FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[D3_DPUFan]

My answers, in order: No, no, no, no, maybe but probably not, yes, no, yes, yes

I don't think Austin will be better than Centre, which puts them 5th out of 9. 

I think BSC is still a couple years away. 

Centre takes a step back defensively, but possibly a step forward offensively with Conliffe, Osterman, and Pinque all returning. 

That Colorado offense was a special kind of bad last year.  That's BIG improvement for them if the defense doesn't get better.

The deck is stacked in favor of DePauw, but it has been that way before.  This year is the best chance I can recall, with the most prolific passer in school history returning to be a senior. 

Millsaps will still be good.

Rhodes has been trying to get the offense up to their defense since Dan Swanstrom left.  For a couple years
there, the biggest scoring threat for the Lynx was our buddy HunterT.   

I really like Sewanee.  I think they'll continue to get better.  Robert Black is the right guy for that job.  I believe that 100%.  He'll get some kids in there that can play.

I don't think the pipeline is the issue with Trinity.  The issue is how Robert Davidson is, and who the heck he's going to throw it to.

some good perspective...i agree with your take on sewanee (will be a tough one for DPU on the mountain); but I really think Austin may surprise some people this year. I was impressed by not only their talent level, but how hard they played last season. 

[DPU3619]

I don't disagree.  They are certainly getting better.  I wasn't sure how long Coach Gage could stick with the that offensive system in this conference, but he's doing a great job. 

I just think that at the end of the day, it's going to come down to whether or not they can beat Centre.  That's a long, long way off from now, though.

[D3_DPUFan]

I don't disagree.  They are certainly getting better.  I wasn't sure how long Coach Gage could stick with the that offensive system in this conference, but he's doing a great job. 

Seems like he is getting buy in...the school has nice facilities...and if he can get a few kids headed to UT or A & M to just go to school or sit for three or four years, they could have something. They do play a little football int he state of Texas...

[rooski]

In a fairly short time the Roos have gone from no where close, to oh so close. If only this were horse shoes... Since I saw the Roos 10 times last season and everyone else only once I will let you guys stoke those fires for us. But here is a Roo Dad's take on A/C.

Games against Centre the past two seasons {my only first hand knowledge} were very competitive and both went down to the wire. But to their credit Centre won both. It is amazing how much difference one or two plays can make in a teams posture {then again, see "Texas Longhorns"...}. Other games in '08 were a play or two away from a  different ending as well. Other wiser posters have already observed - finish a few drives, protect the football, avoid giving up the big play and we may have something here.

So it seems again a ton of work will have to go into taking that one step forward in the conference. The thing is, if the Roos do win in Danville this season there's still a conference full of other mid-pack teams working hard to improve as well. While DPU, Millsaps and Trinity - and probably Centre - can "assume" certain wins, the rest of the teams cannot. The Roos seemed to gained a mental toughness through the course of last season that will serve them well in 2009. They WILL play very hard and they do have a good amount of experience coming back.

The Roos focus on offense is naturally the ground game - and should be. But IMO the key to cracking into the "top 4 " may very well be the continued growth of the passing game. Not to the top of the conference stat sheet, but to a level of consistency that can keep the good run defenses off balance just enough. Coach Gage seemed a little more willing to throw last year but I expect his focus will always be on developing the run.

As I mentioned earlier, A/C seems to be attracting a little more interest in the north Texas region this off-season and I hope it bodes well for the Roos and the SCAC. And as a Dad/fan I might do well to modify my "vision" a bit and focus first on a winning conference record for this season and let the standings take care of themselves.

[Ralph Turner]

In a fairly short time the Roos have gone from no where close, to oh so close. If only this were horse shoes... Since I saw the Roos 10 times last season and everyone else only once I will let you guys stoke those fires for us. But here is a Roo Dad's take on A/C.
...

As I mentioned earlier, A/C seems to be attracting a little more interest in the north Texas region this off-season and I hope it bodes well for the Roos and the SCAC. And as a Dad/fan I might do well to modify my "vision" a bit and focus first on a winning conference record for this season and let the standings take care of themselves.

The best thing that can happen for D3 in north Texas is for all of those good high school players to realize that D3 ball is quality ball, that they can play and go to school and enjoy college.

I'm preaching to the choir, but there are at least 2 other players on every 4A and 5A high school team in DFW that could play D3 ball.  Think about the quality of play that the SCAC and the ASC would have then!

We just need to convince parents and coaches that D3 is the best option for their sons (and daughters)!

[D3_DPUFan]

I'm preaching to the choir, but there are at least 2 other players on every 4A and 5A high school team in DFW that could play D3 ball.  Think about the quality of play that the SCAC and the ASC would have then!

No question about it. I would think a similar statement can be made in the Birmingham, AL region as well...

[Ralph Turner]

I'm preaching to the choir, but there are at least 2 other players on every 4A and 5A high school team in DFW that could play D3 ball.  Think about the quality of play that the SCAC and the ASC would have then!

No question about it. I would think a similar statement can be made in the Birmingham, AL region as well...

The immediate beneficiaries are BSC, Huntingdon and LaGrange, then Sewanee, Rhodes, Maryville and Millsaps!

[D3_DPUFan]

The immediate beneficiaries are BSC, Huntingdon and LaGrange, then Sewanee, Rhodes, Maryville and Millsaps!

Millsaps...the rich would get richer!!!

I posed a question earlier regarding the future of Coach DuBose...no responses. Is that pretty much a dead issue???     

[frank_ezelle]

I've been checking out the basketball and baseball boards and haven't been over here in a while. 

I guess the two big questions about Millsaps pertain to the status of the head coach and the quarterback position.  My impression is that Coach DuBose isn't planning on going anywhere as long as he gets support for the program and enough money for his coaching staff to make a decent living.  Of course, my opinion is highly unofficial and uninformed, but there haven't been any newspaper reports, etc, indicating that DuBose is leaving.

The quarterback position is a tough one.  When the backups got into the game last year, Millsaps was mostly keeping the ball on the ground to run out the clock.  I don't think there is a clearcut #1 candidate and I could certainly see the starter being a newcomer, maybe a JC transfer.  I believe there will be a lot of questions about Millsaps in general going into the 1st game and maybe DePauw should be considered the favorite in the preseason.

[D3_DPUFan]

I guess the two big questions about Millsaps pertain to the status of the head coach and the quarterback position.  My impression is that Coach DuBose isn't planning on going anywhere as long as he gets support for the program and enough money for his coaching staff to make a decent living.  Of course, my opinion is highly unofficial and uninformed, but there haven't been any newspaper reports, etc, indicating that DuBose is leaving.

The quarterback position is a tough one.  When the backups got into the game last year, Millsaps was mostly keeping the ball on the ground to run out the clock.  I don't think there is a clearcut #1 candidate and I could certainly see the starter being a newcomer, maybe a JC transfer.  I believe there will be a lot of questions about Millsaps in general going into the 1st game and maybe DePauw should be considered the favorite in the preseason.

Interesting...perhaps the defense will be leaned upon a bit at least early on. As much attention as the Millsaps offense has received (and rightfully so) I was also impressed by the D...especially last season...nice mix of speed and toughness...I've got a feeling the Majors will be ready to play come September...

[DPU3619]

I was also impressed by the D...especially last season...nice mix of speed and toughness...I've got a feeling the Majors will be ready to play come September...

I agree, but that's a unit that loses 6 players, 5 of which were at least honorable mention all-conference.  4 of those 5 are the entire starting secondary.  I think they can recover, but with some of the offenses in this league, losing your entire secondary is a pretty scary situation.

[D3_DPUFan]

I agree, but that's a unit that loses 6 players, 5 of which were at least honorable mention all-conference.  4 of those 5 are the entire starting secondary.  I think they can recover, but with some of the offenses in this league, losing your entire secondary is a pretty scary situation.

wow...didn't realize that...

[D3_DPUFan]

Trinity's Jerheme Urban is included in a feature on Kurt Warner that is running on ESPN...includes some video and a soundbite (maybe two) with him...

[D3_DPUFan]

Were there any DIII players from Texas or elsewhere on the rosters in the Texas vs. The Nation game Saturday. I caught part of it on CBS College Sports... Jason Boltus from Hartwick played some QB and threw a touchdown pass...

[Ron Boerger]

Glancing at the roster, I did not see any Texas D3 players.