FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[imad3fanatic]

In the playoffs, Trinity has lost 4 times at home and 5 times on the road. 

Wow -- talk about meaningless stats. Let's instead try the record at home and on the road in the playoffs, maybe?

Since 1999, since that's all I have easy access to:

Playoffs at home: 8-3


Playoffs on road: 1-3
Playoffs neutral: 0-1

Pat - Why no South Around the Region for last week??

[evacuee]

Pat, relative because you made the assertion... "but I think you know full well that Trinity has traditionally had advantages at home.".....  based on what?  Something YOU saw???  Something you were told???
What?  I'm just asking???  What are you basing your statement the "you know full well....." on?

Based on observation of more than a decade of results, thanks.

BTW, your own Trinity alum, who I think has seen a lot of games since my last non-playoff trip to San Antonio in 1995, agreed. It isn't just me.

What exactly do you mean?  Can we get a straight answer?  Agreed with you on what?  What do we know full well?  Can we get a straight answer, please?  If all you're saying is that Trinity has a good team that doesn't lose often and even less so at home due to better performance, say that.  If you mean something else, say that. 

[Ralph Turner]

In the playoffs, Trinity has lost 4 times at home and 5 times on the road. 

Wow -- talk about meaningless stats. Let's instead try the record at home and on the road in the playoffs, maybe?

Since 1999, since that's all I have easy access to:

Playoffs at home: 8-3
Playoffs on road: 1-3
Playoffs neutral: 0-1

Trinity, the good thing about the last 7 playoff seasons is that you have a loss on a neutral field, just like UMHB!  That is kinda fun getting there, isn't it!

UMHB is 5-2 on the road; 0-1 on a neutral field and 0-1 at home!  I think that they want a few home playoff victories and a chance at that neutral site game in Virginia.

[Ron Boerger]

Pat, relative because you made the assertion... "but I think you know full well that Trinity has traditionally had advantages at home.".....  based on what?  Something YOU saw???  Something you were told???
What?  I'm just asking???  What are you basing your statement the "you know full well....." on?

Based on observation of more than a decade of results, thanks.

BTW, your own Trinity alum, who I think has seen a lot of games since my last non-playoff trip to San Antonio in 1995, agreed. It isn't just me.

What exactly do you mean?  Can we get a straight answer?  Agreed with you on what?  What do we know full well?  Can we get a straight answer, please?  If all you're saying is that Trinity has a good team that doesn't lose often and even less so at home due to better performance, say that.  If you mean something else, say that. 

I have never seen so many people get in so much of an uproar over so little.

First:  Trinity has an excellent program.  That is the pre-requisite to everything I (Trinity U class of '81, and whom Pat refers to above) have ever said about HFA as it relates to the school.  So quit thinking that there is some hidden agenda or anything else going on here.

When you look at Trinity's regular home losses over the years (and let's throw out NAIA scholarship Azusa's win in '04), well, there basically haven't been ANY since the program started being a consistent playoff contender.   You have to back to *1995* to find a loss, to Centre ... ironically the next-to-last year Trinity didn't make the post-season.   At the same time the team has seen a number of regular season road losses:   Millsaps (last game of '96 - ruining an otherwise undefeated season), Centre and Millsaps ('00), Gustavus Adolphus ('01), Pomona-Pitzer ('03).   The two teams Trinity lost to in '00 were both .500 clubs.   The Gusties were 7-3 and Pomona was 5-4.   Excluding those wins, three of the last four teams Trinity lost to on the road were .500 or worse.  What other reason is there to lose to such inferior competition if not the travel required?   The guys are good enough to usually overcome this disadvantage, but 5x the losses on the road is significant enough for me to say that the travel to SA is an advantage for TU when they play here and a disadvantage when they don't.  After all, as someone else pointed out, the home crowd itself is not big enough to be a factor.   Hell, look at what happened just a few weeks ago when UMHB travelled to CNU ... they lost.  I don't think too many people (except CNU fans) think that result would be repeated on a neutral field. 

The sole home playoff loss against a travelling team was the loss to PLU the year the Lutes won the championship.  I don't consider UMHB far enough away (2 hours and change) for travel to be a factor.   Everyone else that visited SA came away with a loss ... and with the exception of Hardin-Simmons they were all extended travel, relative to D3 anyway. 

I'm very proud of the job that ALL Trinity athletes do representing the school, because once they get into the post-season in whatever sport they almost always have to hit the road after a round or two in the playoffs.  But it isn't easy, and glossing over the fact that travel is tough for teams, any teams, doesn't do anyone justice. 

[Ralph Turner]

Again, kudos for the DePauw folks for finding a way to play this one.  "I thought I could, I thought I could"....  I'm not sure what the night/day double header effect was on the players and coaches,,, but it was tough to maintain focus after all those hours on the pitch at E.M. Stevens.  I'm already looking forward to next years matchup in Indiana.... 

I heard that DePauw was staying over tonight and had gotten flights back tomorrow mid-day.... 

Nothing like a long weekend in SAT at the RiverWalk!

History, I was going to give you a karma for that magnanimous post, then I lost your train of thought.

BFB makes a great case for TU's HFA.  The SCAC is all about HFA and difficult travel.  It is usually a long bus ride to airport where you may get multiple connections and then a long bus ride to the campus.  It always will be that way, because you like your conference the way it is.

HFA? How about the 5,584 that saw CNU beat UMHB!

[tTU719803]

I would publicly accuse BfB of being too 'middle of the road' about the excellence of Trinity's program,,, especially when he was acting as the 'voice of the south region'.

Have you ever heard of "unbiased?"  That's usually what a journalist is required to be.  When Ron was writing the around the south region column, it was his job (I don't know if it actually paid or not!) to be "middle of the road" with respect to his alma mater.  Get a clue, Bob.

[tTU719803]

What exactly do you mean?  Can we get a straight answer?  Agreed with you on what?  What do we know full well?  Can we get a straight answer, please?  If all you're saying is that Trinity has a good team that doesn't lose often and even less so at home due to better performance, say that.  If you mean something else, say that. 

I think what he means is exactly what me and BfB have been saying...TU has a homefield advantage, especially in the playoffs, against teams that have to fly in due not only to travel concerns, but also to the fact that TU has historically performed better at home than on the road.  I think there was one point from 2000 to 2001 that they lost 3 consecutive road games that they should have won.

[Tigerpop]

My impression is that TU goes to great lengths to get quality student athletes.  The real measure of a team's success is how they perform during times of adversity.  Trinity has lost three excellent impact players to injury and ended up playing a third team and second team quaterback in two games. In spite of these major injuries, and transitions at QB, they continue their success.  In my opinion, it starts with quality people who are well coached and focused.  Sure, it was a close game against DPU, and that says alot for both teams, but the fact of the matter is that TU will continue to be a contender because of the school, families, alumni, and players commitment to excellence.  Spend some time around the athletes, staff and families at Trinity and you'll see what I mean.  

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, I mean exactly that. The numbers don't lie, right?

Sheesh, you guys are sensitive. What did you think I meant, that you pipe in excess stadium noise? Excessively water the field on Friday night? Gimme a break.

[Pat Coleman]

If you re-read your own post from 06:30:12 pm then you will know. Get off my back. I'm not addressing your paranoia any further.

[Ron Boerger]

TU2698, BFB, Ralph... sounds to me like guilt by inuendo (sp), guilt my rumor, or as the media says 'spinning a rumor'  I think the TU faithful deserve an explanation, or a retraction!

I would publicly accuse BfB of being too 'middle of the road' about the excellence of Trinity's program,,, especially when he was acting as the 'voice of the south region'.

Travelling a thousand miles to face TU in SAT is (and probably will continue to be) a daunting task.  Not because there's anything 'funny going on',,,,  but because there are plenty of problems associated with the trip....  long multi-segment air flights,,,,  nice hotels, great food and the fabled RiverWalk (which we all know has been the downfall of many)... not to mention the fact that player's families often schedule a 'special long weekend' around the trip to SAT.  The TU coaching staff has worked tirelessly to attract 'quality' opponents to SAT, even having to subsidize their travel.....  The Azusa Pac year was a good example, in order to get a quality opponent down here, we dipped into D2.... oops, that wasn't a great memory.

I agree with TU2698...  give us some facts or NOT,,,, don't just drop it, and leave those accusations out there!  TU is a quality program, and should continue to be!

HM, I would accuse you of being a former parent and homer that wouldn't know an unbiased opinion if someone hit you over the head with it.  I don't know what the heck you are talking about here and doubt you do either.  That may be harsh but it seems you are seeking an apology for something that exists only in your imagination.   Why don't YOU tell us what you think we said, since neither Pat or I seem to know?   

Regarding "facts," what would you like see added to my post of 17:10 today?   You seem to think that I'm implying there some other reason for the disparity in home/road success other than the travel involved and it's abundantly clear to most everyone else that I'm not. 

As for being "too middle of the road" regarding Trinity's program, the fact of the matter is that for the three years that I was the SR columnist (2003-2005), Trinity didn't get out of the first round.   And as much as it pained me as an alum to deal with three straight years of losing in the first round, IMO those losses reflect the changing fortunes in the relationship between Trinity and the ASC schools.    If I was writing for TU then I would certainly highlight the positives and gloss over the rest.  On the other hand, a regional columnist (even a hack like me) owes it to their audience to remain neutral.  If I erred on the side of being tougher on my alma mater than some would like, it's OK - they're big boys and don't need any validation from me.  I've made my appreciation for Coach Mohr and Bob King abundantly clear and will continue to do so.  It's harder than hell to put together a winning program with kids smart enough to get into Trinity in the first place and that they have done as well as they have over the years is a credit to the program.   

To close:

I'm very proud of the job that ALL Trinity athletes do representing the school, because once they get into the post-season in whatever sport they almost always have to hit the road after a round or two in the playoffs.  But it isn't easy, and glossing over the fact that travel is tough for teams, any teams, doesn't do anyone justice. 

I can't say it any more plainly than that.  If you think I'm saying anything else perhaps it is time to see an optometrist. 

[DPU3619]

I'm scared to think about what would have happened on this board if you guys would have lost on Sunday.

Yikes.

[Ralph Turner]

I'm scared to think about what would have happened on this board if you guys would have lost on Sunday.

Yikes.

I would have been trying to figure out:

1)  the implications of TU not getting the SCAC Pool A bid,

2)  and where the Selection committee would be sending everyone in the playoffs

3)  and what implication that this outcome and the HSU/LC cancellation might have on the ASC runner-up getting a Pool C bid. 

[wilburt]

Is Huntingdon trying to join the SCAC?  

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006609150360

[Hawks88]

Is Huntingdon trying to join the SCAC?   

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006609150360

If Huntingdon was going to be invited into the SCAC, it surely would have happened by now. It is definitely hard to fill a schedule as an independent and I figure it will get even harder with the new 9 team SCAC next year. Pretty much the only other options right now are the USAC and the ASC or some kind of realignment of some of those schools. Hope something happens soon to get our guys into a conference.