FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[frank_ezelle]

The silence here makes me fondly recall the days of DePauw coaching disputes.  I guess in all honesty there isn't much to talk about that hasn't been said--but that's never stopped me in the past.  Just some random thoughts to throw out on a day before the game:

--High for tomorrow will only be 60 after a much warmer week and there is some chance of rain.  I don't know if rain helps or hurts either team but it makes things tough for photographers so I hope it's a dry day.
--I'm sure Trinity assumes that Tyson Roy will play.  The Millsaps preview said Tyson probably won't play.  That would leave Millsaps with just inexperienced freshmen running backs for the game which would probably lead to some adjustments.  I wonder if they would more Chris Jackson to the backfield--he's a big guy, he can block, and he can run after catching those little passes that Tyson catches all the time.  If not that, then will Millsaps go with an empty backfield and receivers all over the place?
--Trinity has won the SCAC so many years in a row and it looks like they have been to the NCAA playoffs 9 years in a row.  Is this added confidence or added pressure?  By the way, from 1990 to 1992 Trinity was 1-9, 1-9 and 2-8 in football with 14-45, 7-31 and 17-40 losses to Millsaps.  I didn't realize that their program was ever at that point.  Millsaps with a guaranteed winning season and 1st or 2nd in the conference already wrapped up has had a great season that they are trying to add on to but Trinity's benchmark for success starts with the bottom rung being an SCAC championship.

[Ron Boerger]

Frank, Trinity was pretty bad before Steve Mohr signed on.  They used to bring in some of the schools from Mexico so they could get a W from time to time.  The sole highlight during my days in school was a homecoming tie with then #2 Tarleton State.  About the time Mohr came onboard, the school decided that athletics were a bonus rather than a detriment if done right, a major donor contributed the funds for the Bell Athletic Center, and they brought in an AD (Bob King) who understands how academics and athletics can not only co-exist but thrive. 

It's only in the last decade or so that Trinity has been a national player in any D3 sport.   Prior to that, the only thing they were known for was Division I tennis and trap & skeet shooting. 

[frank_ezelle]

Just a note that Athletic Director Bob King is a Millsaps alum.  He came a few years after me so I don't know him well but he has always seemed to be a really good guy and apparently the right man for the job at Trinity.

[Tigerpop]

I guess it's my turn to weigh in.  This game has the makings of an epic battle between two very determined opponents. In Millsap, you have an excellent offense and a good defense against Trinity, which has an excellent defense and a good offense.  I was impressed with the stat about the Millsap O-line only giving up 4 sacks all year.  If the Millsap QB has time to throw, he could cause some damage to the Black Flag pass defense. However, to protect the QB, Millsap will need to establish a running game.  As always, at this point of the season, injuries take a toll on the effectiveness of a team. Thus, the Millsap running back injuries could be a factor.  Millsap's O-line has not reallly faced a defenseive line with Trinity's speed and quickness.  While Millsap may have a size advantage, Trinity routinely brings 7 to 8 defensive players to the point of attack.  

Offensively, Trinity has developed a balanced attack.  Trinity has had the same O-line intact since the beginning of the season.  The running attack has both power and quickness.  TU utilizes at least 6 to 7 receivers, which makes it difficult to focus on one in particular.  If Jake Cannon has the time to throw, it will be a long day for Millsap.  Trinity also has had it's share of devastating injuries, mostly on offensive, but so far, others have stepped up to keep things going.  

On special teams, TU has been vulnerable.  If Millsap can establish good field position, or even score, it could be tough for Trinity.

Finally, the intangibles.  Turn overs, home field advantage, history, injuries, Homecoming, weather, missed assignments, bad calls, all of it makes for interersting speculation.  In the end, I think that Trinity's depth, experience, and preparation will prevail, but it will be close.

[consultant]

It should be a nice fall day for a championship game tomorrow in Jackson.  A cold front will sweep across the state tonight.  The high will be 60 with a less than 20% chance of rain. 

[frank_ezelle]

Nice to see Tigerpop on board.  The Millsaps O-line has also benefited by keeping the same starting unit all year.  What many don't realize is that 3 of the 5 are freshmen.

The 4 sacks allowed in 9 games is amazing when you consider the number of pass attempts by the offense.  Going in order by games from first to last, the pass attempt totals have been:  29, 33, 27, 36, 39, 40, 43, 46, and 49.  It makes you think that 50 passes against Trinity is a possibility, especially if Tyson Roy is out for the game.  I would venture that the low number of sacks is a combination of the o-line, the mobility of Juan Joseph, and the system being run.  It makes for an interesting game-within-the-game situation.

[TigerDad]

Would have liked to be in Jackson to see this one in person, but we'll be listening in on Trinity's webcast instead.  Thanks to Trinity's PAWS (football booster organization), the games are covered LIVE on the web and also MP3 archived for later listening.

For the live Trinity (homers!) broadcast at gametime, use this link:
  http://stream.krtu.org:9000/krtu-sports.m3u

To review webcast archives, including the student-produced "Tiger Football Weekly" preview shows, here's the link:
  http://www.pawsfootball.org/custom.asp?id=172439&page=1

Here's wishing everyone a safe trip, fair weather, and an injury-free game.

GO TIGERS ... BRING IT HOME, MEN.

[exmajor]

Interesting stat according to the SCAC website:

SCORE BY QUARTERS     1st  2nd  3rd  4th    Total
--------------------  ---  ---  ---  ---      ---
Millsaps College....   96   51   71   78  -         296
Opponents...........   55   37   50   50  -         192

SCORE BY QUARTERS     1st  2nd  3rd  4th    Total
--------------------  ---  ---  ---  ---      ---
Trinity University..   53   95   56   44  -           248
Opponents...........    6   20   24   33  -            83

Millsaps likes to score in bunches early and Trinity has only given up six points in the 1Q all year.  This should make for an interesting 1Q.  Trinity's best scoring comes in the 2Q which is subsequently Millsaps best defensive quarter.  Despite these stats, not sure I would go anywhere at half-time, seems like this game won't be settled before or even during the 4Q?  I would like to see how these stats shake out if you took the first three games off Millsaps' numbers, may be a little closer on the defensive side.

[frank_ezelle]

While I certainly appreciated the job done by the Trinity guys when they webcast baseball last year, I'm sure most of you will want to tune into the Millsaps broadcast of the game at:

http://www.espnradio1240.com/index.php

You'll see the "Listen Live!" link.  The kickoff for the game is 2:00 central time and they usually start the game broadcast off a half hour before kickoff with interviews and comments, etc. 

Let's all hope for a great game with no injuries and I'll be pulling for the winner to do well when the NCAA Playoffs start.  With Millsaps having an extremely young team this year, maybe they will start going into every last game of the year with a championship on the line.

[HunterT]

Good Luck to the Majors and Tigers. As well as the other SCAC players and coaches. Let's just get that out there first.

Any predictions this week? I know there are some on the Pick Um's Board, but I figured I'd throw mine out here too.

Centre by 3 over Austin. Not much to talk about, just another SCAC game.

Depauw by 1 over Wabash, bring the Monon Bell back to the SCAC.

Millsaps ties Trinity. This game really can't take predictions. So my tie finally fits somewhere.

Rhodes by 10 over Sewanee. Rhodes goes for blood on the mountain, and gets it. Bring the cup home boys!!!

[historymajor]

Here goes... Trinity by 13....  34-21....  Black flag rules

[Bill McCabe]

Good luck Trinity.

[Ron Boerger]

SCAC updates would be appreciated ... I'm on via dialup today and it's very hard to get connected to any streams.

Austin is up at the half on Centre, 21-14. 

[Bill McCabe]

Millsaps holds Trinity on downs at the 18.  Majors break a long run to the Trinity 43.

[Bill McCabe]

Millsaps leads by 14 and driving.  At the Trinity 30.