FB: Southern Athletic Association

[albatross]

Congrats to Soumaharo on the Pre-Season All-American honor.

When is the last time (if at all) a "traditional SAA" player made a pre-season first-team list?

It's a poor descriptor, but by "traditional" I mean: coming from an inaugural, all-sport member (no Wash U., Chicago, Trinity, etc.) and in the SAA era (no SCAC, for example).

[Ron Boerger]

2012:  Shawn Morris, Sr., Birmingham-Southern, RB

Then again, he was "tainted" by playing in the SCAC the prior three seasons.   I didn't see any "traditional SAA" player named to the first team before Soumaharo - congrats to him on the honor.

[albatross]

A few months back someone mentioned "offseason rankings" of some kind. Stadium rankings are fun, but in a conference like the SAA it can be hard to do. In my recent playing experience, I have found that there are some that stand out, and some that need a little TLC. Sometimes stadium rankings get people riled up, so I am going to try and do my best to be fair and positive!

Note: for now, I figure I'll just mention the best in the league - in alphabetical order (with hyperlinks that I hope work)

Standouts

Berry - Valhalla Stadium http://www.berryvikings.com/information/Facilities/facility_pages/valhalla

The Vikings get to play in one of the coolest stadiums in the SAA. The actual structure (see: press box, exposed metal supports in the back) itself isn't that pretty, but the natural backdrop, sound system, and turf are top-notch. Berry has a much larger student enrollment (along with Trinity and Rhodes) than most of the conference, so the larger grandstands are usually full with a fantastic and loud crowd. The plaza area and concourses are also great and well laid out. Bonus points for the tunnel entrance for the team and the random deer that often appear. Food for thought: I understand that Valhalla is the viking afterlife, but do you really want to send players out on a field named for a place for dead vikings?! Only kidding...sort of...

Birmingham Southern - Krulak Stadium http://www.bscsports.net/facilities/krulak_stadium/index

This stadium sometimes flies under the radar, but I have always loved playing on the road there. Sunken into a hill, the actual stadium has a very modern feel and pretty cool design. The press box/entry-level concourse is pretty unique, too. The hill overlooking the wall in the endzone is the home of dedicated tailgaters and the locker room and training facilities attached are pretty nice. The stadium is just the right size for the school. Bonus points for having an actual marching band. I think they are the only school to have one (Berry has a drumline, Hendrix has a pep band in the stands, and Centre and Austin have on/off again pep bands).

Hendrix - Young-Wise Memorial Stadium http://www.hendrixwarriors.com/sports/2013/11/2/FB_1102131306.aspx?id=60

I am biased here but I think Hendrix has a beautiful stadium when compared to the rest of the conference. The red brick, accenting, and even the roof match a lot of the academic buildings on campus, and it is cornered by the glass ceiling of the aquatics center and the Sturgis Building, which has the bridge entrance and houses the football locker/training facilities (complete with floor to ceiling windows that overlook the field). The new turf is among the best in the conference, and the press box is pretty nice, and we even have a two luxury suites on either side of the stadium that open up to outdoor patios. Cons? The sun will be a nuisance with the trusty SAA-mandated 1PM kickoff, and the soundsystem is never really used to its full potential. One of the coolest parts of the stadium is the back that houses the memorial plaza dedicated to Hendrix alumni who died for our country. One statue has been a campus fixture and honors the bravery of a WW1 soldier, and the other sculptures were specially commissioned from an artist in Boston. An HDX professor even wrote the poem that graces the plaza (pictures are on the linked page).

Sewanee - Harris Stadium http://sewaneetigers.com/Facilities/Harris_Stadium_at_Hardee-McGee_Field

It's hard to match the history and atmosphere on the Mountain. I absolutely loved ending the season at Sewanee. A game in the fall meant beautiful leaves, awesome weather, and good Southern cookin' when the clock hit zero! The tradition and the original stone structure easily help you overlook an "older" press box. No list can be complete without it! Not much more needs to be said here...

Honorable Mention

Centre - Farris Stadium http://centrecolonels.com/information/facilities/football_field

The actual stadium isn't a looker, but the atmosphere is very special. The white fencing and the athletic facility in the endzone almost give it a sort of 50's vibe. We typically played there in the fall when the leaves were turning, too. When I was a freshman in 2013 and we were still looking  for that elusive first road win, Farris was intimidating. Oddity: the press box is not aligned with the 50 yard line and that always messed me up when I tried to gauge field position. Not exactly "centre" ... (I'll be here all week)

[jknezek]

 A very good list. I haven't been to Berry or Hendrix, Trinity or Austin College, but I've been to the rest of the SAA. Birmingham Southern is my "home" DIII, though not my alma mater. You can find us usually twice a year parked on the hill overlooking the endzone in our baby puke yellow 1976 GMC motorhome with a tent, grill, loads of friends we sucker along, and kids sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard. It's a great place to watch a game.

I get to Sewanee every other year when W&L comes to visit. Thankful I get to see my alma mater within a 3 hour drive. On the off years it is 5+ to Emory & Henry. Love the old stone stadium though it generally rains on me. The place is much improved by the turf field. The old grass field never survived the weather and pounding. I also give the school credit for having the students involved and the great tailgate just outside the stadium.

I don't have great memories of Centre. We usually lose there. But the few times I've gone it is more than serviceable. A very nice stadium, usually well supported.

I do need to get to Berry one of these days. Just waiting for a good reason. Maybe an ODAC team visiting or a home playoff game or a highly rated OOC opponent. We'll see. I'm sure it will happen.

[albatross]

For those wanting a better view of the Hendrix stadium and the veterans memorial, here are better pictures from the architect's website...

[url]http://fennellpurifoy.com/portfolio/hendrix-college-young-wise-memorial-stadium//url]

[Ralph Turner]

For those wanting a better view of the Hendrix stadium and the veterans memorial, here are better pictures from the architect's website...

http://fennellpurifoy.com/portfolio/hendrix-college-young-wise-memorial-stadium/

I have corrected the hyperlink. Thanks for the update.  +1!

[albatross]

Kickoff has arrived and it is well done, per usual! Predicting a league that has never had a back-to-back champion has to be tough...

I'm really interested in how far apart Berry and Hendrix are ranked despite keeping pace with each other for the past four years (Hendrix getting the jump in years 2 and 3, Berry leap-frogging in 4). Hendrix leaves a lot of talent behind like Berry, but the QB position and many senior leaders have departed. If Hendrix can keep healthy and acquire some chemistry on the o-line, I think they will surprise a few people!

[Scots13]

We'll have to see how Berry and Hendrix play out in year 5. Will they go the LaGrange route and become mediocre (highly unlikely), the CNU route and consistently win on a region level (probable), or go the UMHB route and compete on the national stage for a decade (jury's still out)?

Berry has done a good job of mixing in guys as the come on campus, so it's not like they are without experienced players. Graduation is taking a toll on production, but that's the life of a new program. Personally, I think 9-1 is a little ambitious. I'd say they'll digress back to year 3 at 7-3 although some of the games won't be as close as they were in 2015. Maybe 8-2.

Can't really speak on Hendrix, but moving forward I'd say they'll be in the mix every year for the SAA title with Centre and Berry.  I'm excited for the season opener vs. Berry. They travel well and Honaker Field will be packed. MC's AD might look into getting some portable stands to move into the corners nearest the trees to accommodate the crowd.

[BerryCollegeFan]

I am excited about the new season.  I haven't had much experience with the teams and have been to a few locations.  Favorite road trip so far was Sewanee, but I haven't been there when the fog rolled in.

Looking forward to Birmingham Southern trip this year.  What's the best food close to campus there?

[BerryCollegeFan]

Berry does have a lot of talent coming back ... but also some holes ... esp on the line ...

OL was not a strength last year.  Not a knock on personnel, but not a believer in 2 point stance on OL.  DL has advantage playing at lower pad levels and drive OL back.  OL is constantly on their heels.  QB was forced to scramble alot, as evidenced by he was leading rusher last year.  RB's often got stuffed in short yardage situations.  Just not a fan of that OL philosophy.  Sometimes ya just have to line up, get low and play smash mouth football.

But the Vikings do have some talent coming back, especially at offensive skill positions.  Lost a lot of seniors on defense, but do have All-American DE Soumahoro coming back.

I follow Paul Johnson, who's now at Ga Tech, he obviously believes in lower pad level.  He's been coaching it for years and has won a ton of games controlling the line of scrimmage and the clock.

[jknezek]

B-SC is a gorgeous campus in a not so pretty area of town. Food depends on what kind you want, what you mean by close, and when you are going to be there. For example, Saw's BBQ in Homewood is 20 minutes away and really good, but it's a BBQ hole in the wall. Highlands or Hot and Hot Fish Club are 15 minutes away in Five Points Birmingham and some of the best Southern high class food you will get anywhere, but they are expensive dinner joints and you will need reservations.

If you are more in line with small chain type places, you can eat yourself sick at Texas de Brasil, a Brazilian Steakhouse about 15 minutes from campus in the Entertainment District, or in the same area you can grab some serious burgers at Mugshots. If you want fine southern food but don't want to deal with reservations, you can try John's City Diner, downtown Birmingham. The name is a misnomer as it is a white tablecloth place, but order the Mac and Cheese.

If you simply must have pizza, I'd say take the trip to Avondale, about 20 minutes from campus and grab Post Office Pies. Avondale brewery is right next store as well.

Finally, if you want to travel a bit, you can go about 20 or 25 minutes from campus to The Bright Star in Bessemer AL. Southern and Greek food, the place has been there for around 100 years and is the only part of Bessemer worth visiting.

Lots of other options depending on what you want. Birmingham is a bit of a foodie destination. Unfortunately, not much is walking distance from campus. BSC is a beautiful oasis on basically the wrong side of the tracks.

[BerryViking92]

Finalized my plans to be at the Maryville game next weekend.  I am excited, and think this should be  a very interesting game.  The game last year was amazing.

[Scots13]

Still a bad taste in our mouths. Rolling in the 2nd quarter up 19-7 and then the wheels seem to fall off. 4 INTs, 3 lost fumbles, 2 missed PATs, and missed FG gets you beat any Saturday.  Had 2 chances late in the game  to win it--intercepted a 2 point conversion and got caught from behind on the side line, then we had a mismatch with a WR and a LB in the middle of the field and the LB grabbed a handful of face mask to keep our guy from catching the ball. Smart move by the LB, but still...didn't help our cause.

[BerryViking92]

The officiating in that game was ... interesting.  Our running back was ejected, and would have had to miss part of the next game, but the call was later overturned.  Y'all kicked our butts three years in a row .... seems we may be more evenly matched these days.

[albatross]

Hendrix doesn't have a powerhouse match-up in Week 1, but it does have an in-state rivalry game with Lyon College (NAIA). The two schools compete for the "Scotzilla Trophy," which we won last year. The series is 2-0 Hendrix.

The trophy is unique, quirky, and fits in D3 sports. It's a concept formed by marrying Lyon's mascot (the Scots) and Godzilla, a subject on which Hendrix's president (Dr. William Tsutsui) is the world's leading academic expert.

Trophy picture attached...