FB: Southern Athletic Association

[BerryViking92]

Berry seems to be playing better each game.  The Maryville game was not impressive for us, and Lagrange was a definite (but fun and exciting) struggle.  Shut out of Rhodes and upset of Chicago definitely provide reason for excitement.  Defense has to keep it up and offense has to continue to improve.  The missing piece has often been the lack of a run game, which has shown definite signs of life these last 2 games.

[BerryViking92]

Huge win for Berry over Hendrix today.  Absolutely heroic effort for the Berry defense.  Very fitting that the final play was an interception by the Viking defense.  So very proud & excited for our young team.  Six game win streak; these guys keep finding a way to win.  Well deserved bye week awaits.

[GillCJ1]

Congrats to Mitchell Blanchard of Berry College.  He took home the SAA Weekly Honor for Special Teams.  Only reason I know this is because we're both Collins Hill High School alumni and it showed up on one of my social media feeds.

[Pat Coleman]

Huge win for Berry over Hendrix today.  Absolutely heroic effort for the Berry defense.  Very fitting that the final play was an interception by the Viking defense.  So very proud & excited for our young team.  Six game win streak; these guys keep finding a way to win.  Well deserved bye week awaits.

I would think this is a good time for the bye week. Certainly there are guys who are banged up who could use a break.

[jaybird44]

Wash-U's potent offense was in full bloom this afternoon at Francis Field, in a 70-32 defeat of Millsaps this afternoon.

The Bears scored TDs on their first 8 possessions, counting a recovered bad Millsaps punt recovered in the end zone.  21-6 after 1 quarter, 49-14 at halftime, and 63-20 after 3 quarters. 

Wash-U had 521 yards of total offense, including 334 passing yards.  J.J. Tomlin went over 2,100 yards with 272 yards and 4 TD passes. Kevin Hammarlund had 7 catches for 106 yards and 3 TDs, and Cody Ratermann totaled 86 rushing yards.  Austin Smestad had 2 rushing TDs.

Wash-U is averaging 48.5 ppg at home this season.  Too bad the Bears' two early losses may keep them out of Pool C consideration.  This would be a fun team to watch in post-season play.

And, it's too bad we can't pair this offense with the 2013 defense...

[mck99]

Interview with WashU special teams coach Jeff Fisher - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wmOV1-PdyU&list=PL386C7A8527679D9B&index=1

[mck99]

Interview with WashU head coach Larry Kindbom - discussing the Bears' 34-16 loss at No. 23 Case and previewing the final road game of the 2015 season at Hendrix on Saturday in Conway, Ark.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJukQDekV4&index=1&list=PL386C7A8527679D9B

[Pat Coleman]

I'm headed down to Alabama this weekend to see if Berry can clinch this thing. Anyone else going to be there?

[jknezek]

I'm headed down to Alabama this weekend to see if Berry can clinch this thing. Anyone else going to be there?

If the weather is ok I'll try and convince my family to head over. Since I took off last weekend to go to E&H, I don't think my wife will let me duck out without everyone to see another game. Sadly the weather looks awful.

If you are there, the stands are small but fine. Everyone sits on the same side and if both teams bring a band there isn't much seating. If the weather holds off they will fill up quickly, especially if anyone from Berry shows. However, up on the hill behind the endzone you will find some really good fans. Look for the B-SC Hilltoppers and they will be pretty hospitable (generally).

Personally, unless you have a burning desire to see Berry, this weekend won't be a good one to be in Birmingham. You could drive 90 minutes down the road and take in what should be the better game at Huntingdon...

if you need a place to stay we are about 20 miles south of Birmingham. Wrong direction from the airport, but we don't charge much for guests 

[Pat Coleman]

I'm headed down to Alabama this weekend to see if Berry can clinch this thing. Anyone else going to be there?

If the weather is ok I'll try and convince my family to head over. Since I took off last weekend to go to E&H, I don't think my wife will let me duck out without everyone to see another game. Sadly the weather looks awful.

If you are there, the stands are small but fine. Everyone sits on the same side and if both teams bring a band there isn't much seating. If the weather holds off they will fill up quickly, especially if anyone from Berry shows. However, up on the hill behind the endzone you will find some really good fans. Look for the B-SC Hilltoppers and they will be pretty hospitable (generally).

Personally, unless you have a burning desire to see Berry, this weekend won't be a good one to be in Birmingham. You could drive 90 minutes down the road and take in what should be the better game at Huntingdon...

if you need a place to stay we are about 20 miles south of Birmingham. Wrong direction from the airport, but we don't charge much for guests 

Thanks for all of that -- I'm just flying into Atlanta and driving, because I don't mind driving and it might be faster when it's all said and done. That's also where I'm staying.

There to see Berry if they clinch and talk to them for the podcast, plus see Birmingham-Southern for the first time. I maintain a list of programs I have and have not yet seen and try to knock a few off the list each year.

[jknezek]

I'm headed down to Alabama this weekend to see if Berry can clinch this thing. Anyone else going to be there?

If the weather is ok I'll try and convince my family to head over. Since I took off last weekend to go to E&H, I don't think my wife will let me duck out without everyone to see another game. Sadly the weather looks awful.

If you are there, the stands are small but fine. Everyone sits on the same side and if both teams bring a band there isn't much seating. If the weather holds off they will fill up quickly, especially if anyone from Berry shows. However, up on the hill behind the endzone you will find some really good fans. Look for the B-SC Hilltoppers and they will be pretty hospitable (generally).

Personally, unless you have a burning desire to see Berry, this weekend won't be a good one to be in Birmingham. You could drive 90 minutes down the road and take in what should be the better game at Huntingdon...

if you need a place to stay we are about 20 miles south of Birmingham. Wrong direction from the airport, but we don't charge much for guests 

Thanks for all of that -- I'm just flying into Atlanta and driving, because I don't mind driving and it might be faster when it's all said and done. That's also where I'm staying.

There to see Berry if they clinch and talk to them for the podcast, plus see Birmingham-Southern for the first time. I maintain a list of programs I have and have not yet seen and try to knock a few off the list each year.

I figured as much. You just aren't going to get much of a day weather wise. And yes, Birmingham's airport just doesn't go anywhere anymore. Easy drive but watch the speed limit after you cross into Alabama. For no reason other than catching out of staters it drops 10 mph and the cops sit right there.

B-SC isn't a bad team, but not great. Wide receivers have some speed and one of them doubles as a pretty good kick returner. Be interesting to see if they can put points on Berry. B-SC has a nice campus but it's not in a great part of town. Once you get in the gates it's a different world.

If I get over there I'll look to say hi. Press box for you I'd assume? At least it will keep you out of the weather...

[Ron Boerger]

Hey Pat, since you're here, thoughts on Berry not getting any love in the regional rankings?   Hard to believe that week 1 loss has that much influence over the other criteria, and it's not like they lost to a 2-6 team. 

[Pat Coleman]

Hey Pat, since you're here, thoughts on Berry not getting any love in the regional rankings?   Hard to believe that week 1 loss has that much influence over the other criteria, and it's not like they lost to a 2-6 team.

I think it's just that they lost to the team that the committee deemed No. 10, and therefore couldn't get into the top 10. It looks to me like Huntingdon is a blocker. If Maryville beats Huntingdon, they'll drop out of the rankings and Berry can move in. Berry is blocking Case, I'm sure, because Berry beat Chicago while Case lost to Chicago.

[BerryViking92]

Really wish I could make it to Birmingham this weekend.  Two big games left to make some history.  I want this team to knock the door down, not back into anything. I cannot over-state what a great coaching job the Berry staff has done.

I wish mother nature would cooperate...

[jknezek]

Pat -- I hope you stayed dry. I couldn't summon the enthusiasm to go stand in the rain and given the dud the game ended up being, I'm glad I didn't! Watching W&L clinch from my computer was much more satisfying though I would have liked to say hi.