FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[frank_ezelle]

Millsaps's no. 2 quarterback last year was Burt Pereira, a WR who saw significant playing time and has graduated.  Does that say anything about who's coming up for the Majors at that position?  It seems like they might have had one guy on the roster that could prevent the back up from having to learn two positions.

If Juan Joseph had left Millsaps after his freshman year, Burt would have been the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year for at least 2 of the last 3 years.  What little drop off there might have been in the area of passing was somewhat covered by Burt being a better runner. 

Burt was a great potential quarterback and a great athlete, too good an athlete to have on the sideline holding a clipboard for 3 years as a backup.  He also was much more in the mold of Juan than Chris, so playing Burt in a pinch meant less changes to the overall scheme of things.

It's hard to judge Chris by his numbers or what one might have seen during his limited playing time over the last couple of years.  His playing time came mostly when Millsaps was trying to just run clock and not score--the one exception was the 4th quarter of the 2007 MC game, but even then he was trying to guide the Millsaps JV against the MC varsity. 

Without a doubt, Chris is not Juan, and if Chris is the starter this year then I expect the Millsaps team will go to a more balanced run/pass offense.  They had talked about more balance in the past, but it was just hard to get away from so much passing when the team had Juan Joseph surrounded by so many talented receivers.

[TigerDad]

Frank, interesting extrapolation.  Using your reasoning, if Juan Joseph and Burt Periera had left Millsaps football early, TU's Blake Barmore would have been the SCAC Offensive POY in 2007?  And DU's Spud Dick was OPOY in 2008. ?

Or the Arizona Cardinals would be reigning Super Bowl champs if Ben Roethlisberger had left the Pittsburgh Steelers?

I know you are a loyal Majors fan and proud of your team (as are we all of ours).  Joseph and Periera are certainly fine athletes and scholars.  That said, sorry, my friend, your conclusion is pure hogwash speculation.

there, that's a better word.

[exmajor]

Frank, interesting extrapolation.  Using your reasoning, if Juan Joseph and Burt Periera had left Millsaps football early, TU's Blake Barmore would have been the SCAC Offensive POY in 2007?  And DU's Spud Dick was OPOY in 2008. ?

Or the Arizona Cardinals would be reigning Super Bowl champs if Ben Roethlisberger had left the Pittsburgh Steelers?

I know you are a loyal Majors fan and proud of your team (as are we all of ours).  Joseph and Periera are certainly fine athletes and scholars.  That said, sorry, my friend, your conclusion is pure hogwash.

I think Frank was just trying to give insight on Chris Graves and his playing time thus far under center at Millsaps.  He should have said "could" have won POY honors for Burt, but his main point was that Chris has big shoes to fill if he steps in under center this year for the Majors.

[frank_ezelle]

Frank, interesting extrapolation.  Using your reasoning, if Juan Joseph and Burt Periera had left Millsaps football early, TU's Blake Barmore would have been the SCAC Offensive POY in 2007?  And DU's Spud Dick was OPOY in 2008. ?

Or the Arizona Cardinals would be reigning Super Bowl champs if Ben Roethlisberger had left the Pittsburgh Steelers?

I know you are a loyal Majors fan and proud of your team (as are we all of ours).  Joseph and Periera are certainly fine athletes and scholars.  That said, sorry, my friend, your conclusion is pure hogwash.

Pure hogwash?  That's fairly strong.

I know what I saw over the last 3 years.  The numbers put up by Burt from 2006-08 as a backup quarterback, especially the times he played a complete game, back up my personal observations.  Millsaps would have successful with Burt running the offense, and with that success would have come the individual honors.  I respect your right to disregard the stats and label it all as loyalist hogwash--somehow no matter how hard a person tries to be objective, their views will always be seen as biased.

[evacuee]

Would have means didn't.

[Ron Boerger]

Pure hogwash?  That's fairly strong.

I know what I saw over the last 3 years.  The numbers put up by Burt from 2006-08 as a backup quarterback, especially the times he played a complete game, back up my personal observations.  Millsaps would have successful with Burt running the offense, and with that success would have come the individual honors.  I respect your right to disregard the stats and label it all as loyalist hogwash--somehow no matter how hard a person tries to be objective, their views will always be seen as biased.

Be honest, Frank - if anyone else had claimed a backup player would be the hands-down conference MVP given other circumstances, you'd be equally skeptical (if perhaps using terms other than 'hogwash').    He threw ten passes and had no starts in 2008, had one start (against Rhodes) in 2007,  pretty thin grounds from which to extrapolate an "MVP 2 of 3 years" claim.   No doubt he would have been a fine SCAC quarterback given the chance (and was when he did play).  

[TigerDad]

[frank_ezelle]

Ron, I see your point and prefer the way you put it.  I personally believe that Millsaps with Burt at quarterback from 2006-08 would have won at least 2 SCAC championships and since the quarterback of the championship team is often picked as the MVP, especially if that team is big on the passing game, I didn't think my comment was outrageous.  I suspect that many of the Millsaps coaches would agree with my opinion, but maybe that belief is pure hogwash as well.

If anyone wants to look at the numbers for 2006-08, they will see that as a backup quarterback Burt's passing percentage was about 75%, his passer rating was higher than Juan's every year, and he averaged about 7 yards per running play.  Was he better than Juan?  Apparently not in the eyes of the coaches since Juan was the starter.  But you have to admit that for a guy who spent most of his time practicing at wide receiver, it's rather amazing what he could do when called upon with short notice.

But that's just BS from a Millsaps guy, so I guess I should end the discussion like that series of skits on the old Saturday Night Live:  "never mind".

[TigerDad]

... but maybe that belief is pure hogwash as well.

... end the discussion like that series of skits on the old Saturday Night Live:  "never mind".

Ease up a little, frank ... don't be so sensitive.  I'm only having a little fun with your premise.  You know I appreciate your insight into the Majors program and players ... I've told you so many times. 

The new season will be starting shortly and we'll soon have the future and present to discuss instead of the hypothetical past.  What could or would have been was not.  That's in fact why we all love sports ... it's always about the next game!

never mind!

[DPU3619]

I've seen Pereira throw the football a few times, and he's not a bad passer.  He's really not.  I don't think Millsaps is running the same offensive system if he's the QB instead of Juan.  Juan could make all the throws better than just about any QB who has come through this conference in this decade. 

Burt reminds me a lot of a Ross Wiethoff type.  He probably won't beat you with spectacular throws, but his legs create some passing lanes that wouldn't normally be there.  He's not going to squeeze it in the window between the corner and the safety, but his legs can get you 15 yards on a pivotal 3rd and 8.  I don't think Millsaps is nearly as dynamic of an offense with him at the helm instead of #11, and I'm not sure I think he's a conference MVP, but I do believe he would have been more than capable of leading that team. 

[rooski]

Practice starts in less than 3 weeks! 

The Roo's report on Sunday 8-16-09.

[Ron Boerger]

The 2009 d3football.com preseason poll is out.

The only SCAC team ranked is DPU (at #25);  ARV are Millsaps ("#26") and Trinity ("#29").

[Bill McCabe]

The 2009 d3football.com preseason poll is out.

The only SCAC team ranked is DPU (at #25);  ARV are Millsaps ("#26") and Trinity ("#29").

Ron, what are your thoughts on the SCAC at this point?  Will Millsaps be as good without Joseph?

[Ron Boerger]

Ron, what are your thoughts on the SCAC at this point?  Will Millsaps be as good without Joseph?

That's the question, isn't it?  This year will help us see if Millsaps' recent success came from Juan, from the system Coach Dubose has installed, or both (which is my guess).  They will be a factor in the race for sure.

I think DPU is going to be quite good, they played very well at the end of the year (look what they did to Wabash) and didn't lose too much to graduation.

Trinity has to develop a new QB and they have an miserable schedule to start the season:  four consecutive road games, the last of which is at Millsaps - three games later, they're at DePauw.  They return a lot at the other skill positions.  If they can get through the first four weeks unscathed, look out, but it won't be easy.

BSC will continue to improve, Austin is getting better each year, either of them could surprise one of the favorites.  Sewanee should also be better, Rhodes and Centre are always hard to figure.

This is all based on vague recollections and memories so don't anyone get too upset if I got something wrong.  I'm buying Kickoff just like (hopefully) everyone else.

[TigerDad]

Hal Mumme is the new McMurry Head Coach.

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. 

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

Browsing the McMurry football website and found this story by McMurry's SID with more info on Coach Mumme and his 'Air Raid' attack history: http://athletics.mcm.edu/News/football/2009/7/27/072709fb2.asp

All 'do' respect to McMurry, indeed!   

... now only 32 days until kickoff, Tigers!