FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Just_that_kid]

I would think flordia would be a prime market for a school making a jump like bsc, maybe rollins?

A Florida D3 program would be scary considering all of the D3 caliber football players that slip through the cracks and end up at state schools! Unfortunately, it's generally only matter of time before Florida schools that start football find themselves playing D1.
I believe there are only two schools in Florida that don't play D1, and they're both NAIA http://www.fscsports.com/.
Rollins would be the academic fit, as well as many of the schools in the D2 conference in which they currently play (http://ssc.athleticsite.com/), but you have to consider costs. Rollins is about 9 hours from the nearest SCAC school (BSU), and a little over 7 hours from the next closest D3 program (if La grange is indeed the closest).

[Josh Bowerman]

And besides, Millsaps couldn't successfully recruit all those Florida kids anymore if that were the case, right Kid?   

[HunterT]

Pat, you can't dog cush for making a statement like that about the SCAC being a smaller version of the SEC. I made the same statement a year ago, and was pleased to see that somebody else agrees.

Now, i do agree that we need to do some playoff damage before we stand up next to the LSU defense, Arkansas rushing attack, or Florida passing, but look at the Rhodes defense, Depauw ground game, and Millsaps through the air. In a twisted, "let's make the SCAC sound as good as it possibly can" sort of way, there are some strong similarities.

[Ralph Turner]

... In a twisted, "let's make the SCAC sound as good as it possibly can" sort of way, there are some strong similarities.

I agree, because McMurry's only win this year came at the expense of an Austin College team that is tied for 3rd thru games of October 6th.   

[Ron Boerger]

Flukes happen.   McM got the benefit of seven fumbles at home and still barely won the game.   

Continuing to drag that one example out as an supposed example of the relative strengths of the two conferences is way past the expiration date, Ralph.  You've done it all season and enough is enough.

[golden_dome]

The D3 attendance record, I understand, for any athletic event, was set by Millsaps and Mississippi College when their rivalry was reintituted several years ago.  The attendance? Over 12,000.  Can someone help me out there?

I also thought it was a record, but Pat mentioned to me that he believed someone else actually held the record but I can't remember the game. I couldn't find it in the NCAA record books.

Flukes happen.   McM got the benefit of seven fumbles at home and still barely won the game.  

Continuing to drag that one example out as an supposed example of the relative strengths of the two conferences is way past the expiration date, Ralph.  You've done it all season and enough is enough.

McMurry did lead 35-14 after three quarters and managed to give back several of those fumbles with four interceptions. Still, not a good barometer of the two conferences.

Anyone know the SCAC record for passing yards? I would think Juan Joseph would be in position to break several conference records this season.

EDITED: Found it. Joseph is well ahead of pace for average passing yards per game.
Passing
Most Passing Attempts
459 Jason Lee, DePauw (2001)
Most Completions
260 Roy Hampton, Trinity (2002)
Most Passing Yards
4,095 Roy Hampton, Trinity (2002)
Average Yards/Game
303.4 Jason Lee, DePauw (2001)
(Minimum - 7 Games)
Completion Percentage
69.5% Gary Lee, Rose-Hulman (1974)
(Minimum - 100 Attempts)
Most Touchdowns Thrown
43 Roy Hampton, Trinity (2002)

[Ralph Turner]

Flukes happen.   McM got the benefit of seven fumbles at home and still barely won the game.   

Continuing to drag that one example out as an supposed example of the relative strengths of the two conferences is way past the expiration date, Ralph.  You've done it all season and enough is enough.

Fleeting hope, Ron.  It is still six weekends until the first basketball game and the season is getting long!

[Just_that_kid]

And besides, Millsaps couldn't successfully recruit all those Florida kids anymore if that were the case, right Kid?   

It's not easy trying to talk kids into giving up beaches and babes for southern accents and the country! haha. Can't have too much of that Florida speed, but recruiting mostly MS, LA, TX, and AL seems to be working quiet well right now. Although, there are 8 or 9 guys from FL on the roster. Diversity is the key my friend! haha

[KentATM]

... In a twisted, "let's make the SCAC sound as good as it possibly can" sort of way, there are some strong similarities.

I agree, because McMurry's only win this year came at the expense of an Austin College team that is tied for 3rd thru games of October 6th.   

While that was a disappointing loss, AC is still mired in a (long) rebuilding process.  I believe the last time they beat McMurry was in 2004 w/the series being fairly back and forth before then.

The last time we were even at .500 was '02 and the last winning season was in '00.

They are improving though, they have been in every game they lost this year unlike in the past.  Even the in Millsaps game they were only down 22-10 at the start of the 4th before they collapsed under all of their penalties, turnovers and mental miscues.  Heck, had they held onto the ball better it would have been 16-10 going into the half.  (of course it helped Millsaps couldn't hit their FGs)

Anyways, Coach Gage has a pretty big rep to live up to and it seems he is turning it around (though I really do wish we would pass a bit more)

[DePauwDad]

I see Jeremiah Marks did not play for DPU again this week - but Curtis Moore was more than an adequate replacement (27 carries, 182 yards, two TD's). 

Actually, many starters for DePauw were absent- not sure why.

On a side note, BSC is going to be a beast in two years if this team sticks together and stays healthy. I was more than impressed.

[Major Rev]

Can anyone update me on the nature of the Marks injury?  Will he be back?
And to note that there were other starters not in the game for Depauw is not surprising given that the game had no impact on conference records.  With the upcoming Depauw games, why risk injuries to key players?  Millsaps held Joseph out of the Rhodes game though his injury was not serious; but the week off gave him a chance to thoroughly heal.
It's a good chance to "season" younger, inexperienced players. too.

[Major Rev]

A note on "cush"'s Wofford comment --
My daughter was recruited by both Wofford and BSC to play tennis (now at BSC), and when we visited Wofford, the Carolina Panthers were on campus for their pre-season camp - owner is a Wofford graduate.  The history goes something like this - Carolina begins preseason camp at Wofford about ten years ago; Wofford goes D1 four years later.  Obviously, the infusion of money into the facilities and program opened a lot of doors.
I doubt Millsaps has nearly as good a deal with the New Orleans Saints who they have hosted on campus for the last two years, but it has generated a lot of interest in the school and a bit of cash simply from parking fees.

[Ron Boerger]

On a side note, BSC is going to be a beast in two years if this team sticks together and stays healthy. I was more than impressed.

Agreed, they have done unexpectedly well and with a break or two could actually be 2-1 at this point, which is amazing. 

The key is going to be how does BSC handle their recruiting success.  They got 125 kids to go out for football this year and 110 were on the roster last time I checked.  If you get another 100 next season, how do they keep everyone happy?  Nice problem to have.

There was an interesting story somewhere about Huntingdon, which also started out like gangbusters but ended up with only 20 seniors this season from their original class of ~75.  Attrition is always a problem in D3 ball but in the Hawks case they went from a team that was one fourth-quarter collapse away from a very possible Pool C bid in 2005 to 6-4 in 2006 and 2-4 so far this year.  B-SC may not suffer the same fate but it's a concern.

[Pat Coleman]

Probably this story:

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/100207add.html

[DPU3619]

Can anyone update me on the nature of the Marks injury?  Will he be back?

I gather he's getting better.  I heard it was a bruised knee and that it was a bit more serious than first thought.  I haven't heard either way what his status is for this weekend, but it's only Monday.  Even if I do hear, there's nothing saying it's right.  Missed the bullseye entirely on the Millsaps game.