FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

I think that Millsaps has spent its most recent $31 Million on more apporpriate things than Alabama has.

Are you saying the $$ spent on Lynn Lang to get Albert Means was inappropriate? 

Actually I was thinking about Nick Saban...

but the only reason that Alabama did not get the Death Penalty is that the NCAA will never give the Death Penalty to a Division I BCS Prima Donna.  Another "make an example of the the SMU's of Division I"? Yes!!!

An Alabama?  NO!  NO! And HECK NO! 

[frank_ezelle]

I split time yesterday between photographing the Saints on the upper practice fields and watching the Millsaps team practice on the stadium field.  The afternoon temp hit 103 and I hate to think how hot it was on the stadium's artificial turf.

It was impossible to get a feel for the talent of the team, but I was impressed by how well the coaches ran the practice and the hustle of the players.  It was a 3 hour practice and they made good use of all 3 hours.  Millsaps has a scrimmage with Belhaven this Saturday and maybe that will give some insight regarding newcomers that might help right away and returnees who might have stepped up their game during the offseason.

[FerricMajor82]

I spoke with a coach at Millsaps and he said that 125 kids were supposed to report to camp, but only 115 did so.  Moreover, he also said that about 10-15 of the freshmen have the potential to make an impact.  We shall see. 
Also, regarding Frank's post.  While I was playing at Millsaps, we had a thermometer at field level and temperatures on the sprint turf typically reached just north of 120 in August.  Some people would lose up to 15 pounds of water weight during practice (and subsequently check into the hospital to receive IV fluids).

[Tex]

I spoke with a coach at Millsaps and he said that 125 kids were supposed to report to camp, but only 115 did so.  Moreover, he also said that about 10-15 of the freshmen have the potential to make an impact.  We shall see. 
Also, regarding Frank's post.  While I was playing at Millsaps, we had a thermometer at field level and temperatures on the sprint turf typically reached just north of 120 in August.  Some people would lose up to 15 pounds of water weight during practice (and subsequently check into the hospital to receive IV fluids).

Back when I played ball in the late 70's, they stuffed salt tablets down us like they were candy.  Oh and they also had severe limitations on water during practice.  It's a wonder we didn't have someone die on us. 

Several years ago, ESPN aired the "Junction Boys" movie.  Afterwards, there was a round table discussion of the surviving members of that team. Lo and behold, my HS coach was one of them.

I had this epiphany right then and there as to why he was such a hardass idiot of a coach back then.  It all suddenly made sense. 

[Ron Boerger]

Hi Jackson folks,

I'm seriously considering attending a Millsaps game this fall (gee, wonder which one) and need some info on logistics. 

(1) About how long is the trip from the airport to Millsaps itself?  (Yes, I know, Mapquest is your friend but doesn't know about local road conditions)
(2) Is there a reasonably priced motel anywhere close by?  There's no way for me to get back Saturday night unless American adds a flight later than the current 5:30PM one, which seems doubtful. 

Thanks for any tips!

[Josh Bowerman]

Ron, whilst you're in Jackson, be sure to eat at the Mayflower downtown.  Great southern cuisine, and historically famous for being a place that Meadger Eavers (sp?)--I believe--used to hang out in. 

And do keep in mind that I've never steered you wrong, at least from the restaurant perspective! 

[exmajor]

Ron,

The drive from the airport to the campus is generally around 15-20 minutes.  There are a couple of different ways to go, but both end up around the same.  For ease, I would recommend the 1-20 west, to 1-55 north way, take the left exit for Woodrow Wilson and take a left onto State Street.  You will see the college on your right a few hundred yards down.  I would stay at the Cabot Lodge (Millsaps) which is on State Street virtually next door to the school, you will see it first.  It has very reasonable rates and is the most convienient.  I believe most teams stay there for overnights as well.  And yes, the Mayflower is good as Josh suggests, but there is plenty more around the area. 

[Just_that_kid]

The field temperature at Millsaps has climbed well above 130 degrees.

If you'd like to come to a Millsaps game, the cabot lodge would probably be your best option. The hotel is actually on Millsaps property, and within walking distance. I would HIGHLY recommend the hotel. It often hosts post-game gatherings in the lobby, as many parents stay there.

If you'd like to see a heated fight, perhaps you should come to the Millsaps/Mississippi College game. It's a true rivalry. Recruiting and hometown bragging rights, among other things, turns this into one of the most festive games of the year. The turnout is actually much larger than the Trinity game, or atleast it was last season. This year, the game will be held at Mississippi College, which is about 30 minutes south, and is one of the largest and most attended stadiums in all of D3.

[Ron Boerger]

Thanks for the info, sounds like the Cabot is the place to go.   

With re WHICH game I'd rather see one that has some relevance on the playoff picture and first games of the seasons are usually pretty sloppy anyway.   If I ever go to a rivalry game involving a SCAC team it'll be DePauw-Wabash. 

[Chronological Order]

[/quote]

Back when I played ball in the late 70's, they stuffed salt tablets down us like they were candy.  Oh and they also had severe limitations on water during practice.  It's a wonder we didn't have someone die on us. 

Several years ago, ESPN aired the "Junction Boys" movie.  Afterwards, there was a round table discussion of the surviving members of that team. Lo and behold, my HS coach was one of them.

I had this epiphany right then and there as to why he was such a hardass idiot of a coach back then.  It all suddenly made sense. 
[/quote]

Those 'ole "Junction Boys" were coach by Bear Byrant who then coached Mike Dubose (kinda six degrees of Kevin Baconish). Therefore those Millsaps boys probably aren't enjoying  the Bear Byrant inspired camp too much with the turf conditions. Although it does produce results considering how the SCAC turned out last year.

[Ralph Turner]

For any BSC fans who read Ray Melick's article on Tuesday, here is the discussion by D3football.com posters of his article. (Click here for Future of Division III message board)

Welcome to BSC fans.

I think this episode gives you an idea of where you BSC and Division III fans will find accurate information and knowledgeable commentary.  Please encourage your friends to join us.


Error corrected on the hyperlink to the Future of Division III message board.  +1 to Ron Boerger for detecting that! 

[Ralph Turner]

April 2007 article talking about  stadium construction.

BSC should be in their new stadium by 2008.

[Ralph Turner]

BSC gets largest freshman class ever.

456 freshmen and 51 transfers.

[Ron Boerger]

From the article Ralph quotes:

"[BSC] is spending $6.5 million in the first phase of adding facilities to house the new sports teams. A new practice field, football weight rooms and locker rooms and a new stadium and track are under construction on what was wooded acreage on the northern edge of the campus. The team now is practicing at nearby Legion Field and will play home games there, at Regions Park and one at Homewood High School."

Lessee, based on the discussion I had with coach Jones about 100 kids came in to play football (including transfers) ... at $30k per year that's $3M per year.  A two-year payback, basically.  Sounds like a wise investment given they were losing over $5M PER YEAR in the athletic program before.  Now it's a profit center!   And with B-SC adding m/w lacrosse and m/w track the number of kids attracted to the college due to all sports is probably higher than 100. 

The school probably got some donors to underwrite some of the improvements.

[FerricMajor82]

I seem to remember a rather large article on d3football.com dedicated to school's adding Division III sports and simultaneously bolstering school enrollment, particularly in males.  It worked at Huntingdon, and is going to work at BSC. 

If you think about it, try to count the number of college schools a student/athlete can go play ball at in Alabama (off hand I think of about 13)...it isn't many, compared to Mississippi with a rather large JUCO program, and several dIII, or NAIA schools and about 2/3 the state population (I believe there are roughly 20+ schools with football programs in Mississippi).  It will be interesting to watch and compare the growth at BSC and Huntingdon compared to other established dIII football programs in the area like Sewanee, Rhodes, Millsaps, etc.