FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[rooski]

First of all, let me offer my sincere congratulations to the players and coaching staff of the DePauw Tigers football team on their fine season and SCAC championship.  Considering the controversial and difficult beginning of the season (and pages of message board chatter in August), they've done a terrific job!  We wish you all the best this weekend against Wabash and on into the playoffs ... here's hoping you go deep into December and represent the SCAC well.

Secondly, congrats also to the Millsaps Majors ... another excellent year of football in Jackson.  Looks to me like you will have many more successful years to come.  Despite the playoff miss, you are to be commended on a terrific job....

...Ah, so ... it comes down to the last game of the year (and of the seniors' careers) this Saturday up in Sherman.  Both TU and AC had some tough breaks this year and have alot of pride on the line for the season finale.  I'll be picking the Tigers, but the 'Roos will be a handful, that's for sure.  Here's hoping for a great game, no injuries on either side, and a beautiful cool fall afternoon.  If we get that, I'm fine with it no matter what the score.  A little bittersweet, but we're ready to finish up and move on ... some more than others, I'm sure.

Life is a series of endings and new beginnings ... can't wait to enjoy both!  Ah, and lest I forget ... Oh Lord, I thank you for the time in between.  What a blessing.

Not the first time TigerDad has eloquently posted what I was feeling but could not quite put into words. Though I deeply wanted the Kangaroos win on Saturday it was good to be in Greencastle and see DePauw enjoy their banner day and to get to congratulate numerous players and their families on Senior Day.

I am eager to do the same with the TU Tigers and the Kangaroos next Saturday as well.

[Slicer_Coach]

Either way, looking forward to listening to the guys from WGRE, they do a fantastic job.

Nothing against the WGRE crew, but you do know that the Bell game is broadcast on live TV every year, don't you?

[Patriot_Pride]

Either way, looking forward to listening to the guys from WGRE, they do a fantastic job.

Nothing against the WGRE crew, but you do know that the Bell game is broadcast on live TV every year, don't you?

Not in Jackson, MS it's not. Unless there's a channel I'm not aware of.... ESPN 8 maybe, "The Ocho?"

[D3_DPUFan]

Not in Jackson, MS it's not. Unless there's a channel I'm not aware of.... ESPN 8 maybe, "The Ocho?"

HDNet.

[Slicer_Coach]

Here's the link to find the broadcast near you!
http://www.depauw.edu/alumni/monon/telecastpartiesbystate2009.asp

[Tex]

You know, this conference schedule really frustrates me.  DePauw has their Top 5 opponents at home this year (Trinity, Millsaps, Wabash, Centre, Austin - in no particular order), which means they're on the road to all of those next year.  Centre has their 3 toughest opponents on the road this year (Trinity, Millsaps, DePauw), which means they'll be at home for all of those next year.  Trinity had 3 of their toughest 4 on the road (Centre excluded), which means they'll be at home next year. 

So it would seem to be that in odd numbered years, DePauw has the greatest advantage by far, but then in the even numbered years Trinity and Centre both get the majority of the home games and DePauw has a murderer's row of a schedule.  Is that really what we're after in a conference where the travel and home field advantage are more important than the average conference?  Shouldn't it be a little more balanced than that?

I was thinking the same thing.  Weird scheduling for sure.  TU started the season with 4 road games.  Tough test.  Hopefully next year is TU's year again.  Good luck DeP.  A good run thru the playoffs will be good for the entire SCAC.

[Tex]

TigerDad, Chris has put this team on his back these past two games.  The Roos should be warned or something.  He's playing like a guy that's playing his last 2-3 games forever and ever... oops, he is.  The young man wants to go out with a bang and he's really had two excellent games these past two weeks.  It helps that his o-line really started to gel finally.  But he's playing with like a man possessed.  I hope he has one more monumental game in him. 

[1837Tigers]

Either way, looking forward to listening to the guys from WGRE, they do a fantastic job.

Nothing against the WGRE crew, but you do know that the Bell game is broadcast on live TV every year, don't you?

Not in Jackson, MS it's not. Unless there's a channel I'm not aware of.... ESPN 8 maybe, "The Ocho?"

HDNet is a national network.  If you have a sports bar in Jackson, you can see the game.  Just make sure they get HD channels (ESPN-HD, HDNet, etc.)

[DPU3619]

Not in Jackson, MS it's not. Unless there's a channel I'm not aware of.... ESPN 8 maybe, "The Ocho?"

I would give any sum of money I could find to enjoy Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks broadcast the Monon Bell Classic.

[frank_ezelle]

Prior to the season we all talked about how the schedule would play a big factor in the SCAC race.  Of the 4 teams most talked about as title contenders, the order of most home games against the other three was DePauw(3), Millsaps(2), Trinity(1), and Centre(0).  If you only look at the games between those 4 teams and use head-to-head as a tiebreaker, the order of finish was DePauw, Millsaps, Trinity and Centre.  Not surprising since the visiting team only had a 1-5 record in those 6 games.

As Austin improves and BSC gets approved, the road to the SCAC Championship will only get tougher.  A team will either need a favorable schedule, or they will have to be strong enough to overcome the disadvantages of playing on the road in the SCAC.  I'm not sure if the travel is the biggest disadvantage or the limited number of players allowed on the road, but the two combined makes it tough to win away from home.  But hey, the travel rules are the same for everyone and the schedule evens out over the course of time.  It will be interesting to see if this depth of parity is a one-year deal or the new norm for the SCAC.

[Patriot_Pride]

I would give any sum of money I could find to enjoy Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks broadcast the Monon Bell Classic.

Cotton McKnight: I'm being told that Average Joe's does not have enough players and will be forfeiting the championship match.
Pepper Brooks: It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

Cotton McKnight: We haven't seen Average Joe's yet. They haven't made it to the court. It could be a psychological ploy, or something worse.
Pepper Brooks: They're definitely not on the court, Cotton. Their absence is noticeable.

Classics!

Thanks for the heads up on HDNet, 1837Tigers. But I think I'll watch SEC football instead. GO INDIANA TIGERS!

[frank_ezelle]

One additional thing on the schedules.  Millsaps has their 2010 schedule posted here:

http://www.gomajors.com/schedule.aspx?path=football&schedule=82&

That's an incomplete schedule but my guess is that the SCAC games are about 100% definite.  Maybe it is errant thinking to still focus on Trinity and DePauw as the key games when others are rapidly improving, but I hate that those two games are so early and back-to-back on the Millsaps schedule.  That's always going to be a tough one-two combination and I really enjoyed the excitement when Millsaps was playing Trinity late with a lot on the line. 

[TigerDad]

Maybe it is errant thinking to still focus on Trinity and DePauw as the key games when others are rapidly improving, but I hate that those two games are so early and back-to-back on the Millsaps schedule.  That's always going to be a tough one-two combination and I really enjoyed the excitement when Millsaps was playing Trinity late with a lot on the line. 

frank;

Sorry, but even though I will not be involved next season, I can't find much sympathy in my heart for the Majors on their 2010 schedule woes.  They will still have Austin College and DePauw at home, but will face Trinity and Centre on the road.  Without knowing the future, it's clear that Millsaps will have to earn at least half of their next SCAC (co-)championship on the road.  Only time will tell whether they can meet that challenge.  And, as we know from this year, even one loss can kill your playoff hopes.  Kind of brings new meaning to the phrase "one and done", doesn't it?!

On the other hand, this year, our Trinity Tigers began the 2009 campaign with four consecutive road games (two bus trips, two airline flights) ... ending in Jackson to face a formidable Majors squad hungry for a big win.  It was a brutal run that TU survived at 3-1.  After a couple relatively easy wins in SA, they went to DePauw and lost a tough one, then got pounded by a scholarship school at home.  The Tigers rebounded nicely vs. Centre and will meet a strong opponent at AC this weekend ... on their "Senior Day" in their house.

Next season (IF the flip-flop is complete), TU might have only four road games.  Millsaps, DePauw, Rhodes and Austin will have to come to SA for their chance to beat Trinity ... while the Tigers will "only" face Centre, BSC and Sewanee on the road.  A true 180-degree schedule would give a tremendous lift to next year's squad.  Only time will tell how that works out.

"What goes around, comes around!" may be the Trinity Tiger battle cry in 2010!

No mercy in our house, men, no mercy.   

[TigerDad]

TigerDad, Chris has put this team on his back these past two games.  The Roos should be warned or something.

Tex, I doubt that anyone needs to be "warned" about #10 at this stage of his career.  I daresay AC got their eyes full last year when he narrowly edged their RB Hasten for the conference rushing title.  No doubt, the 'Roos have seen plenty of film on him over the years.  Let's assume Trinity has a few other options cooked up in case the men from Sherman momentarily lose sight of the other ten Tigers on the field.

I should scold you for highlighting his success, but I can hardly keep myself from chiming in.   

Since we're all 'one and done' here, let's all hope for a good one.  I think it will be.

If they were all released in the wild together, wouldn't Tigers EAT Kangaroos?

[roocru]

TigerDad, Chris has put this team on his back these past two games.  The Roos should be warned or something.

Tex, I doubt that anyone needs to be "warned" about #10 at this stage of his career.  I daresay AC got their eyes full last year when he narrowly edged their RB Hasten for the conference rushing title.  No doubt, the 'Roos have seen plenty of film on him over the years.  Let's assume Trinity has a few other options cooked up in case the men from Sherman momentarily lose sight of the other ten Tigers on the field.

I should scold you for highlighting his success, but I can hardly keep myself from chiming in.   

Since we're all 'one and done' here, let's all hope for a good one.  I think it will be.

If they were all released in the wild together, wouldn't Tigers EAT Kangaroos?

Only if they get past the boxing gloves!