FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[pbrooks3]

I believe Frank is on the right track with his prognostication for the
Majors.  Perhaps offense drops off a bit, but the defense improves.  I think Dubose has a good handle on the situation and Millsaps will continue to be formiable going forward.  Now you may go taste some of that grape-flavored concoction you were referring to earlier, Frank.

[Ron Boerger]

Not football-related but we discussed it here:  Centenary will be moving to D3.  No doubt there will be more anguished columns from the local sportswriter fearing this will cost him his job.

"This is one part of an overall wide-ranging plan which will be implemented by incoming president Dr. David Rowe" - that would be Dr. Rowe of the SCAC (Southwestern baccalaureate) background who got a masters from Emory and was formerly at LaGrange.  

It will be interesting to see if they pursue the ASC, SCAC, or other options.

EDIT:  Here's the story from "can't see the forest for the trees" Jimmy Watson:  Centenary takes dive into Division III.  He claims the SCAC has already rejected Centenary.

[TigerDad]

Hal Mumme is the new McMurry Head Coach.

Hmmm.  In last year's season opener in S.A., TU beat McMurry badly (48-18), out-rushing McM 211 to 159 and out-passing them 207 to 170 (21-33-1 to 10-25-4).  McM scored only 1 FG and three TD receptions ... halftime score was 34-10. IMHO Trinity's offense took their foot off the gas in the second half, but TU's D had two INT's in the 3rd and two more in the 4th quarter.  Without those turnovers, it might have been a tighter game.  (http://www.scacsports.com/sports/fball/2008-09/stats/tunc1.htm)

The TU Tigers might oughta be careful about underestimating their trip to Abilene for the season opener on Sep 5th.  McMurry has a new coach and will probably display a new attitude.  McM QB Taylor Penn and 3 of his leading 4 receivers should return this season.  They're likely to be prepared to avenge last year's whuppin' and their winless season.  An opening McM win could make a statement to the rest of Texas D3 football and send a wakeup call to the ASC.  And, a first-game defeat could dash TU's chances for a Pool C bid ... they'd have to run the SCAC table to get the auto-bid.

Do your summer homework, Tigers ... there could be a storm a-brewin' to the north ... only 45 days 'til kickoff.
8)

[Ralph Turner]

Not football-related but we discussed it here:  Centenary will be moving to D3.  No doubt there will be more anguished columns from the local sportswriter fearing this will cost him his job.

"This is one part of an overall wide-ranging plan which will be implemented by incoming president Dr. David Rowe" - that would be Dr. Rowe of the SCAC (Southwestern baccalaureate) background who got a masters from Emory and was formerly at LaGrange. 

It will be interesting to see if they pursue the ASC, SCAC, or other options.

As much as we would love to have a school with the reputation and tradition of Centenary in the ASC-East, I will bet that they are courted by the SCAC, the conference in which the peer institutions from Association of Colleges of the South ( www.colleges.edu) compete.

Does that improve the chances for UDallas and maybe Berry College (GA) to gain admittance in the SCAC?

BSC can be a full member in 2012.

Berry College can join D-III this year and be a full member by 2013.

Centenary LA can be a full D-III member in 2015.

[Gray Fox]

Hmmm.  In last year's season opener in S.A., TU beat McMurry badly (48-18), out-rushing McM 211 to 159 and out-passing them 207 to 170 (21-33-1 to 10-25-4).  McM scored only 1 FG and three TD receptions ... halftime score was 34-10. IMHO Trinity's offense took their foot off the gas in the second half, but TU's D had two INT's in the 3rd and two more in the 4th quarter.  Without those turnovers, it might have been a tighter game.  (http://www.scacsports.com/sports/fball/2008-09/stats/tunc1.htm)

The TU Tigers might oughta be careful about underestimating their trip to Abilene for the season opener on Sep 5th.  McMurry has a new coach and will probably display a new attitude.  McM QB Taylor Penn and 3 of his leading 4 receivers should return this season.  They're likely to be prepared to avenge last year's whuppin' and their winless season.  An opening McM win could make a statement to the rest of Texas D3 football and send a wakeup call to the ASC.  And, a first-game defeat could dash TU's chances for a Pool C bid ... they'd have to run the SCAC table to get the auto-bid.

Do your summer homework, Tigers ... there could be a storm a-brewin' to the north ... only 45 days 'til kickoff.
8)

I have to admire your clever way of creating your own TU bulletin board material.  +k 

[Gray Fox]

Does that improve the chances for UDallas and maybe Berry College (GA) to gain admittance in the SCAC?

I was thinking about UDallas when I first read this also.  Do they actually want in?  I haven't seen anything lately.

[Ralph Turner]

Does that improve the chances for UDallas and maybe Berry College (GA) to gain admittance in the SCAC?

I was thinking about UDallas when I first read this also.  Do they actually want in?  I haven't seen anything lately.

Yes!

[D3_DPUFan]

I believe Frank is on the right track with his prognostication for the
Majors.  Perhaps offense drops off a bit, but the defense improves.

How does the defense improve? 

[frank_ezelle]

I believe Frank is on the right track with his prognostication for the
Majors.  Perhaps offense drops off a bit, but the defense improves.

How does the defense improve? 

While that wasn't my comment about the defense improving, I do have a response.  Last year Millsaps lost the time of possession stat in just about every game, coming in at just under 28:00 per game.  I do think that the departure of Juan Joseph and the return of 3 very good running backs is good reason to think that Millsaps will be somewhat more of a ball control offense this year. 

As indicated by the above question, the Millsaps defense has been very good in recent years.  The best way to make them better is to give them more rest by winning the time of possession battle.

[D3_DPUFan]

While that wasn't my comment about the defense improving, I do have a response.  Last year Millsaps lost the time of possession stat in just about every game, coming in at just under 28:00 per game.  I do think that the departure of Juan Joseph and the return of 3 very good running backs is good reason to think that Millsaps will be somewhat more of a ball control offense this year.  

As indicated by the above question, the Millsaps defense has been very good in recent years.  The best way to make them better is to give them more rest by winning the time of possession battle.

At the end of the day, it's talented players making plays that make for a good defense (or offense or special teams for that matter). But your take is an interesting one. For sure, that offense scored quickly on many posessions...and it makes sense that the D could benefit from a blow here and there...especially in the heat and humidity down south!  

[Tennessee_papa]

Not football-related but we discussed it here:  Centenary will be moving to D3. 
EDIT:  Here's the story from "can't see the forest for the trees" Jimmy Watson:  Centenary takes dive into Division III.  He claims the SCAC has already rejected Centenary.

That has to be one of the most angst-soaked columns I've ever read.

I'm not sure which was most pathetic, the fact that he had to use "baseball hall of famer Cal Hubbard" as the best example of the history of Centenary baseball (history is the right word, because ol' Cal played at Centenary in the 1920s and never played major league baseball, rather, he was an umpire) or the CFO and lawyer from White Electric who is weeping as he rewrites his will because his school will be compared to East Texas Baptist and Louisiana College (rather than thinking that his school will also be compared to, say, Trinity and Wash U.).

No, on second thought, the most pathetic part was clearly the lawyer.

[DPU3619]

Last year Millsaps lost the time of possession stat in just about every game, coming in at just under 28:00 per game.  I do think that the departure of Juan Joseph and the return of 3 very good running backs is good reason to think that Millsaps will be somewhat more of a ball control offense this year. 

As indicated by the above question, the Millsaps defense has been very good in recent years.  The best way to make them better is to give them more rest by winning the time of possession battle.

That may be true, but regardless of what the offense does, if the four new faces in that secondary don't get a handle on things quickly, it's going be your offensive line that's out of gas.

[frank_ezelle]

We'll find out about that defensive secondary right off the bat as Millsaps opens up with MS College and quarterback Adam Shaffer.  While MS College probably won't have Shaffer throwing 53 passes like he did against Millsaps in 2008, they undoubtedly will throw enough to probe for weaknesses. 

[frank_ezelle]

Not football-related but we discussed it here:  Centenary will be moving to D3. 
EDIT:  Here's the story from "can't see the forest for the trees" Jimmy Watson:  Centenary takes dive into Division III.  He claims the SCAC has already rejected Centenary.

That has to be one of the most angst-soaked columns I've ever read.

I'm not sure which was most pathetic, the fact that he had to use "baseball hall of famer Cal Hubbard" as the best example of the history of Centenary baseball (history is the right word, because ol' Cal played at Centenary in the 1920s and never played major league baseball, rather, he was an umpire) or the CFO and lawyer from White Electric who is weeping as he rewrites his will because his school will be compared to East Texas Baptist and Louisiana College (rather than thinking that his school will also be compared to, say, Trinity and Wash U.).

No, on second thought, the most pathetic part was clearly the lawyer.

The most interesting thing about the column is the section with comments.  It's a back and forth between the emotional posts of Centenary D1 supporters and several of the well known participants from the D3 boards who are armed with a boatload of facts. 

I'm not going to come down too hard on the Centenary folks because I would be up in arms if Millsaps announced a move to D1 athletics.  It's the student/athlete aspect of D3 that continues to draw my support and I would lose interest if Millsaps switched over to athlete/students.  It makes sense that the major boosters at Centenary are people who find competing in the highest division of the NCAA appealing, and it would be unreasonable to think that these boosters would embrace a move to D3 sports right away.  Hopefully they will come around in time and continue to support their school and the athletes.

[Ron Boerger]

I'm not going to come down too hard on the Centenary folks because I would be up in arms if Millsaps announced a move to D1 athletics.  It's the student/athlete aspect of D3 that continues to draw my support and I would lose interest if Millsaps switched over to athlete/students.  It makes sense that the major boosters at Centenary are people who find competing in the highest division of the NCAA appealing, and it would be unreasonable to think that these boosters would embrace a move to D3 sports right away.  Hopefully they will come around in time and continue to support their school and the athletes.

What I find interesting is how many people think Centenary is going dry up and blow away because they're getting rid of a mediocre D1 program that nobody followed to begin with.   I hope they prove the doubters wrong, just like Birmingham-Southern has been able to do.