FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[evacuee]

In 1995 Millsaps finished with either 2 or 3 wins.  In 1996 Millsaps finished with only 2 losses, ending the season with a shocking upset of undefeated Trinity, thus knocking them out of the playoffs.  DuBose got an outright instead of co-championship and a playoff berth, while Jurney got 8 wins.  DuBose has done barely more than Jurney.

The reason you have negative karma is because each of your posts spit venom even when you're being articulate.  You're clearly upset and it annoys people.  I know from having been there myself.   

[Tex]

to change the conversation a bit...

Will someone please explain how/why Trinity plays at Milsaps both this year and last?  Just curious.  You two seem to be the dominant dogs from last year.  It doesn't quite seem logical that Milsaps isn't having to travel to TX this year?

[Pat Coleman]

This has been discussed only about a half-dozen times since the schedule came out.

The SCAC schedule had to be redrawn upon expansion. This happens in pretty much any league.

[jekelish]

Millsaps also travels to TX in two weeks to play at Austin College.

and speaking of Austin College (nice transition, eh?)...

the 'Roos opened up the season with a 35-21 win over Southwest Assemblies of God  (NAIA school), in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicates.  SAGU scored on a flukey play at the end of the first quarter, when a fumble popped out and directly into the hands of a SAGU defensive back, who took it 73 yards for the TD...less than 2 minutes later they went up 14-0 on a 35 yard run, but that's about it.  from there, AC rolled off 35 straight points and controlled the ball for about 67% of the game (at one point they had run 40 plays against 7 run by the SAGU offense).

64 total rushes for 272 yards after a slow start for the offense, with Ross Hasten rushing 10 times for 95 yards and two TDs, and Ryan Cowley carrying 12 times for 72 yards and a score.

lots of positive feelings going into the season among the players and coaches, with the biggest recruiting class the 'Roos have had in years. 

AC won't challenge Trinity and Millsaps this year, but they have a solid chance of finishing in the top four in the conference behind their running game and much improved defense.

[Tex]

This has been discussed only about a half-dozen times since the schedule came out.

The SCAC schedule had to be redrawn upon expansion. This happens in pretty much any league.

Pat, thanks for the answer.  I'm pretty new to D3.  But a point of constructive criticism if I may, the way this forum is set up, having all thoughts/threads relating to the conference in one single stream of consciousness is not very user friendly since everything gets all jumbled up together.  Just my two cents.  I'm sure there must be a reason for it that elludes my feeble brain.

[Ron Boerger]

Congrats to Sewanee who got a W in Robert Black's first game as head coach, 30-21 over Westminister (Mo).  Blake Mears had 176 rushing yards. 

The SCAC went 4-1 in non-conference play in week 1.   

[jekelish]

Hey Ron, are you going to make it to any Austin College games this year?

Gotta come see the team that runs the ball 64 times!

[Ron Boerger]

Hey Ron, are you going to make it to any Austin College games this year?

Gotta come see the team that runs the ball 64 times!

Since it's 30 miles from home, yes, I plan on seeing the Millsaps, CC, and possibly B-SC games.  Nice to take in a SCAC game without spending 6-8 hours on the road!

[consultant]

I was at Millsaps from 1997-2001 as a baseball student-athlete.  I also worked in the athletic department for two years after that.  No matter the sport, when I was at Millsaps, our teams wanted to beat two teams more than any other....Miss. College and Trinity.  I have great respect for both of those schools and their athletic departments, and I want to beat them. 

Over the past 10 years, I have watched the Millsaps football team win it's share of great games, lose it's share of blowouts, and suffer a few heartbreakers along the way. 

I am THRILLED that Mike DuBose is attracting talented young men to Millsaps College to attend a great school and play football.  I understand that he has his reasons for his non-conference game plans.  He's a brilliant coach, and his players believe in him.  But I have a hard time losing a game we should have won.

I am still mad about the whole situation, but I do believe that Millsaps will do well this season.  The focus is on next week now!

By the way, it could be worse......just look at Michigan.

[evacuee]

Despite Big C's psychoanalysis, I am at terms with Trinity's fall from their perch.  It's just that I have never heard of a Coach costing his team a win for the sake of the backups getting playing time, but I have heard of guys dropping like flies due to cramps early in the season.  What reads like mockery to you is an honest question to others.  Cool it, man.  It's not like I was taking a shot at anyone, just offering a scenario. 

[frank_ezelle]

The Millsaps game certainly has gotten the board hopping.  Let me just clarify a couple of points from previous posts:

--Tex wrote, "He gave his guys a chance to pull it out, but he must have waited too long or something."  That's incorrect.  There was never any thought of the 1st string going back in regardless of the score.  MC took the lead with less than three minutes to play and Millsaps still sent out the 2nd string quarterback and the 3rd string line for the final series.

--Even in the first half, Millsaps was subbing quite a bit.  Early in the 2nd quarter, Millsaps had a 13-0 lead and the ball deep in MC territory after a blocked punt.  They sent out the 2nd string offense and came away with no points.  I feel sure it was scripted for the 2nd string to play that series and they didn't change just because the ball was in the red zone.

--Despite what some may think, Millsaps had no chance for an at-large bid by going 9-1 and finishing 2nd in the SCAC.  The SCAC is viewed as a weak football conference with one national caliber team--how else could you view a league where one school is able to win or tie for 1st 13 straight years?  A 9-1 record against SCAC opponents plus MC and Louisiana College isn't getting one of the 7 at-large berths unless you are a proven team like Trinity.

--And finally, I can understand if someone says this is an unusual approach or that they wouldn't do it this way or they don't understand the logic, but do you really think Coach DuBose made an error in judgement and unwittingly let the game slip away.  He knows far more about the Millsaps players, the game plan for the season, and football in general than anyone posting to this board and I think it's a safe bet to assume that what he did Thursday made Millsaps stronger for the SCAC season.  I'm guessing that the other SCAC coaches understand that even if they wouldn't have taken this approach.

[Pat Coleman]

--Despite what some may think, Millsaps had no chance for an at-large bid by going 9-1 and finishing 2nd in the SCAC.  The SCAC is viewed as a weak football conference with one national caliber team--how else could you view a league where one school is able to win or tie for 1st 13 straight years? 

Frank, this isn't at all true, and the conference history isn't at all relevant. The numbers are all that counts and a win over Mississippi College, especially if it should have gone on to go something like 7-3, would have been a huge boost and probably would have gotten Millsaps in.

If Hobart got an at-large bid last year, Millsaps could have gotten one this year. To suggest otherwise is just postgame spin.

[HunterT]

Wow, it's been far too long since I've been on here. I apologize for my absence, I know how much you all missed me. (note the sarcasm)

So Rhodes football this year is right on where it is every year. The Defense is what will win games. Without a doubt. Offense is there, and the firepower to put up 30-35 pts a game is there.

I made the trip to the preseason scrimmage and the defense looked solid. Coming back from last year when we all know that the defense was the strongest part of our team, you've got a great returning crew. McCart at safety, Oliver at corner, then Foti and Hendricks and Mosbyat LB. The Line looks solid with Mattioli and Sheppard. The defense looks good this year, and I know they are hungry from last year with the feeling that they could have done much more.

The Offense looks good, rusty, but good. The Line looks solid behind Gropper and Long. Those two have been solid since they came in, and have only gotten better. Behind them, and in my opinion the strongest part of our offense, the running game. With Lake and Hoggard coming back, they looked on point during the scrimmage. The receivers are looking good after losing some big names last year, but the guys there this year will get the job done, and if Oliver has the season that he should and stays healthy for once, there won't be any concern with the passing game.

The problem with Rhodes will be the same as always, injuries and consistancy. The talent is there, and the boys should know it. That team can take it to any team this year. If they stay healthy, they'll make a difference in the SCAC standings.

The schedule is favorable to the Lynx, except for a big Week 3 match up at Millsaps. Otherwise Trinity, Depauw, Austin, and Sewanee all at home. If the guys get things going the way they should, I'm calling a 4-1 or 5-0 record at home.

Overall prediction: 7-3 or 8-2 with two close losses and one toss up with Depauw.

GO LYNX!!!

[roocru]

Report from Sherman;

The Roos are better this year.  SAGU may not be the best litmus test, but upon observation of Saturday's game they are more athletic than last year, especially in the secondary where they were weakest last year (IMHO).  AC started slow because although more talented they are also pretty young and seemed a bit hesitant at first.  It was promising however that they were down 14-0 but stayed the course and winning in a more convincing fashion than the score indicated. With 5 seconds to go in the 1st Q, SAGU returned a fumble 75 yards for a TD.  SAGU then scored very early in the 2nd Q on a QB keeper for 35 yds.

That was basically it for SAGU as the Roos were tied by halftime and led by 35-14 until late in the game.  Although a lot different type of attack, AC is like UMHB in that you know they are going to run the ball no matter what the score or where they are in the game.  However I did see some receivers open on play action passes which bodes well since there is more speed in that area of the team as well.

I came away feeling optimistic about their chances.  I realize this post is very similar to the one by jekelish so I guess we saw the same game.  

jekelish,  I am glad to see another Roo on the board.  I plan on being at the Millsaps game as well.  Hopefully I can meet you and see Ron again as well.

[roocru]

On another matter and even though I may take a hit for this, I feel I must make a comment about the Mike Dubose decision that the playing of his subs was more important than the victory.  Everywhere I have ever coached or been AD at, we told our coaches and parents that at the sub-varsity level we would play everybody and that this was more important than the score.  However we told the same people at the varsity level that winning was more important and we would play whoever we felt was needed in order to win the game.

Although I perhaps understand WHY this decision was made at Millsaps/MC, I cannot and would not ever endorse it.  With the long range effect noted by Pat above, with the dissappointment the players must have in their loss (no matter what is said publicly), and with the possible long range discord that may arise if Millsaps does not win the rest of their games,  I fear that this was not an acceptable risk to take. 

I also question the blind loyalty and the comments like "DuBose knows more football than any one else".  There are and have been great coaches at every level in football from HS to Division I and I have never heard of a coach making a decision like this in my forty-five years of playing, coaching and administering football.  Be carefull Millsaps fans and don't drink the KoolAid.  And remember, if this does not work out for Millsaps in the long run to come back and read your posts after this game.

I thought about this a great deal before making this post.  It is not intended as spiteful.  I just cannot grasp such a decision by a coach.  Best of luck to Millsaps in all of your remaining games (except when you come back to Sherman in two weeks ).  Perhaps I can meet some of you at Sherman.