Coaches who have grown used to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference teams will now have to prepare for some new conference opponents next year as Loyola moves to the Southern States Athletic conference.
SSAC will have stronger competition, as the conference includes at least one nationally ranked team in every sport that Loyola plans to participate in next year.
Though the conference will be new, many of the opponents will be familiar to Loyola. All the teams currently in the GCAC, except for Tougaloo and LSU Shreveport, will be joining Loyola in the SSAC Brett Simpson, Associate Athletic Director, said the conference switch was made to benefit the athletes. “Mobile, Spring Hill College and Belhaven were the three that led the charge because they wanted more opportunities for their student athletes.”
One major benefit is the way the conference tournaments will be run. Simpson said that GCAC tournaments were played in stadiums of teams they regularly played. In the SSAC, the tournaments will be held in a minor league facility. Conference tournaments for basketball will also be held at neutral sites. “It’ll be more of a championship atmosphere,” said Head basketball coach and Athletic Director Michael Giorlando.
As the teams gear up to play against a higher caliber opponent, volleyball head coach Tommy Harold welcomed the challenge. “We want to be at the top of the conference,” he said. “That’s always our goal every year. It gets a little tougher with a few more teams, but I think it’s a challenge we’re ready for.”
Giorlando also said that the men’s basketball team should be up to the challenge and downplayed the difference in skill level saying, “In my six years here, we’ve had two or three teams each year go to the national tournament. They’re no cream puffs in the GCAC.”
While Giorlando said there would not be too big of a jump in the skill level of the opponents of the men’s basketball team, baseball will have some adjustments to make. “Baseball will really be moving up because they have more teams (in the conference) and three of those teams are perennially in the top 20 (teams) of the NAIA. So, baseball will be challenged.” Loyola’s baseball team will go into this new conference looking for their first winning season since 2000.
One thing that will help all the teams rise to the challenge is the recruiting class. The SSAC does not only mean stiffer One thing that will help all the teams rise to the challenge is the recruiting class. The SSAC does not only mean stiffer competition for Loyola, it has also helped draw in recruits. “I think our recruits are excited that we are moving to a bigger conference,” Giorlando said.
Simpson also said it helps bring recruits into the baseball program. “Its definitely a recruiting tool telling recruits they can play against some of the best in the NAIA,” he said.
With all the attention being paid to what affects the high skill level will have on Loyola varsity athletics, it is easy to overlook the exposure that the SSAC brings to its members. “(Loyola Athletics) will have more of a presence in the Georgia and Alabama areas,” Giorlando said. The exposure from playing in these areas is compounded by the fact that the conference will have a weekly cable program that will be promoting Loyola.
With the adjustments that will be made for the new competition, the ‘Pack’s skills will be tested next season. Most of the coaches, however are not phased by the new conference; as Harold said, “We’re not expecting any big surprises. We know what we are getting into.”
