FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Tex · June 08, 2009, 09:26:41 PM

Ron, I gotta tell you. I was shocked they put field turf on the intramural field before the football stadium. I can only assume some donor specified it. At least I hope so. Recruiting D-3 is hard enough with academic standards and lack of athletic scholies. At least give your coaches an even playing field when it comes to facilities and recruiting. When you walk into the Bell Center, it's as nice a facility as many of the D-1 programs we visited a couple of years ago. Then you walk over to EM St. and it is a night and day difference.

Ralph Turner · June 08, 2009, 09:34:13 PM

The ASC actually has a "mole" in the Trinity Administration that is working to sabotage the efforts of the Trinity football team. Keeping EM Stevens untouched for years has been a mounmental success of this covert operation. The operative has risked livelihood and reputation to keep this activity going for these many years.

The current challenge is to maintain the covert funding of this activity during the economic downturn.

TigerDad · June 09, 2009, 10:18:44 AM

Ralph ... +1k ... that was a good one.

(All along, I thought the mole was YOU.)

Hope to see you in Abilene on Sep 5th! Will need some recommendations for food and lodging for the Trinity faithful who will be heading north for the season opener.

crufootball · June 09, 2009, 12:11:10 PM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on June 08, 2009, 03:48:48 PM
On-campus. Hard enough to get students to attend when it's convenient, if it's elsewhere Trinity students just won't come. The 'nice field' across the street is way too large (plus Trinity doesn't get along all that well with the SAISD), the others are too far away. Maybe Alamo Heights' stadium would work, it's not too far, but still don't see students going there.

What's odd is that the without question the other TU sports facilities are immaculate. For crying out loud, they even put in FieldTurf on one of the intramural fields last year. For whatever reason, tho, EM Stevens has been stuck in the '80s while everything else has been upgraded. If you want to encourage football players to attend, you need to show them that they're as important as the other student-athletes - sadly, appearances are that's not the case.

I assumed most peole would say that an on campus field is the better option and I completely agree. Even though Tiger Field is a good alternative for the Cru (which is why we won't be getting a field for sometime), every time I go to an away game I am jealous of schools with its on field.

Another question is were the students or community moresupportive when the team was doing better?

Gray Fox · June 09, 2009, 01:11:59 PM

An on campus field gives strangers to the campus a feel for the school. It may help recruit even non students in the long run..

Otherwise it becomes just a game.

Ron Boerger · June 09, 2009, 02:07:58 PM

Quote from: crufootball on June 09, 2009, 12:11:10 PMI assumed most peole would say that an on campus field is the better option and I completely agree. Even though Tiger Field is a good alternative for the Cru (which is why we won't be getting a field for sometime), every time I go to an away game I am jealous of schools with its on field.

Another question is were the students or community moresupportive when the team was doing better?

San Antonio has never supported Trinity. The home crowd is largely parents, friends, students and has remained relatively constant. The home side fills up relatively quickly and that naturally constrains attendance. The visitor side (which seats more people than the home side) bakes until late in the season. The lack of on-site parking also contributes to the attendance situation.

D3_DPUFan · June 09, 2009, 02:36:14 PM

QuoteSan Antonio has never supported Trinity. The home crowd is largely parents, friends, students and has remained relatively constant. The home side fills up relatively quickly and that naturally constrains attendance. The visitor side (which seats more people than the home side) bakes until late in the season. The lack of on-site parking also contributes to the attendance situation.

My DIII knowledge is pretty limited, but I'll bet that description of the Trinity home crowd (parents, friends, students) could be used for a bunch of schools.

It's interesting that with all the shortcomings that have been brought out in this thread (and most would seem to be spot on) the school has certainly fielded a quality product for a lot of years.

For me, the most striking thing on trips to San Antonio was the officiating.

Ron Boerger · June 09, 2009, 02:51:50 PM

It may relate more to how Texas towns generally support football, DPUFan. The other successful D3 schools in the state, located in smaller towns, see more support from the casual fan. In an SMSA of 2 million+ football fanatics you'd expect more than a handful of locals to decide "hey, this is pretty cool, I'm going to watch."

D3_DPUFan · June 09, 2009, 03:03:01 PM

QuoteIt may relate more to how Texas towns generally support football, DPUFan. The other successful D3 schools in the state, located in smaller towns, see more support from the casual fan. In an SMSA of 2 million+ football fanatics you'd expect more than a handful of locals to decide "hey, this is pretty cool, I'm going to watch."

Probably very true.

I will say that I was impressed last season by the crowd, facilities, apparent support, etc. at Austin College...they seem to be on the right track IMHO...

Tex · June 09, 2009, 06:11:10 PM

My son and I were talking about some of this at lunch. I don't want to take liberties with what he said, but we fans pay more attention to the facilities than the players do.

We probably spent more time talking about the 40-50 parents, siblings and friends that make all the away games. Apparently, we are quite a vocal bunch, making up in total volume what we don't have in terms of warm butts in the stands. I guess those roving, wandering 40-50 fans mean a lot more than I previously had thought.

Dang it, I can't wait for Game 1.

Ralph Turner · June 09, 2009, 06:22:43 PM

I haven't been to Robinson stadium at MissColl, but I have seen TU, UMHB, HSU, HPU, SRSU, ETBU, Austin College and McMurry.

The "coolest" feature of any of those stadia is the covered "mezzanine" just beneath the press box at Jerry Apple Stadium at Austin College!

D3_DPUFan · June 10, 2009, 10:59:09 AM

QuoteMy son and I were talking about some of this at lunch. I don't want to take liberties with what he said, but we fans pay more attention to the facilities than the players do.

We probably spent more time talking about the 40-50 parents, siblings and friends that make all the away games. Apparently, we are quite a vocal bunch, making up in total volume what we don't have in terms of warm butts in the stands. I guess those roving, wandering 40-50 fans mean a lot more than I previously had thought.

Dang it, I can't wait for Game 1.

Well said on all fronts.

QuoteThe "coolest" feature of any of those stadia is the covered "mezzanine" just beneath the press box at Jerry Apple Stadium at Austin College!

I didn't go inside, but the press box looks like one of the nicest in DII football!

rooski · June 10, 2009, 01:34:23 PM

Ralph, that spot immediatey beneath the press box was a particularly attractive one last September when we hosted McMurry in the remnants of Hurricaine Ike...
+++++++
Honestly guys, there was a period of transition for me and our family to work through when we began attending the AC games in 2007. Expectations had to be adjusted. Not as much with the level of play, but with the "surroundings and trappings". Of course I came to see that this level of college athletics is very competitive {and my son has certainly never indicated any lack of talent or competitiveness in his opponents}, but also that it is very asthetically pleasing, just on a smaller scale.

One thing that really helped me was traveling and seeing a broader picture of DIII and the conference. Each site has it's own very distinct flavor and personality and really magnifies the experience. I sincerely invite each of you to come to Sherman for a game this season, and would like meet and to welcome you if I know you're coming. Heck, I'll even invite you to sit on the home side to avoid the "sun-in-the-face" heat of the visitors stands if you want. {D3DPUFan - that was a terrific college football game - anyone who likes football would have enjoyed it - I'm sorry I missed a chance to meet you.}

But I am eager to make another trip to Danville, then a first visit to Sewannee, Memphis and Greencastle. I just hope the games are as good as I know the greater experience will be. - Then after our senior seaon this fall I would even like to scope out some of the other Texas DIII's, just for the "added flavor".

But seriously. Y'all come see us this fall. I'll get you as many game tickets as you need!

cush · June 10, 2009, 03:29:58 PM

Pass the popcorn, seems this week's meeting has a lot on the menu:

http://www.laxmagazine.com/blogs/coyne/060809_scac

These sentences stuck out for me:

"There is angst among some of the SCAC presidents and athletic directors, especially those in the Southeast, regarding the budgeting necessities to compete in a league that stretches 1,400 miles."

"As drastic as it may seem, dismembering the SCAC is not implausible. In addition to the travel consequences, there is reportedly some internal consternation among the members regarding academic prestige."

My take, I would think travel would really hurt Oglethorpe, ie maybe the southeast school, since they have the least $'s but not really sure what to make of the academic prestige comment since all the scac school's are pretty well regarded. As for what to do, I would just expand to 14 with berry and either dallas or centenary to ease travel by creating larger divisions...maybe even go to 16 with some other school's before folding the league.

Ron Boerger · June 10, 2009, 03:56:19 PM

[EDIT] Oglethorpe and [/EDIT] BSC are the most "southeast" schools.

With re "academic prestige" ... what league would schools join that would align better? The UAA wouldn't take any of the SCAC schools, and any other possibility could have WORSE travel issues for the remote schools. We've talked about DePauw and the NCAC, but they're not going to want to take on a lot of other schools. It would be interesting to know which schools are concerned about the "prestige" of the SCAC.

CC could help by going D2. UDallas would be a natural replacement and be a great travel partner for AC.