FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Toby Taff]

HSU is not as awful as they appeared today.  Remember that Bernhard IS their second string QB - today things finally caught up with him.  They also are just getting Quentin Jones (the RB who had the bulk of HSU's yards, 80 on 5 carries) back from injury.  Without a consistent running threat, and since they got behind early, the Cowboys had no choice but to pass and that let UMHB tee off on the QB. 

Since it looks likely that HSU will get sent to Trinity if both win out, don't base your opinion of HSU on just this one game.   And, yeah, having to face UMHB is scary.  But they can be beat, as we saw a couple of weeks ago. 

I think MHB's game makes HSU more dangerous.  It gave Jordy a chance to experience some intense pressure, likely more than  he's seen all season.  Now, if I know Jordan, Jordan sits down with him and helps him process the film so that Jordy can make better decisions next time, maybe next game. 

Also, we saw what Quentin is capable of that TD was amazing, however, he will being seeing a big purple and gold 30 in his head for a long time after that shot he took.   I think HSU regroups and rolls the rest of the conference schedule.  If MHB can do the same, and if they look like they did yesterday the rest of the schedule they will, maybe we get another 2nd Round rematch game this year

[evacuee]

As it pertains to the Tigers running the ball so much...

Steve Mohr is as good of a coach as you are going to find.  The guy can see everything in slow motion at field level and has an answer for everything.  Obviously, the guy can recruit and has an eye for d3 talent, but all that aside, he wants to win and always adjusts for the betterment of the team rather than for his ego. 

I work with college coaches daily, some of them more successful than others, but nearly all of them so impenetrably self-centered that they can't stop tripping over themselves.  Steve Mohr is better than that and better than most.   Trinity's good in every sport, but in football, it's the coach more than the school. 

[CentreDad]

Some thoughts on the Centre-Trinity game:

Trinity was able to wear down the Centre D-line in the second half, and when Phelps got injured at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game got out of hand.

Had Centre been able to take advantage of its opportunities in the first half (first quarter in particular) and not had a couple fumbles, the game might have been much closer than Trinity would have liked.  I thought that if Centre scored on the opening drive that would have kept Trinity from pounding their bigger O-line on the Centre line.

Centre had opportunities while the game was still undecided, but just didn't make plays.  Some of the parents were a little rough on the officials, but even with some questionable calls (what game doesn't have them ), Centre just didn't make the plays they needed when they had the opportunity.  On the opening drive, a completed pass inside the five was called back for holding, but just prior to that, a open reciever across the middle was missed, it would have been a sure touchdown, so you can't blame the officials, just make plays!

Regardless, we had a wonderful time in San Antonio, my first visit.  Enjoyed the Mission Trail and the Riverwalk, wish we had a little more time.

[TigerDad]

Frankly, I wish I had seen Trinity play once or twice last year to have a better perspective on their offensive history.  That said, I have been very pleased to see them improve their running game over the course of this season.  Early on, it seemed there was little blocking and all rushing plays started slowly.  As a result, TU's excellent senior backs never got started.  As the season progresses, those problems seem to be getting fixed and both RB's are gaining some real ground.

Against Centre, the O-line opened up some great holes and were also picking off the LB's to allow JJ and Ray to get up some speed and gain significant yardage.  Once that's established, the receivers were open in short yardage and that made for a better balance.  In Jake's defense, his receivers dropped some easy ones, looking up from the ball before they had it tucked in.  Blake did a fine, steady job and looked calm and collected.

IMHO, it's time to release the hounds and see what Kelner, Hicks, Thompson, Byars and Kremers can do way downfield.  Would open up the space between the tackles even more that it already is.

Congrats to all the Tigers for showing that they can score frequently and in various ways.  Nice read & nice oskey, Shaun.  Some big hits by the Black Flag (Kownslar, Allen, Morgan, Barnhart & company) ... causing those fumbles made the difference in possession time and field position.  Some very hard driving hits kept the Centre players thinking twice about turning upfield without ducking.

Hard to complain at 6-0, that's for sure.  Keep up the good work on the road at Rhodes & Sewanee!

[historymajor]

Tigerdad... The passing game isn't/wasn't clicking... I don't know the personal dynamics of the thing,,, but Blake seems to be 'connecting' with the passing game better than 'Jake'.
I'm not tuned into the vibes, or the karma... but it seems like Blake commands a better game than Jake...  If you'all remember b/4 the season started... I referred to the Jake and Blake show...  well sometimes you have to ride the 'one that's running'.  I think it's a real luxury to have two (or more) quality QB's and be able to react to what's happening.... don't get me wrong, I'm not a committee, or platoon guy,,, but if you can change and react,,, depth is better than politics and seniority.

I hope that Jake and Blake (and JV QB's unseen) can lead TU to the playoffs,,, then we'll have a controversy (or not)...

[gil68]

For any DePauw faithful interested, Monon Bell tickets are being sold tomorrow.

http://www.depauw.edu/ath/news.asp?id=16307

[TigerDad]

HistoryMajor ... yes, I am with you on the QB situation.  Frankly, there's probably only two guys (and their fans) who care who gets the nod.  With 17+ years of coaching experience, Coach Mohr must have seen them come and go ... whatever and whoever works to get the "W" is what counts.  As many individuals are participating, football still comes down to the best 11 guys on each side of the ball on any given day.  That's what makes it a great sport.  Here's to the coach(es) who can figure it out and keep it moving in the right direction.  It's nice to have fun, but it's funner to win.  That's what attracts more winners to the program and keeps TU at the top (or near it!)

Go Tigers ... keep it rolling on the road ...

[willystyle]

Must've been some great defensive performances in the SCAC this week - 3 players from the conference named to d3football.com's Team of the Week.  Congrats to all of those guys.

As far as my TU Tigers go, I can't say I really care who is at QB, as long as the wins keep coming.  After watching Burton and Hampton TU fans are bound to need some time to adjust to an offense that doesn't prominently feature 4 and 5-WR sets, but TU has won running the ball in the past, and this team is proving that they can in the present and future.  I was a bit surprised by the Centre score - I expected them to be more of a test, even in San Antonio.  But with the Colonels in the rearview I think it's time the Tigers found another gear and got ready for whichever ASC team awaits them come playoff time.

[evacuee]

Willystyle,

Are you trying to jinx the tigers?   We've been tripped up before with better teams.  Three games left is no time to start getting ready for a first round playoff game.  TU's in a delicate spot right now.  Did y'all know that each of the last two season's that Trinity has had to replace a quarterback, they've lost two games?  One in conference and one on the west coast. 

[Ron Boerger]

Been kind of quiet around here, let's try a poll ...

[etg]

(El Tea Gray) (TU Passing Offense)

TigerDad, History, Willy:

I've been watching both Jake and Blake since workouts began back in August; both CAN throw, Jake throws the out-patterns better and Blake sees and throws downfield best. I agree with TigerDad that it's time to open up some North/South activity; not to say that both QB's should not be amply utilized (whoever that game has the most cylinders firing). The Tigers are not in the playoffs yet, but IMHO should they get there (Hope, Hope, Hope) the Offense needs much higher octane. I'm sure they can produce.

[Wildcat'64]

Brett Elliot has just moved into 7th position with almost 900 votes cast today for the Division III quarterback.  There are 42 nominees for the Heisman award.
If you have not cast your ballot you may do so by going to www.voteforheisman.com.
Your support for a D3 candidate for the Heisman will send a positive message to the nation.
Please cast your vote for Division III football.

[willystyle]

TU2698 -

Not trying to jinx anyone, and I'm well aware of TU's recent history.  I was at Millsaps in 2000, and was listening on line in 2003 when Rhodes got the upset win.

I'm not suggesting they sit the starters, crank up the HSU-UMHB film, and not worry about the last 3 games here.  I'm suggesting that they start getting extremely focused and put these last 3 regular season opponents away in a manner that lets everyone know they're ready for the playoffs.

IMO, Centre was the last, best chance for TU to gauge itself heading towards season's end (a quality win over W&L, wins against Rhodes and Millsaps already, historically a good program that gives TU some competition), and the Tigers passed with flying colors.

[tTU719803]

From looking at the statistics for Rhodes, I would say that they will give the Tigers their toughest test so far.  Centre had the worst defense in the SCAC and was giving up major yards to sub-par teams.  Rhodes seems to have a solid defense (on paper)and only gave up 7 to DePauw and 16 to Huntingdon and held both teams to under 170 total yards of offense.  Their offense has had its share of struggles, but the defense has kept them in every game, and that Steinert kid is playing well.  The Tiger offense needs to show up ready to play on the road with the same intensity they came out with last week, otherwise this could be a repeat of '03 where the Tiger offense stunk it up and Rhodes' O did just enough to win.

[Ron Boerger]

The regional rankings were finally released by the AA.  South Region as it stands:

Name In-Region Overall
1. Trinity (Texas) 5-0 6-0
2. Ferrum 7-0 7-0
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor 4-1 5-1
4. Thiel 7-0 7-0
5. Bridgewater (Virginia) 4-1 5-1
6. Hardin-Simmons 5-1 6-1
7. Johns Hopkins 6-0 7-0
8. Salisbury 2-0 6-1
9. Washington and Jefferson 5-1 7-1
10. Wesley 4-0 7-1

Thoughts: 
- Ferrum #2?  PU.  These guys have beat nobody and have had trouble doing it at times.  I would put UMHB at #2, Thiel at #3, HSU, then maybe Ferrum. 
- Concerned that DePauw didn't even get in the top ten. 
- Wesley has no business being there after getting pounded last week.  No doubt that is why DPU isn't there (e.g. they lost to Wesley). 
- UMHB might finally get a home playoff game, unless the AA does something totally asinine like send them to Ferrum.