The Division 3 Birmingham-Southern College football program historically hasn’t been something to talk about, but this season, the Panthers broke numerous records en route to their first 10-win season ever.
The program once disbanded in 1939, returned in 2007 after a 68-year hiatus. After the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers had its best season in program history, hosting and playing in an NCAA Championship Playoff game all for the first time.
Brothers Clay Youngblood ’22, Garrett Thrash ’24, Owen Phillips ’23, Luke DeFur ’23, Andrew Smith ’24, and Zion Thomas ’24 were all part of the ride that helped set a new standard for Panthers Football.
The historic season came to an end on November 27, losing 42-7 to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the second round of the playoffs.
It was the first season the program hosted and played in a playoff game, meaning it was the first time the team won a postseason contest.
Congratulations to the brothers on a historic season.
Editor’s Note: This article was provided by SAE World Series Co-chairman Geary Mason (Louisiana State ’84).
On Friday the 13th of November 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, the 35th Annual SAE World Series softball was successfully held in New Orleans. This event is usually held annually in early summer, but the COVID restrictions forced a postponement until August, then September, then October. Finally, a window of opportunity opened in mid-November.
The New Orleans SAE Alumni Association host committee decided that based on strong demand from participating SAE teams, the show must go on! It was decided months before to dedicate this year’s softball tournament to the memory of former Eminent Supreme Archon J.L. “Jim” Pope. Jim Pope was a faithful player, coach, cheerleader, and all-around supporter of the SAE World Series for many years. Jim’s enthusiastic participation over the years endeared him to hundreds of SAE softball players over more than thirty years.
To pay a proper tribute to Jim, his three daughters and their kids were the honored guests at the tournament’s opening ceremony. Jim’s daughters Stacy Pope Burgess, Mary Pope Murphy, and Phoenix Pope all attended, and Jim’s granddaughter Haleigh Murphy had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. SAE World Series Chaplain Jamie Devall followed with a short prayer and moment of silence for Jim, and then Geary Mason mentioned Jim’s legacy to the fraternity and the event. All tournament participants joined in singing the national anthem while maintaining proper social distancing and wearing protective masks.
After the opening ceremony, softball play began at 6 pm, and each team would get to play at least twice because of the tournament’s double-elimination format. Just as 2020 would be a screwy year, the host committee screwed up in the seeding of teams, and the 2019 champs from LSU were paired against last year’s runner ups from Southern Mississippi. These two teams last met in the 2019 finals, with LSU prevailing. LSU’s same squad had now graduated and renamed their team the LSU Alums but picked up right where they left off by defeating Southern Miss 19-9 in the opening game.
Across the softball quadruplex, the LSU active team defeated the home town Rejects team 10-5. In other opening game action, the University of Louisiana Lafayette Alums (ULL Alums) survived 17-13 over the Tulane 1 team. Another Louisiana squad, the Nicholls State team, cruised to a 23-0 demolition of the Tulane 2 team. In the second-round games of winners, the LSU active chapter outscored the ULL Alums 19-13, and the LSU Alums defeated Nicholls State 28-13.
In the loser’s bracket, the Rejects were eliminated by the Tulane 1 team’s last inning rally to lose 9-7. The Tulane 2 team didn’t fare as well, getting destroyed 26-1 by Southern Miss. The Tulane 2 team only managed to score one run but gave up 49 runs in their games. This large margin of loss would earn the Tulane 2 team the event’s “Last Place Award,” a toilet bowl trophy that would soon be proudly displayed in the chapter house. The enthusiastic Tulane teams also earned the SAE Spirit award for their incredible fun-loving attitude throughout the event. The next round of elimination games had the Nicholls State team defeat the Tulane 1 team, 20-9, and the Southern Miss team eliminate the ULL Alums 22-13.
In the winner’s bracket, the LSU actives would take on the LSU Alums who had won the tournament in 2019. The defending champs held a commanding 9-0 lead after three innings until LSU came to life and closed the gap to only trail 13-8 after the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth and final inning, the LSU Alums pulled away with a nine-run rally to win 22-8 and advance to the finals.
In the consolation bracket, the Nicholls State and Southern Miss actives played an exciting elimination game that was tied 6-6 after four innings. Southern Miss pulled ahead 10-6 in the fifth, but Nicholls State answered with eight runs to lead 14-10. In the sixth and final inning, Southern Miss tied the game at 14-14 with a solo and three-run homer. But, in the bottom of the last inning, Nicholls State added the one run needed to secure a 15-14 victory and eliminate the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss would take home the Farthest Distance Traveled award and fourth place. With both Nicholls State and the LSU actives having one loss each, they would now play for the honor of advancing to the finals against the now well rested LSU Alums. Nicholls State led 6-4 after the first inning, but LSU team captain Price Petagna led them to an 11-6 lead in the top of the second. Nicholls State then answered with five runs to tie the game 11-11 after only two innings. LSU regained the lead, 13 -11 in the top of the third, and then ran out of gas as Nicholls State added seven runs to lead 18-13 after three innings. The Colonels from Nicholls State added one more run in the fourth inning to win 19-13 and advance to the finals. With the loss, LSU would at least take home the Third Place trophy.
In the championship game, LSU Alums team captain Chandler Wynne led by example with an early home run, which set the pace for the LSU Alums to jump ahead 3-0 after the first inning. Nicholls State would score six runs in the top of the second inning, but the LSU Alums answered with three runs to tie the score 6-6 after two innings. The LSU Alums then went on a home run spree and held a commanding 19-7 lead after the fourth inning. But in the top of the fifth, Nicholls State scored ten runs to close the score to 19-17 and make it a close game. LSU’s alums immediately answered with five home runs, which added eight runs to lead 27-17 after the fifth inning. Nicholls State could only muster one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, while the LSU Alums added three insurance runs to win 30-19. The LSU Alums would hit 37 home runs in their four tournament games and repeat as SAE World Series champions.
LSU Alum Connor Maginnis, who went four for four with four home runs in the championship game, greatly contributed to the championship victory. Connor’s heroics earned him the coveted SAE World Series MVP award. In addition to being the runner ups, the Nicholls State team took home the Most Improved Team award and the Best Dressed award for their colorful uniforms.
The 35th annual SAE World Series was a great success in adapting and overcoming COVID-19 related challenges. It was great to see SAE brothers come together and cooperate with restrictions and compete in friendly sportsmanship without any issues. Like everyone, the SAE World Series looks forward to a better 2021 and our 36th annual softball tournament. Please see www.saeworldseries.net and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for information on the event.
Due to many preventative measures implemented by the host committee and all involved in the tournament, no one has reported virus contraction.
Editor’s Note: This story by Eddie Robertson was originally posted by WDAM and can be viewed here.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – An emotional social media post inspired the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Southern Mississippi [Mississippi Sigma] to give a few kids an opportunity to learn while having fun.
In that social media post, a mother said when her little boy is having a bad day, it’s always made better by seeing the pair of lion statues on the front lawn of the SAE fraternity house, which sits across the street from The Children’s Center for Communication and Development on the Southern Miss campus.
This prompted the fraternity to invite him, along with several others from The Children’s Center, to help paint the iconic pair of lions Thursday.
The director of The Children’s Center, Sarah Myers, says this was a perfect opportunity for the children.
“They learn well through tactile experiences,” Myers said. “So they like to use their hands and get in and learn through doing, and so they may not realize it, but it’s actually a therapy activity for them to paint and talk about all the parts of a lion and take turns with their friends and meet new people, and all of that is therapy.”
“It was really fun for us and it was wonderful that our friends at SAE invited us over to participate,” Myers added.
As for the little boy, he was made an honorary member of the SAE fraternity for the day and most likely a lion-lover for life.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity is saddened to learn that James L. Pope, Past Eminent Supreme Archon, entered Chapter Eternal on May 13, 2020.
A devout Fraternity man, Brother Pope’s dedication to SAE started immediately after joining the Mississippi Sigma chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi while he was a graduate student. He served his chapter as Scholarship Chairman, and following his graduation in 1973, he co-founded the Mississippi Sigma Alumni Association and served as its first President. Brother Pope also served as President of the Jackson (Mississippi) Alumni Association in 1981, the Memphis Alumni Association in 1992, and has served Province Theta as Alumni Secretary, Deputy Archon, and two terms as its Province Archon (1980-82, and 1988-90). He also co-founded three SAE chapters: Louisiana Rho at Louisiana Tech University in 1983, Tennessee Rho at Christian Brothers University in 1989, and Mississippi Delta at Millsaps College in 1990. He most recently served as an Alumni Advisor for the Tennessee Zeta chapter at Rhodes College, a position he held until the fall of 2019.
Brother Pope was a strong supporter of the SAE Foundation, serving on its Board of Trustees in 1997 and becoming a member of the Founder’s Circle for lifetime donors in 2005. In addition, he created the Jim Pope Leadership Scholarship with the Unversity of Southern Mississippi Foundation. At each Mississippi Sigma Founders Day, four undergraduate brothers receive Jim Pope Scholarship funds for Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, and Friendship, the four aspects of the “ship” to which Brother Pope often referred. For his unwavering support, SAE has bestowed Brother Pope with the Order of the Phoenix, Order of the Lion, Alumnus of the Year, the Merit Key Award, and the highest award SAE can present to an alumnus, the Distinguished Service Award.
Brother Pope did not limit his enthusiasm to SAE, as he was also active in the Memphis community. He served as President of the Germantown Chamber of Commerce and President of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Memphis Area Alumni Association. He enjoyed a long and successful career as an agent for State Farm Insurance, being named the “People’s Choice” for seven consecutive years from 1990-1997.
Brother Pope’s legacy is one of dedication and service with a level of passion that few possess. He excelled at recruiting new members to SAE and encouraging lifelong fraternal involvement. Todd Buchanan, Past Eminent Supreme Archon, experienced that firsthand, “As an undergrad, Jim [Pope] mentored me and is one of the main reasons I chose to get involved nationally with SAE after graduation.” Past Eminent Supreme Archon Ron Doleac added, “Even if he disagreed with you, it was always with a spirit of good will and good intentions. It was a blessing for me to serve on the Supreme Council as ESA with my chapter brother and friend.”
Those who knew him personally will never forget the love he had for Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the exuberance he brought to every conversation. Bobby Banks, Brother Pope’s longtime best friend and the man who persuaded him to join SAE, shared a phrase he taught Brother Pope at Mississippi Sigma. ‘A Brother is more than a friend but no less than someone you love.’ Brother Pope quoted it throughout his life, and it’s something that Banks hopes all SAEs understand and embrace. One of Brother Pope’s greatest gifts is his vast treasure of phrases and commentaries that will forever continue to inspire and amuse.
Information regarding memorial services in Memphis, Tennessee will be released soon. Arrangements are being made within the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation for gifts to honor the memory of Brother Pope.
Phi Alpha, Brother Pope. You live on eternally in the lives you touched.
The 34th Annual SAE World Series, SAE’s member-only double elimination softball tournament, was held in New Orleans on June 28-29, 2019. High winds blew the rooftop off the dugout of the host committee’s team, The Rejects, as they shocked the South Florida Alums 21-0. The host committee’s second team, The Rejects 2, did not get anyone on base in their opening game against Nicholls State and lost 26-0. A grudge match between the University of Houston Undergraduates and Alumni turned out with the University of Houston Alumni prevailing 4-0.
Top-seeded Southern Mississippi easily defeated The Rejects 14-3. Second-seeded Louisiana State University (LSU) disposed of a tough Nicholls State team 6-2. The University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) Alumni beat the University of Houston Alumni 11-3. The Southern Mississippi squad then hammered the ULL Alumni 18-3 to win their second game.
In the consolation rounds, The Houston Alums defeated The Rejects 11-7 and Millsaps 4-0. The Rejects eliminated The Rejects 2 by a score of 14-5. After losing to LSU 6-2, eventual 3rd place finisher Nicholls State eliminated South Florida 21-7, University of Housing Undergraduates 17-1, the ULL Alumni 8-4, then the Houston Alumni 13-1.
Play continued on Saturday, with the only two unbeaten teams (LSU and Southern Mississippi) facing off for a berth in the finals. Both teams played flawless defense and were tied 0-0 until LSU squeaked in one run in the 5th inning and held onto win 1-0. After the loss, Southern Mississippi responded with a solid 8-1 victory over Nicholls State and earned a rematch against LSU in the finals. Since the tournament is double-elimination format, Southern Mississippi would have to beat undefeated LSU twice to win the championship.
Southern Mississippi dominated the entire first game over LSU, winning 8-4. In the second/championship game, LSU scored two runs in each of the first, second and third innings to lead 6-0. The fun-loving LSU team prevailed 13-2 to earn their first title after participating consistently for 34 years.
After the softball tournament, everyone ventured to New Orleans’ historic warehouse district for the awards banquet and more SAE comradery. We hope to see you and your SAE team at next year’s World Series in New Orleans. Full details on this great event are at www.saeworldseries.net and on social media.
Top Teams
1st – LSU
2nd – Southern Mississippi
3rd – Nicholls State
4th – University of Houston Alumni
Awards & Accolades
Most Improved – LSU
Farthest Distance Traveled – South Florida
SAE Spirit Award – Millsaps
Best Dressed – Houston Alumni
Last Place – South Florida
Bourbon Street Award – Houston Alumni
Old Timer’s Award –Steve Birk (South Florida ’92)
SAE Queen – Donna D’Elia
Steve Birk Dedication Award – Vaughn Cimini (Louisiana State ’83)
Young Gun Award – Taka Kaieda (Houston ’15)
MVP – Justin Untereiner (Louisiana State undergraduate)
The SAE World Series returned to the historic City Park softball complex in New Orleans for it’s 33rd edition on June 1st and 2nd. 12 teams competed in the 2018 event. The New Orleans SAE Alumni Association dedicated this year’s event to the recently deceased Dr. John M. Daly, a key founder of the New Orleans SAE Alumni Association in 1986. Many SAEs considered him the “Grand Old Man” of the New Orleans area. Dr. Daly’s three sons, Michael, David, and Scott (all SAEs), threw out the ceremonial first pitches to open the softball tournament. The opening ceremony included the SAE World Series Color Guard marching the American flag to the pitcher’s mound with everyone singing the Star-Spangled Banner in perfect harmony.
Action for the all-SAE double elimination softball tournament began on Friday night under the stars. The first game ended as expected as the home town Rejects lost 7-0 to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) Alums. Making their World Series debut, the undergraduate chapter from Stephen F. Austin started out strong, crushing the hometown Rejects 2 team 17-1 (this game was not as close as the score showed).
Later that night, the Southern Mississippi chapter won a hard fought 12-9 victory over the LSU A team. After their victory over the Rejects, the ULL Alums pulled off the upset of the tournament defeating the defending champs from South Florida 16-13 in a high-scoring game decided in the last inning. Still high from their upset victory, the ULL Alums fell flat in their next game against Southern Miss losing 24-2. The “always tough” Christian Brothers team, led by team captain Kyle Talley, won their first game 18-8 over the LSU B team. After their initial win, the Stephen F. Austin team hit a brick wall losing to the Nicholls State A team 15-3. S.F. Austin bounced back in three straight elimination games defeating the Rejects 18-4, the LSU B team 12-3 and the ULL Alums 6-4.
On Saturday, Christian Brothers cruised to another easy win defeating the Nicholls State A team 25-2 advancing to the semi-final game. Christian Brothers veteran players John Voitier and John Shaw contributed to both victories with consistent hitting including a few home runs.
Meanwhile in the consolation bracket, the LSU A team knocked the South Florida team out of the tournament 26-3 and then eliminated Nicholls State A team 18-4. LSU stayed hot as they eliminated the Stephen F. Austin chapter 16-0. By now only the Southern Miss and Christian Brothers teams have not yet lost a game and squared off with the winner advancing to the finals. Kyle Talley’s Christian Brothers squad kept a lead the entire game winning 13-6. Southern Miss, fresh off the disappointing loss, then beat and eliminated the LSU A team 4-2 to advance to the finals. With the SAE World Series’ double elimination format, Southern Miss would have to defeat Christian Brothers twice to win the title.
Southern Miss batted first in the championship game and a solo home run by Josh Jacobs put them ahead 1-0. Christian Brothers answered with three runs to lead 3-1 after the first inning. A defensive game ensued until the sixth inning as Christian Brothers led 5-2. Southern Miss added two runs in the top of the sixth inning to close the score to 5-4 and threaten. The threat was short lived as Christian Brothers had a big sixth inning adding 5 runs extending their lead to 10-4. In their final at bat, Southern Miss could not muster a run and Christian Brothers held on for a 10-4 victory. This was the Christian Brothers team’s second SAE World Series title and secured their place in SAE World Series history.
The New Orleans SAE Alumni Association hosted a downtown reception following the tournament’s conclusion. The hometown Rejects 2 team secured the Last Place award, again. Both LSU teams earned the SAE Spirit award and South Florida earned the Farthest Distance Traveled award. Adam d’Elia from South Florida earned the Steve Birk Dedication award for taking part in his 25th consecutive SAE World Series. Rob Parson from Christian Brothers was the tournament MVP for leading his team to the title.
The SAE World Series is open to any all-SAE softball teams. We hope to see your team in the 2019 SAE World Series next summer.
Additional Details & Photographs: www.saeworldseries.net.