FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

I'm still convinced if DPU and Wabash make the playoffs, then they will meet in a first round or second round matchup.  Just because the NCAA can do that.

[Ralph Turner]

Smed, I think that they would not ask them for a rematch in Week #12, the first playoff round, if reasonably possible, but 2nd round logically.

[jyoung]

Are there anything to the fact that Mississippi College may be moving to the SCAC next year. MC is playing Lagrange next year.

[Ron Boerger]

Lagrange isn't a SCAC member.

I'd be surprised to see MC leave a conference with draconian travel requirements for one that is worse.  It would get the Millsaps-MC rivalry going again, tho.  At $42,2M, the school's endowment would be the smallest (IIRC) of any football-playing school in the conference.  Academics seem compatible. 

[exmajor]

I believe alot of the talk around MC is going back to DII, not moving DIII conferences.  It is a good school, but not sure its academics would garner a SCAC reputation.  The decision to end the Millsaps/MC game only 5 years after it began again is still beyond me, but the idea of signing another contract and then MC moving back to scholarships may have scared the Majors off.

[jyoung]

There is something underway, just not sure what. The move to D11 is all but dead, they stated at a meeting early in the year it would take an additional one million per year to make that move, and it was just not going to happen.

I don't see the travel statment, nothing is worse than sitting on the out side of the ASWC and riding in one case 17 hours to play ball.

Take a closer look it would be a good fit for the SCAC.

[Ralph Turner]

JW, would Mississippi College move to the Great South AC?  They would make the 6th team and make it an official conference.  They and Maryville might be the dominant forces in the Pool B for men's basketball and be very strong Pool B candidates in other team sports.  They could affiliate in the other sports as desired.  The travel issues would be a wash.  MC would be able to fill a schedule with fewer hard games than now (against the ASC which is getting stronger).  UT-Tyler will be the dominant force in the East in every force they sponsor.

Travel is still an issue, but Jackson/Clinton is in the middle of D3 nowhere (by bus).  It is 420 miles to Atlanta, and 450 to Nashville and 280 to Montgomery.

I was surprised that a Baptist school as old and distinguished as MC has only a $42 M endowment!  The World-com meltdown surely hurt the prospects that were anticipated back in the dot com days.

[historymajor]

Ralph, Ralph, Ralph,,,, you're letting your unwaving love for McM cloud your perception of the rest of the DIII world.  I don't know much about MC,,, but I know other alums (other than Ebbers) and they seem like class individuals.
As for the endowment,,, well pi$$ off a few thousand Baptists and you've got a big endowment!
Why don't we let the SCAC sort it out and we'll all check back later.  The BIG ASC seems to be in something of a realignment... bigger isn't always better!

[Ralph Turner]

Historymajor, the WorldCom HQ was across I-20 from MC!

My thoughts were that many of those MC alums had known Mr Ebbers for years and probably had large portions of their portfolios tied up in WorldCom.  How many of our Dallas friends have large positions in Southwest Airlines, EDS, Texas Industries?  From those families was where I thought MC would get large gifts.

I wish that the ASC could add 3-4 members to get to 2 full conferences and keep AQ's for both!

[smedindy]

If wishes were horses, Ralph....

[historymajor]

Ralph,,, bigger is not always better... if you know what I mean..

[Ralph Turner]

History major,  I know that very well.  The SCAC is going towards 12.  I suspect that the ASC tried to grow enough so that it could split into a couple of 8-10 team conferences, especially with the departures of UDallas and Texas Wesleyan which would have given us 18.

We know that UT-Permian Basin is exploring D2 or D3, but I hope that they go D2!

If I am the MC athletic director, I might be tempted to consider whether I get more post-season bids as a Pool B in the Great South AC...my Lady Chocs haven't made the tourney in nearly a decade, a HSU HPU thing, and I only seem to be falling farther behind in football.  Do I would prefer to put together a South Region independent schedule with the LaGranges, Maryvilles and Sewanees without the UMHBs, HSUs, and HPU's?

[jyoung]

Ralph

You know all, we depend on you, what is going on at MC. Why would the Lagrange game be set for Oct 14. Most of the time out of conference games are the first one in the year.

[Ron Boerger]

Why would the Lagrange game be set for Oct 14. Most of the time out of conference games are the first one in the year.

With the departure of Austin College, the ASC will only have 9 football-playing members next season.  Teams need to schedule two non-conference games and thus you'll see more flexible schedules than in seasons past.   

[Ralph Turner]

JW, if that was the nature of your comment then there may not be anything happening at MC and they will stay in the ASC fold.  That was the AC "open" date!