FB: Southern Athletic Association

[albatross]

another week, another d3 team of the week with multiple SAA players. Congrats to William Phillips (RET, Sewanee) and Antonio White, Jr. (CB, Berry) for their appearances.

[Clark Kent]

To begin with, I think we overestimate the number of people who have no clue about Berry hosting Centre on Saturday, who then pick up the paper that morning, read about it, and decide to go on a whim.

But the larger issue is that, it's easy to say "Write an article previewing the home football game on the October 14th and send it to the local outlets." Until the soccer coaches want to know why you didn't send anything about their Senior Day games that took place on the 15th. And the volleyball coach is upset because they were hosting a Youth Day on the 15th, and that's something the community would have been interested in, so why didn't you send the local media outlets something about that? And how come you didn't preview the cross-country invitational on the 14th? Or the golf matches? How come you're not working to get those coaches a weekly spot on the radio?

I once interviewed a AD at a super-successful high school. And when I asked him what the trick was to having so much all-sports success, he said "I have to remember that for every coach and every athlete, their sport is the biggest deal to them." I'm not comparing D-III to HS sports, but outside of D-I, where certain sports just have revenue realities others don't, that's a good philosophy to use (and this doesn't even get into Title IX issues with some of the promotion/publicity). Every time we add one task a week like this to an SIDs plate, we're really adding half a dozen. And often, it's already a full plate

So, the SID can submit a short article for publication about the upcoming home football game with championship implications between two undefeated conference rivals (as was the case when Berry hosted Centre), or about the mediocre cross country team running at a meet in Tennessee.  The choice is obvious. 

At most schools no sport is going to bring the crowds, the exposure, or the revenue that football brings regardless of division.  Priorities have to be given for the sports in-season, the teams competing for championships, the teams playing at home, and the teams bringing in the revenue. 

[Ron Boerger]

So, the SID can submit a short article for publication about the upcoming home football game with championship implications between two undefeated conference rivals (as was the case when Berry hosted Centre), or about the mediocre cross country team running at a meet in Tennessee.  The choice is obvious. 

At most schools no sport is going to bring the crowds, the exposure, or the revenue that football brings regardless of division.  Priorities have to be given for the sports in-season, the teams competing for championships, the teams playing at home, and the teams bringing in the revenue. 

Funny thing about D3 ... the factors you mention aren't priorities for all schools, and that's OK.   Many ADs believe the student-athletes on the "mediocre cross country team," having paid to attend for the school's primary purpose (e.g. an education), deserve support just as do those on the football team (who pay tuition for similar reasons) ... and would issue a release for both. 

[Pat Coleman]

... the teams bringing in the revenue.

[albatross]

We've reached the halfway point in the regular season so I figured I'd give my own take on SAA Power Rankings. Let me know which ones you would flip!

SAA Power Rankings - Midseason

1. Berry (5-0, 3-0)

This one is obvious. They have been the class of the league and have passed their biggest hurdle early (in addition to solid non-conference performances). Their two biggest remaining tests (Hendrix and Trinity) have to travel to Georgia as well.

2. Centre (3-1, 1-1)

One of the most complete teams in the conference that suffered a QB setback against Berry. A bye weak and a home game against one of the weaker teams so far could help them right the ship.

3. Hendrix (4-1, 2-1)

Hendrix's lone loss has come at the hands of one of the top teams in the conference and they nearly pulled off the comeback to tie the game. Other wins have have been blowouts or started as blowouts until they let the other team make things interesting. We will see if this young team can put it all together to win out or at least give Berry some trouble on the road (if they can make it out alive when they visit San Antonio).

4. Trinity (3-1, 2-0)

Trinity is undefeated in SAA play so far but still have a little work to do to jump Hendrix. Every win has been within one possession, and their toughest tests are yet to come. Though their wins have come against the middle of the pack, BSC and Millsaps are both much improved. The Tigers' lone loss came to a conference contender out west, too.

5. Millsaps (3-2, 2-1)

The Majors seem to have improved since last year, or have simply gotten better at closing out games. If there is a middle tier, Millsaps has certainly earned the right to be at the top of it after a close loss to Trinity and wins over an improved Sewanee and BSC. They'll rest this week before playing the Roos on the road.

6. Sewanee (2-3, 1-2)

With a blowout win of their own, a road win all the way in Sherman, and one-possession losses in conference play I am willing to give the Tigers a bump in the rankings. They've earned it and might be able to keep their spot if they keep it close with Berry at home this week.

7. Rhodes (2-3, 1-2)

Rhodes has been a bit of a disappointment thus far. Once considered conference contenders, they have lost to teams they were supposed to beat and were lifeless against Berry. Their close win against Willamette looks worse every week (as well as their loss to Pomona-Pitzer). Their blowout win against BSC keeps them from going lower, but they might be in danger of ceding their rivalry trophy to the Tigers this season...

8. BSC (1-3, 0-2)

BSC didn't keep it close against Rhodes but they have in other contests, including Huntingdon and Trinity (two good teams and conference contenders). We will see if they can find a spark or momentum. I really don't think they are not easy outs in any game.

9. Austin College (2-3, 0-3)

The Roos started the year with two quick and mostly easy wins, but they might have given a false impression. The teams they beat are likely not very good and are schools that are never very good in their first games. The close loss against Hendrix was not as close as the score makes it look, but they have fought in every game and won't finish the conference season winless.

-----

The rest of this season should be a fun one. Would you all change any of the spots?

[Bombers798891]

Clark, this is Division III. It simply doesn't work that way. This is explicitly stated in their annual report, which you can find here:

http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2016-17DIII_AnnualReport_20170915.pdf

To save you the need to scroll, I'll highlight the relevant parts

"Division III institutions offer athletics for the educational value and benefit to the student-athlete, not for the purposes of revenue generation or entertainment."

You'd save us all a lot of time if you just admitted that all this is really just about you caring about football and not caring about other sports. Honestly, that's okay. You don't have to care about the other sports as much (or at all) as you do the football program. But a D-III athletic department doesn't work that way. If you honestly think a D-III SID/AD are going to go around telling the other 20 teams in the department that since they don't bring in the revenue football does, they don't get the publicity, you really don't understand how it works.

[Ron Boerger]

That said, there are certainly schools that play up the revenue angle more than others.  There are plenty of schools happy to take your $10 on Saturday afternoon and who actively seek corporate sponsorships, said money going right back to the athletic program (I presume).   And, again, there's nothing wrong with that.

[Bombers798891]

That said, there are certainly schools that play up the revenue angle more than others.  There are plenty of schools happy to take your $10 on Saturday afternoon and who actively seek corporate sponsorships, said money going right back to the athletic program (I presume).

That's true, but this revenue is not likely to be significant, given that most colleges (Berry included) do not charge students, faculty, staff, or children. And football is not the only sport that seeks sponsors, and those sponsors want to see crowds buying the game programs with their logo on it too.

This is all really not important when it comes to the two larger realities:

1. Title IX requirements: Publicity is included in this. As we can see from the OCR's recent findings against Rugters: "The University also agreed to take steps to provide equivalent publicity for men's and women's teams, including but not limited to the assignment of sports information personnel with comparable experience; and, equivalent publicity resources (such as game highlights, press conferences, and other promotional activities, such as band, dance team and/or cheerleaders at games) and media coverage.

2. The fact that we're dealing with people: Even if focusing disproportionate effort on football was not begging for a Title IX complaint, at the D-III level, football doesn't have enough power (and money) that you can just tie your rope to it. There's simply no way it's going to shield you when 20 other coaches want to know why they don't get what football does.

[jknezek]

2. The fact that we're dealing with people: Even if focusing disproportionate effort on football was not begging for a Title IX complaint, at the D-III level, football doesn't have enough power (and money) that you can just tie your rope to it. There's simply no way it's going to shield you when 20 other coaches want to know why they don't get what football does.

I think this is probably less likely in the South. As someone who grew up in NJ, but lives in AL, I can tell you that disproportionate influence in football is the name of the game. As an example, most h.s. football teams down here get police escorts to away games. Think of a funeral procession, where other cars pull over to let them pass, only with police leaders and chasers and 5+ school buses packed with players, cheerleaders, the band, even a student bus or three sometimes.

Title IX only comes in to effect if someone actually notices and wants to sue. That is less likely to happen down here than it is where I grew up. Not unthinkable of course. It's just people don't really see it the same way right now. Football is king and that's just the way it is, the way it should be, the way it will be, and there will be a lot of peer pressure on anyone who tries to change it in the Deep South right now.

[Bombers798891]

2. The fact that we're dealing with people: Even if focusing disproportionate effort on football was not begging for a Title IX complaint, at the D-III level, football doesn't have enough power (and money) that you can just tie your rope to it. There's simply no way it's going to shield you when 20 other coaches want to know why they don't get what football does.

I think this is probably less likely in the South. As someone who grew up in NJ, but lives in AL, I can tell you that disproportionate influence in football is the name of the game. As an example, most h.s. football teams down here get police escorts to away games. Think of a funeral procession, where other cars pull over to let them pass, only with police leaders and chasers and 5+ school buses packed with players, cheerleaders, the band, even a student bus or three sometimes.

Title IX only comes in to effect if someone actually notices and wants to sue. That is less likely to happen down here than it is where I grew up. Not unthinkable of course. It's just people don't really see it the same way right now. Football is king and that's just the way it is, the way it should be, the way it will be, and there will be a lot of peer pressure on anyone who tries to change it in the Deep South right now.

What "people" think is not relevant though, because Title IX complaints aren't Change.org petitions. They don't need 50,000 signatures. All it takes is one person who isn't drinking the football kool-aid to say "It's ridiculous that football gets this and we don't" and you've got an investigation on your hand that is not going to accept "football is king" as an excuse.

But again, forget Title IX. If you're the coach of the volleyball team at Alabama, I'm guessing it's easier to swallow that football gets what you don't because you're aware of eight-figure TV contracts and seven figure bowl-game payouts. There's simply not the revenue coming in from football at a D-III school that you can play favorites like that and win the internal department politics game (especially if it becomes football vs. volleyball AND men's and women's soccer, AND men's and women's cross country.)

[jknezek]

What "people" think is not relevant though, because Title IX complaints aren't Change.org petitions. They don't need 50,000 signatures. All it takes is one person who isn't drinking the football kool-aid to say "It's ridiculous that football gets this and we don't" and you've got an investigation on your hand that is not going to accept "football is king" as an excuse.

You are 100% correct and I agree with you. However, as a Jewish person, I sat through my kids public elementary school Christmas Program last year and listened to her sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and more blatantly religious Christian hymns. I can guarantee you there wasn't a Hanukkah song in the mix, nor were there the non-religious Frosty the Snowman staples. If anyone was going to be that 1 person to complain about the Christmas Program to try and get it changed through the law, it would be me. But I don't care enough to do it, don't want the grief I would suffer from trying, and don't want to spend the money to bring a lawsuit. So you don't just need 1, you need 1 who cares a lot, and that is real hard to find down here. If you haven't lived in the Deep South, you won't get it. Trust me. I didn't until I moved here.

But again, forget Title IX. If you're the coach of the volleyball team at Alabama, I'm guessing it's easier to swallow that football gets what you don't because you're aware of eight-figure TV contracts and seven figure bowl-game payouts. There's simply not the revenue coming in from football at a D-III school that you can play favorites like that and win the internal department politics game (especially if it becomes football vs. volleyball AND men's and women's soccer, AND men's and women's cross country.)

Agree 100%. But again, people have to think it's wrong. Or at least one person does. And that is not as easy to find here as it is in other areas. That is just the fact. It's a great big country, and the people in it really don't see eye to eye the way we expect when we have only lived in one area of it. I will say though, I really don't think the BSC or Huntingdon ADs go out of their way for football over other sports. Heck, BSC lived for years off it's basketball program which won a couple NAIA National Titles. So it's not really an issue I've seen. Those schools are pretty much ignored by everyone without a connection to them, regardless of the sport. They aren't getting any more press for football than cc, because frankly they get none at all.

[Bombers798891]

What "people" think is not relevant though, because Title IX complaints aren't Change.org petitions. They don't need 50,000 signatures. All it takes is one person who isn't drinking the football kool-aid to say "It's ridiculous that football gets this and we don't" and you've got an investigation on your hand that is not going to accept "football is king" as an excuse.

You are 100% correct and I agree with you. However, as a Jewish person, I sat through my kids public elementary school Christmas Program last year and listened to her sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and more blatantly religious Christian hymns. I can guarantee you there wasn't a Hanukkah song in the mix, nor were there the non-religious Frosty the Snowman staples. If anyone was going to be that 1 person to complain about the Christmas Program to try and get it changed through the law, it would be me. But I don't care enough to do it, don't want the grief I would suffer from trying, and don't want to spend the money to bring a lawsuit. So you don't just need 1, you need 1 who cares a lot, and that is real hard to find down here. If you haven't lived in the Deep South, you won't get it. Trust me. I didn't until I moved here.

But again, forget Title IX. If you're the coach of the volleyball team at Alabama, I'm guessing it's easier to swallow that football gets what you don't because you're aware of eight-figure TV contracts and seven figure bowl-game payouts. There's simply not the revenue coming in from football at a D-III school that you can play favorites like that and win the internal department politics game (especially if it becomes football vs. volleyball AND men's and women's soccer, AND men's and women's cross country.)

Agree 100%. But again, people have to think it's wrong. Or at least one person does. And that is not as easy to find here as it is in other areas. That is just the fact. It's a great big country, and the people in it really don't see eye to eye the way we expect when we have only lived in one area of it. I will say though, I really don't think the BSC or Huntingdon ADs go out of their way for football over other sports. Heck, BSC lived for years off it's basketball program which won a couple NAIA National Titles. So it's not really an issue I've seen. Those schools are pretty much ignored by everyone without a connection to them, regardless of the sport. They aren't getting any more press for football than cc, because frankly they get none at all.

I mean, I get that you're right, in general, about the deep south's placing an outsize importance of football.

But there's a reason why Berry isn't doing what Clark Kent suggested. The risk/reward math simply doesn't make sense. A few hundred extra fans per game, and few thousand dollars per year from them is simply not worth the possibility of a lawsuit from one fed-up student-athlete, coach, parent, or alum.

[jknezek]

I mean, I get that you're right, in general, about the deep south's placing an outsize importance of football.

But there's a reason why Berry isn't doing what Clark Kent suggested. The risk/reward math simply doesn't make sense. A few hundred extra fans per game, and few thousand dollars per year from them is simply not worth the possibility of a lawsuit from one fed-up student-athlete, coach, parent, or alum.

Could be. Could be even simpler. The local paper, such as they are these days with most content coming from AP wires and almost no local news, simply doesn't care, the SID or AD doesn't care to devote the resource to do it, or it could be that he/she doesn't have the time to do it fairly for all, which is the point being made. I just don't know. I suspect it is more the second with shades of the first and third and including some part of the knowledge that it probably doesn't matter and therefore is a waste of time that could be better spent on other parts of the job.

[Bombers798891]

I mean, I get that you're right, in general, about the deep south's placing an outsize importance of football.

But there's a reason why Berry isn't doing what Clark Kent suggested. The risk/reward math simply doesn't make sense. A few hundred extra fans per game, and few thousand dollars per year from them is simply not worth the possibility of a lawsuit from one fed-up student-athlete, coach, parent, or alum.

Could be. Could be even simpler. The local paper, such as they are these days with most content coming from AP wires and almost no local news, simply doesn't care, the SID or AD doesn't care to devote the resource to do it, or it could be that he/she doesn't have the time to do it fairly for all, which is the point being made. I just don't know. I suspect it is more the second with shades of the first and third and including some part of the knowledge that it probably doesn't matter and therefore is a waste of time that could be better spent on other parts of the job.

Yeah, it's certainly a combo situation.

I know I've made the point elsewhere that sports info offices seem to have done a complete 180 in the last 10 years. It's not about sending info out there for people to read (although they still do that). It's about having all the info in one central place and letting people go there. It strikes me as a far more efficient, thorough way to communicate what you deem important. If you can have all the stories, stats, info, video, audio, photos on your site or done in house, why rely on the whims of the local media?

[jknezek]

I mean, I get that you're right, in general, about the deep south's placing an outsize importance of football.

But there's a reason why Berry isn't doing what Clark Kent suggested. The risk/reward math simply doesn't make sense. A few hundred extra fans per game, and few thousand dollars per year from them is simply not worth the possibility of a lawsuit from one fed-up student-athlete, coach, parent, or alum.

Could be. Could be even simpler. The local paper, such as they are these days with most content coming from AP wires and almost no local news, simply doesn't care, the SID or AD doesn't care to devote the resource to do it, or it could be that he/she doesn't have the time to do it fairly for all, which is the point being made. I just don't know. I suspect it is more the second with shades of the first and third and including some part of the knowledge that it probably doesn't matter and therefore is a waste of time that could be better spent on other parts of the job.

Yeah, it's certainly a combo situation.

I know I've made the point elsewhere that sports info offices seem to have done a complete 180 in the last 10 years. It's not about sending info out there for people to read (although they still do that). It's about having all the info in one central place and letting people go there. It strikes me as a far more efficient, thorough way to communicate what you deem important. If you can have all the stories, stats, info, video, audio, photos on your site or done in house, why rely on the whims of the local media?

Agreed. Let the people who care come to you and, if you have to, try and dream up ways to get more people to care. Trying to force the information on people, i.e. the local newspaper, is a dying method. People are increasingly caring about smaller and smaller things, and newspapers just aren't capable of profitably covering a significant number of them, let alone all of them. My Dad went years without really knowing how Wilkes football was doing in the 70s, 80s, and 90s short of calling the school. By the time the late 90s rolled around, it was one of the first things he checked regularly on the internet. Now he watches a bunch of games every year. Though as bad as they've been for the last decade, that may not have been a good thing...