FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Congrats, Mr. Page.   

May everyone here share the true blessings of the season this Christmas. 

[kudzukang]

Dan Gritti named Rhodes new head football coach
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12/23/2010 10:12:12 AM

Dan Gritti, Rhodes new head football coachRhodes College announced today the selection of Dan Gritti as their new head football coach.  Coach Gritti comes to Rhodes from the University of Chicago, where he served the past two seasons as the defensive line/linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.  Chicago finished the 2010 season with an 8-2 record and won the University Athletic Association football title.



"The moment I stepped on campus I knew what a special place Rhodes is,"  said Coach Gritti.  "I am excited about building a championship football team at a school with such high academic standards.  I look forward to meeting the football players and letting them know how excited I am to lead this program."



With the assistance of Coach Gritti, Chicago ranked in the top 10 in the country in several defensive and special teams categories.  The Chicago defense ranked 3rd in the country in sacks and tackles for loss.  They tied the NCAA Division III record for most punts blocked for touchdowns in a season.



Prior to being on the staff at Chicago, Coach Gritti served as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Middlebury College in Vermont from 2005-08.  Middlebury's 2007 team won the NESCAC league championship and their defense ranked #3 in the country in total defense.



While a student at Vanderbilt, Dan served as a student assistant with the Commodore football program.  He graduated from Vanderbilt in 1995, then earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1998.  After graduating from Wisconsin, Dan practiced for six years at the prestigious Littler Mendelson firm in New York City. 



In 2003 Coach Gritti decided to forego his career as a lawyer and pursue his dream of being a college football coach.  Coach Gritti  reconnected with Gerry DiNardo at the University of Indiana, who was the head football coach at Vanderbilt when Dan served as a student assistant.   Coach Gritti served for two years as a graduate assistant at Indiana.   



"Dan Gritti brings unique qualities to Rhodes College and the Lynx football program.  Beyond being an excellent football coach, Dan has lived and breathed the joys and rigors of being a Dean's List undergraduate and law student," said Mike Clary, Rhodes Director of Athletics.  "We're also very excited about his interest and abilities to engage our alumni, parents, faculty and staff to provide the best academic and co-curricular opportunity for our football team."

[Pat Coleman]

A cleaned-up version is one of many stories in our Coaching Carousel section:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/coaching-carousel

[D3_DPUFan]

Matt Walker will be next head football coach at UW-River Falls.

[Ron Boerger]

UWRF release:  http://www.uwrfsports.com/news/2010/12/29/FB_1229105451.aspx?path=football

Didn't know he was at Butler this season. 

[Ron Boerger]

This is a somewhat surprising hire when you see that the competition included: 

• Vincent Kehres (yes, Larry K's son), DC at Mount Union
• Kevin Bullis, UW-W special team/ass't DC, former UW-RF assistant & DC
• Aaron Vicko, UW-SP OC
• Joel Dettwiler, Wartburg DC

Good luck to Coach Walker, it's certainly going to be a different challenge for him. 

[D3_DPUFan]

I know Matt was a finalist for the Rose-Hulman job as well and was offered at least one other job. No doubt disappointing news for those who were certain of nefarious dealings surrounding his departure from DePauw. Of course, the speculation was fueld by the secrecy surrounding it all...but happy to see Matt moving on to a great, but challenging, opporunity.

[BoBo]

This is a somewhat surprising hire when you see that the competition included:  

• Vincent Kehres (yes, Larry K's son), DC at Mount Union
• Kevin Bullis, UW-W special team/ass't DC, former UW-RF assistant & DC
• Aaron Vicko, UW-SP OC
• Joel Dettwiler, Wartburg DC

Good luck to Coach Walker, it's certainly going to be a different challenge for him.  

It was reported a few days ago on the WIAC message board that Kevin Bullis was offered the position, but turned it down. Footballscoop.com published it. The information was apparently solid & confirmed from a well connected UW-RF poster with access to such information. It was further stated that a lack of committment towards the football program by the UW-RF administration was a leading reason cited for Bullis turning down the job. Sounds like he's stepped into a challenging situation to say the least.

[DPU3619]

Sorry I missed the big Walker news.  I think that's a different kind of challenge unlike anything he's had to handle before.  Yeah, he had a lot of responsbility coaching both football & baseball at DePauw, but both of those programs were pretty darn good when he took charge of them.  This is a bad football team.  13 wins in the last four years.  He's a good recruiter, but building isn't something he's done a lot of.

All that said, as his friend, I'm thrilled for him.  I'm glad he's gotten back into coaching.  He's very excited about this opportunity.  If he can turn this thing around, there's going to be great opportunities ahead for him.

[Ron Boerger]

I have no idea what exactly this would mean, but in an article discussing San Antonio Sports & Entertainment's plans to bring (minor league) soccer in to San Antonio at Alamo Stadium, Trinity expresses a desire to become involved.   Quote:

Any interested party can propose stadium partnership ideas during the next two weeks.

SAISD School Board President James Howard said Trinity has shown some interest.

"I think they would be interested in some football action over there, and possibly even soccer," Howard said. "I think Trinity would be a good partner."

Trinity President Dennis Ahlburg said the school plans to make an overture but isn't certain yet whether a stadium partnership would be a good fit.

"If it works to our advantage and theirs, then we definitely want to explore that," he said.

It seems an odd partnership given the historical distrust between the SAISD and Trinity, but  we'll see.  

More: http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Alamo-Stadium-now-open-for-offers-942707.php

[theoldesttiger]

According to footballscoop.com, former DePauw/current Sewanee offensive line coach Jake Wissing will be moving on to UWRF with Matt Walker....

"University of Wisconsin-River Falls: We have just confirmed that Sewanee offensive line coach Jake Wissing has accepted the offensive coordinator job at Wisconsin-River Falls."

[etg]

(El Tea Gray--re: Team of the 2000s: Portraits of greatness.)

2000-2009
Urban  WR  Trinity(TX)  4th Team
Hampton  QB  Trinity(TX)  Not (even) Listed
IMmostHO, I just don't think these can be correct.
Comments, please?


                                 

[etg]

(El Tea Gray--re: Alamo Stadium possible partnership SAISD (owner) and Trinity University.)


Ron
I have no idea how this partnership proposal will turn out (or even if it is real), but I would appreciate hearing the info on the "historical distrust between SAISD and Trinity"? I do know that Trinity has had an agreement for over fifty (50) years with SAISD, that allows Trinity students to park in Alamo Stadium Parking Lots when these lots are not needed for school district functions. These parking lots are available to Trinity students most of the week; I myself used the Alamo Stadium Lots regularly from 1963-1967. Also, the Tigers used the Alamo Stadium football field for all home games prior to the time the current Trinity Football Stadium (previously E. M. Stevens) was built.


                                                                         



   

[scaccommish]

TRINITY'S MIRACLE PLAY NAMED TOP SCAC FOOTBALL MOMENT

SUWANEE, Ga. - In what many have called the most incredible ending to any football game at any level, Trinity University used 15 laterals as seven different players touched the ball to go 60 yards and score on the final play of the October 27, 2007 game against Millsaps College - capping an improbable and shocking 28-24 victory. The play - dubbed the Mississippi Miracle - has been named the Top Moment in the history of SCAC football.

http://www.scacsports.com/inside_athletics/anniversary20/fball_top_moment

[frank_ezelle]

I will assume that the selection of the 15 laterals play was unanimous! 

In reality, the play should have never happened because Millsaps could have, and should have, easily run out the clock after recovering the onside kick with only 1:37 left in the game. BUT, they left Trinity with 2 seconds on the clock and the rest is history.