FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[D3_DPUFan]

interesting perspective, wes...thanks.

[evacuee]

One of my students just came back from his Millsaps visit and liked it, but is now a bit gunshy about the time commitment:

Weekday meetings/workouts from 6-8
Class from 9-3
Practice from 4-6
Dinner
Study Hall 7-9

Our time commitment in 1997 at Trinity:

Monday off
Class from 8-4
Practice from 4-6
Dinner

Has the landscape changed that much in ten years?  Does everyone do study hall now?  Or is that just the Dubose influence?  I don't know if I would have wanted to lug my paint and canvases to wherever it was held. 

[Fripp52]

TU2698

It's not just Millsaps.  My son is a freshman at DPU and just went through the season.  I played at DPU in the early 80's.  The time committment my son had on his hands versus what I went through was light years different.  As you mentioned, lifting, position meetings, walk throughs, practice, study table, etc., was a bit more than he and I expected.  He got through it and did well in school so that is good.  I am sure each year gets easier after being hit with that aas a freshman.

[oldmoose]

With the exception of study hall, that is about the same schedule my boys had playing high school football.   And "study hall" better take place when they got home.

[Ralph Turner]

With the exception of study hall, that is about the same schedule my boys had playing high school football.   And "study hall" better take place when they got home.

Which is what we want our student-athlete children to do, as opposed to sleep late, miss class, party, get drunk, be too hungover to attend class, start all over.

[evacuee]

I'm just surprised that the coaches feel they have to be that closely monitored.  We had a lot, I mean a lot of success but we didn't even have team workouts in the offseason.  You were expected to lift acoording to the team program and if you wanted to compete for playing time, that's how you kept up.  You were expected to know how to handle yourself academically because you were accepted at a reputable institution.  I know kids get more spoiled every year, but we had some pretty big brats on our team too.  Somehow it worked without much intervention.  We lost a top flight corner to grades in 1998 and his replacement got beat on a lot of deep balls against Mt Union in the semis. 

Maybe study hall would have gotten us a national title. 

[FerricMajor82]

I'm not so sure what is wrong with having a strict regimented schedule for football players?  If that is what it takes to succeed than so be it.  I would rather win championships and have a strict schedule, then lose every Saturday, and have no accountability (which is what was going on at the Millsaps for some time).  I left my dorm room at 8am and returned at 8pm everyday at Millsaps.  Sad thing is, there was only about 5 other guys that did the same.  I think there is a direct correlation between winning and "time commitment."  I'm willing to bet that the "Mt. Unions" of the the world have strict schedules as well, at least I hope they do.

I also wouldn't say that the players are being "monitored."  I think they are being held "accountable" and there is a very large difference. 

[evacuee]

The workouts I think are a good thing.  The seated time is overrated in my opinion. 

If there was no accountability before, then the new requirements have surely instilled a great deal of team pride that resulted in victories.  I guess I just feel like d3 athletes by and large hold their education to a higher standard than do scholarship athletes, and that they should be afforded the freedom to at least study on their own. 

I personally do not think that time spent is as valuable as time not wasted.  I've seen collegiate athlete study hall and it is a waste of time.  I think watching film is definitely a critical part of getting better, but you can only learn so much sitting down that can be carried over to the field.  Great players often have great instincts and you don't develop that watching film. 

It is amazing to me that so many coaches at every level think they can win by playing chess.  To me, how you use that two hour practice block is the most critical thing.   

[FerricMajor82]

I wonder how overrated the seated time is?  I think Study Hall is pretty important.  I am sure the upper-classmen get a break (e.g. don't have to come if their grades are good), but I find it necessary for younger kids that are adjusting to the academic demands of a SCAC school. 

"You never want to see a football injury, especially with a teammate you spend all day with, you go to class with, you go to study hall with, practice with and lift weights with," said Ziemba.

-Lee Ziemba (Auburn Tigers) on Antonio Coleman's recent injury.

Looks like sometimes success on the field is directly related to discipline off the field, including study hall.  Ask yourself, how successful is Auburn's program, and how often do you hear of Tuberville's players getting in trouble? 
Study hall is important; classroom success breeds success on the field.

[evacuee]

I'm not so inclined to derive from one quote that Auburn's football success is directly related to study hall.  In football study hall, 18 year old guys are put in a room together which is seldom conducive to learning.  If there are computers, they have access to facebook, youtube, the like.  If they're allowed to talk, they talk about non school matters.  If they can't talk, they can't get help.  I've seen guys come in and surf the net for three hours on Friday just so they can make their weekly requirement for hours.

The guys where I worked couldn't wait to finish their mandatory 8 hours of study hall per week because they said they couldn't get anything done with all the people cutting up.  It's not like the coaches are made aware and keep track of the work that the kids are supposed to be doing.  It sounds right in theory, but the reality is that it's a waste of time. 

[AF4]

i do not believe AU's success is directly related to study hall...but.... we were walking through walmart a couple weekends ago,  a kid  (who was a former team mate of my boy) who is a RFr at auburn , listed this past season on the depth chart, and was in the rotation, stopped to talk... he spoke of the grueling practices, and now off season workouts...and study hall...and study hall again...and how study hall and workouts were some how hooked at the hip

my bride and this kids mom work together, and she too was inthralled with study hall at auburn... i thank at auburn study hall is a big deal...and by having it... the kids are watched for a little longer each day... u rarely hear of them introuble like the kids at the tuscaloosa trade school

now d-3 study hall.... well the boy didn't have to do it this semister cause of his grades were good...but he told me that the coaches checked to insure they weren't just 'texting folks' (his words...as i am unsure how u do that)

if his grades don't stay good he can't do what he claims he wants to do after he graduates

keep the faith

[D3_DPUFan]

The Tigers begin Spring Practice Monday (March17) .

Does everyone begin Monday or do schools pick and choose their windows?
 

[Tex]

The Tigers begin Spring Practice Monday (March17) .

Does everyone begin Monday or do schools pick and choose their windows?
 

What are the rules for D-3 spring practice?

[D3_DPUFan]

What are the rules for D-3 spring practice?

I'm sure others on this site know specifics...I know it's no pads...don't even think they can wear helmets...and a set number of sessions, which I think is 20...

[Tex]

I'm okay with the no pads part.  When I was in hs, for some reason (probably we were pretty much all out of shape), we'd get a lot of injuries during Spring Training.  These days, 5A HS football in TX is a 12 month a year committment.   It likely leads to a bit more burn-out, but less overall injuries. 

My son's HS had a serious bad luck streak this past season (early on) with ankle injuries.  Something like 10 starters went down during the first month of practice.  This had a lot to do with several factors, but IMHO it came down to something they neglected to do in the off-season program.  Freak luck combined with medical wisdom that didn't automatically wrap ankles prior to each practice.  By the time they ordered the cinch-up braces, it was all over and the fat lady was putting ice on her ankle as well.