FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Are there any plans to recondition the track surface at Jerry Apple Stadium and offer Track and Field at AC?

When I saw the track about 3 years ago, it had been covered with asphalt?

[Just_that_kid]

All this squabbling and I'm not involved.....  how refreshing!

Agreed. It's kind of nice not being in the spotlight.

[Ron Boerger]

Considering we don't charge for tickets, Ralph, you are absolutely correct!   

I'll be covering Saturday's Austin College-Millsaps game in Sherman for d3football.com, and if you're there, I hope you'll say "hi".  As always, images will be available for viewing under the Photo Galleries section on the front page by Monday.  And, as always, I'm taking special requests--just send me a private message or email offline, and I'll be glad to take care of it for you.

Me too, Josh ... hope to see you there. 

[Ralph Turner]

Chris Allman has another good ATR-South this week.

The Howard College that B-SC beat 9-6 for their previous win in 1939 was what Samford was called prior to 1958. 

And I wonder if the loss by DePauw to an unnamed team in 1894 was actually a loss to Wabash, and some frat boys destroyed any record of the loss late in the 19th century?      

[roocru]

Considering we don't charge for tickets, Ralph, you are absolutely correct!   

I'll be covering Saturday's Austin College-Millsaps game in Sherman for d3football.com, and if you're there, I hope you'll say "hi".  As always, images will be available for viewing under the Photo Galleries section on the front page by Monday.  And, as always, I'm taking special requests--just send me a private message or email offline, and I'll be glad to take care of it for you.

Me too, Josh ... hope to see you there. 

Old home week for D3 posters as I will be there also.    Ron,  how about sitting on the home side this time.    You can sit higher and get a better view like I do.

[Just_that_kid]

On a brighter note... great "around the region" this week. Following up on the writer's assessment and infatuation with Juan Joseph's performance, I would also like to compliment the offensive line for providing so much time and the receiving core for making some big plays. They provided some good R.A.C. numbers the past two weeks!

For a new topic, how do you think the SCAC and ASC stack up? If it was one giant conference, how would you rank them? I don't know very much about the ASC, so I'm actually quiet curious.

[FBCleatus]

Jekelish, I agree with your post.  I am impressed with Coach Gage and his staff.  I believe you are mistaken about Josh Byrd. He is not playing Corner and he was injured against McMurry.

[jekelish]

Hello Jekelish,

It certainly looks like your offense has definetly improved but I also see where 45 and 21 points have been scored against you. I think you will give our guys a real test on the first conference game of the year for both of us. We have also improved greatly and we have a very high powered offense and a very good defense. It will be interesting to see if our guys can stop your very sucessful running attack. If we can it might be a long day for the Roos. Good luck to your guys and we enjoy playing at your place. The facility is 1st class and your fans are to.

the 41 and 21 points put on us are a lot, i'll admit, though at least the 21 points are deceiving.  in that game, the first score was on a fumble recovery that took a very fortunate bounce into the hands of a SWAGU player who had no one between him and the AC endzone.  the second score was just a poor defensive play...we actually dominated possession, and those two scores came on pretty much fluke plays.

as for the 41, i didn't see the game, but AC had 8 fumbles (according to our coaches), which both kept them from scoring in the first half, and also gave McMurry a lot more chances than they normally would have had.  give the other team that many opportunities, and they're going to put points on the board.

the defense has been giving up a lot, but the points are not entirely their fault.

of course, you're right...if you DO end up stopping our running game, i'm not sure our passing attack is good enough to keep up with you guys.

[jekelish]

Jekelish, I agree with your post.  I am impressed with Coach Gage and his staff.  I believe you are mistaken about Josh Byrd. He is not playing Corner and he was injured against McMurry.

you're right about Byrd...oy, of all people I should really have known to type "safety" instead of corner.  you have to love brain farts, eh?

as for McMurry, again, I was unable to attend, but he started and was credited with four tackles.  if he was injured later in the game, i'm sure it was nothing too serious, because the 2-deep has not changed since last week.

[FBCleatus]

Regardless of where they are playing Byrd/Fink and the rest are improved.I feel that they are playing hard.

[jekelish]

Now just for fun, let's look at the stats from last year's Millsaps/AC game:

Rushing attempts/yards: Millsaps 29/172 (net), AC 48/189 (net)
Passing attempts/yards: Millsaps 40/272, AC 18/106
Turnovers: Millsaps 0, AC 2 (1 fumble, 1 pick)
TOP: Millsaps 27:16, AC 32:44
First Downs (Rushing/Passing/Penalty): Millsaps 27 (10/15/2), AC 19 (12/6/1)
Third down conversions: Millsaps 5-11, AC 5-12

Scoring summary:
1st 4:38 - Millsaps pass TD, kick failed (6-0)
2nd 13:12 - AC field goal (6-3)
2nd 6:37 - Millsaps defensive safety (8-3, halftime score)
3rd 10:31 - Millsaps pass TD, 2pt conversion (16-3)
3rd 5:24 - Millsaps field goal (19-3)
3rd 4:53 - AC rushing TD, 2pt conversion (19-11)
4th 12:55 - Millsaps pass TD (26-11)

only one score came as a direct result of a turnover, and that's the Millsaps field goal.

for most of the game, it was more closely contested than the final indicates.  really, the game was decided by the Millsaps passing game, and AC's inability to defend the pass.

one reason that I believe AC stands a better chance (other than the fact that Tyson Roy had a big game running the ball and is now gone) is the improvement in the secondary.

Matt Finke has proven to be a great addition to the team, and Joel Purdy and Nick Youngblood are both improved.  Josh Byrd has also been a welcome addition.  Overall, the athleticism and speed in the defensive backfield has really improved since last year.  The improvement of the secondary should really help out against a passer like Juan Joseph, who had a solid game last year (only completed 18-of-40, but went for 272 and three scores/no picks).

Also, AC is just an overall improved team.  The offensive line has really figured out Coach Gage's offense, and the ground game is obviously working.  Ross Hasten only had three carries for 5 yards in last season's game, but this year is really playing much better, and is quicker and more comfortable, and is averaging 116.5 yards/game and 9.0 yards/carry.  Ryan Cowley is still a dangerous back even though he hasn't really gotten loose for a big game yet this year, but has been awfully consistent with 75.5 yards/game and 7.6 yards/carry.

The 'Roos need to hang onto the football, though, if they want to have any chance at upsetting Millsaps.  They put it on the ground seven times last week, and three times in last season's game against Millsaps.

It's going to be a competitive game.  If AC can hang onto the ball, I really believe that the team has improved enough to challenge the Majors all day.

[FBCleatus]

Will Purdy and Byrd play Saturday?

[Josh Bowerman]

Ron, if you'd like to ride up to the game together, I'm happy to stop by and pick you up.  I'd also second roocru's suggestion about sitting on the home side--you'll get some shade there.

Ralph, I don't know if track has been considered or not.  My guess is not at this time, and the track remains asphalted over.  Men's and women's lacrosse has gotten some discussion, as the SCAC is looking to potentially add this as a varsity sport and Austin College already has (intermittently) fielded a team at the club level.  I personally see this as a bigger and better draw for potential Austin College students (and students at the other SCAC teams, too) than track.

[Ron Boerger]

LaX ... would make more sense if Southwestern and Trinity would kick their club teams up to D3 status at the same time.  Otherwise there's not really anyone in the area AC could play, is there? 

Re the weekend ... lemme think about it.  Since I got rid of the junker last November the drive's not as much of a concern as it used to be.    Roocru, I'll probably sit in the press box but will try to find you before/after the game. 

[Just_that_kid]

Ron, Pat, Josh. How do you think the ASC and SCAC stack up? If you were to make one conference out of teams from the two, who would you pick and why? From a fans point of view...

I don't know very much about the ASC top to bottom, and I'm quiet curious.

Anyone else, feel free to chime in and give some input.