DIII Football

In November of 2004, in St. John Parish, Louisiana, a young quarterback was leading his high school team to a dominating 50-6 win in the quarterfinals of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's football tournament.

Meanwhile, on the other bank of the Mississippi River, high-profile quarterback Ryan Perrilloux's East St. John Wildcats were closing out an embarrassing 62-42 loss in their quarterfinal game.

Perrilloux would then go on to play recruiting musical chairs with Division I powers Texas and LSU.  He would be awarded the 2004 Hall Trophy as the nation's most outstanding high school football player.

Perrilloux would be named USA Today's "Offensive Player of the Year," "National Offensive Player of the Year" by Columbus, Ohio's Touchdown Club, Louisiana's "Mr. Football," and Gatorade's "Player of the Year."  He was a Parade All-American and was invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

After Les Miles' hiring at LSU, Perrilloux would commit to LSU with expectations of grandeur.

We all know the rest of the story.  After years of immature actions and a complacent attitude, the highly-touted recruit would be dismissed in May of 2008 after only starting two games for the Tigers.

But what about the other quarterback in this story?  The one that would eventually lead his West St. John Rams to a Class 2A Louisiana State Championship.  The one that entertained only one Division I scholarship offer.  The one who played in the giant shadow of the great Ryan Perrilloux.  What happened to Juan Joseph?

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, the Millsaps Majors will line up on Harper Davis Field in Jackson, Mississippi as the D3Football.com No. 4-ranked team in the nation, and the top seed in the Division III Football Tournament South Region.  They will field an offense that averages over 445 yards and 44 points per game.

And they will be led by a 6'1", 188-pound senior quarterback that has passed for 28 touchdowns, run for four more, and is eighth in the nation in total offense.  That quarterback is Juan Joseph.

Under the tutelage of former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose, Joseph has flourished in the spread offense run by Hal Mumme pupil John David Caffey.  Both Caffey and DuBose made it clear in a Clarion-Ledger piece in October of 2008 that "Juan could play for most anybody. He's what you want, especially in the spread offense."

But it isn't just the talent that makes Joseph such a successful signal caller for the Majors—it's his leadership too.  Caffey recalls a bad Tuesday practice earlier this season. He was about to walk over and chew out the offense, but before he could get a word in, Joseph simply said, "Coach, I got this."

According to Caffey, Joseph handled the situation better than he even could.  The Majors had great practices the rest of the week and won that Saturday's game by more than 42 points.  That's the kind of leader he is.

But at a school like Millsaps, success on the field is only half the battle.  Joseph admits that the academic load caused him to have to make adjustments in his study habits.  But just as he as on the football field, Joseph has persevered.  As a business administration major with a concentration in finance and marketing, he's currently riding a 3.2 GPA at one of the most strenuous liberal arts colleges in the South.

With the talent, physical tools, and leadership ability that Joseph possesses, many wonder what he's doing at a Division III school—an NCAA division that offers no athletic scholarships.  He passed up an opportunity at Alcorn State—alma mater of NFL great Steve McNair—to play at a school and in a division where, as he puts it, "you play because you love to play."  

It is obvious that Joseph loves to play.  That's why the Majors have their eyes set on their first-ever national championship.

That might also be why fellow St. John Parish native Ryan Perrilloux doesn't.

Birmingham, Alabama: Brand new Russell Athletic uniforms.  Brand new helmets, donning a clean logo.  The sounds of cranes, bulldozers, and jackhammers, constructing a multi-million dollar stadium, not to mention excitement surrounding the whole campus.   

I'm not talking about a DI mid-major who is upgrading, trying to play with the big boys of the BCS conferences; I'm talking about DIII newcomer, Birmingham-Southern College (BSC). 

The former DI program recently dropped all the way down to DIII.  BSC was in the Big South Conference, probably best known for members such as Coastal Carolina, Winthrop, and Virginia Military Institute.  

Now, they are in a transitional period to move into the SCAC, which includes schools such as Trinity, Millsaps, Rhodes, and Sewanee (The University of the South).

BSC played its first collegiate varsity football game since 1939 on Saturday.  They lost on a last minute field goal to Rhodes, 10-7. 

I guess Birmingham-Southern students can't wear their "Undefeated Since 1939" T-shirts any longer.   

BSC had no football team while at the DI ranks, but decided to build one from scratch when the ruling moving them to DIII was announced.

I like the idea in light of the fact that Birmingham is located in the heart of football country.  The state of Alabama is obsessed with Alabama and Auburn football, not to mention High School Football. 

MTV aired two seasons of Alabama's most notorious high school football program, Hoover High, in their show Two-a-Days.  Look elsewhere in the state and you'll find several other high schools garnering national attention (see Prattville). 

A big bulk of the state's high school talent comes from the greater Birmingham area, where Hoover is located.  If BSC can focus on building a program off of the youngsters who can't make it into DI (be it for a lack of size, speed, or exposure),  a successfull run in DIII is certainly not out of the question. 

 Take a look at DII power, North Alabama (currently ranked 3rd).  Located in Florence, Alabama, they started out using a similar recruting philosophy.

They now have a stellar reputation in the DII ranks. Players come from as far away as Iowa, Utah, New Mexico, and even Japan to play for the Lions.

It's simple-for some student-athletes; the chance to win a National Championship outweighs the chance to say you played DI ball.  Not to mention the fact that it is vastly easier to see the field at DII and DIII schools. 

BSC has done everything right to date. 

In addition to the stadium plans, which should be completed in February, they've hired an experienced and classy coaching staff, including Head Coach Joey Jones (pictured above).  Jones played for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at Alabama, and doesn't have long to go to become BSC's all-time winningest coach - just 51 wins (he's currently at zero). 

My only worry: that BSC will follow in the footsteps of UAB, also located in Birmingham.  UAB started a football program in 1991 as a DIII.  In, 1993 they moved to DI-AA, and in 1996 they moved again to DI-A.  Ever since, they have struggled with facility and stadium problems. In addition, competing with Alabama and Auburn in recruiting wars has been an uphill battle .  As of 2007, UAB continues to have less than average football facilities and still uses the deteriorating Legion Field (off campus) as their home stadium. 

Be patient BSC, be patient.  Keep quoting Field of Dreams to yourselves, "If you build it, they will come".  You're currently building it, now just let them come. 

One day the program could come full circle, and you, the BSC Panthers, could become the Appalachian State of the football world.  Heck, you could even beat UAB, who knows?

The Panthers will look for their first varsity victory since 1939 against #15 Trinity (TX) on Saturday, September 29 in San Antonio, Texas.

(Coach Jones photo: bscsports.net)