FB: American Southwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I'm sure McMurry will have some open dates to fill pronto.

[Ron Boerger]

If they are honoring schollys for two years I would be very surprised to see the NCAA let them count as a conference school for Pool A purposes immediately.

The ASC will take them back, they really don't have any other choice unless they pull off something unexpected.

[Josh Bowerman]

I wouldn't be surprised to see HSU, ETBU, and HPU all try to work something out with the four schools currently playing in the SCAC.  Some egos would have to be laid aside to get it done, but it would be an all-Texas football conference (great for travel budgeting) with an AQ spot.

I'm not as connected as I once was, but from the little bit I do understand there has been considerable angst amongst the ASC membership over the McMurry and Mississippi College defections--in addition to the perceived financial emphasis UMHB seems to be putting on athletics over academics (at least when referenced against other current ASC members).

Those three schools leaving for the SCAC would solve all of those problems--even if they had to invite Sul Ross along just to get the deal done.

It will be interesting.

[crufootball]

I wouldn't be surprised to see HSU, ETBU, and HPU all try to work something out with the four schools currently playing in the SCAC.  Some egos would have to be laid aside to get it done, but it would be an all-Texas football conference (great for travel budgeting) with an AQ spot.

I'm not as connected as I once was, but from the little bit I do understand there has been considerable angst amongst the ASC membership over the McMurry and Mississippi College defections--in addition to the perceived financial emphasis UMHB seems to be putting on athletics over academics (at least when referenced against other current ASC members).

Those three schools leaving for the SCAC would solve all of those problems--even if they had to invite Sul Ross along just to get the deal done.

It will be interesting.

I know all is fair in love and football, but wouldn't it hypocritical for HSU, ETBU, and HPU to join the SCAC and leave out McMurry because of the way they left. They would be leaving UMHB, Sul Ross, and Louisiana College out to dry with almost no choice but to either go D2 or NAIA.

Another point that I wonder about is the thought that was brought up on the SCAC board that the SCAC should try to lure McMurry and HSU to them (and I am sure others) to get them to the AQ. My thought is, it has been repeatedly brought up that AC and TLU left the ASC because they wanted a better chance of winning but HSU has by far the most conference championships in ASC history and McMurry still has the second most conference championship despite not playing for 2 years in the conference.

Heck even in the first sub .500 year for HSU football in over 2 decades they easily defeated the SCAC champion, TLU which basically lost them their playoff shot. Add to that that HSU is planning on renovating their field which to me already looked better than what TLU is going to complete in time for this upcoming season.

Again I know I am seeing this through UMHB glasses, but I keep coming back to the idea that if we just all got along and the 4 SCAC teams plus McMurry would join a football only conference than we never have to worry about schedules and it might help us avoid the Texas sub bracket since we all would be a conference rematch against each other.

[Josh Bowerman]

Here are a few things I know to be factually true:

1.  The folks that advocated the most strongly that McMurry should be a DII school are no longer affiliated with the University.

2.  The folks that put up the greatest resistance to the Texas-based ASC-SCAC schools from joining forces are no longer affiliated with any of their respective institutions.

3.  Austin College did not leave the ASC for the SCAC because they wanted to "win more".  At least not as their primary motivation.

4.  HSU would accept McMurry back into their conference before a lot of other current ASC-SCAC schools would.

5.  The expenditures on athletics UMHB is outlaying--as exemplified by the new stadium construction, among other things--are not viewed by other ASC schools as an attempt to "get along". 

Again, it will be interesting to see what happens.  Shoot, we might even see buyout clauses for DIII conferences in the not-so-distant future--especially in cases where an AQ spot might be put in jeopardy!

[Ron Boerger]

With re (1) it is amazing what a couple of people (or one) at the top can do.   Look at Incarnate Word down in San Antonio, whose president has moved them from NAIA to D2 now to D1 (including football, FCS) even though their facilities were marginal for D2 and are totally inadequate for D1.     The school's endowment ($60m) is lacking because they are spending a fortune to reach the grandiose goals of the guy at the top.   They don't have the resources to be successful at the D1 level but as long as Lou Agnese is in charge it's damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead. 

[Sioux]

Incarnate's football field is basically a nice high school field, baseball field is ok, softball didn't notice, basketball/volleyball facility is a bad d3 facility. Parking is horrible, attendance is worse. Will have to face the fact soon that they made a huge mistake going D1.

[Ron Boerger]

Here are some Austin-area "signings" (the paper here reports them despite my best efforts to get them to stop, so I've given up):

Blayne Parisher, WR, Burnet HS:  Howard Payne
Jace LaCaille, LB, Georgetown HS:  Mary Hardin-Baylor
Colton Schwartz, DL, Lago Vista HS:  Mary-Hardin Baylor
Stacy Anderson, OL, Round Rock Stony Point:  Howard Payne

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/varsity-news/2014/feb/05/local-football-players-use-their-signatures-signin/

[jknezek]

Here are some Austin-area "signings" (the paper here reports them despite my best efforts to get them to stop, so I've given up):

Blayne Parisher, WR, Burnet HS:  Howard Payne
Jace LaCaille, LB, Georgetown HS:  Mary Hardin-Baylor
Colton Schwartz, DL, Lago Vista HS:  Mary-Hardin Baylor
Stacy Anderson, OL, Round Rock Stony Point:  Howard Payne

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/varsity-news/2014/feb/05/local-football-players-use-their-signatures-signin/

It's nice recognition. While the terminology is incorrect, it's nice to see the players and schools being given some play in the papers. I have less of a problem with D3 "signings" than I do with the term "commitments" as it is thrown around for D1 fanbases prior to signing a NLI.

[Ron Boerger]

The only ASC "signee" listed from the San Antonio area (which unfortunately neglected to add position):

Austin Allen, East Central: Mary Hardin-Baylor

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/hssports/2014/02/2014-national-signing-day-san-antonio-style/#20288101=0

[Warren Thompson]

With re (1) it is amazing what a couple of people (or one) at the top can do.   Look at Incarnate Word down in San Antonio, whose president has moved them from NAIA to D2 now to D1 (including football, FCS) even though their facilities were marginal for D2 and are totally inadequate for D1.     The school's endowment ($60m) is lacking because they are spending a fortune to reach the grandiose goals of the guy at the top.   They don't have the resources to be successful at the D1 level but as long as Lou Agnese is in charge it's damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead. 

IWU going D1 FCS is downright bizarre (in truth, initiating football in D2 was almost as bizarre). Since I'm out of the loop per San Antonio sports, can you tell me who will IWU play in D1?

[Ron Boerger]

Southland Conference, full schedule in 2014 but still a while before they're championship/playoff eligible.   Long-time fans will probably remember K.C. Keeler (Rowan), who was just signed as HC at Sam Houston State.   Other Southland FB schools are shown here.

IWU was 6-5 last year but most of their wins came against NAIA programs like Texas College and Langston or D2 programs like Eastern New Mexico State and McMurry (who almost got their second win of the season against UIW).  They did surprise future conference foes Abilene Christian and Houston Baptist, tho.

[wally_wabash]

Again I know I am seeing this through UMHB glasses, but I keep coming back to the idea that if we just all got along and the 4 SCAC teams plus McMurry would join a football only conference than we never have to worry about schedules and it might help us avoid the Texas sub bracket since we all would be a conference rematch against each other.

As the folks in the Pacific Northwest could tell you, the selection committee will quickly dismiss the conference rematch provision if it saves some dollars.  Sadly, I think we are more or less stuck with the Texas sub-bracket.

[crufootball]

Again I know I am seeing this through UMHB glasses, but I keep coming back to the idea that if we just all got along and the 4 SCAC teams plus McMurry would join a football only conference than we never have to worry about schedules and it might help us avoid the Texas sub bracket since we all would be a conference rematch against each other.

As the folks in the Pacific Northwest could tell you, the selection committee will quickly dismiss the conference rematch provision if it saves some dollars.  Sadly, I think we are more or less stuck with the Texas sub-bracket.

You are right Wally that the NCAA is very quick to dismiss the rule but they did cut us a break in 2009 when MC beat UMHB in the regular season, sending them Huntingdon and us to Central.

That comment was mainly based on hope that the NCAA would follow the rule, also because there is no doubt they will pair us together in the first round if their are multiple conferences in this area because then there is no harm in matching us up again if two teams were to prove their worth. 

[wally_wabash]

Again I know I am seeing this through UMHB glasses, but I keep coming back to the idea that if we just all got along and the 4 SCAC teams plus McMurry would join a football only conference than we never have to worry about schedules and it might help us avoid the Texas sub bracket since we all would be a conference rematch against each other.

As the folks in the Pacific Northwest could tell you, the selection committee will quickly dismiss the conference rematch provision if it saves some dollars.  Sadly, I think we are more or less stuck with the Texas sub-bracket.

You are right Wally that the NCAA is very quick to dismiss the rule but they did cut us a break in 2009 when MC beat UMHB in the regular season, sending them Huntingdon and us to Central.

That comment was mainly based on hope that the NCAA would follow the rule, also because there is no doubt they will pair us together in the first round if their are multiple conferences in this area because then there is no harm in matching us up again if two teams were to prove their worth.

I think even in the scenario where the SCAC and ASC are all one big happy football conference, there just aren't many teams that can drive to play somebody in the hypothetical SCAC/ASC.  Huntingdon could drive to MC (and maybe only MC) so it made sense to break up the ASC teams.  I think LC has a fistful of schools within the 500-mile bus radius, but outside of LC, I'm not sure there are many options to break up two ASC/SCAC teams in the postseason.