FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[roocru]

My secret plan is working !!!      The first of many converts !!!

[frank_ezelle]

I think TU had a little too much time on his hands this morning.  Maybe his work place is like mine, dead as can be while everyone looks forward to a long, long weekend.

While it is a little early for predictions, I will predict that Millsaps will be a better team next season and they will need to be better if they expect to repeat as champions.  This year they played well but they also had two advantages that they won't have next season--they played their key SCAC games at home and people might have underestimated them because of the results from previous seasons.

Millsaps will be better for a variety of reasons:
--First, they return most of their players.  There were some key players in the senior class and some others will transfer or choose not to play, but they will bring back a lot of talent and experience.  
--Second, they will have a year under their belt with the offensive and defensive schemes.  I hope we don't have to go through several games of defensive breakdowns to prepare from the SCAC and I think Juan Joseph will be a much better quarterback after this year of experience.  Keep in mind that he only started the last two games of the 2005 season when he was a freshman.
--Third, I expect an outstanding class of new players.  I was told that they had 20-25 recruits visiting on the weekend of the Trinity game and in the past they never had more than about 5 recruits at a game.  It is certainly easier to recruit when you are a program on the rise.

That's not to say that they are a lock to win the SCAC next year.  I'm sure the top teams in the league will use the Millsaps success as motivation and the lower teams in the league will use the Millsaps success as inspiration.  The results of this season should help raise the quality of play from all of the SCAC teams in the 2007 season.

[Ron Boerger]

I predict that one year from today, the South's number one seed will be steam rolling toward a showdown with Mt. Union, with all of Sherman Texas in its wake.  That's right, boys.  Austin College is the new challenger.

Wow, 2698, a little early to be hitting the Wild Turkey.   

[evacuee]

Oh no.  I don't drink at work before lunch. 

[historymajor]

I'll have a double of whatever you're drinking, TU2698

[TigerDad]

Guys, I just checked my calendar and April 1 is several months away.  I don't understand it.


Happy Thanksgiving, All!

[Bill McCabe]

Is he drinking the egg nog already?

[historymajor]

Dustin Allen from TU has been invited to the Aztec Bowl....  congrats!

[roocru]

Hey guys, what's up with all the disrespect to TU2698.  He is, after all, just stating the obvious !!

Millsaps broke the iron claw of Trinity this year.  Who's to say it can't be AC next year?    While I am not sure that their road will end in Alliance,  I also think they can be a factor in the SCAC next year.  I think I'll remember these page numbers for next year just in case!!! 

[D3Navy]

Just for perspective, I attended the TU-Millsaps game in 2002 in Jackson.  I saw 20-30 potential Millsaps recruits watching the game on the Millsaps sidelines so I don't think this year was particularly different regarding numbers.  But the 2002 game featured Roy Hampton and Jerheme Urban playing pitch and catch as TU delivered a 38-6 shellacking on their way to the Stagg Bowl.  This year Millsaps benefits from soundly thumping the Tigers.  Should definitely help recruiting for Millsaps.

Look forward to a serious TU-Millsaps rivalry in the years ahead!

[MajorAlum80]

First time to post on this board.  Millsaps had a great season and I would like to thank Coach DuBose for a season to remember.  I have never seen a Millsaps game with the kind of atmosphere it had against Trinity.  It was absolutely perfect. 

As far as the playoff game goes.  It was a tough loss.  I think we learned the disadvantage of having the kind of offense we do.  The quick-strike offense is great if you are moving the ball, but if things aren't clicking....the defense is left out to dry.  That is what happened, if you look at the box score, I have never heard of a team holding onto the ball for 40 minutes in a game.  I know CMU deserves credit but its hard to stop anyone when you have a two minute break before having to get back on the field. 

Next year, we'll have to get it done on the road. 

[roocru]

Congratulations to the following players !!

Football 'Roos Earn SCAC-Honors

SHERMAN – The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has released its football All-Conference teams, and seven Austin College student-athletes have been recognized for their play this season.

Seniors Thomas Derricks and Clint Rushing have been named First Team All-SCAC, sophomore Scooter Means has been named Second Team All-SCAC, and seniors Austin Coachman, Jared Baker, junior Eric Shon, and sophomore Matt Orr have been named Honorable Mention All-SCAC.

Derricks, a defensive lineman from Richardson, finished second on the team and in the conference with 89 tackles, including 7.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks.  Derricks also broke up four passes and had one forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Rushing, a punter from Spring, punted 44 times for 1,809 yards, an average of 41.1 yards-per-punt.  Rushing had a long punt of 67 yards and had 14 punts inside the 20 yard line.

Means, a linebacker from Denison, led the SCAC with 90 tackles including three tackles-for-loss.  Means also had three interceptions and broke up two passes this season.

Cowley, a running back from Pottsboro, was among the conference leaders several offensive categories, finishing the season with 809 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns with an average of 5.7 yards-per-carry.  Cowley also had a kickoff return average of 20.1 yards, and averaged 127.2 all-purpose yards this year.

Coachman, a defensive back from Frisco, finished tied for third on the team with 54 tackles, including 22 solo tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.  Coachman also picked off two passes and broke up six.

Baker, a defensive lineman from Gilmer, had 45 tackles and a team-best 5.5 sacks this season, and finished with 12 tackles-for-loss.

Shon, a wide receiver and punt returner from Coppell, led the 'Roos with 18 receptions for 218 yards, an average of 12.1 yards-per-catch.  Shon also finished second in the conference in punt return average, returning 23 punts for 249 yards, an average of 10.8 yards-per-return.

Orr, an offensive lineman from North Richland Hills, was a key part of a line that allowed the 'Roos ground game to average 206.8 yards-per-game.  The 'Roos were the top rushing team in the SCAC, averaging more than 45 yards-per-game more than the next best team.

[Toby Taff]

I think AC has the potential to be a scac power.  Years of playing HSU & UMHB have toughened them up.

[Bill McCabe]

How many players do Trinity and Milsaps lose?

[frank_ezelle]

Millsaps seniors on the 2006 team:

Joey Doxey
Chris Jackson
Kirk Jackson
Ben Robichaux
Jeep Darnell
Conell Phillips
Michael Gleason
Josh Hanna

Out of that group, Conell was first team SCAC at center and Chris Jackson was the SCAC Special Team POY and a leading receiver.  Josh Hanna, Joey Doxey and Kirk Jackson all saw a fair amount of playing time, and Robichaux, Darnell, and Gleason didn't see a lot of playing time this year.

I'm sure there will be others who don't return but I expect the retention rate of key players will be higher than it was after the 2-7 season in 2005.  All in all, Millsaps should have a very strong returning group with a very strong senior class next season.