FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

My only complaint with schedules in a conference is when the conference schedule goes thru a sequence such that the same teams were the teams playing the week before, an open date precedes the team in the opponents' schedule.

In the ASC imagine some teams seeing Hardin-Simmons after McMurry for every game on the schedule

[Bill McCabe]

Ralph, doesn't the ASC rotate their schedule every year?

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph, doesn't the ASC rotate their schedule every year?

I think that they rotate the schedule, keeping rivalry games like HSU/McM at the end of the season, but I don't think that they juggle the sequence of opponents.

[DPU3619]

I, for one, would like to see things get shuffled up a bit.  My recent complaints include the fact that many of Trinity's tougher opponents have gotten a bye week prior to playing TU (if you doubt, check the SCAC schedule page here http://www.scacsports.com/sports/fball/2008-09/schedule). ; Add the fact that Millsaps faced walk-over (for the Majors) opponents (BSC & CoC) after the Trinity game, while TU had "trap" games (Centre & AC) to finish the season.

Yeah, but....

Look at the first half of those seasons leading up to the Trinity/Millsaps game.  Millsaps played Miss Coll, Belhaven, Rhodes, both of your trap teams, DePauw, and Sewanee.  Trinity played McMurry, TLU, Colorado, BSC, Rhodes, DePauw, and Sewanee. 

So, removing the common opponents, Millsaps played Miss Coll, Belhaven, and Austin and Centre before Trinity.  Trinity played McMurry, TLU, Colorado,  and BSC to get to the Majors. 

Let me ask you this:  If talent is equal, who is likely to be A) more healthy and B) executing better of those two teams?  Trinity played ONE winning team before their biggest game of the year.  Millsaps played only two teams with records under .500!  I'd take Trinity's schedule over Millsaps' schedule every time.  You've got to get by DePauw, which you've had 0 previous problems with, and that aside, you've got 6 tune-ups to get ready for your toughest opponent. 

Would you rather go like Austin-Centre-DePauw-Millsaps-BSC-Sewanee?  You can't want that either, can you?

[Ron Boerger]

I'm not buying into the "it's unfair for someone to always have a week off before playing us" argument, but think it would be fair for *all* teams if the schedule changed up every couple of years.  Wouldn't it be fun to see DPU/Trinity late in the season when a hard playoff bid could definitely be on the line instead of so early?

The next change will probably be whenever Hendrix' team starts playing - 2010?

[Ralph Turner]

I'm not buying into the "it's unfair for someone to always have a week off before playing us" argument, but think it would be fair for *all* teams if the schedule changed up every couple of years.  Wouldn't it be fun to see DPU/Trinity late in the season when a hard playoff bid could definitely be on the line instead of so early?

The next change will probably be whenever Hendrix' team starts playing - 2010?

I don't buy the argument in a single game scenario, but for a team always to confront opponents that have had 2 weeks to prepare in an entire season (which is what I meant), that is not fair.

[frank_ezelle]

It could be that we are simply in a small part of a big cycle that hasn't been favorable to Trinity recently since they have had to play Millsaps twice following the Millsaps bye week.  I went back and looked at the bye weeks for Millsaps and Trinity since 2000 and for a long time it was Trinity having the advantage of a bye week in the middle of the SCAC games while Millsaps was getting the bye earlier in the season and having to play their conference games without the benefit of a bye:

Millsaps Bye Weeks from 2000-2008:  Weeks 3,3,3,4,4,1*,4,8,8

Trinity Bye Weeks from 2000-2008:  Weeks 7,7,7,7,6,4,7,3,3

*The week 1 bye was in 2005 and Katrina hit on August 29, 2005.  I'm sure that scrambled the schedule for Millsaps that year.

[rooski]

Good stuff guys. The discussion has focused on the bye-week. I'm not certain that a bye-week is an automatic benefit for the team that is off. For sure it helps as it relates to an injured player having extra time to recover or heal. But it also seems that at all levels one can/could point to examples of a team losing some hard earned momentum as a result of not playing.

Perhaps the question is "where is the most benefit, in preparation or competition?". --- I wonder what the current or recent student athlete posters think.

Having watched the Kangaroos this season I'm not so sure that the week off actually helped them against Trinity. {Not to take anything at all away from Trinity! I just think we may have given them a better game without the layoff.}
Like most, I doubt it's a scheme that Trinity faces several "post-bye" opponents but would accept the possibility that it may create a unique challenge for such a team.

And thanks for comp TigerDad, I hope everybody sees us as a trap game going into next year .

Bye-week aside, A/C's schedule quirk is having bookend games with "the big boys". Recent seasons have had us opening against Millsaps and finishing with Trinity.

[TigerDad]

rooski, you're welcome!  I think Austin College is finding the SCAC a bit more like home than the ASC, don't you?  More compatible and more competitive.  Not quite like facing HSU and UMHB every year ... ouch, that's gotta smart.  I really thought the Cru might struggle in the playoffs this year, but I was dead wrong.  Wish I could make it to Belton this Saturday to see the rematch against UWW.  Last year's champs coming to Texas to face the Cru on a roll.   This might be the year for the boys from Belton to break through ...

As far as our league, guys, I think the Majors are going to come back down to earth in 2009.  Without their fine MVP QB, they might be just "good" next season instead of dominant.  I predict some coaching staff changes will happen in Jackson as others have alluded.  Any more news on that subject?

[Bill McCabe]

TigerDad,  what do you think Trinity needs to do to get back to a championship level?  I agree with you about Millsaps.

[TigerDad]

Bill, honestly, I don't think Trinity can get back to their glory days.  I think they can win the SCAC again, but I don' t see them ever going back to the Stagg Bowl. I hope I am wrong, but here's my reasoning:

The school continues to raise their academic standards each year ... apparently they have enough high-scoring and high-ranking applicants that they can do so.  I have heard that the administration's interest is to continue to raise TU to elite academic status (and beyond), to increase foreign student population (soccer maybe but not American football players!) and that athletics in general are not a priority to them.  Not that it matters to me ... just repeating what I've been told.

Combine that with the ever-increasing cost of attending Trinity and the "bait and switch" technique of offering 'academic scholarships' that are tied to very high grade point requirements ... I think there are too many other good football programs in Texas that are 'cheaper' and 'easier' to attend.  UMHB and HSU come to mind immediately, but ETBU, AC and others have also shown some growth and strength in their programs in recent seasons.

I am proud of my son (and his teammates) for choosing Trinity and for the extra commitment required to play football with no compensation ... I just don't think there are very many outstanding athletes who will make the same choice going forward.  These fine young men will always be in the minority and, IMHO, their numbers will continue to dwindle at Trinity.  TU coaches report that it's more difficult each year to recruit the numbers needed to sustain the program.  My hat is off to them for the success they've had in the past and for working hard to continue Trinity's championship (interrupted) streak.

That said, I think the other "intangible" factor in Trinity's football future is team chemistry and leadership.  As we all know, in high school and college football, each team has its own unique personality that varies from year-to-year.  The 2007 Tigers had an unusual balance of wit, humor, and work ethic that made it fun for them on the field and fun to watch from the stands.  The 2008 team, while successful, seemed to lack some of those traits.

I would not venture a guess for the 2009 season. TU will certainly be losing alot of experienced seniors, but I guess every team in the league can say that.  If the right guys work hard and show up next August, Trinity should have another shot at the SCAC title and perhaps a playoff win or two.

We Trinity football fans also need to recognize that we are very spoiled ... there's about 200 Division III football programs that would love to have an 8-2 season.  It's kind of sad to bitch about losing two games this year ... one to a superior Millsaps team on a roll and the second to a fired-up Centre team on Senior Day.  Day in and day out, the Trinity Tigers put forth a fine effort and win on and off the football field. 

Again, I tip my cap to Coach Mohr and his staff for assembling a top-notch team every August, teaching them what they need to know in 3 hours per day, and travelling all over the country to come up with another championship season ... outright or co-champs 14 out of the last 16 seasons is pretty darn good.  I don' t think there are ANY other football programs in our Lone Star State that can compare.

There, I feel better already ... thanks for asking!

And, while I'm on a roll ... Congratulations and Happy Holidays to the fine football players of the SCAC ... you guys are ALL CHAMPIONS in my book.  Enjoy your offseason and good luck to you in the future, football and otherwise.

[FBCleatus]

TigerDad, nice post - I agree with you fully.  I think the same things can be said about every SCAC team.  But we need to remember why these young men are where they are at.  They are all great kids - great students - they just still want to play FOOTBALL!

Every one of these schools have the academic/financial burden for anyone wishing to attend.  That is why it is good they are in the SCAC.  It would be 'amazing' for anyone of them to get to 'THE GAME'.  They are all winneres in my book.  I Love watching them play,  because they compete on the field as hard as they do in the classroom!  Good Luck to all of them!

[frank_ezelle]

TigerDad, as you pointed out, a down year at Trinity is a very good year for most schools.  The run that Trinity has had in the SCAC is an impressive thing and time will tell if the last few years have been a changing of the guard or just a bump in the road for Trinity.  Reading between the lines of what you wrote, it sounds like the best thing for Trinity football right now is the rise of Millsaps football.  Creating motivation and focus and support for a program is often easier when a team is fighting to regain something rather than just to maintain something that has almost become a foregone conclusion.

Regarding Millsaps next year, my impression is that they will be better next year than they were this year.  I say that with the assumption that Coach DuBose and the bulk of his staff will be back for 2009.  There's a lot of talent to replace at quarterback, the receiver positions, and with the defensive backs, but I think replacements will be found from the returning players and on the recruiting trail.  I have a lot of faith in the coaches and the program and I just don't see it falling back in 2009 since they are still in the building mode.  Let's face it, the coaches have a much better story to tell recruits this year than they had prior to the 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons.  They should be able to bring in some players who will make a difference right away, but we won't know that for sure until 10-12 months from now.

In the meantime I'll be over on the basketball boards and then the baseball board.  I doubt I'll get over to any track and field but good luck to Chris this season.  A national championship would be a good way to end an outstanding college career.

[frank_ezelle]

D3Football has announced their All-South Team for 2008 with a nice group of SCAC players included in the list.  Here's the link for the full team and the list of SCAC players--I hope I didn't skip someone:

http://www.d3football.com/all-region/2008_d3football_all-south_region.pdf

1st Team:
QB--Juan Joseph--Millsaps
G--John Shivers--Millsaps

2nd Team:
T--Wade Lytal--Trinity
LB--Mason Mosby--Rhodes
LB--Adam Hay--Centre
CB--MarcusHarris--Millsaps

3rd Team:
WR--Alex Koors--DePauw
DE--Denarold Anderson--Millsaps
LB--Desmond Hendrix--Rhodes
CB--Chalankis Brown--Sewanee
P-William Lawrimore--Millsaps

I'm sure you all will be able to think of players that are missing and certainly should have been considered (Eric McCarty of Millsaps is one that comes to my mind), but there are a lot of teams in the South Region.  It is no small feat to make a team like this and it is quite an honor for the 11 from the SCAC who were recognized on the list.

[TigerDad]

Congratulations to all the young men listed on the All-South-Region team!

Congrats to MajorDad (and millsaps mom!) ... how about that "P"!!!