FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[02 Warhawk]

Anyone in here confident that the conference can find more members to retain its automatic bid?

Looks like they will have a couple years to do so.

[Ron Boerger]

I just don't see it..  Even if the SCAC adds Huntingdon (from a travel perspective, a stretch, especially given this week's events), poached Texas Lutheran from the ASC, poached provisional Centenary from the ASC *and* convinced them to add football, AND talked Colorado College into reviving the sport ... well, after all that, you'd still need to find another team.   Southwestern and UDallas are extremely unlikely to add FB, and the other football playing D3 schools in the Texas area are unlikely to get invites (or even want to change) to the SCAC. 

If they do, it'll be a real credit the the SCAC leadership, but as it stands the only way Trinity/Austin will be able to compete for a pool A bid is to affiliate with another conference.   The SCAC presser yesterday said schools had been in touch, it would be nice to know who.

[awadelewis]

Anyone in here confident that the conference can find more members to retain its automatic bid?

I think it'll happen in both cases with each conference poaching new members from some of the other conferences in the region

[02 Warhawk]

Say it the SCAC can't find another team to retain its Pool A...does that bid then get added to Pool C?

[02 Warhawk]

B/c of the grace period, the conference championship (and AQ bid) will be determined by the one game between Austin and Trinity in 2012. Assuming they can't find anyone to join the SCAC.

Talk about a must-win game 

[pg04]

B/c of the grace period, the conference championship (and AQ bid) will be determined by the one game between Austin and Trinity in 2012. Assuming they can't find anyone to join the SCAC.

Talk about a must-win game  

Let's hope both teams lose all regular season games except that one and then go on a run in the playoffs!  1-9 team wins Stagg Bowl!  

[Ron Boerger]

Say it the SCAC can't find another team to retain its Pool A...does that bid then get added to Pool C?

One imagines the "CAC" will find a seventh team by the first year they're eligible ('14-'15), which would be the year the SCAC loses their bid if they don't get back to seven. 

[Ron Boerger]

Here is Trinity's statement on the split:

http://www.trinitytigers.com/sports/06-08-11_scac

San Antonio – Despite an announcement about major changes in the membership of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Trinity University remains committed to the conference, and is excited about what the future holds.

Seven out of 12 member schools announced that they will withdraw from the SCAC following the 2011-12 academic year. Those leaving the conference are Birmingham-Southern College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, and Sewanee: The University of the South.

Five institutions will remain in the SCAC: Trinity, Austin College, Colorado College, Southwestern University, and the University of Dallas – which will open its first season in the conference in 2011-12.

The announcement was made following yesterday's meeting of the Board of Directors, consisting of university presidents.

Remaining as Commissioner of the SCAC will be Dwayne Hanberry, who has worked in the conference for the past 16 years.  Any inquiries about future membership in the SCAC should be directed to the SCAC Office.

"Obviously, this news puts Trinity and the remaining members of the SCAC in a difficult situation," said Trinity Director of Athletics Bob King, "but we feel confident that under the leadership of Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry that we will pull through this, and eventually, be better than ever."

New members have already been approached about joining the SCAC. The goal is to have an eight to 10-member conference, which will continue to be part of the NCAA Division III. The SCAC is committed to the philosophy of having members with the highest academic standards, while maintaining competitive athletics programs.

According to Mr. King, "Trinity's goal is to continue to be a nationally-competitive athletics program, and we hope that new members of the SCAC will have similar goals.  We are already looking at ways to develop competitive schedules in all sports for the future.  We are open to any and all possibilities moving forward."  

Tiger teams have won 11 President's Trophies, as the best overall program in the conference. Trinity won the trophy – a railroad bell – seven consecutive years, from 1993-94 to 1999-2000. A four-year streak was produced from 2001-02 to 2004-05.  Trinity began competition in the conference in the 1989-90 season.

Trinity's men's and women's teams have captured 144 SCAC Championships over the years, including five during the 2010-11 season: men's and women's soccer, women's swimming and diving, baseball, and men's tennis.

Interesting to note that with the split, Trinity will now be the SCAC member with the longest tenure ('89-'90).  Edit:  Southwestern started in '94-'95, Colorado College and Austin College in '06-'07.

[02 Warhawk]

Here is Trinity's statement on the split:

http://www.trinitytigers.com/sports/06-08-11_scac

San Antonio – Despite an announcement about major changes in the membership of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Trinity University remains committed to the conference, and is excited about what the future holds.

Really?!

Is that b/c they are going to kick everyone's a$$ in the conference going foward? Other than that, there isn't much to get excited about...this is a big blow to this conference.

[Ron Boerger]

Really?!

Is that b/c they are going to kick everyone's a$$ in the conference going foward? Other than that, there isn't much to get excited about...this is a big blow to this conference.

Well, as the big dog remaining in the conference, it behooves Trinity to make a positive statement if they hope to attract other quality programs.   And Bob King probably has a much better idea of the kinds of schools the SCAC is going after; depending on those discussions, there certainly could be room for optimism.

That said, note this excerpt from the release:  

"Trinity's goal is to continue to be a nationally-competitive athletics program, and we hope that new members of the SCAC will have similar goals."  (emphasis mine)

Read into that what you will, but it seems pretty plain, and could provide a little more insight into reasons for the split other than the sudden "oh, NOW the travel is a hassle."  And, for those who don't follow the SCAC, it's been DePauw, not Trinity, that has won the last six all-sports championships. 

[02 Warhawk]

"Trinity’s goal is to continue to be a nationally-competitive athletics program, and we hope that new members of the SCAC will have similar goals."  (emphasis mine)

Read into that what you will, but it seems pretty plain, and could provide a little more insight into reasons for the split other than the sudden "oh, NOW the travel is a hassle."  And, for those who don't follow the SCAC, it's been DePauw, not Trinity, that has won the last six all-sports championships. 

Has the SCAC been cutting back in travel expenses recently? B/c that could be the main reason why they are doing this now....b/c of the economy.

The WIAC is being forced to cut back. Each football team now has to play one fellow WIAC team twice. Once as a non conference game, and once as a conference game. This will save on travel expenses.

Sounds like SCAC schools are looking on cutting back too....but on a whole nother level.

[evacuee]

"And, for those who don't follow the SCAC, it's been DePauw, not Trinity, that has won the last six all-sports championships."

Why did you write this, Ron?   

[radiodavel]

NAIA's Westminster Looking at D3 SCAC
www.theseniorreports.com/naiadiv3.htm

"The only school that has expressed an interest through us is Westminster College in Salt Lake City," Ralph said. "I know several of the Texas schools have received calls from potential new members."

Westminster is the southernmost school in the nine-member NAIA Frontier Conference, which is based in Montana. Such a move would require the Griffins to drop athletic scholarships, which may offset increased travel costs.

[D3_DPUFan]

"

And, for those who don't follow the SCAC, it's been DePauw, not Trinity, that has won the last six all-sports championships."

Why did you write this, Ron? 

Because it's true?   

[awadelewis]

Here's one for the Petrel fans on the board...  Exchanged some messages with some of the Sewanee Alumni who live on the Mountain and someone mentioned the possibility of OU restarting their football program given the reduced travel demands of the new conference.     Thought it an interesting as it would mean that the new conference would then have 7 football playing teams once Hendrix gets their program going.   Any of the OU folks here on the board see a chance of this happening?