FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

Oh, and that play DID NOT determine the SCAC championship b.c there are still a few games to play.  Won't you feel silly when AC derails Trinity and you realize that you guys have won the conference? (if you win out of course)

I don't know, hoss. 

If you can't get to 200 yards against the DePauw defense, I'm not sure how you're going to do it against the Black Flag. 

[Tex]

All publicity is good, except an obituary notice.

[KentATM]

its simple Wes, we were holding back on the play book to surprise Trinity. 

actually, I have yet to talk to anyone that saw or listened to the game here so I don't know what went wrong.  Seeing that we used 3 QBs and the starter Bell only had a few carries I wonder if he got hurt or if Coach Gage was just rotating QBs (which I actually really don't care for).

Regardless, I said a while back that AC would lose to the loser and beat the winner of the DePauw/Trinity game and I'll stick with that.  (my pickems and sock in the mouth comment notwithstanding) 

Plus, I plan on losing my voice and as a life long Aggie that transfered to AC, I can get it up pretty loud.  That parent that screams at every AC game who sounds like an attacking frog/man beast?  You won't even hear him with me yelling. Bye bye Trinity snap count!

[TigerDad]

New video on YouTube posted by Trinity SID ... I understand the video was provided in very classy act by Millsaps from their end zone film tower.  Somebody (unknown to me) merged it with Jonny Wiener's terrific play-by-play call (and Justin Thompson's OH MY GOSH ... ) so that it's the same play from a different angle.  The end zone cameraman was very skilled and managed some tighter shots and great follow-the-action. 

Here's the YouTube link just posted a couple hours ago:

071027 Trinity University 28 - Millsaps 24 End Zone Angle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7oF4ZDigjM

I hope someone will read this and give proper credit to camera crew, sound editor, and the fine folks at Millsaps who unselfishly offered the video to Trinity.  My cap is off to you all! 

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks to Millsaps!

The end zone view shows how many close calls that there were.

I counted three touches by linemen who really kept it going.  (Biased plug for the linemen.) There were several tackles in which the Millsaps player took out the Trinity player for a few seconds.

I saw these key features in the play.

1) The rapid change in direction of the flow of play.

2)  Movement to space (that concept that any soccer player has had drilled into his/her head).

3)  Orientation as to blocking only when in front of the defender (no clips or blocks in the back).

4)  Always having a white shirt behind the ball, even if it was "only a lineman".

5)  Rapid re-engagement of a Trinity player once he had "lateraled" the ball or had been tackled.

6)  Keeping away from the defender in the open field is easier than catching the ball carrier.

[HunterT]

I have to agree that any publicity on a national level is good for both the schools and the conference. That's very hard to get for a D3 school. The Stagg Bowl being the only national coverage that's given regularly doesn't help anybody except those two teams, generally Mount Union and whoever they are playing, generally.

Just for everybody who doesn't know it, this is the second time that the SCAC has been on sportscenter in the last 2 years (if my memory serves me correctly about the time frame). The previous time being the last second shot by Depauw in the SCAC men's basketball championship in Memphis. You can't complain about getting publicity like that. Now, I don't know how many HS players went to Depauw for basketball after that, but it still put the name out there for people to see. (and on a personal note, I was the one working the camera at that game.  )

I saw where sportscenter screwed up the names and said Dubose coached for Trinity. But I also saw where it was the number one play, and the score and a few stats were put up on screen as well. I also read what you guys said about how it was featured on ABC, NBC, First Take, and ESPN News. I've also voted for it for the Game Changing Performance for the week on ESPN.com (against Texas, LSU, and Boston College - Three D1 teams who are all ranked in the Top 25 in the Nation).

There is no denying that this is more publicity than the game would have ever recieved if it was a simple hail mary for the win, or a last second FG. This game would never have received the publicity that it has if it was hard faught game that simply came down to a last second drive, or even OT. Or even 4 OTs!

Even if the publicity is based more on the strangeness of the play than on the quality of the teams, schools, and players, it is still more publicity than D3 receives any other time.

There are plays made every week all over the nation that don't get the publicity that they deserve. One handed catches are made weekly. Last second game winning FGs. QBs throwing for 400+ yards and teams with over 600 yards. Scores in the 60s. Defenses shutting down teams.

It happens week in and week out, and yet nobody says anything. If it takes 15 laterals (or even 2) to get D3 and the SCAC a little more publicity, I'll take it. There is no denying that.

[DPU3619]

(and on a personal note, I was the one working the camera at that game.  )

Funny, I had you pegged as the Rhodes PA guy.  RRRRRaaaaaaaaami Allllllmefftyyyyy FOR TWOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[frank_ezelle]

After a hectic day at work yesterday (yes, I have a real job other than taking photos at Millsaps), let me weigh in before I start another hectic day:

--It was a game that could have been won by both teams, a comment that I would have also said if it had ended 24-22 in favor of Millsaps.  Given the play that decided the final score, I think we would all agree that there wasn't much difference in the teams this past Saturday.
--I've been impressed by the lack of venting by Millsaps fans--I had feared that some would have used this bullentin board as a forum for second guessing and complaining.  Millsaps followed a route that would win the game 99 out of 100 times--this just happened to be the 100th time.
--For those who would like to second guess and are just showing some restraint, I'd like to point out that this coaching staff has really only had one full recruiting year to build on the less than successful team that they inherited.  Despite that, they are now 11-1 in the SCAC and one game away from clinching a 2nd straight first place finish.  If you want to be critical of the coaching staff, then be fair and include in your post the praise they deserve for this incredible turnaround.

Regarding the publicity about the game, let me put that in a second post--I have to go change a backup drive.

[frank_ezelle]

Regarding the publicity, I'm in the camp of it being something that is positive.  This game will get more press than the championship game later in the year.  Yes, the game has gotten all of the publicity because of the quirky ending and it would have gotten nothing for just being a well played game between two top-25 D3 teams, but it brings name recognition to both teams.

Millsaps officials have said that having the Saints on campus has been a big boost for the school because now when you talk to prospective students they at least have some name recognition about Millsaps.  Now when Millsaps coaches talk to a football recruit, they at least have an opening topic of conversation.  The coaches can expand on that limited knowledge to point out that it was a battle of the top two teams in the conference, it was the first Millsaps loss in conference in two years, etc., etc.

As for the players, you go off to play in the obsurity (sp?) of D3 football and all of a sudden you become part of football history.  That would have been a bad thing if it had been a bonehead play by the Millsaps team, but it was just a case of all the bounces going the right way for one team when both teams were playing their hearts out on a sandlot play.

Speaking of publicity, I am 99.9% sure that Sports Illustrated will have something on the game in this week's issue--after Saturday, we should all know that nothing is 100% certain till it happens.  I think it will be a blurb, maybe in the front section but I'm just guessing there, and it may be regional instead of the entire nation.  In a shameless attempted to get more hits on my blog after a record setting 46 hits yesterday (move over John Grisham and J K Rowling), the following link has the photo that should run with the story.  In SI the photo may be cropped different and it will only be a thumbnail size, but this is my cropping of the photo:

Link:  http://wwin39216.blogspot.com/2007/10/from-millsaps-to-sports-illustrated.html#links

[frank_ezelle]

One last post today (maybe) and most of it was written by someone else.  Yesterday I received an email from Scott Baer, the father of Trinity running back Chris Baer and TigerDad on this message board.  I thought he perfectly expressed how we all should view the teams and players in the SCAC--it is fine for them to compete hard and be rivals while on the field but after the final whistle we need to all remember that every team is filled with outstanding young men and women.  I appreciate the kind words from Scott and I'm proud that the Millsaps parents were deserving of his kind words.  Here is Scott's email, posted with his permission:

Dear Frank;

On behalf of the PAWS organization (Trinity Football parents and
friends) and speaking for me personally, I would just like to express my
appreciation for the hospitality and sportsmanship extended to all of us in
Jackson last weekend. At the last minute, I changed my mind about
staying away and made the long trip to Millsaps from Central Texas ... glad
I did, of course.

With every great sports high peak, we understand that someone else is
experiencing heartbreak and a very low valley. As great as we felt
(suddenly) with the outcome of that miraculous play, we can't forget the
Millsaps players, coaches and families who were suddenly disappointed and
worse.

It was a great game (as advertised) and it's always a shame that one
team had to leave the field sadly. We know how you/they must feel and
we've been there, too.

After the game, my son and I were standing near mid-field and one of
the Majors player's father (#48) came over to us and handed Chris a
confetti-popper. He told him, "I was going to fire this one off, but ...
well, you should do it." What a terrific gesture from one father to
another's son ... I was truly moved. I saw him later at the Cabot Lodge and
got to chat for a moment or two ... I told him thank you, but I hope you
will pass this story along to the Millsaps faithful.

Y'all are a class act, all the way. One of the finest atmospheres for
college football I've ever experienced. I only hope that when y'all come
to San Antonio next year, we can be as gracious to the Millsaps Majors
as y'all were to the Trinity Tigers. We will do our best to make that
happen!

Please give our best wishes to the Majors for a strong finish to a fine
season ... those young men fought like champions and should never be
discouraged about their efforts or their heart. They've got last year's
rings to prove it and I daresay they'll have more success in the
future, both on and off the field.

All the best,
Scott Baer
TigerDad and father of Trinity RB Chris Baer #10

[tutiger]

I'm suprised no one has taken issue with how Dubose dogged his players for not finishing the play.  The end zone shot to me is testimony to the fact that those guys were hustling.  If you look at the Michigan/Nebraska play, there were guys standing still on the field.  The only time I saw anyone standing still was on the last lateral when the ball hit the field.  I'm sure there was confusion on the possibility of the ball being dead at this point.  If anything, that's a coaching issue to me.  I just can't believe that after such a hard fought game and a heart breaking loss, that guy would dog his team like that to the media.  That's pretty bush league to me.

[HunterT]

tutiger - I thought that same thing when I first heard that he said that about his players, but as a totally impartial judge, I also saw what he was saying. The first time I watched the play I saw (especially on the last toss that hit the ground) more than a few players not giving full effort. Whether they were exhausted from the first 14 laterals or confused from the fact that it hit the ground, we'll never know. But I think Dubose was trying to hammer the fact that you can't quit no matter what is going on. I don't think it was a bad comment on his part.

[Tigerpop]

I want to echo Scott Baer's comments about how gracious many of the Millsap parents were after the game.  I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Tyson Roy's dad before and after the game as we discussed, not only football, but what lied ahead for our sons as they near graduation. He is a true gentleman.

There's a bigger picture here that alll the hype will not change.  All of these kids will remember this experience for the rest of their lives, good or bad.  Having to overcome adversity and remain resiliant in life's ebb and flow is a noble venture. Putting the good experience in it's proper perspective may be an even greater challenge.  As bitter a disappointment that this game may be for Millsap, who knows what good will eventually result.  

Another thought... The Millsap parents had a slide show of pictures taken by a parent photographer I believe.  The photography was absloutely excellent.  Millsap parents, is there a way to contact that parent ans get copies of some of the pictures?

[Ron Boerger]

Another thought... The Millsap parents had a slide show of pictures taken by a parent photographer I believe.  The photography was absloutely excellent.  Millsap parents, is there a way to contact that parent ans get copies of some of the pictures?

I believe the person you want to contact is frank_ezelle, who posted about three or four messages before you did.   Click on his name and you'll be able to send a PM.

[Just_that_kid]

Hats off to Trinity. It's hard to be mad at a miracle, but it sure is a disappointment.
If you're referring to the pictures on the slide show in the Cabot Lodge, just send me a message and I will try to get you in touch with who you need to speak to. Those photos weren't taken by Frank.