious.

Thanks for the insight Frank. Be assured, I'm pretty clear on what I'm hoping for this Saturday. I was looking for a "silver lining" in case the Roos come up short this weekend.

It's a pretty tough way to finish up 2009 but we're looking forward to the trip to S/A and being seeing the Trinity campus. If the Roos do manage to finish 6-4 they certainly will have earned it.

[exmajor]

It has been quiet on this board this week, I know there is a lot going on in the Monon thread though.

To break the silence, I want to say I am a little nervous about BS-C this weekend.  As Jason said in the Around the South column this week, the team seems to be hitting its stride late in the season and would love nothing more than to have a good showing this weekend and take the momentum into next year.

To Millsaps, the AQ is wrapped up as well as the outright conference title, but I have to think an unblemished record is still a goal on the season.  I am curious as to how Coach Dubose will use his starters this week, obviously, they need some game time to stay sharp.  Also, with the #1 South Region ranking, a home game is all but wrapped up for the playoffs, but a loss here may totally change that, regardless of BS-C's provisional status.  Millsaps also needs to build momentum this week and now is not the time to take it down a notch.

What are y'alls thoughts, just trying to get something going here and it really does scream trap game.

[Ron Boerger]

Sewanee:  2-7 and not much on offense.  Apparently not much on defense last week, either.    I don't think B-SC will have the success on either side of the ball they saw last weekend, and I don't see Coach DuBose letting your guys even think about letting down. 

[rooski]

Not to worry "exmajor". While BSC is fun to watch - they're all over the field offensively - there is way too much Majors team speed to justify your anxiety. And defensively, with all due respect, I didn't see any reason they should have any better luck slowing your offense than the rest of the conference has.

If you're going to the game I would expect another fine afternoon from a Millsaps point of view. Your Majors are really, really fun to watch! Enjoy!!

[KentATM]

If AC can run all over BSC and score 48, I don't see any way for them to have a shot against Millsaps. 

just my 2 cents

[evacuee]

I'm not so optimistic about Trinity rebounding next year, or the SCAC for that matter. 

Motivation is one thing, but as we see at all levels of college football, the highest levels of success are achieved with the best players.  Trinity's defense has to improve significantly, and there's just no telling if that's going to happen given the fact that none of the Black Flag has emerged as a real playmaker, the likes of Visosky or Allen.  As DePauw showed, the corners are small.  Maybe experience will help, or maybe we'll see that Trinity benefitted in recruiting with the publicity when some young guys get a chance.  Also, I can't say that I'm overwhelmed from what I've seen of the new quarterback.  Urban will be back, but is not his big brother, who also had to share with other great receivers so he can't point to that as the reason he hasn't produced as much as we would have liked.  My guess is that Trinity will be the next group to bring back power football if they can produce a fullback.  Furlow looks pretty menacing for next year and hopefully he doesn't go down.  Hampton, DesPlaines, and now Wilson all lost at least two of their first ten starts.  Barmore did not finish his first season as a starter, and Cannon was quarterback of Trinity's weakest team in recent memory in a weak year for the SCAC in which TU was 9-0.  Unfortunately, Wilson didn't have enough experience to make smart decisions down the field as we saw, and I think all those screens that the Tigers have thrown in recent years stunted his progress.  A new quarterback is always tough unless it's Mike Burton for those who remember.

Speaking of new quarterbacks, Juan Joseph is going to leave one of the most gaping holes in the history of college football.  He is so good and so experienced that a significant dropoff is inevitable.  He and McCarty and all the seniors were pre-Dubose people, so we will see just how well the Majors have recruited.  I assume they will again be at the top of the conference, but I don't think the current level of dominance is possible to maintain.  They are just so good and so much of it has to do with Joseph.  Sometimes you just get a great group of players that is all in the same place at the same time.  Trinity was lucky enough to have that twice in recent memory.  We'll see if the Majors get that fortunate after the current group graduates. 

That said, I really hope the Trinity seniors go out on fire this Saturday, and that the Majors do to the playoffs what they did to Trinity.  We'll see what Mt. Union has to say about them.  Once the Raiders have spoken, we'll know where the Majors stand in football history. 

[MajorDad]

TU, good post. Juan Joseph and the departing seniors will definitely leave a big hole. I doubt you'll find a Major fan who would despute that. I also know that our 2nd and 3rd string offense and Defense porbably have more playing time than any other in the SCAC. So it will boil down to who loses the most due to seniors. Not having looked at other rosters from around the SCAC, I don't know if others are losing the caliber of experience the Majors are losing on both sides of the ball.