Unfortunately, the article is behind a paywall and I am not going to subscribe just for this article.
The rest of this post is complete speculation on my part.

I have always thought this ends with ETBU and HPU in the SCAC and HSU and UMHB in another division. Yes, doctrinal issues have played a part but only minimally. I really think this has more to do with UMHB and their athletic department looking more like an FCS athletic department than a DIII athletic department. Possibly the same with HSU but to a lesser extent.

So why has this not happened? The fact that the schools have portrayed themselves as the Baptist Four. Not so much the Baptist part but more "we are a package and, if you want any of us, you have to take us all" approach. Obviously, the SCAC is not biting on that.

Is this a flight from UMHB? You can describe it that way, fair or not. However, I think there is a little more going on as well because you don't see the same reaction to Trinity with their athletic department, who is certainly on (possibly/probably above) the level of UMHB and HSU across all sports. Doctrinal? Again maybe. Was it the fact that UMHB had to vacate a football championship for improper benefits? That might play a part and I could see where some might view that infraction as the tip of the iceberg of what they are really competing with financially. It seems to be a both/and type of deal. The FCS like athletic program plus the doctrinal/financial ability components that make many schools and conferences leery.

Anyways, my prediction, once UMHB moves on to DII or FCS, the log jam will be loosened, HPU and ETBU will be in the SCAC and HSU will either be in the SCAC or DII.

Sure, the travel didn't help but that was not the problem for TLU on Saturday. Linfield was better. As a few of you have said, hopefully TLU learns from this experience and this season is a steppingstone to a better football program.

Really tough game on Saturday and not the way you want the season to end. Overall, a great season for the Bulldogs but their showing on Saturday certainly leaves a bad aftertaste. Linfield was undoubtedly the better team and was ready for this game. TLU was not. Congrats to Linfield and good luck with UMHB next week.

I am glad to see TLU's football program trending in the right direction and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for 2025.

Quote from: wildcat11 on November 19, 2024, 05:19:12 PMI haven't seen TLU play so not much I can say in terms of match up.  What I'll say about this Linfield team is that I wouldn't want to see them in the playoffs.  Earlier in the season, the 'Cats were still trying to figure out the QB rotation and were not healthy at DT (missing Alex Frazier hurt Linfield mightily vs Oshkosh). 

Since then, the 'Cats offense settled into a rhythm with Eaton/McNabb and have all of their key members on the field.  Linfield is really good in all 3 phases.

I can give a little insight into TLU. The most obvious fact is that this is only the second time TLU has made the D3 playoffs. I can think of another year or two where they were worthy of consideration but, for the most part, TLU has been a program that has spent its time in the middle of the pecking order in the ASC. The playoffs will be something entirely new for this program and we will see how the team handles the pressure of a road game against a program that regularly finds itself in the playoffs. Linfield has an advantage with its experience in the playoffs.

This year's team is significantly better than any team TLU has had since, at least, 2014. TLU's defense is good. TLU plays well up front against the run (122 rushing yard per game) but the secondary occasionally gets burned by big plays (214 passing yards). Overall, they manage to keep the other team's offense under control.  The most points scored against them this season is 34 by Austin College, 20 of which was scored in the 4th quarter when the game was decided. The defense held their opponents to an average 17 points a game.

TLU's offense runs hot and cold. They averaged over 400 yards per game for the season (209 rushing; 195 passing). Their running game has been very good, lead by multiple running backs and quarterback who is a good runner on planed QB runs and scrambling when the pocket breaks down and when rolling out of the pocket. Their passing game is inconsistent. Most passing plays are short and/or quick passes. Long passing plays often are produced by the quarterback moving out of the pocket with the option to pass or run.  On average, 34 points per game.

TLU's special teams are very good. Their punter is excellent. He averages 44 yards per punt. So is their kicker.  The kicker does not have a big leg for kickoffs but is an accurate on field goals.  For PATs, he is 38 for 38 and 10 of 13 on field goals.  Last week, the kicker made a 37-yard field goal with ease with a little over 5 minutes in the game to keep TLU in the game. They had a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown early in the season but, otherwise, their kick and punt returners have been conservative. They had one turnover on a kick-off in their lone loss to McMurry. That, as far as I can recall, was the only turnover their special teams had.

How TLU will match up against Linfield? I have no idea. Really, I do not have any expectations about how this game will play out but I am hopeful that TLU will play well and make it a tough game.

Certainly glad to see TLU make the playoffs. Saturday's game was nerve wracking to say the least. TLU's defense was fantastic on Saturday. The offense.... Well, by far their worst performance of the season on that side of the ball but they did just enough to come away with a win. This was not how I saw the game playing out. Even while watching the first half, I thought TLU's offense would find their rhythm and put the game away.

TLU's special teams have been fantastic all season. Their punter and kicker are very good. The kicker made a crucial 37-yard field goal with just over 5 minutes remaining to put TLU on the board. Their punter did a great job making sure SW needed to score on long drives.

I was surprised that TLU will not be playing next weekend, getting a week off before facing Linfield. I know that Linfield is a regular in the playoffs but, beyond that, I don't know much more about them. No overlap between their schedule and TLU's. Linfield did lose to Wisconsin-Oshkosh early in the season and TLU played Oshkosh last year. However, that was a very different TLU team. Curious what people's thoughts are about Linfield.

Quote from: HSUCowboy2015 on November 12, 2024, 09:08:57 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on November 11, 2024, 07:38:39 PMBig game in Abilene this weekend.

McMurry is going for a Co-Championship and a 7-3 record, the best since 2011.
Centenary is going a 5-5 record in year #1.

Best way to achieve success is running away from the conference you consistently got your butt whipped in.

And the teams remaining in the ASC wonder why they are in this predicament...

I am curious. Who would fill the head coaching position and build and maintain the program to expectations expressed on this board?

Quote from: Ralph Turner on November 11, 2024, 07:38:39 PMBig game in Abilene this weekend.

McMurry is going for a Co-Championship and a 7-3 record, the best since 2011.
Centenary is going a 5-5 record in year #1.

I said this in a post above but I just want to emphasize it. Centenary is building a really good program. The record this year is helped by playing Austin College and Lyons twice but I have been impressed by the progress they have made this year. Their home field experience appeared energetic and lively and appear to be marketing the program very well. I could see that program exceeding expectations very quickly.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 11, 2024, 10:28:27 AMIf SW plays like they did Trinity, TLU should have little difficulty as the Pirates basically can't throw the ball (60 yards for the game). 

Today's D3football.com podcasts posits both TLU and Trinity getting a bid in which case you'll see the Tigers in Seguin a week from Saturday.

SW is going to need to pass the ball to have a chance against TLU. From my observation, TLU's defense does a good job stopping the run. It is long passing plays that have been their problem. If SW does not complete passes, TLU is just going to load up the line of scrimmage and SW will have a difficult time getting anything going. TLU has only had three games this season where they have given up more than 20 points for the game. They gave up 31 in their loss to McMurry, 34 in their win at home against Austin (20 of those were in the 4th quarter when the game was decided), and 23 this past week at Centenary.

SW needs to score because TLU's offense is dynamic. TLU has a very good run game between the QB and their running backs. Their passing game is not great but it is good enough to keep defenses honest. A lot of quick passes and passing plays that get the QB out of the pocket, where he is a threat to run or pass. TLU mixes in enough deep passing plays, mostly when the QB is out of the pocket, to mix things up and keep defenses second guessing. In their wins this year, TLU has put up 35, 31, 49, 43, 55, 28, 45 and 46 points.  They only scored 10 points in their lone loss to McMurry and the 28-point game was the win against McMurry. In all other games, TLU is scoring 31+ points.

This is all good news but TLU still has to take care of its business this Saturday. If TLU plays like they have been the past four weeks, TLU should have no problem handling Southwestern in Seguin but TLU can't look past Southwestern.

The Bulldogs have taken care of business and TLU will s a very good football team. Hopefully, they are given the opportunity to compete in the playoffs. We will see.

Centenary is an interesting program. For a first year program, they are good. I was impressed by them both times they played TLU this season. Not a great team but they are building a program the right way. I expect them to be a very good in two or three years. Their FloSports presentation was the best I have watched all season. Seems like they are building a great atmosphere there. Centenary seems to have desires to build a very good program.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 31, 2024, 09:16:20 AMI think that TUTx has progressed farther this season than TLU. IMHO, TLU surprised a young Trinity team in week #1.

Someone has Maryville at 5 and ETBU at 7. The other person has ETBU at 5 instead of TLU on the ballot.

TLU Media guide says Trinity is 19-13 vs TLU since the 1st meeting in 1965.

I want to see how Trinity does for the rest of the season. I believe they have a tougher schedule than TLU. I want to see the quality of TUTx's W&L win. By the end of the season, we will know. In fact, there might be a Week #12 Rematch in the 1st round of the playoffs.

Ha! Historical matchups, surprises and ignoring the head to head! It is Halloween and I will take this as a trick.

My comment above is limited to the two voters that ranked Trinity but not TLU. I am very curious what the reasoning is.

Really, Trinity above TLU? Are your memories that short? September 7, at Trinity, TLU dominated?

Quote from: Pat Coleman on October 28, 2024, 06:13:01 PMIf you listen to the podcast, you know

Touche!