FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Tex]

Cramps hit my son's HS team two nights ago.  Two starters on defense were out, including one DT that has already "committed" to play at Trinity next year.  (I say committed, in that he's sending in the "binding" application and TU is the school he wants to play football for.)

Early season cramps are a reality in the South.  I saw some of that yesterday on TV watching some of the BCS schools play. 

The Milsaps/Trinity showdown this season ought to be epic.  So much so, I'm planning my work travel schedule so that I might possibly attend (providing I can pull it off and still not miss my son's HS game that week). 

[Ron Boerger]

In the 'maybe better late than never' department here is my writeup from yesterday's East Texas-Trinity game.  No sportswriters were injured (or involved) in the writing of this article.   

And kid, re your karma, the folks who have been around will tell you that complaining about karma usually results in more bad karma.  In fact, even commenting on it (like this post) often results in dings.  Just bring good takes and the situation will take care of itself before long. 

[consultant]

Roocru,
A good post.  Not all Millsaps faithful are taking last Thursday's game well.  It's a source of contention to be sure.  I'll not be able to wrap my brain around it. 

[Jawbreaker]

Roocru,
A good post.  Not all Millsaps faithful are taking last Thursday's game well.  It's a source of contention to be sure.  I'll not be able to wrap my brain around it. 

Oh, I would agree there.  I saw not just a few upset first string mamas and daddys in the stands questioning Coach's reasoning, sanity, intellect, family lineage... take your pick

[Pat Coleman]

Info about Karma in the FAQ.

[PA_wesleyfan]

Just_that_kid

easy karma, easy go... 

can't please all these people all the time... you'll find your niche here in time

[Just_that_kid]

Just_that_kid

easy karma, easy go... 

can't please all these people all the time... you'll find your niche here in time

So I've noticed. Hell, I think I'm on everyone's list. Oh well. It's a shame. 'Preciate someone who understands. lol.

P.S. Thanks Pat. I will check into it.

[Josh Bowerman]

I, too, was reasonbly impressed with the Kangaroo defense yesterday.  Much improved, much more physical than last year.

It's always going to be hard to get too excited about the offense--the scheme is pretty straight forward and basic.  The OL performed well yesterday, as did the corps of running backs.

I am concerned about the 'Roos getting into situations where they have to rely on the pass.  However, I think the defense will really keep it close--especially if they play with the same intensity they did yesterday.

[frank_ezelle]

Pat--We'll never know if a 9-1, 2nd place SCAC Millsaps team would have gotten an at-large berth this year.  You know far more about D3 sports than I, so I absolutely respect your opinion, but for what it's worth, here's my theory on why they wouldn't have gotten an at-large bid:

The 2006 Millsaps football season was either remarkable or a remarkable fluke.  In 2005 Millsaps was 2-7 overall, 1-5 in the SCAC, next to last in scoring offense and last in scoring defense.  Coach DuBose gets promoted to head coach too late for any spring training or to do much recruiting, he goes 1-3 to start 2006 with a defense that still appears to be anemic, and then he wins 6 straight SCAC games and the defense is rock solid.  How does one figure out a season like that?  There are two ways to look at the Millsaps program and the 2006 season:

The glass half full theory:  If DuBose, the Millsaps staff, and the Millsaps players can come so far, so fast, then they will be fantastic in 2007.  They will have a full season under the system, spring training, and a stronger recruiting class.  This team will be much stronger in 2007, one of the better teams in America.

The glass half empty theory:   Don't get so excited about the 2006 Majors.  They lost to two average ASC teams and a 6-4 Huntingdon team.  Leading up to the championship game, they beat SCAC foes Centre, Austin, DePauw, Sewanee, and Rhodes, teams with a combined overall record of 23-27 in 2006.  Then they lucked up and had an All-American performance by senior Chris Jackson to beat an overconfident Trinity team in a down year for Trinity.  The 0-21 playoff loss proves that Millsaps really wasn't that great in 2006.

My guess is that most will take a wait and see approach.  The most knowledgable preseason poll, D3Football.Com, has Trinity ranked 21st with 5 times as many votes as Millsaps, leaning towards the half empty theory.  That tells me that most people want affirmation from the 2007 season before deeming Millsaps as a football powerhouse.  I think that's a fair and justifiable approach.  If Millsaps wins the SCAC again and gets into the playoffs, then they might be turning into a national power.  If they don't win the 2007 title, then most will feel like 2006 was a fluke season with one good win, and Millsaps isn't a program worthy of one of the 7 at-large bids.

That's my logic which may sound totally illogical to everyone else.  It wouldn't be the first time.

[Just_that_kid]

Frank: I'm sure everyone will provide 152 reasons why your theory has holes in it, but for what it's worth, you're right. Let the doubters doubt and the haters hate. There's only one SURE way to get into the playoffs, and that's what Millsaps, and every other SCAC school is playing for. Besides, a 9-1 Trinity team could STILL send two SCAC schools to the playoffs. Regardless, I do agree that we should all wait and see.

[frank_ezelle]

Roocru,
A good post.  Not all Millsaps faithful are taking last Thursday's game well.  It's a source of contention to be sure.  I'll not be able to wrap my brain around it. 

Oh, I would agree there.  I saw not just a few upset first string mamas and daddys in the stands questioning Coach's reasoning, sanity, intellect, family lineage... take your pick

I was on the sideline standing near all those first stringers and at the time I was also questioning the reasoning.  I'm sure the student section was also a very unhappy place about midway through the 4th quarter.  That would be the logical reaction to seeing a huge lead slip away in such a surprising manner.

Those same parents and many of the students watched last year as the Millsaps defense looked absolutely terrible to start the season.  It didn't look like we would win a game and shame on us for getting all excited about having former SEC Coach of the Year Mike Dubose as our head coach, supposedly a defensive specialist.  It was obvious after 3 games of 2006 that Mike DuBose was a horrible coach who knew nothing about defense and it was going to be a long, sad season for Millsaps. 

Everyone's right that a team needs to "play to win", but the question is "play to win what"?  Last year Millsaps played to win the SCAC, even if it meant some lost games to start the season.  I suspect the plan is the same this year.  Millsaps had very little depth last year.  Every injury was a key injury and starters got very little rest during a game or over the course of the season.  This Achilles Heel showed up in the playoffs when the Millsaps team wore out and a 0-0 halftime tie became a 21-0 loss.  The coaching staff was obviously addressing that weakness last Thursday.

Is it better to secure the win first and address the weakness if possible over the course of the game?  Most people seem to think so and I understand that.  We all want national rankings, undefeated seasons, and starters with gaudy stats making all-conference.  We also want conference championships and playoff victories and that seems to be the bigger picture that was being viewed last Thursday. 

And now, I promise not to write any more about the MC vs Millsaps game.  It has taken away too much already from the victories by Austin, Centre, Sewanee and Trinity.  I suspect that Millsaps will play 70+ players again next week, hopefully in a winning effort.  It will be the opening game of the season for Louisiana College, something that should help a Millsaps team that has a game under its belt already.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat--We'll never know if a 9-1, 2nd place SCAC Millsaps team would have gotten an at-large berth this year.  You know far more about D3 sports than I, so I absolutely respect your opinion, but for what it's worth, here's my theory on why they wouldn't have gotten an at-large bid:

The 2006 Millsaps football season was either remarkable or a remarkable fluke.  In 2005 Millsaps was 2-7 overall, 1-5 in the SCAC, next to last in scoring offense and last in scoring defense.  Coach DuBose gets promoted to head coach too late for any spring training or to do much recruiting, he goes 1-3 to start 2006 with a defense that still appears to be anemic, and then he wins 6 straight SCAC games and the defense is rock solid.  How does one figure out a season like that?  There are two ways to look at the Millsaps program and the 2006 season:

The glass half full theory:  If DuBose, the Millsaps staff, and the Millsaps players can come so far, so fast, then they will be fantastic in 2007.  They will have a full season under the system, spring training, and a stronger recruiting class.  This team will be much stronger in 2007, one of the better teams in America.

The glass half empty theory:   Don't get so excited about the 2006 Majors.  They lost to two average ASC teams and a 6-4 Huntingdon team.  Leading up to the championship game, they beat SCAC foes Centre, Austin, DePauw, Sewanee, and Rhodes, teams with a combined overall record of 23-27 in 2006.  Then they lucked up and had an All-American performance by senior Chris Jackson to beat an overconfident Trinity team in a down year for Trinity.  The 0-21 playoff loss proves that Millsaps really wasn't that great in 2006.

My guess is that most will take a wait and see approach.  The most knowledgable preseason poll, D3Football.Com, has Trinity ranked 21st with 5 times as many votes as Millsaps, leaning towards the half empty theory.  That tells me that most people want affirmation from the 2007 season before deeming Millsaps as a football powerhouse.  I think that's a fair and justifiable approach.  If Millsaps wins the SCAC again and gets into the playoffs, then they might be turning into a national power.  If they don't win the 2007 title, then most will feel like 2006 was a fluke season with one good win, and Millsaps isn't a program worthy of one of the 7 at-large bids.

That's my logic which may sound totally illogical to everyone else.  It wouldn't be the first time.

Not one of the things you mentioned is at all part of the playoff selection criteria.

http://www.d3football.com/faq.php?answer&category=Playoffs&id=25

These are the things Millsaps will be judged on, not anything that happened in 2006 or beforehand.

[majordog]

Pat--We'll never know if a 9-1, 2nd place SCAC Millsaps team would have gotten an at-large berth this year.  You know far more about D3 sports than I, so I absolutely respect your opinion, but for what it's worth, here's my theory on why they wouldn't have gotten an at-large bid:

The 2006 Millsaps football season was either remarkable or a remarkable fluke.  In 2005 Millsaps was 2-7 overall, 1-5 in the SCAC, next to last in scoring offense and last in scoring defense.  Coach DuBose gets promoted to head coach too late for any spring training or to do much recruiting, he goes 1-3 to start 2006 with a defense that still appears to be anemic, and then he wins 6 straight SCAC games and the defense is rock solid.  How does one figure out a season like that?  There are two ways to look at the Millsaps program and the 2006 season:

The glass half full theory:  If DuBose, the Millsaps staff, and the Millsaps players can come so far, so fast, then they will be fantastic in 2007.  They will have a full season under the system, spring training, and a stronger recruiting class.  This team will be much stronger in 2007, one of the better teams in America.

The glass half empty theory:   Don't get so excited about the 2006 Majors.  They lost to two average ASC teams and a 6-4 Huntingdon team.  Leading up to the championship game, they beat SCAC foes Centre, Austin, DePauw, Sewanee, and Rhodes, teams with a combined overall record of 23-27 in 2006.  Then they lucked up and had an All-American performance by senior Chris Jackson to beat an overconfident Trinity team in a down year for Trinity.  The 0-21 playoff loss proves that Millsaps really wasn't that great in 2006.

My guess is that most will take a wait and see approach.  The most knowledgable preseason poll, D3Football.Com, has Trinity ranked 21st with 5 times as many votes as Millsaps, leaning towards the half empty theory.  That tells me that most people want affirmation from the 2007 season before deeming Millsaps as a football powerhouse.  I think that's a fair and justifiable approach.  If Millsaps wins the SCAC again and gets into the playoffs, then they might be turning into a national power.  If they don't win the 2007 title, then most will feel like 2006 was a fluke season with one good win, and Millsaps isn't a program worthy of one of the 7 at-large bids.

That's my logic which may sound totally illogical to everyone else.  It wouldn't be the first time.

[Josh Bowerman]

Looks like former Trinity WR Jerheme Urban has caught on with Arizona after being cut by the Dallas Cowboys this past weekend.

http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1881

[Bill McCabe]

Too bad he didn't stick with the Cowboys.  That would have been a great story.