FB: Southern Athletic Association

[awadelewis]

Sewanee hires Joe Freitag, OC at Monmouth, as our next head coach.

https://sewaneetigers.com/news/2025/12/11/football-sewanee-names-freitag-to-lead-football-program.aspx

[Ron Boerger]

Sewanee hires Joe Freitag, OC at Monmouth, as our next head coach.

https://sewaneetigers.com/news/2025/12/11/football-sewanee-names-freitag-to-lead-football-program.aspx

I hope Coach Freitag will get the administrative support needed for a successful program. 

[MCScots2013]

Congrats on a quick search and finding a solid resume guy.

They did miss a good opportunity for "Freitag tagged to lead football program", though.

[awadelewis]

I hope Coach Freitag will get the administrative support needed for a successful program. 

That's the rub, isn't it.  I had hoped that we had gotten past the "Just don't embarrass us" mentality that has kept our program mired in mediocrity for decades.

I wish Coach Freitag the best of luck as he's going to have a hard row to hoe. 

[Pat Coleman]

I hope Coach Freitag will get the administrative support needed for a successful program. 

That's the rub, isn't it.  I had hoped that we had gotten past the "Just don't embarrass us" mentality that has kept our program mired in mediocrity for decades.

I wish Coach Freitag the best of luck as he's going to have a hard row to hoe. 

At least they hired someone who's ever coached in Division III this time.

[awadelewis]

At least they hired someone who's ever coached in Division III this time.

I still think the Andy McCollum hire was a reasonable risk as the program was in pretty poor shape after Travis Rundle left.   So trying something unusual was in order.

Hiring Coach Freitag is a safe hire and I hope he can get the ship pointed in the right direction.   Big question is going to be how all of these kids that Coach McCollum brought into the program react to the coaching change.  If not well, then we're looking at another couple of bad seasons.

But I will toss out a "Go Vikings" for tomorrow and worry again when the new season starts. 

[MCScots2013]

You are a kinder man than I.  I will never say "Go Vikings", merely "good luck".

This goes for all other schools (SAA or otherwise).  My allegiance is to Maryville College.  Sportsmanship and being a gentleman dictate I remain cordial and wish for safe keeping, but do not mistake me for a conference fan like many SEC fan bases come bowl season.

[Ron Boerger]

Berry loses 21-13, but don't blame the defense which was put in terrible straits by no fewer than five interceptions by JCU in the first three quarters.  After all of that, trailing 21-0, the offense decided they should play (including QB Andrew Hunter, who had replaced an ineffective Christian Lewis at the start of the second half,  tossing two INTs in his first four attempts) and after scoring the second TD with a couple minutes left had an onside which they could not recover (legally). 

[Ralph Turner]

The loss leaves an incredibly bad taste in the Vikings' mouths.
Woe to SAA opponents in 2026.

[Ron Boerger]

The loss leaves an incredibly bad taste in the Vikings' mouths.
Woe to SAA opponents in 2026.

They lose a *lot* to graduation - a very senior-laden squad.

EDIT:  I looked at today's starting roster - 8 seniors/grad students on defense, 8 seniors/grads on offense, K is a senior.

[Cowboy2]

The loss leaves an incredibly bad taste in the Vikings' mouths.
Woe to SAA opponents in 2026.

They lose a *lot* to graduation - a very senior-laden squad.

EDIT:  I looked at today's starting roster - 8 seniors/grad students on defense, 8 seniors/grads on offense, K is a senior.

I don't care how good you are, but 7 TOs doesn't bold well when trying to win a game, much less a quarters playoff matchup. Still interesting to see what the verdict was on the onside kick Berry couldn't review.berry should have put Hunter in at QB much earlier! Mind boggling.

Yea like Ron says, it may leave a bad taste, but majority of the guys who played for Berry this year can't do anything about it because they graduate.

SAA will be even tougher next year. They Already positioned themselves in the top 3 conferences of D3. Plus Trinity loses 2-3 starters on offense and 1-2 on defense. Backs up all got tons of reps because they didn't leave the starters well into the 4qt like some other teams
 

[MCScots2013]

It's going to be the Andrew Hunter show in 2026 for Berry.  If I'm not mistaken, they have 34 seniors on their roster and a lot of them are the names that we hear constantly during the games. I'm assuming they're going to lose a lot of production.

Maryville is right there with them. We're losing a lot of offensive production this year, but luckily the defensive core remain strong. Grant Henderson was named ACFA All-American and he's gone along with Bryson Rollins. Two big play guys.

[awadelewis]

SAA will be even tougher next year. They Already positioned themselves in the top 3 conferences of D3. Plus Trinity loses 2-3 starters on offense and 1-2 on defense. Backs up all got tons of reps because they didn't leave the starters well into the 4qt like some other teams
 

Millsaps may have a decent team next season.   They showed some life in a couple of games this season and look to be returning a bunch of people.