FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

D3 redshirting (except medical/hardship) was eliminated in the 2004-5 season.  The 2007 rule was probably issued to clarify what counted and what didn't as participation.

I'll defer to the experts on the exact scenario you posit, but the article quoted above says "[...] all Division III athletes will be on the clock to play four consecutive seasons, barring hardship waivers."

[exmajor]

A couple of huge games this weekend with big playoff implications on the line.  Thoughts on Millsaps vs. Centre and Trinity vs. Depauw?

[Fripp52]

DePauw obviously has to get the Trinity monkey off its back this week.  At home, playoff spot on the line, they have to get it done.  Offensively, DePauw should score.  The burden, as always, falls to the defense.  Trinity has good talent at the skills except I don't know anything about their QB.  And it seems their line is young and lost a few from last year.  DePauw hasn't allowed any one to run on them.  If that can continue, DePauw should be able to contain the passing game.  I base this on thinking their skills aren't as good as Millsaps.  So, DePauw should match up better.  Whether the off-week helps or hurts is always a guess.  I do know the team is healthy.
Regarding Millsaps, I don't see how Centre can be them at their place without their QB.  But, somehow, Centre seems to roll along.  I just think Millsaps has too much for them.

[frank_ezelle]

It seems like the Millsaps-Centre game comes down to one key factor:  Can Millsaps keep the game close in the early goings.  Look at the 3 games Millsaps has lost and the 1 game they almost lost:

MS College--Millsaps was down 3-24 before tieing the game up and losing in 2 OT

Austin--Millsaps was down 0-14 before coming back to win with a late FG

DePauw--Millsaps was down 0-16 before losing by 2 when the 2-point conversion failed near the end of the game.

Huntingdon--Millsaps down 0-14 before taking a lead.  Eventually lost the game when 1st and 2nd string QBs were knocked out of the game.

Is the play calling changing after Millsaps gets behind?  Is Millsaps doing a better job of making adjustments and that's allowing them to come back after falling behind by 2 TDs or more early in the game?  I don't know.  

By quarters, the overall scoring this season has been 38 points in the 1st, 51 points in the 2nd, 58 in the 3rd, and 70 in the 4th.  While statistics can be misleading or thrown out of whack by one or two games, it does seem like the Millsaps problem this year has been in getting the offense untracked against the better teams.  Let's not forget that Millsaps also only led Trinity 7-0 at the half.

The Millsaps offense can be very good once it gets rolling.  If they can get rolling early enough this Saturday, then Millsaps will be in very good shape to move into a tie for first place in the SCAC and to clinch at least a share of the SCAC title the following Saturday against Sewanee.  If they fall behind by 2 TD's early, then it's going to be a long climb to get back on top.

[D3_DPUFan]

DePauw obviously has to get the Trinity monkey off its back this week.  At home, playoff spot on the line, they have to get it done.  Offensively, DePauw should score.  The burden, as always, falls to the defense.  Trinity has good talent at the skills except I don't know anything about their QB.  And it seems their line is young and lost a few from last year.  DePauw hasn't allowed any one to run on them.  If that can continue, DePauw should be able to contain the passing game.  I base this on thinking their skills aren't as good as Millsaps.  So, DePauw should match up better.  Whether the off-week helps or hurts is always a guess.  I do know the team is healthy.
Regarding Millsaps, I don't see how Centre can be them at their place without their QB.  But, somehow, Centre seems to roll along.  I just think Millsaps has too much for them.

Pretty good analysis Fripp. As you say, the bottom line is DePauw just has to get the job done. They needed to get it done against Millsaps and did. Time to do it again, no excuses.

DePauw piled up lots of yards and some points last year---even with all of their RB's hurt---in San Antonio, home of "home cooking". BTW, if any of the officials from that game are working anything higher than CYO level, something is seriously wrong. On second thought, CYO level may be a bit high:)

Trinity will bring talented kids to Greencastle, with the QB position perhaps being a question mark (guessing here) so I think it will be really important for the DPU defense to get some stops early (as they did against Millsaps). I like our defense a lot and if they play with energy that will obviously be a good thing.

I like the way the Indiana Tigers match up in this one, but good teams/programs like Trinity have a way of bringing it regardless of the situation...as it should be.

Looking forward to a great college football game!

   

[rooski]

"Randomness" from Rooski

>At the end of last season I {and others} complained about officiating. Don't know if it was addressed during the offseason but it seems to me to have improved. In case the improvement is actual - and not simply my perception - I fee compelled to acknowledge the change. It would be logical to think SCAC reviewed it as there are other clear signs of progress and striving for higher quality in SCAC sports. - Not easy to do when economics are so tight.

>I have seen Centre. I believe they are ready and determined win this conference. But their defense will need to lead them there.

>I hope DPU's Tigers are more concerned with "the bell" than the Roos when we go to Greencastle in November. Obviously, the way for AC to salvage a disappointing '09 would be to 1) hold on to the football, and 2) sneak up on a Tiger somewhere between now Sunday Nov 15th.

>After our trip to Indy I will have been to all the SCAC football venues at least once. {Actually, I think we were the last home game for BSU before they opened their new stadium so we did not see a game in there. And we did get to see a game at Colorado College before they quit.} And I have said it before but I will say it again. Stress to those around your programs the depth that is gained by going to the away games! It has added so, so, so much to our DIII experience. These are great institutions with a variety of history, tradition, settings, asthetics and style - and characters. It means so much to get to share it with your sons. ** If you have not been, find a way and go.

>I wish my son had more than three games left in his football career. I am going to miss watching him play. - I suspect there are other dads one among us with a similar sense.

[rooski]

I fee compelled

I "feel" compelled...

[Ralph Turner]

"Randomness" from Rooski
...

>I wish my son had more than three games left in his football career. I am going to miss watching him play. - I suspect there are other dads one among us with a similar sense.

Rooski, let me share this link to the "Reflections" message board on the baseball side.  The composer is the father of a Johns Hopkins baseball player.  (You may want to consider getting that Kleenex handy when the impending rampant ragweed pollen flurry starts affecting your eyes.     )

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=6432.0

[TigerDad]

Thanks for that link, Ralph.  Never would have found that without your help.

It's been a fun eleven years of watching our son play football ... and now, just four more games to go.  After that, as Mr. Smith said, "we don't have to go to games if the weather is bad."  Truly, I think we're all ready to move on ... I know he is.  It will be time to put the pads down for the last time and move on to the next phase of life.  We've had some great memories over these past seasons, but there's more ahead to make, just in a different way.

Rooski, I guess you and I should meet on the field at Austin College after the TU-AC game.  I'm guessing the allergies will be pretty high that evening, don't you think?

[FBCleatus]

Rooski, check your message.  I can assure you there are others that feel the same way.  The last couple of weeks I have realized how fast it all goes.

Others will miss your son and wish he had more time.  He is an outstanding football player.  But I think he is  a better young man.  Most definitely a class act.

[frank_ezelle]

Question to the message board:  

Is this the most important regular season weekend in SCAC Football history?

Think about it.  There are two teams that can basically win at least a share of the SCAC Championship with a win this weekend.  There are two teams that still have a good shot at the SCAC Championship but they go head-to-head and one will eliminate the other.  

Here's my breakdown of the 4 teams with hopes for a title:

Millsaps--A win over Centre this weekend and they have at least a share of the SCAC Championship pending a probable win at Sewanee.

Centre--A win at Millsaps and Centre just about clinches at least a share of the crown while keeping alive their hopes for the outright championship.  Centre still has a home game with Rhodes and a road trip to Trinity.

DePauw--Unlike Millsaps, Trinity and Centre, the DePauw team does not control their destiny regarding the SCAC title.  Their hopes are dependent on someone else beating Centre.  They also are in a must win situation this weekend in order to share in the SCAC Championship since 2 losses won't win the title.  Down the road they have a home game with Austin, not an easy game in my opinion.

Trinity--While having the toughest schedule left of the 4 contenders, Trinity does control it's own destiny.  Sandwich road wins at DePauw and Austin around a home win against Centre and Trinity can do no worse than a tie for first place in the SCAC.  Like DePauw, a loss this weekend just about ends Trinity's hope for a title.

It's going to be a great weekend for SCAC football and I hope the fans turn out to support all these teams in their quest for a championship.

[Patriot_Pride]

Anyone on here ever notice that the "Around the South" Region is always last in the weekly column?

[Ralph Turner]

Anyone on here ever notice that the "Around the South" Region is always last in the weekly column?

Yes, but I am glad that Pat Coleman was able to find someone to do the job, since Ron Boerger reliquinshed the mantle.

[Ron Boerger]

Umm, it's been several years since I did it.  And I think Jason does a better job - quality is worth waiting for an extra day.

[DPU3619]

You just might be right, Frank.  We're going to learn a heckuva lot about the Pool A on Saturday.  Obviously DePauw has to have the win this Saturday or else the season is over until Monon.  There just isn't any chance that a two loss DePauw team who plays only 9 games is going to get in.  It just isn't happening. 

I get my first live look at the 2009 DePauw team this Saturday and I'm pretty excited about it.  Those of you in attendance will be able to enjoy my sultry tones on the public address.  I believe that if any DePauw team is going to beat any Trinity team, this is going to be the one.  I thought that 2005 was going to be the one until Hurricane Rita, but I like this year's version even more than that one.

It won't be easy for DePauw.  Have two toughies against Trinity & Austin, and a roadie against a REALLY good BSC team in the middle.  If you get through that gauntlet, you've still got to win Monon to get to 8-1.  I'm not particularly confident in that number, particularly with what Anderson is doing.  They are killing DePauw's OWP.  I think DePauw needs Centre to lose those two roadies at Millsaps & Trinity just to be safe.