FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

I think Casey's a smart enough guy to understand that DePauw will never get the geographic balance that they used to have in this conference.  Having Rose-Hulman as a travel partner was fantastic.  Not having Austin & Colorado to travel to was also fantastic.  That's just never coming back.  I think DePauw would be extremely comfortable staying in this conference if they got a school inside of 3 hours, but right now they are the outlier.  It's over 5 hours to any other school in this conference.  That's not a huge deal for football, but DePauw can't really play a mid-week basketball game against their travel partner right now.  You miss too much class time for that when you add in all the class missed with other travel.

I've asked this before, but why do you stay in a conference where you are the geographic outlier? On top of that, why do you stay when you feel like you are an academic outlier when there's a conference FULL of great academic schools (Wabash, Denison, Kenyon, etc) that currently has an opening and is just a stone's throw away?  I'm sure Casey was choosing his words carefully and fulfulling his obligation to the SCAC, but I still don't get it.  I just don't understand.

EDIT: Not trying to trash SCAC academics, but I think DePauw's opinion of themselves academically & financially doesn't fit in with some of the current or potential future SCAC members.

Is Berry College the college that allows DePauw to move to the NCAC?

President Casey is quite convincing in parlaying DPU's prestige in the SCAC.

[D3_DPUFan]

Tigers bring another good young coach into the fold as offensive line coach.

http://depauw.edu/ath/news.asp?id=25258

[cush]

I'm pretty surprised depauw hasn't made the move to the ncac since it seems like a perfect fit but the issue might not be coming from depauw's side, does the ncac even want depauw for spot 10? I really don't see them expanding past 10 school's since that would mean splitting up the ohio school's for divisions, which i don't think they would go for...so the ncac is probably just taking its time to determine who it wants for its 10th spot, might be wj over depauw. As for the scac, i'd guess an expansion to 14 happens, 16 is too big, with berry and dallas getting spots to ease travel somewhat...would have thought centenary might get the nod but they aren't good to go for a few years. After bumping up to 14, if the scac lost some members, they could drop down to 12 again or go after centenary + others for another round of expansion. Looking at the academic profiles of the scan and ncac, i don't really see much difference in fact i'd rate the top 5 or so of the scac over the ncac but they all are pretty close from top to bottom.

[Ron Boerger]

I was wondering why Wes feels DPU is an "academic outlier" in the SCAC ... I see them among the top schools academically but not head and shoulders above the bulk of the conference.   Geographic outlier, no doubt.   Financially, compared to some members, no doubt, but I've never heard of a conference that says "you gotta have $xxx million to play."  Yes, money can impact your ability to compete, but this isn't Division I with its "win at all costs" mentality.

Geography, history, and travel costs/lost student time IMO are the primary reasons for DPU to go to the NCAC.    That they aren't there implies the Greencastle braintrust finds something it really likes in the SCAC.  

[Ron Boerger]

...or maybe it's just that DPU is bored with the SCAC; they just won their fifth straight Presidents Trophy.  

http://www.scacsports.com/inside_athletics/presidents_trophy

1. DePauw University         925
2. Trinity University         797.5
3. Centre College         777.5
4. Rhodes College         722.5
5. Sewanee-The University of the South         522.5
6. Southwestern University         502.5
6. Hendrix College         420
8. Millsaps College         395
9. Colorado College         372.5
10. Austin College          287.5
11. Oglethorpe University         272.5  

DPU's achieved its largest margin of victory this year - meaning I can't go around saying that DPU only won because of field hockey.  

[D3_DPUFan]

Geography, history, and travel costs/lost student time IMO are the primary reasons for DPU to go to the NCAC.    That they aren't there implies the Greencastle braintrust finds something it really likes in the SCAC.

I think so...if you listen to President Casey there are things he really likes about the SCAC, including the travel. While cost and missed class-time are big issues,  he (and others) like how travel to cities like San Antonio, Colorado Springs, Dallas, etc. enhances the student-athlete experience.  My guess is the SCAC will remain conference of choice, but in an economic environment not likely to improve a great deal any time soon, other options would be under consideration. DePauw is fortunate to have a guy like Casey making those decisions. 

[historymajor]

BFB,,, and rythmic dancing

[Ralph Turner]

Geography, history, and travel costs/lost student time IMO are the primary reasons for DPU to go to the NCAC.    That they aren't there implies the Greencastle braintrust finds something it really likes in the SCAC.

I think so...if you listen to President Casey there are things he really likes about the SCAC, including the travel. While cost and missed class-time are big issues,  he (and others) like how travel to cities like San Antonio, Colorado Springs, Dallas, etc. enhances the student-athlete experience.  My guess is the SCAC will remain conference of choice, but in an economic environment not likely to improve a great deal any time soon, other options would be under consideration. DePauw is fortunate to have a guy like Casey making those decisions.  

More accurately, county-seat towns like Georgetown (Williamson County) and Sherman (Grayson County).

Southern Methodist University and/or Dallas Christian College have not been invited to join the SCAC.    

Shucks, there is a Phi Beta Kappa school in Irving that would love to be in the SCAC.

ERRATA:  Southern Methodist University is actually in University Park.

Dallas Christian, Paul Quinn, Dallas Baptist University and the new University of North Texas, Dallas are the only four year colleges in Dallas.  UNT-Dallas opens in 2010.  Their documents propose to be D-II.

http://www.unt.edu/unt-dallas/plan/Documents/Final_Master_Plan.pdf

Page 13

[DPU3619]

I was wondering why Wes feels DPU is an "academic outlier" in the SCAC ... I see them among the top schools academically but not head and shoulders above the bulk of the conference.   Geographic outlier, no doubt.   Financially, compared to some members, no doubt, but I've never heard of a conference that says "you gotta have $xxx million to play."  Yes, money can impact your ability to compete, but this isn't Division I with its "win at all costs" mentality.

Very sorry you took that as my opinion, Ron.  I tried to choose my words very carefully to illustrate what I've been told is the general thought from within the DePauw braintrust (which includes more than just Casey).  I wasn't very clear on that and I apologize.  As much as I want Monon to be a conference game, I think the competitive balance across all sports is a much better fit for DePauw, honestly.  Plus, the travel is amazing here.  San Antonio, Atlanta, and Memphis > Meadville, PA, Crawfordsville, IN, and Granville, Ohio.

I think it makes more sense overall for DePauw to be in the NCAC rather than the SCAC, but don't take that opinion as me jumping ship.

EDIT: As a side note, didn't think I'd see the day DePauw won 5 straight President Trophys.  Even within the past decade, I can recall a time when that was a ludicrous notion.

[Ron Boerger]

no apology necessary, Wes - thx for the clarification.

[Ron Boerger]

I posted this on the men's soccer board, where it belongs, but for those of us who have been patiently (?) waiting for some improvements to EM Stevens, this may offer some hope:  Trinity University to make Soccer Stadium Renovations.

So why the hope?

1.  AD Bob King:  "We see this as the beginning of renovations and support of all athletics facilities [...]  Improvements such as this will not only help augment the student-athlete experience at Trinity, but also will improve the atmosphere for Tiger fans." 

2.  New TU president Dennis Ahlberg is quoted.  I can't remember his predecessor *ever* saying boo about anything athletic at TU.

So hopefully this means the long-stagnant stadium upgrade plans will move forward at some point.  It would help if they find a donor like the Chapman Trust to assist - they are doing a 4:1 match on donations toward the soccer upgrades. 

[D3_DPUFan]

I posted this on the men's soccer board, where it belongs, but for those of us who have been patiently (?) waiting for some improvements to EM Stevens, this may offer some hope:  Trinity University to make Soccer Stadium Renovations.

So why the hope?

1.  AD Bob King:  "We see this as the beginning of renovations and support of all athletics facilities [...]  Improvements such as this will not only help augment the student-athlete experience at Trinity, but also will improve the atmosphere for Tiger fans." 

2.  New TU president Dennis Ahlberg is quoted.  I can't remember his predecessor *ever* saying boo about anything athletic at TU.

So hopefully this means the long-stagnant stadium upgrade plans will move forward at some point.  It would help if they find a donor like the Chapman Trust to assist - they are doing a 4:1 match on donations toward the soccer upgrades. 

Thanks for posting. Hope that's the case. I was always surprised at the disparity between the strength of the Trinity program and its facilities. Good luck!

[D3_DPUFan]

BTW, who keeps knocking down my "karma"  . Not sure what karma means on this site, but I see mine keeps getting lower...was it something I said?     

[Tex]

TU's new president came from CU-Boulder, right?  Traditionally a strong football school. I'm encouraged but since my son's about to enter his junior year, I'm still holding out hope for a new and improved EMStinkins err... stephens...

TU should have a very strong O-Line this year.   Strength strength and more strength.

QB position will be solid as the line in front of them.

We will miss a certain back out of Shiner. But other guys will get the chance to step it up.

[Tex]

Not sure if you fellas play the market, but a dollar stock worth watching is HDY. Do your research. African offshore oil lease stuff.